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John 15:10 and the Other Verses of John 15

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“As Moses lifted up the serpent [the serpent made of bronze described in Numbers 21:8–9] in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, so that whosoever believes in Him will have eternal life, for God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten [uniquely born] Son, that whosoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.”

“…for by grace you are saved through faith and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not as a result of works, lest any man should boast.”

Above is the content of John 3:14–16 and the content of Ephesians 2:8–9, respectively. Itʼs worthwhile to refrain from receiving the mark referenced in Revelation 13:11–18 and to instead receive eternal life for free by believing that Jesus is the Savior. Before doing any Bible studying and before praying to God the Father, it is useful for a person who has believed in the Lord Jesus Christ as the Savior to try to think of any sins that one might have committed since one last confessed oneʼs known post-salvation sins to God the Father, and if one has indeed committed any, to then silently confess those sins to God the Father—confessing only one time for each sin—in accordance with what is mentioned in 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.”

This webpage could be periodically updated. If there is a mass disappearance of people professing to be Christians, and if the original author of this webpage is amongst those people disappearing en masse, then it is possible that this webpage will no longer be updated. Also, if there is a mass disappearance of people professing to be Christians, it is worthwhile to consider the possibility that those people have exited from the earth on the occasion known as the Rapture instead of assuming that that mass disappearance involves extraterrestrials abducting those people or involves the annihilation of those people or involves anything else other than the Rapture.

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When studying the Word of God, it is beneficial to keep in mind the content of Hebrews 4:12:

“Indeed, the Word of God is alive and powerful, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of the soul and the spirit and of the joints and the marrow and is a critic of thoughts and intents of the heart.”

Note: The heart refers to the mind.

It is also beneficial to keep in mind the content of 2 Timothy 3:16–17 when studying the Word of God:

“All Scripture is God breathed and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God might be mature, having been thoroughly furnished unto all good work.”

It is the responsibility of a pastor-teacher to endeavor to correctly understand the Word of God and then to accurately teach the Word of God, as per the content of 2 Timothy 2:15:

“Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the Word of Truth.”

A pastor-teacher is a communicator rather than a crutch on which to be leaned. In that regard, a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ should refrain from putting oneʼs trust in and thereby serving as a devoted follower of and thus worshiping a pastor-teacher. Likewise, a believer should refrain from putting oneʼs trust in and thereby serving as a devoted follower of and thus worshiping anyone other than the Trinity [God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit], as per Joshua 24:15, the content of which references Joshua speaking to the Israelites:

If it is disagreeable/bad/evil/wrong/wretchedness/displeasing in your sight to serve/worship Jehovah / Yahweh / I am I am / the existing One, choose for yourselves today whom you serve/worship: whether the gods ['elohiym / false gods] which your fathers have served/worshiped which were beyond the river or the gods ['elohiym / false gods] of the Amorites in whose land you are living. As for me and my house, we serve/worship Jehovah / Yahweh / I am I am / the existing One.

Note: Joshua, the leader of the Israelites after Joshua had been serving as the assistant of Moses while Moses was the leader of the Israelites, set the example for the Israelites. Joshua chose to put his trust in and thereby serve as a devoted follower of and thus worship God the Father rather than Joshua choosing to put his trust in and thereby serve as a devoted follower of and thus worship the lesser of multiple evils amongst multiple choices of 'elohiym [el-oh-HEEM]. The word 'elohiym with a lowercase e can refer to false gods, to angels, or to human rulers or judges. The word 'Elohiym with a capital E refers to the Trinity. The word 'elohiym can also be used to refer to might as in mightiness. In that regard, the use of the word 'elohiym in reference to false gods, to angels, or to human rulers or judges involves the connotation of mightiness in comparison to an average human. When a person puts oneʼs trust in and thereby serves as a devoted follower of and thus worships an angel or human, that angel or human is that personʼs false god. Regarding the foregoing, the content of Joshua 24:15 involves Joshua calling attention to the choices that the Israelites had, and that content involves Joshua permitting the Israelites to make their choices while Joshua led by example with his choice.

The gift of pastor-teacher is for the purpose of each pastor-teacher functioning as a messenger who communicates the Word of God rather than functioning as a priest between the Trinity and mankind. In that regard, the time period that can be referred to as the Church Age started fifty days after the Lord Jesus Christ was resurrected, and all Church Age believers in the Lord Jesus Christ are priests. The Lord Jesus Christ is the High Priest of Church Age believers, and believers should be willing to acknowledge/confess/profess to people the believersʼ faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, as per Hebrews 4:14–15:

Therefore, since we have a great High Priest Who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast the acknowledgment/confession/profession. Indeed, we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One Who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin.

Also, the Lord Jesus Christ is the High Priest according to the order of Melchizedek [mel-KIZ-uh-dek], who was the ruler of Salem when Abraham was still named Abram. Melchizedek was both a king and a priest, as per Genesis 14:18, which references Melchizedek greeting Abram:

Then Melchizedek king of Salem has brought out bread and wine, and he is a priest of 'El [AYL] 'Elyown [el-YOHN] / God [focusing on God the Fatherʼs power] Most High.

The Lord Jesus Christ is also both a king and a priest because the Lord is the Priest according to the order of Melchizedek, as per Hebrews 7:14–17:

Indeed, it is evident that our Lord has arisen from Judah, a tribe with reference to which Moses spoke nothing concerning priests. Also, it is still much more evident: that according to the similarity of Melchizedek, Another of a different type of priest arises, Who has become such not on the basis of a law of fleshly command / physical requirement but according to the power of an indestructible life. Indeed, it is attested: “YOU ARE A PRIEST FOREVER, ACCORDING TO THE ORDER OF MELCHIZEDEK.”

Note: The Lord Jesus Christ is from the tribe of Judah. Also, the Lord Jesus Christ is qualified to be a priest because He was resurrected and therefore has an indestructible body. The above content in all capital letters is a reference to Psalm 110:4.

Because a king is royalty, a king who is a priest is a royal priest. In that regard, Church Age believers are royalty because they are members of the Lord Jesus Christʼs family. Therefore, all Church Age believers are royal priests, as per 1 Peter 2:9–10:

However, you are A CHOSEN PEOPLE, A royal PRIESTHOOD, A HOLY NATION, A PEOPLE FOR ACQUISITION/PRESERVATION, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him Who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light, for you once were NOT A PEOPLE, but now you are GODʼS PEOPLE. You had NOT RECEIVED MERCY, but now you have RECEIVED MERCY.

Note: Before the Church Age, Gentiles were not Godʼs people. In the Church Age, both Jewish and Gentile believers are Godʼs people. The content of 1 Peter 2:10 references Hosea 2:23. In that regard, Peter uses references involving Israel in the Old Testament to refer to Church Age believers.

Itʼs the message rather than the messenger that should be the focus of the believer in the Lord Jesus Christ. Put succinctly: itʼs the message rather than the messenger. In that regard, it is beneficial to keep in mind the content of Revelation 22:8–9, which was written by the apostle John, who, in addition to writing The Revelation to John, wrote The Gospel According to John, The First Epistle of John, The Second Epistle of John, and The Third Epistle of John:

I, John, am the one who heard and saw these things, and when I heard and saw, I fell down to worship at the feet of the angel who showed me these things, but he says* to me, “Do not do that. I am a fellow servant of yours and of your brethren the prophets and of those who keep the words of this book. Worship God.”

*Note: The word says is in the Greek historical present tense. By means of the Greek historical present tense, past action or future action can be described from the perspective of someone seeing the action as it occurs.

