Incentive # 2 We will bring forth fruit.
"He that abides in Me, and I in him, the same brings forth much fruit: for without Me you can do nothing" John 15:5.
The fruit we have been studying, the fruit of the Spirit, is the fruit of the character of Jesus that God reproduces in us, and keeps coming as the branch continually receives sap from the Vine. If we cease abiding, this sap will stop flowing, and the character will be marred.
Incentive #3 We will enjoy success in prayer.
"If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, youshall ask what you will, and it shall be done unto you." John 15:7.
If we abide, we can expect to produce the fruit of God's character in our lives. As Jesus bore the fruit of the Father, so we will produce the fruit of Jesus Christ--the branch will bear the same kind of fruit as the Vine! If the vine is a grapevine, there's going to be grapes; you won't find peaches! God has ordained the simple abiding process to bring about the right kind of fruit--the fruit of God's character. This is a truly simple process.
Incentive #4 We will not be ashamed at His coming.
"And now little children, abide in Him; that, when He shall appear, we may have onfidence and not be ashamed before Him at His coming." 1 John 2:28
What a glorious privilege to know that as we abide in the Lord Jesus we don't need to fear His coming; rather, we can look forward with confidence--with joy and gladness, with great anticipation--to His Second Coming.
Now this does not mean that we will not stumble and fall but it does mean that we will not deliberately turn our backs on Jesus and sin. There may be mistakes; the devil may come along with some blight-causing attraction, but it will pass away for Jesus will take care of that. Your record will continue to read that the character of God is yours--that character will be credited to you even if you make an unintentional mistake. This speaks to the difference between sin and sins, the difference between intentional rebelliousness that comes out of the natural heart and life that has not been born again and needs to die, and unintentional mistakes that can come as we are seeking to abide in Christ. Abiding in Christ the natural man is taken care of.
Those incentives are enough to keep me going, How about you? I don't want to miss out on a stress free life while I'm here on this earth and I don't want to miss out on eternal life in the earth made new. When we are saved at last, no sin will ever mar our characters, nothing will mar the beauty of the new earth, there will be no sickness or sin that causes it. I will be able to run and walk as much as I want to and never get tired again forever. Can you think of anything better than that? I can't, not at all. I'm looking forward to seeing Jesus, the One who died for me to save me in this marvelous way.
Please reread if you have too. It is well worth your while. Tomorrow will be our last on this little book. we will do something else, I am waiting for God to show me what we need next. Grandma Joan
Thursday, February 8, 2018
Wednesday, February 7, 2018
Chosen by the Vine / Four Great Incentives
Chosen by the Vine
Jesus followed up, saying in John 15:16:
"You have not chosen Me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that you should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain."
The only way fruit can remain is if the branch abides in the Vine. Why is this? Because the branch is continually growing and producing fruit. And the same kind of fruit will be produced day after day. We won't be looking for cherries one day ad peaches the next. No, every time we go to that tree we will find the same kind of fruit, even if the fruit is in a different stage of development. And it is in the context of producing fruit that Jesus says, "Whatsoever you shall ask of the Father in My name, He may give it you." John 15:16.
Four Great Incentives
What a wonderful thing it would be if our eyes could be opened to really understand what it means to abide in Christ and to experience the blessings that come through abiding. Meade MacGuire's "Life of Victory" suggests four great incentives--objectives might be another way to put it--for seeking the abiding experience:
1. "Whosoever abides in Him sins not: Whosoever sins hath not seen Him, neither known Him."
It is only as we abide in Christ that we cease sinning. It's impossible for the abiding Christian to commit sin. This abiding experience results in freedom from sin. It doesn't mean temptation will disappear, nor does it mean there won't be an occasional stumble or fall; but it does mean we are not going to deliberately turn our backs on the Lord Jesus if we are abiding in the Vine. Satan may come along with something very attractive, but if we continue abiding in the Vine, the attraction will pass--God will take responsibility for that. All the while the character of the Lord Jesus will continue abiding in the Vine, while the character of the Lord Jesus will continue to be credited to us so long as we are abiding, even if we make an unintentional mistake. Intentional rebelliousness that proceeds out of an unborn natural heart that hasn't ye died will be past history. Jesus says that being born again and abiding will take care of this.
