“I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser (John 15:1NASU).” 

[and My Father is the vinedresser]

The Son likens the Father to a vinedresser or a vineyard husbandman; the one who owns and cares for the vine and its branches. The vinedresser nurtures, trims, and defends the vine, and of course feels a deep interest in its growth and welfare that it bears much fruit.

The likeness here means that God gave, or appointed His Son to be, the source of blessings to man; that all grace descends through Him; and that the Father takes care of all the branches of this vine-that is, of all who are by grace through faith united to the Lord Jesus Christ. In Jesus and all His church He feels the deepest interest, and it is an object of great concern that His church should receive these blessings and bear much fruit to His glory. 

“Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit, He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit, He prunes it so that it may bear more fruit (John 15:2NASU).”

[Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit]

Now from a healthy and vigorous grape vine you would expect its branches to bear beautiful, luscious, mouth watering grapes with seed that they might reproduce.  If the branch does not bear fruit it is useless, for where there is no fruit there is no food for the hungry or seed for the replenishing. Thus the vinedresser removes it from the vine that it not hinders the production of the other branches.

[and every branch that bears fruit,]

“Every branch that bears fruit” speaks of everyone that is a true follower of Christ and is united to Him by grace through faith and truly derives grace and strength from Him, as the branch does from the vine. The word "branch" includes all the boughs, and the smallest tendrils that shoot out from the parent vine. Jesus here says that He sustains the same relation to His disciples that a parent vine does to the branches; but this does not denote any physical or incomprehensible union. It is a union formed by grace through faith; resulting from our recognition of our total emptiness without Him and a feeling of dependence on Him and our need of Him; from embracing Him as our Savior, Redeemer and Friend. In love we become united to Him in all our interests, and have common feelings, common desires, and a common destiny with Him. We seek the same objects, are willing to encounter the same trials, contempt, persecution, and want, and are desirous that His Father shall be ours, and His eternal abode ours. It is a union of friendship, of love, and of dependence; a union of weakness with strength; of imperfection with perfection; of a dying nature with a living Savior; of a lost sinner with an unchanging Friend and Redeemer. It is the most tender and interesting of all relations, but not more mysterious or more physical than the union of parent and child, of husband and wife (Eph 5:23), or friend and friend.

Jake Sanford

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“I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser (John 15:1NASU).” 

It was quite fitting that in His final teachings our Lord would speak of the oneness of He and His children.  Thus in the sweetness of His spirit by the use of a simple metaphor Jesus here beautifully sets forth the oneness of Himself and His people, and His relation to them as the Source of all their spiritual life and fruitfulness.

[I am the true vine]

Some have supposed that this discourse was delivered in the room where the Lord's Supper was instituted, and that, as they had made use of wine, Jesus took occasion from that to say that He was the true vine.  Some have made other suppositions; but it is most probable that it was spoken while they were going from what was to be their last supper together to the Mount of Olives. Whether it was suggested by the sight of vines by the way, or by the wine of which they had just partaken, cannot now be determined.

The comparison was frequent among the Jews, for Palestine abounded in vineyards, and the illustration was very striking. Often the Prophets compared the Nation Israel to a vine which God had planted (see Isa 5:1-7; Ps 80:8-16; Joel 1:7; Jer 2:21; Ezek 19:10). When Jesus says He was the true vine, perhaps allusion is had to Jer. 2:21. The word "true," here is used in the sense of faithfulness as compared to the unfaithful of the Israelites. He really and truly gives what is emblematically represented by a vine.

The point of the comparison or the correct meaning of the metaphor is this: A vine yields proper juice and nourishment to all the branches, whether these are large or small. All the nourishment of each branch and tendril passes through the main vine that springs from the earth. As the branch receives the proper nourishment it produces luscious fruit with seed in the fruit making it capable of reproduction.  

In likeness Jesus is the Living Word of God springing forth from the very heart of the Father. By and through the Holy Spirit He is the source of all real strength and grace to His disciples. By the same Spirit He is their leader and teacher, and imparts to them, as they need, grace and strength for holiness that they bear the fruit of righteousness.  The beauty of the fruit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control (Gal. 5:22-23NAS).

Now the seed in the fruit of righteousness is the word of God.  The fruit is not like an apple with a core and seed in the core; the seed is in the fruit.  One cannot partake of the fruit without getting the seed or he cannot get the seed without the fruit.  Now when those who gaze upon the beautiful fruit and begin to eat (listen to and believe) it is the word and the Spirit of God that convicts and converts; not the branch.  Thus by the seed the vine is increased and another branch is added to the vine.

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Quite a number of years ago while reading in the book of Ephesians I came to chapter five and verse twenty two caught my eye.

“Wives, be subject to your own husbands, as to the Lord (NASU).