Regarding messages, believers should use the Word of God to examine what is being communicated. That is what the Bereans who are mentioned in Acts 17:10–12 did:

The brethren immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea, who, when they arrived, went into the synagogue of the Jews. Now these were more noble-minded than those in Thessalonica, who received the word with all eagerness / readiness of mind, examining the Scriptures daily to see whether these things were so. Therefore, many of them believed, and not a few prominent Greek women and men.

Note: The phrase not a few means “quite a few.”

Today, the return of the Lord Jesus Christ to meet believers in the Lord Jesus Christ in the clouds on the occasion of the Rapture is one day closer than it was yesterday. The Rapture involves both deceased and living believers in the Lord Jesus Christ meeting the Lord in the clouds in the atmosphere of the earth, receiving glorified immortal resurrection bodies similar to the Lord Jesus Christʼs glorified resurrection body, and going to Heaven with those resurrection bodies. Before the Rapture occurs, deceased believers in the Lord Jesus Christ are in Heaven without glorified bodies. While it is possible that the Rapture will occur on the day of the Feast of Trumpets / Yom Teruah [yahm tuh-ROO-uh or yohm tuh-ROO-uh]—which is what some people call Rosh Hashanah and which some people celebrate for two days—the next occurrence of which will possibly be during August, September, or October of 2026, it is worthwhile for believers in the Lord Jesus Christ to get into the habit of being prepared every day for the return of the Lord, just in case the Rapture will occur on a day other than the day of the Feast of Trumpets / Yom Teruah. Furthermore, it is worthwhile to be in the habit of being prepared for the Rapture so that if it does occur on the day of the Feast of Trumpets / Yom Teruah, one can be prepared for that day because of already being in the habit of being prepared. Examples of being prepared for the Rapture include applying the content of 1 John 1:9 whenever one sins, being unselfish, and whenever circumstances are such that an opportunity arises, sharing the gospel—the good news that believing that the Lord Jesus Christ is the Savior Who was judged on the cross for the sins of humanity is the means by which a person is able to have eternal life. Regarding sharing the gospel, one could also have a written or printed message containing the gospel with that written or printed message located somewhere where it could be easily noticed so that if a person or people were to read or hear that written or printed message either before or after the Rapture occurs, that person or people would thereby read or hear the gospel by means of that written or printed message.

Regarding information about the Rapture, it is beneficial to keep in mind the content of 1 Thessalonians 4:13–18 and 1 Corinthians 15:51–52:

1 Thessalonians 4:13–18

Now we do not want you to be uninformed, brethren, about those who are asleep, so that you will not grieve as do the rest who have no hope, for if we believe that Jesus died and rose again—and we do indeed believe that Jesus died and rose again—so also God will bring with Him those who have fallen asleep through Jesus. Indeed, this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive who remain until the coming of the Lord will not precede those who have fallen asleep, for the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout of command, with a voice of an archangel and with a trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive who remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord. Therefore, comfort one another with these words.

1 Corinthians 15:51–52

Behold, I tell you a mystery: we will not all sleep, but we will all be changed, in a moment, in a twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet, for a trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we will be changed.

After the Rapture will be the seven-year Tribulation. The believers who will be alive on the earth when the Rapture occurs will escape the Tribulation. 1 Thessalonians 5:1–11 covers that topic. In that regard, in the book 1 Thessalonians, the content of 1 Thessalonians 4:13–18 is immediately followed by the content of 1 Thessalonians 5:1–11.

1 Thessalonians 5:1–11

Now as to the times and the epochs, brethren, you have no need of anything to be written to you, for you yourselves know full well that the day of the Lord is coming just like a thief in the night. While they are saying, “Peace and safety!” then sudden destruction comes upon them like labor pains upon a woman with child, and they will not escape. However, you, brethren, are not in darkness, that the day would overtake you like a thief, for you are all sons of light and sons of day. We are not of night nor of darkness; therefore, let us not sleep as others, but let us be alert and sober. Indeed, those who sleep do their sleeping at night, and those who get drunk get drunk at night. However, since we are of day, let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and benevolence/goodwill, and as a helmet, the hope / absolute confidence of deliverance, for God has not destined us for wrath but for obtaining deliverance through our Lord Jesus Christ, Who died for us, so that whether we are awake or asleep, we will live together with Him. Therefore, comfort one another and edify one another, just as you also are doing.

Note: In this context, the day of the Lord is the time period that consists of the Rapture, the seven years of the Tribulation, and the Second Advent. In that regard, deliverance from the Tribulation is the deliverance in this context. Also, unspecified is who will be saying “Peace and safety!” In this context, sleeping refers to a lack of alertness. The alertness in this context involves being ready for the Rapture. In order to be ready for the Rapture, a believer needs to be filled with the power of God the Holy Spirit and to pay attention for historical trends such as people saying “Peace and safety!” and for historical trends that match the pattern of the world being on the brink of tremendous calamities like those that will occur during the Tribulation. Regarding being filled with the power of God the Holy Spirit, once a believer commits a sin after salvation, that believer is no longer filled with the power of God the Holy Spirit and is out of fellowship with the Trinity. After that believer has confessed/acknowledged to God the Father all of that believerʼs known unconfessed post-salvation sins, fellowship with the Trinity and the filling with the power of the Holy Spirit are restored. The procedure for confessing/acknowledging to God the Father all of oneʼs known unconfessed post-salvation sins is mentioned in 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.” Fellowship with God the Father and God the Son is mentioned in 1 John 1. Being out of fellowship with God the Holy Spirit is referenced in Ephesians 4:30. In that regard, when a believer sins, that believer grieves the Holy Spirit. Losing the filling of the power of God the Holy Spirit is referenced in 1 Thessalonians 5:19. In that regard, when a believer sins, the power of God the Holy Spirit is quenched in that believer. After a believer has confessed/acknowledged to God the Father all of that believerʼs known unconfessed post-salvation sins, that believer is then filled with the power of God the Holy Spirit again and in fellowship with the Trinity again.

The verse of the day for July 14th is John 15:10. The title of the book John is also known as “The Gospel According to John.” The book John was written by the apostle John. He also wrote The First Epistle of John, The Second Epistle of John, The Third Epistle of John, and The Revelation to John. Because it is useful to study verses in the context of the verses around them, below is content related to John 15. The words of the Lord Jesus Christ are in red.

Note: On the occasion described in John 15, the Lord Jesus Christ was with His core group of eleven disciples. There had been twelve such disciples, but Judas Iscariot had already departed from the group before the time of what is described in John 15. The occasion of what is mentioned in the content of John 15 is the Last Supper, which is the supper that the Lord Jesus Christ had with the twelve disciples the night before He was judged on the cross for the sins of humanity. During the Last Supper, Judas Iscariot departed from the supper in order to go meet opponents of the Lord and to then lead those opponents to the Lord, thereby betraying the Lord. The speaking done by the Lord on the occasion of the Last Supper is known as the Upper Room Discourse because the supper was held in an upstairs room of a building.

John 15:1

“I am the true Vine, and My Father is the Vinedresser.

Note: The figure of speech of a vine used in the Bible has different referents in different parts of the Bible. The referent depends on the context. In one context, the figure of speech of a vine can have a particular referent, and in a different context elsewhere in the Bible, the figure of speech of a vine can refer to someone else or something else.

John 15:2

“Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit, He takes away, and every branch that bears fruit, He cleanses by pruning it so that it may bear more fruit.