There are three more incentives but the study could get a little long so will continue with the other three tomorrow. I hope you are joining with those who are taking these studies to heart and practicing them. I've been practicing them and it is wonderful to know that Christ is taking care of our sins by putting His life in our place when we are sorry for our sin and repent. It is such a relief to know that all we have to do is surrender our lives to Him and He does the rest as long as we stay surrendered. I know it's not easy after a life time of trying to do everything ourselves, it is very difficult to give up on our selves and give in to Christ but once you catch on to it, it becomes easier and it is such a relief and blessing to know we are being saved day by day as we walk with Him and stay abiding. I love this kind of life. Grandma Joan
Jesus followed up, saying in John 15:16:
"You have not chosen Me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that you should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain."
The only way fruit can remain is if the branch abides in the Vine. Why is this? Because the branch is continually growing and producing fruit. And the same kind of fruit will be produced day after day. We won't be looking for cherries one day ad peaches the next. No, every time we go to that tree we will find the same kind of fruit, even if the fruit is in a different stage of development. And it is in the context of producing fruit that Jesus says, "Whatsoever you shall ask of the Father in My name, He may give it you." John 15:16.
Four Great Incentives
What a wonderful thing it would be if our eyes could be opened to really understand what it means to abide in Christ and to experience the blessings that come through abiding. Meade MacGuire's "Life of Victory" suggests four great incentives--objectives might be another way to put it--for seeking the abiding experience:
1. "Whosoever abides in Him sins not: Whosoever sins hath not seen Him, neither known Him."
It is only as we abide in Christ that we cease sinning. It's impossible for the abiding Christian to commit sin. This abiding experience results in freedom from sin. It doesn't mean temptation will disappear, nor does it mean there won't be an occasional stumble or fall; but it does mean we are not going to deliberately turn our backs on the Lord Jesus if we are abiding in the Vine. Satan may come along with something very attractive, but if we continue abiding in the Vine, the attraction will pass--God will take responsibility for that. All the while the character of the Lord Jesus will continue abiding in the Vine, while the character of the Lord Jesus will continue to be credited to us so long as we are abiding, even if we make an unintentional mistake. Intentional rebelliousness that proceeds out of an unborn natural heart that hasn't ye died will be past history. Jesus says that being born again and abiding will take care of this.
There are three more incentives but the study could get a little long so will continue with the other three tomorrow. I hope you are joining with those who are taking these studies to heart and practicing them. I've been practicing them and it is wonderful to know that Christ is taking care of our sins by putting His life in our place when we are sorry for our sin and repent. It is such a relief to know that all we have to do is surrender our lives to Him and He does the rest as long as we stay surrendered. I know it's not easy after a life time of trying to do everything ourselves, it is very difficult to give up on our selves and give in to Christ but once you catch on to it, it becomes easier and it is such a relief and blessing to know we are being saved day by day as we walk with Him and stay abiding. I love this kind of life. Grandma Joan
Monday, February 5, 2018
Conditions and Prayer / Praying in Christ's Name
What was Jesus referring to when He said "hitherto"? He was saying, "Up to this point, up to now, you have 'asked nothing in My name'". John 16:24. Analyzing this, we find help in John 15:16, where He said, "ye have not chosen Me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain; that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in My name, He may give it you."
Notice the little word "may" that comes at the end of this verse. Why does Jesus say "may"? He's reminding us that asking and receiving of the Father depends on certain conditions being met. In other words, God can only respond to our request if we prepare the way, and there is only one way. And what is that one way? Meeting His conditions! What are these conditions? Combining John 15:16 and John 16:23,24, we find a glorious blanket promise that includes anything and everything without reservations. Notice the following statement:
"But to pray in Christ's name means much." It means that we are to accept His character, manifest His spirit, and work His works. The Savior's promise is given on condition. "If you love Me,' He says, 'keep My commandments.' He saves men, not in sin, but from sin; and those who love Him will show their love by obedience."
