It really blows my mind sometimes when I chat with others and they begin espousing what they believe. They really have no proof, but have been taught to believe what others believe. Today I still agree with Paul that we should all be 'Like Minded.' The scripture says what it says, but many tend to believe what commentaries, Pastors, and teachers say instead of taking scripture at face value. To me, the most important words within the scriptures that navigates us to truly believe and obey are IF, IN and But. With that in mind I want share this scripture with you and ask you to do one simple thing "Read it as if you have never been taught anything about it, and read it for what it says with the desire to have the Lord speak to you."
John 15:3-10:
"You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. Remain IN me, and I will remain IN you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. IF a man remains IN me and I IN him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. If anyone does not remain IN me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. IF you remain IN me and my words remain IN you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you. This is to my Father's glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselve to be my disciples. As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain IN my love. IF you obey my commands, you will remain IN my love, just as I have obeyed my Father's commands and remain IN His love. I have told you this so that my joy may be IN you and that your joy may be complete."
Okay, let us look at this passage of scripture. Jesus words made them clean. At that moment and as long as He was with them they would be clean. He knew that He woudl be leaving and so he gave them the instruction of how they would make it here on earth. He would not force them to reamin in Him, they would have the choice. He spells out the consequence for not reamining IN Him. He also lets them know that IF He was in them then they would be producing 'Much' fruit, not the measly go to church, teach sunday school, sing in the choir stuff, but 'Much' fruit showing they woudl be His disciples. He told them that just as He remained in the Father they could remain IN Him.
You tell me... IF all they had to do was say a prayer, then why would He have shared this? IF was always going to be with them, then why did He say this to them? IF there was to be no consequence for turning from Him, then why did He share that with them? If they were going to be exempt for their actions, why did He share this with them? IF it would be okay to just study the Word and not produce fruit, why would they not have become scholars? IF according to what He is saying they decided to contineu to live their way instead of His, then why did He say remain in Him?
Unfortunately men do not want to take this passage at face value. IF they did then they woudl have to remain in Him, and that would drastically require change. Jesus is the King of kings, the Lord of lords, and the great I AM. Who are we to bring what He said into our own interpreation, and make Him seem like someone who gravels and begs us to come back? We all have a choice today. We can remain IN Him, or go ahead without Him. These are His words and not mine. The reason we don't see revival today, the power of the Holy Spirit at work, or the church producing 'Much' fruit, is because we will quickly grab hold of our commentaries and look for a way out, but clain that we are still IN. I praise God that I will take all of this at face value. I have the wonderful privilege of choosing to remain in or to walk away. He never leaves us, we leave Him. Tell me "What has Jesus ever done to us, that we would turn our backs on Him?"
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