Conference Notes

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.

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.

So, although the man's situation seemed hopeless, there was hope when Christ came by. "I am here," says Jesus.

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.

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.

"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 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.

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).

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).

Wonderful truths were being revealed to a mere "babe" in the faith (Matthew 11:25). Security brings 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 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.

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.

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.

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).

Other religious leaders had been irresponsible shepherds of God's people, fattening themselves and leaving the sheep lean. See Ezekiel 34:1-7.

The good shepherd also knows His sheep, and His sheep know Him and love Him for His goodness.

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 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!

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."

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.

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.

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.

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).

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.

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.

"Abiding" is explained in the following verses. His words, His love, and His joy all become a genuine part of our Christian lives.

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 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.