Praying in Christ's Name
To Pray in Christ's name means much." Recall that Jesus had said that up to that particular moment they had not asked in His name. I wonder, Have you ever asked, really asked, in Jesus' name? "To pray in Christ's name means much. It means that we are to accept His character." What's that? His character of love. That's what we call sanctification, which is the practical impartation of the character of Christ, and is what God wants to do for us. Sanctification follows justification, includes the crediting of His character to our account, and continues the rest of our lives as God keeps giving, and we keep receiving, the character of Jesus Christ.
Continuing, "To pray in Christ's name means much. It means that we are to accept His character, manifest His Spirit (--it gets harder as we go; I would suggest more beautiful, but also more binding upon us--) and work His works." What was His work? Reflecting the love of God. What should be our work? Reflecting the love of Jesus. That's why He said, "This is My commandment, 'That ye love one another" John 15:12.
It all comes back to this matter of love. If we have this love we will be abiding, because it is impossible to reflect this love and not abide. Jesus said, "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" John 15:4. The branch must receive love from the Vine in order to reflect love. It cannot be manufactured; it cannot come from anything except the genuine stock. So we are told, "To pray in Christ's name means much. It means to accept His character, manifest His Spirit, and work His works." This "anything" promise is genuine, but it is given on condition of the love that we have been studying about.
Perhaps you are asking, "What does this mean on a practical basis?" It means surrendering to the Lord, accepting Him because we recognize our need, and saying "Lord, please enter, I accept You." If we are praying honestly, if we are willing to accept His character, if we are willing to live His life and do His work, than we can pray in the name of Jesus as He encouraged His disciples to do, and have every expectation of obtaining the answer.
Now, why did Jesus say that the disciples had not been praying in His name prior to that time? Because they had not felt the need to do so up to then. Though they cherished His physical presence and sought to be close to Him, though they felt uncomfortable away from Him, they were wholly unacquainted with the need of His indwelling presence. The didn't know about the need to be born again any more than Nicodemus knew about it. Though the disciples had been with Jesus a long time, they still didn't understand. I wonder if things have changed very much in our day? Though many of us have been members of the church for a long time, we sadly neither understand the need to be born again nor the need to have the old animal nature die.
This study is so very important for us to understand and tells us the reason our prayers are not answered. It's so important for us to know these things and apply them to our lives if we want to have the pure joy of heaven in our hearts. Surrendering keeps coming up again and again and it's because most people do not surrender their ALL to God on a daily basis. It's a very important duty of the Christian. Surrender and Abiding, Sooooo important!! If you have to, go over these lessons again and again until you have it down so well you can share it with anyone to help them on their Christian journey. People need to understand the basics of obedience and surrender and prayer and answers to prayer. Please reread if you have to. None of us want to be lost for eternity and this is one very important study, actually all of them are, so be patient and get it all down pat for your own eternal good. Grandma Joan
Notice the little word "may" that comes at the end of this verse. Why does Jesus say "may"? He's reminding us that asking and receiving of the Father depends on certain conditions being met. In other words, God can only respond to our request if we prepare the way, and there is only one way. And what is that one way? Meeting His conditions! What are these conditions? Combining John 15:16 and John 16:23,24, we find a glorious blanket promise that includes anything and everything without reservations. Notice the following statement:
"But to pray in Christ's name means much." It means that we are to accept His character, manifest His spirit, and work His works. The Savior's promise is given on condition. "If you love Me,' He says, 'keep My commandments.' He saves men, not in sin, but from sin; and those who love Him will show their love by obedience."
