SAINTS OF GOD, HOW WOULD YOU GO ABOUT TELLING GRAPE FARMERS ABOUT MEN, AND WOMEN, BEING IN THE BODY OF CHRIST; THE ONE, AND ONLY TRUE ETERNAL SPIRITUAL CHURCH. JESUS THE CHRIST, THE SON OF GOD, THE CREATER OF HEAVEN, AND EARTH, CHOSE THIS PARABLE. AS A WAY TO EXPLAIN THAT THE ELECT OF GOD ARE IN HIS BODY. A PARABLE IS AN EARTHLY STORY WITH A HEAVENLY MEANING.

Jn:15:1: I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman.

Jn:15:2: Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.

Jn:15:3: Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you.

Jn:15:4: Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.

Jn:15:5: I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.

Jn:15:6: If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.

Jn:15:7: If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.

Jn:15:8: Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.

CHILDREN OF LIGHT, THERE ARE MEN THAT PREACH FAITH PLUS NOTHING EQUALS SALVATION. BUT ACCORDING TO THIS PARABLE, EXCEPT A MAN BEAR FRUIT, HE WILL BE PLUCKED OUT OF CHRIST, AND WILL BE BURNED. LET ME AT THIS TIME BUILD A FOUNDATION FOR THIS PARABLE OF THE VINE AND THE BRANCHES. WE, THE CHILDREN OF GOD, ARE SAVED BY GRACE THROUGH FAITH, AND NOT OF OUR SELVES IT IS THE GIFT OF GOD. I BASE MY BELIEF ON THESE VERSES OF SCRIPTURE.

Eph:2:4: But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,

Eph:2:5: Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)

Eph:2:6: And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:

Eph:2:7: That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.

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

Eph:2:9: Not of works, lest any man should boast.

Eph:2:10: For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

LITTLE CHILDREN, IF YOU ARE A NEW CONVERT TO THE CHRISTIAN RELIGION YOU MAY NOT BE ACQUAINTED WITH WHAT GRACE ACTUALLY IS. GRACE IS DEFINED AS AN UNMERITED FAVOR. WHEN DID WE, THE ELECT OF GOD, FIND GRACE IN THE EYES OF GOD? BEFORE THE FOUNDATION OF THE WORLD, BEFORE WE HAD DONE ANY GOOD, OR EVIL, GOD KNEW US; LOVED US, ELECTED US, AND PREDESTINATED US, TO BE ADOPTED INTO HIS FAMILY OF FAITH.

Eph:1:1: Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, to the saints which are at Ephesus, and to the faithful in Christ Jesus:

Eph:1:2: Grace be to you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.

Eph:1:3: Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:

Eph:1:4: According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:

Eph:1:5: Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,

Eph:1:6: To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.

IT IS ONLY THE ELECT OF GOD, THE PREDESTINATED, THAT SHALL BE SAVED FROM THE WRATH OF GOD, ON THE DAY THAT JESUS CHRIST JUDGES THE DEEDS OF MEN, WHILE IN THIS TABERNACLE OF FLESH. WE HAVE NOT CHOSEN GOD, BUT IT IS GOD THAT HAS CHOSEN US.

Jn:15:16: Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you. (KJV)

SAINTS OF GOD, GOD ELECTED, SELECTED, HAND PICKED US TO BE HIS VERY OWN FROM THE FOUNDATION OF THE WORLD, AND PREDESTINATED US IN SUCH A WAY THAT ALL THINGS WORK TOGETHER FOR OUR GOOD.

Rom:8:28: And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

Rom:8:29: For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.

Rom:8:30: Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.

Rom:8:31: What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?

Rom:8:32: He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?

WHEN A CHILD IS BORN INTO THE WORLD, BECAUSE OF THE ORIGINAL SIN OF ADAM, HE IS A LIVE PHYSICALLY, BUT DEAD SPIRITUALLY.

1Cor:15:22: For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. (KJV)

BELOVED, WHEN A MAN'S SOUL IS IN THIS UNREGENERATED STATE, WE RUN WITH THE CHILDREN OF SATAN DOING THOSE THINGS THAT ARE AGAINST THE COMMANDMENTS OF GOD. FOR THE CARNAL MIND, THE FLESHLY MIND OF SENSE, AND REASON, WITHOUT THE HOLY GHOST IS NOT SUBJECT TO THE LAWS OF GOD NEITHER INDEED CAN BE.