Now the thought occurred to me; now that would be great if my wife would just read this and follow its command.  Then I continued to read.

23 “For the husband is the head of the wife, as Christ also is the head of the church, He Himself being the Savior of the body. 24 But as the church is subject to Christ, so also the wives ought to be to their husbands in everything (NASU).”

Then I though; I wonder if she has ever read this.  Then I said, oh well, and continued to read.

25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her, (NASU).

Now we are getting to my part.  Hmmmm, I said, if I was that kind of a husband my wife would probably be more than happy to subject herself to me and honor me as the head of the household.  You can tell thus far I was really doing some serious thinking.  I begin to read further.

26 “so that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, 27 that He might present to Himself the church in all her glory, having no spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that she would be holy and blameless. 28 So husbands ought also to love their own wives as their own bodies. He who loves his own wife loves himself; 29 for no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ also does the church, 30 because we are members of His body (NASU).”

By the time I had read these verses my thoughts were turning more to the relationship of Christ and His church.  Then I read the next verse.

31 “FOR THIS REASON A MAN SHALL LEAVE HIS FATHER AND MOTHER AND SHALL BE JOINED TO HIS WIFE, AND THE TWO SHALL BECOME ONE FLESH (NASU).”

After reading verse thirty one I looked back at verse thirty---“because we are members of His body.”  And again I looked at verse thirty one---“and the two shall become one FLESH.”  And then I continued to the next verse.

32 “This mystery is great; but I am speaking with reference to Christ and the church (NASU).”

Ok, if the Apostle is speaking of Christ and the church, the mystery must be that when one first believes he becomes one in the flesh with Christ.  Then the Holy Spirit began to flood my mind with other scripture.

5 “For if we have become united with Him in the likeness of His death, certainly we shall also be in the likeness of His resurrection, 6 knowing this, that our old self was crucified with Him, in order that our body of sin might be done away with, so that we would no longer be slaves to sin; (Rom. 6:5-6NASU).”

Yes, it is a true revelation!!!  We do, by faith become one in the flesh with our Lord!  Our Lord’s crucifixion becomes our crucifixion.  The old sin nature is put to death and we are freed from sin.  But also His resurrection becomes our resurrection---we are raised up a sinless new creature.   

7 for he who has died is freed from sin (Rom. 6:5-7NASU).”

20 “I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me (Gal. 2:20NASU).”

24 “Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.

25 If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit (Gal. 5:24-25NASU).”

Now years has passed since I received this revelation and my wife is a very precious help meet and my Lord is still working on me to be that husband she deserves.

33 “Nevertheless, each individual among you also is to love his own wife even as himself, and the wife must see to it that she respects her husband (Eph. 5:33NAS).”

Jake Sanford

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Consider Adam, the first born of all mankind and the heir of God’s kingdom on earth.  Through disobedience he lost his dominion and became sin in the flesh.  Thus all born of Adam are heirs of sin in the flesh and death.

Cain was the first born son of Adam; Able was the second.  It was Able, the second born, who by grace through faith became the heir of righteousness.  

And then there was Ishmael, the first born son of Abraham; born of the works of the flesh.   But it was Isaac, the second born son of Abraham, born according to the word of God who became the heir of the promises of God. 

Consider also Esau, the first born of Isaac who God hated while yet in his mother’s womb.  It was Jacob, the second born son of Isaac who was chosen of God to become the heir of the promises.

Consider also the sons of Jacob’s son Judah, Perez and Zerah born of their mother Tamar; although Zerah who was the first born, it was Perez who became the heir.

And then there is Jesus, the second Adam born of God, who by grace through faith became the heir of God’s kingdom.

What is our Creator trying to tell us in these things? 

Consider this; it is not the first born, the sons of Adam, who become heirs of God’s kingdom, but the second born, he that is by grace chosen of God and through faith born of Jesus, the Living Word, and the Spirit of God; these are His sons and are joint heirs with Jesus their Lord.   

Flesh and blood does not inherit the kingdom of God, his inheritance is death; it is the child of the spirit that is the son of God, his inheritance is eternal life.   

Jake Sanford

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It really troubles me when religious people refer to Romans Chapter 7 to excuse their sins.  And I deplore the line, “we are only human and we are going sin.” And almost as revolting is the line, “we sin every day.”  Immoral sinful people, religious or otherwise, are always looking for crutches to hold them up in their unbelief.  In Romans 7 the Apostle Paul was emphasizing the weakness of the flesh and the need of the power to overcome sin.  If they would only read chapter eight they would find there, using a famous line, “the rest of the story.” 

“Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. (Rom. 8:1NASU).”

[for those who are in Christ Jesus]

Now go back to Romans, chapter 6, beginning in verse 3----

“Or do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus have been baptized into His death (Rom. 6:3NASU)?”

