"Just what are the branches? We the true body of Christ and we will prove that from verse 5 of this chapter. If we do not produce fruit we are taken away. "
The word means "cut off’, ‘removed’, or ‘take up’, and ‘to raise’. " did we know and this is fact what they do with branches that do not produce fruit? They take up/raise it so it can get more sun and then produce more fruit. So yes that can also mean take up to raise. So I always wonder who was He talking to? Well once He showed me a beautiful tree with oh never seen a tree with so many branches all in the shape of a "U" like the Jewish Candle (My son pointing this out to me I didn't know). Anyway He said "show me a branch that was not originally of the vine. I am the vine you are the branches".
Originally... He said this and it took me over a year to figure out what branches are originally of Him? Then you read Roman 11 " You will say then, “Branches were broken off so that I could be grafted in.” Granted. But they were broken off because of unbelief, and you stand by faith. Do not be arrogant, but tremble. For if God did not spare the natural branches, he will not spare you either. "
So when Christ says "in me" we duh know its "Christians" He was talking about ...prideful (having an excessively high opinion of oneself). No those people were/are the original branches. It can be applied to us for we are grafted in. Yet no one but no one can tell a grafted in vs original branch.
Though I might disagree with things other believers say yet they are sharing, teaching and showing if you ask me "fruit" in this one small tiny area in this life. The simplest things we do that show love mercy grace are also fruit. Just saying this because of what Paul said " For if God did not spare the natural branches, he will not spare you either." yet again we must look at just WHO Paul was talking to. They thought different then we do now