WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:04.160 Yes, so there's two readings today. 00:00:04.960 --> 00:00:08.599 The first is John chapter 6, verses 35 to 40. 00:00:09.460 --> 00:00:14.320 This is just after Jesus has fed the 5,000 and has crossed over the sea 00:00:14.320 --> 00:00:16.600 and the crowd has followed him and he's speaking to them again. 00:00:21.699 --> 00:00:22.800 John 6, 35. 00:00:23.660 --> 00:00:26.379 Jesus said to them, I am the bread of life. 00:00:26.379 --> 00:00:30.719 Whoever comes to me shall not hunger and whoever believes in me shall never thirst. 00:00:31.960 --> 00:00:35.280 But I said to you that you have seen me and yet you do not believe. 00:00:36.859 --> 00:00:41.539 All that the Father gives me will come to me and whoever comes to me I will never cast out. 00:00:42.359 --> 00:00:46.579 For I have come down from heaven not to do my own will but the will of him who sent me. 00:00:47.560 --> 00:00:52.019 And this is the will of him who sent me that I should lose nothing of all that he has given me 00:00:52.019 --> 00:00:54.439 but raise it up on the last day. 00:00:54.439 --> 00:00:59.599 For this is the will of my Father that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him 00:00:59.599 --> 00:01:03.179 should have eternal life and I will raise him up on the last day. 00:01:04.780 --> 00:01:07.599 The next reading is John chapter 15. 00:01:10.299 --> 00:01:11.420 Starting from verse 1. 00:01:12.640 --> 00:01:16.939 And this is Jesus speaking to his disciples on the night before his death 00:01:16.939 --> 00:01:19.879 and he's teaching them to prepare them for his departure. 00:01:19.879 --> 00:01:26.640 I am the true vine and my Father is the vinedresser. 00:01:27.599 --> 00:01:30.319 Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away 00:01:30.319 --> 00:01:34.560 and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes that it may bear more fruit. 00:01:36.159 --> 00:01:39.120 Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. 00:01:40.120 --> 00:01:41.579 Abide in me and I in you. 00:01:42.039 --> 00:01:45.620 As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself unless it abides in the vine, 00:01:45.620 --> 00:01:48.040 neither can you unless you abide in me. 00:01:48.920 --> 00:01:50.980 I am the vine, you are the branches. 00:01:51.600 --> 00:01:55.580 Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit. 00:01:55.939 --> 00:01:58.000 For apart from me you can do nothing. 00:01:59.260 --> 00:02:03.240 If anyone does not abide in me, he is thrown away like a branch and withers 00:02:03.240 --> 00:02:06.520 and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire and burned. 00:02:06.519 --> 00:02:12.060 If you abide in me and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish 00:02:12.060 --> 00:02:13.819 and it will be done for you. 00:02:14.780 --> 00:02:18.219 By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit 00:02:18.219 --> 00:02:19.819 and so prove to be my disciples. 00:02:20.939 --> 00:02:23.759 As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. 00:02:24.639 --> 00:02:25.579 Abide in my love. 00:02:26.840 --> 00:02:29.439 If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, 00:02:29.579 --> 00:02:32.400 just as I have kept my Father's commandments and abide in his love. 00:02:33.159 --> 00:02:36.400 These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you. 00:02:36.719 --> 00:02:38.120 And that your joy may be full. 00:02:41.320 --> 00:02:42.320 Well, good morning, everyone. 00:02:43.520 --> 00:02:44.939 Let's come to God's word. 00:02:45.040 --> 00:02:45.460 Let's pray. 00:02:47.060 --> 00:02:54.360 Lord, I ask for humility for each one of us to interpret reality 00:02:54.360 --> 00:02:56.560 according to what you say is true. 00:02:57.660 --> 00:03:05.100 And I pray that you would reassure each one of us of your steadfast love. 00:03:05.099 --> 00:03:14.139 And I pray that you would warn us to turn away from the sin that we love, 00:03:14.280 --> 00:03:14.959 if we're honest. 00:03:15.799 --> 00:03:21.319 Warn us to turn away from that because it robs us of just the sweet delight 00:03:21.319 --> 00:03:23.659 of having peace with you. 00:03:24.799 --> 00:03:27.079 So, Lord, please speak to us through your word this morning. 00:03:27.240 --> 00:03:27.900 In Jesus' name. 00:03:28.199 --> 00:03:28.459 Amen. 00:03:28.460 --> 00:03:35.080 Well, yeah, we come to our second common question that arises in response 00:03:35.080 --> 00:03:36.840 to the doctrines of grace. 00:03:37.900 --> 00:03:41.879 The question is, can a Christian lose their salvation? 00:03:42.020 --> 00:03:46.000 So having been saved, can you then lose it? 00:03:48.200 --> 00:03:52.300 Theologically, this is a pretty easy one to answer. 00:03:52.300 --> 00:03:56.800 The bulletin cover is where I want to go. 00:03:57.200 --> 00:04:00.780 Well, not the bulletin cover, but Romans 8, God's word. 00:04:00.939 --> 00:04:01.900 Romans 8.30. 00:04:03.980 --> 00:04:06.980 For those whom the Lord foreknew, he predestined. 00:04:07.560 --> 00:04:10.460 Those whom he predestined, he also called. 00:04:10.800 --> 00:04:13.280 Those whom he called, he also justified. 00:04:14.180 --> 00:04:16.300 Those whom he justified, he also glorified. 00:04:16.300 --> 00:04:16.900 Glorified. 00:04:17.819 --> 00:04:20.879 This is called the golden chain of salvation. 