Thriving in 2026 - Abiding and Purging

Temple Baptist Church - 2-15-2026

John 15:1-5

 

Introduction: 

A.  Are we “Thriving or Surviving?”  God wants us to thrive in these last days!  To thrive, we must abide. 

 

B.  John 15 mentions both pruning and purging of the branches.  The commentators make these two words virtually the same.  THEY are different!  If they had the same meaning, they would be spelled alike!

 

1. By pruning, God breaks off the unfruitful branches.  Bad branches!  Over the years, we have had families and individuals who just never got into the church. I call them “Out lyers.”  You either abideth (notice the eth ending: present perfect tense.  Faithful to God.) in Christ or you do not.  If you never get faithful, you will eventually get out!  Do not make God break your branch off, as Satan and the world will devour you, that the spirit might be saved.

 

1 Corinthians 5:5  To deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.

 

2.  By purging, God trims the branch. Good branches!  Though the branch has brought forth fruit, God trims off that which is not productive, allowing more of the sap that comes from the Vine to invigorate and grow more and much fruit.

 

a)  By purging the branches, removing the shoots and suckers that are not fruit-bearing, thus directing the sap to the part of the branches that bear.  It not only increases the quantity of the fruit, but it also increases the quality of the fruit.

 

b) In our humanity, we often have things in our lives that hinder spiritual fruit-bearing that must be removed.

 

C.  I want to look at two pairs of verses that will explain what purging is.  Here are two of the most quoted verses that explain our abiding and flourishing. 

 

1.  Purging has to do with removing weights (anything that hinders us from loving and serving the Lord) and besetting sins (sins that we constantly have to avoid that are particular to us individually).

 

Hebrews 12:1-2  Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,  (2)  Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

 

2.  When we put those two verses to work in our lives, we can fulfill these two by presenting our bodies to Christ, a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is our reasonable service.

 

Romans 12:1-2  I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.  (2)  And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

 

D.  Now, how does God purge His branches?  With the Word of God.  Dive into the Word of God, the Truth of God that makes us free.  Free from sin, discouragement, disappointment, doctrinal confusion, failure, and falling.

 

Ephesians 5:26  That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,

 

E.  Here we find the importance of God’s Word in our lives.

 

1.  Reading the Word of God.

 

2.  Studying the Word of God.

 

3.  Hearing the Word of God.

 

4.  Applying the Word of God.

 

F.  The Word of God is essential for the spiritual welfare of the believer.  We all tend to get “a little out of sorts” at times.  This is because, though saved, we are still human.  The problem is not the condition; the problem is to remain in that condition.

 

G. Physical growth is something God does, and we can help.  Spiritual growth is something we do, and God helps with!  Two of the things that will stunt both physical and spiritual growth:

 

1.  A lack of appetite. Healthy children and adults will have a healthy appetite. When a person becomes sick or old, they will often lose their appetite, and it is virtually impossible to get them to eat. They do not eat because they do not feel like eating. How often, at the end of a loved one's life, do people tell them they have to eat for strength, but they refuse food? Thus, the physical man and the spiritual man will lose strength.

 

2.  An appetite for the wrong things.  I love buying cakes at Walmart.  You know, the ones with an inch of icing and all the flowers and designs, all made of pure sugar.  I love ice cream, which I am sure is not the healthiest of foods.  Meat, bread, and vegetables build strong bones and muscles.  Cake and ice cream build big bellies and fat.  Physically and spiritually, we must eat a proper diet.

 

H.  Abiding in Christ finds the Word of God an imperative.  Therefore:

 

1. The Bible Teaches me.  The importance of the teaching of God’s Word.  Taught by the Spirit of God; taught by personal reading and study; taught by being faithful to the house of God, the pillar and ground of the truth. 

 

A believer will never spiritually grow as they should until they become learners. A person can go to college, spend a fortune, goof off and party, and never get an education.  One must apply themselves to learn properly.

 

Isaiah 54:13  And all thy children shall be taught of the LORD; and great shall be the peace of thy children.

 

John 6:45  It is written in the prophets, And they shall be all taught of God. Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me.

 

2.  The Bible Enlightens me.  Help me to understand God’s Word.  Learning can be a set of facts memorized, but enlightenment gives the learner the wisdom and knowledge it takes to excel.  The Enlightener is the precious Holy Spirit

 

Proverbs 4:7  Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding.

 

Psalms 36:9  For with thee is the fountain of life: in thy light shall we see light.

