Jesus unveiled his return (2) (John 16: 16-33) By Rev.Katherine Liu Bruce

Jesus unveiled his return (2) (John 16: 16-33)                                   

 By Rev.Katherine Liu Bruce   Christian Arts Ministries: Biblical precepts &Gospel music

Scripture reading John 16: 16-33

 

 “In a little while you will see me on more, and then after a little while you will see me.”(v.16) Some of his disciples said to one another, What does he mean by saying, “ In a little while you will see me no more, and then after a little while you will see me, and then after a little while you will see me,” and “Because I am going to the Father?” They kept asking, “What does he mean by “a little while?” We don’t understand what he is saying.” (vv.17-18)

 

Jesus saw that they wanted to ask him about this, so he said to them, “Are you asking one another what I meant when I said, “In a little while you will see me no more, and then after a little while you will see me?”  I tell you the truth; you will weep and mourn while the world rejoices. You will grieve, but your grief will turn to joy. A woman giving birth to a child has pain because her time has come; but when her baby is born, she forgets the anguish because of her joy that a child is born into the world. So, with you: Now is your time of grief, but I will see you again and you will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy. In that day you will no longer ask me anything. I tell you the truth, my Father will give you whatever you ask in my name. Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask, and you will receive, and your joy will be complete. (vv.19-24)

  

 

Though I have been speaking figuratively, a time is coming when I will no longer use this kind of language but will tell you plainly about my Father. In that day you will ask in my name. I am not saying that I will ask the Father on your behalf. No, the Father himself loves you because you have loved me and have believed that I came from God. I came from the Father and entered the world; now I am leaving the world and going back to the Father.” (vv.25-28)

 

The Jesus’ disciples said, “Now you are speaking clearly and without figures of speech. Now we can see that you know all things and that you do not even need to have anyone ask you questions. This makes us believe that you came from God.” (vv.29-30)

“You believe at last!” Jesus answered. But a time is coming and has come, when you will be scattered, each to his own home. You will leave me all alone. Yet, I am not alone, for my Father is with me. (vv.31-32) I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world. (John16:33)

         

  The Spirit, through apostles, evangelists, and preachers, will convict the world. To convict means to set forth the truth of the gospel in such a clear light that men are able to accept or reject it intelligently, i.e., to convince men of the truthfulness of the gospel. The Spirit will help break down the indifference of the typical pagan who has no conviction of sin, who holds a low regard for righteousness, and who pays no heed to warnings of the coming judgment.

Verse 9 because men do not believe in me. The greatest, and basic, sin is unbelief. Jesus’ return to the Father will vindicate His righteous life and the truthfulness of all He said (v.10).

Verse 11 the prince of this world now stands condemned. At the cross, Christ triumphed over Satan, serving notice on unbelievers of their judgment to come.

Verse 12 more than you can now bear. These things would become clear after the resurrection.

Verse 13 He will tell you what is yet to come. These things include the meaning of Christ’s death and resurrection (Which the disciples did not fully understand) as well as things yet in the future concerning the return of Christ.

Verse 15 The teaching ministry of the Holy Spirit has guided the church since the Spirit’s coming. Doctrine, therefore, does not have to be traced back to the earthly ministry of Jesus to be authoritative, because the Spirit will take from what is mine (Christ’s), and make it know to you (the apostles). These truths were then recorded in the New Testament His body

Verse 21 the bringing forth here is the begetting in Acts 13:33. The incarnated Christ, including all His believers, was begotten in His resurrection to be the Son of God (1Pet.1:3). Thus, He has become the first-born Son of God, and all His believers have become God's many sons as His brothers to constitute His church (Rom.8:29; John20:17; Heb.2:10-12) as His multiplication (12:24). His increase (3:29- 30), and His Body, which is His fullness, His expression (Eph.1:23).

Verse 22 after being born in resurrection, the Lord came to see the disciples in the evening of the day of His resurrection, and the disciples rejoiced at His presence. (20:20)

           Verse 23 in that day. I.e., after His ascension. Vese 26 ask in my name. To address the Father through the Son has been the normal Christian practice ever since. 

 Verse 33 In this world you will have trouble. There are three aspects of this (1) general trial s that come simply because we live in a sinful world (Rom.8:35-36); (2) afflictions that God allows to come into our lives (2Cor.12:7); and (3) chastisement that comes more directly from God (Heb.12:6).