00:04:21.360 --> 00:04:22.639 There's no weak link. 00:04:23.280 --> 00:04:27.480 Salvation is a package deal, a totally free gift from beginning to end. 00:04:27.579 --> 00:04:28.480 It's all God's doing. 00:04:28.600 --> 00:04:29.540 It's all God's mercy. 00:04:31.139 --> 00:04:35.280 We can get ourselves in trouble when we take one of these chains 00:04:35.280 --> 00:04:38.740 and analyse it disconnected from the rest. 00:04:38.900 --> 00:04:40.120 It comes together. 00:04:40.120 --> 00:04:46.860 So can someone who, having been predestined by the Father to receive his mercy, 00:04:47.459 --> 00:04:52.100 who received the irresistible inward call of the Holy Spirit 00:04:52.100 --> 00:04:55.840 through the gospel message, trusting in the redeeming death of Jesus 00:04:55.840 --> 00:04:58.399 to declare them in the right relationship with God, 00:04:59.199 --> 00:05:04.079 can that person then trip up and not make it to glory? 00:05:05.759 --> 00:05:06.360 No. 00:05:06.860 --> 00:05:09.899 It is a very easy question to answer. 00:05:10.120 --> 00:05:10.459 No. 00:05:11.540 --> 00:05:17.079 This golden chain has no weak link because each step relies on his grace. 00:05:18.220 --> 00:05:19.199 He guarantees it. 00:05:19.740 --> 00:05:22.759 Not even our faith is the linchpin that holds it all together. 00:05:23.160 --> 00:05:25.800 It's all him from beginning to end. 00:05:27.819 --> 00:05:31.319 If God is for us, who can be against us? 00:05:35.399 --> 00:05:39.160 But then our experience tells a different story, doesn't it? 00:05:39.160 --> 00:05:46.060 I imagine that we all know people who we were sure had a solid faith, 00:05:46.560 --> 00:05:48.439 who professed to be Christians. 00:05:48.580 --> 00:05:51.560 We might have admired them for their knowledge of the Bible, 00:05:52.200 --> 00:05:55.200 their sacrificial service of others, their devotion, 00:05:56.160 --> 00:06:02.160 and then somewhere along the line they've stopped professing to be Christians. 00:06:03.360 --> 00:06:04.420 Yeah, that's right, isn't it? 00:06:04.420 --> 00:06:05.920 They've abandoned Jesus. 00:06:08.040 --> 00:06:11.280 Perhaps it was someone who was instrumental in discipling you. 00:06:12.879 --> 00:06:20.120 Perhaps it's a pastor who ruined their faith in ministry by pursuing an adulterous relationship. 00:06:20.120 --> 00:06:24.340 Or the high-profile Christian celebrities. 00:06:25.379 --> 00:06:29.920 The latest revelations of Ravi Zacharias is just, it's troubling, isn't it? 00:06:30.300 --> 00:06:31.300 What do you do with that? 00:06:31.300 --> 00:06:37.500 I remember when I was at youth group, I was taught a book by Joshua Harris, 00:06:37.980 --> 00:06:39.400 I Kissed Dating Goodbye. 00:06:40.040 --> 00:06:45.259 I'm not necessarily supporting that book, but I was taught it. 00:06:45.379 --> 00:06:46.340 This is great stuff. 00:06:46.400 --> 00:06:48.620 And I got another book on my bookshelf by him. 00:06:49.680 --> 00:06:52.420 It's about theology called Dug Down Deep. 00:06:52.420 --> 00:06:56.420 And the subheading is unearthing what I believe and why I believe it. 00:06:56.560 --> 00:07:01.220 And yet, in 2019, Joshua Harris on Instagram declares, 00:07:01.860 --> 00:07:05.620 I've had a massive shift in my life. 00:07:06.040 --> 00:07:09.240 By all the measurements I can use, I'm no longer a Christian. 00:07:11.840 --> 00:07:13.120 What do you do with that? 00:07:15.300 --> 00:07:19.360 This is someone you go to to learn theology is now saying, 00:07:19.360 --> 00:07:21.200 I don't believe it. 00:07:22.420 --> 00:07:28.300 All these people, they rock our confidence in the security of salvation, 00:07:28.900 --> 00:07:30.720 that once a Christian, always a Christian. 00:07:32.640 --> 00:07:36.860 Our confidence in the doctrines of grace and the peace and joy of being secure 00:07:36.860 --> 00:07:39.780 has this lingering question over it. 00:07:40.420 --> 00:07:42.080 Can that really be true? 00:07:43.600 --> 00:07:46.680 So much experience says something else. 00:07:46.680 --> 00:07:54.340 So, how experience seems to contradict Scripture, 00:07:55.699 --> 00:07:59.879 at least those parts of Scripture that teach God sovereignty and salvation. 00:08:00.040 --> 00:08:01.439 So how do we bridge this gap? 00:08:01.720 --> 00:08:03.040 How do we reconcile this? 00:08:04.040 --> 00:08:07.600 It's too big a gap to just leave hanging in our heads. 00:08:07.960 --> 00:08:09.220 How do we reconcile it? 00:08:09.220 --> 00:08:17.180 Well, I want to suggest four perspectives that help to do that this morning. 00:08:18.080 --> 00:08:20.780 We're going to use John 6 and John 15 to help us. 00:08:21.740 --> 00:08:25.420 So the first one, which we've already started to think about, 00:08:25.820 --> 00:08:28.620 is our experience and God's word. 00:08:29.320 --> 00:08:31.540 Which one is going to interpret which? 00:08:31.540 --> 00:08:36.440 Now, both of them speak to one another and inform the other. 00:08:36.539 --> 00:08:41.320 Our experience opens us up to what the Bible is actually saying. 00:08:42.019 --> 00:08:44.539 But which one interprets which? 00:08:45.180 --> 00:08:46.480 Which one has the final say? 00:08:49.360 --> 00:08:56.639 Each time we come to God's word, it teaches us what is real, what is true. 00:08:56.639 --> 00:09:01.279 And so we're confronted with a choice we may not even realise is going on. 00:09:01.539 --> 00:09:05.399 We're not just studying what the Bible says, but what the Bible says is true. 00:09:05.480 --> 00:09:06.439 This is reality. 