Led by the Spirit

[oikonomia]

Post away. I'll read it. Please dont make it too lengthy however. I have a hard time with very lengthy posts. Perhaps a weakness of mine. I don't know. Thank you.

My weakness is that I often make posts long because I preemptively address problems I anticiplate will enter the minds
of the readers. Rather than wait for "But you forgot ______" or "But you overlooked _______" I too often try
to preemptively deal with objections.

This tends to make some of my posts overly verbose for many.

I will attempt in awhile to propose how best to understand the parable of the wise and foolish virgins concisely.

 

[AlightSeeker]

My weakness is that I often make posts long because I preemptively address problems I anticiplate will enter the minds
of the readers. Rather than wait for "But you forgot ______" or "But you overlooked _______" I too often try
to preemptively deal with objections.

This tends to make some of my posts overly verbose for many.

I will attempt in awhile to propose how best to understand the parable of the wise and foolish virgins concisely.

I do that too perhaps. I was told one of my posts was hard to read.

 

[oikonomia]

I was looking for such fellowship today. I found it in this thread. I don't want a shepherd but a brother with insight and wisdom to share. And fellowship in that.

Shepherding I feel is mutual. I rarely consider it one way.

This is what Paul taught in First Corinthians 14:31.

For you can all prophesy one by one that all may learn and all may be encouraged.

What we do here in speaking forth God to one another is very profitable to all, if the spirit is right.
All may speak forth for and speak forth God.
All may learn.
All may be encouraged, mutually.

 

[oikonomia]

The Parable of the wise and foolish virgins. (Matt. 25:1-13)
Enjoy first the pure reading of the parable.
In interpreting scripture well we first have to master all the facts and details given.

At that time the kingdom of the heavens will be likened to ten virgins, who took their lamps and went forth to meet the bridegroom.
And five of them were foolish and five were prudent.

For the foolish, when they took their lamps, did not take oil with them;
But the prudent took oil in their vessels with their lamps.

And while the bridegroom delayed, they all became drowsy and slept.
But at midnight there was a cry, Behold, the bridegroom! Go forth to meet him!

Then all those virgins arose and trimmed their own lamps.
And the foolish said to the prudent, Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.
But the prudent answered, saying, Perhaps there will not be enough for us and for you; go rather to those who sell, and buy for yourselves.

And as they were going away to buy, the bridegroom came; and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding feast. And the door was shut. And later the rest of the virgins came also, saying, Lord, lord, open to us!

But he answered and said, Truly I say to you, I do not know you.
Watch therefore, for you do not know the day nor the hour.

 

[oikonomia]

I do that too perhaps. I was told one of my posts was hard to read.

So let's do it by sections so each post is not too long.

At that time the kingdom of the heavens will be likened to ten virgins, who took their lamps and went forth to meet the bridegroom.
And five of them were foolish and five were prudent.

For the foolish, when they took their lamps, did not take oil with them;
But the prudent took oil in their vessels with their lamps.

"At that time ..." means the parable is a continuation of His immediatly previous talk about readiness for His
coming.

"[T]en virgins" are all Christian believers. Believers are virgins presented to the Lord is the sense of Second Cor. 11:2.
The parable is not about the wise saved and the foolish unsaved. It is about among the saved those who
are wise and those who are foolish.

The number five as in five wise and five foolish does not mean half of the saved are prudent and half are foolish.
Five is a number meaning responsibility. So the responsibility of whether we will be wise or foolish rests with each Christian.

Oil means the Holy Spirit. Now here is where I resist preemptively debating before objections are raised.
Man is of three parts - spirit and soul and body. (1 Thess. 5:23)
The oil in the lamp of all the virgins is the initial Holy Spirit all receive from renegeration. (1 Cor. 6:17)
The oil in the vessel with the lamp is the extra portion of the Holy Spirit that has gotten into the personality, the soul.

Proverbs 20:27 says the spirit of man is the lamp of the Lord.
All who are born from above / born again have the Spirit of Christ in their human spirit.

The foolish assumed that to simply have this initial amount of the Holy Spirit was sufficient for the Lord's coming.
The wiser realized that to also allow the Spirit to influence the personality and be dispensed into the soul is appropriate to meet the coming Lord Jesus.

