Bible Truth #19 - John 15:16

John 15:16

You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit—fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name.

Here is a verse that has combined God’s choice in us AND the appointment. And Jesus clearly says not only that He chose us, He also said we DIDN’T choose Him - which easily reconciles with John 1:13 (we become children of God NOT by human decision). In his lost state and total depravity, man will not choose Christ, he will not believe, accept, trust, repent, confess, or confirm. Not only WILL he NOT do any of these things, he CAN NOT do any of them, because any one of them would please God. Everything a lost man does is in the flesh and they that are in the flesh can NOT please God (Romans 8:8).

Some would say, “Well, Jesus didn’t say in that verse that we were appointed to eternal life, He said we were appointed to go and bear fruit.” C’mon! The lost aren’t appointed to go and bear fruit are they? The lost are wicked and they can’t please God. They live their lives every day sinning against God - everything they do is sin, EVERYTHING. Romans 14:23 says EVERYTHING not done in faith is sin and the lost do NOTHING in faith, it is all done in the flesh because their spirit is dead. So they are sinning when they eat breakfast, they are sinning when they brush their teeth, they are sinning when they read the newspaper, they even sin when they tuck their grandchildren into bed. EVERYTHING not done in faith is sin...

I’ve heard some say this verse (John 15:16) has a limited application. Jesus was speaking only to His apostles and His statement can not be applied to the whole church. SAYS WHO? Of course the Arminian will say that verse can’t be applied to the whole church. To that I say: you can NOT pick and choose what to apply to the apostles and what to apply to the church. Think about it - Jesus was ALSO speaking to His apostles when He gave the command, “Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.” (Mark 16:15) but that is applied to the church today is it not?

So who is to say what is applied to us and what is not? EASY! Look at the context of anything Jesus says. If it is not specific, “Zaccheus come down, I am going to eat with you today.” OR “Go into the city and there you will find a man carrying a water jar...” those are specific and He was talking to individuals. Any teaching, any parables, any words of wisdom, anything else He said, He is telling His apostles AND (by clear implication) His Church. My Pastor has even said there is NOTHING in the Bible that doesn’t have a purpose for being there. There WAS a purpose Jesus told His apostles, “You did not choose me, but I chose you...”

God chose a bride for His Son before the foundation of the world (Ephesians 1:4). THEY are the many for whom Christ shed His blood (Mark 14:24).