00:09:07.039 --> 00:09:10.439 And so we're confronted with, do we believe it? 00:09:12.580 --> 00:09:18.340 Our experiences, or more to the point, the conclusions we come to from our experiences, 00:09:18.840 --> 00:09:23.259 do we trust in that, our own conclusions, based on our own experiences, 00:09:23.259 --> 00:09:26.240 or do we trust in what Scripture says is real and true? 00:09:26.639 --> 00:09:29.580 Which interprets which? 00:09:32.279 --> 00:09:37.000 Now, I'm sure that there's way more to the story in Joshua Harris' case 00:09:37.000 --> 00:09:39.399 than what he said on Instagram. 00:09:41.059 --> 00:09:47.039 But he at least said publicly one of the main reasons he let Christianity go 00:09:47.039 --> 00:09:50.799 is that he came to conclusions about homosexuality, 00:09:51.039 --> 00:09:56.539 and he was so sure on those conclusions that on this one aspect of life, 00:09:56.639 --> 00:10:02.000 in his own conclusions, that he's got rid of the rest of what Scripture says about reality. 00:10:02.759 --> 00:10:08.100 He made one issue so big in his mind, he was willing to throw in the rest. 00:10:11.500 --> 00:10:15.759 So when we come to Scripture, we always are faced with the question, 00:10:15.759 --> 00:10:20.319 which one are we going to let interpret which? 00:10:20.319 --> 00:10:24.960 Our experience, our own conclusions, or what God says is true? 00:10:28.200 --> 00:10:32.019 So when we come to the question, can a Christian lose their salvation, 00:10:32.340 --> 00:10:35.799 our experience says, yes, it happens. 00:10:35.799 --> 00:10:38.759 We hear about it all the time. 00:10:42.219 --> 00:10:45.339 But like everything else, we need to decide who we're going to listen to. 00:10:46.439 --> 00:10:49.899 So we need to come to God's word for the authority on this matter. 00:10:50.199 --> 00:10:51.459 So let's do that. 00:10:51.539 --> 00:10:52.779 Let's go to John 15. 00:10:52.779 --> 00:10:58.879 As we submit ourselves to God's word on the authority, 00:10:59.639 --> 00:11:03.139 we need to work out what we do with passages like this. 00:11:04.600 --> 00:11:09.259 This is John 15, 1 to 11, this picture of the vine and the branches. 00:11:11.939 --> 00:11:15.259 At first, it's a troubling image, isn't it? 00:11:15.259 --> 00:11:22.840 It's not the only passage that seems to speak of a Christian falling away 00:11:22.840 --> 00:11:25.559 or being cut off, but we don't have time to deal with them all. 00:11:25.639 --> 00:11:27.919 I think this is one of the major ones that rock us. 00:11:28.600 --> 00:11:31.159 So let's spend our time in John 15. 00:11:33.539 --> 00:11:38.000 So as we heard in our two readings this morning, both in John's gospel, 00:11:38.000 --> 00:11:40.399 it sounds like we're hearing a mixed message. 00:11:40.980 --> 00:11:41.860 John 6, 37. 00:11:42.240 --> 00:11:44.019 All that the Father gives me will come to me, 00:11:44.019 --> 00:11:46.819 and whoever comes to me, I will never cast out. 00:11:47.759 --> 00:11:48.059 Never. 00:11:49.179 --> 00:11:50.159 And then John 15. 00:11:51.100 --> 00:11:54.019 If anyone does not abide in me, he is thrown away. 00:11:55.879 --> 00:11:58.299 Like a branch and withers, and the branches are gathered, 00:11:58.539 --> 00:12:00.019 thrown into the fire, and burned. 00:12:00.759 --> 00:12:02.439 So which is it? 00:12:03.559 --> 00:12:05.079 Are we never cast out? 00:12:05.600 --> 00:12:05.919 Never? 00:12:06.919 --> 00:12:08.240 Or can we be thrown away? 00:12:08.240 --> 00:12:14.919 We've got to ask a really important question at this point. 00:12:16.399 --> 00:12:19.440 Does the Lord speak with a forked tongue? 00:12:22.100 --> 00:12:24.100 Does he say two different things? 00:12:27.460 --> 00:12:30.659 Is he saying, I'll never cast you out, and I will cast you out? 00:12:30.659 --> 00:12:34.980 Is that the case? 00:12:35.299 --> 00:12:40.019 Like even at a human literature level, taking God out of it for the moment, 00:12:40.079 --> 00:12:43.879 at a human literature level, if we think someone is contradicting themselves, 00:12:44.259 --> 00:12:46.259 to respect the person in what they're saying, 00:12:46.679 --> 00:12:51.740 we should at least assume that they know that there seems to be an apparent contradiction. 00:12:51.740 --> 00:12:54.600 And so we go back and go, is that really what they meant? 00:12:54.919 --> 00:12:56.139 Maybe they meant something else. 00:12:57.820 --> 00:13:01.659 Surely we should respect even more God's word, 00:13:01.759 --> 00:13:04.159 that he's not contradicting himself. 00:13:05.940 --> 00:13:08.779 This is Jesus' own words that John is reporting. 00:13:09.379 --> 00:13:13.860 Has Jesus forgotten what he said only a couple of months, years ago? 00:13:14.899 --> 00:13:16.879 Did Jesus change his doctrine? 00:13:16.879 --> 00:13:17.879 Did Jesus change his doctrine? 00:13:19.379 --> 00:13:26.879 So let's pause and go back and make sure we've understood what Jesus is saying. 00:13:28.700 --> 00:13:32.039 Instead of assuming that the Lord is speaking with a forked tongue, 00:13:32.220 --> 00:13:34.860 and therefore we can't fully trust what he says, 00:13:35.639 --> 00:13:37.539 how about we assume the problem is with us, 00:13:38.179 --> 00:13:40.940 and make sure we understand what God is saying? 00:13:42.340 --> 00:13:43.399 How do we do that? 00:13:44.080 --> 00:13:44.940 Well, it's really simple. 