Again in the book of Galatians,

“For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ (Gal.3:27NAS).”

[baptized into Christ Jesus]

If a person is baptized into Christ Jesus, baptized into His death and then raised up in the newness of life then he is in Christ Jesus.  “Therefore there is now no condemnation.” Understand, the Apostle is not speaking of a water baptism here—he is speaking of dieing to the sinful deeds of the flesh.  Dead men do not sin, they are dead.

“What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin so that grace may increase? May it never be! How shall we who died to sin still live in it (Rom. 6:1-2NASU)?” 

Now if you have not been baptized into the death of Christ then the ole sin nature of the flesh is still very much alive and you will sin. 

Let’s continue,

“For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death (Rom. 8:2NASU).”

There is no condemnation for who??  For those who have been baptized into Christ Jesus, those who have crucified the flesh and buried it with Christ; those who have followed their Lord into the “regeneration (Matt. 19L28),” into the new birth.

“For what the Law could not do, weak as it was through the flesh, God did: sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and as an offering for sin, He condemned sin in the flesh, so that the requirement of the Law might be fulfilled in us, who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit (Rom. 8:3-4NASU).”

[who do not walk according to the flesh]

The requirement of the law of sin and death is fulfilled in those who have been baptized into Christ Jesus and have received the gift of the Holy Spirit and are walking according to His power and leading.

“For those who are according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who are according to the Spirit, {set their minds on} the things of the Spirit  (Rom. 8:5NASU).”

[set their minds]

It is a matter of submission or “mind set.”  One who has submitted has set his mind on the things of God and is lead of the Spirit of God, thus he is empowered to overcome sin.

“For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace, because the mind set on the flesh is hostile toward God; for it does not subject itself to the law of God, for it is not even able to do so, and those who are in the flesh cannot please God (Rom. 8:6-8NASU).”

[for the mind set on the flesh is death]

A stern warning for those who say, “we are only human and we are going to sin, even the apostle Paul sinned.” (That gives me chills.)  Where is you mind set—if it is set on the things of the flesh it is set on death!!!

[but the mind set on the Spirit]

The mind set on the Spirit is life and peace and the fruit he bears is the fruit of righteous.

We must remember that our Lord came and died a horrible death to take away our sins, not to prepare a way we could wallow in them and still go to heaven.  The biggest sin committed by church going people is that of immorality---this is what people are wanting to hold on to but still have a clean conscience---there is no way people!!! Either be converted or die in your sins.

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Then you may ask; how are we to be like Jesus?  Or you may ask; what is the key to Christ likeness?  Of all the wonderful attributes of our Lord the most outstanding was his humbleness.  The Apostle Paul sets our Lord’s attitude before us as an example; he writes, 

“Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, 6 who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and  being made in the likeness of men. 8 Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross (Phil. 2:5-8NASU).”              

Our Lord saw the need of mankind and humbled Himself that he might fill that need.  In the Garden of Gethsemane He totally submitted His will to our Heavenly Father as He prayed, saying,  

"My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; yet not as I will, but as You will." 

Through the total submission of our Lord the Father brought forth a Savior for all mankind.  He is the “only begotten” the unique Son of God; in this manner there is and never will no other like Him for there is no other where-by man can be saved.   

Each of the original apostles were unique as individuals but yet they had these in common with their Lord----they saw the need, thus, like their Savior before them they humbled themselves before the Father; a humbleness that lead to total submission to the will of the Father. Then the Father created them to be unique vessels of His Spirit and word. If we as true believers will also see the need and become totally submitted to our Creator then He will create us in a uniqueness that serves His purpose.  

It is only when man totally surrenders his own will and summits to the will of God that the soul of man is swallowed up by the Soul of God and the Spirit of God performs the word of God in his total being and brings forth a son of God whose thoughts and deeds are like those of his Lord and Savior; he does nothing unless he sees the Father do it and he says nothing unless he hears the Father say it. It is then and only then that he has become like Jesus.  It is the work of the Spirit and not by the rationalizing and understanding of the human intellect.   

The Apostle Paul writes, “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them (Eph. 2:10).”     

God is the Creator, the Potter; we are the clay; the one being created in His image.  We are to believe, be humble, pray, have faith, be obedient, prayerfully study His Scripture and trust Him to do His will in our lives.   

The Apostle John tells us, “In Him was life, and the life was the light of men (John 1:4).”     

Our Lord teaches; “A pupil is not above his teacher but everyone, after he has been fully trained, will be like his teacher (Luke 6:40).”   

Our Lord also tells his pupil, “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden (Matt. 5:14).”     

In each true believer there is the life and the word (or light) of God that is the message or the gospel that is the “power of God for salvation (Rom. 1:16);” the hope for mankind.    