Note: John 15:2 establishes the context in which the words branch and branches are used in John 15. Specifically, the phrase Every branch in Me indicates that when the Lord Jesus Christ uses the figure of speech of a branch in John 15, He is referring to believers in the Lord Jesus Christ. When He mentions that a branch that does not bear fruit is taken away, He is referring to the sin unto death. In that regard, if after a believer sins, that believer refrains from confessing/acknowledging to God the Father all of that believerʼs known unconfessed post-salvation sins, then that believer will remain out of fellowship with the Trinity. A believer who remains out of fellowship eventually becomes a reversionist. Such a believer reverts back to acting like unbelievers. Being a reversionistic believer is known as being involved in reversionism. Ultimately, if a believer continues to refrain from confessing/acknowledging to God the Father all of that believerʼs known unconfessed post-salvation sins, that believer will experience the sin unto death.

The sin unto death involves an early physical death. For a believer who physically dies after the Day of Pentecost [PEN-tih-kahst], that early physical death involves an early departure to Heaven. The Day of Pentecost was the beginning of the Church Age. The word Pentecost is derived from the Koine Greek word πεντηκοστή [pronounced pen-tay-kah-STAY and transliterated as pentēkostē]. That word is derived from the Koine Greek word πεντήκοντα [pronounced pen-TAY-kahn-tah and transliterated as pentēkonta], which means “fifty.” Therefore, the word Pentecost is derived from the fact that that day occurred fifty days after the Lord was resurrected. In that regard, the Church Age began fifty days after the Lord was resurrected. The Church Age will end with the Rapture. The Rapture involves both deceased and living believers in the Lord Jesus Christ meeting the Lord in the clouds in the atmosphere of the earth, receiving glorified immortal resurrection bodies similar to the Lord Jesus Christʼs glorified resurrection body, and going to Heaven with those resurrection bodies. Before the Rapture occurs, deceased believers in the Lord Jesus Christ are in Heaven without glorified bodies. Absent from the Bible is anything specifically indicating the precise date and time when the Rapture will occur, although it is possible that the Rapture will occur on the day of the Feast of Trumpets / Yom Teruah [yahm tuh-ROO-uh or yohm tuh-ROO-uh]—which is what some people call Rosh Hashanah and which some people celebrate for two days—the next occurrence of which will possibly be during August, September, or October of 2026. The departure to Heaven of a believer who experiences the sin unto death is an early departure in the sense that it occurs at an earlier time than it would have occurred if the believer had regularly remained in fellowship with the Trinity. The topic of the sin unto death is covered in 1 John 5:16. Rather than the content of 1 John 5:16 referring to some particular sin that is categorized as the sin unto death, the content of 1 John 5:16 refers to sinning in general that results in a believerʼs physical death occurring earlier than it would have had that believer regularly remained in fellowship with the Trinity.

The amount of unconfessed post-salvation sins that results in the sin unto death can vary. It is even possible that a single sin on a single occasion is so bad that the believer committing that sin experiences the sin unto death. Based on the content of the Bible, it is logical to conclude that such a sin would be something egregious—in other words, something very bad.

When the Lord Jesus Christ mentions that God the Father cleanses the branches that bear fruit, the Lord Jesus Christ is referring to God the Father providing opportunities for the experiential sanctification of believers. A believer in the Lord Jesus Christ is experientially sanctified by being unselfish as frequently as possible. In order to be unselfish, a believer must obey the Word of God. In order to obey the Word of God, a believer must learn the Word of God while in fellowship with the Trinity and thereby filled with the power of God the Holy Spirit and then apply the Word of God while in fellowship with the Trinity and thereby filled with the power of God the Holy Spirit. In that regard, once a believer commits a sin after salvation, that believer is no longer filled with the power of God the Holy Spirit and is out of fellowship with the Trinity. After that believer has confessed/acknowledged to God the Father all of that believerʼs known unconfessed post-salvation sins, fellowship with the Trinity and the filling with the power of the Holy Spirit are restored. The procedure for confessing/acknowledging to God the Father all of oneʼs known unconfessed post-salvation sins is mentioned in 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.” Fellowship with God the Father and God the Son is mentioned in 1 John 1. Being out of fellowship with God the Holy Spirit is referenced in Ephesians 4:30. In that regard, when a believer sins, that believer grieves the Holy Spirit. Losing the filling of the power of God the Holy Spirit is referenced in 1 Thessalonians 5:19. In that regard, when a believer sins, the power of God the Holy Spirit is quenched in that believer. After a believer has confessed/acknowledged to God the Father all of that believerʼs known unconfessed post-salvation sins, that believer is then filled with the power of God the Holy Spirit again, in fellowship with the Trinity again, and ready to learn and obey the Word of God again. Learning and obeying the Word of God results in changing oneʼs thinking.

In addition to the term experiential sanctification, there are the terms positional sanctification and ultimate sanctification. The term positional sanctification refers to God the Holy Spirit baptizing every Church Age believer in the Lord Jesus Christ into Jesus Christ, which means placing that Church Age believer into union with the Person of Jesus Christ. In other words, God the Holy Spirit makes the believer associated with the Lord. God the Holy Spirit does the baptizing of a believer at the moment of salvation of that believer. This association with the Lord Jesus Christ is a guarantee of eternal security, which means that the salvation of a believer can never be lost.

The term ultimate sanctification refers to a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ receiving a resurrection body. For Church Age believers in the Lord Jesus Christ, the receiving of a resurrection body will occur at the Rapture. The Rapture involves both deceased and living believers in the Lord Jesus Christ meeting the Lord in the clouds in the atmosphere of the earth, receiving glorified immortal resurrection bodies similar to the Lord Jesus Christʼs glorified resurrection body, and going to Heaven with those resurrection bodies. Before the Rapture occurs, deceased believers in the Lord Jesus Christ are in Heaven without glorified bodies.

God the Father is involved in providing opportunities for the experiential sanctification of believers by means of planning circumstances that give believers opportunities to become experientially sanctified—in other words, opportunities to become more and more unselfish. In that regard, each Member of the Trinity performs a different role. Regarding the roles of the Members of the Trinity, God the Father does the planning, God the Son executes the plan, and God the Holy Spirit reveals the plan. The Lord Jesus Christ is God the Son. The circumstances that give believers opportunities to become experientially sanctified can vary. In that regard, some of those circumstances can involve suffering.

While providing opportunities for the experiential sanctification of believers, God the Father permits each believer to make use of that believerʼs volition (free will). God the Father permitting each believer to make use of that believerʼs volition is indicated by the phrase so that it may bear more fruit in John 15:2. In that phrase, the pronoun it refers to a branch, which is a metaphorical reference to a believer, and the Koine Greek verb that is translated as “may bear” is φέρῃ [pronounced FEH-ray and transliterated as pherē]. That verb is an inflected form of the root word φέρω [pronounced FEH-roh and transliterated as pherō]. The inflected form pherē is in the subjunctive mood rather than in the indicative mood. The subjunctive mood is used to express what is other than 100% certain. If the inflected form of the root word pherō were in the indicative mood in John 15:2, then the inflected form of pherō would be indicating what will occur. Because the inflected form of pherō in John 15:2 is in the subjunctive mood, that inflected form of pherō indicates what may occur. Regarding the foregoing, believers need to actively avail themselves of the opportunities to change their thinking—in other words, they need to take action by changing their thinking. As mentioned further above, learning and obeying the Word of God results in changing oneʼs thinking.

Learning the Word of God helps a believer recognize what is selfish and what is unselfish. In that regard, learning the Word of God helps a believer recognize hidden areas of arrogance in the thinking of that believer. A hidden area of arrogance can also be referred to as a hidden area of selfishness. A hidden area of arrogance is human viewpoint that a person fails to notice in that personʼs thinking. The term human viewpoint refers to any viewpoint that deviates from the Word of God. In contrast, the term divine viewpoint refers to the viewpoint of the Trinity. All three Members of the Trinity have the same viewpoint. Believers in the Lord Jesus Christ can learn divine viewpoint by learning the Word of God. Therefore, the term divine viewpoint refers to the viewpoint that comes from a proper understanding of the Word of God. With human-viewpoint thinking, a person has unrealistic expectations regarding life. Such a person is divorced from reality.

