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Author: Stephen Weller
655 words, 3 minutes read time

Branches That Are Burned

Scripture: John 15:6-8

In the previous lesson we saw the importance of abiding in Jesus Christ if we are to bear spiritual fruit. In this lesson we will look at what happens if we do not abide in Jesus Christ.

^{Jn 15:6} “If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. ⁷ If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. ⁸ By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples.

In verse 4 the possibility of a branch abiding in the vine and not bearing fruit and still be a believer was considered, and then rejected. Verse 6 makes it clear that if one does not abide in Jesus then that one will be taken away like a branch that does not bear fruit. These branches were not drawing life from the vine and are thus dead. They are gathered up and thrown into the fire and burned as such a vine is considered a useless vine according to Ezekiel 15:1 – 8.

A different metaphor is used in Hebrews 6:7 – 8 (ESV) to show the importance of producing something of value if it is to be kept: ⁷ “For land that has drunk the rain that often falls on it and produces a crop useful to those for whose sake it is cultivated, receives a blessing from God. ⁸ But if it bears thorns and thistles, it is worthless and near to being cursed, and its end is to be burned.” That which is good is a branch that bears fruit, land that produces a crop useful for those who cultivated it, and one who abides in Jesus and produces good works as evidence of a saving faith (James 2:26).

The branches that are thrown into the fire represent those who are unsaved and face diving judgment. This judgment is illustrated in Matthew 3:12 ESV: His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor and gather his wheat into the barn, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.” The branches that do not bear fruit or the person that does not abide in Jesus is the chaff of this metaphor.

Verse 7 is often lifted out of context and used as a promise that if we abide in Jesus as a believer and his words abide in us that we can ask whatever we wish, and it will be done for us. It doesn’t take much imagination to come up with request that God will not fulfill. Will he give you straight A’s as a college student? Will he prevent you from ever having an accident or getting sick? Why does this verse not seem to be true? It is because you have taken it out of context. God promises to answer request that are within the scope of that context. In this case the context is about bearing fruit, so whatever you ask of God that will help you bear more fruit, he will, but be careful what you ask. To bear more fruit, God may answer with greater pruning which may require periods of suffering to produce the required growth.

Conclusion

It is important that we bear more fruit because in that way we bring glory to our Father and prove to be his disciples. If we are not focused on bearing more fruit to the glory of God then there is the tendency for us to focus on enhancing our own glory. By faith allow those things which hinder you in bearing more fruit to be crucified with Christ, to allow Christ to more fully live in you (Galatians 2:20).