Jesus did not pray for the nations of the world. He prayed for the elect, for those whom the Father has given Him. As soon as the fruit of righteousness appears in the sight of the world, as soon as the peoples of the earth behold the Glory of God in the saints, the world will believe that God has sent the Lord Jesus Christ.

The believers of today are babes in Christ. Therefore the world continues in darkness.

Jesus did not say if we did not bear fruit we would not go to Heaven. Heaven is not the issue. The issue is that of being allowed to remain as part of the Vine.

If the fruit of God's image does not appear in our personality, if there is no new creation, we are in danger of being cut out of the Vine.

Believers speak of "eternal security." What do they mean by that? Do they mean they will remain in the Vine whether or not they bear fruit? If this is what they mean they are contradicting the words of the Lord Jesus.

We are baptized into the Body of Christ by the Holy Spirit. After that we must walk faithfully with Christ as He brings us into God's image. Each day the Lord presents a new challenge to us. If through His grace we rise to meet that challenge we will continue to abide in Him.

If, however, we neglect prayer, the study of the Word, obedience, the fellowship of the saints, and do not press into Christ each day, we are not continuing to abide in Him. If we continue to abide in Him we bear fruit naturally. But if we do not continue to abide in Him we cannot bear fruit. If we do not bear fruit, God will remove us from the Vine.

There are multitudes in the Christian churches. Among these multitudes there are a few who, through the Spirit of God, overcome every enemy that comes against their abiding in Christ. These few are the true Church, the Wife of the Lamb, the Body of Christ, the branches of the one true Vine.

Thou hast a few names even in Sardis which have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with me in white: for they are worthy. (Revelation 3:4)

It is written that in the last days the love of the majority (the majority of believers) will grow cold (Matthew 24:12). This is happening in our day. The Christian people of the wealthy nations are succumbing to the lust, drunkenness, ease, and prosperity with which they are surrounded.

The "cold" do not bear the fruit of God's image in their lives. Therefore they shall be cut out of the Vine. They never will be part of the Wife of the Lamb. They will not be heirs of the nations of the earth. Whether or not they will be saved in the Day of Wrath is known to God alone.

Only those who bear the fruit of the image of God, bearing it in themselves and in those with whom they come in contact, will be allowed to remain in the Vine. We may desire to go to Paradise. But God's desire is that righteousness and praise spring forth in the sight of the nations of the earth.

To be continued.