Regarding hidden areas of arrogance in a believerʼs thinking, at the moment of salvation, a believer still has garbage in his or her subconscious. The garbage in the subconscious is the human viewpoint that has been metaphorically programmed into the thinking of a person. After salvation, a believer can also accumulate garbage in the subconscious of that believer. Because people express what they think, the saying “garbage in, garbage out” is applicable to an unbeliever, and it is also applicable to a believer to the extent that that believer has human viewpoint remaining in that believerʼs thinking. That saying can also be abbreviated as GIGO [pronounced GIGH-goh or GEE-goh or GIH-goh].

During time periods that involve information generated by computers, the expression “garbage in, garbage out” is applicable to information generated by those computers. In that regard, the abbreviation AI, which is used to represent the term artificial intelligence, ironically refers to artificial idiocy when those computers output garbage. The garbage output by computers referred to as AI can be referred to as AI slop. The content of AI slop involves misrepresentations, including, for example, images that do not represent reality, video content that does not represent reality, audio content that does not represent reality, and wording that involves falsehoods. The misrepresentations that are in AI slop can cause a personʼs thinking to be molded by human viewpoint that is in that AI slop.

People can deliberately input false information into computer systems that some people categorize as AI, thereby manipulating those computer systems. Such inputting of false information can be referred to as poisoning. For example, one type of computer system that some people categorize as AI is known as a large language model (LLM), which is a computer program into which a large quantity of data is inputted and which can be interacted with by means of giving commands that involve human language and which outputs information in a form that mimics human language. Because the data that goes into LLMs can come from content that is available on webpages, people can input false information into LLMs by putting false information on webpages that are used as data sources for those LLMs. The putting of false information on webpages for the purpose of inputting false information into LLMs is known as LLM grooming. The people who do LLM grooming can thereby try to mold peopleʼs thinking so as to influence them to think in terms of human viewpoint.

In order for a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ to discover hidden areas of arrogance in that believerʼs thinking, that believer needs to learn the Word of God. In order to learn the Word of God, a believer must be in fellowship with the Trinity and thereby filled with the power of God the Holy Spirit while the believer is studying the Word of God. In that regard, once a believer commits a sin after salvation, that believer is no longer filled with the power of God the Holy Spirit and is out of fellowship with the Trinity. After that believer has confessed/acknowledged to God the Father all of that believerʼs known unconfessed post-salvation sins, fellowship with the Trinity and the filling with the power of the Holy Spirit are restored. The procedure for confessing/acknowledging to God the Father all of oneʼs known unconfessed post-salvation sins is mentioned in 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.” Fellowship with God the Father and God the Son is mentioned in 1 John 1. Being out of fellowship with God the Holy Spirit is referenced in Ephesians 4:30. In that regard, when a believer sins, that believer grieves the Holy Spirit. Losing the filling of the power of God the Holy Spirit is referenced in 1 Thessalonians 5:19. In that regard, when a believer sins, the power of God the Holy Spirit is quenched in that believer. After a believer has confessed/acknowledged to God the Father all of that believerʼs known unconfessed post-salvation sins, that believer is then filled with the power of God the Holy Spirit again and in fellowship with the Trinity again.

The content of John 15:2 is repeated below for reference.

John 15:2

“Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit, He takes away, and every branch that bears fruit, He cleanses by pruning it so that it may bear more fruit.

John 15:3

“You are already cleansed by pruning because of the Word which I have spoken to you.

Note: The eleven disciples had already experienced some experiential sanctification. Absent from this verse and the surrounding verses is anything indicating that the cleansing of the eleven disciples had been completed. Therefore, they were still in the process of experiencing experiential sanctification.

John 15:4

“Abide in Me and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit from itself unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you unless you abide in Me.

Note: Abiding in the Lord Jesus Christ means being in fellowship with Him. To be in fellowship with the Trinity, a person must believe in the Lord Jesus Christ as the Savior and then, after committing any sins after salvation, confess/acknowledge to God the Father all of that believerʼs known unconfessed post-salvation sins as mentioned in 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.” When a believer has unconfessed sins, that believer is out of fellowship with the Trinity. After a believer has confessed/acknowledged to God the Father all of that believerʼs known unconfessed post-salvation sins, that believer is then filled with the power of God the Holy Spirit again and in fellowship with the Trinity again.

When a believer is in fellowship with the Trinity, that believer is filled with the power of God the Holy Spirit. When filled with the power of God the Holy Spirit, the believer can behave in an unselfish manner. Behaving in an unselfish manner is that to which the phrase bear fruit refers.

John 15:5

“I am the Vine; you are the branches. He who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me, you can do nothing.

Note: The Lord Jesus Christ is addressing His eleven disciples, who were all believers in Him as the Savior.

John 15:6

“If anyone does not abide in Me, he is thrown away as a branch and dries up. Then they gather them and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.

Note: John 15:6 refers to the aforementioned sin unto death of a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ. Just as the figure of speech of a vine can have different referents in different contexts, so can the figure of speech of fire have different referents in different contexts. Similarly, the figure of speech of a lion can have different referents in different contexts. For example, the Lord Jesus Christ is referred to using the metaphor of a lion in Revelation 5:5, and Satan is referred to using the metaphor of a lion in 1 Peter 5:8. With that in mind, it is the context that determines how one should interpret a figure of speech.

Both instances of the pronoun they in this verse are part of the vine metaphor. In that regard, the first instance of the pronoun they in this verse refers to people who gather branches and cast them into fire. The second instance of the pronoun they in this verse refers to branches that are gathered and burned.

In the context of John 15:6, the matter of believers in the Lord Jesus Christ remaining out of fellowship with the Trinity is the focus. In that regard, the phrase they gather them and cast them into the fire is a metaphor that calls attention to negative consequences for a believer who is out of fellowship with the Trinity. Rather than that metaphor indicating who it is that causes the negative consequences for a believer who is out of fellowship with the Trinity, that metaphor indicates that just as people gather useless branches and cast those useless branches into fire, so also there are negative consequences for a believer who is out of fellowship with the Trinity. In that regard, the people who gather useless branches and cast those useless branches into fire are referenced so that readers or hearers of the content of this verse can imagine what happens to the useless branches. The negative consequences for a believer who is out of fellowship with the Trinity involve loss of eternal rewards. In addition, the negative consequences for a believer who remains out of fellowship with the Trinity involve the sin unto death.

In 1 Corinthians 3:11–15, the figure of speech of fire is used in reference to a believer who loses some eternal rewards. It is worth noting that the content of 1 Corinthians 3:11–15 indicates that the believer is still saved. Below is content related to 1 Corinthians 3:11–15.

1 Corinthians 3:11

Indeed, no man can lay a foundation other than the one which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.

1 Corinthians 3:12

Now if any man builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious [or costly] stones, wood, hay, straw,

1 Corinthians 3:13

each manʼs work will become evident, for the day will show it because it is to be revealed with fire. Therefore, the fire itself will test the quality of each manʼs work [literally: of what sort each manʼs work is].

1 Corinthians 3:14

If any manʼs work which he has built on it remains, he will receive a reward.

1 Corinthians 3:15

If any manʼs work is burned up, he will suffer loss, but he himself will be saved—yet so as through fire.

The content of John 15:6 is repeated below for reference.

John 15:6

“If anyone does not abide in Me, he is thrown away as a branch and dries up. Then they gather them and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.

