True enough. I stand corrected. But my original point is this --------- God is the one doing the pruning. I cannot know if anyone is a true believer by looking to his produce. Only God knows the heart of man -- (Heb 4:12).
I know we hate the word "hermeneutic" here on TT. But, the fact remains that without a conscious hermeneutic on the part of the disciple, she can come up with almost anything.
I.e., we can conclude that if the bible makes a statement, converse considerationa are always true, as well. We do this extremely often. But --- by their fruit, you shall know them" taken antithetically does not mean that observable fruit is the only consideration God looks to when judging man. Not at all. Exegesis ver isogesis.
One who doubts is unstable in all his ways does not mean that God will not act upon the request of one who prays in doubt (Lord, I believe, help me in my unbelief).
JD
-----Original Message-----
From: Terry Clifton <wabbits1234@earthlink.net>
To: [email protected]
Sent: Tue, 04 Oct 2005 08:21:49 -0500
Subject: Re: [TruthTalk] Fruitbearing vs Faithtalking
Both John. Read it again. If you produce no fruit, you are headed for the fire. If you produce some fruit, you are empowered to produce more fruit.
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[EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:
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[EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:
John 15:1,2 pretty much validates my point, does it not. Is the branch in this example cut completely off the tree or only trimmed back so it will [evenetually] be even more fruitful?JD
I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branchthat does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful.John 15:1,2