00:13:44.940 --> 00:13:48.780 We apply the normal rules of listening to God's word. 00:13:49.980 --> 00:13:52.980 I think in a topic like this, the emotions are high. 00:13:53.640 --> 00:13:55.020 Like, can I lose my salvation? 00:13:55.140 --> 00:13:56.180 The emotions are high, 00:13:56.260 --> 00:14:00.580 and I think we can let go of the tools of interpreting God's word. 00:14:01.500 --> 00:14:05.280 We need to slow down and listen more carefully. 00:14:06.520 --> 00:14:09.120 I'm going to suggest three rules for understanding the Bible, 00:14:09.300 --> 00:14:12.180 so let's work through these with John 15. 00:14:12.179 --> 00:14:18.819 So the first one is reading it in context within the book, 00:14:18.899 --> 00:14:21.719 within the book you're reading, so John's Gospel in this case. 00:14:22.779 --> 00:14:25.659 Someone's words can only be understood in context. 00:14:26.639 --> 00:14:29.359 Don't you hate it when someone takes your words out of context? 00:14:29.620 --> 00:14:32.819 It does violence to what you meant. 00:14:33.179 --> 00:14:34.919 It's like, I wasn't saying that. 00:14:35.359 --> 00:14:37.039 Please, put it in context. 00:14:37.039 --> 00:14:39.819 Let's do the same with God's word. 00:14:40.939 --> 00:14:42.779 So this vine and branch is a metaphor. 00:14:43.000 --> 00:14:44.079 We quickly get the picture. 00:14:45.299 --> 00:14:48.279 Jesus is the vine, an individual Christian is a branch, 00:14:48.779 --> 00:14:50.819 and it's up to the branch to produce fruit, 00:14:51.199 --> 00:14:53.740 which it can only do by remaining in the vine. 00:14:54.620 --> 00:14:56.740 If it does, it is safe and secure. 00:14:57.379 --> 00:14:58.159 It's fruitful. 00:14:58.159 --> 00:15:03.039 But if it doesn't produce fruit, it's cut off, thrown away and burned. 00:15:04.079 --> 00:15:05.779 We think we understand the picture. 00:15:06.839 --> 00:15:08.379 I'm going to suggest we don't. 00:15:08.939 --> 00:15:10.879 We need to take a closer look. 00:15:12.600 --> 00:15:18.179 If this teaching was placed within a context of a gospel challenge, 00:15:18.319 --> 00:15:19.639 what are you going to do with Jesus? 00:15:20.519 --> 00:15:25.340 Then we might have more ground to stand on, to understand it this way, 00:15:25.399 --> 00:15:26.259 that you've got a choice. 00:15:26.360 --> 00:15:28.639 Are you going to produce fruit or not? 00:15:29.179 --> 00:15:30.519 But that's not the context here. 00:15:31.500 --> 00:15:32.480 We're in John 15. 00:15:32.899 --> 00:15:36.860 In chapter 13, verse 1, Jesus has finished his public ministry, 00:15:36.860 --> 00:15:42.039 and he's now in the upper room the night before he's about to die, 00:15:42.139 --> 00:15:43.399 and he's with his apostles. 00:15:44.100 --> 00:15:45.399 He's with the inner circle. 00:15:45.399 --> 00:15:49.659 Judas has already gone to betray him. 00:15:50.159 --> 00:15:52.559 This is the 11 apostles, maybe a few others. 00:15:53.579 --> 00:15:55.759 These are the ones Jesus chose. 00:15:56.679 --> 00:16:01.000 So this isn't a public gospel context. 00:16:01.259 --> 00:16:04.459 This is a very private teaching his disciples context. 00:16:06.659 --> 00:16:12.840 So what also in context, chapters 14 to 16 is one speech, 00:16:12.840 --> 00:16:15.500 one lot of teaching. 00:16:16.440 --> 00:16:18.200 And so the teaching has to be taken together. 00:16:19.019 --> 00:16:22.540 And it's all about preparing his apostles for his death, 00:16:22.960 --> 00:16:24.379 which is going to happen the next day, 00:16:25.019 --> 00:16:29.360 and then his ascension into heaven so that when he's gone, 00:16:29.860 --> 00:16:33.100 the apostles can carry on his mission as the Messiah in the world. 00:16:33.360 --> 00:16:35.500 They've got this huge task ahead of them. 00:16:36.519 --> 00:16:40.680 It's going to be a painful task, and the Lord is going to leave. 00:16:40.679 --> 00:16:45.279 That's what Jesus is speaking into here. 00:16:46.099 --> 00:16:47.219 What do they need to hear? 00:16:48.279 --> 00:16:50.019 They need to hear reassurance. 00:16:51.539 --> 00:16:54.479 They need to have confidence in Jesus. 00:16:54.819 --> 00:16:58.579 So we hear that in the start of the speech and the end of the teaching. 00:16:59.000 --> 00:16:59.939 14 verse 1, 00:16:59.940 --> 00:17:18.580 And at the end of the teaching, 1633, 00:17:18.579 --> 00:17:24.139 I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. 00:17:25.240 --> 00:17:28.439 In the world you have tribulation, but take heart. 00:17:28.939 --> 00:17:30.139 I have overcome the world. 00:17:31.000 --> 00:17:37.079 The point of this teaching is to give his disciples peace and confidence, 00:17:37.299 --> 00:17:38.119 reassurance. 00:17:38.119 --> 00:17:48.199 Because Jesus is the vine, his life is pulsating through them, 00:17:49.019 --> 00:17:52.719 and so it's connection with him that guarantees success. 00:17:55.879 --> 00:17:59.419 Yes, he's leaving, but he's giving his spirit. 00:17:59.979 --> 00:18:01.739 In another sense, he's not leaving. 00:18:01.740 --> 00:18:05.640 But it's in him that their mission will be successful. 00:18:07.200 --> 00:18:10.000 He's reassuring them that they will not be alone. 00:18:11.160 --> 00:18:14.500 It's not ultimately down to them to produce the fruit. 00:18:15.000 --> 00:18:16.279 It's down to the vine. 00:18:19.720 --> 00:18:25.200 The picture here of the vine and branches is not primarily a threat, 00:18:25.779 --> 00:18:26.740 but an encouragement. 00:18:26.740 --> 00:18:29.599 I will bring about the fruit. 