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Bibleline Bibleline, here God’s word on Bibleline, here God’s truth on Bibleline. Welcome to Bibleline with Dr. Ralph Yankee Arnold, pastor of Calvary Community Church in Tampa, Florida, clearly declaring the gospel of Jesus Christ through the radio and the internet. Your regular prayers and monthly support make it possible for Bibleline to continue on the You can reach us toll-free at 1-800-576-3771. Online donations may be made by clicking on the donations link on the BibleLineMinistries.org homepage. We pray that you will enjoy our commitment to the clear gospel of Jesus Christ and that today’s concluding message of this teaching will be a blessing to you and your family.

There are pastors, a lot of preachers, that don’t really care for the sheep. You don’t care whether you’re not, you grow spiritually or not, whether you have that peace and joy knowing you have eternal life or not. See when you teach, for example, Calvinism, and tell a person that you have to look at your life in order to prove whether or not you’re really saved, you call so much turmoil and so much pressure. That’s undue. It’s not needed. And it causes people to worry about whether or not they’re really saved or not because they’re, well, I don’t really know if my good works are good enough because now you’ve You got to look at the evidence to prove that you are genuine and start with.

So you don’t need all that stuff. And then sometimes it’s a preacher who won’t warn the flock. So you were supposed to warn the flock when things are not right and teachers that are not right and people are already yo and things like that and some things that goes on in the world. Because you can’t just feed the flock, although you just fatten them for the kill, or if you just warn them and then you start them to death.

So there’s a thin line of trying to get that thing right. But notice what he says in verse 14, I am the good shepherd. I know my sheep and am known of mine. Then down there in verse 27, my sheep hear my voice and I know them and they follow me. See there’s something between the shepherd and the sheep. Now we have two natures and so we don’t always hear the shepherd and we don’t always follow the shepherd because we got two ears, one from God and one from the world and we have two sets of eyes and we see there but we also see here and we can sometimes love the wrong things, follow the wrong things, we hear the wrong things and sometimes our whole lives get all messed up.

And so we do have that union with the Lord but we don’t have the unity that we ought to have because we don’t listen and we don’t follow. And so there’s conflict between us and the Lord. And the more you get out of shape between you and God, the more it’s going to happen with people. See, even though people don’t always do you right, God will never do you wrong. So don’t take out your anger against God because of the way people are.

And don’t treat God bad just because people treat you bad. And sometime whenever the Lord doesn’t to answer your prayers the way you think he should, don’t take it out on people. And you’ve known, you’ve seen people who somebody upsets them and they say, you know they’re upset with everybody. And it don’t matter what you say or do, they just be mean and ugly. And God doesn’t want that from his children. He wants us to do what’s right. But I want you to look back here in the book of Ephesians in chapter 1.

Come back to Ephesians chapter 1. And there’s two verses here that talks about the body of Christ, the body. Well we are the body of Christ, we’re the church. Well the body needs a head and you know that you have a body and your head is connected. Have you ever heard somebody say, well I’m glad your head’s connected or you’d forget where you placed it. Well I’m glad my head is connected to my body. But the body really doesn’t do much without you know the head.

You got to have a brain that tells you what to do and where to go and how to use all parts of your body. So we need the head. But the head needs the body. Otherwise the head can’t do anything. That’s why the Lord uses the illustration. What if you were nothing but a great big old eyeball? You were born, You are nothing but an eyeball. But you can really see good. Boy, could you see. But you couldn’t eat.

You couldn’t talk. Couldn’t smell. Couldn’t hear. But buddy, could you see? Well, God didn’t just make us a big ole eyeball. He gave us a body with all kind of parts to it, and everyone of them is important. And they’re supposed to work together. Now they have a union. They’re all joined together in this one body. But they’re supposed to be unity, where the body works together as a unit the way God intended. Sometimes you get a splinter in your foot and it can affect the whole body.

Or you get an ulcer and it can really affect you. Get a headache and see. I mean the body doesn’t want to go. You feel terrible. So there needs to be this. So look there in verse 22, and hat put. All things, all things. Under his feet and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, which is his body. So Christ is the head and we are the body. And the body is spiritually connected to the head.

