Lawrence DeMetrius

Lyrics

Letter of Apostle John – The Gospel
An Intimate Review
Pt 7
By Lawrence DeMetrius

Friends of Jesus Christ

In [Jn 15:14-17] Jesus Christ explains that His FRIENDS obey His commandments. Loving one another as He loves them is the chiefess of His commandments. In His perspective, genuine FRIENDS have a higher degree of trust. Thus, one can share more intimate details with them than with servants. Because born-again believers are His FRIENDS and spiritual brethren, Christ is inclined to disclose to them what Yahweh shares with Him. Christ clarifies that He CHOSE them to befriend.

*friend Gk #5384 philos (fee-los) it is a dear friend, an associate or neighbor, fond or friendly

*chose/chosen Gk #1586 eklegomai (ek-leg-om-ahee) it means to select, which is to pick out or choose in preference to another and make a choice

*fruit Gk #2590 karpos (kar-pos) it is fruit as plucked

*remain Gk #3306 meno (men-o) it means to stay in a given place, state, relation, or expectancy

The FRUIT Christ expects to REMAIN and be expressed in the lives of His brethren, is that of the Holy Ghost, which is given only unto them. [Jn 7:37-39; Gal 5:22] Without the Holy Ghost it is impossible to maintain control of one’s carnal nature, its desires and the fulfillments thereof. [Gal 5:23] Therefore, Apostle Paul writes that anyone who does not have the Holy Ghost lacks His FRUIT. Because of this they neither live in a manner that pleases GOD or can be a member HIS household. [Rm 8:5-18] This is why Christ admonishes His FRIENDS to abide in Him. [Jn 15:1-16] There is no reason for a born-again believer to be void of the Holy Ghost, Who is the Means of righteous living and effective ministry. [Jn 14:16, 17, 26; 16:13; Acts 1:8]


Dealing with the Hatred of the World

In [Jn 15:18-27; 16:1-6, 33; 17:14; I Jn 4:1-6] Jesus Christ tells His disciples to recall that when the world expresses HATE toward them, that it HATED Him first. In fact, they can expect to be HATED by the world due to their allegiance to Him. Christ advised that if He did not fulfill His work according to prophecy, then His HATERS would have no sin. By fulfilling His duty, He is proven to be the prophesied Messiah Who was hated without cause. It was necessary for Christ to forewarn His disciples of the HATRED they would encounter, so that when it occurred, they would not be OFFENDED thereby. [Jn 16:1-6] He made it clear that whoever HATES Him HATES His FATHER also. Finally, Christ assured that the Holy Ghost would testify of Him and them.

*hate/ed Gk #3404 miseo (mis-eh-o) it means to detest, persecute and love less

*offended Gk #4624 skandalizo (skan-dal-id-zo) it means to entrap, trip up, stumble, entice to sin, apostasy and displeasure

The Ministry of the Holy Ghost

In [Jn 16:7, 8; 14:16-18, 26] Christ explains that the Holy Ghost is now available to His brethren because of His completed work at Calvary. It is the ministry of the Holy Ghost to REPROVE the WORLD of SIN, RIGHTEOUSNESS, and JUDGMENT.

*reprove Gk #1651 elegcho (el-eng-kho) it means to…
1. confute which is to…
a. prove to be false, invalid, or defective and disprove
b. prove a person to be wrong by argument or proof

2. admonish which is to…
a. caution, advise, or counsel against something
b. reprove or scold, especially in a mild and good-willed manner
c. urge to a duty and remind

3. convict which is to…
a. prove or declare guilty of an offense, especially after a legal trial
b. impress with a sense of guilt

4. convince which is to move by argument or evidence to belief, agreement, consent, or a course of action and persuade

5. tell a fault which is…
a. a defect or imperfection, flaw or failing
b. responsibility for failure or a wrongful act
c. an error or mistake, misdeed or transgression

6. rebuke which is to express sharp, stern disapproval of, reprove and reprimand

*world Gk #2889 kosmos (kos-mos) it is an orderly arrangement, decoration and the world and its inhabitants

*sin Gk #266 hamartia (ham-ar-tee-ah) it is violation of divine directives

*righteousness Gk #1343 dikaisosune (dik-ah-yos-oo-nay) it is equity of character or act and Christian justification

*judgment Gk #2920 krisis (kree-sis) it is a tribunal, which is a court of justice, place or seat of judgment and justice per the divine law

In [Jn 16:9-11] Christ gave reason as to the REPROVALS of the Holy Ghost on the WORLD.