 

3.  The Bible Leads me.  To follow God’s lead, we need to learn to trust the Lord in His guidance.  “Make me go!”  Asking the Lord to remove all our ways and force us to do His will. 

 

Psalms 23:2  He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.

 

Give me no options! Believers are free moral agents.  God has given to each of us the right of choice, but the serious child of God does not want to unknowingly make the wrong choice. 

 

I often ask God to close all other doors so that I have only the right door to choose.  I personally wanted out of the Bible Belt.  My desire was to go to New Hampshire and start a church but each night I would say, “Dear Lord, if New Hampshire is not your will for my life, close the door.”  He did and I am here!

 

James 1:22-25  But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.  (23)  For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass:  (24)  For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was.  (25)  But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.

 

4.  The Bible Draws me.  Draw us near in heart through the Scriptures.  That we may spend quality time with the Lord.  Relationships are established with conversion.  You speak to God in prayer and allow God to speak to you through the Word of God and the Holy Spirit.  One of the greatest enemies of the believer in these days of plenty is the sin of covetousness.  Can’t help it and got to have it.  Through the lure of the world, so many believers have lost their excitement and desire for God’s Word. 

 

Romans 8:6-8  For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.  (7)  Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.  (8)  So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.

 

1 John 2:15-17  Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.  (16)  For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.  (17)  And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.

 

5.  The Bible Turns me.  One of the three areas of sin concerns the eyes.  Eve saw and took; Lot vexed his righteous soul by hearing and seeing.  In today’s society, we see more by accident than people in years gone by saw on purpose. 

 

Turn my eyes from: Things that are not good, things that are temporal instead of eternal, things that tear down instead of buildup, things that are ungodly or worthless.

 

We cannot help what we see but we need the help of the Lord to turn our eyes from the sinful sights.  Ask God for “spiritual blinders.”

 

Proverbs 4:25  Let thine eyes look right on, and let thine eyelids look straight before thee.

 

Genesis 3:6  And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat.

 

2 Peter 2:8  (For that righteous man dwelling among them, in seeing and hearing, vexed his righteous soul from day to day with their unlawful deeds;)

 

6.  The Bible Stabilizes me.  Establishment in the unshakable Word.  Help us to be stable-minded instead of double-minded.    The world and churches are full of unstable people.

 

One of the most important aspects of spiritual growth, stability, and having a firm foundation is found in the Word of God. 

 

James 1:8  A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.

 

1 Peter 2:2  As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:

 

John 8:31-32  Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed;  (32)  And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.

 

7.  The Bible Encourages me.  In the Word, in the Lord, and in the church.  Every child of God needs encouragement.  This is why the Bible commands us to faithfully assemble.  Faithfulness and communion bring about encouragement. 

 

Hebrews 10:25  Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.

 

8.  The Bible Quickens me.  Biblical spiritual growth makes the child alive in righteousness. 

 

Psalms 51:10  Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. 

Liberty vs. License

 Temple Baptist Church - 10-1-2025

1 Corinthians 6:9-12

 

Introduction: 

 

A.  As an introduction, I want to examine two verses in John chapter 8 that relate to those who are saved—specifically, the Jews who believed in Him.

 

John 8:31-32  Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed;  (32)  And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.

 

John 8:36  If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.

 

B.  The grace of God has made them and us eternally free.  The child of God has been set at liberty through everlasting salvation.  Grace is just that:  grace.  Grace is unmerited favor, which is bestowed upon the sinner.  Free from the Penalty of Sin and delivered from hell.  All of it by grace.

 

Ephesians 2:8  For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:

 

C.  Paul is not talking to the unsaved in our text as these Corinthians, though carnal at times, are saved!  The context is about the grace that enables the saint to live a life pleasing to God.  In the Book of Titus, one of the Pastoral Epistles, Paul says:

 

Titus 2:11-12  For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,  Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;

 

D.  Though these Corinthian believers had been set at liberty, Paul is teaching them that liberty is not licensed to do everything that they wanted to do. 

 

E.  Personal liberties and rights are some of the most precious things any human being actually possesses.  People have fought long and hard to have this freedom. In the Constitution of the United States, the people are guaranteed “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness,” but are not given the license to do anything they want. 

 

F.  In verses 8-10, Paul continues dealing with the saints, in verse 8, to some degree, acting like the world.  Verses 9-10 give a vivid description of the wickedness of the unsaved.  They do anything that they desire to do.

