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Originally Posted by Ohio
Are you saying that John Chapter 15 was spoken to the general public?
No, these words were spoken to the disciples, who were already clean (v.3) and chosen by the Lord (v.16). This sobering word in v.6 can and does refer to the believers, not the unbelievers. How can an unbeliever be called a slave of Jesus (v.15) or be expected to abide in the Vine? (v.5)
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It was spoken to whoever was present to hear Jesus which perhaps even includes Judas who Jesus said was not clean.
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John 13:10-11
.. And you are clean, but not every one of you.' For he knew who was to betray him; that was why he said, 'Not all of you are clean.'"
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Someone who truly believes and belongs to the family of God will remain in the faith as Apostle John wrote:
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1 John 2:19
“They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us. But they went out, that it might become plain that they all are not of us.”
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Not everyone who followed and listened to Jesus were saved. Many of his earlier disciples left him and some may have even been the ones cheering for his death on the cross. The ones who left are the stony and thorny soil in the warning parable of the sower.
Quote:
John 6:64
"But there are some of you who do not believe." (For Jesus knew from the beginning who those were who did not believe, and who it was who would betray him.)"
John 6:66
"After this many of his disciples turned back and no longer walked with him."
John 8:31-32
To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
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