Praying in Christ's Name
To Pray in Christ's name means much." Recall that Jesus had said that up to that particular moment they had not asked in His name. I wonder, Have you ever asked, really asked, in Jesus' name? "To pray in Christ's name means much. It means that we are to accept His character." What's that? His character of love. That's what we call sanctification, which is the practical impartation of the character of Christ, and is what God wants to do for us. Sanctification follows justification, includes the crediting of His character to our account, and continues the rest of our lives as God keeps giving, and we keep receiving, the character of Jesus Christ.
Continuing, "To pray in Christ's name means much. It means that we are to accept His character, manifest His Spirit (--it gets harder as we go; I would suggest more beautiful, but also more binding upon us--) and work His works." What was His work? Reflecting the love of God. What should be our work? Reflecting the love of Jesus. That's why He said, "This is My commandment, 'That ye love one another" John 15:12.
It all comes back to this matter of love. If we have this love we will be abiding, because it is impossible to reflect this love and not abide. Jesus said, "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" John 15:4. The branch must receive love from the Vine in order to reflect love. It cannot be manufactured; it cannot come from anything except the genuine stock. So we are told, "To pray in Christ's name means much. It means to accept His character, manifest His Spirit, and work His works." This "anything" promise is genuine, but it is given on condition of the love that we have been studying about.
Perhaps you are asking, "What does this mean on a practical basis?" It means surrendering to the Lord, accepting Him because we recognize our need, and saying "Lord, please enter, I accept You." If we are praying honestly, if we are willing to accept His character, if we are willing to live His life and do His work, than we can pray in the name of Jesus as He encouraged His disciples to do, and have every expectation of obtaining the answer.
Now, why did Jesus say that the disciples had not been praying in His name prior to that time? Because they had not felt the need to do so up to then. Though they cherished His physical presence and sought to be close to Him, though they felt uncomfortable away from Him, they were wholly unacquainted with the need of His indwelling presence. The didn't know about the need to be born again any more than Nicodemus knew about it. Though the disciples had been with Jesus a long time, they still didn't understand. I wonder if things have changed very much in our day? Though many of us have been members of the church for a long time, we sadly neither understand the need to be born again nor the need to have the old animal nature die.
This study is so very important for us to understand and tells us the reason our prayers are not answered. It's so important for us to know these things and apply them to our lives if we want to have the pure joy of heaven in our hearts. Surrendering keeps coming up again and again and it's because most people do not surrender their ALL to God on a daily basis. It's a very important duty of the Christian. Surrender and Abiding, Sooooo important!! If you have to, go over these lessons again and again until you have it down so well you can share it with anyone to help them on their Christian journey. People need to understand the basics of obedience and surrender and prayer and answers to prayer. Please reread if you have to. None of us want to be lost for eternity and this is one very important study, actually all of them are, so be patient and get it all down pat for your own eternal good. Grandma Joan
Sunday, February 4, 2018
Sorrow Makes Way for this Joy
Notice John 16:21,22:
A woman when she is in travail hath sorrow; because her hour is come: but as soon as she is delivered of the child, she remembers no more the anguish, for joy that a man is born into the world."
This is an interesting thought so far as physical life is concerned, for it illustrates the new birth process as regards the death of the old man and the birth of the new man. Verse 22 continues:
"And ye now therefore have sorrow: but I will see you again and your heart shall rejoice, and your joy no man taketh from you."
Here we are told of a joy that cannot be taken away. What brings this joy? Abiding in the Vine; abiding is the only thing that maintains this joy. "In the world," Jesus said, "ye shall have tribulation". John 16:33. This is not surprising, since we immediately find ourselves back in the world if we are cut off from the Vine. This doesn't mean that abiding in the Vine will somehow cause us to escape the physical world, but it does mean that we can be in the world but not of the world, as we maintain the abiding relationship. Let me restate that: Though we must live in the world, it doesn't mean that we live the way the world lives. Being born again changes how we live in the world, and modifies the kind of joy we experience; and the joy that brims up in our hearts as a result, can't be taken away under any circumstance. The question might be asked, "Why do we so often lose our joy?" Is it because someone has taken it away? We like to blame other people when we become unhappy, but is it their fault? Have you ever blamed your spouse for something? Notice what Jesus said in John 16:22-24:
"And ye now therefore have sorrow: but I will see you again, and your heart shall rejoice, and your joy no man takes from you. And in that day ye shall ask Me nothing. Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in My name, He will give it you. Hitherto have ye asked nothing in My name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full.