I stop this post here.
The wise virgins have the Holy Spirit (the oil) in their spirit and an extra amount (so to speak) in the vessel WITH their lamp.
The unwise virgins assumed foolishly that to only have the Holy Spirit in their innermost human spirit was sufficient.

They all ten represent that part of the total church that has died awaiting the second coming of Christ.
And the midnight call is His coming and their resurrection.
However, the principle of the wise and foolish virgins is good for any Christians.

It holds lessons we should learn regardless of whether we are living or have died.
Cont. below.

 

[AlightSeeker]

So let's do it by sections so each post is not too long.

At that time the kingdom of the heavens will be likened to ten virgins, who took their lamps and went forth to meet the bridegroom.
And five of them were foolish and five were prudent.

For the foolish, when they took their lamps, did not take oil with them;
But the prudent took oil in their vessels with their lamps.

"At that time ..." means the parable is a continuation of His immediatly previous talk about readiness for His
coming.

"[T] virgins" are all Christians believers. Believers are virgins presented to the Lord is the sense of Second Cor. 11:2.
The parable is not about the wise saved and the foolish unsaved. It is about among the saved those who
are wise and those who are foolish.

The number five as in five wise and five foolish does not mean half of the saved are prudent and half are foolish.
Five is a number meaning responsibility. So the responsibility of whether we will be wise or foolish rests with each Christian.

Oil means the Holy Spirit. Now here is where I resist preemptively debating before objections are raised.
Man is of three parts - spirit and soul and body.
The oil in the lamp of all the virgins is the initial Holy Spirit all receive from reneneration.
The oil in the vessel with the lamp is the extra portion of the Holy Spirit that has gotten into the personality, the soul.

Proverbs 20:27 says the spirit of man is the lamp of the Lord.
All who are born from above / born again have the Spirit of Christ in their human spirit.

The foolish assumed that to simply have this initial amount of the Holy Spirit was sufficient for the Lord's coming.
The wiser realized that to also allow the Spirit to influence the personality and be dispensed into the soul is appropriate to meet the coming Lord Jesus.

I stop this post here.
The wise virgins have the Holy Spirit (the oil) in their spirit and an extra amount (so to speak) in the vessel WITH their lamp.
The unwise virgins assumed foolishly that to only have the Holy Spirit in their innermost human spirit was sufficient.

They all ten represent that part of the total church that has died awaiting the second coming of Christ.
And the midnight call is His coming and their resurrection.
However, the principle of the wise and foolish virgins is good for any Christians.

It lessons we should learn regardless of whether we are living or have died.
Cont. below.

I think perhaps Jesus wisdom might be seen here too. Like he said, those who obey his commands will be considered wise.

 

[oikonomia]

For the foolish, when they took their lamps, did not take oil with them;
But the prudent took oil in their vessels with their lamps.

The initial oil - the Holy Spirit is a gift.
The extra oil must be obtained with a price.

The Holy Spirit in the human spirit from being re-born is a gift.
The Holy Spirit spreading into the soul - the mind, emotion, will and behavior must be obtained with a price.

To pay some price to have Jesus effect your soul and living is wise.
To assume it is enough simply to be regenerated is foolish as far as His return and celebration is concerned.

The wise virgins during their lives may have appeared foolish to the ones who did not want to pay any price for the extra oil
in the vessel with their lamps.
Too late they realize that the wise were not wasting thier time. They were wise to so consecrate to the Lord so that thier SOUL was
afffected being conformed to His image.

Then at the resurrection the foolish realize too late their foolish lack of consecration.
The wise go on to enjoy the benefit of thier "extra oil" in the soul.

The parable is NOT about the wise being eternally saved and the foolish being eternally lost.
The parable is about qualification for a special celebration in a timely manner - ON TIME.

The foolish ones STILL had to go and pay a price to obtain LATE what they should have obtained
at an earlier opportune time. They then presumed to try to enter the celebration LATE.
But it was in progress and the opportunity to be involved in a timely manner was closed.

And as they were going away to buy, the bridegroom came; and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding feast. And the door was shut. And later the rest of the virgins came also, saying, Lord, lord, open to us!