Rom:8:5: For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. Rom:8:6: For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.

Rom:8:7: Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.

Rom:8:8: So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.

HOLY CHILDREN, NOT ALL MEN ARE CHILDREN OF GOD, NEITHER ARE ALL MEN PREDESTINATED. THERE ARE IN THIS PRESENT WORLD BOTH THE CHILDREN OF GOD, AND THE CHILDREN OF SATAN. COME INTO THIS KNOWLEDGE, IN THE FULLNESS OF TIME GOD CALLS HIS CHILDREN, THE PREDESTINATED, TO REPENTANCE, JUSTIFIES, AND GLORIFIES THEM, TRANSLATING THEM OUT OF THE WORLD, AND INTO THE BODY OF CHRIST.

Rom:8:28: And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

Rom:8:29: For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.

Rom:8:30: Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.

Rom:8:31: What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?

Rom:8:32: He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?

HOLY BRETHREN, THE MOST WONDERFUL THING THAT WILL HAPPEN TO YOU IN THIS WORLD IS THE RECEIVING OF THE HOLY GHOST. WHEN WE RECEIVE THE WASHING OF REGENERATION, AND THE RENEWING OF THE HOLY GHOST, THE INWARD MAN, THE SOUL, COMES TO LIFE, THIS IS THE BORN AGAIN EXPERIENCE, THAT PART OF A MAN COMES TO LIFE THAT SHALL LIVE IN ETERNITY. FOR THE SOUL OF MAN IS RENEWED DAY BY DAY.

2Cor:4:16: For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day. (KJV)

WHEN JESUS CHRIST TAUGHT THE JEWISH PEOPLE, HE WOULD SPEAK TO THEM IN PARABLES. FOR EXAMPLE IF HE WAS TALKING TO MEN THAT OWNED VINEYARDS. HE MAY VERY WELL USE THE PARABLE OF THE VINE, AND BRANCHES. FOR EXAMPLE IF A GRAPE VINE HAD BRANCHES THAT DID NOT PRODUCE GRAPES, THOSE BRANCHES MAY VERY WELL BE PRUNED FROM THE VINES.

Jn:15:1: I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman.

Jn:15:2: Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.

IT IS TREMENDOUSLY IMPORTANT THAT WE AS SAINTS OF GOD PRODUCE FRUIT. WHAT FRUIT IS GOD TALKING ABOUT IN THESE VERSES OF SCRIPTURE. WHEN GOD COMMANDED ADAM AND EVE TO BE FRUITFUL, AND REPLENISH THE EARTH; I BELIEVE THAT GOD WAS COMMANDING ADAM AND EVE TO PRODUCE CHILDREN. BUT WHEN GOD COMMANDS THE CHRISTIANS, AS BRANCHES IN THE VINE, WHICH IS CHRIST, TO BE FRUITFUL. I BELIEVE THAT HE IS COMMANDING US TO MAKE DISCIPLES FOR CHRIST. SINCE OUR VERY SALVATION DEPENDS ON BEING FRUITFUL, THE QUESTION MUST ARISE, HOW DO WE WIN SOULS TO CHRIST. IT IS MY OPINION THAT WE WIN SOULS TO CHRIST PREACHING, AND TEACHING THE COMMANDMENTS OF GOD.

Mt:13:1: The same day went Jesus out of the house, and sat by the sea side.

Mt:13:2: And great multitudes were gathered together unto him, so that he went into a ship, and sat; and the whole multitude stood on the shore.

Mt:13:3: And he spake many things unto them in parables, saying, Behold, a sower went forth to sow;

Mt:13:4: And when he sowed, some seeds fell by the way side, and the fowls came and devoured them up:

Mt:13:5: Some fell upon stony places, where they had not much earth: and forthwith they sprung up, because they had no deepness of earth:

Mt:13:6: And when the sun was up, they were scorched; and because they had no root, they withered away.

