root/branches

From a message by a Curious Questioner--
>CQ> Subject: 2 Tim 3:16

>>CQ2> Nope. The trunk is the True Church. Jesus is the roots! Everyone else is "on a limb" and subject to pruning.... 8-)

>CQ> Wrong! Why put Jesus underground?

"And in that day there shall be a root of Jesse, which shall stand for an ensign of the people; to it shall the Gentiles seek: and his rest shall be glorious." (Isa.11:10)

"For if the firstfruit be holy, the lump is also holy: and if the root be holy, so are the branches. And if some of the branches be broken off, and thou, being a wild olive tree, wert graffed in among them, and with them partakest of the root and fatness of the olive tree; Boast not against the branches. But if thou boast, thou bearest not the root, but the root thee." (Rom.11:16-18)

>CQ> He taught that He is the true vine, and we are the branches, as you say, subject to pruning. He never mentioned the church in this analogy.

"Thou wilt say then, The branches were broken off, that I might be graffed in. Well; because of unbelief they were broken off, and thou standest by faith. Be not highminded, but fear: For if God spared not the natural branches, take heed lest he also spare not thee." (--Paul, the apostle of the Gentiles, Rom.11:19-21)

Be not among the dead sticks that are gathered unto the burning.

Grace be to them that receive the love of the truth. Amen. --Richard