First Bible study: John 9:1-17, 24-38 "I am the Light of the world" Second study: John 10 | Third study: John 15        Top   Many people enjoy thinking of Christmas and the birth of Jesus. But many of those who know about Jesus Christ are not completely certain that heaven will be theirs. However, the Bible speaks in very clear terms that the true believer in Christ has definite security in salvation. This is a characteristic of true Christianity. There are many religious beliefs that suggest people should do their best in their lives, hoping it will be enough for God to receive them in the end. But true Christianity offers complete assurance, as we will learn in the chapters discussed at this conference. In John 9, we meet a blind man who had no hope. He had been blind from birth, so there was nothing he or anyone else could do to change his situation. This man's condition personifies the darkness which the whole world has because of sin. But John 1:5 says "the light shines in darkness," and John 1:9-10 explains that Jesus Christ is that true Light who came into the world. So, although the man's situation seemed hopeless, there was hope when Christ came by. "I am here," says Jesus. Jesus had already been rejected by religious leaders. In chapter 7, His person was rejected ("no prophet has arisen out of Galilee," verse 52). In chapter 8, His words were rejected ("Your witness is not true," verse 13). In chapter 9, Jesus has gone out of the temple to where this man was. In John 8:12 Jesus had said, "I am the light of the world." But even though those words had been rejected, He was still the light! So now on a personal basis He says again, "I am the light of the world" regarding this blind man (John 9:4). He is the central figure of this chapter. He came to do the works of God (verse 3). This emphasizes that the activities of Christ were in fact God's works. In John 4:34 He had said, "My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me, and to finish His work." For us, doing the work of God means that we believe in Christ, the one whom God sent (John 6:37). According to 2 Corinthians 4:6, God wants to shine His light into our hearts, "to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ." Spiritually, receiving His light means we see God's glory, and that glory is connected with Christ Himself. Light alone does not give sight. The blind man would still need his eyes opened so he could see the light. Only God does this---no one else in the Bible ever made the blind to see. Notice that religious people in the temple did not produce light or sight in chapters 8 or 9---only Jesus did that. "He spat on the ground and made clay with the saliva; and He anointed the eyes of the blind man with the clay" (9:6). The spitting can represent the word of God---what comes from the mouth of the Lord. The clay made the blind man's situation even more obvious; we need to be fully aware of our sinful darkness before Christ helps us. Perhaps the clay also alludes to His creation power, since mankind had been made from dust in the beginning (Genesis 2). The blind man went to the pool called "Sent," washed, and came back seeing! "Sent" can represent the Spirit of God, whom the Father sends to every believer (John 14:16, 26)---another aspect of the believer's secure salvation. The blind man had been a beggar, just getting by; now his resources were completely changed. His friends said, "Is this he?" Even his character had completely changed. We should have this kind of change in our lives when we trust in Christ, too. When questioned, the man faithfully explained what happened. He didn't mind being uncomfortable, even though he could have avoided it just by changing his story a little bit. Are we faithful to explain what God has done in our lives? Opinion was divided about who Christ really was. Was He a sinful man, or was He from God? In Deuteronomy 18:15, a great prophet had been promised. The once-blind man probably knew this. It seems he realized that it could not have been just "a man called Jesus" but "a prophet" who had opened his eyes (9:11, 17). Notice that the man made this declaration after this argument occurred. He purposely aligned Himself with those who exalted Christ. As the conversation continued, notice how much focus the man placed on Christ. Those who don't enjoy the security of God's salvation often emphasize themselves. This man emphasized what Christ had done. "For of Him and through Him and to Him are all things, to whom be glory forever" (Romans 11:36). "Though I was blind, now I see" (9:25). This man was prepared to speak of what had happened to him. "Always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you" (1 Peter 3:15). Wonderful truths were being revealed to a mere "babe" in the faith (Matthew 11:25). Security brings confidence. The man knew the Word of God, saying God does not hear sinners but hears those who do His will (verse 31). Knowing God's Word is how we grow in confidence. Hearing became the key. If we emphasize what we can see and experience, we are limited; but faith comes by hearing (Romans 10:17). The man had a changed life and a clear testimony. This is what causes a response in the lives of those who see us as believers. The man ended up being cast out of the synagogue (verse 34). There is no security found in following only a religious tradition. And, religious systems or habits are actually threatened by one who has full security in Christ, because then there is no need for the system. The man became like Christ, who also had been cast out of the temple (8:59). Yet the religious leaders cast him out right into the arms of the Lord Jesus, so to speak---and there is no better place to be found. Jesus found him and asked, "Do you believe in the Son of God?" Now it was a question of believing in the Person, not just His work. We are sometimes influenced by our desire to fit in with others. The man's parents had wanted to remain "part of," to keep their identity with the synagogue (9:22). But this man had moved beyond a religious system or method to a Person. The closing scene shows Christ's lordship in this man's life. Further, he saw the Lord, talked with the Lord, and became a worshiper. This is normal Christian maturity and growth, and the man experienced all this progress in one day! He had come to a place of complete assurance and understanding of who his Savior was. What did he say in worship? It is not recorded. Worship is not the verbal expression but a response of the heart, often an inexpressible response from one overwhelmed with the worthiness of Christ. Second Bible study: John 10:11-30 "I am the Good Shepherd" First study: John 9 | Third study: John 15        Top When the once-blind man had been cast out of the synagogue, Jesus heard of it and went to find him (John 9:35). This is an example of His character as the shepherd. He is the good shepherd, who gives His life for the sheep (10:11). Christ stood up before the wolf, who seeks to scatter the sheep. He does not flee, like a hired worker would. Instead, He