Submit to God and He will create you a vessel of His word; a manifestation of the invisible Father; you will be in His image; you will be like Jesus.    

Jake Sanford 

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"Now the LORD said to Abram, "Go forth from your country, and from your relatives and from your father's house, to the land which I will show you; And I will make you a great nation, and I will bless you, and make your name great; and so you shall be a blessing; And I will bless those who bless you, and the one who curses you I will curse. And in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.  So Abram went forth as the LORD had spoken to him; and Lot went with him. Now Abram was seventy-five years old when he departed from Haran (Gen. 12:1-4NAS)." 

Because of God's love of mankind he had mercy and by grace called Abram to be the father of the household of faith.  Abram heard God; he then left his father's house according to God's instructions.  Abram hearing, believing and obeying God indicates that he welcomed and received the gift of faith.  Abram's father was a worshiper of idols, thus we can assume Abram also was an idolater who was dead in his sins.  Leaving his fathers house of sin would indicate that he believed God and turned his back on sin, thus establishing repentance.  Because Abram received the gift of faith through believing and repenting it was "reckoned" to him by God as righteousness, thus Abram was justified by God (Gen. 6:15NAS).  

After faith, repentance and justification, came the covenant, then circumcision as the sign of the covenant (Rom. 4:10-12NAS). The very nature of circumcision indicates a sanctification process where-by the unclean flesh of man is removed.  Abraham and his household were not circumcised into the covenant but rather they received the sign of circumcision because of the covenant they had with God before circumcision {Rom. 4:13NAS}. 

So, what is it that we see that God has given to Abram?  By grace he called him thus giving him faith.  Then God granted him repentance by accepting his leaving his father's house as a move of faith.  Next, He reckoned these things to Abram as righteousness there-by granting to him justification, which is to say, not counting his sins against him.  Then came sanctification; the setting apart process. 

The ordinance of baptism for those under the new covenant parallels, or is comparable, and corresponds to that of the circumcision of those who were under the covenant of the Law of Circumcision.  Circumcision refers to a cutting away of sin and a change of heart (Deut. 10:16; Ezek. 44:7,9). Similarly, baptism also portrays a washing away of sin (Acts 2:38; Titus 3:5-6) and a spiritual renewal (Rom. 6:4; Col. 2:9-12). It is helpful to understand the Law of Circumcision, but we cannot and must not confuse or mix the rites of circumcision and those of baptism together, doing so results in false doctrines.  The Christian is not under the same covenant therefore the rites are different. 

"This is My covenant, which you shall keep, between Me and you and your descendants after you: every male among you shall be circumcised.  And you shall be circumcised in the flesh of your foreskin; and it shall be the sign of the covenant between Me and you.  And every male among you who is eight days old shall be circumcised throughout your generations, a servant who is born in the house or who is bought with money from any foreigner, who is not of your descendants.  A servant who is born in your house or who is bought with your money shall surely be circumcised; thus shall My covenant be in your flesh for an everlasting covenant.  But an uncircumcised male who is not circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin, that person shall be cut off from his people; he has broken My covenant (Gen. 17:10-14NAS)."    

To understand how the Law of Circumcision under the old covenant corresponds to that of baptism under the new covenant we must see Abraham in the role of Christ and Sarah in the role of the church.  The covenant was made with Abraham who was the head of his household.  The new covenant is made between God the Father and His Son Jesus who is the head of His household (Heb. 3:6NAS). The sign of circumcision is given to Abraham and his seed after him.  The sign of baptism was given to Jesus and to His seed after Him. 

This brings us to Sarah and her role is likened unto that of the church.  Sarah, being a woman, could not be circumcised in the same manner as her husband.  Because of her love and faith toward her husband she had left her former life behind and became submissive and obedient to her husband, which can be seen as a circumcision of the heart (1 Pet. 3:5-6NAS). Thus she was one with her husband (Gen. 2:24) and his circumcision became her circumcision, and therefore she was included in the covenant.    

The bride of Christ is the church.  Like Sarah, the church loves her Husband and she leaves her former life behind and is submissive and obedient to her Lord. Now since Christ was crucified over two thousand years ago it is impossible for the believer to be literally crucified with Him, and so by repentance and faith toward God His crucifixion becomes the believer's crucifixion or His circumcision, through the removal of the unclean flesh in the work of the cross, becomes the believer's circumcision, if indeed he dies to the sinful deeds of the flesh with Him; in other words His death, burial and resurrection becomes the believers death, burial and resurrection. 

