"[My Father, the gardener], cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit".
Why does He cut off a branch? Because it bears no fruit.
Why does the branch not bear fruit? Because it does not remain in Jesus, the vine.
How does one remain in the vine, and thus be equipped to bear fruit? "If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father's commands and remain in his love" (Jn 15:10).
What commands? To love one another (John 13:34: "A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another"); to believe in Jesus (John 6:29: "Jesus answered, "The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent"); to accept the gift of salvation offered by God through grace (John 6:56: "Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me, and I in him").
What kind of fruit is brought forth by the branches that remain in the vine? John 15:16: "You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit—fruit that will last".
What will last? Only 2 things in this world will last forever: people and the word of God. People must hear the truth of the Gospel. John 4:36 "Even now the reaper draws his wages, even now he harvests the crop for eternal life, so that the sower and the reaper may be glad together." John 5:24: "I tell you the truth, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life." The word of God, the words of Jesus, give salvation for eternal life and are themselves eternal. "Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away" (Matthew 24:35, Mark 13:31, Luke 21:33).
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