In the first fourteen verses of the fifteenth chapter of John’s Gospel we find Jesus talking to His disciples. These are men who have been with Him from the beginning of His ministry. They have preached the Gospel, healed the sick and cast out demons as they had seen Him do for three years. If any group of people qualified to be His spiritual brethren, these men would surely be in that group. If anyone was sure to join Him in the hereafter, it would be these miracle-working Truth preachers. Their way into the Kingdom of God appeared to be assured. However, there is no such assurance for anyone, not even His chosen apostles. Read The Friends of Jesus. Key word–Friends. Listen to what He tells them. His message is to everyone who, though super religious, is failing to meet the minimum standards for inclusion in God’s church family. Using His Holy Bible as THE ONE AND ONLY STANDARD FOR INCLUSION, only about one percent of church people are qualifying. Jesus warned about this situation (Mat. 7:13,14/ 22:14). Many, He laments, are being called, but few are being chosen for having answered the call.

Beginning in verse two Jesus speaks to His disciples and all to others who would seek to join Him in the Kingdom of God. In describing what is necessary to enter that holy future paradise, He compares their spiritual lives to the production of grapes (fruit). He symbolizes Himself as the true vine, His Father as the vinedresser and his disciples (followers) as the vines. Throughout this symbol-rich teaching Jesus uses the term “bearing fruit” to mean OBEYING HIS WORDS/COMMANDMENTS/LAW. In chapter fourteen verse forty-eight He said that all people, including His disciples, would be judged by every Word He had spoken. This refers to EVERY WORD IN THE BIBLE. HE TELLS US THAT HE HAD SPOKEN EVERY WORD WRITTEN IN THE HOLY SCRIPTURES TO THE PROPHETS OR THE APOSTLES WHO RECORDED THEM. HE SPOKE TO THEM EITHER THROUGH THE HOLY SPIRIT OR FACE-TO-FACE. THE WORDS HE SPOKE ARE WORDS HE HAD RECEIVED FROM GOD (JN. 12:49). FOR THIS REASON HE IS REFERRED TO AS “THE WORD” (JN. 1:1-4,14). HE WAS/IS THE “LOGOS”–THE SPOKESMAN FOR THE GODHEAD WHICH CONSISTS OF GOD AND THE WORD WHO BECAME JESUS OF NAZARETH. THE HOLY SPIRIT IS THEIR POWER BY WHICH THEY DO WHAT THEY DO.

In verse two of the focal passage Jesus tells us that in order to be in His vineyard we must bear fruit. Otherwise we will be broken off from the vine (Jesus) now and will be removed and destroyed at the time of judgment. Fruit-bearing branches (disciples/believers) are pruned (have hearts spiritually circumcised to remove everything that is unholy–Rom. 2:29). This enable the saint to bear more fruit. As the passage reveals, TO BEAR FRUIT MEANS TO OBEY GOD’S WORDS/COMMANDMENTS. In verse three Jesus tells us that His Word, if studied and believed on a continuous basis, cleanses us of that which is not of God–church doctrine being an excellent example. In Ephesians 5:26 He states through the Apostle Paul that we are cleansed “by the washing by the water by the (His) Word.” It is for this reason that I continually encourage readers to study the Word and provide Scriptural references for what I write. Notice that the name of my website reflects the Biblical command to “prove all things” using God’s Word as the only true source of spiritual Truth. Jesus confirms this in John 17:17 where He tells the Father that His (God’s) Word is Truth. and since God is the Source of Christ’s Words, they are also Truth. And if we are truly led by Their Holy Spirit, our Words will also be Truth. It is for this reason that we are told to be careful about what we say. We are told that no man can control his tongue (Jam. 3:6,8). If we are led by the Holy Spirit we are sons of God (Rom. 8:14) and our tongues are controlled by His Spirit living within us, as was the case with the man Jesus.

In verses four through fourteen Jesus uses the Word “ABIDE” eight times. To abide means to remain within a location or situation over time. We abide in our homes or jobs, meaning that we have established that we belong there and have no plans to leave. Biblically speaking, the word “abide” has a very powerful connotation. In verse four Jesus addresses the disciples in the context of the future. He commands them to “abide in Me,” and in turn He would abide in them in the form of the Holy Spirit. Notice that the disciples had a choice in the matter–to abide in Him or not. Recall that many of Christ’s disciples left Him and returned to the world at one point (Jn. 6:66)

The disciples did not have the Holy Spirit abiding IN them at that point because that would not be possible until Jesus had died and been resurrected. For that reason the disciples had not been converted as Jesus told Peter (Lk. 22:32). Before the celebration of Pentecost in 31 A.D., the Spirit was WITH THE DISCIPLES BUT NOT YET IN THEM. The Holy Spirit entered them after appearing as tongues of fire on the day that the New Testament church came into being (Acts 1:4,5). All God-given ministry is directed and empowered by the Holy Spirit. Obedience to God’s commandments is possible only by the power of the Spirit. Since the founding of the church on the Day of Pentecost 31 A.D., only those who have received the Holy Spirit during the act of justification (having all past sins forgiven) are true Christians. Recall that Jesus was unknown until He received the Spirit at His baptism (Mat. 3:16). It was only then, at age 29, that His ministry began. Until them He was known only as a carpenter. He had preached no sermons and had performed no miracles. The overwhelming majority of church people, including their ministers, are counterfeit Christians. Because of their false conversions they are low-hanging fruit for Satan who has filled the church with heathen beliefs and customs. See the home page of this website for a list of such pagan “truths.”

