² “Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit, He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit, He prunes it so that it may bear more fruit.”

Jesus, continuing with the vineyard imagery, speaks of the standard practice of pruning, common for increasing fruitfulness of a plant. Macro-pruning cuts off branches from the trunk of the tree, increasing the fruitfulness of the other branches by not diverting sap to fruitless branches. Micro-pruning involves cutting offshoots from a main branch for similar reasons.

One interpretation of this is that a Christian who does not abide in Christ, will lose his or her salvation. Appeal is made to verse 6, “If anyone does not abide in Me, he is thrown away as a branch and dries up; and they gather them, and cast them into the fire and they are burned” (John 15:6). But this makes too strong a connection between the figurative branches being burned, and the experience of being cast into hell. It is the branches that are burned in the illustration, but that does not lead automatically to applying this to Christians being sent to hell for lack of abiding.

Others suggest that the phrase “takes away” really means “taking up,” as it is used in John 8:59 where Jesus’ detractors “picked up” stones to stone Him. The analogy then may give the sense that Christians who are not abiding, are therefore not fruitful and will as a result be taken up to heaven, that is, die prematurely. This interpretation certainly accords with Paul’s teaching in 1 Cor 11:30 where some believers in the Corinthian fellowship died because of their disrespect of the Lord’s Supper. As Paul said earlier in that letter about those who do not build their lives on the foundation of Christ, their work will be judged: “If any man’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire” (1 Cor 3:15). The analogies, though different, are similar enough to draw the inevitable comparison—unfruitful Christians are not in danger of losing their salvation, but will be in danger of serious consequences, and in fact, loss of all rewards. And the imagery to convey this idea uses the concept of “fire,” where it is the Christian’s work that is being burned up in judgment, not the Christian himself.

The ultimate goal is that Christians in particular, and the body of Christ in general, be fruitful. Jesus was about to leave the entire mission He had begun in the hands of His followers. He expected results, fruit. And that fruit was clearly to glorify the Lord Jesus Christ by bringing more people to faith in Him through the witness of His followers.

Lord, help me to be a fruitful follower of Jesus Christ. I want to join You in the work of spreading the Good News of forgiveness and life in Christ.