Tuesday, February 5, 2008

To Be Clean and Pure

Part 1

We read and studied John 15:2 last week, but before we continue on to verse 3, let us review once again the verse that warns, "Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away..."

A study of the particular phrase, "takes away" reveals the real action the Vinedresser takes when He finds that one of His own branches is not bearing fruit: He lifts up the branch! The same phrase is also cited in the following:

John 5:8, "Jesus said to him, 'Rise, take up your bed and walk.'"

Matthew 16:24, "Then Jesus said to His disciples, 'If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.'"

There are stretches of time in a Christian's walk when fruit seems non-existent. Yet, the Lord tends to us by lovingly lifting us up, cleaning us off, disciplining us, and redirecting our efforts that we might bear fruit again. Clearly, this explains Jesus' meaning in the first part of John 15:2.

Part 2

John 15:3, "You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you."

It is interesting that this verse is amplified by another very familiar Scripture found here and on the cover of our binders:

Ephesians 5:25-27, "...Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her, that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word, that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle of any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish."

You and I do not know how God works. We are not able to understand how the words of Jesus are able to make us clean. There is no way we can fathom how reading and hearing the holy Word of God causes us to be cleansed, purified, and fitted to bear fruit...but it does. It is an on-going process, and is applied to our hearts as needed.

Again, we must search the Scripture in order get God's perspective.

Hebrews 10:22, "Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water."

Matthew 5:8, "Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God."

The Best Part

Identifying Our Initial Need to be Cleansed

Our Heavenly Father is sinless and pure. In order for you and me to have a relationship with the Father, we must also be sinless and pure. We are not; and that presents the greatest problem of all humankind. Because of God's perfect nature, He cannot look upon us. We need a Savior!

The Lord Jesus Christ is the Perfect One. Our Father sent His Son from heaven to live on the earth and to die in our place. His blood will cover our sin and impurities, and it provides the remedy for our hopelessness. All we have to do is ask.

As we ask, Jesus comes. Then, Christ is in us, and He is our hope.

1 John 1:9, "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."

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