John 15

1 "I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. 2 He cuts off every one of my branches that doesn’t bear fruit. He prunes every branch that bears fruit so it can bear even more. 3 You are already pruned and made clean*15:3. The word for pruning in this context is literally, "to cleanse." through what I’ve told you. 4 Remain in me, and I will remain in you.*15:4. Obviously the word "in" should be taken as "in connection with" as the rest of the verse makes clear. Just as a branch cannot produce fruit unless it remains part of the vine, so it is for you: you cannot bear fruit unless you remain in me. 5 I’m the vine, you’re the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce plenty of fruit—for apart from me you can’t do anything. 6 Anyone who doesn’t remain in me is like a branch that is thrown out and dries up. Such branches are gathered together, thrown into the fire and burned. 7 If you remain in me, and my words remain in you, then you can ask for whatever you want, and it will be given you. 8 My Father is glorified as you produce plenty of fruit, proving you are my disciples.