Steadfast Faithfulness - John 15:18-16:4 - April 29, 2007

Sunday School Lesson – Steadfast Faithfulness – April 29, 2007

This is our last lesson in the Book of John.

Our background and focus is John 15:18-16:4.

JESUS is preparing HIS disciples for HIS departure from earth, which in turn prepares all believers as they serve HIM. Persecution up to this time had been focused on JESUS. JESUS knew that when HE completed HIS mission and ascended back to heaven, HIS disciples would be persecuted. After HE ascended into heaven, HE would send the HOLY SPIRIT back to indwell every believer. This is very important.

Let’s read John 15:18-25:

18 “If the world hates you, understand that it hated Me before it hated you. 19 If you were of the world, the world would love [you as]* The bracketed text has been added for clarity. its own. However, because you are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of it, the world hates you. 20 Remember the word I spoke to you: ‘A slave is not greater than his master.’[3] Jn 13:16 If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you. If they kept My word, they will also keep yours. 21 But they will do all these things to you on account of My name, because they don’t know the One who sent Me. 22 If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not have sin.[4] To have sin is an idiom that refers to guilt caused by sin. Now they have no excuse for their sin. 23 The one who hates Me also hates My Father. 24 If I had not done the works among them that no one else has done, they would not have sin. Now they have seen and hated both Me and My Father. 25 But [this happened]* The bracketed text has been added for clarity. so that the statement written in their law might be fulfilled:[5] Jn 12:38; 13:18; 17:12 They hated Me for no reason.[6] Ps 69:4

JESUS makes it clear that the “world” hated HIM before it would hate the disciples. The word used for “world” is kosmos or cosmos. So what is the “world”? Let’s read Ephesians 6:12-13:

12 For our battle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the world powers of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavens.[11] Eph 1:3,20; 2:6; 3:10 13 This is why you must take up the full armor[12] 1 Th 5:8 of God, so that you may be able to resist in the evil day, and having prepared everything, to take your stand.

Every believer is on the front lines in a battle with the enemy, Satan and his kingdom. JESUS has chosen us and we have chosen HIM, therefore, we have become the enemy of the world. Satan uses the flesh to entice mankind to follow the desires of the world. We as humans and as believers try to reform ourselves but our efforts fail. We have to be transformed through the gift of rebirth and yielding our will to GOD. Rebirth in our spirit provides the opportunity for every believer to build a relationship with GOD through JESUS. The indwelling HOLY SPIRIT enlightens the eyes of a believer’s heart to truth and understanding and prepares us to war against the world and the flesh. As a Christian we still face choices. Our flesh tries to rule our lives. This is why we must have the relationship with CHRIST, yield our will to HIM and allow the HOLY SPIRIT to empower our lives. We cannot do this on our own. This is why our relationship with CHRIST is so important. We must abide or rest in HIM. We must have complete confidence and trust in HIM. That only comes about as we build an intimate, loving relationship with HIM. We must be completely yielded to HIM and for many of us that is a process of growing and maturing spiritually.

Let’s read Galatians 5:16-25:
The Spirit versus the Flesh
16 I say then, • walk by the Spirit and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh. 17 For the flesh desires what is against the Spirit, and the Spirit desires what is against the flesh; these are opposed to each other, so that you don’t do what you want. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. 19 Now the works of the flesh are obvious:[2] Other mss add adultery [3] Lit obvious, which are: sexual immorality, moral impurity, promiscuity, 20 idolatry, sorcery, hatreds, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambitions, dissensions, factions, 21 envy,[4] Other mss add murders drunkenness, carousing, and anything similar, about which I tell you in advance—as I told you before—that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faith,[5] Or faithfulness 23 gentleness, self-control. Against such things there is no law. 24 Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 If we live by the Spirit, we must also follow the Spirit. 26 We must not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.

Let’s think back to the first few chapters of Genesis. When GOD created the world and formed man and woman, the world and mankind were in the kingdom of GOD. GOD, mankind and nature were in complete fellowship and harmony with each other. GOD’S intent was for mankind to live eternally upon earth in complete fellowship and harmony with HIM, JESUS and the HOLY SPIRIT because GOD had placed the tree of life in the garden. However, when sin came into earth through the disobedience of man, a tragic thing happened. Sin came into earth and mankind inherited death over life eternal. Mankind lost the intimate fellowship with GOD. GOD had to guard mankind from the tree of life; least mankind would live eternally in the fallen state. The world became the kingdom of both GOD and Satan. Mankind had to make a choice between serving the world and serving GOD.

GOD’S love for and pursuit of mankind is recorded in GOD’S Word, the Bible. The Bible is the revelation of GOD to mankind on an ever ascending scale culminating in the birth, life, death, resurrection, ascension of JESUS. GOD made the decision to allow JESUS to come to earth to redeem mankind because of HIS love for mankind.

John 3:16:
16 “For God loved the world in this way: He gave His • One and Only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life.[10]
GOD, THE FATHER first loved the world so much that HE decided to give permission to JESUS to come to earth in the form of a human. JESUS, being obedient to the FATHER, chose to come to earth as a human, to be subjected to being tempted to sin as humans are tempted and to give HIS life for the sins of mankind. HE had to live a sinless life. JESUS WHO was 100% human and is 100% divine, left HIS home in heaven to come to earth. This was necessary for humans to have the opportunity to choose salvation and to be born-again into GOD’S family.