The parable is not about them being punished forever.
It is about them missing the celebration and in a remedial way having to go pay the price ANYWAY.
It is akin to being sloppy during the school year and having to go to summer school in order to graduate anyway.

 

[AlightSeeker]

Jesus said obeying and teaching his commands is wise. These are the greatest in the kingdom. Jesus says in John 14 that if we keep his words God will send the spirit to us. So the wise virgins who kept his commands have oil or the spirit.

 

[oikonomia]

I think perhaps Jesus wisdom might be seen here too. Like he said, those who obey his commands will be considered wise.

Amen to that.
And this leads to the "extra oil" in the vessel WITH the lamp.

And it is something each one must do for himself.
Though we help each other, NO ONE can actually consecrate FOR another person.

And the foolish said to the prudent, Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.
But the prudent answered, saying, Perhaps there will not be enough for us and for you; go rather to those who sell, and buy for yourselves.

 

[AlightSeeker]

Amen to that.
And this leads to the "extra oil" in the vessel WITH the lamp.

And it is something each one must do for himself.
Though we help each other, NO ONE can actually consecrate FOR another person.

And the foolish said to the prudent, Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.
But the prudent answered, saying, Perhaps there will not be enough for us and for you; go rather to those who sell, and buy for yourselves.

Amen. I was thinking that although we believe that we see, perhaps we too can be blinded again if we dont stay faithful. I think maybe Paul knew this. If however that is what he means here.

2 Corinthians 9:24 Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may win. 25 Everyone who competes in the games exercises self-control in all things. So they do it to obtain a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. 26 Therefore I run in such a way as not to run aimlessly; I box in such a way, as [i]to avoid hitting air; 27 but I strictly discipline my body and make it my slave, so that, after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified.

 

[Oneofhope]

What you say about God putting them in a deep sleep is what God has been showing me I think. It's what I been saying. I believe many in the church are still sleeping. Perhaps like the disciples who slept while the Lord prayed and asked them to keep watch with him. This scripture says to people in the church itself "wake up sleeper and Christ will shine light on you"

Ephesians 5:1Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children; 2 and walk in love, just as Christ also loved [a]you and gave Himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God [b]as a fragrant aroma.

3 But sexual immorality [c]or any impurity or greed must not even be mentioned among you, as is proper among [d]saints; 4 and there must be no filthiness [e]or foolish talk, or vulgar joking, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks. 5 For this you know with certainty, that no sexually immoral or [f]impure or greedy person, which [g]amounts to an idolater, has an inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God.

6 See that no one deceives you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the [h]sons of disobedience. 7 Therefore do not become partners with them; 8 for you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord; walk as children of light 9 (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness, and truth), 10 [i]as you try to learn what is pleasing to the Lord. 11 Do not participate in the useless deeds of darkness, but instead even expose them; 12 for it is disgraceful even to speak of the things which are done by them in secret. 13 But all things become visible when they are exposed by the light, for everything that becomes visible is light. 14 For this reason [j]it says,

“Awake, sleeper,
And arise from the dead,
And Christ will shine on you.”
15 So then, [k]be careful how you walk, not as unwise people but as wise, 16 [l]making the most of your time, because the days are evil. 17 Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. 18 And do not get drunk with wine, [m]in which there is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit, 19 speaking to [n]one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody with your hearts to the Lord; 20 always giving thanks for all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to our God and Father; 21 [o]and subject yourselves to one another in the [p]fear of Christ.

In my opinion, you are hitting the bullseye. The problem of most humans is that though they are dreaming, they do not realize that they are asleep and that their dreams are not of their "awakened" life. For, how can we know that we are asleep unless we wake up? And this is our great objective, to discover if we are asleep or if Christ has awakened us. How do we do this? How do we know? These are the great challenges that face each of us to calls themselves "Christian." We all believe that we are genuinely saved, but if we remain in our sleep, we are, by default, not saved. Anyone who is asleep is not saved . . . period.

I like the verses that you offered as they discuss being awakened. What is also interesting is that after called to become awakened, the passages then state that this is the time that we would understand the Will of God. Therefore, Romans 12:2 should sound familiar:

Romans 12:2 NLT - "Don't copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God's will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect."

