#1523 John 14 Part 6 He Has Nothing In Me

 

25 “These things I have spoken to you while abiding with you. 26 But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you. 27 Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful. 28 You heard that I said to you, ‘I go away, and I will come to you.’ If you loved Me, you would have rejoiced because I go to the Father, for the Father is greater than I. 29 And now I have told you before it happens, so that when it happens, you may believe. 30 I will not speak much more with you, for the ruler of the world is coming, and he has nothing in Me; 31 but so that the world may know that I love the Father, I do exactly as the Father commanded Me. Get up, let us go from here. John 14: 25-31 LSB

John 14: 25-31

V. 25 These things I have spoken to you while abiding with you - He has been teaching them for three years, and most recently, in this context, He has spoken to them about His word, and that His word is not His own, but the Father's Who sent Him. Jesus has made it clear that if they love Him they will keep His word, and yet there still seems, well, more than seems, to be some uncertainty among His disciples. 

18I am not speaking about all of you; I know whom I have chosen. But this is to fulfill the Scripture: ‘The one who shares My bread has lifted up his heel against Me.’ 19I am telling you now before it happens, so that when it comes to pass, you will believe that I am He. 20Truly, truly, I tell you, whoever receives the one I send receives Me, and whoever receives Me receives the One who sent Me.”… John 13: 18-20

V. 26 But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit - This leaves no doubt as to the identity of the Comforter. He is the third person of the Trinity, present at Jesus' conception, present at His Baptism.

…38Whoever believes in Me, as the Scripture has said: ‘Streams of living water will flow from within him.’ ” 39 He was speaking about the Spirit, whom those who believed in Him were later to receive. For the Spirit had not yet been given, because Jesus had not yet been glorified. 40On hearing these words, some of the people said, “This is truly the Prophet.”… John 7: 38-40

18This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about: His mother Mary was pledged in marriage to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be with child through the Holy Spirit. 19Because Joseph her husband was a righteous man and was unwilling to disgrace her publicly, he resolved to divorce her quietly. 20But after he had pondered these things, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to embrace Mary as your wife, for the One conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.… Matthew 1: 18-20

…10The axe lies ready at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire. 11I baptize you with water for repentance, but after me will come One more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire. 12His winnowing fork is in His hand to clear His threshing floor and to gather His wheat into the barn; but He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.”… Matthew 3: 10-12

…18Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me. 19Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, 20and teaching them to obey all that I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”… Matthew 28: 18-20

More from John 1

V. 26b Whom the Father will send in My name - There is no other name under heaven by which men can be saved. 

…48You are witnesses of these things. 49And behold, I am sending the promise of My Father upon you. But remain in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.” 50When Jesus had led them out as far as Bethany, He lifted up His hands and blessed them.… Luke 24: 48-50

…14He will glorify Me by taking from what is Mine and disclosing it to you. 15Everything that belongs to the Father is Mine. That is why I said that the Spirit will take from what is Mine and disclose it to you. 16In a little while you will see Me no more, and then after a little while you will see Me.”… John 16: 14-16

…5Who then overcomes the world? Only he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God. 6This is the One who came by water and blood, Jesus Christ— not by water alone, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit who testifies to this, because the Spirit is the truth. 7For there are three that testify:…

8the Spirit, the water, and the blood—and these three are in agreement. 9Even if we accept human testimony, the testimony of God is greater. For this is the testimony that God has given about His Son. 10Whoever believes in the Son of God has this testimony within him; whoever does not believe God has made Him out to be a liar, because he has not believed in the testimony that God has given about His Son.…

…11And this is that testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. 12Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life. 13I have written these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know that you have eternal life.… 1 John 5: 5-13

V. 26c He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you - Three years, and that is a lot of ministry, a lot of miracles, and spectacular teaching, much of which has gone over their heads. There is an aspect of this that applies to all believers. You need the indwelling of the Holy Spirit to come alive, to hear, to walk in the Way. The other side of this is that things that were not clear to the disciples when Jesus first said them, like why He has to die, Isaiah 53, Psalm 22, the Holy Spirit will bring deep, rich understanding of this. They also found themselves to be cowards at Jesus death, but the Holy Spirit will draw them back and empower their ministry. He will also bring back to their memory all that happened, perfectly, for the recording of Holy Scripture, the foundation of the Church's teaching. 

