The Vine and the branches1"I, I AM the true Vine and My Father tends this Vine.2He cuts out every branch in Me that does not produce fruit. Even the fruitful branches He carefully prunes so that in future they will bear even more fruit.3"You have already been pruned through the words I have spoken to you.4Stay living in Me and I will continue to live in you. It is impossible for any branch to be fruitful if it is separated from the Vine. It has to continue to live in the Vine. In the same way, it would be impossible for you to bear fruit if you were not to remain living in Me.5"I AM the Vine and you are the branches in the Vine. Anyone who continues to live in Me and I in him will be abundantly fruitful. But outside of Me you can do absolutely nothing.6For anyone who does not continue to live at one with Me is like a branch that is thrown away and so withers. All such branches are gathered, thrown into the fire and burned.Remain in His love7"By contrast, if you continue to live at one with Me and My words continue to live in you, you can ask for anything you want and it will be given you.8My Father will be glorified and honoured in your lives because you will bear much fruit and so demonstrate that you are truly My disciples.9"I have loved you in exactly the same way that My Father loves Me. So continue to live in My love.10You will remain in My love if you obey what I have commanded you, in the same way that I have remained in My Father's love by obeying what He commanded Me.11"I have told you this because I want you to have within you the same joy that is in Me. I want you to be absolutely full of My joy.
Scripture quoted by permission. The passage above is taken from THE TRUTH VERSION. Copyright © 2009 by Colin Urquhart. All rights reserved worldwide. (The Truth New Testament)