 

1 Corinthians 6:9-10  Nay, ye do wrong, and defraud, and that your brethren. (9) Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind,  (10)  Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.

 

G.  In verse 11, Paul is telling these brethren that, though they were once the same as those in verses 9-10, they have been delivered, and sin is NEVER an option for the children of God.  “And such were some of you: but!”

 

1 Corinthians 6:11  And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.

 

1.  You have been “washed” – saved –  (This is salvation, not probation!  Saved once forever!)

 

2.  You have been “sanctified” – set apart – (To make holy, consecrate, sanctify,  to dedicate, separate, set apart for God.)

 

3.  You have been “justified” – sanitized – (A legal term meaning total innocence; just as if you had never sinned!)

 

H.  Verse 12 is the message to the Corinthians. 

 

1 Corinthians 6:12  All things are lawful unto me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any.

 

1.  License and Choice – “All things are lawful unto me.”  Lawful clarifies things.  These are things that are not breaking God or man’s laws.  Paul could do these things and they would not be sinful.

 

2.  Liberty and Consequence – “But all things are not expedient!”  Too often, the good things in life nullify the best things!

 

1 Corinthians 10:23  All things are lawful for me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but all things edify not.

 

J.  Let me give you a personal illustration that may help explain verse 12.

 

1.  There are so many things I would love to do, but they are not “convenient" nor do they “edify.”  I have always wanted to take Barbara west for a month and drive through this great country that God has given us to enjoy! 

 

2.  Tramping across the plains, through the Dakotas, the Rocky Mountains, Yellowstone, Montana, Wyoming, down through Colorado, crossing the Continental Divide, driving through Nevada and Utah, California, Arizona, New Mexico, Texas.

 

3.  Introducing Barbara to the places that I have been to, and both of us exploring the places we have never been.  We have had people encourage us to do so.  Just take a Sabbatical and go. 

 

4.  I will not do that!  I cannot do that!  A Sabbatical to me would be a dereliction of duty!  How could Barbara and I leave our church, our people, my pulpit, and ministry like that?  Both our love and responsibility are to be here with you and for you: a call away, just a few minutes and miles from being at your home or hospital.

 

5.  This is why I have never preached Revivals, though I have been asked to do so.  This is why I do not seek love offerings or have side jobs.  I believe the key to living for the Lord is to put Him and His calling above the things that are good and better because that is the BEST.

 

K.  Just a note to let you know that I love for our people to vacation, get away for a while.  Our freedom in “pursuit of happiness" is an individual thing.  Paul speaks of this in our text.  He uses personal pronouns: “unto me,” for me,” “I will not.”

 

L.  Here is another passage of Scripture that describes what I am saying.

 

Hebrews 12:1  Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,

 

1.  I will reverse the order.  “Let us lay aside … the sin which doth so easily beset us.”  Sin is never lawful and should be avoided at all costs as it will destroy the life and testimony of the believer who chooses that route.

 

2.  “Let us lay aside EVERY WEIGHT … which doth so easily beset us.”  Weights are not sin yet weights hinder the runner in the race.

 

3.  We are to run to gain our prize by:

 

a) Accomplishing God’s will in our lives.

 

b)  Fulfilling God’s Purpose for our lives.

 

c)  Succeeding in doing it well. 

 

M.  Here we find the crux of the matter: The greatest life ever lived is one lived for Christ!  Not the good nor the better, but the BEST!

 

Philippians 1:21  For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.

Let Not Sin Therefore Reign In Your Mortal Body

Temple Baptist Church - 6-1-2025

Romans 6:12-13

 

Introduction: 

 

A.  Romans 5-6 swing back and forth between Adam and Christ Jesus, obedience and disobedience, and sin and death, grace and righteousness, and eternal death and eternal life.  What is Paul driving home to the believer?

 

WE HAVE BEEN JUSTIFIED; WE HAVE BEEN UNITED WITH CHRIST; WE ARE DEAD TO SIN; WE HAVE BEEN RAISED AGAIN TO NEWNESS OF LIFE!  ONE DAY WE WILL BE GLORIFIED!  WELL, GLORY!

 

1.  The context flows smoothly throughout chapters 5-7. Look at the wording. 

 

Chapter 5: Therefore, by whom, and, and, and, for, for, but, much more, for, and, wherefore, for nevertheless but, and, for, therefore, for, moreover, that as!

 

Chapter 6: What, know ye not, therefore, for, knowing, for, now, knowing, for, likewise let not neither for, what then, know ye not, but, being, for, but, for.