Under the Law of Circumcision any one refusing to be circumcised broke God's covenant therefore they were excluded from the covenant (Gen. 17:4; Exo. 22:48).  Our Lord Jesus was circumcised at birth according to the Law of Circumcision because He was born under the covenant of Law (Luke 2:21NAS).  At about age thirty He was baptized as a sign of the new covenant of faith toward God.  He was circumcised that He might fulfill the sign of the old covenant and He was baptized that He might establish baptism as the sign of the new covenant, thus fulfilling "all righteousness (Matt. 3:15NAS)."  The new covenant is God's pledge to grant eternal life to all those who are called and believe through His Son Jesus (John 3:15-16).   

It was father Abraham who circumcised the child born into his household. Likewise it is Christ who circumcises those who are "born of the Spirit" into His household, but His is a circumcision through the removal of the unclean flesh by the work of the cross.   

"For in Him all the fullness of Deity dwells in bodily form, and in Him you have been made complete, and He is the head over all rule and authority; and in Him you were also circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, in the removal of the body of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ; having been buried with Him in baptism, in which you were also raised up with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead.  And when you were dead in your transgressions and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He made you alive together with Him, having forgiven us all our transgressions, having canceled out the certificate of debt consisting of decrees against us and which was hostile to us; and He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross {Col. 2:9-14NAS}."   

We baptize the "new babe" in Christ, the born again believer, as a sign of the covenant with God through the faith he had in Christ before he was baptized.  We are not baptized into the covenant of faith but we are baptized because of the covenant of faith.  Repentance leads to remission or the forgiveness of sins and salvation in Jesus Christ.  Conviction, repentance, faith, baptism and the gift of the Holy Spirit are the entire package (Acts 2:37-38); one follows the other and each one is incomplete without the other.  Sanctification, or the cleansing of ones soul of all sinfulness, is the circumcision of the heart, the removal of the unclean flesh---the body of sin.  This is the spiritual baptism in Christ Jesus that is expressed or manifested outwardly in the water baptism (Gal. 3:26-27; 1 Pet. 3:17-22). Apart from cleansing inner being (the circumcision of the heart) baptism becomes a legalistic ritual and a mere dip in water.   

Permit me if you will to alter Scripture just a bit to make a valid point.  First the Scripture as it is written.   

"For he is not a Jew who is one outwardly; neither is circumcision that which is outward in the flesh.  But he is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is that which is of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the letter; and his praise is not from men, but from God {Rom. 2:28-29NAS}."   

Now the alteration---For he is not a Christian who is one outwardly, neither is baptism that which is outward in the flesh.  But he is a Christian who is one inwardly and baptism is that which is of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the letter; and his praise is not from men, but from God.   

Baptism is not a means by which salvation is brought about, but is a sign of the new covenant of salvation through Jesus Christ (Rom. 4:10-13).  Baptism serves the same purpose for new covenant believers that circumcision did for old covenant believers. For the Jews, circumcision was the external and visible sign that they were within the covenant that God had established with Abraham. Converts (or proselytes) also had to undergo this rite. But now under the new covenant, baptism instead of circumcision is required.  A person who claims to have been convicted of sin, says he has repented and refuses to be baptized rejects the sign of the new covenant, thus he disobeys the commandments of God---his conviction is incomplete, his repentance is also incomplete, there is something wrong with his relationship with God and therefore his faith is lacking---he is in danger of being excluded from the new covenant.   

Sanctification (setting apart for sin and the sinful) is God's purpose of His calling and His will for the believer.  As the believer continues in dedication to the regeneration process of repentance and obedience to faith his soul continues to be disciplined or trained for the purpose of being "set apart" for the works of God by "the washing of water by the word (Eph. 5:26)." Those who are being "saved" has repented of sin and is justified and made the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus.   They have, through faith, been crucified with Christ, died to sin, the adamic sin nature buried and then he is raised up in the newness of life in Christ Jesus; when this work is complete he has been sanctified (or set apart) (Rom. 6:3-11).   

One who joins a church, and is baptized in water, takes unto himself the name "Christian," and puts on the appearance of being religious, but continues to willfully sin, has not repented, he has not crucified "the man of sin" with Christ, he has not died with Christ, he has not been buried with Christ and he has not been raised up in the newness of life in Christ; he has simply been dipped in water and buried alive in religiosity; he remains dead in his transgression (Eph. 2:1).  He has only made a worthless and limited outward reformation and not fit for service in the Kingdom of God!  He has need of repentance (Matt. 4:17; Acts 2:38; 3:19)!!!   

Willful sinning is a product of willful ignorance and an unrepentant heart.  Willful ignorance, unlike unbelief, is the rejection of what one knows to be the truth (Matt. 21:32). Willful ignorance consists of things such as neglect of prayer, neglect of bible study and arguing with truth until he is convinced that he is right and truth is wrong.  Rather than submitting to a change of life, he twists and alters the truth to fit his life style.  Thus he rejects the truth because he is not willing to repent; for he is enjoying the things that he is doing and right or wrong, sin or not, he will, like rebellious Cain, continue doing it.  He loves darkness rather than light; or rather he loves sin rather than truth (John 3:19-21).  He loves the ways of the world rather than God!!   

