I AM the True Vine and you are the Branches

                                               

Jesus is using agricultural imagery in John 15. The phrase “I AM” makes reference to Jesus’ deity – His pre-existent nature. In layman’s terms He is God. Jesus regarding Himself as the True Vine was the last of His 7 “I AM statements in John’s gospel[1]. This phrase was first used way back in Exodus 3:14 when God spoke with Moses through the burning bush and revealed Himself as the Great I AM! The one to deliver Israel out of Egyptian slavery.

Jesus speaking to the disciples directly (minus Judas Iscariot for he at this point had betrayed the Lord), and by extension every believer born into the family of God thereafter explained to them the relationship between the Father, Himself, believers, and non-believers. Jesus begins by declaring, “I am the true vine”. True obviously meaning genuine and authentic. He also says, “My Father is the husbandman, or vinedresser or gardener, and we are the branches. He continues in verse 2, “Every branch in Me (italics added for emphasis) that does not bear fruit He (The Father) takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes that it may bear more fruit.”

Now verse 2 is most controversial. Why? Because Jesus says every branch in Me that does not bear fruit; which would seem to indicate these fruitless branches are non-producing genuine Christians.[2]  Also when we go down to verse 6 Jesus declares, “If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered, and they gather them and throw them into the fire and they are burned.”

When we relate verses 2 and 6, many conclude that there are Christians that are fruitless branches, because they do not abide or remain in Christ, and as a result the Father disconnects them from the vine, the life source which is Christ, and throws them away into the fires of eternal judgment – hell.

Is this what this passage is actually saying; that those whom Christ died for will actually be eternally condemned due to their unwillingness to abide in Christ and bear fruit? Or is the passage actually talking about superficial believers that have attached themselves to the vine (Christ) for a while, and became apostate showing they were never really true at all like Judas Iscariot (1 John 2:19)?

Which view is correct? What is Jesus teaching His disciples? This is what we need to discover. Can we know for sure? I believe we can.

I want to throw some scenarios out to the reader for your consideration.

1)      Jesus is talking about those who at one point were truly saved, but due to habitual sin never truly abode in Christ – that is attached themselves to the vine and bore fruit. As a result the Father who is the gardener and caretaker of the vine and branches removed the dead ones, gathered them up and burned them in hell at the end of the age. This is what some people believe and teach.

2)      Jesus is teaching that those that never bore fruit are non-believers, but they have attached themselves to the visible church because they believe going to church and being engaged in church activities will save them. In their own eyes they are “good people”.

3)      Jesus is teaching those in verse 2 and 6 are genuine believers, but because they are “fruitless Christians”, The Father removes them so they do not infect the fruitful branches. These fruitless branches (i.e. unproductive Christians) are the ones that are described in I Corinthians 3:13 (facing the Bema Seat) where their works are tried by fire.

Now, which view is most likely correct?

To believe the first scenario is to make God double minded. What do I mean? If verses 2 and 6 teach that genuine believers will apostatize and degenerate to the point that God will revoke his promise to save them is tragic and horrifying. If true believers can be damned because they bore no fruit, be broken off as a useless branch and burn in the fires of hell, then there is no such thing as eternal life. In this scenario God ultimate excepting of us is based on what we do – justification by works. It is conditional salvation.  It is not based on what Jesus has done for us – died in our place on the cross for our sins.  We are never assured of salvation from the moment we repent of sin, and confess Jesus as Lord. Rather, we have to perform meritorious works in order to gain access to heaven. Our salvation is not guaranteed from the beginning of our life in Christ, but rather we have to hope we earned our salvation at the end when we stand before him in judgment. This is not what the Bible teaches.

The third scenario is a very unlikely interpretation of what Jesus is describing as far as judgment. The third scenario is not describing unbelievers, but real Christians. We too face a judgment of the works we have done. This is strictly in regards to our service as Christians in God’s kingdom. The judgment of Christians will not be for if we gained salvation, but rather for the works (or fruit) we bore in this life, and to determine what rewards we will receive based on our faithfulness, or lack thereof (I Cor 3:13-14).

That only leaves the second scenario. I believe verses 2 and 6 in John 15 must be referring to false believers who pretend they are real Christians, but are not. They are described in detail by Jesus in Matthew 13 as tares.

Jesus describes tares like this, another parable he put forth to them, “The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field, but while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat and went his way. But when the grain had sprouted and produced a crop, then the tares also appeared. So the servants of the owner came and said to him, Sir did not you sow good seed in your field? How then does it have tares? He said to them, an enemy has done this. The servants said to him do you want us to gather them up? But he said no, lest while you gather up the tares you also uproot the wheat with them. Let both grow together until the harvest, and at the time of the harvest I will say to the reapers, first gather together the tares and bind them in bundles to burn them, but gather the wheat into my barn” (Matt 13:24-30).

