Hmmmm...I didn't know a "branch" could decide anything. I thought it was a natural shoot that drew it strength from the roots. I would interpret a "branch without fruit is cut away" as meaning the tares of the church; those who cry, "Lord, didn't we prophesy in your name...." who the Lord, "never knew". The branches that bear fruit are the true Christian who our Lord tenderly watches over, pruning us so that we bear more fruit.
BOTH means are necessary to come to God - our contemplation and faith in God and our love for our neighbor.
While we are to love our neighbor as ourselves, that is a very hard task to do; one that we fail in. I doubt if many of us have love for Bin Laden or Adolf Hitler. Love is a very complicated process; never seeming to be administered equally or misunderstood. I certainly hope my coming to God is not dependent on my love for my neighbor because I will fail miserably.
I agree. The fruitless ones will not be saved. They will be CUT OFF. This implies they were ONCE part of the "vine". Thus, salvation is not assured, is it? A fruitless branch will be cut off. Salvation without fruit is impossible.
I certainly hope my coming to God is not dependent on my love for my neighbor because I will fail miserably.
With God, all things are possible, Harley. God doesn't require perfection on earth, that is only for those who place themselves under a system of Law. We are under Grace, and as long as we don't refuse God's gifts, we will produce fruit. When I say "we", note I am not speaking of myself producing the fruits alone. I just got done reading St. Augustine's commentary on these very verses, and HE TOO makes that distinction. God's graces enable us to do the formerly impossible.
Regards