When the miracle of rebirth occurs, every believer is transferred from the kingdom of the world to the kingdom of GOD. As Christians, we are restored to the original intent GOD had for mankind. This means Christians are to live in complete fellowship and harmony with HIM for all eternity, beginning the moment we accept CHRIST as our SAVIOR.

JESUS makes it clear that since HE was persecuted, any believer should not be shocked if or when they are persecuted. This is not being persecuted for being an obnoxious Christian but for being an obedient Christian.

Verse 22 can be puzzling. It seems the verse is saying if JESUS had not come to earth, then humans would not be condemned of sin. Sin was already in earth. The deed had been done. JESUS made it clear to mankind that sin was in the world and HE made mankind aware of that sin. JESUS demonstrated to humans that HE came from GOD by the miracles HE performed. The greatest miracle was HIS resurrection from the dead, which was proof that HE conquered both sin and death. This confirms that HE is the SON of GOD.

JESUS removed the cloak hiding sin so mankind would not be blindsided. JESUS knew that the wages of sin is death but the gift of GOD is eternal life through JESUS. Mankind, in general, searches for a relationship with a supreme being. GOD wants to make it clear that HE is our creator and HE loves all mankind.
John 3:17-21 reveals why GOD sent JESUS into the world:

17 For God did not send His Son into the world that He might condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through Him. 18 Anyone who believes in Him is not condemned, but anyone who does not believe is already condemned, because he has not believed in the name of the • One and Only Son of God. 19 “This, then, is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved darkness rather than the light because their deeds were evil. 20 For everyone who practices wicked things hates the light and avoids it,[11] Lit and does not come to the light so that his deeds may not be exposed. 21 But anyone who lives by[12] Lit who does the truth comes to the light, so that his works may be shown to be accomplished by God.”[13] It is possible that Jesus’ words end at v. 15. Ancient Gk did not have quotation marks.

The nature of the human flesh is toward evil and it does not want to be revealed as evil. But the light of CHRIST reveals the evil nature of the human flesh. Satan does not want us to see that our flesh nature is evil and he does all he can to keep that knowledge concealed. Satan is a deceiver and seeks to destroy. But CHRIST is the light of the world and reveals our sinful nature. CHRIST also reveals that HE is the answer to our problem with sin and death. HE does not leave us helpless and without hope. HE is the way, the truth and the light. Ask HIM to forgive you of your sins and to come into your life right now. Then you will experience the presence and power of the HOLY SPIRIT in your lives.

Let’s read John 15:26-27:

26 “When the • Counselor comes, the One I will send to you from the Father—the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father—He will testify about Me. 27 You also will testify, because you have been with Me from the beginning.

JESUS sent the HOLY SPIRIT to indwell the lives of every believer. The HOLY SPIRIT is referred to as a Paraclete or one who comes along side to aid, comfort, teach, pray, counsel, help, encourage and enlighten.
JESUS referred to the HOLY SPIRIT as the SPIRIT of Truth. The HOLY SPIRIT is a Person.

The Apostle Paul reveals that the HOLY SPIRIT confirms that a Christian is a true believer in Romans 8:16:
- 16 The Spirit Himself testifies together with our spirit that we are God’s children, and that the HOLY SPIRIT helps us to pray in Romans 8:26-27:
- 26 In the same way the Spirit also joins to help in our weakness, because we do not know what to pray for as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us[15] Some mss omit for us with unspoken groanings. 27 And He who searches the hearts knows the Spirit’s mind-set, because He intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.

The Holy SPIRIT also is our security deposit or down payment or seal that assures us that our faith in CHRIST is real and genuine.

2 Corinthians 1:22:
22 He has also sealed us and given us the Spirit as a down payment in our hearts.

2 Corinthians 5:5:
5 And the One who prepared us for this very thing is God, who gave us the Spirit as a down payment.

Ephesians 1:13-14:
13 In Him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation—in Him when you believed—were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit. 14 He is the down payment[12] Gn 38:17–18,20; 2 Co 1:22; 5:5 of our inheritance, for the redemption of the possession,[13] the possession could be either man’s or God’s to the praise of His glory.

There are many workings of the HOLY SPIRIT in the lives of Christians by GOD manifesting HIS power through them. The disciples had seen the power of GOD. We as Christians have also seen the power of GOD in our own lives and in the lives of believers.
Often we, as Christians, get the idea that we are immune to difficulties and persecutions in our lives. JESUS wants every believer to know there is power through the HOLY SPIRIT. There may be times a believer faces very serious persecution, even unto death. Tradition has it that all the disciples were martyred except the Apostle John and of course Judas, who killed himself.

The testimony of the disciples was important in spreading the gospel. Our testimony today is just as important in spreading the gospel. As believers, JESUS does not want us to be discouraged or blindsided if we are persecuted for our faith in HIM.

Let’s read John 16:1-4:

1 “I have told you these things to keep you from stumbling. 2 They will ban[1] Jn 9:22; 12:42 you from the • synagogues. In fact, a time is coming when anyone who kills you will think he is offering service to God. 3 They will do these things because they haven’t known the Father or Me. 4 But I have told you these things so that when their time[2] Other mss read when the time comes you may remember I told them to you. I didn’t tell you these things from the beginning, because I was with you.

JESUS wants HIS disciples to count the cost of serving HIM. HE told them that they would be banned from the synagogues. The synagogue was very important to a Jew.

HE said the day would come when those who killed Christians thought they were serving GOD. We know that the Apostle Paul, before his conversion, thought he was doing the will of GOD by persecuting Christians.

In light of world events today, does this ring a bell? YES!