Would you like to have His joy? I am pretty sure that everyone would like this kind of joy, don't you?
We can lose our joy just by separating from the Vine or from Jesus side. What a tragedy that is, but you and I both know that Jesus is a forgiving Savior and we don't have to slip away for a long time. We can confess our slip and repent with our whole heart and we are right back filled with His joy again. This is what I am learning day by day as I go over these studies. Grandma Joan
A woman when she is in travail hath sorrow; because her hour is come: but as soon as she is delivered of the child, she remembers no more the anguish, for joy that a man is born into the world."
This is an interesting thought so far as physical life is concerned, for it illustrates the new birth process as regards the death of the old man and the birth of the new man. Verse 22 continues:
"And ye now therefore have sorrow: but I will see you again and your heart shall rejoice, and your joy no man taketh from you."
Here we are told of a joy that cannot be taken away. What brings this joy? Abiding in the Vine; abiding is the only thing that maintains this joy. "In the world," Jesus said, "ye shall have tribulation". John 16:33. This is not surprising, since we immediately find ourselves back in the world if we are cut off from the Vine. This doesn't mean that abiding in the Vine will somehow cause us to escape the physical world, but it does mean that we can be in the world but not of the world, as we maintain the abiding relationship. Let me restate that: Though we must live in the world, it doesn't mean that we live the way the world lives. Being born again changes how we live in the world, and modifies the kind of joy we experience; and the joy that brims up in our hearts as a result, can't be taken away under any circumstance. The question might be asked, "Why do we so often lose our joy?" Is it because someone has taken it away? We like to blame other people when we become unhappy, but is it their fault? Have you ever blamed your spouse for something? Notice what Jesus said in John 16:22-24:
"And ye now therefore have sorrow: but I will see you again, and your heart shall rejoice, and your joy no man takes from you. And in that day ye shall ask Me nothing. Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in My name, He will give it you. Hitherto have ye asked nothing in My name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full.
Would you like to have His joy? I am pretty sure that everyone would like this kind of joy, don't you?
We can lose our joy just by separating from the Vine or from Jesus side. What a tragedy that is, but you and I both know that Jesus is a forgiving Savior and we don't have to slip away for a long time. We can confess our slip and repent with our whole heart and we are right back filled with His joy again. This is what I am learning day by day as I go over these studies. Grandma Joan
Another Kind of Commandment / A New Friendship and Joy
Another Kind of Commandment
Returning to John 15:10 and Jesus' words, "If ye keep My commandments," we are immediately reminded of the Old Testament commandments--the "Thou shalt have no other Gods before Me"commandments--and the rest of the imperatives given through Moses. Is this what Jesus was talking about? They are part of it, but there is more, for Jesus clarified Himself in John 15:12 when He said, "This is My commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you." Christ was speaking of what happens when we abide in His love, and of His desire that we reflect the love that we have experienced in the abiding relationship to our fellow men. Love is the central theme here, however He places the word love in even more endearing terms in verse 13 and onward, when He associates it with the word "friends."
A New Friendship and Joy
The word "friends" comes from the Greek word philos and derives from the same root as love, referring to a love that is authentic and true. For example, when we speak of "loved ones," we are primarily referring to relatives. If we speak of "loved ones at home," we are talking about our own family members, not friends who have dropped by keeping in mind the Greek philos background, becoming "friends,"--becoming sons and daughters of God's family through the adoption process--takes on new meaning. So Jesus was not only talking about the Vine and the branches, and the abiding relationship and fruit-bearing, but He was also saying that if we do these things and abide in His love, we will actually become His 'friends."