 

Bibliography,

Lee, Witness. The New Testament (R.V.) Anaheim, CA: Living Stream Ministry, 1985.

Ryrie, Charles C. The Ryrie Study Bible (NIV).Chicago, IL: The Moody Bible Institute, 1986. 

Jesus unveiled His return (1) (John 16:1-15) By Rev.Katherine Liu Bruce

Jesus unveiled His return (1) (John 16:1-15)

By Rev.Katherine Liu Bruce

Christian Arts Ministries: Biblical precepts & Gospel music; pastoral ministry & counseling

 

 Jesus unveiled His return - Concerning the Holy Spirit (16:7-33)

 Scriptures reading 

But I tell you the truth: It is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Counselor will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you. (John16:7). When he comes, he will convict the world of guilt in regard to sin and righteousness and judgment.

 In regard to sin, because men do not believe in me; in regard to righteousness, because I am going to Father, where you can see me no longer; and in regard to judgment, because the prince of this world now stands condemned. (John16:7-11)

 I have much more to say to you, more than you can now bear. (v.12) But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own; He will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come. (v,13) He will bring glory to me by taking from what is mine and making it known to you. All that belongs to the Father is mine. That is why I said the Spirit will take from what is mine and make it known to you. (John16:14-15)

        

 

Verse 2 In this gospel religion is revealed as the enemy of life. In the Gospels, Judaism opposed and persecuted the Lord Jesus. In the Acts it continued by opposing and persecuting the apostles and the disciples (Acts 4:1-3;5:17-18,40; 6:11-14;7:57-59; 26:9-12). In subsequent history the Catholic Church persecuted the Lord’s followers. All organized religions, of whatever kind, persecute those who seek the Lord in life.All these religions consider their persecuting of the Lord’s seekers a service offered to God.

Vesse 7 This “going” was ultimately fulfilled by His ascension in 20:17

Verse 8 to convict means to convince, to condemn, to cause people to rebuke themselves. Sin entered through Adam (Rom.5:12), righteousness is the resurrected Christ (v.10; 1 Cor.1:30), and judgment is for Satan (v.11), who is the author and source of sin (8:44). In Adam we were born of sin. The only way to be freed from sin is to believe into Christ, the Son of God (v.9). If we believe into Him, He is righteousness to us, and we are justified in Him (Rom.3:24;4:25). If we do not repent of the sin that is in Adam and believe into Christ, the Son of God, we will remain in sin and share the judgment of Satan for eternity (Matt.25:41). There are the main points of the gospel. The Spirit uses these points to convict the world.

Verse 13 the work of the Spirit is, first, to convict the world. Second, as the Spirit of truth He guides the believers into all the reality; that is, He makes all that the Son is and has real to the believers. All that the Father is and has is embodied in the Son (Col.2:9), and all that the Son is and has is declared as reality to the believers through the Spirit (vv.14-15). This declaring is the glorifying of the Son with the Father. Hence, it is a matter of the Triune God being wrought into and mingled with the believers. Third, the Spirit declares the things that are to come, which are revealed mainly in Revelation (Rev.1:1,19). The three aspects of the Spirit’s work correspond with the three sections of John’s writings: his Gospel, his Epistles, and his Revelation.

Bibliography,

Lee, Witness. The New Testament (R.V.) Anaheim, CA: Living Stream Ministry, 1985.

Ryrie, Charles C. The Ryrie Study Bible (NIV).Chicago, IL: The Moody Bible Institute, 1986. 

