QUESTION: Is it possible for a Christian to be cast forth as a branch and burned? John 15:6 seems to suggest this.

ANSWER: No. Let's carefully look at this portion. The verse reads: "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."

In this wonderful portion dealing with fruitbearing we find the following:

1. As Christians, we should glorify the Father by bearing fruit (verse 8). This fruit is really the character of Christ displayed in our lives.

2. Fruit is produced by abiding in Christ, the True Vine. The branch, which bears the fruit, gets its life from the sap in the vine. We are the branches, receiving life from Christ. His sweet character is produced in us as we abide in Him. Abiding is drawing our strength day by day, moment by moment from our True Vine, Jesus Christ (verse 4).

3. If a branch in Christ does not bear fruit, then the Father, who is the husbandman, takes it away (verse 2). The words "in Me" in this verse seem to signify that the branch is alive, having life from the Vine flowing through it. This verse would mean, then, that the Father would take away Christians who do not bear fruit. This taking away does not mean the loss of eternal life, but instead the loss of physical life. Examples of this are found in 1 Corinthians 11:30 and Acts 5:1-11.

4. In verse 6 we have a dead branch—one which has no life from the Vine flowing through it. Notice carefully the words which the Lord uses to describe those who have no life in Him. He says, "If a man," instead of saying, "ye" as He does to His disciples. Also He says the man who does not abide in Him is cast forth, "as a branch." Verse 6, then, refers to someone who is unsaved. People can easily say they are Christians without having received the gift of eternal life. If one continues in that condition they will eventually be case into the lake of fire (Revelation 20:15).

—John D. McNeil