It is written, "By transgression {sin} an evil man is ensnared, but the righteous sings and rejoices {Prov. 29:6NAS}."      

Jesus said -----, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but through Me {John 14:6NAS}."   

Jesus is the sacrificial offering and substitute death for the satisfaction of man's sin debt before God; He and He alone died for man's sins; there is no other!! Thus He and He alone prepared the way back to the Father.  Jesus is also the Word of God, thus He is the truth that leads the way to the Father; He is the "lamp unto our feet and a light to our path." And again, Jesus is the "life-giving Spirit (1 Cor. 15:45)," thus the way and the truth imparts life to the believer that he may be with the Father.  If he rejects truth he also rejects his High Priest and intercessor; he rejects hope.   If he says, "I love Jesus," while rejecting the truth through disobedience, he betrays and gives himself over to deception.   

John the Baptist came before Jesus preaching repentance and announcing the coming of the Messiah to a very religious nation, the people of Israel (Matt. 3:2).  These people had drifted far from the truth, thus they had need of repentance (Matt. 3:8).  He preached repentance that they might receive the embodiment of truth, Jesus, the Word of God. When Jesus came, He came preaching repentance and announcing the kingdom of God to the same people.  He preached repentance that they might turn away from sin and receive Him, and through Him enter the kingdom of God.  In the beginning of the church the apostles preached repentance, to many of the same people, as well as to others, that they too might receive Jesus and through Him, the Word of Truth, enter the kingdom of God (Acts 2:38).  Being baptized and becoming a member of a local "church" and acting religious does not save a man's soul. The hearing of the gospel message leads to faith, repentance and salvation through justification and sanctification (Rom. 1:16).             

On the day of Pentecost Peter preached to a nation of people who had rejected the truth and crucified The Word of God.   

"Now when they heard this, they were pierced to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, 'Brethren, what shall we do?'  And Peter said to them, 'Repent, and let each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit' (Acts 2:37-38NAS)."   

In answer to their desperate cry the first word out of Peter's mouth was, "repent;" repentance, and only repentance, leads to justification and the forgiveness of sins.  Without repentance there is no forgiveness, no removal of guilt and there is no receiving of the Holy Spirit (Luke 13:3).  Baptism will not save an unrepentant soul!!  After repentance the Holy Spirit is given as a pledge of the believer's inheritance (Eph. 1:13-14; Acts 2:38) and for the purpose of the work of sanctification and other glorious works of God.   

The true nature of repentance is most often misunderstood.  Many sorrow that they have sinned, and even make an outward reformation, only because they fear that their sin will bring suffering upon themselves.  Esau was grieved over the loss of his birthright (Gen. 27:36-38) and Balaam acknowledged his guilt when he feared the loss of his life (Numbers 22:32-34).  Even Pharaoh, when suffering under the judgments of God, acknowledge his sin, in order to escape further punishment, but immediately returned to his defiance of Moses and God as soon as the plagues were ceased.  All these mourned the results of sin, but did not grieve for the sin itself.  This is not true repentance.  True repentance, like faith and love is a gift from God.  When the Holy Spirit, through the gospel message, reveals the love that God has shown mankind through the giving of His Son, conviction takes hold upon the soul of the sinner. His soul yields to the influence of the Holy Spirit of God; he then has a sense of the righteousness and love of God; he sees his own sin nature as being evil and against his loving Creator. He begins to have a feeling of contrition or broken heartedness and a precise and fixed change of mind.  Therefore, in a godly sense, repentance means an awareness of guilt and a feeling of remorse, regret and sorrowfulness for sin.   

When man first believes, he receives God's gifts of love and faith.  He then, through faith, loves God in return by repenting and turning to Him.  Thus repentance is two-fold in as much as it is turning away from sin and turning to God with love and faith toward Him through His Son Jesus.  Consequently repentance brings forgiveness of sin and removes all feelings of guilt and brings about a deep-seated positive change in a person's relationship with God.  The repentant believer rejoices in the love of God and clearly sees the beauty of holiness, the joy of purity; he longs to be cleansed, sanctified and restored to unity and total harmony with God. 