I have never heard any pastor preach on this issue either, which is that Transformation must come before a person can understand the Will of the Lord. This Transformation is what equates to being "awakened." But who awakens whom? Do we wake ourselves up, or is this the Work of Christ? I would submit that Scripture teaches us that we cannot wake ourselves up, but that this is the process of Spiritual Circumcision.

Colossians 2:11-15 NLT - "When you came to Christ, you were "circumcised," but not by a physical procedure. Christ performed a spiritual circumcision--the cutting away of your sinful nature. For you were buried with Christ when you were baptized. And with him you were raised to new life because you trusted the mighty power of God, who raised Christ from the dead. You were dead because of your sins and because your sinful nature was not yet cut away. Then God made you alive with Christ, for he forgave all our sins. He canceled the record of the charges against us and took it away by nailing it to the cross. In this way, he disarmed the spiritual rulers and authorities. He shamed them publicly by his victory over them on the cross."

We see that Spiritual Circumcision is what takes a person from Spiritual death to Spiritual Life. Therefore, we can confidently say that Spiritual Circumcision is equated to being "awakened" by Christ. This is the Light that is spoken of in Genesis 1:3-4. This is what the Old and the New is all about. It is what is required if we are to go from corruptible seed to Incorruptible Seed. When Jesus tells people, "Get away from me, I never "knew" you," He is saying that He never "awakened" them. It means that He had never Circumcised their hearts of the Curse of the Lord.

The whole Bible revolves around this idea of becoming awakened and as said, it is our responsibility to Trust in the Holy Spirit to be taught by Him . . . and not by humans. Of course, when we begin to Trust the Spirit for the Truth, this is the Lord drawing us to Him by His Power, lest be boast about our choice. If we strongly desire to know the Story of God, it is by the Drawing Power of God that we would do so. Those who God loves WILL reflect His Glory more and more as we age. The Work and Effect of Christ ensures that His Holy Elect, those whom the Father gives to Him . . . Jesus will not lose one. Why? Because Transformation does not come by our own choice or power, but only by the choice and Power of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

As you can see . . . I believe in you!

 

[Oneofhope]

I was looking for such fellowship today. I found it in this thread. I don't want a shepherd but a brother with insight and wisdom to share. And fellowship in that.

I agree. I am impressed with the level of maturity in our discussions. THIS is what I have been hoping to find in Christian Forums. What a breath of fresh air!!!

 

[AlightSeeker]

In my opinion, you are hitting the bullseye. The problem of most humans is that though they are dreaming, they do not realize that they are asleep and that their dreams are not of their "awakened" life. For, how can we know that we are asleep unless we wake up? And this is our great objective, to discover if we are asleep or if Christ has awakened us. How do we do this? How do we know? These are the great challenges that face each of us to calls themselves "Christian." We all believe that we are genuinely saved, but if we remain in our sleep, we are, by default, not saved. Anyone who is asleep is not saved . . . period.

I like the verses that you offered as they discuss being awakened. What is also interesting is that after called to become awakened, the passages then state that this is the time that we would understand the Will of God. Therefore, Romans 12:2 should sound familiar:

Romans 12:2 NLT - "Don't copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God's will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect."

I have never heard any pastor preach on this issue either, which is that Transformation must come before a person can understand the Will of the Lord. This Transformation is what equates to being "awakened." But who awakens whom? Do we wake ourselves up, or is this the Work of Christ? I would submit that Scripture teaches us that we cannot wake ourselves up, but that this is the process of Spiritual Circumcision.

Colossians 2:11-15 NLT - "When you came to Christ, you were "circumcised," but not by a physical procedure. Christ performed a spiritual circumcision--the cutting away of your sinful nature. For you were buried with Christ when you were baptized. And with him you were raised to new life because you trusted the mighty power of God, who raised Christ from the dead. You were dead because of your sins and because your sinful nature was not yet cut away. Then God made you alive with Christ, for he forgave all our sins. He canceled the record of the charges against us and took it away by nailing it to the cross. In this way, he disarmed the spiritual rulers and authorities. He shamed them publicly by his victory over them on the cross."

