Law Leads To Christ
2 Replies
Author Archives: Unashamed of Jesus
John 15- The Vine
I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit. Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you. John 15:1-3
Jesus again reveals another “I AM “ statement, Jesus states “I AM The Vine”, as we remember is in reference to God revealing He is “I AM” to Moses in Exodus. This is obviously another revelation of Christ deity. Notice Jesus is the Vine to the Father, remember Jesus said He is The Way to the Father (John 14:6)
Jesus said “Any branch that doesn’t produce fruit will be cut off” Now some would argue that means we can “lose our salvation”. I’m not convinced we can lose our salvation, as the salvation was never ours to begin with. Salvation is a gift from God through Christ. Secondly when we become Born Again in Christ (John 3) how can you become spiritually unborn again? Doesn’t seem logical or possible to me
Remember what Jesus said to the LukeWarm Church of Laodicea in Revelation 3, “Since you are not hot or cold, I will spit you out of my mouth” (Revelation 3:16) Jesus has expectations for us as believers. If you claim to have faith in Christ, there should be some evidence for your faith, a conversion you might say. As the Apostle James taught “Faith without works is dead” (James 3)
Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned. John 15:4-6
Now you might say “this is works based salvation talk” , notice what Jesus says “A branch can’t bear fruit without him” Any works that we produce as a Christian, is because of Christ. Including our salvation, nobody can save themselves, salvation is only possible by Jesus alone.
What leads us to repentance? Its the conviction of the Holy Spirit (John 16:8) See any fruit we bear or works we produce is because of God, not ourselves. Fruits are the evidence of our salvation
If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you. Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples. As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love. John 15:7-9
What is the secret for producing fruit? Abide in Christ! The word Abide here in the Greek means to remain, wait, and stay. Be patient with God, be faithful and obedient to Jesus, and he will take care of you!
Any good work or fruit you produce is for the Glory of God. Nothing is done in the name of Jesus for our own glory, otherwise we are not producing good fruit. Abide in Jesus , Amen!
Crucified With Christ
John 14- The Holy Spirit Part 1
If ye love me, keep my commandments. And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. John 14:15-17
Jesus gives us another revelation, the coming of the Holy Spirit. Now the interesting thing in the Greek the word to describe the Holy Spirit is Parakletos meaning Comforter, Advocate, Helper, and Counselor. This makes me wonder if the Wonderful Counselor in Isaiah 9:6 is not the Holy Spirit, but anyway Jesus promised the coming of The Holy Spirit and he will abide with us forever!
Notice not everyone can receive the Holy Spirit, the world can’t receive him because they don’t know him. Both those who receive Christ, know the Holy Spirit and The Spirit of God lives inside of us (Romans 8:11)
I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you. Yet a little while, and the world seeth me no more; but ye see me: because I live, ye shall live also. At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you. John 14:18-20
Even though Jesus ascended back to Heaven, he promised He will never leave us! How? Because the Holy Spirit lives inside of us! You should take comfort in knowing this, the same power that rose Jesus from the dead is living inside of us (Romans 8:11)
Notice how we are all integrated together, The Son lives in the Father, as we live in the Son , as the Son lives in us and the Holy Spirit lives inside of us. We are all connected to the Father, Son , and Holy Spirit as the Body of Christ, abide in Christ
He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him. Judas saith unto him, not Iscariot, Lord, how is it that thou wilt manifest thyself unto us, and not unto the world? Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him. John 14:21-23
Remember Jesus started by saying “If you love me, keep my Commandments” if you truly love Christ, you will listen to him! To say we love Jesus and don’t do anything he tells us, makes us hypocrites. You must be obedient to Christ as the Son was obedient to the Father
Notice Jesus says “We will come unto him” Who is We? The Father , Son, and Holy Spirit. Jesus isn’t referring to himself or just referring to the Father. God is Triune in nature and the Holy Spirit lives inside of You, Amen!
Accursed
John 14- Fathers House
Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. John 14:1-3
This Chapter is one of the most commonly read during a funeral, why? Because Jesus is giving us a glimpse into the afterlife. Also he is revealing his promises about when we physically die. In my Fathers House (Heaven) there are many mansions (dwelling places). Jesus is confirming there is plenty of room for you in God’s Kingdom
Not only is there room, but Jesus is preparing that place for us already! Another wonderful promise is Jesus said “He will come again for us and receive us to himself” When it’s our time to go, Jesus is coming for us! We have heard numerous people who reported Near Death Experiences (NDE’s) they saw Jesus come to them. Take comfort in knowing this!