In John 15:11 we learn about the outcome of the relationship: "These things have I spoken unto you, that My joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full." Who would have ever thought that the recipe for joy and happiness could be enumerated in such a simple formula? People seek joy in every way--producing things, pursuing materialism, developing a wide circle of friends, going after self-centered aspirations--but not in following His recipe for complete joy.
Do you want to be a friend of Jesus? I do and most people would be honored to be His close friend. I would and I am working towards that goal or I should say that I am letting Him work through me towards that goal. I know from my studies that I can do nothing to save myself but He can save me if I am willing to surrender my life fully to Him. Works has been such a big part of my life that I am having a hard time letting go of the idea that I have to do something to save myself, when the only thing I CAN do is surrender my life to Him, for it is God which works in you to will and to do of His good pleasure Philippians 4 :13. What an awesome thought for a weak human being like me. Don't you think that verse is a wonderful promise? I do. Grandma Joan
Returning to John 15:10 and Jesus' words, "If ye keep My commandments," we are immediately reminded of the Old Testament commandments--the "Thou shalt have no other Gods before Me"commandments--and the rest of the imperatives given through Moses. Is this what Jesus was talking about? They are part of it, but there is more, for Jesus clarified Himself in John 15:12 when He said, "This is My commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you." Christ was speaking of what happens when we abide in His love, and of His desire that we reflect the love that we have experienced in the abiding relationship to our fellow men. Love is the central theme here, however He places the word love in even more endearing terms in verse 13 and onward, when He associates it with the word "friends."
A New Friendship and Joy
The word "friends" comes from the Greek word philos and derives from the same root as love, referring to a love that is authentic and true. For example, when we speak of "loved ones," we are primarily referring to relatives. If we speak of "loved ones at home," we are talking about our own family members, not friends who have dropped by keeping in mind the Greek philos background, becoming "friends,"--becoming sons and daughters of God's family through the adoption process--takes on new meaning. So Jesus was not only talking about the Vine and the branches, and the abiding relationship and fruit-bearing, but He was also saying that if we do these things and abide in His love, we will actually become His 'friends."
In John 15:11 we learn about the outcome of the relationship: "These things have I spoken unto you, that My joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full." Who would have ever thought that the recipe for joy and happiness could be enumerated in such a simple formula? People seek joy in every way--producing things, pursuing materialism, developing a wide circle of friends, going after self-centered aspirations--but not in following His recipe for complete joy.
Do you want to be a friend of Jesus? I do and most people would be honored to be His close friend. I would and I am working towards that goal or I should say that I am letting Him work through me towards that goal. I know from my studies that I can do nothing to save myself but He can save me if I am willing to surrender my life fully to Him. Works has been such a big part of my life that I am having a hard time letting go of the idea that I have to do something to save myself, when the only thing I CAN do is surrender my life to Him, for it is God which works in you to will and to do of His good pleasure Philippians 4 :13. What an awesome thought for a weak human being like me. Don't you think that verse is a wonderful promise? I do. Grandma Joan
Friday, February 2, 2018
Two Kinds of Life
It's helpful to note that the word 'life' that Jesus was using here is psuche in the Greek, and refers to "animal" or natural" life. By way of contrast, 'zoe' is what I term 'active' life. Both have breath connected with them, but they are entirely different. The first is the natural or animal life; the other is the active, physical life.
Turn with we to Matthew 10:38, 39, where the word psuche is used, and refers to the animal life.
"He that taketh not his cross, and follows ofter Me, is not worthy of Me. He that finds his life shall lose it: and he that loses his life for My sake shall find it."
It is interesting that Jesus connects the person dying to self with the cross. We often assume that the cross always refers to an event that happened to Jesus, but it may surprise you to learn that Jesus, when speaking of the cross, always referred to it as our cross and not His. He said,
"If any man will come after Me, let him deny himself, take up his cross daily, and follow Me." Luke 9:23.