…10But God has revealed it to us by the Spirit. The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. 11For who among men knows the thoughts of man except his own spirit within him? So too, no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. 12We have not received the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we may understand what God has freely given us.…

13And this is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom, but in words taught by the Spirit, expressing spiritual truths in spiritual words. 14The natural man does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God. For they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned.… 1 Corinthians 2: 10-14

…20Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture comes from one’s own interpretation. 21For no such prophecy was ever brought forth by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit. 2 Peter 1: 20-21

The Helper (parakletos KJV = Comforter), the Holy Spirit, Whom the Father will send in My name - In My Name signifies all that Jesus is and would include in His authority and in a sense in His place. In other words, the Spirit was the officially designated representative of Jesus. As quoted earlier G. Campbell Morgan referred to the Spirit as "the other Jesus." The disciples would soon experience Jesus' absence and a period of fear and uncertainty. This promise of "another Helper" just like Jesus had been (Jn 14:16+) would (should) have been very encouraging.

Note that here it is the Father Who will send the Spirit but in Jn 15:26 Jesus says "I will send (THE SPIRIT) to you from the Father." We clearly see the intimate interaction of the Trinity in these passages.

Merrill Tenney writes "Just as Jesus himself demonstrated the personality and character of God to men, so after his departure the Holy Spirit would make the living Christ real to his followers." (The Expositor's Bible Commentary)

David Guzik on in My Name - Will send in My name: The Holy Spirit is sent to the disciples on the merits of Jesus and in the nature, the character of Jesus. “The Spirit would be Jesus’ officially designated representative to act in his behalf.” (Tenney).... There is something general in this promise for every believer. The Holy Spirit teaches us and brings God’s word to our remembrance (if we are careful to receive it). Yet the fullness of this promise was reserved for those first-generation disciples and apostles, upon whom Jesus established the church (Ephesians 2:20). - Precept Austin

V. 27 Peace I leave with you - The world's peace is always temporal; it can never last. Knowing that Jesus died for our sins, and has risen to glory brings great peace. Knowing that He is sovereign over all that occurs is the sort of peace that can be found even in the throws of life's greatest storms. 

…15until the Spirit is poured out upon us from on high. Then the desert will be an orchard, and the orchard will seem like a forest. 16Then justice will inhabit the wilderness, and righteousness will dwell in the fertile field. 17The work of righteousness will be peace; the service of righteousness will be quiet confidence forever.… Isaiah 32: 15-17

…32“Look, an hour is coming and has already come when you will be scattered, each to his own home, and you will leave Me all alone. Yet I am not alone, because the Father is with Me. 33I have told you these things so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take courage; I have overcome the world!” John 16: 32-33

V. 28 If you loved Me you would have rejoiced - Separation anxiety is understandable, missing your friend is understandable, but once we realize the truth of God, the gift of salvation, and we know that our loved ones believe, well then it is with great joy that we ponder them no longer being sojourners, but home. 

V. 28b For the Father is greater than I - Many of the cults thinks this verse gives them credence to suggest that Christ was only a man, or that He was an angel, but it misses the Trinitarian context that is throughout all of John's gospel. He has made it clear that, "I and the Father are One, if you have seen Me then you have seen the Father". He has mentioned in this chapter that the Father will send the Holy Spirit in His name, and in chapters 15 and 16, Jesus says that He will send the Holy Spirit.

…6Instead, your hearts are filled with sorrow because I have told you these things. 7But I tell you the truth, it is for your benefit that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Advocate will not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him to you. 8And when He comes, He will convict the world in regard to sin and righteousness and judgment:… John 16: 6-8

…25But this is to fulfill what is written in their Law: ‘They hated Me without reason.’ 26When the Advocate comes, whom I will send to you from the Father— the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father— He will testify about Me. 27And you also must testify, because you have been with Me from the beginning.… John 15: 25-27

The Father is greater than I speaks of Jesus' emptying and incarnation, but does not detract from the essence of Jesus and the Father. (See more discussion of this statement below)

Merrill Tenney - The statement "the Father is greater than I" refers to position rather than essence. Jesus was speaking from the standpoint of his humanity, the incarnate state he assumed in order to fulfill the purposes of redemption. (Ibid)

Norman Geisler - (When Cultists Ask) JOHN 14:28—Did Jesus think of himself as less than God?