John 15:7

“If you abide in Me and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.

John 15:8

“My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be My disciples [or become My disciples].

Note: The content of Luke 8:4–15 shows that not all believers in the Lord Jesus Christ choose to be disciples of Him. Some people, after becoming believers in the Lord Jesus Christ, choose to refrain from studying and obeying the Word of God. Some choose to study and obey the Word of God for a while but then become distracted by adversity or prosperity or both. Some choose to study and obey the Word of God consistently enough so as to be frequently unselfish, thereby consistently bearing fruit. Below is content related to Luke 8:4–15. The words of the Lord Jesus Christ are in red.

Luke 8:4

When a large crowd was coming together and those from the various cities were journeying to Him, He spoke by way of a parable:

Note: A parable is a fictional narrative used to teach a lesson. In Luke 8:4, the Koine [KOI-nay] Greek noun that is translated as “parable” is παραβολῆς [pronounced pah-rah-bah-LAYSS and transliterated as parabolēs]. That noun is an inflected form of the root word παραβολή [pronounced pah-rah-bah-LAY and transliterated as parabolē]. The Greek word parabolē is the word from which the English word parable is derived.

Luke 8:5

“The sower went out to sow his seed, and as he sowed, some fell beside the road, it was trampled under foot, and the birds of the heaven ate it up.

Note: In the context of Luke 8:5, the word heaven refers to the atmosphere of earth. Below is a summary of the different usages for the word heaven.

• The first heaven (also known as [aka] first heavens): the atmosphere of earth

• The second heaven (aka second heavens): outer space

• The Third Heaven (aka Third Heavens or simply as Heaven): the location of the throne room of God the Father

Luke 8:6

“Other fell on rock, and as soon as it grew up, it withered away because it had no moisture.

Luke 8:7

“Other fell among the thorns, and the thorns grew up with it and choked it out.

Luke 8:8

“Other fell into the good soil and grew up and produced a crop a hundred times as great.” As He said these things, He was calling out, “He who has ears to hear: hear!”

Note: In Luke 8:8, the Koine Greek verb that is translated as “to hear” is ἀκούειν [pronounced ah-KOO-ayn and transliterated as akouein]. That verb is an inflected form of the root word ἀκούω [pronounced ah-KOO-oh and transliterated as akouō]. The inflected form akouein is a present active infinitive. Because akouein is an infinitive, the translation of akouein involves the word to in front of the word hear.

In Luke 8:8, another inflected form of the verb akouō is immediately after the inflected form akouein. That other inflected form of the verb akouō is ἀκουέτω [pronounced ah-koo-EH-toh and transliterated as akouetō]. The inflected form akouetō is a present active imperative. A verb in the imperative mood is a command. In that regard, the Lord Jesus Christ was commanding that people pay attention to what He was communicating.

Luke 8:9

His disciples were questioning Him as to what this parable meant.

Luke 8:10

Then He said, “To you it has been granted to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God, but to the rest, in parables so that SEEING THEY MAY NOT SEE AND HEARING THEY MAY NOT UNDERSTAND.

Note: This is a reference to Isaiah 6:9

Luke 8:11

“Now the parable is this: the seed is the Word of God.

Luke 8:12

“Those beside the road are those who have heard. Then the devil comes and takes away the Word from their heart so that they will not believe and be saved.

Note: The heart refers to the mind. Also, the reference to the devil in this verse is a metaphorical reference to people believing the false ideas of Satanʼs system for the world. In that regard, Satan is the ruler of the world, and he has an organized system for ruling the world. That organized system involves various false ideas. The devilʼs organized system by means of which he rules the world can be referred to using the term cosmos diabolicus [KAHZ-mahs digh-uh-BAHL-ih-kuhs]. Cosmos diabolicus can also be referred to as the cosmic system. Regarding the term cosmos diabolicus, the English word cosmos is derived from the Koine Greek word κόσμος [pronounced KAHS-mahs and transliterated as kosmos]. The English word diabolicus is derived from the Koine Greek word διάβολος [pronounced dee-AH-bah-lahs and transliterated as diabolos]. The word diabolos can be translated as “devil,” “false accuser,” “calumniator,” “slanderer,” or “traducer.” The verb calumniate refers to making false and defamatory statements about someone. A calumniator is someone who calumniates. The verb traduce refers to speaking badly of or telling lies about someone so as to damage that personʼs reputation. A traducer is someone who traduces. In Luke 8:12, the Koine Greek word that is translated as “devil” is diabolos. The devil is a false accuser / calumniator / slanderer / traducer.

Luke 8:13

“Those on the rock—these, who, when they hear, receive the Word with joy, but these have no root. They believe for a while, but in time of temptation, they fall away.

Luke 8:14

“That which fell among the thorns—these are the ones who have heard, and as they go on their way they are choked with worries and riches and pleasures of life and bring no fruit to maturity.

Luke 8:15

“However, the seed in the good soil—these are the ones who have heard the Word in an honest and good heart and hold it fast and bear fruit with perseverance/steadfastness.”

Note: The heart refers to the mind.

Matthew 13:1–23 and Mark 4:1–20 contain similar content as that of Luke 8:4–15, albeit with different focuses. The books Matthew, Mark, and Luke are known as the Synoptic Gospels [si-NAHP-tik GAHS-puhlz]. The Synoptic Gospels are similar in their covering of the First Advent of the Lord Jesus Christ. Regarding the parable of the sower and the seeds, the content of Matthew 13 and the content of Mark 4 provide more details about the seeds in the good soil. In particular, rather than merely referencing the maximum amount of yield of crop (a hundredfold), the content of Matthew 13 and the content of Mark 4 reference various amounts of crop yield: thirtyfold, sixtyfold, and a hundredfold. In that regard, below is content related to Matthew 13:23.

Matthew 13:23

“Also, the one on whom seed was sown on the good soil—this is the man who hears the Word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and brings forth, some a hundredfold, some sixtyfold, and some thirtyfold.”

Below is content related to Mark 4:20.

Mark 4:20

“Also, those are the ones on whom seed was sown on the good soil, and they hear the Word and accept it and bear fruit thirtyfold, sixtyfold, and a hundredfold.”

The content of John 15:8 is repeated below for reference.

John 15:8

“My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be My disciples [or become My disciples].

John 15:9

“Just as the Father has loved / exhibited benevolence toward / exhibited goodwill toward Me, I have also loved / exhibited benevolence toward / exhibited goodwill toward you; abide in My benevolence/goodwill.

John 15:10

“If you keep My commands/commandments, you will abide in My benevolence/goodwill, just as I have kept My Fatherʼs commands/commandments and abide in His benevolence/goodwill.

Note: The content of this verse refers to commands other than the Ten Commandments. Also, the Lord Jesus Christ did what God the Father wanted the Lord Jesus Christ to do. In that regard, each Member of the Trinity performs a different role. Regarding the roles of the Members of the Trinity, God the Father does the planning, God the Son executes the plan, and God the Holy Spirit reveals the plan. The Lord Jesus Christ is God the Son.