And so we need to be in union with Him. So the body is not to go its own way and the head go another way. We will get more accomplished if we do what the head tells us to do. So the head gave us the word and and the body is supposed to read, study, the Word, come together and function the way God wants us to. So we have an authority. The church has an authority. It’s not the pastor.

It’s Christ. He’s the head of the church. I’m just supposed to tell you what the head said by teaching the Word of God. And you have the Holy Spirit. So you’re supposed to study and verify Why? Is that really what it says? I believe that God wants you to know the word of God just as well as I do. I’m just to lead you into things, bring things to your remembrance, but not always teach you some new thing because you’re supposed to be studying, learning new things on your own.

Do you ever read the Bible and find something on your own that nobody told you? It’s a wonderful feeling. You say, I’ve learned this all by myself. I’ve done that many a time. And then I’ll go off to some meeting, then some preacher will get up there and preach exactly what I said. And I can’t stand that. No, not really. But I thought I had it first. And I hate somebody teaching some truth that I just found. And nobody’s ever found this little nugget.

And then somebody said, you know, I read that in the book of 100 years ago or so. But you and I realized that we have someone that’s in charge of us. And so the head tells me what to do, and the head tells you what to do. And if you listen to the head, and I listen to the head, then shouldn’t the body be working together if we’re both filled, controlled by the Holy Spirit. So if the Holy Spirit’s controlling you, and you, and you, and you, and you’re all being controlled by the Holy Spirit, shouldn’t there be unity?

And not just union. So we are supposed to, unless, now is it possible for somebody to get Ben out of shape? Does everybody in here have an old sin nature? Anybody have an old amalek? You’ll remember when I first came here, I used a little baby doll. Anybody remember that little baby doll? About three of you. I’m going to have to get out of Mike Tyson one more time. Who remembers that? You couldn’t see that baby doll.

I did when I first came down here, I used that little baby doll. That was like our old sinful nature. And this was Mike Tyson. He’s that one that wants to beat you up all the time, you know, and he’s always after you. Now, take your Bible and turn to the book of John chapter 15, the book of John in chapter 15. Now you and I, we know that we’re supposed to bear fruit, but there’s a good question that somebody asked, and I’m going to tell you who asked the question.

A lot of people asked the question, but he put it down in print, and so I’ll read it to you. In John chapter 15, let’s look there, and look at verse 1, this is where you will find union but not so much as the unity where they work together. Look in verse 1, I am the true vine. My Father is the husbandman. Every branch in me that beareth not fruit, he take it the way, and every branch that beareth fruit, he purges it, that it may bring forth more fruit.

Now you are clean to the word which I have spoken to you. Abide in me. And I in tune, in the branch, as the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except at a bite and a vine. No more can ye except you, bite and me. I am the vine and ye are the branches. He that abideth in me and I in him the same bringeth forth much fruit. For without me you can do nothing. If a man abideth not in me, he is as cast forth as a branch and is withered.

Men gather them and cast them into the fire and they’re burned. If you abide in the fire, you can’t do nothing. If a man abideth not in me, he is as cast forth as a branch and is withered. Men gather them and cast them into the fire and they’re burned. in me and my words abide in you, you shall ask what you will and it shall be done unto you. Hearing as my Father glorified that you bear much fruit, so shall you be my disciples.”

Now one thing to keep in mind, you can be saved and not be a disciple. And you can be a disciple and not be saved. You see a disciple is a follower, a learner and people who followed Christ in John chapter 6 and many who walk no more with him. But you can be saved and not follow him, not serving. And then there’s people who will follow and try to live by Christian principles and never trust them as their Savior.

But wouldn’t it be great if those who trust him as Savior became good disciples? And that’s what you want. Now here in John chapter 15, you have where he says every branch in me, every branch in me. So we believe that the branch is the believer. Christ is the vine. And so the branch is in the vine and it’s in the vine for a reason because there’s certain natural juices that flows up and comes out to the vine and lo and behold, God wants us to have fruit.