MISINTERPRETATION: Jesus said in John 14:28, “The Father is greater than I.” The Jehovah’s Witnesses say this verse proves that Jesus is a lesser god than the Father. Because Jehovah is “greater” than Jesus, Jesus cannot be God Almighty (Let God Be True, 1946, 110).

According to Christian Science, this verse proves that “Christ is not God, but an impartation of Him,” just as “one ray of light is light, and it is one with light, but it is not the full-orbed sun” (Eddy, 1901, 8).

PROBLEM: Orthodox Christianity confesses Jesus is both fully man and fully God. Yet Jesus said in John 14:28 , “My Father is greater than I.” How can the Father be greater if Jesus is equal to God?

SOLUTION: The Father is greater than the Son by office, but not by nature, since both are God (see John 1:1 ; 8:58 ; 10:30 ). Just as an earthly father is equally human with, but holds a higher office than, his son, even so the Father and the Son in the Trinity are equal in essence, but different in function. In like manner, we speak of the president of our country as being a greater man, not by virtue of his character, but by virtue of his position. Therefore, Jesus cannot ever be said to say that He considered Himself anything less than God by nature. The following summary helps to crystalize the differences: Precept Austin

JESUS IS EQUAL TO THE FATHER	THE FATHER IS GREATER THAN JESUS
In essence	In function
In nature	In office
In character	In position

V. 29 So that when it happens you may believe - Just like prophecy, He says what will take place and they will remember that He said this, and so when it occurs they are strengthened in their faith and in the knowledge that nothing occurs outside His sovereignty. 

V. 30 And he has nothing in Me - Jesus is without sin, and so He does not fall under Satan's rule. There is nothing inside of Jesus for Satan to grab hold of, all his temptations of the Son of God end in failure. Since there is no sin then death also has no permanent grasp upon Jesus. The wages of sin is death, and so Christ pays my wages on the cross, but He is without sin and the eternal God, so His life cannot be permanently taken from Him because He has done nothing to earn the wage. When you think of it this way, that God is infinite, and so infinite in His holiness and all of His divine nature, including His justice. It is against this eternal Being, this infinite nature, that man has sinned. Man has been made a responsible being, meaning that there has been, by His Creator, conditions placed upon him, do this and you shall live, or eat of the fruit of this particular tree and you will die. It is man that has sinned, but it is against an infinite being, and so it is man that must pay, but He must be without spot and also be able to take upon Himself the wrath of an infinite Being. He must be of both natures, the God/man, the perfect bridge between God and man, the only possible sacrifice to satisfy the eternal Being. 

V. 31 But so the world may know that I love the Father - He does not go to the cross at the behest of anything but love, since sin and Satan have no claim on Him. 

but so that the world may know that I love (agapao) the Father, I do exactly as the Father commanded Me - Jesus reiterates that His accomplishment of the will of His Father by dying on the Cross, would demonstrate to the world that He loved the Father. Note how Jesus had previously said our love will be shown by our obedience. Now His obedience would demonstrate His love. - Precept Austin

…4because it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins. 5Therefore, when Christ came into the world, He said: “Sacrifice and offering You did not desire, but a body You prepared for Me. 6In burnt offerings and sin offerings You took no delight.… Hebrews 10: 4-6

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#1522 John 14 Part 5 Please, Call Me, Lebbaeus

 

22 Judas (not Iscariot) *said to Him, “Lord, what then has happened that You are going to disclose Yourself to us and not to the world?” 23 Jesus answered and said to him, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our dwelling with him. 24 He who does not love Me does not keep My words; and the word which you hear is not Mine, but the Father’s who sent Me. John 14: 22-24 LSB

John 14: 22-24

V. 22 Judas (not Iscariot) - Imagine having that name and being one of the disciples; I would want it to be abundantly clear that I am not that guy, maybe even go by Jude or something, but it also shows that it's not what's in a name. There is probably a meekness that comes with sharing one of the most notorious names in history. Imagine if you were introduced as Adolf, you would say, "not Hitler", or Ted "not Bundy". The name is a byword for a traitor and deceiver now, and in agriculture it is the name given to the goat that leads the sheep to slaughter. Shepherds train a goat to walk the sheep to the slaughter pen, using the sheep's natural instinct to follow, hence the Judas Goat. He infiltrates the group and leads them toward their demise. 