The birth of the Lord Jesus Christ as a human was part of God the Fatherʼs plan. Regarding the Lordʼs birth as a human being, His birth can be referred to as the First Advent. The First Advent can also be referred to as the Incarnation. With regard to the First Advent, below is a synopsis of human history as categorized into time periods known as dispensations. In the below synopsis, there is the term hypostatic union [high-PUH-stat-ick YOON-yuhn]. This refers to the Lord Jesus Christ being 100% Deity and 100% humanity. The English word hypostatic is derived from the Koine [KOI-nay] Greek word ὑπόστασις [pronounced hoo-PAH-stah-sees and transliterated as hypostasis]. After the Lord Jesus Christ was judged for the sins of humanity, His body was in the grave for three days and three nights. He was then resurrected, and He was on the earth for forty days after He was resurrected. He then ascended to Heaven, and ten days after that, the Day of Pentecost [PEN-tih-kahst] occurred. The Day of Pentecost was the beginning of the Church Age. The word Pentecost is derived from the Koine Greek word πεντηκοστή [pronounced pen-tay-kah-STAY and transliterated as pentēkostē]. That word is derived from the Koine Greek word πεντήκοντα [pronounced pen-TAY-kahn-tah and transliterated as pentēkonta], which means “fifty.” Therefore, the word Pentecost is derived from the fact that that day occurred fifty days after the Lord was resurrected. In that regard, the Church Age began fifty days after the Lord was resurrected. The Church Age will end with the Rapture. The Rapture involves both deceased and living believers in the Lord Jesus Christ meeting the Lord in the clouds in the atmosphere of the earth, receiving glorified immortal resurrection bodies similar to the Lord Jesus Christʼs glorified resurrection body, and going to Heaven with those resurrection bodies. Before the Rapture occurs, deceased believers in the Lord Jesus Christ are in Heaven without glorified bodies. Absent from the Bible is anything specifically indicating the precise date and time when the Rapture will occur, although it is possible that the Rapture will occur on the day of the Feast of Trumpets / Yom Teruah [yahm tuh-ROO-uh or yohm tuh-ROO-uh]—which is what some people call Rosh Hashanah and which some people celebrate for two days—the next occurrence of which will possibly be during August, September, or October of 2026.

Dispensation	Start	Ending or Interruption

Age of the Gentiles	Adam	The Age of the Gentiles ended with the Exodus of the Israelites from Egypt.

Age of Israel	Exodus	The Age of Israel was interrupted on the Day of Pentecost.

Age of the Hypostatic Union (part of the Age of Israel)	First Advent of Christ	The Age of the Hypostatic Union ended with the Ascension of Christ.

Church Age	Day of Pentecost	The Church Age will end with the Rapture of the Church.

Tribulation (Age of Israel resumed)	Rapture	The Tribulation will end with the Second Advent of Christ.

Millennium	Second Advent	The 1,000-year Millennium will end with the Great White Throne Judgment of unbelievers.

Eternal State	Great White Throne Judgment	The Eternal State will be never-ending.

Regarding the word judgment, the proper way to spell that word is without an e between the dg and the m. In that regard, the e of the root word judge is dropped when the suffix ment is added to that root word. The formation of the word judgment is shown below.

judge −e +ment

= judg +ment

= judgment

Another way to categorize human history is by means of civilizations. Civilizations begin only with believers. Regarding the timing of civilizations and dispensations, the first civilization began with Adam and ended on the occasion of the Great Flood (also known as the Flood). That civilization is known as the antediluvian civilization and the predulivian civilization. In that regard, the prefixes ante and pre mean “before.” Also, there are various spellings of the adjectives that refer to the time before the Flood. Those spellings include antediluvian, ante-diluvian, prediluvian, and pre-diluvian.

After the Flood, there were only eight believers on the earth: Noah, his wife, their three sons, and their sonsʼ wives. With the removal of the unbelievers from the earth on the occasion of the Flood, a new civilization was started. That civilization is known as the postdiluvian civilization (also known as the postdiluvial civilization). Regarding the terminology, the prefix post means “after,” and the adjectives diluvian and diluvial mean “having to do with a flood.” Also, there are various spellings of the adjectives that refer to the time after the Flood. Those spellings include postdiluvian, post-diluvian, postdiluvial, and post-diluvial. The postdiluvian civilization will end on the occasion of the Second Advent of the Lord Jesus Christ. On the occasion of the Second Advent, the Lord will remove all unbelievers from the earth. Their removal will be by means of physical death just as the removal of all unbelievers was by means of physical death on the occasion of the Flood. This is called the Baptism of Fire, which is either a metaphorical description because fire can be used to represent judgment or a literal reference to the use of fire in the judgment of unbelievers on the occasion of the Second Advent. The Baptism of Fire is referenced in Matthew 3:11–12; Luke 3:15–17; and 2 Thessalonians 1:7–9.

Just as a new civilization started after the Flood, so also a new civilization will start after the Baptism of Fire. That civilization is called the Millennium. The Millennium is both a civilization and a dispensation. The Eternal State is also both a civilization and a dispensation.

In John 15:10, the commandments referenced by the phrase My commands/commandments are commands that the Lord communicated to His disciples. At that time, the Canon of Scripture (the Bible) had not yet been completed. As mentioned further above, ten days after the Lord ascended to Heaven, the Day of Pentecost occurred, and the Church Age began. During the early years of the Church Age—possibly up to the A.D. 90s—the New Testament was being written. While the New Testament was being written, God the Holy Spirit revealed information involving the Word of God to believers who had the gift of apostle and to believers who had the gift of prophecy. Regarding the reference to the gift of apostle and the gift of prophecy, while some believers in the Lord Jesus Christ had those gifts before the Canon of Scripture was completed, now that the Canon of Scripture has been completed, no believers in the Lord Jesus Christ have those gifts. Now that the Canon of Scripture has been completed, the Word of God is revealed in the Canon of Scripture rather than by any information from outside the Canon of Scripture; therefore, the gift of apostle and the gift of prophet are unnecessary. In contrast, evangelists and pastor-teachers share information that is in the Canon of Scripture; therefore, those gifts are still necessary.

The content of 1 Corinthians 13:8–10 covers the topic of the gift of prophecy ending before the Canon of Scripture was completed. In that regard, below is content related to 1 Corinthians 13:8–10.

1 Corinthians 13:8

Benevolence/goodwill [agapē (ah-GAH-pay) (ἀγάπη)] never fails, but if prophecies, they will be done away; if tongues, they will cease; if knowledge, it will be done away.

Note: As with the content of 1 Corinthians 13:2, the content of 1 Corinthians 13:8 refers to spiritual gifts that stopped being available once the Bible was completed. As mentioned in the notes for 1 Corinthians 13:1, the Bible was completed within a century after the Lord Jesus Christ was judged on the cross for the sins of humanity.

1 Corinthians 13:9

Indeed, we know in part and we prophesy in part,

1 Corinthians 13:10

but when the complete/perfect comes, the partial will be done away.

Note: In 1 Corinthians 13:10, the adjective that is translated as “complete/perfect” refers to the Bible. In that regard, in 1 Corinthians 13:10, the Koine Greek adjective that is translated as “complete/perfect” is in the neuter gender. That adjective is τέλειον [pronounced TEH-lay-ahn and transliterated as teleion]. That adjective is an inflected form of the root word τέλειος [pronounced TEH-lay-ahs and transliterated as teleios]. Koine Greek has three genders: masculine, feminine, and neuter. The Lord Jesus Christ is a male; therefore, an adjective that refers to Him would be in the masculine gender. The neuter gender refers to a thing. In 1 Corinthians 13:10, the thing to which the adjective that is translated as “complete/perfect” refers is the completed Canon of Scripture—in other words, the Bible. In that regard, the content of 1 Corinthians 13:10 indicates that supernatural spiritual gifts stopped being available once the Canon of Scripture was completed. The Canon of Scripture was completed in the 1st century A.D. Also, the phrase the partial indicates that those spiritual gifts only revealed a portion of the Word of God that the Bible reveals.

The content of John 15:10 is repeated below for reference.

John 15:10

“If you keep My commands/commandments, you will abide in My benevolence/goodwill, just as I have kept My Fatherʼs commands/commandments and abide in His benevolence/goodwill.