00:18:30.500 --> 00:18:31.880 You just depend on me. 00:18:34.819 --> 00:18:37.000 Okay, so that's the context within the book. 00:18:37.720 --> 00:18:41.720 Then we've got to apply another rule, as we do with every part of God's word, 00:18:42.000 --> 00:18:47.240 and think of the context within salvation history across the whole Bible. 00:18:50.180 --> 00:18:53.440 Jesus didn't pluck this vine picture out of nowhere. 00:18:53.599 --> 00:18:55.440 It comes from the Old Testament. 00:18:56.740 --> 00:19:00.960 God uses it frequently to talk about Israel, God's people. 00:19:02.720 --> 00:19:04.940 So listen to a little bit of Isaiah 5. 00:19:06.160 --> 00:19:07.039 Isaiah says this, 00:19:07.099 --> 00:19:12.240 My loved one, talking about the Lord, had a vineyard on a fertile hillside. 00:19:12.359 --> 00:19:17.559 He dug it up and cleared it of stones and planted it with the choicest vines. 00:19:18.339 --> 00:19:21.759 He built a watchtower in it and cut out a winepress as well. 00:19:22.819 --> 00:19:23.640 He did it all. 00:19:24.680 --> 00:19:25.839 He planted his people. 00:19:25.839 --> 00:19:27.599 He did everything for them. 00:19:29.059 --> 00:19:33.559 Then he looked for a crop of good grapes, but it yielded only bad fruit. 00:19:36.059 --> 00:19:39.079 The vineyard of the Lord Almighty is the nation of Israel, 00:19:39.379 --> 00:19:42.779 and the people of Judah are the vines he delighted in. 00:19:43.399 --> 00:19:46.139 And he looked for justice, but it saw bloodshed. 00:19:46.140 --> 00:19:49.400 For righteousness, but heard cries of distress. 00:19:52.400 --> 00:19:54.720 So Israel is the vine. 00:19:55.420 --> 00:20:00.140 But when God looked at Israel, all he got was bad fruit. 00:20:00.860 --> 00:20:03.620 Or other sections talk about no fruit. 00:20:03.619 --> 00:20:07.099 Then we've got Psalm 80. 00:20:07.099 --> 00:20:11.059 And the hope of a better vine comes into view. 00:20:11.500 --> 00:20:14.779 And the vine is connected with God's king, the son of man. 00:20:15.179 --> 00:20:17.479 So I'll just read a few verses from Psalm 80. 00:20:17.979 --> 00:20:22.839 It's 14 to 15, if you want to look it up later. 00:20:23.979 --> 00:20:24.879 Here's the prayer. 00:20:25.059 --> 00:20:26.639 Watch over this vine. 00:20:26.640 --> 00:20:28.280 Now, who is this vine? 00:20:28.860 --> 00:20:35.780 The root your right hand has planted, the sun you have raised up for yourself. 00:20:37.020 --> 00:20:39.000 Then we will not turn away from you. 00:20:39.240 --> 00:20:42.060 Revive us, and we will call on your name. 00:20:42.259 --> 00:20:43.820 Restore us, Lord God Almighty. 00:20:44.320 --> 00:20:46.660 Make your face shine on us that we may be saved. 00:20:46.660 --> 00:20:50.240 This vine is connected to the sun. 00:20:51.580 --> 00:20:52.860 The son of man. 00:20:53.680 --> 00:20:54.460 God's king. 00:20:58.000 --> 00:21:02.980 So let's, with that in mind, let's come back to the picture in John 15, the vine and the branches. 00:21:03.100 --> 00:21:08.180 I think we focus so much on the branches when we should, our main focus should actually be on the vine. 00:21:09.900 --> 00:21:12.640 Jesus is saying, I'm the true vine. 00:21:13.019 --> 00:21:15.600 I am the true obedient son of God. 00:21:15.599 --> 00:21:19.579 But I am the Israel that Israel failed to be. 00:21:22.079 --> 00:21:29.359 Where Israel only produced bad fruit or no fruit, Jesus is now taking the place of God's obedient son. 00:21:29.759 --> 00:21:31.619 He will be fruitful. 00:21:33.159 --> 00:21:34.259 He will be. 00:21:36.559 --> 00:21:37.519 He is. 00:21:37.879 --> 00:21:41.039 And all who are connected to him will be fruitful. 00:21:42.459 --> 00:21:45.459 It would call into question his identity as the vine. 00:21:45.460 --> 00:21:48.960 If the branches connected to him didn't produce fruit. 00:21:52.519 --> 00:21:58.620 So on first reading, I think we had set up in our mind that this is about two groups. 00:21:58.779 --> 00:22:01.400 Those with a very high level of obedience to God. 00:22:02.019 --> 00:22:05.400 And those who kind of don't produce much fruit. 00:22:06.340 --> 00:22:07.759 That's not the two groups. 00:22:07.759 --> 00:22:15.180 This isn't saying a genuine believer can fall away if they're not producing enough fruit. 00:22:16.379 --> 00:22:22.680 It's either no fruit or you're connected to Jesus the vine and the vine produces the fruit. 00:22:22.680 --> 00:22:35.160 It's saying that in Jesus, his life, his life-giving words pulsating through you, he will produce the fruit. 00:22:35.160 --> 00:22:40.860 It doesn't say how much fruit. 00:22:41.620 --> 00:22:42.440 Notice as well. 00:22:42.680 --> 00:22:47.840 If anything, it implies not enough fruit because we're going to need pruning and that's going to hurt. 00:22:49.019 --> 00:22:51.259 But the father does it out of love. 00:22:51.400 --> 00:22:52.779 He's going to produce more fruit. 00:22:52.779 --> 00:22:57.559 So don't have in your minds, I'm not producing enough fruit. 00:22:57.720 --> 00:22:58.519 It's not saying that. 00:22:58.720 --> 00:23:01.779 It's saying if you're connected to him, you will produce fruit. 00:23:01.879 --> 00:23:02.859 He will guarantee it. 00:23:03.619 --> 00:23:05.759 And he'll prune us to produce even more. 00:23:07.859 --> 00:23:09.599 Jesus is the fruitful vine. 00:23:09.899 --> 00:23:11.000 He's the obedient son. 00:23:11.000 --> 00:23:16.900 All right, let's quickly apply one last rule. 00:23:17.359 --> 00:23:23.819 Some portions of scripture, some phrases here and there are just not clear and we're not sure what it means. 