So notice what it says there in verse two, every branch in me that beareth not fruit. He’d take it away. So can there be a branch in the vine that does not have any fruit? Well see that causes a problem with those who believe that are Calvinists, believe in the perseverance of the faith, that there has to be fruit. There must be fruit because that’s the evidence that you’re in the vine. And if the branch doesn’t bear fruit, then that’s a sign you’re not really saved.

These are some very troublesome verses for some of them. Here’s what a person had asked us a question. Name is Roger Frank Houser, and he’s with the group that I had gone out and spoke it a long time ago, pre-grace alliance. But this is one of the questions that was asked. Does such a person exist? One who claims faith in Jesus and produces no fruit. Is this person saved or lost. If he saved, no fruit. So what happens to those who don’t have any fruit?

You cut them down, throw them in the fire, they go to hell. Burn up. Look what he says in verse 6. If a man abiding out in me, he has cast forth his abrench and his withered, men gather them, cast them into the fire and their burns. See there? That’s what happens to all of those people who refuse to bring forth fruit. Now, wouldn’t it be nice if I interpret the Scriptures like that? I mean, it says this, but I mean, I put a little twist to it.

That’s all. So the question is, every branch in me that beareth not fruit, can there be a branch in Christ that does not bear fruit? Yes. And this is what he says. Even though he takes it sit away, whatever, but there was a branch that was in him that did not bear fruit. He take it the way and every branch that bear fruit, he purges it that it may bring forth more fruit. Now in this illustration, does it say that the one who brings forth fruit is really saved and the one who didn’t bring forth fruit isn’t really saved?

It’s not the evidences salvation. This is talking about abiding in Him. It’s not how to be saved. It’s about God’s children following the Lord, obeying the Lord, serving the Lord. It’s talking about the unity that you have, not just the union that you have. So He tells us that this is what He wants us to do. Remember, the phrase any branch in me… See ya! Implies that this branch is a believer. Now I agree with that. Another question. Can I really know if a person has produced no fruit?

Because remember, many people who believe that you have to have evidences in your life to prove that you’re saved? Well then you automatically are becoming a fruit inspector. Because now you have to examine, is there anything you’re going to do? any fruit on that branch. And if there’s no fruit on the branch, you have to come to the conclusion that he’s not really saved. But let me ask you this way. How can I possibly know if indeed someone has no fruit in their lifetime?

Just because you have no fruit today, and I don’t see any fruit today. Does that mean you will never have any fruit? Isn’t it possible that some people can be saved, maybe spend five, 10, 15 years of their life and never win a soul to Christ. Is that possible? And then dedicate their lives to the Lord and then win thousands to the Lord. See, you are ready to put that guy into the hell and well he has some fruit later.

Are you and I truly qualified to decide and to prove give accurate evidence that somebody has never brought forth any fruit. You and I would have to see every person, every day of their life, every moment of their life, to decide whether or not they have no fruit. You and I are not capable of doing that. So therefore, don’t go down that road. It’s a slippery slope. Whether you brain-forth fruit or no fruit once you are his child, you are his child.

Is it the will of God that his children brain-forth fruit? Yes, you can brain-forth fruit. And If you do, God says He’ll prune you so that you can bring forth more fruit and more fruit. But is it possible that a person who used to have a lot of fruit can get to where they have no fruit? You may be a great soul winner today, but is it possible that tomorrow you’re not or the next year? And is it possible that you used to do a lot of great things for the Lord and can you become cold and calloused and hardened and never went another soul to Christ.

Well then that would prove you weren’t really saved. But you did bring all those fruit. Oh that was the sign you were really saved. But now you’re not really saved. You see how confusing it can be. And that’s what a lot of people preach and teach. Another question. If there is no fruit and And there’s a branch that brings forth more fruit, more fruit, much fruit. How much fruit do you have to bear over the nun to be the evidence that you really say?