  

Comforter (Counselor)- Spirit of Truth (John 15:18-27) By Rev.Katherine Liu Bruce

Comforter (Counselor)- Spirit of Truth (John 15:18-27) 

By Rev.Katherine Liu Bruce  

Christian Arts Ministries: Biblical precepts & Gospel music; Pastoral ministry & counseling   

The vine and the branches, being hated and persecuted and separated from the World 

 Scriptures reading (John15:18-27)

If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world. But I have chosen you out of the world. This is why the world hates you. Remember the words I spoke to you: “No servant is greater than his master.” if they persecuted me, they will persecute you also. If they obey my teaching, they will obey yours also. They treat you this way because of my name, for they do not know the One who sent me. If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not be guilty of sin. Now, however, they have no excuse for their sin. He who hates me hates my Father as well. If I had not done among them what no one else did, they would not be guilty of sin. But now they have seen these miracles, and yet they have hated both me and my Father. But this is to fulfill what is written in their Law: “They hated me without reason.” When the Counselor comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who goes out from the Father, he will testify about me. And you also must testify, for you have been with me from the beginning. (vv.1-27) 

 

John 15 verse 25 The reference is to Ps.35:19; 69:4. In this section Christ states (1) the world hates Me (v.18)  (2) My followers are aliens in the world (v.19); (3) the world will persecute you because you are My followers (v.20); (4) the persecutors do not know God (v.21); (5) My words (v.22) and My works (v.24) rebuke them. These arguments are found in many early Christian writings, as instruction to the faithful and as warning to pagans and Jews.  

Verse 26 Counselor. Who goes out from the Father. The mission of the Spirit is from the Father; the Spirit’s witness, therefore, is also that of the Father Himself. The Spirit of reality, who is sent by the Son from the Father, comes not only from the Father but also with the Father. The Father is the source. When this Spirit comes from the source, He does not leave the source but comes with the source. This Spirit, sent by the Son and coming with the Father, testifies concerning the Son. Therefore, His testimony concerning the Son is a matter of the Triune God.

 

Bibliography,

Lee, Witness. The New Testament (R.V.) Anaheim, CA: Living Stream Ministry, 1985.

Ryrie, Charles C. The Ryrie Study Bible (NIV).Chicago, IL: The Moody Bible Institute, 1986. 

 

The vine (Son) and the branches (believers) (John 15:1-17) By Rev. Katherine Liu Bruce

The vine (Son) and the branches (believers) (John 15:1-17)

By Rev. Katherine Liu Bruce

Christian Arts Ministries: Biblical precepts & Gospel music; pastoral ministry & counseling

  

Scripture reading John 15:1-7

 

      

I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. (v.1) He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, so that it will be even more fruitful.(v.2) You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you.(v.3) 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. (v.4) 

             

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. (v.5). 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.(v.6) If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you.(v.7)

 

           Chapter 15 and 16 contain the second Fare will Discourse. In 15 are the themes of fruit bearing and the hatred of the world for Christ’s disciples. The theme of persecution is continued in chapter 16 along with teaching concerning the ministry of the Holy Spirit. Father is the gardener, the source, the author, the planner, the planter, and everything to the vine. The Son as the vine is the center of God’s economy and embodiment of all the riches of the Father. The Father, by cultivating the Son, works Himself with all His riches into the vine, and eventually the vine expresses the Father in a corporate way through its branches.

Verse 2 cut off. The word may mean this literally as “take away” in 11:39. And would therefore be a reference to the physical death of fruitless Christians (1Cor.11:30); or it may mean lift up as “picked up” in 8:59, which would indicate that the vinedresser encourages and makes it easier for the fruitless believer, hoping he will respond and begin to bear fruit. Prunes. This is done through the Word of God, which cleans the life (same root word as clean in v.3).

Verse 4 remain (or abide) in me. John explains what this means when he uses the same word in 1 John3:24. (Abiding depends on keeping Christ’s commandments (15:10).

Verse 6 burned. This refers to the works of the believer. The Christian who does not abide in Christ cannot do what pleases God; therefore, his works will be burned at the judgment seat of Christ, though he himself will be saved. (1 Cor.3:11-15). For a branch to be cast out means that it is cut off from participation in the riches of the life of the vine.

Verse 7 when we abide in the Lord and let His words abide in us, we actually are one with Him, and He works within us. Then, when we ask in prayer for whatever we will, it is not only we who are praying; He too is praying. This kind of prayer is related to fruit-bearing. (v. 8 ) and will surely be answered.

 Scriptures reading John 15 :8-17

This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples. As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love.(vv.8-9). 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. (v.10) I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. (v.11) My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.(v.12) 

Greater love has no one than this, that He lay down His life for His friends. You are my friends if you do what I command. I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know His master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you.(vv.13-15) You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit-fruit that will last.(v.16) Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name. This is my command: Love each other. (v.17)

               

 

 

  Verse 8 This . I.e., by answered prayer. Note the progression: the step from fruit to more fruit involves pruning (cleansing) through the Word of God (v.2), and the step from more fruit to much fruit involves a life of answered prayer. In fruit –bearing the Father’s divine life is expressed; hence, He is glorified. 