 

Chapter 7: Know ye not!

 

2.  I continue to try to teach our people that context is crucial and cannot be ignored in order to properly understand what the Bible is teaching.

 

3.  Context:  Romans 5:12 – “Wherefore”  Romans 5:18 – “Therefore” 

 

4.  Questions:  Romans 6 - Five questions asked, Verses 1-3, and verses 15-16.   When God asks you a question, He also gives you the answer so that YOU WON’T GET IT WRONG.

 

B.  Verse 12 speaks of sin in your mortal body.  We live in a sinful world and sinful bodies.  This is a fact that needs to be reiterated repeatedly. 

 

1. The world will not improve as sin continues to multiply. We are facing many new challenges today due to the internet, social media, the “hooked on the cell phone syndrome,” and rapidly changing moral standards that shape our consciences. Sin has become rampant and is often seen as acceptable.

 

2. The human body will not improve either. A significant amount of money is spent on ways to enhance our physical appearance and health, but little is invested in addressing our sinful nature. The reason for this is straightforward: improving our sinful nature is a personal responsibility.

 

Romans 7:18  For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not.

 

Paul finishes his discourse concerning the depravity of his flesh with these words.

 

Romans 7:24-25  O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?  (25)  I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.

 

C.  In verse 13, Paul uses the word “therefore.”  It ties the verse to its context. 

 

1.  Our salvation expresses union with Christ and identification with His death, burial, and resurrection.  Death to sin and saved to a new life in Christ.

 

2.  Our union with Christ transforms our identity (who we are), liberating us from the dominion of sin and empowering us to live a new life (what we should be).

 

D.  In chapters 6 and 7 of Romans, Paul is bringing the preceding chapters to a conclusion.  From “all have sinned” to “I have sinned”  with personal responsibility in both.  If you are lost, get saved; if you are saved, stop sinfulness.  The Bible makes both plain.

 

1.  Verse 1-2.  The First question is asked and answered in verses one and two. 

 

Romans 6:1-2  What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?  (2)  God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?

 

a.  We, as children of God, have NO right to choose sin over righteousness.  Chapter five told us that Christ died for sin.  Life is full of choices, but for the spiritual child of God, the choice is biblically clear.  GOD FORBID! 

 

b.  If repentance from sin is godly sorrow, how can we choose a life of sorrow over a life of salvation

 

c.  In verse 2, we find that grace gives no permission to sin; it is a power of transformation.  Transformation comes from a renewed and right mind.

 

Romans 12:2  And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

 

d.  Paul and the Holy Ghost reply, “God forbid!”  That means that God forbids, and we should have the same attitude towards sin.

 

Deuteronomy 30:19  I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live:

 

2.  Verses 3-7.  This section also begins with a question followed by the biblical answer.

 

Romans 6:3  Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?

 

a.  Who biblically taught us that we have a right to choose in the matter of sin?  We were saved from and made dead to sin in verses 6-8.

 

b. The Holy Spirit has immersed us in Jesus Christ, which is union with Jesus Christ, who died for our sins.  We are hid with Christ in God!  As Christ died and rose again, the believer dies to sin and rises to new life. 

 

Colossians 3:1-3  If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.  (2)  Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.  (3)  For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.

 

c. An old man who had spent many years in prison was finally paroled and became free. He could not live life outside of prison because that was all he knew. He walked into a bank and handed a teller a note which basically said that “This is a holdup” and asked for money. He knew that they would send an alarm to the police station, so he quietly awaited their arrival and his return to incarceration. We both can and should learn to live for the One who died for our sin.

 

3.  Verses 8-11.  Reckon yourself dead unto sin and alive unto Christ. 

 

2 Corinthians 5:17  Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

 

4.  Verses 1-10.  Know – 6:1-10  When Christ died, we died with Him; when Christ resurrected, we resurrected with Him.  Satan wants us ignorant but God wants us to know.

 

5.  Verses11-12.  Reckon – 6:11-12  It is not enough merely to know our new position in Christ; we must, by faith, reckon it to be true in our own individual lives. Reckoning is faith in action, resting on the Word of God despite circumstances or feelings.

 

6.  Verses 12-23.  Yield – 6:13-23  This yielding is an act of our own wills, a step of obedience to the Lord. It is not enough to know this wonderful doctrine; we must take this final step of yielding the members of our bodies to Christ.  The word means to submit or to give way to.  At a Yield Sign, we are to yield the right-a-way to other traffic.  The word also means to bow. 