John 15:11

“These things I have spoken to you so that My joy may be in you and that your joy may be made full.

John 15:12

“This is My command/commandment, that you exhibit benevolence/goodwill toward one another, just as I have loved / exhibited benevolence toward / exhibited goodwill toward you.

Note: The content of this verse refers to commands given by the Lord Jesus Christ rather than to the Ten Commandments.

John 15:13

“Greater benevolence/goodwill has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends.

John 15:14

“You are My friends if you do what I command you.

John 15:15

“No longer do I call you bondservants, for the bondservant does not know what his master is doing. However, I have called you friends, for all things that I have heard from My Father I have made known to you.

John 15:16

“You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you would go and bear fruit and that your fruit would remain so that whatever you ask of the Father in My name, He may give to you.

Note: The choosing referenced in this verse refers to the Lord choosing who would be His disciples. As mentioned in John 15:10, the Lord Jesus Christʼs actions were in accordance with God the Fatherʼs plan. In that regard, the Lord Jesus Christʼs choosing who would be His disciples was in accordance with God the Fatherʼs plan. Because God the Father is omniscient [ahm-NISH-uhnt] [all-knowing], He knew in eternity past who would be believers in the Lord Jesus Christ. God the Son and God the Holy Spirit are also omniscient. In that regard, the Lord Jesus Christ knew who would believe in Him as the Savior. That knowledge either came from the omniscience [ahm-NISH-uhns] [all-knowingness] of His Deity or from God the Holy Spirit causing the Lordʼs humanity to have that knowledge.

This verse also references praying to God the Father. All prayer must be addressed to God the Father. The Lord Jesus Christ Himself indicated that all prayer must be addressed to God the Father. The content of Matthew 6:1–13 covers the Lord giving an example about how to pray. In that regard, the content of Matthew 6:9 covers the Lord commanding that prayers be addressed to God the Father. The content of Luke 11:1–4 also covers the Lord giving an example about how to pray. In that regard, the content of Luke 11:2 covers the Lord commanding that prayers be addressed to God the Father.

The mechanics of praying to God the Father are specified elsewhere in the Bible. For example, the content of Matthew 6:5–8 involves that topic. Also, the content of Matthew 6:9–13 involves an example of prayer. The content of Luke 11:2–4 also involves an example of prayer. Some other verses having content that involves the topic of the mechanics of prayer are Luke 11:5–10; Luke 18:1–8; Ephesians 5:20; Ephesians 6:18; Colossians 4:2; 1 Thessalonians 5:17–18; Hebrews 4:16; and James 1:5–8. Below are some details regarding the mechanics of prayer.

A good way to start a prayer is as follows: “Dear Heavenly Father.”

Listed below are four steps for praying.

(1) Confession: One must be in fellowship with the Trinity when praying to God the Father. Once a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ commits a sin after salvation, that believer is no longer filled with the power of God the Holy Spirit and is out of fellowship with the Trinity. After that believer has confessed/acknowledged all known unconfessed post-salvation sins—confessing only one time for each sin—fellowship with the Trinity and the filling with the power of the Holy Spirit are restored. The procedure for confessing/acknowledging to God the Father all of oneʼs known unconfessed post-salvation sins is mentioned in 1 John 1:9. After a believer has confessed/acknowledged to God the Father all of that believerʼs known unconfessed post-salvation sins, that believer is then filled with the power of God the Holy Spirit again and in fellowship with the Trinity again.

(2) Thanksgiving: One should thank God the Father for His graciousness. Thanking Him for sending the Lord Jesus Christ to be judged on the cross for oneʼs sins and the sins of humanity is a good example of thanksgiving.

(3) Intercession: One can pray to God the Father on behalf of others.

(4) Petition: One can pray to God the Father on behalf of oneself.

There are no verses in the Bible that list that sequence for praying; nonetheless, it makes sense to make sure that one is in fellowship with God the Father before proceeding with any further communication, to then express appreciation to Him before making any requests, and to treat others as more important than oneself by making requests for them before making requests for oneself. Sometimes, there is obviously only sufficient time for a short prayer without all of the steps. In such a case, step 1 is still a necessary step because if one has committed known post-salvation sins for which one has not yet confessed to God the Father, one needs to confess those sins to Him before proceeding with the rest of the prayers.

Also, at the end of any prayer, it is good to say something like the following: “In the Lord Jesus Christʼs name, amen.” The word amen can be translated into English as “I believe it.” If the Lord Jesus Christ had not been judged on the cross for our sins, we would be unable to pray to God the Father. When one prays in the Lord Jesus Christʼs name, one is calling attention to His work on the cross that made praying to God the Father possible. Finishing a prayer in this way should even be done when confessing oneʼs sins without asking for anything.

Also, when asking God the Father for something—in other words, when praying to Him—whatever the believer requests must be consistent with God the Fatherʼs plan. Of course, details of God the Fatherʼs plan are at times unknown to a believer. In that regard, the believer needs to recognize that if whatever a believer requests in a prayer is not given to that believer, it could be that the prayer was inconsistent with God the Fatherʼs plan. Also, whenever a believer makes requests to God the Father when that believer is out of fellowship with the Trinity, whatever that believer requests might not be given to that believer.

When a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ prays to God the Father, that believer has a desire or motive behind that prayer. In that regard, how God the Father answers prayers can be categorized into four categories involving what God the Father answers positively and what He answers negatively. Listed below are those four categories regarding God the Fatherʼs answers to prayers.

1. Positive-Negative: God the Father gives a yes answer to the prayer but a no answer to the desire behind that prayer. For example, if a believer were to pray for a million dollars because that believer is seeking happiness from money, God the Father could permit that believer to have a million dollars, but God the Father could refrain from making that believer be happy. In such a situation, God the Father permits such a believer to experience self-induced misery.

2. Negative-Positive: God the Father gives a no answer to the prayer but a yes answer to the desire behind that prayer. For example, if a believer were to pray for a million dollars because that believer wants to help people with that money, God the Father could refrain from permitting that believer to have a million dollars, but God the Father could enable that believer to help people in some other way or ways.

3. Positive-Positive: God the Father gives a yes answer to both the prayer and the desire behind that prayer.

4. Negative-Negative: God the Father gives a no answer to both the prayer and the desire behind that prayer.

When praying for someone, it is important for a believer to keep in mind the content of 1 John 5:16. The content of that verse covers the topic of when a believer should refrain from praying for another believer. In that regard, below is content related to that verse.

1 John 5:16

If anyone sees his brother sinning sin not unto death, he shall request, and He shall give to him life to those sinning not unto death. There is sin unto death; I do not say that he should make request concerning this.

Note: In the phrase sinning sin not unto death in this verse, there is an absence of a definite article in front of the noun sin. Likewise, in the phrase There is sin unto death in this verse, there is also an absence of a definite article in front of the noun sin. In that regard, rather than this verse referring to some particular sin that is categorized as the sin unto death, this verse refers to sinning in general that results in what can be referred to as the sin unto death.