00:23:24.400 --> 00:23:31.359 But other parts of scripture are clear, either because it comes up in scripture so often that the meaning is clear 00:23:31.359 --> 00:23:36.819 or a section just says it so clearly that the meaning is obvious. 00:23:36.819 --> 00:23:41.740 Which one do we start with to build a doctrine off? 00:23:42.059 --> 00:23:51.419 Do we start with the little phrase that we're not quite sure what it means or a chunk that meaning is very clear? 00:23:51.519 --> 00:23:54.679 Obviously we start with the clear to interpret the unclear. 00:23:56.279 --> 00:24:03.659 I reckon in this metaphor of the vine and the branches, there's a little phrase in here that I don't find clear. 00:24:03.660 --> 00:24:12.740 It says there's this group of people who seem to be in me and yet not produce any fruit whatsoever. 00:24:14.340 --> 00:24:15.759 Now what's that talking about? 00:24:15.900 --> 00:24:20.600 We could just focus on that and go, well, that obviously means Christians can fall away. 00:24:23.019 --> 00:24:27.480 But that's just taking one little phrase and building a doctrine off it. 00:24:28.460 --> 00:24:31.779 Let's go to somewhere clearer to interpret that little phrase. 00:24:31.779 --> 00:24:36.079 And that's why we've read this morning John 6 as well. 00:24:37.940 --> 00:24:40.220 So let's listen carefully to John 6. 00:24:43.559 --> 00:24:45.299 If you want to turn there, that would be great. 00:24:45.420 --> 00:24:46.099 John 6. 00:24:48.779 --> 00:24:49.819 Verse 37. 00:24:49.819 --> 00:25:01.319 I hope you hear in this very similar golden chain like in Romans 8. 00:25:02.119 --> 00:25:03.539 Listen to this in John 6. 00:25:04.339 --> 00:25:11.319 All that the Father gives to me will come to me. 00:25:11.319 --> 00:25:12.319 All. 00:25:12.319 --> 00:25:13.319 All. 00:25:13.319 --> 00:25:13.839 All. 00:25:14.039 --> 00:25:14.700 Not most. 00:25:15.099 --> 00:25:15.460 All. 00:25:16.539 --> 00:25:20.919 The people whom the Father gives to Jesus will come to Jesus. 00:25:21.259 --> 00:25:23.639 The gospel will take effect in their hearts. 00:25:23.779 --> 00:25:24.519 Every single one. 00:25:27.039 --> 00:25:31.039 And whoever comes to me, I will never cast out. 00:25:32.759 --> 00:25:33.480 Why is that? 00:25:33.480 --> 00:25:39.420 For I have not come down from heaven, not to do my own will, but the will of him who sent me. 00:25:39.839 --> 00:25:47.220 And this is the will of him who sent me, that I should lose nothing of all that he has given me, 00:25:47.940 --> 00:25:50.480 but raise it up on the last day. 00:25:50.480 --> 00:25:58.839 For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life, 00:25:58.920 --> 00:26:03.660 and I will raise him up on the last day. 00:26:05.180 --> 00:26:08.440 All the Father gives to Jesus will come to Jesus. 00:26:08.900 --> 00:26:11.460 All who come to Jesus will never be cast out. 00:26:11.980 --> 00:26:14.380 He will raise them up on the last day. 00:26:15.980 --> 00:26:17.559 There's no gaps in there. 00:26:17.559 --> 00:26:20.160 It's a beautiful promise. 00:26:20.480 --> 00:26:24.960 Not one is lost out of his hand. 00:26:26.360 --> 00:26:28.559 That's the clear part in John's gospel. 00:26:28.700 --> 00:26:35.480 Let's use that as our starting point to work out what is this group of branches that don't produce fruit. 00:26:37.559 --> 00:26:38.360 It can't. 00:26:38.519 --> 00:26:41.440 I think we can only be clear here on what it can't be. 00:26:41.500 --> 00:26:43.279 It can't be genuine Christians. 00:26:44.380 --> 00:26:45.599 It just can't be. 00:26:45.599 --> 00:26:51.959 Because if you're connected to the vine, the vine's life will produce fruit. 00:26:51.960 --> 00:26:57.740 All who come to Jesus will be raised up on the last day. 00:26:58.400 --> 00:27:02.940 It can't be a Christian that this group is talking about. 00:27:02.940 --> 00:27:07.500 That's what we can be sure of. 00:27:07.500 --> 00:27:11.940 I think we can also make a stab. 00:27:12.980 --> 00:27:28.799 Maybe this is people who are in the church, the visible church, and who receive God's word all the time, surrounded by the ministry of God's people, but it never really changes their deepest desires. 00:27:28.799 --> 00:27:31.720 You may want to change your moral behavior. 00:27:32.259 --> 00:27:33.619 You enjoy the community. 00:27:34.440 --> 00:27:43.000 But your deepest desire to know God, to want to please God, it never moves you fully. 00:27:43.779 --> 00:27:46.940 Maybe it's talking about that, that the church is always mixed. 00:27:46.940 --> 00:27:49.660 Maybe it's saying that. 00:27:49.860 --> 00:27:56.580 But what we can be sure of is that those who are in Christ, in the vine, will produce fruit. 00:27:56.980 --> 00:27:58.559 How much fruit is not the question. 00:27:59.740 --> 00:28:01.200 But they will change your attitudes. 00:28:05.559 --> 00:28:12.019 Okay, having said all that, having used the rules, I think we're ready to ask the question, 00:28:12.019 --> 00:28:17.139 what is the point of all the warnings in the Bible about not being saved? 00:28:17.259 --> 00:28:18.779 There are quite a few warnings. 00:28:20.539 --> 00:28:22.900 I'll use the metaphor that I found helpful. 00:28:24.019 --> 00:28:25.519 I found helpful and convincing. 00:28:27.139 --> 00:28:36.259 So when you're going on a bushwalk, picture, I can't even remember the name of it, Blue Mountains, that's what it's called. 