lays down His own life for them. Other religious leaders had been irresponsible shepherds of God's people, fattening themselves and leaving the sheep lean. See Ezekiel 34:1-7. When we are saved, we realize there are enemies, like the thief (10:10) and the wolf (10:12). Christ is the door to protect from the thief and the shepherd to protect from the wolf. The good shepherd also knows His sheep, and His sheep know Him and love Him for His goodness. Verse 16 mentions "other sheep" who are not from "this fold." The Lord spoke first of His Jewish sheep, whom He would protect; but there are other sheep who will also be added, so that there will be "one flock and one shepherd." This reminds us of the way Jewish and Gentile believers have all been joined together into into one body through the death of Christ (Ephesians 2:11-22). Naturally speaking, the sheep would die for the shepherd, perhaps as food or as a sacrificial animal. The human shepherd would have greater value than the animal. But this Shepherd values the sheep so much that He will lay down His life for them. His love is the motivation. He was willing to spend everything for the sake of the sheep. "Awake, O sword, against My shepherd," God said through the prophet Zechariah (13:7). He lays down His own life, showing purpose and authority. His suffering is not merely a good example for us to follow. Instead, He died with the express intent of giving us life as a result. That is why we can be secure in His salvation---His death was His actual purpose! By this He also glorified His Father (verse 17). Because laying down His life would please the Father, He would do it. This is like the burnt offering in Leviticus 1, which was offered completely to God as a sweet aroma. Further, it was a command of His Father (verse 18). The world would know they were co-equal through this, as if Christ is saying, "I'm not going ahead of Him." The One in whom we trust can determine His death ("no one takes it from Me," verse 18), and He can take His own life back again! What more security do we need? There was another division because of Him (verse 19). He is the dividing point of humanity; either we are on His side, or we are against Him. The scene changes in verse 22; it is now winter. Figuratively, it's a time of coldness, darkness, and death. But the Shepherd warms the heart of His sheep with His voice (10:27). What's more, in the time of winter there can be a feast (verse 22)! And walking in Solomon's porch (10:23) suggests the coming reign of Christ in His kingdom, when peace (like in Solomon's day) will be fully known worldwide. We can endure the cold of winter because we know of His coming kingdom of glory. The religious leaders were still asking who He was (10:24). They were not His sheep, so they would not accept His works or His words. But we, who are His sheep, hear His voice. The result should be that we follow Him. Everything else in these verses is something He is doing---there is nothing for us to add to His death and resurrection that could possibly make us more secure. But we can hear and follow Him. It's possible to hear His voice without following. In John 21, one disciple (John) was following the Lord, but another (Peter) had to be told to start following. The double security of being in the Lord's hand and the Father's hand is unparalleled. "No one can snatch them out" (10:28-29). We can rest securely in the One who has laid down His life for us, if we have trusted Him as our Savior. Third Bible study: John 15:1-16 "I am the True Vine" First study: John 9 | Second study: John 10        Top Christ was the "true light" in John 1:9 and the "true bread" in John 6:32. Here He is the "true vine." He Himself produced fruit for God when Israel, as a nation, had not (e.g., Isaiah 5). Believers are called the branches, so this chapter emphasizes how we also can bear fruit for God. Vine wood is not really good for anything but producing fruit---you can't build anything with it, for example. As branches, we are really only designed for pleasing God through fruit-bearing; and that comes through our connection with the vine. The Father as well as the Son are involved in this fruit-production process. If the branch is not producing as it should, there is activity to help it bear fruit. And if it is already producing, there is further activity to increase the yield. There is a one-time aspect of the cleansing (verse 3), and there is also an ongoing pruning or cleansing (verse 2). [Note that the verbs in these two verses are really the same Greek word in the original New Testament writing.] What security there is in knowing that God is carefully and tenderly looking over the believer to help each one bear fruit! Verse 6 describes what might be called a "false branch." The Lord is not speaking about His disciples there; He does not say "you" as in the previous verses, but talks about someone else in general terms. This verse declares judgment on one who only appeared to be a branch ("cast out as a branch," or like a branch), and there is burning reserved for this false disciple. Others are involved in carrying out this judgment (perhaps like the angels in Matthew 13:41-42), but not the Father or the Son in their caring character of this chapter. For the real branch, the key to fruit-bearing is given in the words of Christ Himself: "Without Me you can do nothing." Branches must abide in the vine if fruit is to develop. This is an aspect of our Christian lives which we have some responsibility for, although it does not mean our salvation depends on us. "Abiding" is explained in the following verses. His words, His love, and His joy all become a genuine part of our Christian lives. The branch that "abides in Me" is showing dependence. Branches that are independent from the vine will produce no fruit. "And I in Him"---our fruit increases when we carry Christ with us, so to speak, in our daily lives in this world. We are still here, but we have Him in us. We show His character. He can restfully "dwell in your hearts by faith" (Ephesians 3:17). Even further, when His words abide in us and we enjoy the communion that comes from asking and receiving from Him, there is much fruit (15:7-8). The word of God and prayer will cause us to abide in Him. Fruit is for God to enjoy. The Father is glorified when we bear much fruit. Fruit in the Christian reproduces the life of Christ. Fruit is not a set of good works on their own merits, but in fact every word and every action of ours will be just like His. It is the natural experience of the believer; we are branches in the true vine, so we should bear fruit. More of that is produced by less of self. Back to top Recordings of the conference are available through Bible Ministry Recordings. E-mail Bill Dieck with your request. Cassettes       $7.50 for set of three cassettes CDs - music format (.wav)       $9.00 for set of three CDs CDs - MP3 format       $5.00 for one CD of entire conference Visit the Bible Ministry Recordings website for a list of other conferences and messages available.