What cross was Jesus referring to? It was the cross of dying to self! What ross did Jesus bear? The same cross: death to self! We read that keeping His glory veiled was the most difficult thing that Jesus undertook. Can you see, then that it was as difficult for Jesus to live on the level of humanity as it is for us to live on the level of divinity?
Now turn with me to Matthew 16:24,25, where Jesus repeats:
"If any man will come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, an follow Me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it an whosoever will lose his life for My sake shall find it."
The word "life" in verse 25 is psuche, the animal or natural life into which we are born.
Jesus told some Greeks about the necessary outcome of the animal nature when He said, "Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abides alone". John 12:24. He was telling them that the natural self had to die.
Paul would later tell the Corinthians that we become new creatures in Christ, 2 Corinthians 5:17. What did Paul mean by this? Did he mean a partial change? No. He asserted that when a man or woman is born again--when the eath he was referring to actually takes place--we become new creatures, from th soles of our feet to the top of our heads. That doesn't mean the old man won't show up occasionally, or that we will never stumble; but his appearance only proves that Satan understands the old animal nature and knows how to produce circumstances and situations that are calculated to bring about our downfall.
In the context of what we have learned about "psuche", we can then appropriately translate the verse as follows: "whoever shall save his animal nature shall lose the natural man, and will be completely lost! But whoever shall lose His psuche and is born again for My sake, shall find it--which is what the new birth, and the discovery of the need for it, and the complete surrender to the Lord Jesus Christ, is all about.
Did you understand all of that, it may take reading it again and even again. I've gone over it until I think I get it, but will probably read it again just to be sure that I can remember it. I never thought of it that way but it is a proven principle from the Bible and it makes more sense than to believe that we can die for a friend and thats the dying it's talking about. Dying to self is so much harder to do, to surrender my will and my ways to God is not an easy task but it has to be done if we will be saved at last. Grandma Joan
Turn with we to Matthew 10:38, 39, where the word psuche is used, and refers to the animal life.
"He that taketh not his cross, and follows ofter Me, is not worthy of Me. He that finds his life shall lose it: and he that loses his life for My sake shall find it."
It is interesting that Jesus connects the person dying to self with the cross. We often assume that the cross always refers to an event that happened to Jesus, but it may surprise you to learn that Jesus, when speaking of the cross, always referred to it as our cross and not His. He said,
"If any man will come after Me, let him deny himself, take up his cross daily, and follow Me." Luke 9:23.
What cross was Jesus referring to? It was the cross of dying to self! What ross did Jesus bear? The same cross: death to self! We read that keeping His glory veiled was the most difficult thing that Jesus undertook. Can you see, then that it was as difficult for Jesus to live on the level of humanity as it is for us to live on the level of divinity?
Now turn with me to Matthew 16:24,25, where Jesus repeats:
"If any man will come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, an follow Me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it an whosoever will lose his life for My sake shall find it."
The word "life" in verse 25 is psuche, the animal or natural life into which we are born.
Jesus told some Greeks about the necessary outcome of the animal nature when He said, "Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abides alone". John 12:24. He was telling them that the natural self had to die.
Paul would later tell the Corinthians that we become new creatures in Christ, 2 Corinthians 5:17. What did Paul mean by this? Did he mean a partial change? No. He asserted that when a man or woman is born again--when the eath he was referring to actually takes place--we become new creatures, from th soles of our feet to the top of our heads. That doesn't mean the old man won't show up occasionally, or that we will never stumble; but his appearance only proves that Satan understands the old animal nature and knows how to produce circumstances and situations that are calculated to bring about our downfall.
In the context of what we have learned about "psuche", we can then appropriately translate the verse as follows: "whoever shall save his animal nature shall lose the natural man, and will be completely lost! But whoever shall lose His psuche and is born again for My sake, shall find it--which is what the new birth, and the discovery of the need for it, and the complete surrender to the Lord Jesus Christ, is all about.
