God's Word: The Power Unto Salvation

• Pray
• Text - Rom 1:16 : For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ,^[a] for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek.

• John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.& 1:14, And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth - (Who Word is) 

• John 3:16 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. & Romans 10:9-10 ⁹ that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.. ¹⁰ For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation - (promises salvation)

• The Word – Jesus – God gave us Words to live by
• They are only words if Jesus not God (to us) – lower case
• If Jesus IS God to us, they are upper case – The power of God to salvation for everyone who believes,
• John 14:6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.

- As soon as He is God to me and you, then His Words are what they are meant to be – Life

• Duet. 30:19 , Josh 1:8, 14:6, John 14:21 - When you and I choose to do what God tells us to do (esteem His Word), He can be Way to Salvation – we can have good success.

Duet. 30:19 I call heaven and earth as witnesses today against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants may live;, Josh 1:8, This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success. John 14:21 - He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me. And he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and manifest Myself to him.”

His Kingdom can (and will, with or without you and me) be re-established – where? (in your heart) – He wants you and I to be integral parts of His Kingdom!

When and only when we choose to be a part of His Kingdom, can we rely on the Word being THE POWER TO SALVATION!

Abide In Christ

• Pray

• CD

Jesus’ instructions to the disciples – “upper room discourse” also en route to garden and arrest

John 15 (Amplified Bible)

 1 I AM the True Vine, and My Father is the Vinedresser.

• “True Vine” – calls Himself True Vine, OT referred to Israel several times as “Vine” but it didn’t bear fruit over and over.
• Vinedresser as any farmer - must be competent

    2 Any branch in Me that does not bear fruit [that stops bearing] He cuts away (trims off, takes away); and He cleanses and repeatedly prunes every branch that continues to bear fruit, to make it bear more and richer and more excellent fruit.

• “In Me” = abide – have a relationship / depend on Me
• some branches don’t bear fruit
• fruit is outer evidence that people can benefit from. Evidence of inner change.
• Special attention from Vinedresser

3. You are cleansed and pruned already, because of the word which I have given you [the teachings I have discussed with you].
   • Grow and nourished = fed by Word
   • The nature of God to feed children – take care of needs – manna earthly father feeds his children, family
   • Jesus assures the disciples, they are clean already, Jesus did not want the Eleven to conclude, as many people do, that the absence of fruit or the presence of difficulties indicates the absence of salvation. BUT – fruit is expected.

3. Dwell in Me, and I will dwell in you. [Live in Me, and I will live in you.] Just as no branch can bear fruit of itself without abiding in (being vitally united to) the vine, neither can you bear fruit unless you abide in Me.

• “Draw near to Me and I will draw near to you”
• Jesus indicates He will take care of His “clean (saved) disciples
• Abide in as opposed to flee from

5. I am the Vine; you are the branches. Whoever lives in Me and I in him bears much (abundant) fruit. However, apart from Me [cut off from vital union with Me] you can do nothing.

• Jesus spoke of some fruit and more fruit (v2) but now speaks of “much” fruit.
• Must stay connected – (how ?)
• Much fruit = unhindered fellowship with Him
• Whoever = any potential believer (John 3:16)

5. If a person does not dwell in Me, he is thrown out like a [broken-off] branch, and withers; such branches are gathered up and thrown into the fire, and they are burned.

• Literal
• Non abiding = non believers (broken off branch)

5. If you live in Me [abide vitally united to Me] and My words remain in you and continue to live in your hearts, ask whatever you will, and it shall be done for you.

• Must have fellowship and be connected

Abide In Christ

This is a short Bible study from 2008. It was presented to a group of men, many being uncertain of their immediate future, but Jesus, showing the disciples, us (them) the Kingdom, insures eternal life for those who will accept it.
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       Pray

Jesus’ instructions to the disciples – “upper room discourse” also en route to garden and arrest

John 15 (Amplified Bible)

 1 I AM the True Vine, and My Father is the Vinedresser.

• “True Vine” – calls Himself True Vine, OT referred to Israel several times as “Vine” but it didn’t bear fruit over and over.
• Vinedresser as any farmer must be competent

    2 Any branch in Me that does not bear fruit [that stops bearing] He cuts away (trims off, takes away); and He cleanses and repeatedly prunes every branch that continues to bear fruit, to make it bear more and richer and more excellent fruit.

·         “In Me” = abide – have a relationship / depend on Me

·         some branches don’t bear fruit

·         fruit is outer evidence that people can benefit from. Evidence of inner change.

·         Special attention from Vinedresser

3      You are cleansed and pruned already, because of the word which I have given you [the teachings I have discussed with you].

·         Grow and nourished = fed by Word

·         The nature of God to feed children – take care of needs – manna

·         Jesus assures the disciples, they are clean already, Jesus did not want the Eleven to conclude, as many people do, that the absence of fruit or the presence of difficulties indicates the absence of salvation.

4        Dwell in Me, and I will dwell in you. [Live in Me, and I will live in you.] Just as no branch can bear fruit of itself without abiding in (being vitally united to) the vine, neither can you bear fruit unless you abide in Me.

·         “Draw near to Me and I will draw near to you”

·         Jesus indicates He will take care of His “clean (saved) disciples

·         Abide in as opposed to flee from

5      I am the Vine; you are the branches. Whoever lives in Me and I in him bears much (abundant) fruit. However, apart from Me [cut off from vital union with Me] you can do nothing.

·         Jesus spoke of some fruit and more fruit (v2) but now speaks of “much” fruit.

·         Must stay connected – (how ?)

·         Much fruit = unhindered fellowship with Him

·         Whoever = any potential believer (John 3:16)

6      If a person does not dwell in Me, he is thrown out like a [broken-off] branch, and withers; such branches are gathered up and thrown into the fire, and they are burned.

·         Literal

·         Non abiding = non believers (broken off branch)

7      If you live in Me [abide vitally united to Me] and My words remain in you and continue to live in your hearts, ask whatever you will, and it shall be done for you.

·         Must have fellowship and be connected