We see that Spiritual Circumcision is what takes a person from Spiritual death to Spiritual Life. Therefore, we can confidently say that Spiritual Circumcision is equated to being "awakened" by Christ. This is the Light that is spoken of in Genesis 1:3-4. This is what the Old and the New is all about. It is what is required if we are to go from corruptible seed to Incorruptible Seed. When Jesus tells people, "Get away from me, I never "knew" you," He is saying that He never "awakened" them. It means that He had never Circumcised their hearts of the Curse of the Lord.

The whole Bible revolves around this idea of becoming awakened and as said, it is our responsibility to Trust in the Holy Spirit to be taught by Him . . . and not by humans. Of course, when we begin to Trust the Spirit for the Truth, this is the Lord drawing us to Him by His Power, lest be boast about our choice. If we strongly desire to know the Story of God, it is by the Drawing Power of God that we would do so. Those who God loves WILL reflect His Glory more and more as we age. The Work and Effect of Christ ensures that His Holy Elect, those whom the Father gives to Him . . . Jesus will not lose one. Why? Because Transformation does not come by our own choice or power, but only by the choice and Power of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

As you can see . . . I believe in you!

Amen. I'm glad I'm not the only one. That makes you question yourself too much. Maybe that is good though but it's also good to find joy in the Lord. I don't know what to believe about salvation itself. I dont know if these sleepers are going to eternal domination or not. I hope for them like I hope for myself and the world. One thing I'm sure is that we are fools if we dont follow the Lord's whole word. We must examine ourselves to see if we are in fact I'm the faith as Paul told us. I don't feel qualified or wise enough to judge salvation. I will neither condemn of justify any one. At this time that's all I know.

 

[AlightSeeker]

So we who believe that we are mature, should pray for each other, the church, and the world. Pray for me because I'm new. Although I believe that I see God's hand in my life from the beginning in dreams that he gave me, I'm an infant in some ways. I am concerned that I will stumble. I pray about it and put faith in the Lord but I'm just a man. One who has been a slave to horrible sin most of my life. I'm deeply ashamed of it and Paul said we had no fruit in those things we are now ashamed of.

 

[AlightSeeker]

Not long ago I meditated on metal working. That was my passion. I followed the lord the best I could although unfaithful in many ways. I had what I would call a revelation. I gave up trying to stop sinning in one of those sins i was unfaithful to God with. I told him I can't do it if he didn't change me. I asked him to take it away but it was always there. Maybe because I loved it still. I dont know.

Then sometime after that, i experienced a darkness in everything. I saw my sin and the suffering in the world and I heard the voices of those atheists that I talked to online. They said that Jesus was just an imaginary friend. I saw and heard all that. It was kind of like I died. There was no hope and no light at all. I was sitting in my friends garage drinking a couple beers. I said to myself where is God? I dont see him in me because I'm a slave to sin. I dont see him in this world either. Those atheist voices in my head were right in a way. It seemed like Jesus was imaginary to me. I was in very dark despair. I gave up like I did that sin I mentioned. I had no reasoning or hope. Everything was dead. I may have said something to God i cant remember but i knew that he is always knowing what i think about. I wouldn't have had to pray necessarily. This was a meeting with reality. Most of my mind saw no hope so i wasn't praying. I dont know. So i didn't see him anywhere. I said to myself without God there is no hope. All i have is my horrible life that i was responsible for, and my health wasnt good either, and then i get the cold dark, grave. where was any hope? Darkness surrounding me i guess.

Then I was talking to my friend and I noticed myself being guided in the reasoning I used to respond to him. It was the word. It was like God said I'm right here inside you. My hope shined then. The darkness was gone. I began meditating on the word. I meditated on how Jesus is called the word, and how the word of God guided me and spoke to me saying here i am.

I meditated on how Jesus is the word and what it actually meant. I also meditated on the word. Things came to me. It was like i could see. I saw things i never quite understood before. I saw politics as unfaithfulness to the Lord in every way. I saw that before but not quite so clear as now. I meditated on the word even when i was blind and trapped in sin because God guided me to see David and how he meditated on the word. That always seemed good to me. But i never saw things like i do now do now. I also didn't meditate continually like i do now. Lately thats all i do. I don't know long ill do this. Hopefully forever. Things i see give me joy. Im in awe. Before this when I was still learning the word i was reminded of scripture that would guide me and i believed it was the spirit like Jesus talked about in John 14. I debated scripture online that helped me learn from scripture itself. I searched scripture in my debates trying to prove what i believed was true in the middle of all manner of doctrine and beliefs around me. Although i was learning, its different now.