 

1 Corinthians 6:19-20  What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?  (20)  For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.

 

7.  We, as God’s children, are to bow—to submit—to give way unto God in our lives.  Yielding to God takes submission to His will.  f.  Surrendering to God’s will:

 

a.  Opens Our Spiritual Eyes - John 7:17  If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself.

 

b.  Give Us Power in Prayer - 1 John 3:22  And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight.

 

c.  Produces Joy - John 15:10-11  If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love.  (11)  These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.

 

d.  Causes Christ to Manifest Himself To Us - John 14:21  He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.

 

e.  Brings the Filling of the Holy Spirit - Ephesians 5:17-18  Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is.  (18)  And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;

Dusty Feet or a Dirty Heart

 Temple Baptist Church - 1-24-2024

John 13:1-12

 

Introduction:

 

A.  I am spending quite a bit of time in this context because of the several spiritual truths found here.  Why did our Lord, just prior to His death, burial, and resurrection, wash the feet of His disciples.

 

1.  It was an act of Love.  Verse 1. “having loved his own which were in the world, he loved them unto the end. “    When I think of the love of Christ for His people and church, I still stand amazed.  A song says, “That God should love a sinner such as I, how wonderful is that love.”

 

John 15:11-13  These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.  (12)  This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you.  (13)  Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.

 

2.  It was an act of Humility.  Verse 4.  “He riseth from supper, and laid aside his garments; and took a towel, and girded himself.”  That Almighty Jehovah God, Who had never bowed to anyone of anything, would take His place at the feet of the disciples as did the lowest servant of a household.

 

Philippians 2:5-8  Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:  (6)  Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:  (7)  But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:  (8)  And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.

 

3.  It was an act of Service.  Verse 5. “After that he poureth water into a bason, and began to wash”

 

John 13:14-16  If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another's feet.  (15)  For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you.  (16)  Verily, verily, I say unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord; neither he that is sent greater than he that sent him.

 

Galatians 5:13  For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another.

 

4.  It was as act of Selection.  Verse 5. “and began to wash the disciples' feet, and to wipe them with the towel wherewith he was girded. “ He only washed their feet.

 

1 John 2:1  My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:

 

B.  Again, so as not to become confused or taught wrong, we need to understand that foot washing was not a command for the local New Testament Church, it was a figure or type to be followed.  It was a type of spiritual cleansing.  Verse 10.  “Jesus saith to him, He that is washed needeth not save to wash his feet, but is clean every whit: and ye are clean”

 

1.  Foot washing was a part of the daily life of people in the times of Christ as they wore sandals and walked virtually everywhere they went.  The lowest servant in the house was required to do the foot washing.  He was not asked but commanded to wash feet. 

 

2.  Our Lord was not commanded to wash feet; He was not obligated to wash feet; it was an act of His marvelous love for His own.  “having loved his own which were in the world, he loved them unto the end. “

 

C.  Our Lord used Peter, the perfect example of the child of God in need of cleansing.  I also want to give Peter a break!  He catches so much flack because of his often-overzealous fervency.

 

1.  I love old Peter and wish that I could be 1/10^th of the Christian that he was.  He loved his Lord and Saviour.  He was fervent in his passion for the Lord and things of God.

 

2.  This night, Peter knew that the Lord was his Saviour—God in the flesh, as well as Israel’s Messiah—their Deliverer.

 

3.  Peter understood what John the Baptist had said about the Lord and also knew that John was the greatest prophet ever born of woman.  If such a great man as John the Baptist felt unworthy, we should all think that way.

 

Mark 1:7  And preached, saying, There cometh one mightier than I after me, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to stoop down and unloose.

 

4.  I hope that I would have done as Peter did!  What Peter did, he did 100%. Peter loved the Lord with all his heart and knew that he was unworthy to even bow at the feet of Jesus and unlatch His shoes.  Do not look down on what Peter did because, at this point, he did not know what Jesus was doing.

 

John 13:7  Jesus answered and said unto him, What I do thou knowest not now; but thou shalt know hereafter.

 

5.  Our Lord gently rebuked Peter and Peter went 100% in the opposite direction.  Peter should have been used to this by this time.

 

a)  In Matthew, chapter 16, Peter rebuked the Lord when He said that he would have to die. 