If you have to have fruit, there’s no fruit, there is fruit. How much fruit makes it fruit enough to be my evidence. That I’m really sad. One soul. Two souls. Ten. One a week. One dog. Thirty-and-a-long rabbit. Thirty-and-a-long rabbit. Thirty-and-a-long. Thirty-and-a-longrolling eating. Aarn, thought through the experiment all through the experiment as a member. Now it’s once you trust Christ as your Savior, you are in the vine. God wants us to bring forth fruit and just because you brought forth some fruit and then more fruit and much fruit, did that make a difference in how much you were really saved?

You were more saved than just those who brought forth some fruit. But if you brought a lot of fruit, ah, you’re really saved. And then So you’re gloriously saved. It’s like having three caskets up here. This man here, he’s dead. This man here, he’s really dead. This man over here, he’s gloriously dead. Dead is dead. Saved is saved. And the amount of fruit or no fruit. It doesn’t add to your salvation or diminish your salvation. Once you have eternal life, you have eternal life forever and ever.

And this is why God wants us to let the Holy Spirit control our life and abide in Him because the person, the brand that doesn’t abide in Christ and serve the purpose which God intended, your Christian life, you’re going to wither on the vine. and you’re not going to have the fruit that you could have had. See, a lot of Christians have beautiful foliage. You know, they have the leaves, they got their limbs in the right spot. They look beautiful.

They just don’t have any fruit. Now, Christ came by a fig tree and he saw a fig tree and they had no fruit on it. Could have had beautiful foliage. And some Christians have really done a good job, you know, coming out with some great Christian character. They live right, talk right, they’re faithful. They’re everything but no fruit. Now, do you think God is pleased with a Christian, even though they have good character, trying to do all the right things but they just don’t have any fruit?

Should you be able to explain the gospel of somebody? You can do that. It may scare you to death, but you can do it. I would not want to face God without at least one fruit. Now you don’t have to have any. You still go to heaven. But now he says down here, and I want you to read this again, looking verse 4, a bide in me, and I in you as the branch cannot bear fruit of itself except it abide in the vine.

See, to win soad, you try to stay right with the Lord, and you’ve got to use the gospel The Holy Spirit say uses the message that we teach. So you’re abiding in it, you’re trusting His Word. When you share the gospel, it’s because you believe, this is what God wants you to do. You believe that if you sow the seed, somebody’s liable to believe it. And you believe that. And so you’re a co-labor with Christ. Not so much as working for Him as you’re working with Him.

You’re working with Him, you’re abiding in Christ. So you and I should stay where we’ve been placed. And that’s why he places in this world in different places because there’s fruit that needs to be reached. And so we are supposed to do this. And if you don’t, then it ruins your testimony. People will not believe you. And they don’t want nothing to do with you. Live a good, Godly life. Otherwise people look at you and consider you nothing more than a hypocrite.

Practice what you preach. Have a good testimony. And in that verse six, If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch.” Symbolic. As a branch. And men gather them. Now men will gather the branches that are dead and there’s no fruit. And men will put those and burn those up. God doesn’t, but your life a dead branch. You’re a Christian. You’re living in this life. And God wants you to bear forth fruit and not to do so is, It’s like men who cut off these dead branches off of these fruit trees and then they gather them up and they burn They’re useless and that’s what he’s talking about a Christian is supposed to look what he says in verse 8 Hearing is my father glorified that you bear.

What’s that word? Much fruit not just some fruit not just more fruit much fruit But you see, whether or not you win souls is not so much dependent upon the Lord as it does upon your Faithfulness and you’re abiding in the Lord abiding in his will doing what God wants you to do with your life That’s the purpose of life. What did he tell the apostle? He says follow me and I will make you what? Fishes of men as though that’s it That’s the greatest thing in all the world Follow me and I’ll make you rich I’m a bitch.

Follow me. I’ll make you a millionaire. Follow me.” And I’ll, he said, I’ll make you a fisher of men. So if you’re following Him, you should be doing what? Fishy. If you’re not fishing, are you following? These are just things you’ve got to solve in your own mind. I’m not your God. I’m not your judge. I’m just telling you that this is what burned inside of my brain for so many years. This is why I had to go to Baba College.

