These are wonderful scriptures and I believe they are telling the truth.
Now interpret John 15:1-2, especially when Jesus says that "every branch IN ME that beareth not fruit, he taketh away.
So interpret these items in the saying:
1) who are the 'branches'?
2) what does Jesus mean when he says "every branch IN ME"?
3) who is 'he'?
4) what does Jesus mean, 'he taketh away'?
5) who is 'he' going to take away"
6) where is 'he' going to take them?
Thank you for your analysis.
Not answering for TT here.
But is it possible
The branches that bore fruit were the 11 disciples and all true disciples of the church.
And the fruitless branches represent Judas and those who in fact were never true disciples to begin with?
This passage falls in the scripture of John. (By the way I love these chapters)
Before this passage Jesus says one of you will betray me, then he gives the new commandment, then he tells Peter you will deny me, then he says "Im the way truth and life, then he promises the Holy Spirit.
Then we have the vine.
Jesus knew what was about to happen, with Judas and with Peter (I surmise with Thomas as well)
Peter cut the High Priests servant ear off.
He prayed for all belivers in these chapters, he knew Gethsemane was approaching, he knew crucifixion was imminent.
Judas betrays Jesus, Peter denied Jesus 3 times.
Peter is restored (and I still put it out there that Peter never asked to be forgiven of his of denying Jesus)
Judas was not restored.
Why not?
I would say it was because he never knew the real Jesus in the first place.
He was never a true disciple in the first place.
He was a tare and Jesus knew that, never a genuine beliver to begin with.
He was looking to a Jesus that would overthrow Rome.
I put it out there that the branches cut off are not genuine belivers, they never knew him, have no interest in knowing him and have no interest in wanting to be like him.
Have never made him Lord and have no interest in doing so.
Those in the vine even though they wither, bear good fruit but also bear bad fruit will acknowledge they bear bad fruit.
That's why they are pruned and not cut off.
Fruit
Galatians 5:22-25
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. 24 And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.
Fruit produces works.
Genuine belivers will be pruned to bear more fruit.
One tree that bears one apple will be pruned to produce two and so on.
It can only be pruned if it's planted in the soil.
For me if it was never planted in the soil or the vine in the first place then they had no true faith.
The true faith that saves, just like Peter and unlike Judas