A Warning From The Lord! Abide Or Be Cut Down!

The Words of Jesus Christ That Cannot Be Ignored.

There are words of Jesus Christ that may not be heard from many a pulpit; they may not drop from the mouths of many a minister, but that is no excuse for them to be missing from our lives as believers. The following is such a word: Abide or Be Cut Down.

Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles? Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. 

A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Therefore by their fruits you will know them. Matthew 7:15-20.

The seriousness of these words cannot be overlooked; It must be fully understood that the words of Jesus Christ are not mere suggestions, nor are they just to be taken as opinions that are left to the discretion of the listener to be considered; these are divine truths that must be heard, received and obeyed.

Jesus Christ Himself declared that His words are Spirit and life, and to disregard them is to reject the very truth that brings salvation. Jesus declared with unmistakable clarity, “Every tree that does not bring forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.” (Matthew 7:19).

His warnings cannot be taken lightly, for they are life to those who take hold of His word, but rejection of His Word will result in death to those who blatantly refuse to heed to His word.

Jesus Christ never considered fruitlessness a small or insignificant matter. To Him, it was a sign of lifelessness and rejection before the Father. “By their fruits ye shall know them.” (Matthew 7:20). 

The presence of fruit being in the lives of believers is not optional; on the contrary, it is the essential evidence that the life of Jesus Christ within His followers is real and active.

Jesus Christ gave a very vivid picture when He came upon a barren fig tree: “And when Jesus saw a fig tree in the way, He came to it, and found nothing thereon, but leaves only, and said unto it, Let no fruit grow on thee henceforward for ever. And presently the fig tree withered away.” (Matthew 21:19).

The message that Jesus is declaring should ring clear and must become a revelation in our lives: outward show without inward life ends in swift judgment. The tree appeared alive; it displayed full foliage, yet it bore no fruit. Jesus was not deceived by its appearance; He looked for fruit, but its absence brought rejection.

Again, Jesus Christ warned, “Every tree which does not bring forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.” (Matthew 3:10). This is of tremendous importance; they are to be firmly fixed in the lives of all believers. Fruitlessness is not tolerated in the Kingdom of God. The axe is already laid to the root, and the Judge stands at the door.

The Lord also spoke this parable: “A certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard, and he came and sought fruit thereon, and found none. Then said he unto the dresser of his vineyard, Behold, these three years I come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and find none, cut it down; why cumbereth it the ground?” (Luke 13:6–7).

The Father patiently seeks fruit in the lives of those who claim His name, yet His patience will not last forever. “And if it bear fruit, well: and if not, then after that thou shalt cut it down.” (Luke 13:9).

A life without fruit reveals a heart that has not truly repented, a soul that has not truly abided in Jesus Christ. Jesus said, “Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He taketh away, and every branch that beareth fruit, He purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.” (John 15:2).

To remain barren while the life of Jesus Christ dwells within is to deny the transforming power of His presence and to resist the very purpose for which we were redeemed.

There may be countless people who profess His name, who have clothed themselves in the outward appearance of religion, yet live their lives without the fruit of repentance, righteousness, and love; they therefore remain fruitless.

Jesus warned, “Not every one that saith unto Me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven, but he that doeth the will of My Father which is in heaven.” (Matthew 7:21). 

These words of Jesus Christ cannot be ignored; He will say to the barren and those who are self-deceived, “I never knew you: depart from Me, ye that work iniquity.” (Matthew 7:23).

The call of Jesus Christ is given to us so that we will abide deeper in His divine life. “Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine, no more can ye, except ye abide in Me.” (John 15:4).

The commands of Jesus Christ are both proclaimed as an invitation and a solemn warning. The life of fruitfulness flows only through those who remain connected to Him, for He said, “I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in Me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit, for without Me ye can do nothing.” (John 15:5).

The consequence for not abiding is sobering: Jesus issued a solemn warning that every believer must understand:  If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned. John 15:6.

Jesus spoke about the finality of what happens to the one who refuses to remain in Him. The branch does not simply lose some of its fruit; it loses its very life. This truth must never be taken lightly; fruitlessness is not merely disappointing; it is fatal.

Disconnection means death; the image is sharp and undeniable, a branch that refuses to stay connected withers quickly. Its green life fades, its strength dries up, and it becomes brittle and useless. Such branches are not left lying on the ground; they are gathered up and cast into the fire.

Jesus is speaking about eternal consequences. This is a very serious warning to every believer.  A Profession of faith without abiding in Christ is empty, a life that once seemed alive but has drifted from the vine will not endure.

Now is the time to examine the heart. The words of Jesus Christ leave no room for complacency in anyone’s life. He said, “Herein is My Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be My disciples.” (John 15:8).

True discipleship is marked by fruit that remains. A fruitless life will be rejected, but a surrendered life will be fruitful. Therefore, let every believer take heed. To fail to remain is to forfeit life itself. Jesus makes it clear that apart from Him, there is no safety, no security and no future.

His words must be heard, believed and obeyed. To dismiss them is to walk towards the fire and loss: Therefore, let every believer take heed, do not toy with sin, do not play with compromise, and do not imagine that life can be sustained without Him.

The branch that does not remain is cut off; the urgency is real, the danger is great, and the only refuge is in continuing in Christ. This is of utmost importance, and you need to hear this: Remain in Jesus hold fast to Him, draw life from Him without ceasing.

For in Him there is fruit, life and eternal joy: the consequence of failing to remain in Him is spiritual death and ultimate judgement.  Therefore, let the life of Jesus Christ flow unhindered through every thought, word, and deed.

For only those who abide in Jesus Christ and bear good fruit will stand approved before Almighty God our Heavenly Father.

Jesus has spoken. The command is unmistakably clear. Abide, or be cut down.