Continued from our previous post.

It is apparent that some fell to produce the fruits necessary in order to make their calling and election sure because they fell to abide in the Lord, rather they allow the cares of this world, jobs, family, friends, ambitions and etc. to draw them away, and so in essence they cut themselves off from the vine, from membership in the Body of Christ, the “Royal Priesthood”.

But what happens to such, what does it mean that they are “withered” and “thrown in the fire to be burned”?

“Two types of interpretation can be pursued for this parable. The fact that the cut-off branch “withers” creates a problem (Verse 6). One explanation is that Jesus is considering only the Little Flock here and is ignoring the Great Company altogether. The lesson would be that for one to stay in the vine, in Christ, in a particular arrangement with the Lord as his Church, he must bear fruit. That seems to be the better interpretation.

However, the parable is difficult to interpret with definiteness.

If a person is cut off from the vine, separated from fellowship with Christ, is there hope for him?

The destruction would seem to be severe, but on the other hand, those who do bring forth fruit—even if not much—are pruned to bring forth more fruit. This parable has several dilemmas, but it is particularly concentrating on what Jesus is looking for in the true Church.”

“This parable does not say that the Great Company remains in the vine. Notice how the parable ends. It does not say that the cut-off branches are destroyed—they are just burned. The point is that a class are separated from the vine and burned, but since they are not destroyed, the emphasis of the illustration is on the fruitage, not on the other particulars. Otherwise, the Great Company would have to remain on the vine. Those who do not produce fruitage are severed. Those who do produce fruit are pruned to produce more fruit. This parable seems to emphasize only the true Church. Even the destruction is not emphasized—just the true Church and their fruitage.” (The Gospel of John, Page 30, 31)

So then once again what have we learn?

Well similar to our previous post we have a class of consecrated individuals all of whom the Scriptures designate as “virgins”, pure ones. These virgins are likewise divided into two classes the “wise” and the “foolish”, the foolish unfortunately felling to abide in their Lord have thus felled to produce the proper fruits of the spirit, this no doubt due to the fact that they lacked sufficient “oil” in their vessels, (i.e., the holy spirit or holy disposition, Matt 25:8). “Without me you can do nothing”, you cannot accomplish anything, you cannot bear fruit. (John 15:5)

As to the outcome of such the Scriptures hold out two possibilities, they will either procure the necessary “oil” in and through the lessons learned through fire (great tribulation, troubles, and trials) or they will be destroyed by that fire.

Continued with next post.