According to Jesus' words in John 15:6, is this a reference to a Christian losing his salvation as many teach?
Many do teach John 15:6 is a reference to losing salvation. Those that teach this typically have a man centered view of salvation, which basically teaches that our salvation hinges totally upon our choosing Jesus and our determination to continue to choose Jesus throughout our life. This teaches that Jesus made salvation available through the cross, but steps back and lets the chips fall where they may. These presumptions that are common place in the church today are the result of bad hermeneutics and/or biased use of Scripture to promote doctrinal agendas.
To understand this text we need to view in light of the context and in light of the rest of Scripture. Verse 4-5 reads: “Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine, you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.”
Case in point is that outside of Christ we cannot bear fruit, above that we cannot do anything outside of Christ. In verse 4-5 Jesus mentions twice that there needs to be an abiding that takes place. We see the word abide again in verses 9 and 10. The first in verse 9 is that ..”As the Father loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love.” Secondly in verse 10..”If you keep my commandments you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Fathers commandments and abide in His love.” I notice the abiding in commandments connected with love is Jesus giving direction for the two greatest commandments that sums up all that law of God directs us to. “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the law and prophets.” -Matthew 22:37-40
Jesus is teaching that by abiding in Him is only possible way to bear fruit.
The Expositors Bible Commentary makes the following point: ”Continued production depends on constant union with the source of fruitfulness. Branches that are severed from parent stock may produce leaves temporarily, but inevitably they will wither because there is no source of life to sustain them: and they will never bear fruit. The effectiveness of the believer depends on his receiving the constant flow of life from Christ.” (pp. 151)
By our bearing fruit we do what? By our bearing fruit we do two things. Verse 8: “By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples.” Firstly, God is glorified in our lives this way and Secondly, the nature of our union with Christ is proven true by the fruit in our lives.
By not bearing fruit and glorifying God we prove to have not been His disciples as referenced in verse 8 and in verse 6 Jesus gives reference to the final judgment of being cast away from from the the fruit bearing branches. 1John 2:19 makes the clear distinction of this point; “They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would not have continued with us. But they went out, that it might become plain that they are not all of us.” The fallacy of believing that people can fall away from the faith is rooted in believing that all professions of faith are true. People may come to Jesus for many things as we seen throughout His ministry, but unless they come in true repentance and faith their coming to Him will always be in vain.
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