Mt:13:7: And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprung up, and choked them:

Mt:13:8: But other fell into good ground, and brought forth fruit, some an hundredfold, some sixtyfold, some thirtyfold.

Mt:13:9: Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.

SONS, AND DAUGHTERS OF GOD, THE SEED THAT IS SOWN IS THE WORD OF GOD. THE FRUIT THAT IS BROUGHT FORTH BY SOWING THE WORD OF GOD IS DISCIPLES OF CHRIST. LET ME GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE, ON THE DAY OF PENTECOST PETER PREACHED THE LIFE, THE DEATH, THE RESURRECTION OF JESUS CHRIST. WHEN THOSE MEN HEARD THAT THEY HAD CRUCIFIED THE SON OF GOD, THEY CAME TO PETER, AND SAID MEN, AND BROTHERING WHAT SHALL WE DO?

Acts:2:37: Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do? (KJV)

Acts:2:38: Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. (KJV)

Acts:2:39: For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call. (KJV)

Acts:2:40: And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation. (KJV)

Acts:2:41: Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls. (KJV)

BELOVED OF GOD, WITH ONE SERMON PREACHED BY THE APOSTLE PETER THERE WERE THREE THOUSAND SOULS BAPTIZED INTO THE BODY OF CHRIST. MANY PEOPLE ARE WON TO CHRIST BY THEIR PERSONAL TESTIMONY ONE ON ONE. AS PHILIP WON THE EUNUCH.

Acts:8:29: Then the Spirit said unto Philip, Go near, and join thyself to this chariot.

Acts:8:30: And Philip ran thither to him, and heard him read the prophet Esaias, and said, Understandest thou what thou readest?

Acts:8:31: And he said, How can I, except some man should guide me? And he desired Philip that he would come up and sit with him.

Acts:8:32: The place of the scripture which he read was this, He was led as a sheep to the slaughter; and like a lamb dumb before his shearer, so opened he not his mouth:

Acts:8:33: In his humiliation his judgment was taken away: and who shall declare his generation? for his life is taken from the earth.

Acts:8:34: And the eunuch answered Philip, and said, I pray thee, of whom speaketh the prophet this? of himself, or of some other man?

Acts:8:35: Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus.

Acts:8:36: And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized?

Acts:8:37: And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.

Acts:8:38: And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him.

WHO WILL BE CONSIDERED AS FRUITFUL, WHEN THE ELECT OF GOD ARE WON TO CHRIST IN A CHURCH SERVICE? WILL THE PASTOR THAT PREACHES THE SERMON, OR THE SAINTS THAT PLAYED UPON THE MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS, OR THE SAINTS THAT SANG THE HYMNS? I BELIEVE THAT THEY ALL SHALL BE CONSIDERED FRUITFUL.

SAINTS OF GOD, GOD IS GOOD TO THE GOOD, BUT HE IS SEVER TO THE WICKED. THOSE THAT PREACH THAT ONCE A MAN IS SAVED HE CANNOT LOSE HIS SALVATION IS PREACHING HERESY. ONCE A PERSON IS SAVED HE SHALL ALWAYS BE SAVED IF HE OBEYS THE COMMANDMENTS OF GOD. BUT ONCE SAVED ALWAYS SAVED REGARDLESS OF WHAT YOU DO IS A LIE.

Rom:11:22: Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in his goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off. (KJV)

BROTHERS, AND SISTERS IN CHRIST, IN THIS PARABLE WHO IS THE VINE? THE LORD JESUS CHRIST IS THE VINE. WHO ARE THE BRANCHES? WE THE SAINTS OF GOD ARE THE BRANCHES. BUT, IF A PERSON THAT IS IN CHRIST DOES NOT PRODUCE FRUIT, IT APPEARS TO ME AS THOUGH HE WOULD BE REMOVED FROM THE BODY OF CHRIST. IF A MAN DOES NOT GATHER IN THE HARVEST OF SOULS, HE SCATTERETH THEM. THERE IS NO NEUTRAL GROUND, EITHER YOU ARE FOR CHRIST, AND WORKING IN THE VINEYARD, OR YOU ARE ANTICHRIST.

2Cor:4:16: For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day. (KJV)