Jesus gives the meaning of this parable in verses 36-42 in Matthew 13.  He declares the sower as Himself, the Son of Man (vs. 37b). The field is the world (vs. 38). The good seed are the sons of kingdom (vs. 38). The tares are the sons of the wicked one (vs. 38b). The enemy who the sowed the bad seed is the devil (vs. 39). The harvest is the end of the age (vs. 39b). The reapers are the angels (vs. 39c).

In verses 40-42 we read, “Therefore as the tares are gathered and burned in the fire, so will it be at the end of this age. The Son of Man will send out His angels, and they will gather out of His kingdom (italics and bold print added for emphasis) all things that offend (i.e. worthless branches), those that practice lawlessness and will be cast into the furnace of fire. There will be wailing and gnashing of teeth”.

I am convinced the dead branches in John 15 vs 2 and 6, and the tares are the same – false believers that have attached themselves to Christ via the visible church. They are described differently because they are two different parables.  The attachment will not last for God knows who are His, and who do not belong to Him. At the proper time, the harvest of God will separate the dead branches from the vine as he will separate the wheat and tare. Here are some other comparisons between true and false believers.

“Again the kingdom of heaven is like a dragnet that was cast into the sea and gathered some of every kind which when it was full, they drew to shore. And they sat down and gathered the good into vessels, but threw the bad away. So it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come forth, separate the wicked from among the just, and cast them into the furnace of fire. There will be wailing and gnashing of teeth” (Matt 13:47-50).

When Jesus encounters the Roman Centurion in Matthew 8, He marvels at the man’s faith regarding the healing of his servant. Jesus says, “Assuredly I say to you many will come from the east and west and sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven. But the sons of the kingdom (Ethnic Hebrews) will be cast out into outer darkness (a reference of hell). There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth” (Matt 8:10b-12).

An amazing statement! Jesus is declaring that only those that believe in the Son of God will gain entrance into heaven. Not even the Hebrews who were physical descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob will enter in. Pedigree does not matter. Whether you are a Jew or Gentile if you believe in Jesus, you are saved. The Hebrews are sons of the kingdom by nature, but many of them were not believing sons of the kingdom. There is a stark difference. These are branches that the Father removes from the vine – the unbelievers.

Another reference to worthless branches that are attached to The Vine (i.e. Christ superficially) is in Matthew 13:20-22. Regarding the seed sown in the field Jesus says, “But he who received the seed on stony places (i.e. the condition of his heart), this is he who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy; yet he has no root in himself, but endures for only a while. For when tribulation or persecution arises because of the word, immediately he stumbles.”

We see here there are many that hear the word for many years in some instances. They enjoy the word of God. They raise their hands, shout and say AMEN at the preaching of it. They intellectually assent to it, and applaud its precepts. They feel great and have a sense of belonging to it. And why not? The word of God is the greatest news of all time!  They are convinced in their minds and hearts, they are part of God’s kingdom of saints although they have never repented, and genuinely confess Jesus as Lord. They are comfortable and smug in their “churchianity”. But, one day they hear someone attack the word of God, malign God and Jesus, and perhaps someone else says, “You’re a Christian aren’t you? You go to church don’t you? I saw your “honk if you love Jesus” bumper sticker on your car.”  “Can you disprove from your Bible what they just said?” You cannot. You’re humiliated and embarrassed because you are not rooted and grounded in God’s word.  You have been attending the same church for years. Going to church is just a religious activity to you. It makes you feel better about yourself because you’re hearing watered down messages week after week, month after month from an inept “teacher/pastor” of God’s word. This person in the pulpit is a motivational speaker rather than a skilled expositor of the scriptures who teaches the whole counsel of God.  The church you attend is part of the name-it-and-claim-it bunch! You were never challenged in the things of God. Your ears have been tickled all these years. It was the popular “reality-star-preacher’s” Mega-Church you attended. This is where sound doctrine goes to die.  You were never encouraged to confess your sins daily, and live holy. You do not have a heart for prayer, worship, fellowship, evangelism, or studying God’s word. You come late and leave service early every week. You realize as long as you are not challenged for your “faith”, you are willing to hang around. But now since it has been revealed you are a fraud, the shame is too much to bear. You abandon the faith you once superficially held onto for so many years and leave the church altogether. You are nowhere to be found.  You are offended on account of the word like Jesus said (Matt 13:22).

That type of person is a fruitless branch, a tare among the wheat. They are ripe to be burned. They were never saved.

In John 6:64-70 we read, “But there are some of you who do not believe. For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were who did not believe, and who would betray Him. Therefore I have said to you that no one can come to Me unless it has been granted him by my Father.” From that time many of his disciples went back and walked with Him no more (I John 2:19). Then Jesus said to the twelve, “Do you also want to go away?” But Simon Peter answered Him, Lord to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. Also we have come to believe and know that you are the Christ, the 

Son of the Living God.”

