15:2 What does Jesus mean by what He says here that every branch in Him that bears no fruit is taken away?
15:2 What does Jesus mean by what He says here that every branch in Him that bears no fruit is taken away?
Jesus is talking to His disciples here, warning them of the dangers of not bearing fruit for His kingdom "…every branch in me that beareth not fruit He taketh away." He is God. Taketh away means to cut off, sever. Branches that bear no fruit are cut off, severed from God, their source of life (CP Mt 25:14-30; Lu 19:11-26).
Here we have two parables which both teach what happens to fruitless Christians. Mt 25:14-30 is called the parable of the talents, and Lu 19:11-26 the parable of the pounds. They both teach the same thing: it is folly for anyone who professes faith in Christ but bears no fruit for His kingdom, to think that they are saved. Christ demands that our fruit be commensurate with what He has invested in us (CP Mt 5:16; Jn 15:8, 16; Eph 2:10).
God has chosen us to serve Him and He expects every one of us to bear fruit for Him (CP Mt 5:13-16; Mk 4:21-25; Lu 14:34-35).
There are many in the church who believe that the punishment the unfaithful servants received for not trading in their masters' goods in the parable of the talents and the pounds merely translates to loss of rewards in Heaven, but that is clearly not what scriptures teach (CP Mt 7:21-27; Ro 2:13; Jas 1:22-25; 2:14-26 also CP Jn 14:15 with 1 Jn 2:3-6; Rev 1:3).
Jesus, Paul, James and John all teach here that only doers of the word are justified before God, and that those who hear the word and do not do it will forfeit their place in God's eternal kingdom (CP Mt 12:30). Jesus makes it very clear here that there is no neutrality in Christianity: if Christians are not actively involved in doing the work of God's word for Christ, then they are actively involved in doing the work of the devil against Christ.
It is hardly likely that anyone doing the work of the devil in this life will rule and reign with Christ in the next life (CP Ga 6:7-10).
See also comments on Mt 3:10, 7:13-14, 7:21, 12:30, 25:14-30; Lu 19:11-27; Jn 15:4-6, 15:16; Ro 2:11-13; Jas 1:22-25, 2:14-16 and author's studies Conditions of Entry into Heaven in his book Advanced Studies in the Christian Faith (Volume 1), and Christian - Beware of Failing God's Grace and forfeiting your Salvation in his book Advanced Studies in the Christian Faith (Volume 2).