V. 22b Lord, what then has happened that You are going to disclose Yourself to us and not to the world - This bears a Messianic question, and this has been problematic for them all along. Peter tries to rebuke Jesus for suggesting that He will go to the cross, and Jesus' reply is a very stern rebuke back to Peter, where He tells him, "get the behind Me, Satan." They struggle to discern the time of their visitation, that this is what the prophet Isaiah wrote about, the suffering of Messiah. This is Jesus first coming, and they naturally move to the other passages in Isaiah and the prophets that speak of earthly reign and the second coming. Now Isaiah 53 is fulfilled in the most exact, literal fashion, and every prophetic utterance, even symbolic, has a literal interpretation, a non figurative fulfillment, but there are those, some who I consider to be Jesus' disciples even today, that choose an eschatology which differs from the simple reading. When it speaks of the Lamb, that Messiah is despised and rejected, that He is righteous, that He bears our iniquity, that He is pierced, well, they see all that historically fulfilled in Christ Jesus. When it says He is going to rule, they want that to be figurative, to be interpreted some other way. The disciples expectation is high, and the age, Church age, that they are entering into is mysterious to them. It is the time of the gentiles.

…5For every trampling boot of battle and every garment rolled in blood will be burned as fuel for the fire. 6For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given, and the government will be upon His shoulders. And He will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. 7Of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish and sustain it with justice and righteousness from that time and forevermore. The zeal of the LORD of Hosts will accomplish this.… Isaiah 9: 5-7

…25I will turn My hand against you; I will thoroughly purge your dross; I will remove all your impurities. 26I will restore your judges as at first, and your counselors as at the beginning. After that you will be called the City of Righteousness, the Faithful City.” 27Zion will be redeemed with justice, her repentant ones with righteousness.… Isaiah 1: 25-27

1This is the message that was revealed to Isaiah son of Amoz concerning Judah and Jerusalem: 2In the last days the mountain of the house of the LORD will be established as the chief of the mountains; it will be raised above the hills, and all nations will stream to it. 3And many peoples will come and say: “Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob. He will teach us His ways so that we may walk in His paths.” For the law will go forth from Zion, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.…

4Then He will judge between the nations and arbitrate for many peoples. They will beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will no longer take up the sword against nation, nor train anymore for war. Isaiah 2: 1-4

…23How miserable those days will be for pregnant and nursing mothers! For there will be great distress upon the land and wrath against this people. 24 They will fall by the edge of the sword and be led captive into all the nations. And Jerusalem will be trodden down by the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled. 25There will be signs in the sun and moon and stars, and on the earth dismay among the nations, bewildered by the roaring of the sea and the surging of the waves.… Luke 21: 23-25

V. 23 If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word - This is within the context of the promise of the Holy Spirit, Who indwells believers. The fruit of the Spirit is obedience to Christ's teachings, and becomes the evidence of whether someone truly knows Him. This faith is not owed to anyone except those that God is calling out of the world through His Son, those He has promised to the Son. The disciples will not cease to know Jesus when He departs, because He lives and intercedes for us in the presence of the Father, and has given us a Comforter, the indwelling Holy Spirit. It is He Who causes us to believe, regenerates us unto life, convicts the world of sin, and brings us to walk in the truth, being conformed to the image of Christ. There is a day when even the unbelieving world will see, but they still won't know Him because they don't love Him, but "every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." 

Maclaren on My word - “That is more than a ‘commandment,’ is it not? Christ’s ‘word’ is more than precept. It includes all His sayings, and it includes them all as in one vital unity and organic whole. We are not to go picking and choosing among them; they are one.”