00:28:36.259 --> 00:28:47.279 When you're going on a bushwalk and you come near to the edge of a cliff and there's this bright yellow sign warning you, stay away. 00:28:47.420 --> 00:28:49.420 If you fall off, you will die. 00:28:50.720 --> 00:28:52.299 What's the point of that sign? 00:28:54.660 --> 00:28:55.940 Don't come near there. 00:28:56.259 --> 00:28:57.279 You will die. 00:28:58.619 --> 00:28:59.720 Don't fall off. 00:28:59.720 --> 00:29:07.819 Does there need to be a single person to fall off to make that sign a legitimate warning? 00:29:09.740 --> 00:29:11.259 No, that's the point of the sign. 00:29:11.339 --> 00:29:13.900 The sign is saying, don't go here. 00:29:15.140 --> 00:29:17.039 It's a legitimate warning. 00:29:17.480 --> 00:29:18.299 Don't come here. 00:29:19.299 --> 00:29:22.519 No one has to fall off for that warning to be true. 00:29:25.019 --> 00:29:29.559 The purpose of the sign is to keep every single one safe. 00:29:30.720 --> 00:29:33.160 I think that's the point of the warning passages in the Bible. 00:29:34.420 --> 00:29:41.339 Every believer that listens to God's word, and that is every genuine believer, will heed the warning. 00:29:43.980 --> 00:29:46.640 If you give up on Christ, you will die. 00:29:47.980 --> 00:29:53.140 Hearing that, a believer will go, I don't want to give up on Christ then. 00:29:54.460 --> 00:29:56.039 That's a very scary prospect. 00:29:56.039 --> 00:30:04.240 It's much better for us to obey Christ out of delight in him, but like we're saying, our hearts are prone to wander. 00:30:05.460 --> 00:30:07.680 Sometimes God loves us by warning us. 00:30:08.059 --> 00:30:09.440 You want to go down there? 00:30:10.200 --> 00:30:11.839 You think the grass is greener? 00:30:12.000 --> 00:30:13.220 No, it is not greener. 00:30:13.299 --> 00:30:14.299 It is a cliff edge. 00:30:15.920 --> 00:30:17.559 Just think about that for a moment. 00:30:17.559 --> 00:30:24.720 He loves us by warning us to stay with Christ. 00:30:26.259 --> 00:30:33.299 Not a single one has to fall off for that warning to be true, and that warning is actually a very loving thing. 00:30:33.299 --> 00:30:39.519 It's one way the Lord keeps us safe to make sure we make it home to heaven. 00:30:42.960 --> 00:30:50.879 Okay, so that's the warning passages, and feel free to talk to me more afterwards if I haven't quite answered your questions. 00:30:50.880 --> 00:30:54.960 Moving sideways a little bit. 00:30:55.880 --> 00:31:09.680 Another reason I think we can doubt whether we will make it to the end is that when we are purposefully pursuing sin and clinging on to sin, consciously aware that we are turning our backs on God, we feel distant from God, don't we? 00:31:10.300 --> 00:31:13.600 We feel like he's so far away. 00:31:13.599 --> 00:31:20.079 We can lose the enjoyment of being saved. 00:31:20.579 --> 00:31:25.279 We can lose that in those moments because we're turning our back on God. 00:31:25.959 --> 00:31:27.859 Of course we're going to feel distant from him. 00:31:29.119 --> 00:31:36.359 But losing the enjoyment of our peace with God is not the same thing as losing the reality of being at peace with God. 00:31:36.719 --> 00:31:37.899 It's not the same thing. 00:31:37.900 --> 00:31:43.100 So, again, a picture I found helpful. 00:31:43.660 --> 00:31:44.420 Picture the family. 00:31:44.740 --> 00:31:49.820 A child has a choice whether to embrace or go against the rules of the parents. 00:31:50.600 --> 00:31:59.640 If they embrace the parents' instructions, which are given for the sake of the child to flourish, the child will feel the warmth of the parents. 00:32:00.019 --> 00:32:05.759 They'll be at ease together, able to laugh together and hug and able to know their father's smile. 00:32:05.759 --> 00:32:08.960 It will be a very warm environment. 00:32:10.079 --> 00:32:15.700 But if a child goes against the parents' instructions, the experience of peace is forfeited. 00:32:16.519 --> 00:32:18.940 The parents out of love will need to discipline them. 00:32:20.599 --> 00:32:22.619 Has the child stopped being a child? 00:32:22.759 --> 00:32:23.039 No. 00:32:24.140 --> 00:32:28.759 But the loss of peace, there is a loss of peace and enjoyment. 00:32:30.299 --> 00:32:32.700 They are still and always a child. 00:32:32.700 --> 00:32:40.700 So, when we're pursuing sin, it can rob us of the enjoyment of peace. 00:32:41.319 --> 00:32:46.759 But it doesn't take away our state of being a child of God. 00:32:48.539 --> 00:32:52.779 And as we saw in the vine metaphor, the character of God is that he pursues us. 00:32:53.019 --> 00:32:54.019 He prunes us. 00:32:54.880 --> 00:32:59.660 Or we hear in Hebrews 12, he disciplines us. 00:32:59.660 --> 00:33:02.840 A father out of his love disciplines us. 00:33:04.160 --> 00:33:13.779 It can be painful, but we should receive that as from the hand of a loving dad and turn back to him. 00:33:13.779 --> 00:33:25.119 Now, I think when it comes to interpreting others and where they stand with the Lord, I think we need to be careful not to ride them off. 00:33:26.440 --> 00:33:27.839 So, think of Joshua Harris. 00:33:28.519 --> 00:33:31.660 We do not know his heart. 00:33:32.680 --> 00:33:33.359 We don't. 00:33:34.059 --> 00:33:35.799 The Lord may bring him back. 00:33:37.359 --> 00:33:39.000 That's not ours for the side. 00:33:39.119 --> 00:33:40.099 That's the Lord's doing. 