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Prepare yourself for learning the Word of God!
Before we begin, if you are a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ (that is; you have believed [trusted] in Him for His promised gift of eternal life), it is important to prepare yourself to learn God's Word so take a moment to name, cite or acknowledge (confess) your known unconfessed sins privately to God (i.e.; with your thoughts directed only to God the Father).
1 John 1:9 says: "If we confess our sins, He (God) is faithful and just to forgive us our sins (known sins) and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness [unknown or forgotten sins]." NKJV (New King James Version) [italics added]; we call this REBOUND, read the full doctrine as to “why” we need to use 1 John 1:9 to grow spiritually. REBOUND
If you have never personally believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, that He is the Son of God, the promised Messiah, as your Savior (that is, believed in Him for eternal life), the issue for you is not to name your sins; the issue for you is to simply exercise faith alone in Jesus Christ alone for eternal life; when you do, you will instantly receive Eternal Life: John 3:16, 5:24, 6:47, 20:30, 31.
John 6:47 says: "Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me [Jesus Christ] has everlasting life." NKJV [italics added]
Notice again what Jesus said in John 6:47: "…he who believes in Me (Jesus Christ) has everlasting life." It doesn't say, "will have"; it says, "has." Therefore, the very moment you believe in Jesus Christ for His promise of everlasting life, you have it (it's really just that simple; nothing more and nothing less), and it can never be taken away from you (John 10:28-29). Furthermore, the gift (Ephesians 2:8c) of everlasting life (also called eternal life in scripture) is available to every human being; there are absolutely no exceptions.
John 3:14-15, 16, 17, 18, says: "14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, 15 that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. 16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. 17 For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. 18 He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God." NKJV
Let us now bow our hearts and take a moment to prepare for worship and learning God's Word. If there is any known sin in your life, this is the time to just cite it privately to God the Father with your thoughts directed towards Him. With your head bowed and your eyes closed, you have total privacy in your mind and soul:
Study to show yourself approved to God!
Grace Bible Church
Robert McLaughlin Bible Ministries
The Tree of Life is a weekly teaching summary:
God’s Word is taught Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday
God’s Word is taught Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday
STUDY TITLE:
If you cannot see the LORD Jesus Christ dwelling in fallen man or those with Old Sin Natures (OSN) you will not see Him at all.
As we continue to learn some of the main principles of doctrine from John 15, let’s continue again with some more of the background and the setting of the passage.
This will be a challenge to all of us concerning where we stand as far as our relationship with the LORD is concerned and what effect it has on all of us as far as our relationship and fellowship is with the Vine as we are His branches.
First, let’s look at the first 14 verses to get acquainted with some of the vocabulary that our LORD uses to describe the Vine and the branches and the relationship that we all have with the Vine {TLJC = The Lord Jesus Christ} as well as with the other branches {believers)}.
So, we begin in John 15:1, where our LORD says; “I am the true vine [that is the Doctrine of the Deity of our LORD and the Doctrine of the Hypostatic Union] , and My Father is the vinedresser [Doctrine of logistical Grace].
This is a reference to the Doctrine of the Deity of our LORD Jesus Christ along with the Doctrine of the Hypostatic-Union with emphasis on the Doctrine of Unity and logistics.
Then notice John 15:2, “Every branch in Me [that is “every believer in the Baptism of the Spirit”] that does not bear fruit, He takes away [Doctrine of Divine Discipline]; and every {branch} that bears fruit [The doctrine of the Fruit of the Spirit – Gal 5:22], He prunes it [suffering for blessing], that it may bear more fruit [the Doctrine of Divine Good].
John 15:3-4, “You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you [that is the Doctrine of Salvation]. Abide in Me [fellowship with the indwelling of our LORD Jesus Christ], and I in you [Gal 2:20 ].”
Gal 2:20, “I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the {life} which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of GOD, who loved me, and delivered Himself up for me.
As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, so neither {can} you, unless you abide in Me.
John 15:5-14, “I am the vine, you are the branches [Union with Christ]; he who abides in Me, and I in him, he bears much fruit; for apart from Me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in Me, he is thrown away as a branch, and dries up [the Doctrine of Divine Discipline]; and they gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned. If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it shall be done for you [the doctrine of Prayer]. By this is My Father glorified, that you bear much fruit, and {so} prove to be My disciples. [Fruit bearing of Gal 5:22]. “Just as the Father has loved Me, I have also loved you; abide in My love [The Doctrine of Impersonal Unconditional Love]. If you keep My commandments [guard His doctrines], you will abide in My love; just as I have kept My Father’s commandments, and abide in His love. = [The fulfillemt of the PPOG = predesigned plan of God and the PSD=personal sense of destiny]. These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may be in you, and {that} your joy may be made full = [The doctrine of Happiness or Contentment]. This is My commandment, that you love one another, just as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends. You are My friends, if you do what I command you [fulfillment of the PPOG].