I couldn’t stand it anymore. I couldn’t sleep at night. I mean, it really tore me up. I had to have some answers because I knew I didn’t. Last thing I wanted was to live my life. And then stand before the Lord and the Lord say, why didn’t you do with your life what I wanted? I said, look, I don’t know what to do. And there’s so much I did not understand, but I knew I got to do more than what I’m doing.

I lost me and can do what I’m doing. Is that my purpose in life to do what a lost man can do? And that’s it? It’s got to be more. And so I hope these verses will help you just a little bit. See, that’s why in verse 8 the last part of it says, that’s why it says, so shall you be my what? disciple. You see, for salvation you don’t have to bear fruit. You don’t have to win people of Christ.

You don’t have to go to church. You don’t have to pray. You don’t have to do that. You go to heaven. You have to trust Christ as your Savior and then you’ll save your, give eternal life. But if you want the blessings of life, then you need to win people to the Lord. And that’s where it all comes down to. This is you and me. This is sin. We We all have sin upon us. God loves us. I hate our sin, but He loves us.

And to pay for this sin is eternal separation in hell. Separation from God for all eternity. But God loves us and wants us to go to heaven. And to go to heaven we have to be perfect and none of us are. We’ve all come short of God’s perfection. So God says you cannot save yourself, not by your works of righteousness. This hand represents Jesus Christ. He’s the Lord God in the flesh. Came into the world because He loves us, hates our sin, because our sin separates us from the Lord.

So Jesus Christ who had no sin didn’t have to die, but because He loved His Father, He said that the world may know that I love my Father. I will do this even so I do. Came back from the dead and said He wanted us to believe that He did it for us. So when you believe it, He puts this payment to your account and you become a child of God. That salvation is the gift, has nothing to do with you doing anything just trusting what He did for you.

And that’s not a work that’s been saved by grace. Let’s pray Showering. Every head bound, every eye closed, no one looking around. Or if you’re watching by internet, remember the only thing you have to do is the only thing you can do. And that is will you believe on Jesus Christ? Will you believe? Anything or anyone who requires more than just believing or trusting its works for salvation. There’s nothing more you have to do than to believe that what Christ did, He did that for you.

He paid for your sins. Will you believe that? And if you believe it, He’ll put that payment He made to your account and you go to heaven on what Jesus Christ did for you. With His by a nice close in one of those who said, yes, that made sense to me and I will trust Christ as my Savior. And if you’ll trust Him, He’ll save you. And if you’re watching by internet, right there on the screen, a little statement, yes, I will trust Christ as my Savior.

I pray that you will. Father, thank You again for Your blessings. Thank You for all You do for giving us a free gift of eternal life. And Father, we also thank You for those it today, heard the gospel and received it. And so we asked your blessings upon Jack Willem. Thank you so much for her love for you and her testimony that so many people could come together because of the efforts that she put forth. And we’re just thankful for those fruits.

And follow us now, your blessings upon each one here. Bless our efforts, our God work in Christ’s name we pray. Are you a new listener to Bibleline? Do you enjoy the teachings of Dr. Arnold? Well, if you’ve never contacted us before, we want to give you Dr. Arnold’s book, The Gospel Driven Man. Every day we receive many emails from folks who have questions about repentance and salvation, about faith in works, and about how to share the gospel with friends and loved ones.

This book, The Gospel Driven Man, covers all those topics, And we want all new listeners of Bibleline to receive a free copy. There’s no obligation, no donation necessary, simply call us at 1-800-576-3771, or write to us and request your free copy of the Gospel-Driven Mailing. The mailing address is 4811 George Road, Tampa, Florida, 33634. Again, don’t forget to include your mailing address, and God bless you and thank you for listening to Bibleline. Thanks for joining us on Bibleline. If you are in the area, we welcome you to visit us.

The address for Calvary Community Church is 4811 George Road, Tampa, Florida, 33634. And now a closing thought from Pastor Arnold. Friend, one day it will happen, the trumpet will sound and we will be changed. Hada can meet the Lord in the air. So live today and every day. Believe in that the Lord is coming soon, just keep looking up.