Is repentance necessary to salvation?  Yes; when one first believes he is justified and Jesus becomes his Savior, Lord, King and High Priest.  As High Priest, He intercedes for the believer as he struggles with the process of dieing to sin.  Each time the Holy Spirit brings the deceptive darkness of sin in one's life under the light of the word of God the believer again repents; thus through repentance the old sin nature, is nailed to the cross with Jesus----there to die with Him.  To the flesh sin nature, the piercing nails of repentance are a painful death to the sin nature, but it is necessary in the process of sanctification.  The believer does not come into the knowledge of all of the truths of God suddenly; therefore sanctification is not an instant process.  It is a metamorphosis---a change or transformation over a period of time.  Just how much time depends on the believer's depth of love for God and his devotion to prayer, study of the scriptures and his obedience to the Holy Spirit.  The end results of repentance are both justification and sanctification.  Hence the old sin nature is dead and a new creature of the nature of God is resurrected in Christ. 

The psalmist cries out in true repentance, "Be gracious to me, O God, according to Thy lovingkindness; according to the greatness of Thy compassion blot out my transgressions.  Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.  For I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me.  Against Thee, Thee only, I have sinned, and done what is evil in Thy sight, so that Thou art justified when Thou dost speak, and blameless when Thou dost judge.  Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin my mother conceived me.  Behold, Thou dost desire truth in the innermost being, and in the hidden part Thou wilt make me know wisdom.  Purify me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.  Make me to hear joy and gladness, let the bones which Thou hast broken rejoice.  Hide Thy face from my sins, and blot out all my iniquities.  Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.  Do not cast me away from Thy presence, and do not take Thy Holy Spirit from me.  Restore to me the joy of Thy salvation, and sustain me with a willing spirit.  Then I will teach transgressors Thy ways, and sinners will be converted to Thee.  Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, Thou God of my salvation; then my tongue will joyfully sing of Thy righteousness {Ps. 51:1-14NAS}." 

"----------Truly, truly, I say unto you, unless one is born of water (word) and the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.'" (John 3:5ff).   

Apart from the cleansing by the word and the Spirit of God there is no regeneration, no sanctification and no salvation for the soul of man.  Do not neglect hearing the word of God;  

For it is written, "man does not live by bread alone, but man lives by everything that proceeds out of the mouth of the Lord (Deut. 8:3ff & Luke 4:4ff)."   

Salvation begins at the cross with Jesus, the Word of God, continues with the Word of God and is completed by the Word of God; and all is by the grace and power of the Holy Spirit that is from God.    

"For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men, instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus; who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good deeds (Titus 2:11-14)."  

Justification is the open door through which regeneration enters and sanctification begins. Justification results in purification of the soul from the guilt and power of sin.  Sanctification results in a life of service in the works that God has prepared for those who are being saved (Eph. 2:10).   

The Scripture teaches, --- "For if we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit (Gal. 5:25)."  

"If indeed you have heard Him and have been taught in Him, just as truth is in Jesus, that in reference to your former manner of life, you lay aside the old self, which is being corrupted in accordance with the lusts of deceit, and that you be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and put on the new self, which in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth (Eph. 4:21-24)." "SET YOUR MIND on the things above, not on the things that are on earth.  For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God.  When Christ, who is our life is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory (Col. 3:2-4)." 

God's plan has never changed.  As it was in the beginning, so it is today.  God created man in His image; then man sinned; now God's work is reconciliation and restoration of the entire man that he may once again be a manifestation of His Glory (1 Thes. 5:23).  Christ Jesus came into the world a man in God's image; and He left this world through death on the cross and was raised up; still in God's image. Through Him there is justification, regeneration and sanctification and complete restoration.   

When one is born again the spirit that is in the believer is of the seed of Him that is in the image of God (1 John 3:9).  Thus, the spirit in the believer is in the image of God.  Therefore the born again believer has within him the image of God; all the attributes of God are in him; love, mercy, grace, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control and etc.  Also abiding in the believer is the Spirit of God given as a teacher and a helper; the power to help the believer overcome sin in his soul and body; the power for complete restoration and reconciliation; the power to manifest the glory of God. 

As to the Apostle Paul's question, " who will save me from this body of sin" he responds, "There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.  For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death.  For what the Law could not do, weak as it was through the flesh. God did sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and as an offering for sin. He condemned sin in the flesh, in order that the requirement of the Law might be fulfilled in us, WHO DO NOT WALK ACCORDING TO THE FLESH, BUT ACCORDING TO THE SPIRIT.  For those who are according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who are according to the Spirit, (set their minds on) the things of the Spirit.  For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace, because the mind set on the flesh is hostile toward God; for it does not subject itself to the law of God, for it is not even able to do so, and those who are in the flesh cannot please God.  However, you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you.  But if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ he does not belong to Him.  And If Christ is in you, though the body is dead because of sin, yet the spirit is alive because of righteousness.  But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who indwells you (Rom. 8:1-11)."  

In his response Paul makes it clear that the Law of the Spirit of Life applies only to those who are in Christ and are living their lives according to the leading of the Spirit and not according to the flesh.  Setting ones mind is the exercise of one's free will; to set your mind on the Spirit you must first submit your will to the will of God.    

