Summary As John begins to close his letter, he makes clear his intention in writing it: so that those Not only is this the theme of John's first letter, it's the theme of the entire Bible: that you might Let passages like this one here in 1 John build your confidence that "God will surely listen to your according to His will; ASK GOD FOR WHAT YOU NEED: Read the New Testament in a year, a chapter a day - John 19

Apologies to Vikings fans for this picture from the Lions John 3:16-18 (NIV) 16  For God so loved the he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17 Canons of Dordt Point 1 - God's Unconditional Grace 1 - God's right to condemn all people 2 - God shows John is known for his simple eloquence, and this passage is a great example of why. And memorizing John 3:16-18 is a great way to do that!

You can't produce fruit if you're disconnected from Christ. Read / Listen Listen to passage & devotional: Heidelberg Catechism Q&A 64 Q. But doesn’t this teaching (that our works do not contribute to our salvation) make people indifferent and wicked? A. No. It is impossible for those grafted into Christ by true faith not to produce fruits of gratitude. Summary There are two words the Bible uses to describe how to live a fruitful life. The word used most often to describe successful Christians is the word Jesus uses in the example of a grape plant which bears fruit. This word has a passive feel to it. Jesus explains that as long as a branch remains connected to the vine, it will bear fruit. In other words, the fruit is going to come as long as the connection is maintained, just like a grape branch, when given the proper inputs, can't help but bear fruit. Sadly this isn't the case for every branch. Some grow off as long, wild shoots with lots of stem but no leaves or flowers. Others bury themselves under other branches, hidden from the sunlight. Still others seem to be in just the right condition, getting plenty of water, nutrients and sunlight, but for whatever reason nothing comes out of them. In each of these cases the unfruitful branches are cut of and thrown into the burn pile. In the second half of this passage, Jesus puts 'flesh' on this metaphor so to speak. He is the vine, and you and I are the branches. As long as we remain connected to Him - that is, as long as His Word and Spirit are flowing into our lives - He assures us that we will bear fruit. But some people are not content with this relationship, and shoot off on their own. Many bury themselves in the busyness of life, and although connected to the nutrients, do not absorb them. Apart from me, Jesus says, these people can do nothing, and their unfruitful lives will be cut off and thrown away. Dig Deeper Our instinct is to prefer the other word the Bible uses in regards to fruitfulness. We want to be people who produce fruit in our lives. Produce is a much more active word, and conjures up images of hard work, resourcefulness, and downright determination. Those are all good things, but most of the time the Bible uses the word produce, it does so in a negative way. Pharisees are quite often the people the Bible speaks of in connection with trying to produce fruit. They work super hard to impress their neighbors and appease their own consciences, but their reliance is totally on themselves, disconnected from the nutrients of the the true vine. The result is often like a Red Delicious apple: it looks really good and shiny on the outside, but not very appealing when the skin is peeled back. You've been created to be fruitful - to do and make things that reflect and glorify the image of God that you've been created in. Most of this world, separated from the vine by sin, is either desperately expending energy trying to produce fruit on their own, or they've given up trying and consequentially have very little meaning in their lives. So stay connected to the Vine - Jesus Christ. As you immerse yourself in the nutrients that flow from His Word, your life will naturally bear fruit. NOTE: The English Bible translations often use 'bear' and 'produce' interchangeably (even the Catechism uses the word produce). The contrast is much more noticeable in the Greek. AAA Prayer (About) ACKNOWLEDGE WHO GOD IS: Our Father, the gardner, who cuts away unfruitful branches; ALIGN YOUR LIFE WITH GOD'S WILL: Pray that you remain connected to the vine so that your life bears the fruit it was designed for. ASK GOD FOR WHAT YOU NEED: Read the New Testament in a year, a chapter a day - Philippians 2

The Bible isn't a buffet where you can pick and choose only what you like (Photo credit: Unsplash) John 12:42-50 (NIV) CONTEXT: These words come near the end of Jesus' ministry. Canons of Dordt Point 1 - God's Unconditional Election 1 - God's right to condemn all people 2 - God Today: Acts 1

John 14:12-14 (NIV) 12  Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing , and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. 13  And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14  You may ask me for Summary John 14 is a chapter we've come to often as we read the Bible together. The emphasis gets lost in English, but is super apparent in the Greek words John recorded.

Step out of the darkness and into His wonderful Light Genesis 1:3-4a (NIV) And God said, “Let there be John 3:19–21 (NIV) 19 This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead Here John calls men “darkness.” Summary Two words. That's all it took. Two single syllable words. didn't take long for the pinnacle of His creation, His prized possession, the best thing He ever made (1 Dig Deeper The context of today's passage from John 3 is fascinating.

Bible.com John 3:31-36 (NIV) 31  The one who comes from above is above all; the one who is from the earth Canons of Dordt Point 1 - God's Unconditional Election 1 - God's right to condemn all people 2 - God These themes are almost identical to the themes John poetically unpacks in his prologue (1:1-18). That's a very interesting way John puts it! Notice that John doesn't write will have .

John 16:12-15 (NIV) 12  “I have much more to say to you, more than you can now bear. 13  But when not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come. 14   He will glorify me because it is from me that he will receive what he will make known to you. 15  So much of John's gospel - from chapter 14-17 - is dedicated to what Jesus taught that night.

John 14:25–27 (NIV) 25 “All this I have spoken while still with you. 26 But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit Summary A big portion of John's gospel account consists of Jesus speaking to His disciples right before Throughout the ages, many have tried to deny the divinity of both Christ and the Spirit, but John makes We find an example of this in the Gospel of John. John 2:19-22 reads, 19 Jesus answered them, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up

John brings up this anointing in this passage of his first letter. claims faced opposition through false teachers who tried to lead these young Christians astray that John So, John directs them to abide in the truth of God’s Word that they have been taught from the beginning We face different opponents and false teachers than John’s audience did in the first century, but his “Fight the good fight, holding on to faith and a good conscience” (1 Tim 1:18-19) ASK GOD FOR WHAT YOU