John 15:1-17
The Vine and the Branches
"I am the true vine, and my Father is the farmer. Every branch in me that doesn't
bear fruit, he takes away. Every branch that bears fruit, he prunes, that
it may bear more fruit. You are already pruned clean
because of the word which I have spoken to you. Remain in me, and I in you. As
the branch can't bear fruit by itself, unless it remains in the vine, so
neither can you, unless you remain in me. I am the vine. You are the
branches. He who remains in me, and I in him, the same bears much fruit,
for apart from me you can do nothing. If a man doesn't remain in me, he
is thrown out as a branch, and is withered; and they gather them, throw
them into the fire, and they are burned. If you remain in me, and my words
remain in you, you will ask whatever you desire, and it will be done for
you.
"In this is my Father
glorified, that you bear much fruit; and so you will be my disciples.
Even as the Father has
loved me, I also have loved you. Remain in my love. If you keep my commandments, you
will remain in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and
remain in his love. I
have spoken these things to you, that my joy may remain in you, and that
your joy may be made full.
"This is my commandment,
that you love one another, even as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than
this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends, if you do
whatever I command you. No longer do I call you
servants, for the servant doesn't know what his lord does. But I have
called you friends, for everything that I heard from my Father, I have
made known to you. You
didn't choose me, but I chose you, and appointed you, that you should go
and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain; that whatever you will
ask of the Father in my name, he may give it to you.
"I command these things to
you, that you may love one another.