 

Matthew 16:21-23  From that time forth began Jesus to shew unto his disciples, how that he must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised again the third day.  (22)  Then Peter took him, and began to rebuke him, saying, Be it far from thee, Lord: this shall not be unto thee.  (23)  But he turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an offence unto me: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men.  (Christ had to die for the sin of the world as there was no other way of salvation.)

 

b)  On the Mount of Transfiguration when Peter “wist not” what to say and SAID he would make three tabernacles: one for Jesus, one for Moses, and one for Elias.

 

Matthew 17:4-6  Then answered Peter, and said unto Jesus, Lord, it is good for us to be here: if thou wilt, let us make here three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias.  (5)  While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him.  (6)  And when the disciples heard it, they fell on their face, and were sore afraid.

 

c)  Paul would later rebuke Peter in the Book of Acts for disassembling from the Gentiles when the Jews showed up.

 

Galatians 2:11-13  But when Peter was come to Antioch, I withstood him to the face, because he was to be blamed.  (12)  For before that certain came from James, he did eat with the Gentiles: but when they were come, he withdrew and separated himself, fearing them which were of the circumcision.  (13)  And the other Jews dissembled likewise with him; insomuch that Barnabas also was carried away with their dissimulation.

 

d)  In our text, Peter once again spoke before he listened, and the Lord gently rebuked him.

 

John 13:6-9  Then cometh he to Simon Peter: and Peter saith unto him, Lord, dost thou wash my feet?  (7)  Jesus answered and said unto him, What I do thou knowest not now; but thou shalt know hereafter.  (8)  Peter saith unto him, Thou shalt never wash my feet. Jesus answered him, If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with me.  (9)  Simon Peter saith unto him, Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head.

 

John 13:9-10  Simon Peter saith unto him, Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head.  (10)  Jesus saith to him, He that is washed needeth not save to wash his feet, but is clean every whit: and ye are clean, but not all.

 

D.  Now, I want to look at the 4^th aspect of foot washing as a very precious and important truth lies herein.  Look at the words of our Lord. 

 

John 13:10  Jesus saith to him, He that is washed needeth not save to wash his feet, but is clean every whit: and ye are clean, but not all.

 

1.  “He that is washed!”  This washing speaks of salvation.  If you are washed (saved), you have no need to be washed again.  Back in the day, we would call this washing an all-over bath! 

 

1 Corinthians 6:9-11  Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind,  (10)  Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.  (11)  And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.

 

2.  Only the feet of the saved become dirty or dusty as we walk through this sinful world.  I hate it that my feet are defiled in this present evil world but am so glad that I can still get them cleaned for me.

 

1 John 1:9  If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

 

a)  Positionally, the believer is eternally saved by grace and grace alone.

 

John 5:24  Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.

 

John 10:28  And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.

 

b)  Practically, the believer is still sinners kept by the grace of God.

 

1 John 1:8,10  If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us ...  (10)  If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.

 

3.  Now, let us look at these verses 10-11.

 

John 13:10-11  Jesus saith to him, He that is washed needeth not save to wash his feet, but is clean every whit: and ye are clean, but not all.  (11)  For he knew who should betray him; therefore said he, Ye are not all clean.

 

a)  Not all of the disciples were saved!  Judas Iscariot as a religious man but not a saved one.  He did not lose his salvation because he never had been saved.

 

John 6:70-71  Jesus answered them, Have not I chosen you twelve, and one of you is a devil?  (71)  He spake of Judas Iscariot the son of Simon: for he it was that should betray him, being one of the twelve.

 

John 12:4-6  Then saith one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, which should betray him,  (5)  Why was not this ointment sold for three hundred pence, and given to the poor?  (6)  This he said, not that he cared for the poor; but because he was a thief, and had the bag, and bare what was put therein.

 

John 13:2  And supper being ended, the devil having now put into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, to betray him;

 

b)  Judas Iscariot had never had that “all over bath” that comes with salvation and therefore was not clean!

 

E.  There will be times when the dust and dirt of this world will cling to our “feet” as we walk through life. 

 

1.  I do not like to sin; I do not want to sin; I am disappointed when I sin; I am ashamed when I do sin; but I thank God I am not lost when I sin! 

 

2.  God convicts me of my sin and I have probably almost word out 1 John 1:9: “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. “

 

3.  The Lord still “washes our feet” that we may be clean in every way. 

 

F.  One day, we will have a heavenly body to walk on a “new earth” where no sin is and our feet will never become dusty or dirty again.  If you have never been washed in the blood of Jesus Christ, you need an all over bath of salvation.