Verse 10 when we abide in the Lord, He speaks His instant words within us. These words are His commandments to us. If we keep those commands to us. If we keep those commandments, it shows that we love Him; it is thus that we will abide in His love.

 Verse 11 being branches of the divine vine and bearing fruit to express the divine life are matters of joy, and they also issue in a joyful life.

Verse 13 the highest expression of love is a self-sacrifice that spares not life itself (1 John 3:16). The Greek word here “life” means soul, soul-life. Jesus lay down his soul-life for His friends.

Verse 16 we were wild branches, and through faith we have been grafted into Christ. Here the Lord said that He set us. This fits the thought of grafting. The Greek word for go forth means to depart, implying to leave for another place; hence, it is rendered go forth. It is the same Greek word as that for go in 14:4 and 16:5. The fruit borne by going forth in this way does not denote the virtues of the fruit-bearer’s character, such as the fruit of the Holy Spirit in the believer’s living, mentioned in Gal.5:22-23, but it denotes the believers produced by the fruit-bearer. This corresponds with the subject of this section,12: 20-17:26, which is Christ’ multiplication. The virtues we possess through our abiding in the Lord cannot be counted as Christ’s multiplication. Only the believers that we produce in the Lord are the tangible multiplication of Christ. The Father’s house in ch.14, the true vine in this chapter, and the man-child in ch.16 are all related to the multiplication of Christ.

Verse 16 Bear fruit (v.16) after we go forth to produce believers in the Lord, we need to care for them. The best way is to set up meetings in their homes to cover and protect them that they may be cared for by being nourished and taught, and may become the remaining fruit, living in the branches of the true vine, that is, in the Body or Christ, to be Christ’s increase. The same Greek word “remains” used for abiding in this chapter 15. To ask in my name (v.16), to ask in the Lord’s name requires us to abide in the Lord and allow Him and His words to abide in us that we may actually be one with Him. Then when we ask, He asks in our asking. This kind of asking is related to fruit-bearing and will surely be answered by the Father.

Verse 17 “love one another” This is to love one another in the Lord’s life, the divine life, in the Lord’s love, and in His commission of fruit-bearing. Life is the source, love is the condition, and fruit-bearing is the goal. If we all live by the Lord’s life as the source, in the Lord’s love as the condition and for fruit-bearing as the goal, we surely will love one another. Having different sources of life, different conditions, or different goals will separate us and prevent us from loving one another.

           

Bibliography,

Lee, Witness. The New Testament (R.V.) Anaheim, CA: Living Stream Ministry, 1985.

Ryrie, Charles C. The Ryrie Study Bible (NIV). Chicago, IL: The Moody Bible Institute, 1986. 

Another Counselor- the Spirit of truth (John 14: 15-31) By Rev.Katherine Liu Bruce

 Another Counselor- The Spirit of truth (John 14: 15-31)

 By Rev.Katherine Liu Bruce 

Christian Arts Ministries: Biblical concepts & Gospel music

 

  Concerning the Holy Spirit, the Son as the Spirit to abide in the believers

 

If you love me, you will obey what I command. And I will ask Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever-(vv.15-16). The Spirit of truth, the world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you. (v.17). I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you, (v.18). Before long, the world will not see me anymore, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. (v.19) on that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you. (v.20) whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me. He who loves me will beloved by my Father, and I too will love him and show myself to him.” (v.21)

 

Concerning peace 14:27-31

 

Then Judas (not Judas Iscariot) said, “But, Lord, why do you intend to show yourself to us and not to the world?” Jesus replied, “If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. He who does not love me will not obey my teaching. These words you hear are not my own, they belong to the Father who sent me. (vv.23-24) All this I have spoken while still with you. But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit whom the Father will send in my name will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. (v.25-26)    

   

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.(v.27) You heard me say, “ I am going away and I am coming back to you. If you loved me, you would be glad that I am going to the Father, for the Father is greater than I. (v.28). I have told you now before it happens, so that when it does happen you will believe. I will not speak with you much longer, for the prince of this would is coming. He has no hold one me, but the world must learn that I love the Father and that I do exactly what my Father has commanded me. Come now; let us leave. 

