By: Robert Serreyn
Question? Sir, does “Taken Away” mean Losing our Salvation in John 15:2?
(John 15:2) Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit
Answer:
Sadly MANY people AND pastors alike take the words of 15:2 Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away and the words of V6 If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned. and focus on the words TAKETH AWAY of V2 and and cast them into the fire in V6 (suggesting that the word Fire means hell) and say SEE “if you have NO PROOF of salvation (outward visable evidence of salvation) THEN you are NOT SAVED or have “Lost your Salvation”.
John 15:2 & 6 IS NOT speaking of Not being Saved, Losing of one’s Salvation, or being Cast into Hell BUT RATHER being Set Aside, or Put on the Shelf (Taketh Away) from being Used by the Lord BECAUSE OF our Poor Testimony or our Lack of being Faithful.
For example The Lord CANNOT USE a christian if their testimony is not good, it be like using a Drug Lord and Showcasing them as a Role Model (Example) for ALL Children and Adults to look up to and imitate.
John 15:6 is speaking of people HAVING DOUBTS of you claims to being a christian if your testimony is very poor, As V6 says men WILL take your SO CALLED christian claim (even though it might be true, Lot in Genesis Chp. 19 is the example of a christian WITH NO PROOF of that fact) and “Place your claims and testimony (cast them) into the Fire” in other words People WILL DOUBT you are a christian.
In Conclusion:
The christian’s poor testimony or lack of faithfulness WILL CAUSE the Lord to “TAKE AWAY”(set aside, or put on a shelf) the christians opportunity to serve the Lord UNTIL they get back being faithful again.
What is gathered and burned (in the eyes and minds) of people IS the christians’s poor testimony, V2 and V6 IS NOT about the christian losing their salvation or not being saved.
If you want people to believe your claim to be a christian YOU SHOULD and it is VERY IMPORTANT that you have proof of that fact.
The truth is YOU might be the ONLY BIBLE that people might read, YES it is true that you can be saved and yet lead a life that is contrary to that fact (Lot is a GOOD EXAMPLE of this – Genesis Chp. 19, & 2 Peter 2:6-8), BUT most people WILL DOUBT that testimony when THEY SEE that your life is contrary to your claim as a christian.
The MOST IMPORTANT thing to know IS Jesus Christ as savior, just simply believe that Jesus Christ went to the cross and DIED and shed his blood, was BURIED and three days later RESURRECTED from the dead to pay for your sins.
The moment that you do YOU HAVE (at that second and forever) Everlasting Life which WILL NEVER be taken away no matter what.
-Christ DIED for you – Romans 5:8
-Christ PAID your sins in full – 2 Corinthians 5:21,1 Peter 2:24
-BELIEVE (Trust In Completely) in Christ ALONE as the complete payment of sin for salvation – John 3:16, Acts 16:31, Ephesians 2:8,9
“For the wages(payment) of sin is death (eternal torment in hell); but the GIFT(salvation) of God is eternal life THROUGH Jesus Christ our Lord”. Romans 6:23
IT IS THAT SIMPLE – THE GOSPEL TRUTH