• FIRST, of SIN because they BELIEVE not on Me. [St Jn 3:19; 8:24; Rev 21:8]

*believe Gk #4100 pisteuo (pist-yoo-o) it means to…
a. have faith in, upon, or with respect to a person or thing
b. entrust especially one’s spiritual well-being to Jesus Christ
c. commit trust to and put trust in

• SECOND, of RIGHTEOUSNESS because He accomplished His earthly mission and returned back unto Yahweh, never again to be recognized as a mortal like He was in First Century Rome. [Mt 5:14-16; Jn 20:29]

• THIRD, JUDGMENT because Lucifer, the PRINCE of this world is JUDGED. [St Jn 3:36]

*prince Gk #758 archon (ar-khone) it is a first in political rank or power

*judged Gk #2919 krino (kree-no) it means to distinguish, mentally and judicially decide, condemn and punish

In [Jn 16:13, 14] Jesus Christ teaches that the Holy Ghost will GUIDE His brethren into all TRUTH, SPEAK only what He HEARS from Yahweh, and SHEW them future events.

*guide Gk #3594 hodegos (hod-ayg-os) it means to show the way, teach and lead

*truth Gk #225 aletheia (al-lay-thi-a) it is truth, which is…
a. the true or actual state of a matter
b. conformity with fact or reality
c. a verified or indisputable fact, proposition or principle
d. the state or character of being true
e. actuality or actual existence
f. an obvious or accepted fact
g. honesty, integrity and truthfulness

*speak Gk #2980 laleo (lal-eh-o) it means to talk or utter words

*hear Gk #191 akouo (ak-oo-o) it means to hear, which is to…
1. be capable of perceiving sound by the ear and have the faculty of perceiving sound vibrations
2. receive information by the ear or otherwise
3. listen with favor, assent or compliance

*shew Gk #312 anaggello (an-ang-el-lo) it means to announce in detail

All of this and more is how the Holy Ghost serves the brethren of Jesus Christ. It is why being baptized and filled with the Holy Ghost is a most valuable benefit to born-again believers.

Jesus Christ Prays to Yahweh for His Own

In [Jn 17:1] Christ prays to Yahweh His FATHER, just as He admonishes His brethren to do.

*father Gk #3962 pater (pat-ayr) it is a father near or remote and a parent [Rm 8:14-16]

In [Jn 17:1, 4] Christ acknowledges the hour when He completes His comission on earth then asks Yahweh to GLORIFY Him so He might GLORIFY HIM. This gives credence to the idea that THE LORD must empower HIS children to GLORIFY HIM properly.

*glorify Gk #1392 doxazo (dox-ad-zo) it means to render and esteem glorious

In [Jn 17:2; Mt 28:18-20] Apostle John discloses that Yahweh gave Christ POWER over all FLESH, so He might give eternal life to mortals GIVEN to Him by Yahweh.

*given Gk #1325 didomi (did-o-mee) it means to give

*power Gk #1849 exousia (ex-oo-see-ah) it is…
1. privilege, force, capacity, competency and freedom
2. a magistrate, superhuman, potentate, token of control and delegated influence

*flesh Gk #4561 sarx (sarx) it refers to…
1. flesh as stripped of the skin and the meat of an animal as food
2. the body as opposed to the soul or spirit
3. the symbol of what is external and means of kindred
4. human nature with its physical, moral frailties and passions and humans as such

In [Jn 17:2, 3, 6-26] Apostle John teaches that Christ has more influence over souls than Lucifer, including those who are spiritually unregenerate. Unregenerate souls are people who choose to abide in darkness, even though they recognize Christ as the Divine Light. [St Jn 1:4, 5]
Every soul is given freewill to choose life in Christ. In fact, per Christ, the only reason why any spirit inherits the Second Death, is because they chose it over life in Him. [St Jn 3:19, 20] Eternal life is knowing Yahweh and HIS Christ. [Jn 17:3; I Jn 5:20; I Cor 8:6] Per this prayer, Christ does not intercede on behalf of the world or its members. While Yahweh’s love and invitation to salvation is extended to all souls, Christ’s intercession is for those given to Him by Yahweh. [Jn 17:9; Heb 7:25] Christ prayed,

I pray for them, I pray not for the world, but for them which THOU have given Me; for they are THINE.
And all Mine are THINE, and THINE are Mine; and I am glorified in them.
[Jn 17:9, 10]

The author of the Book of Hebrews writes,

Wherefore He is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by Him, seeing He ever liveth to make intercession for them.
[Heb 7:25]

In [Jn 20:23] Apostle John notes the authority given to the Apostles by Christ, when He visited them after His resurrection. Christ clearly stated that He sends them into the world as Yahweh sent Him into the world. One of the greatest abilities to possess and practice is FORGIVENESS. Given all they would encounter from that point on, power to genuinely FORGIVE was going to be crucial for them.

Blessed Are They That Believe and Have Not Seen

In [Jn 20:24-30; 21:25] Apostle John notes that there were so many things Christ said and did that was not enough paper to write them all down. The intent for that which was authentically written about Jesus Christ, is to encourage people to wholeheartedly believe in Him as the prophesied Christ and risen Son of GOD. In so doing, one will surely inherit abundant and eternal life through His identity, authority and character.

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