The above is about John 15:1-10 right? I've seen it used a lot as a proof text for loss of salvation. The problem is few consider the audience (the 11 apostles), the context and most importantly the following verses of the passage.
The context: Jesus and the 11 just leave the meal and start their trek to Gethsemane. The last sentence in chapter 14 is
"Get up, let us go from here." Judas is gone and at the very least John and Peter know Judas is the one who would betray our Lord. It is obvious to the other disciples Judas is gone from the other Gospel accounts. The very first discourse Jesus gives the 11 (the audience) is what it means to be a disciple.
John 15: NASB
1“I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. 2“Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit, He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit, He prunes it so that it may bear more fruit. 3“You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you. 4“Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you unless you abide in Me. 5“I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing. 6“If anyone does not abide in Me, he is thrown away as a branch and dries up; and they gather them, and cast them into the fire and they are 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“My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit, and so prove to be My disciples. 9“Just as the Father has loved Me, I have also loved you; abide in My love. 10“If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love; just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love.
Verses 1-10 taken alone could be convincing that Jesus is warning His remaining 11 disciples that if they don't abide they will suffer the consequences of apostasy. If we take these verses along with the context of Judas in mind, then we can up that to a stern and sobering warning. Within the full context I would agree Jesus is telling the 11 this discourse on the vine knowing they know Judas is the betrayer. But it does not end at verse 10 and this is where it gets a bit more interesting and we understand the fuller context going forward:
11“These things I have spoken to you so that My joy may be in you, and that your joy may be made full.
With verse 11 included in the discussion and context we see Jesus state why He is telling them this Vine and Branches discourse. So that His joy may be in them and that their joy may be made full. Not a statement of loss of salvation, or a "you better do this or" type of context, but to assure them they are not like Judas who is an example of a branch which would be burned up. But the dialogue continues:
12“This is My commandment, that you love one another, just as I have loved you. 13“Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends. 14“You are My friends if you do what I command you. 15“No longer do I call you slaves, for the slave does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I have heard from My Father I have made known to you. 16“You did not choose Me but I chose you, and appointed you that you would go and bear fruit, and that your fruit would remain, so that whatever you ask of the Father in My name He may give to you. 17“This I command you, that you love one another.
More reassurance here from Jesus to the 11. He clearly states that He chose them and they did not choose Him. And what is clear within the context of verses 1-11 is they would go and bear fruit and that their fruit would remain. The key words are that Jesus
chose them and appointed them to go bear fruit and that their fruit would remain. Obviously as the son of Perdition Judas was not appointed as Judas betrayed our Lord.
Chapter 15 is Christ reassuring the 11 that they are truly disciples.
As we continue to chapter 16 we see Jesus teach them about the Holy Spirit and how they will receive the Holy Spirit. In chapter 17 we see Jesus pray for His disciples (the 11) in what is called the High Priestly prayer.
Then we see all 11 run when Jesus is arrested, Peter denying the Lord three times. After all this assurance from Jesus the 11 abandon Him. Yet they were all kept, preserved and did not end up like Judas.
What's interesting is how Jesus restores Peter in chapter 21. He asks Peter three times if he loves Him. If we page back to chapter 15, Jesus makes the centerpiece of discipleship "if you love me."