Did you understand all of that, it may take reading it again and even again. I've gone over it until I think I get it, but will probably read it again just to be sure that I can remember it. I never thought of it that way but it is a proven principle from the Bible and it makes more sense than to believe that we can die for a friend and thats the dying it's talking about. Dying to self is so much harder to do, to surrender my will and my ways to God is not an easy task but it has to be done if we will be saved at last. Grandma Joan
Thursday, February 1, 2018
The Commandment and Abiding
"As the Father hath loved Me, so have I loved you; continue ye in My love. If ye keep My commandments, ye shall abide in My love; even as I have kept My Father's commandments and abide in His love. These things have I spoken unto you, that My joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full. This is My commandment, That ye love one another; as I have loved you". John 15:9-12
These verses belong together and provide much to ponder. Jesus first said, "If ye keep My commandments, ye shall abide in My love." then skipping to verse 12 we read, "This is My commandment, That ye love one another." This is a chain of command--the chain of love--that envisions God revealing Himself through Christ, and Christ revealing Himself through us. It was necessary for God to reveal His character of love because Satan had successfully intimated that, instead of God being love, He was actually a phony, and unloving despot, in spite of assertions otherwise. To meet the challenge, Jesus was sent to reveal God's love and in the process of revealing that love, gave Himself completely. The greatest manifestation of that love was at Calvary, but Calvary was a long time ago, and God needs representatives that will reflect His love in the same way, and to the same degree, in our day.
Jumping to verse 13, Jesus added the following thought: "Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends."
This is an important consideration because more times than not we think giving one's physical life for another person is the epitome of love. I would propose that this verse refers to something more, for it is actually easy for a person to give his or her physical life, and even be proud of doing so; and many men and women have willingly taken the deathblow for the sake of love. Is this what Jesus was talking about? No, He wasn't taking about that kind of thing at all.
I always thought it was physically dying for someone else, but tomorrow we will find out what it really means. Which might be harder than physically dying. We will see what the answer is next time.
I hope you are enjoying the fact that we can have a close relationship with Christ, it is our choice if we do or don't. I am praying that you do. It is so important to have the fruit of the Spirit, everybody wants these fruits, love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, and temperance but not everyone wants them enough to choose to abide with Christ full time, by that I mean, always be in the attitude of prayer, so you can call on Him anytime and anywhere, let Him be on your mind in everything you do and say and you will have those fruits. Grandma Joan
These verses belong together and provide much to ponder. Jesus first said, "If ye keep My commandments, ye shall abide in My love." then skipping to verse 12 we read, "This is My commandment, That ye love one another." This is a chain of command--the chain of love--that envisions God revealing Himself through Christ, and Christ revealing Himself through us. It was necessary for God to reveal His character of love because Satan had successfully intimated that, instead of God being love, He was actually a phony, and unloving despot, in spite of assertions otherwise. To meet the challenge, Jesus was sent to reveal God's love and in the process of revealing that love, gave Himself completely. The greatest manifestation of that love was at Calvary, but Calvary was a long time ago, and God needs representatives that will reflect His love in the same way, and to the same degree, in our day.
Jumping to verse 13, Jesus added the following thought: "Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends."
This is an important consideration because more times than not we think giving one's physical life for another person is the epitome of love. I would propose that this verse refers to something more, for it is actually easy for a person to give his or her physical life, and even be proud of doing so; and many men and women have willingly taken the deathblow for the sake of love. Is this what Jesus was talking about? No, He wasn't taking about that kind of thing at all.
I always thought it was physically dying for someone else, but tomorrow we will find out what it really means. Which might be harder than physically dying. We will see what the answer is next time.
I hope you are enjoying the fact that we can have a close relationship with Christ, it is our choice if we do or don't. I am praying that you do. It is so important to have the fruit of the Spirit, everybody wants these fruits, love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, and temperance but not everyone wants them enough to choose to abide with Christ full time, by that I mean, always be in the attitude of prayer, so you can call on Him anytime and anywhere, let Him be on your mind in everything you do and say and you will have those fruits. Grandma Joan
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