 

          

 Verse16 another Counselor- The Holy Spirit is called the Counselor, or helper ( Greek: paraclete, ) in the root of this word are the ideas of advising, exhorting, comforting, strengthening, interceding, and encouraging.  Means advocate, one alongside who takes care of our cause, our affairs. The Greek word for Comforter is the same as that for Advocate in 1 John2:1. applied to Christ and translated “One who speaks to the Father in our defense.” Here and in the other passages in John cited above, Christ teaches that the Holy Spirit (1) will indwell Christians (vv.16-17); (2) will help the disciples recall the events of His life (14:26); (3) will convince the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment (16:7-11); (4) will teach believers the truth (15:26;16:13-15). Today we have both the Lord Jesus in the heavens and the Spirit (the Comforter) within us as our Advocate, who takes care of our case.

Verse 17 The Spirit promised here was referred to in 7:39. This Spirit is the Spirit of life (Rom.8:2), and the promise of the Lord’s was fulfilled on the day of the Lord’s resurrection, when the Spirit as the breath of life was breathed into the disciples (20:22). The Lord’s promise here is different from the promise of the Father concerning the Spirit of power in Luke24:49. That promise was fulfilled fifty days after the Lord’s resurrection, on the day of Pentecost, when the Spirit as the mighty wind blew upon the disciples (Acts2:1-4). In this verse the Spirit of life is called “the Spirit of truth”. This Spirit of truth is Christ (v.6); Hence, the Spirit of truth is the Spirit of Christ (Rom.8:9). This Spirit is also the reality of Christ (1John5:6, 20) that Christ may be realized in those who believe into Him, as their life and life supply.  

The very “He” who is the Spirit of truth in this verse becomes the very “ I” who is the Lord Himself in v.18. This means that the Christ who was in the flesh went through death and resurrection to become the life-giving Spirit, the pneuatie Christ. 1 Corinthians 15:45 confirms this. In dealing with the matter of resurrection, that verse says, “The last Adam Christ in the flesh became a life giving Spirit.”

            Verse 18 this coming was fulfilled on the day of His resurrection (20:19-22). After His resurrection the Lord came back to His disciples to be with them forever, thus not leaving them as orphans.

            Verse 26 The Comforter, the Holy Spirit, was to be sent by the Father in the Son’s name. Therefore, the Holy Spirit was sent by the Father and also by the Son. Thus, the Holy Spirit comes not only from the Father but also from the Father but also from the Son, and He is the reality not only of the Father but also of the Son. Hence, when we call on the name of the Son, we get the Spirit. (1Cor.12:3) The Father being in the Son’s name is equivalent to the Father being the Son. Therefore, the Father’s sending of the Holy Spirit in the Son’s name is the Son’s sending of the Holy Spirit from the Father (15:26). The Son and the Father are one (10:30). Hence, the Spirit who is sent comes not only out of the Father but also out of the Son. Moreover, when the Spirit comes, He comes with the Father and the Son. This proves that the Father, the Son, and the Spirit are one God, the Triune God, who reaches us and is working, that is, dispensing, Himself into us in His divine trinity to be out life and everything.

        Verse 26 in my name   In 5:43 we are told that the Son came in the Father’s name, and here that the Father sent the Holy Spirit in the Son’s name. This proves not only that the Son and the Father are one (10:30) but also that the Holy Spirit is one with the Father and the Son. The Holy Spirit, who is sent by the Father in the Son’s name, is not only the truth (reality) that comes from the Father but also the reality that comes from the Son. This is the Triune God  -the Father, the Son, and the Spirit who reaches man eventually as the Spirit. 

 

Bibliography,

Lee, Witness. The New Testament (R.V.) Anaheim, CA: Living Stream Ministry, 1985.

Ryrie, Charles C. The Ryrie Study Bible (NIV).Chicago, IL: The Moody Bible Institute, 1986. 

Roberts, Oral. Holy Bible (KJV) Tulsa, OK: Oral Roberts Evangelistic Association, Inc. 1981.