Andrew Murray - The abiding presence of God is the heritage of every child of God. The Father never hides His face from His child. Sin hides it, and unbelief hides it; but the Father lets His love shine all the day on the face of His children. The sun is shining day and night. Your sun shall never go down. Come and live in the presence Of God. - Precept Austin

…11In Him we were also chosen as God’s own, having been predestined according to the plan of Him who works out everything by the counsel of His will, 12in order that we, who were the first to hope in Christ, would be for the praise of His glory. 13And in Him, having heard and believed the word of truth—the gospel of your salvation—you were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit,…

14who is the pledge of our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession, to the praise of His glory. Ephesians 1: 11-14

V. 24 But the Father's Who sent Me - He continues to answer Judas, that there is a correlation between love and action; it is something far above sentiment. The worldling loves the things of this world, is molded by the world rather than by God's word. Some will try to separate Jesus from the Father in their thinking, their aberrant form of Christianity. Some will say the God of the OT verses the God of the NT, but Jesus says, "I and the Father are One". He also makes it clear that He didn't come to change the law, there was nothing wrong with it. There is no need for God to change because you cannot make the perfect more perfect by degree. No, it is man who has fallen short, and Christ has come to save those who can acknowledge that, to call them to repentance. God sent His Son out of love, God killed Him out of love for the people He had chosen, and He did so because the law was just, and the wages of sin is death. It is not that those of the world do not know Christ by name, many know that, and there are many false Christs, but like He says, "if you love Me then keep My commandments, if you love Me, feed My sheep." 

…33Whoever accepts His testimony has certified that God is truthful. 34For the One whom God has sent speaks the words of God, for God gives the Spirit without limit. 35The Father loves the Son and has placed all things in His hands.… John 3: 33-35

…16By this we know what love is: Jesus laid down His life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers. 17 If anyone with earthly possessions sees his brother in need, but withholds his compassion from him, how can the love of God abide in him? 18Little children, let us love not in word and speech, but in action and truth.…

…19And by this we will know that we belong to the truth, and will assure our hearts in His presence: 20Even if our hearts condemn us, God is greater than our hearts, and He knows all things. 21Beloved, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have confidence before God,… 1 John 3: 16-21

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#1521 John 14 Part 4 Out of the Orphanage

 

18 “I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. 19 After a little while the world will no longer see Me, but you will see Me; because I live, you will live also. 20 On that day you will know that I am in My Father, and you in Me, and I in you. 21 He who has My commandments and keeps them is the one who loves Me; and he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and will disclose Myself to him.” John 14: 18-21 LSB

John 14: 18-21 LSB

Yahweh is my shepherd,

I shall not want.

2 He makes me lie down in green pastures;

He leads me beside quiet waters.

3 He restores my soul;

He guides me in the paths of righteousness

For His name’s sake.

4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,

I fear no evil, for You are with me;

Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.

5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;

You have anointed my head with oil;

My cup overflows.

6 Surely goodness and lovingkindness will pursue me all the days of my life,

And I will dwell in the house of Yahweh forever. Psalm 23

V. 18 I will not leave you as orphans - When our earthly parents die we are considered orphaned, but Christ does not die, and in Him we have been adopted by the Father, through the Spirit, as sons and daughters. The Holy Spirit comes to indwell the believer.

Adam Clarke - “The disciples of a particular teacher among the Hebrews called him father; his scholars were called his children, and, on his death, were considered as orphans.”

Guzik notes that Spurgeon on several ways that the followers of Jesus are not like orphans.- (1) An orphan has parents who are dead; the Spirit shows us Jesus is alive. (2) An orphan is left alone; the Spirit draws us close to God’s presence. (3) An orphan has lost their provider; the Spirit provides all things. (4) An orphan is left without instruction; the Spirit teaches us all things. (5) An orphan has no defender; the Spirit is protector. (See Spurgeon's sermon THE BELIEVER NOT AN ORPHAN) - Precept Austin

1Now this is what the LORD says—He who created you, O Jacob, and He who formed you, O Israel: “Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; you are Mine! 2When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you go through the rivers, they will not overwhelm you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be scorched; the flames will not set you ablaze. 3For I am the LORD your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior; I give Egypt for your ransom, Cush and Seba in your place.… Isaiah 43: 1-3

…19Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, 20and teaching them to obey all that I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Matthew 28: 19-20

V. 18b - 19 - I will come to you - Jesus will go to the cross, and their whole world will fall out from under them. They have walked with Him for three years now, have seen countless miracles, but have enjoyed close fellowship as well. When they come for Him in the garden and take Him to be tried, the disciples scatter, as the Shepherd heads towards Calvary, Peter has already denied Him and they can only follow at a distance. That immediate proximity fades into the impossible void of death. They can't see to the other side of that, but in their experience it is usually a permanent condition, total separation. I mean, Jesus has raised others from the dead, but who will raise Him? He says, "after a little while, the world will not see me", but rises from the dead, and He comes to His disciples, to those who believed in Him. He is still dead to the world, but He makes Himself known to His flock. They will see that He is the resurrection and the life.