I feel like God gifted me to see his word and it gives me joy. Now its like the eyes of my understanding have been opened, athough im far from seeing everything. I do see a wonderful light though. I believe God gave me the task of preaching or shining that light. I am however under no delusions. I dont trust anything now after seeing how blind I was and how blind this world is.. I walk by faith here not sight. I don't trust myself but I'm trusting God. I don't trust my understanding but lean on God. I'm like Paul weak and trembling. Not that I'm like Paul though. He saw much more than I do. He was a man I dont see myself ever becoming. I follow him though. I follow his example and teaching to the best of my understanding and ability as I have for a lot of my adult life.

 

[AlightSeeker]

Now I dont think about anything but the word. To me its life. I pray that I don't stray from it like a fool.

 

[AlightSeeker]

I didn't just follow Paul but he was a big influence like the Lord was. Both have guided me. All scripture has. When I began learning I didn't consider the old testament as my guide. I knew that it wasn't to be discarded but I knew I wasn't under Moses law. That was right. But now I see the old testament as my teacher as well. I see God in all of it. I don't comprehend it all but it's all food for me. When I studied mostly the new the testament I was still drawn to Psalms, proverbs and a little of the prophets. That seemed edifying and good for me at that time. But now I see God everywhere. The new testament taught me how to understand the old testament but the old testament has the prophets and psalms and proverbs. There were many good things besides Moses law that I didn't need to concen myself with. But the new guided the old in my eye's. And the old shows us how to understand the new as well in many ways. But I think there should be an order in how you study it for proper understanding. As far as commandments and sound doctrine go anyway. God's word is good.

 

[AlightSeeker]

Forgive me. I can't help but shine light here. Something that has really blessed me and even more so now is the prophet Hosea. We see God's love and it's amazing. God is not some distant God of stone. He's real and he feels. Look at all the teaching in scripture we see about this love. Israel was unfaithful like an unfaithful wife who broke Gods heart. In my opinion that's what he would have us see. The harlot of Babylon also represents unfaithfulness to God. We also are called adulterers by James. Pauls aim was to present a faithful virgin. Clean and pure and lovely. I weep with God but it's tears of love not sorrow. Although sorrow comes at times. At least it always has before anyway. God is amazing and real. No atheist can tell me he is imaginary.

 

[AlightSeeker]

I need to stay in his love now. I need to be faithful. I cannot go back to where I was before.

 

[AlightSeeker]

I need to do this. Abide in his love. Of course the world hates me. I preach against it. I preach leaving it and seeking the kingdom of God through Christ. I see it more clearly now. But I love the world. Not the world but the people. Im no longer one of them. So i stay separate and dont grieve God. I hope for them. I do this because I was them. I hope for them like I do myself.


John 15:15 “I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. 2 Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He [a]takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit. 3 You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you. 4 Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me.

5 “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. 6 If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned. 7 If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you[b] will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you. 8 By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples.

Love and Joy Perfected​

9 “As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love. 10 If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love.

11 “These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full. 12 This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. 13 Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends. 14 You are My friends if you do whatever I command you. 15 No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I heard from My Father I have made known to you. 16 You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you. 17 These things I command you, that you love one another.

The World’s Hatred​

18 “If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you. 19 If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. 20 Remember the word that I said to you, ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you. If they kept My word, they will keep yours also. 21 But all these things they will do to you for My name’s sake, because they do not know Him who sent Me. 22 If I had not come and spoken to them, they would have no sin, but now they have no excuse for their sin. 23 He who hates Me hates My Father also. 24 If I had not done among them the works which no one else did, they would have no sin; but now they have seen and also hated both Me and My Father. 25 But this happened that the word might be fulfilled which is written in their law, ‘They hated Me without a cause.’

The Coming Rejection​

26 “But when the [c]Helper comes, whom I shall send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, He will testify of Me. 27 And you also will bear witness, because you have been with Me from the beginning.