Can we lose Salvation?

[sheep wrecked]

(05-13-2009 03:37 PM)Liberated by Faith Wrote:  John 15:1-8 I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit. Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you. Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. 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. If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you. Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.

Notice verse two says that Every branch that is in me that beareth not fruit, He taketh away. These branches are not saved. They follow Christ, but they are not His. The branches that abide in Him bear fruit. To abide in Christ is to, while following Him, allow Him to nourish you so that you can be fruitful. A branch that is not being fed by a vine will die out and have to be pruned from the vine.

Look at the Sermon on the Mount. Many followed Jesus because of His teachings, His miracles, and His provision. Yet, when He caused them to see what it really meant to associated with Him, to be in fellowship with Him, to live the life that He would have them live, many went away and followed Him no more. (John 6:66)

A true branch will not just follow, but will walk the walk and talk the talk. He will live for Christ and the evidence that He abides in Christ will be that Christ's life will flow through Him.

If one looks at the text, it says the branches are "in Christ".

"Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away."

A branch that is cut off was in the Vine to begin with, else how could it be cut off?