FAITHFULWORD.ORG | TEACHINGS

John 15:4-6; 24; 6:39, 40; 10:27-29; Romans 5:9-11; I Thessalonians 5:9-11; Matthew 5:13-16; John 15:2, 5, 16, 1-6; I Corinthians 3:6-9; Philippians 2:13; I Corinthians 3:10-15; John 15:4-16; Romans 14:12; II Corinthians 5:10; Psalm 119:133; I John 2:1; [Romans 6:15]; Matthew 11:26-30; II Corinthians 1:20-22

When we find a difficult verse or passage in the Scriptures, it must be worked, studied and understood in light of the greater number of clear Scriptures on the same subject.

John 15:6 is a difficult verse which says “If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.” Some people may think when reading this verse that if they do not behave perfectly, they will burn in hell. Other clear verses of scripture help us realize this cannot be the case. We must look at verses that deal with our salvation and with rewards to understand John 15:6.

God’s Word declares that eternal life is a gift. John 10:28 and 29 says that once a person receives God’s gift of eternal life, that man or woman cannot perish or be plucked out of the Father’s hand. Romans 5 speaks of how we are saved from the wrath by Jesus Christ. I Thessalonians says God has not appointed us to wrath but to salvation.

To understand John 15:6, we must study the difference between salvation and works. The gift of salvation cannot be taken away. Yet the fruit of our good works can be. John 15 speaks not of salvation, but of fruit. We see there are four categories of fruit mentioned: (1) fruit bearing (John 15:2a); (2) more fruit (John 15:2b); much fruit (John 15:5); and (4) fruit that remains (John 15:16). To produce godly fruit that will remain, it must be done in conjunction with the Lord Jesus Christ, who is the Master. That requires abiding in him.

Paul writes about this topic in a very clear way in I Corinthians when he says, “I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase.” Paul sowed the seeds of the Word, then Apollos came after and taught them further. Ultimately, however, God gave the increase. He continues by writing that he that plants and waters are one (in purpose) and will receive rewards according to their labors. Whatever we do in our Christian walk for others, we do not do it to obtain salvation, but in light of the salvation we already have.

We cannot produce genuine godly fruit by ourselves. It takes application according to what Jesus said — that we abide in him! Everyone will ultimately give an account of himself to God. The believer will stand before the judgment seat, the bema or reward platform. It is where we will receive rewards for the works we have done in life. If we are walking in darkness, we cannot produce good fruit. If we do sin, we must ask God for forgiveness. When God says we have eternal life, He means it. For the times we do not abide in Christ, we confess our sins, get back into the race and earn rewards for ourselves!