00:33:40.099 --> 00:33:42.099 That's the Lord. 00:33:42.099 --> 00:33:46.619 So, let's not ride people off too quickly. 00:33:46.799 --> 00:33:48.919 What we can do is focus on our own hearts. 00:33:51.079 --> 00:33:57.939 And whether we are pursuing a delight in being at peace with God or whether we're consciously turning away from him. 00:33:57.940 --> 00:34:06.980 So, let's not confuse the loss of enjoyment with the actual loss of salvation. 00:34:07.299 --> 00:34:08.480 They're two different things. 00:34:10.079 --> 00:34:17.460 And let's respond to discipline, knowing that we're secure in God's family and he disciplines us because he loves us. 00:34:17.460 --> 00:34:24.300 So, as we finish, we've got one last perspective. 00:34:24.860 --> 00:34:27.179 Can a Christian lose their salvation? 00:34:29.119 --> 00:34:31.800 The answer is still no. 00:34:33.420 --> 00:34:33.860 No. 00:34:33.860 --> 00:34:44.480 If we have a healthy understanding of God's sovereignty and our responsibility, Scripture always presents both as absolutely true. 00:34:44.800 --> 00:34:46.140 One doesn't rule out the other. 00:34:47.380 --> 00:34:50.380 I know we can't get our heads around how it works, but both are true. 00:34:50.380 --> 00:34:53.840 It's never either or, but both end. 00:34:55.019 --> 00:35:04.880 Then, like last week's question, we should be careful to assign to God's role in salvation what is God's and assign to us what is us. 00:35:05.340 --> 00:35:07.280 And let's not mix up the two. 00:35:07.280 --> 00:35:14.900 It's the Lord's business to promise unconditionally, whoever comes to me, I'll never cast out. 00:35:16.240 --> 00:35:21.260 I should lose nothing of all that he has given me but raise it up on the last day. 00:35:21.500 --> 00:35:22.340 That's his business. 00:35:22.480 --> 00:35:23.200 That's his promise. 00:35:24.040 --> 00:35:26.280 And it's great that he shares that promise with us. 00:35:29.280 --> 00:35:31.880 So, what's the question for us personally? 00:35:32.100 --> 00:35:33.400 What's our responsibility? 00:35:34.519 --> 00:35:36.260 What's our business to focus on? 00:35:37.280 --> 00:35:41.740 The question is still, what will you do with Jesus? 00:35:42.880 --> 00:35:48.880 Or to use the language of the metaphor we've looked at this morning, are you abiding in the vine? 00:35:51.060 --> 00:35:54.780 The question of the gospel is, are you abiding in the vine? 00:35:54.900 --> 00:35:56.660 That's our responsibility each day. 00:35:57.620 --> 00:35:59.180 We can do nothing by ourselves. 00:35:59.360 --> 00:36:02.019 We need his life pulsating through us. 00:36:03.900 --> 00:36:05.200 So, what does that look like? 00:36:07.280 --> 00:36:12.900 I think it looks like we keep listening and depending on his life-giving words. 00:36:13.800 --> 00:36:15.120 And we see that in the text. 00:36:15.260 --> 00:36:19.800 Verse 3, already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. 00:36:20.019 --> 00:36:22.740 Abide in me and I in you. 00:36:23.440 --> 00:36:27.660 Verse 7, if you abide in me and my words abide in you. 00:36:28.160 --> 00:36:31.100 Verse 9 and 10, as the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. 00:36:31.300 --> 00:36:32.300 Abide in my love. 00:36:32.300 --> 00:36:35.580 If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love. 00:36:38.660 --> 00:36:44.580 To keep having a vital connection with Jesus is to have his life-giving words flowing through us. 00:36:44.900 --> 00:36:47.720 Wanting him to pulsate through us. 00:36:48.400 --> 00:36:50.840 Each day, every single area of our lives. 00:36:50.840 --> 00:36:55.940 I know we don't always pursue it, but this is our responsibility. 00:36:56.539 --> 00:36:57.559 To abide in him. 00:36:58.860 --> 00:37:00.000 Abide in his word. 00:37:01.559 --> 00:37:05.340 Let God worry about whether a Christian can lose their salvation or not. 00:37:05.420 --> 00:37:06.280 That's his business. 00:37:07.220 --> 00:37:08.100 And he says, no. 00:37:09.360 --> 00:37:10.500 A Christian cannot. 00:37:11.360 --> 00:37:13.680 All that the Father gives me will come to me. 00:37:13.820 --> 00:37:15.980 I will raise them up on the last day. 00:37:15.980 --> 00:37:21.440 Safe in his promises, knowing he will get us home. 00:37:22.199 --> 00:37:24.380 We're to focus on abiding in his love. 00:37:25.480 --> 00:37:26.300 He's divine. 00:37:26.559 --> 00:37:27.699 He will produce the fruit. 00:37:28.019 --> 00:37:28.820 He'll prune us. 00:37:29.559 --> 00:37:31.679 Our responsibility is to abide. 00:37:35.639 --> 00:37:38.119 Will you pray with me? 00:37:38.480 --> 00:37:39.179 Let's pray. 00:37:39.179 --> 00:37:39.219 Let's pray. 00:37:45.980 --> 00:37:55.079 Father, I especially pray for those who are worried about their own salvation, 00:37:56.019 --> 00:37:57.400 whether they're secure or not. 00:37:57.480 --> 00:38:04.699 I pray that your words will form just such a bedrock in their heart 00:38:04.699 --> 00:38:07.659 that they will rest on your promises, 00:38:08.699 --> 00:38:11.539 that all who come to me I will never cast out 00:38:11.539 --> 00:38:14.000 and I will raise up on the last day. 00:38:14.000 --> 00:38:18.579 Please reassure each one of us so that safe in you, 00:38:19.159 --> 00:38:23.400 we will continue to pursue you, knowing you deeper 00:38:23.400 --> 00:38:28.420 and wanting to please you with the way that we live. 00:38:28.940 --> 00:38:30.380 So please reassure our hearts. 00:38:30.739 --> 00:38:31.739 In Jesus' name I pray. 00:38:32.260 --> 00:38:32.500 Amen.