Things New and Old

Ancient truths revealed in the Scriptures are often forgotten, disbelieved or distorted, and therefore lost in the passage of time. Such ancient truths when rediscovered and relearned are 'new' additions to the treasury of ancient truths.

Christ showed many new things to the disciples, things prophesied by the prophets of old but hijacked and perverted by the elders and their traditions, but which Christ reclaimed and returned to His people.

Many things taught by the Apostles of Christ have been perverted or substituted over the centuries. Such fundamental doctrines like salvation by grace and justification have been hijacked and perverted and repudiated by sincere Christians. These doctrines need to be reclaimed and restored to God's people.

There are things both new and old here. "Consider what I say; and the Lord give thee understanding in all things" 2Ti 2:7.

Monday, March 16, 2015

"Every branch IN Me..."


 '"Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit." John 15:2. I like the grapes in the picture very much, but I do abhor and detest the many fables people foist upon this plain saying of Jesus Christ. Whatever the passage says, this much is clear: 1. Jesus is speaking of those that are IN Him. - If a man can't get this plain fact right, he won't get anything else right with this passage! 2. Jesus' declaration presupposes that there are branches IN Him that do not bear fruit, i.e. barren! - Too many sincere men are choked by this hard truth even though it is in perfect harmony with many other warning against fruitlessness. - It is obvious and common sense that the warning of fruitlessness relates to those who are capable of bearing fruit, i.e. those that are in union with Christ. 3, He makes a declaration concerning such branches in Him - His Father takes them away. - Such will suffer severe chastening in the Father's hand! Despite all these plain facts, sincere folks still believe the fable that there is no such thing as God's children who are barren! Whoever relate the issue of fruitlessness with the dead and lifeless but the calvinistic, as well as the arminian preachers and their followers! Could Christ state the matter in a plainer manner?'
"Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away:
and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, 
that it may bring forth more fruit."
John 15:2.

I like the grapes in the picture very much, but I do abhor and detest the many fables people foist upon this plain saying of Jesus Christ.

Whatever the passage says, this much is clear:
1. Jesus is speaking of those that are IN Him.
- If a man can't get this plain fact right, he won't get anything else right with this passage!

2. Jesus' declaration presupposes that there are branches IN Him that do not bear fruit, i.e. barren!
- Too many sincere men are choked by this hard truth even though it is in perfect harmony with many other warnings against fruitlessness.
- It is obvious and common sense that the warning of fruitlessness relates to those who are capable of bearing fruit, i.e. those that are in union with Christ.

3, He makes a declaration concerning such branches in Him - His Father takes them away.
- Such will suffer severe chastening in the Father's hand!

Despite all these plain facts, sincere folks still believe the fable that there is no such thing as God's children who are barren!

Whoever would relate the issue of fruitlessness with the dead and lifeless but the Calvinistic, as well as the Arminian preachers and their followers!

Could Christ have stated the matter in a plainer manner?

4. Every one UNITED to Christ by the free and sovereign grace of God in the effectual calling is irrevocably and immutably united with Christ and remain in Christ. 
- Everyone united to Christ by the free and sovereign grace of God REMAINS in Christ forever. 
- Being taken away is not the undoing of that union. Being taken away speaks of the FATHERLY chastisement upon fruitless children. 
- Equating the two evidences confusion, and ignorance of the distinct aspects of salvation.
- The former speaks of eternal salvation; the latter speaks of temporal salvation.

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