Fruitless branches are like tares, fruitful branches are like wheat.
Tares get burned because they are not wheat. . . were never wheat. . .nor can they become wheat.
Goats are condemned because they are not sheep. . .were never sheep. . .nor can they become sheep.
Likewise, fruitless branches are not of the kingdom, they are only in the kingdom,
just as tares and goats are not of the kingdom, they are only in the kingdom.
You must be of the kingdom to be in Christ.
Well, Clare, I suppose one could interpret "
John 15:1-10" the way you describe; so, I will not question you further about "
John 15:1-10."
I would, of course, disagree, because Lord Jesus appears to be teaching this Parable to His disciples as an
admonishment and
warning;
in that, they must
remain in His Word and bear fruit to
continue to
remain in Him, just as Lord Jesus himself did. I do not get the idea that Lord Jesus is teaching them about wheat and tears, or believers and unbelievers.
Nevertheless, I see how you are viewing it, and there is no point of discussing the Passage with you any further. In fact, "
John 15:1-10" is one of those Passages I rarely refer to for that very reason.
However, the other Passages I listed are referring to those who are Christians (
indwelt by the Spirit, feeding from, and being connected to, the Root). They are true believers who are in Christ (
the Holy Root within whom all the Promises are given) but were
warned and
admonished against falling away from the faith, lest they be cut off - meaning: the Spirit indwelling them would no longer give them Eternal Life. For if God did not spare the natural branches (Jews) who fell, then neither would he spare the Gentiles who did not remain faithful.
In "
Romans 11:19-24," the branches that did not
continue in the faith will be
cut off from the Holy Root, just like the natural branches did (
the Jews)
who fell away. So, God shows no favoritism; for, if God did not spare the natural branches who fell away, to whom the Promises were made, then neither will he spare the Gentiles who only later share in the Promises made to Israel through faith.
Romans 11:19-22 (WEB) 19 You will say then, “Branches were broken off, that I might be grafted in.” 20 True; by their unbelief they were broken off, and
you stand by your faith. Don’t be conceited,
but fear; 21 for
if God didn’t spare the natural branches,
neither will he spare you. 22 See then the goodness and severity of God. Toward those
who fell,
severity; but toward
you, goodness,
if you continue in his goodness;
otherwise you also will be cut off.
And these illustrations are what the Scriptures teach about born-again Christians; they are
responsible to
continue in the faith, diligent to
sow to the Spirit without giving up to receive Eternal Life
from the Spirit indwelling them:
Galatians 6:7-9 (WEB)
Paul warns the Galatian Christians 7
Do not be deceived.
God is not mocked, for whatever a man
sows, that he will also
reap. 8 For he who
sows to his own flesh will from the flesh
reap corruption. But he who
sows to the Spirit will {{{
from the Spirit}}}
reap Eternal Life. 9
Let {{{
us}}} not be weary in
doing good, for {{{
we}}} will
reap in due season, {{{
if we}}}
do not give up.
Romans 8:12-14 (NIV)
Paul warns the Roman Christians12 Therefore,
brothers and
sisters,
we have an
obligation – but it is not to the flesh, to live according to it. 13 For
if you live according to the flesh,
you will die; but
if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body,
you will live. 14 For
those who are
led by the Spirit of God are the children of God.