Now, this is a passage that is just filled with doctrines after doctrines. Some of these principles may shock some of you, some may not, but either way, whatever it is, GOD’s word is available for whoever desires His doctrines. Whether you are shocked or free depends upon your understanding of the character and nature of GOD and the finished work of our LORD and Savior Jesus Christ.
If you cannot see the LORD Jesus Christ dwelling in fallen man or those with Old Sin Natures (OSN) you will not see Him at all.
In fact, this will be one of the most vital doctrines in the entire passage as I bring to your attention some men and women that GOD has manifested Himself through.
Now, before we go on to investigate the passage before us, keep in mind that we are being fully trained to handle the outside pressures of adversity so that they do not become inside pressures of stress in the soul. And so, another principle of doctrine we need to apply to our spiritual life is the Doctrine of mercy, grace, and forgiveness. Something we all need at certain times.
Let’s begin by looking at some of the types of individuals that our LORD uses to glorify His Son Jesus Christ. Remember a few important reminders: First, our LORD reveals to us the type of believers He is willing to use…
For example, let’s take Abraham, who, in Rom 4:12 is called the Father of our Faith. Remember that when I point out to you the kind of believers our LORD will use, no matter what the problem is or may be, our LORD promises He will be with us wherever we go; Matt 28:20.
Matt 28:20, our LORD was teaching His disciples to observe all that He commanded them you and He also said, “I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”
Gal 3:9, Abraham will be called faithful Abraham; Gal 3:9 So then those who are of faith are blessed with Abraham, the believer.
And yet it was this very same person, Abraham, that GOD will use to accomplish His plan working together with others to glorify the plan of GOD for all those who desire to do just that! (Glorification of TLJC = The Lord Jesus Christ and also His word).
In Gal 3:8, we are told that GOD would justify all the Gentiles (non-Jews) by faith, He would preached the gospel to Abraham, {saying}, “All the nations shall be blessed in you.” Here is a man who lied twice (willfully) and refused to say that his wife Sarah was his wife but instead he chose to lie (willfully), knowing that it was wrong to do but he did it anyway.
Sarah was Abraham’s his half-sister; Gen 20:2-13.
Gen 20:1, Now Abraham journeyed from there toward the land of the Negev, and settled between Kadesh and Shur; then he sojourned in Gerar.
Now, before we go on a little background is needed.
Abraham and Sarah were step brothers and step sisters, but Abraham is willfully deceiving Abimelech the king of Gerah by saying that Sarah was his step sister and mentioned nothing about him and Sarah being married to Abraham.
Who did this?
Abraham, the father of our faith!
What did the father of our faith, Abraham, say to king Abimelech about Sarah?
Well, let’s read what the father of our faith said to King Abimelech.
Gen 20:2, And Abraham said of Sarah his wife, “She is my sister.” So Abimelech king of Gerar sent and took Sarah.
Right away we got problems.
The first and most obvious problem is that Abraham willfully lied to the king by giving him the impression that Sarah was his sister and not his wife.
Why am I showing you this problem? Why do I keep on saying that Abraham, the father of our faith, willfully sinned? I say that because those who say you can lose your salvation also say you can lose your salvation because all your future sins have not been judged and if you sin willfully there remains no more sacrifice for your sins.
In Heb 6:4-6, we have a passage that they quote and say that Heb 6:4-6, teaches because your future sins were not judged then you can lose your salvation because there is no more sacrifice for your sins.
Let’s look at it!
Heb 6:4-6, For in the case of those who have once been enlightened and have tasted of the heavenly gift and have been made partakers of the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the good word of GOD and the powers of the age to come, and {then} have fallen away, it is impossible to renew them again to repentance, since they again crucify to themselves the Son of GOD, and put Him to open shame.
Why is it impossible to renew ourselves to repentance? It is possible because there are no sacrifices that GOD would ever expect.
Why?
Because in Heb 10:10, By this will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.
Heb 10:23-25, Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful; and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging {one another}; and all the more, as you see the day drawing near.
And then, once again, there is a passage that they misquote and are academically dishonest by taking the scriptures out of context. For they will say if you go on sinning willfully after salvation there remains no more sacrifice for your sins. The problem is they distort one of the most important passages that deal with church attendance and not salvation.
Heb 10:26 says, For if we go on sinning willfully after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins,
Now, if we keep the passage in context we would say that this passage sounds something like this:
Heb 10:23-24, Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful; and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds,
How?
Heb 10:25-26, not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging {one another}; and all the more, as you see the day drawing near. For if we go on sinning willfully [and what is the willfull sin] after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins,
The father of our faith Abraham lied willfully, after he was saved; Gen 15:6.