The sin unto death involves an early physical death. For a believer who physically dies after the Day of Pentecost [PEN-tih-kahst], that early physical death involves an early departure to Heaven. The Day of Pentecost was the beginning of the Church Age. The word Pentecost is derived from the Koine Greek word πεντηκοστή [pronounced pen-tay-kah-STAY and transliterated as pentēkostē]. That word is derived from the Koine Greek word πεντήκοντα [pronounced pen-TAY-kahn-tah and transliterated as pentēkonta], which means “fifty.” Therefore, the word Pentecost is derived from the fact that that day occurred fifty days after the Lord was resurrected. In that regard, the Church Age began fifty days after the Lord was resurrected. The Church Age will end with the Rapture. The Rapture involves both deceased and living believers in the Lord Jesus Christ meeting the Lord in the clouds in the atmosphere of the earth, receiving glorified immortal resurrection bodies similar to the Lord Jesus Christʼs glorified resurrection body, and going to Heaven with those resurrection bodies. Before the Rapture occurs, deceased believers in the Lord Jesus Christ are in Heaven without glorified bodies. Absent from the Bible is anything specifically indicating the precise date and time when the Rapture will occur, although it is possible that the Rapture will occur on the day of the Feast of Trumpets / Yom Teruah [yahm tuh-ROO-uh or yohm tuh-ROO-uh]—which is what some people call Rosh Hashanah and which some people celebrate for two days—the next occurrence of which will possibly be during August, September, or October of 2026. The departure to Heaven of a believer who experiences the sin unto death is an early departure in the sense that it occurs at an earlier time than it would have occurred if the believer had regularly remained in fellowship with the Trinity. In that regard, if after a believer sins, that believer refrains from confessing/acknowledging to God the Father all of that believerʼs known unconfessed post-salvation sins, then that believer will remain out of fellowship with the Trinity. A believer who remains out of fellowship eventually becomes a reversionist. Such a believer reverts back to acting like unbelievers. Being a reversionistic believer is known as being involved in reversionism. Ultimately, if a believer continues to refrain from confessing/acknowledging to God the Father all of that believerʼs known unconfessed post-salvation sins, that believer will experience the sin unto death.

Regarding a believer praying for a believer who is sinning, the believer doing the praying can pray to God the Father that God the Father have God the Son and God the Holy Spirit take care of the matter such that the believer doing the sinning will have opportunities to become a believer who studies and obeys the Word of God regularly. God the Son can take care of the matter by controlling circumstances, and God the Holy Spirit can take care of the matter by causing information to come to the mind of the believer doing the sinning. Regarding refraining from praying for a believer who is at the point of the sin unto death, it is possible that a believer might be unaware of whether a believer who is sinning is at the point of the sin unto death. In that regard, the believer doing the praying can pray to God the Father that if the believer doing the sinning is not at the point of the sin unto death, that God the Father then have God the Son and God the Holy Spirit take care of the matter such that the believer doing the sinning will have opportunities to become a believer who studies and obeys the Word of God regularly. Praying in that manner gives the sinning believer the benefit of the doubt while at the same time applying the principle of not praying for the believer who is at the point of the sin unto death.

Regarding praying and the context of John 15:16, the disciples praying regarding fulfilling God the Fatherʼs plan for their ministry to the world was appropriate. The content of John 15:16 is repeated below for reference.

John 15:16

“You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you would go and bear fruit and that your fruit would remain so that whatever you ask of the Father in My name, He may give to you.

John 15:17

“This I command you, that you exhibit benevolence/goodwill toward one another.

John 15:18

“If the world hates you—and the world does indeed hate you—know that it has hated Me before it hated you.

Note: The Koine Greek word that is translated as “world” in this verse refers to an organized system. In particular, it refers to the devilʼs organized system by means of which he rules the world. In that regard, some people use the term cosmos diabolicus [KAHZ-mahs digh-uh-BAHL-ih-kuhs] to refer to the devilʼs system for ruling the world. Cosmos diabolicus can also be referred to as the cosmic system. The Koine Greek word translated as “world” in John 15:18 is κόσμος [pronounced KAHS-mahs and transliterated as kosmos]. That word is an inflected form of the root word κόσμος [pronounced KAHS-mahs and transliterated as kosmos].

In the translation of this verse, the type of if is called a first-class condition. The first-class condition in this verse involves the Koine Greek conjunction εἰ [pronounced AY and transliterated as ei] followed by a Koine Greek verb in the indicative mood. That Koine Greek verb is μισεῖ [pronounced mee-say and transliterated as misei]. That verb is an inflected form of the root word μισέω [pronounced mee-SEH-oh and transliterated as miseō]. In this verse, the inflected form misei is translated with the word hates and the word hate.

In this verse, the Koine Greek verb that is translated as “know” is γινώσκετε [pronounced gee-NOH-skeh-teh and transliterated as ginōskete]. That verb is an inflected form of the root word γινώσκω [pronounced gee-NOH-skoh and transliterated as ginōskō]. Regarding inflected forms of a verb, a verb that is in the imperative mood is a command, and a verb that is in the indicative mood describes something. In that regard, the inflected form ginōskete can be either the imperative form or an indicative form. The context of this verse and the surrounding verses is such that ginōskete in this verse is in the imperative mood.

John 15:19

“If you were of the world, the world would love / be fond of its own. However, because you are not of the world but I chose you out of the world—because of this, the world hates you.

Note: The Koine Greek verb translated as “love” or “be fond of” in the above translation of John 15:19 is ἐφίλει [pronounced eh-FIH-lay and transliterated as ephilei]. That verb is an inflected form of the root word φιλέω [pronounced fee-LEH-oh and transliterated as phileō]. The verb phileō can be used to refer to personal attachment as a matter of sentiment or feeling. In contrast, exhibiting benevolence or goodwill—and in the case of the Members of the Trinity, exhibiting perfect love—is described with the Koine Greek verb ἀγαπάω [pronounced ah-gah-PAH-oh and transliterated as agapaō]. Also, benevolence or goodwill is described with the Koine Greek noun ἀγάπη [pronounced ah-GAH-pay and transliterated as agapē (some people leave the macron—a diacritical mark that looks like a horizontal line above a letter—off the e and transliterate the word as agape)].

John 15:20

“Remember the teaching that I spoke to you: ‘A bondservant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you. If they kept My teaching, they will keep yours also.

John 15:21

“However, all these things they will do to you for My nameʼs sake because they have not known the One Who sent Me.

Note: In this verse, the reference to not knowing God the Father refers to lacking understanding about God the Father.

John 15:22

“If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not have guilt [as in awareness of sin], but now they have no excuse for their guilt.

John 15:23

“He who hates Me hates My Father also.

John 15:24

“If I had not done among them the works which no one else did, they would not have guilt [as in awareness of sin], but now they have both seen and hated Me and My Father as well.

John 15:25

“However, they have done this to fulfill the word that is written in their Law: ‘THEY HATED ME WITHOUT A CAUSE.’

Note: This is a reference to Psalm 35:19 and Psalm 69:4. In the context of this verse, the word Law refers to the Old Testament rather than to the Mosaic Law part of the Old Testament. The term Mosaic Law refers to the laws communicated by Moses to the ancient Israelites. Because Moses communicated those laws, they are known collectively as the Mosaic Law. Now that the Lord Jesus Christ has been judged for the sins of humanity, the Mosaic Law has been fulfilled.

John 15:26

“When the Helper/Comforter/Advocate/Intercessor comes, Whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth Who proceeds from the Father, He will testify about Me,

Note: The content of this verse refers to God the Holy Spirit. The Koine Greek noun that is translated as “Helper,” “Comforter,” “Advocate,” or “Intercessor” in this verse is Παράκλητος [pronounced pah-RAH-klay-tahs and transliterated as Paraklētos]. That noun is an inflected form of the root word παράκλητος [pronounced pah-RAH-klay-tahs and transliterated as paraklētos].

John 15:27

and you testify [or (imperative) and testify] also because you have been with Me from the beginning.

Note: An imperative is a command. In that regard, either the Lord was telling His core group of eleven disciples that they testify about Him, or the Lord was commanding those eleven disciples to testify about Him. Also, the word beginning refers to the Lordʼs public ministry.

Sincerely,

John