…24Martha replied, “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day.” 25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in Me will live, even though he dies. 26And everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die. Do you believe this?”… John 11: 24-26

V. 20 On that day - He makes Himself known to them, coming back to them shortly after His death. This proves His statements not only of a resurrection but that He is the resurrection. Yet, I believe that after this revelation is His ascension to the Father and then Pentecost. This moves beyond the Spirit's presence to His indwelling of the believers, empowering them for their ministry. It is astounding in Peter, who moves from denial to boldly preaching the gospel in a hostile environment, relying on the Holy Spirit to provide the increase. I wish that men would move back to that today, that they would allow Christ to build His church through the bold and unwavering preaching of the gospel. 

Utley points out that Jesus "adds the truth that as the Father and Jesus are intimately linked, so too, Jesus and His followers (cf. John 17)!"

F B Meyer - In the translucent depths of the southern seas, the voyager is aware of the infinite variety of sponge growth, waving to and fro with the gentle movement of the tide; and the ocean is in the sponge, whilst the sponge is in the ocean, illustrating the reciprocal indwelling of the believer in Christ, and Christ in the believer. - Precept Austin

…37If I am not doing the works of My Father, then do not believe Me. 38But if I am doing them, even though you do not believe Me, believe the works themselves, so that you may know and understand that the Father is in Me, and I am in the Father.” 39At this, they tried again to seize Him, but He escaped their grasp.… John 10: 37-39

…21that all of them may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I am in You. May they also be in Us, so that the world may believe that You sent Me. 22I have given them the glory You gave Me, so that they may be one as We are one— 23I in them and You in Me—that they may be perfectly united, so that the world may know that You sent Me and have loved them just as You have loved Me.… John 17: 21-23

…29so that no one may boast in His presence. 30It is because of Him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God: our righteousness, holiness, and redemption. 31Therefore, as it is written: “Let him who boasts boast in the Lord.”… 1 Corinthians 1: 29-31

V. 21 He who has My commandments and keeps them is the one who loves Me - Jesus never teaches a sentimental love, a feels sort of thing that is without action. Remember, faith without works is dead. When we say we love our wives, we are reminded in Scripture that it is to be as Christ loved the church and gave Himself for it. This is fruit, how we know the tree, what makes the words, the label, believable. 

…3Stay in this land as a foreigner, and I will be with you and bless you. For I will give all these lands to you and your offspring, and I will confirm the oath that I swore to your father Abraham. 4I will make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky, and I will give them all these lands, and through your offspring all nations of the earth will be blessed, 5because Abraham listened to My voice and kept My charge, My commandments, My statutes, and My laws.”… Genesis 26: 3-5

…6The LORD your God will circumcise your hearts and the hearts of your descendants, and you will love Him with all your heart and with all your soul, so that you may live. 7Then the LORD your God will put all these curses upon your enemies who hate you and persecute you. 8And you will again obey the voice of the LORD and follow all His commandments I am giving you today.… Deuteronomy 30: 6-8

…16Therefore repent! Otherwise I will come to you shortly and wage war against them with the sword of My mouth. 17He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who overcomes, I will give the hidden manna. I will also give him a white stone inscribed with a new name, known only to the one who receives it. 18To the angel of the church in Thyatira write: These are the words of the Son of God, whose eyes are like a blazing fire and whose feet are like polished bronze.… Revelation 2: 16-18

A W Pink - Two things are true of every Christian: deep down in his heart there is an intense, steady longing and yearning to please God, to do His will, to walk in full accord with His Word. This yearning may be stronger in some than in others, and in each of us it is stronger at some times than at others; nevertheless, it is there! But in the second place, no real Christian fully realizes this desire. Every genuine Christian has to say with the apostle Paul, “Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may lay hold of that for which I am laid hold of by Christ Jesus” (Phil. 3:12). (John Commentary)

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