John Chapter 15 should give every Christian pause.

I won't quote the whole chapter here, you can read it in your very own Bible, but be warned - God says what He means and means what He says. Theologians may try to "explain it away" but the message in John 15 is very clear.

Every believer in Christ is referred to by this illustration beginning in John 15:1 or the scripture is meaningless. If the believer is fruitful he is purged to produce more fruit. If he is fruitless he is taken away or removed from being part of the vine.

The Father does this, not man. No man is able to pluck one branch from God's hands, but if we say that God cannot cut off any branch that is fruitless, then we limit God and make the dead, fruitless, and useless branches to be more powerful than He is.

To take this position would be like saying to the vinedresser that it would be unlawful to prune the vine and remove the dead branches. No man can cut off any branch that is not actually in the vine.

It is absurd and contrary to the letter and spirit of the parable here to talk about branches that are cut off as merely professing to be branches. If the idea here is only professed union of the vine and branches then there could only be a professed cutting off and burning; so the passage would mean nothing because it would have said nothing to any purpose.

"Abide" in John 15:4 is Greek word "meno" which means remain, continue, dwell and abide. This is a command to remain in Christ. The reason is given here as not being able to bear fruit otherwise.

Verse 6: Believers must remain in Him to bring forth fruit. If any man does not abide in Him he is cast forth as a branch and is withered and burned.

I encourage you to read the entire chapter - word for word. Research the meanings to words in your Greek concordance. But don't take anyone's watered down explanation for it. Read the Word for youself and let the Spirit of God speak to you concerning this.

Christians are under obligation to obey the gospel throughout life, not only during one brief act of faith. Nothing short of complete obedience must be rendered. It is impossible to retain a sense of pardoning grace without continuing in obedient grace.

Now. Where does this leave "Once Saved, Always Saved" or "Unconditional" Eternal Security?