So we see in these last two paragraphs once again the true and false. God’s angels will separate the wicked and true. Those who turned their backs on Jesus were not true followers of Christ. For if they were, they would have remained as the true disciples did. They were the branches that remained and were pruned so that they could produce more, bigger and better fruit (John 15: 2, 4).  The dead branches are the ones that were allowed by God to think they were a part of the kingdom, but were not. They were not drawn by the Father to the Son (John 6:65). We cannot come to God on our own terms. We have to be divinely summoned (John 6:37, 44). Those are the true branches that will abide in the vine (Christ) and bear fruit because they dwell in the life force, and must produce fruit for that is why they (we) were born.

Ephesians 2:10 says, for we are His workmanship created in Christ Jesus for good works which God prepared beforehand (italics added) that we should walk in them (i.e. good works).

Those whom God chose before the foundation of the world for salvation were pre-ordained unto good works.               

The fruit of the Spirit is, love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control (Gal 5:22-23).

Translation: There is no such thing as a fruitless Christian. If you are not bearing fruit, then you need to check your salvation to see if it is the real thing (II Cor 13:5).  You may be a tare and not even know it!

                                                                In light of explicit passages

John 15 verse 2 cannot mean that Christians can lose salvation. For if it did, God would be a liar which is impossible. Let’s review some salvation passages that clearly tell us that whom God chose has eternal life now.

John 1:12-13 – But as many have received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name; who were born not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor the will of man, but of God,

John 3:16 – For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes on Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.

John 3:36 – He that has the Son has life, He that does not have the Son does not have life but the wrath of God abides on him.

John 10:27-29 – My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of my hand. My Father who has given them to Me is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of my Father’s hand.

Philippian 1:6 – Being confident of this very thing, that He who has began a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ.

Philippians 2:12b-13 – Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.

I Peter 1:3-5 – Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us (past tense) again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

These blessed passages and so many more clearly tell us salvation is eternal because God in eternity past designed it that way. I have listed 3 witnesses, John, Paul and Peter. By inspiration of the Holy Spirit, they are declaring the same blessed assurance of salvation to all those who believe in Jesus.

I totally disagree with anyone that teach the branches in John 15 vs 2 and 6 are true believers that became apostate and go to hell. Since God is the one saves man, is it too difficult for Him to keep us saved? And trust me, any believer that truly loves Jesus will sin, but not to the point will they will not become Holy Spirit convicted of sin, become contrite, and implore God’s forgiveness (often with tears) so they can be restored back to a right relationship with God (I John 1:9). The Christian’s relationship is unconditional. What we have seen and learned through the parables in Matthew 13 is that the kingdom of God is an amalgamation of true and false believers. Those who continually abide in Christ, the True Vine will be fruitful throughout their lives because they are connected to the source of life that nourishes and enables them to produce good works.

Those who are not fruitful will be exposed for the frauds they are; a tare and not wheat. They are dead branches which are taking energy from the vibrant ones so they must be broken off since they are sons of Belial; worthless garbage of wood that is no good and is thrown in the incinerator to burn. They are also darnel weeds (tares)[3] that will be gathered up and separated from the wheat (the sons of the kingdom), and placed into the fires of hell to suffer the punishment they are due at the end of age. In the meantime they have been permitted by God to dwell with the Saints in the church as they were planted there by their father Satan (Matt 13:39).

These people have a dead faith that James describes in his epistle (James 2:26).

Think about it! If the writers of scripture believed in the eternality of salvation, we must also. How dare we go against what the prophets and apostles have spoken! Their words are the very words of God uttered out of His mouth to them by direct revelation. Since God has declared by Himself we are forever saved, that is good enough for me, and it HAS to be for every Christian.

God calls the Christian, saves them, causes them to abide in Him and love Him so that He can cause them to bear good fruit for the glory of God. This proves we are the Lord’s disciples for we joyfully perform His will. In this relationship God uses the sharp pruning knife of His word to cut off the wickedness and sin in our lives so that we can operate in the vine (Christ), to produce bigger and better fruit and glorify the Lord (John 15:8-11; Heb 4:12; 12:5-11).

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[1] All seven I AM statements are: 1) I AM the Bread of Life (John 6:35). 2) I AM the Light of

The world (John 8:12). 3) I AM the Door (John 10:8-9). 4) I AM the Good Shepherd (John 10:11).

5) I AM the Resurrection and the Life (John 11:25). 6) I AM the Way, the Truth, and the Life (John 14:6).

7) I AM the True Vine (John 15:1).

[2] Non-producing genuine Christians is an oxy-moron.

[3] The deception of the tare is that it is identical looking to the wheat until they are fully grown

That is why in the parable of Matt 13 the owner of the field commands his servants to leave

the tares until the harvest; when both the wheat and tare are fully grown. Only then the distinction

can be seen between the two. Likewise in the church true and false believers look the same on the

outside and we cannot tell with the naked eye, but God knows who are His. At the end of the age, the two

will be separated as sheep are separated from goats (Matt 25).