Read verses four through fourteen carefully. Doing so you will notice that Jesus uses the Words “abide” and “in” extensively. As noted earlier, He says “abide” eight times. However, He uses the Word “in” eleven times. In each case He is stressing the need for us to ABIDE IN Him and the Father and for Them to ABIDE IN us. There is much more to those commands than believing in the Godhead, going to church, reading the Bible, etc.

This foundational Truth is brought out in First John where we are told that “IN HIM (GOD OR CHRIST) THERE IS NO DARKNESS (SIN) AT ALL”–none, not one sin can be found in the members of the Godhead (1:4,5). Therefore, if we continue to sin we cannot be “in Him”–Christ or God. What does this reveal about so-called “sinners saved by grace?” It reveals that, in the eyes of God and Christ, church sinners are fake Christians whom Satan has deceived (Rev. 12:9). Read “It Is Finished.,” “Lord” Versus “Savior,” and The Justification–In Him Connection.” Key words–Finished, Savior and Justification respectively. Also read First John chapter one verses one through ten and chapter two, verses three through five. John knew how to separate sheep from goats. The basic problem is that Satan has the goats believing that they are sheep. Christ’s letter to today’s church reveals His opinion of her members (Rev. 3:14-22).

In verses four through fourteen of the focal passage Jesus says a number of things that we will now examine. We will begin with verse ten because in it Jesus defines what the expression “IN HIM” means. Here He tells us that: “IF you (disciples) KEEP MY COMMANDMENTS you will ABIDE IN MY LOVE, even as I HAVE KEPT MY FATHER’S COMMANDMENTS and (therefore) ABIDE IN HIS LOVE.” Recall that to “bear fruit” means to obey the commandments. Note that Jesus Himself had to obey God’s commandments in order to remain in His Father’s love. We are not better than Christ.

With that foundation laid, we will return to verse four. As a branch must abide in the vine in order to produce fruit, we (branches) must ABIDE IN CHRIST (the vine) in order to bear fruit (be the example for others by obeying the commandments). In this way we are indeed “our brothers’ keepers.” Read that series using the key word–Keeper. We are told that those in the world must “see our good works” (obedience to the Law)–1 Pet. 2:12. A few will like the fruit they see and want to be a part of it. The rest will hate us (Mat. 10:17,18,21,22). Trust me, if you obey God you WILL be noticed by the world, specifically the worldly church whose members will reject you.

Three times during this segment Jesus uses the word “IF.” In each case He is referring to whether or not a disciple REMAINS IN HIM AND IN THE FATHER. Here He makes clear the Truth that one can be IN HIM and then depart from Him. Most modern (Laodicean) churches teach that once one is supposedly “saved” ONE cannot become lost. This is actually true in that salvation will not be awarded until the return of Jesus Christ. In the meantime, we are continually getting “closer to salvation than when we first believed” (Rom. 13:11). Those who will receive salvation will be those who have been IN HIM since being justified and will have obeyed His commandments until their deaths.

Read verses four through fourteen carefully. Again, notice the Lord’s use of the Word “IF”–THE MOST HATED WORD IN THE HOLY BIBLE. That tiny word is very significant. It means that no one is guaranteed eternal life for recognizing Christ’s death and resurrection, completing a prescribed ritual, repeating the sinner’s prayer, receiving Jesus as your Savior, being baptized, etc. Even the angels had a choice. Recall that 1/3 of them turned against God and tried to overthrow Him so as to rule the universe.

Until his death, man has a choice. Read Sin Is A Choice. Key word–Choice. Read in Matthew 25 the parable of the ten virgins. They were all “virgins” (true Christians) at one time. Then five of them “ran out of oil” so that their “lights went out.” Recall that Jesus said that as long as He was in the world, He was the light of the world. He told the disciples that they were the light of the world. Their “light” was their obedience to God’s Word so that the world could see how they lived their lives (Jn. 8:12/ Mat. 5:14).

The problem with the five foolish virgins was that they stopped obeying the commandments of God. Note that they nevertheless remained in the church, went through the religious motions and continued to be known as “virgins.” They also believed themselves to be “virgins.” When they arrived at the marriage supper expecting to be invited in, they were turned away. Notice what Jesus says to them before shutting the door in their faces: “I do not (no longer) know you.” He had at one time “known” them as His spiritual brethren. The message is: ABIDE IN THE LORD BY OBEYING HIS COMMANDMENTS/WORDS. Read John 14:15 and 23. Note that Jesus equates His commandments (vs 14) with His Words (vs 23). Because Satan has hidden this Truth from the salvation seeking masses, there are today approximately 2.5 billion foolish virgins in the Catholic/Protestant Religious System that calls itself “the church.” If you are part of that religious beast, obey God’s command found in Second Corinthians 6:14-7:1: “Come out of her, touch not that unclean thing.” L.J.