Jesus said, "For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it; but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it (Matt 16:25 NASU)."   

Submissive obedience is an act of love that assures the believer of oneness with God through Christ Jesus; therefore set your mind on the things of the Spirit and live the richness, fullness and completeness of life that God has called you into.   

"So then, brethren, we are under obligation, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh--- for if you are living according to the flesh, you must die, but if by the Spirit you are putting to death the deeds of the body, you will live.  For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God (Rom. 8:12-14)."

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            “Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, He began asking His disciples, saying, ‘Who do people say that the Son of Man is?’  And they said, ‘Some say John the Baptist; and others, Elijah; but still others, Jeremiah, or one of the prophets (Matt. 16:13-14NAS).’”

            As we begin to explore the above Scripture we find the time setting of this event to be in the latter part of our Lord’s three and one half year ministry.  It would not be long until He would suffer the ordeal of the cross.  Most of the nation Israel had heard of Him by now and should have known who He was.  Certainly He could expect His disciples to know Him. 

When Jesus used the term “the Son of Man” He was referring to Himself as being a flesh and blood man.  He could have said, as the people look upon this man who do they say that I am?  As we read the disciples response they make it clear that the people did not know Jesus as the Son of God, but were making speculations that He possibly was a reincarnation of one of the prophets of old or John the Baptist or maybe even one who had been raised from the dead.  In other Scripture we find that, because of the “signs” He performed, some saw Him as a teacher whom God was with (John 3:2NAS).  Apparently the people were looking upon Jesus as a man and making an intellectual rationalization of who He might be.  They certainly had nothing to build upon because they would never come to know Him as the “Son of God” in this manner. 

After hearing their response He ask them, “But who do you say that I am?”  And Simon Peter answered and said, ‘Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.’ And Jesus answered and said to him, ‘Blessed are you, Simon Barjona, because flesh and blood did not reveal this to you, but My Father who is in heaven (Matt. 16:15-17NAS).”  Now Peter and his brother Andrew were disciples of John the Baptist and had heard the teachings of John concerning the good news of the coming Messiah.  John the Baptist had witnessed the Holy Spirit come upon Jesus and Andrew was present when John pointed Him out (John 1:29-40).  Peter had first heard of Jesus from his brother Andrew who had said to him, “we have found the Messiah” (John 1:41).  Now Peter had become a disciple of the man Jesus and had been taught by Him.   Now almost three and one half years later Peter makes a proclamation of truth.  But, according to Jesus, Peter’s declaration was not based upon hear-say, speculations, rationalizations, or even knowledge he gained from his brother Andrew, or any other “flesh and blood” man, including Himself; but upon a revelation he received from the Holy Spirit of God.   Peter had come to know the “Son of Man” as the “Son of God,” not by chance, but by the divine will of God.   According to God’s elect and divine calling Peter had followed the anointed Teacher for three and one half years carefully listening to His words (John 1:4).  As Jesus spoke the word of truth to Peter and the others their ears were quickened, or made to hear (Rom. 10:17) by the anointing of the Spirit of God that went forth with His word.   As they heard they believed, thus Peter confessed (Rom. 10:8-11), “thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.”  

Jesus continues to speak to Peter saying,

 “And I also say to you that you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build My church; and the gates of Hades shall not overpower it (Matt. 16:18NAS).”

Truth is a statement of fact.  Peter had made a statement of fact when He answered Jesus saying, “thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.” Jesus, the Word of God, made a statement of fact when He said to Peter, “and I also say to you that you are Peter.”   In the verbal exchange of these facts with Peter Jesus is emphasizing the steadfastness, reliability and trustworthiness of truth. 

He continues, “---and upon this rock I will build My church.”  What “rock” is Jesus speaking of? Let us examine the scripture closely.  First, what is the source of Peter’s revelation?  Jesus said, “flesh and blood did not reveal this to you”----so we know it wasn’t from man, not even from Jesus who was a man----“but My Father in heaven”---so the source of Peter’s knowledge was from God.  Now the Father is Spirit, so it must be that the Holy Spirit revealed to Peter that Jesus is the Son of God.  The “rock” Jesus speaks of here is the source of the revelation of the word of truth.  Our Lord is using the word “rock” figuratively to state the reliability of the source and strength of the truth that is to be the “corner stone” of His church.  Christ is the word of truth, the “corner stone” from God the Rock. 

God is the immovable, never changing eternal Creator and the substance of all that exist; He is the foundation of all truth; He is the “rock.”  Thus Christ, the word of truth, is in the image of God the Rock.  And it is upon this Rock that Jesus Christ, the Word of God, through faith in Him builds His church, He himself being the “corner stone.” &nbs