Gen 20:1-2, Now Abraham journeyed from there toward the land of the Negev, and settled between Kadesh and Shur; then he sojourned in Gerar.
And Abraham said of Sarah his wife, “She is my sister.” So Abimelech king of Gerar sent and took Sarah.
Right away we got problems.
Gen 20:3, But GOD came to Abimelech in a dream of the night, and said to him, “Behold, you are a dead man because of the woman whom you have taken, for she is married.”
Notice the principle that when the husband fails to protect His wife, the LORD will intervene and protect His spiritual bride.
Gen 20:4-5, Now Abimelech had not come near her; and he said, “LORD, wilt Thou slay a nation, even though blameless? Did he not himself say to me, ‘She is my sister’? And she herself said, ‘He is my brother.’ In the integrity of my heart and the innocence of my hands I have done this.”
Here is a passage that teaches that there are times when the unbeliever lives looks better and acts better than the believer in reversionism.
Now, in Gen 20:6-13, Then GOD said to him in the dream, “Yes, I know that in the integrity of your heart you have done this, and I also kept you from sinning against Me; therefore I did not let you touch her.
Now therefore, restore the man’s wife, for he is a prophet, and he will pray for you, and you will live. But if you do not restore her, know that you shall surely die, you and all who are yours.”
So, Abimelech arose early in the morning and called all his servants and told all these things in their hearing; and the men were greatly frightened.
Then Abimelech called Abraham and said to him, “What have you done to us? And how have I sinned against you, that you have brought on me and on my kingdom a great sin?
You have done to me things that ought not to be done.” And Abimelech said to Abraham, “What have you encountered, that you have done this thing?” And Abraham said, “Because I thought, surely there is no fear of GOD in this place; and they will kill me because of my wife.
Besides, she actually is my sister, the daughter of my father, but not the daughter of my mother, and she became my wife; and it came about, when GOD caused me to wander from my father’s house, that I said to her,
‘This is the kindness which you will show to me: everywhere we go, say of me, “He is my brother.”
This is just one of the passages that we could use concerning the failures of GOD’s people and the victories that GOD’s people enjoy. The point is that our LORD desires for us to rest in His plan and beware of making certain decisions that go against the purpose of GOD for our life and the plan of GOD for our life.
In the case of Abraham, he failed many times but Abraham never lost his salvation because of anything that he thought, said, or did.
Let’s continue then with more spiritual analogies.
Next, we have Lot, a young man who continually made worldly choices and worldly decisions for himself as he did in Gen 13:7-11.
Look at Gen 13:7-11, And there was strife between the herdsmen of Abram’s livestock and the herdsmen of Lot’s livestock. Now the Canaanite and the Perizzite were dwelling then in the land.
Then Abram said to Lot, “Please let there be no strife between you and me, nor between my herdsmen and your herdsmen, for we are brothers. Is not the whole land before you?
Please separate from me: if to the left, then I will go to the right; or if to the right, then I will go to the left.” And Lot lifted up his eyes and saw all the valley of the Jordan, that it was well watered everywhere this was before the LORD destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah like the garden of the LORD, like the land of Egypt as you go to Zoar.
So, Lot chose for himself all the valley of the Jordan; and Lot journeyed eastward. Thus they separated from each other.
Here is a man who chose the youthful vigor of carnality over the unique privilege of serving and following our LORD.
Choosing the wrong geographical location, Lot also associated with homosexuals and wicked evil men when he chose to live in Sodom and Gomorrah over the plan of GOD; Gen 13:12-17.
Gen 13:12-17, Abram (not Abraham yet) settled in the land of Canaan, while Lot settled in the cities of the valley, and moved his tents as far as Sodom.
Now the men of Sodom were wicked exceedingly and sinners against the LORD. And the LORD said to Abram, after Lot had separated from him, “Now lift up your eyes and look from the place where you are, northward and southward and eastward and westward; for all the land which you see, I will give it to you and to your descendants forever. And I will make your descendants as the dust of the earth [prosperity of our seed], so that if anyone can number the dust of the earth, then your descendants can also be numbered. Arise, walk about the land through its length and breadth; for I will give it to you.”
And so, this is a principle of doctrine that we should choose and take very seriously because of the importance of being in the right place at the right time.
Lot lost his prosperity, his wife and his reputation, Gen 19:24-38.
Now, concerning the ministries that GOD the Holy Spirit is said to graciously give to us and provide for us although we are given some fantastic blessings at the moment of salvation, none of these ministries make you feel better or any differently. There is no emotional experience with a spiritual connotation.
There’s nothing wrong with the emotions as long as they are used in the way our LORD created them to be used and that is for either the “legitimate emotion of sorrow or hurt” or the “legitimate emotion of laughter and rejoicing.”
The following link is to a good news message describing how one can receive eternal life: Ticket to Heaven, it was written for anyone not absolutely certain about their eternal future.
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