And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know. Thomas saith unto him, Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way? Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. John 14:4-6
Now maybe Jesus’s words caused more questions than answers, the Apostle Thomas had many questions also. Thomas said “We don’t know where you going”? “How do we know the way”? Its ok to have questions and doubts, trust in Jesus he holds the keys to death and Hell
Jesus declares one of the most controversial messages even today “ I AM The Way , The Truth , and The Life, Nobody comes to God except through Me”! Did you catch that? Jesus is the only way to God, Jesus is the only way to salvation. All other roads lead to Hell
If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him. Philip saith unto him, Lord, shew us the Father, and it sufficeth us. Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Shew us the Father? John 14:7-9
Jesus began revealing that “Since you seen Him (Jesus) you have seen God” As was revealed earlier Jesus is God in the flesh (John 1:14) Maybe this is a difficult concept for us to grasp, imagine the disciples have been with Jesus for 3 years and are still just gettin it!
Remember Jesus has promised and prepared a place for You! Jesus is the only way to God and Jesus is God! There is no other way to eternal life or God, trust in Jesus! Amen!
Repent Or Else
John 13- Brotherhood Betrayal
Now I tell you before it come, that, when it is come to pass, ye may believe that I am he. Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that receiveth whomsoever I send receiveth me; and he that receiveth me receiveth him that sent me When Jesus had thus said, he was troubled in spirit, and testified, and said, Verily, verily, I say unto you, that one of you shall betray me. John 13:19-21
Now while Jesus and the disciples were at the Lords Supper or known as the Last Supper, Jesus reveals some prophecies. Jesus said “He’s telling them these things so when they are fulfilled they will know He is the Christ” As you can see Jesus is “troubled in his spirit” the things which he is about to reveal are horrific
Jesus reveals someone is going to betray him, now we all know this is Judas, however at the time the disciples had no idea. It’s hard to imagine , Judas spent three years of his life by Jesus side, witnessed many miracles and teachings, and yet allowed Satan to tempt him and betray the Son of God! Let that be a warning to us all!
Then the disciples looked one on another, doubting of whom he spake. Now there was leaning on Jesus’ bosom one of his disciples, whom Jesus loved. Simon Peter therefore beckoned to him, that he should ask who it should be of whom he spake. He t hen lying on Jesus’ breast saith unto him, Lord, who is it? John 13:22-25
Notice the disciples reaction to Jesus message, they all looked at each other, like maybe its me! Nobody had any idea it was Judas except Jesus, shows you how deceptive Judas was. Peter , always being the leader, came out and asked Jesus directly “Who is it Lord”?
Jesus answered, He it is, to whom I shall give a sop, when I have dipped it. And when he had dipped the sop, he gave it to Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon. And after the sop Satan entered into him. Then said Jesus unto him, That thou doest, do quickly. Now no man at the table knew for what intent he spake this unto him. John 13:26-28
Jesus gave them all a hint, yet they still didnt get it. Perhaps Jesus is giving us hints in our lives and we still are not getting it also. Jesus told Judas “Get it over with “, Jesus knew Judas was going to sell out the Son of God to the Religious Leaders and Romans to have him killed. This was all for us, to save us from our sins!
For some of them thought, because Judas had the bag, that Jesus had said unto him, Buy those things that we have need of against the feast; or, that he should give something to the poor. He then having received the sop went immediately out: and it was night. Therefore, when he was gone out, Jesus said, Now is the Son of man glorified, and God is glorified in him .If God be glorified in him, God shall also glorify him in himself, and shall straightway glorify him. John 13:27-32
Satan thought he had defeated Jesus, however God was going to use this moment to glorify Christ. As Jesus said earlier “Nobody has the authority to take his life” (John 10:18) Jesus willingly laid down his life as the atonement for our sins
There’s a lot of Judas’s in the Church today, beware of your intentions and motives, who is driving you, Jesus or Satan? Make sure everything you do is for the Glory of God, Amen!
Message To The Church
Holds The Keys
Unashamed of Jesus 