Without me, you can do nothing. Such as.

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Demi777

Senior Member
Oct 13, 2014
6,877
1,949
113
Germany
#21
True, but God is gracious enough to do the same for those who are not in Christ. So that wouldn't apply.
Don't you have some example or testimony of what God did for or through you, that you could not have done or would not have come about without Him? Something that would glorify God?
No one gave any personal testimony of what God did through or for them.
Can we, who are in Christ, now receive answered prayer? Could we have received anything from God before we received Christ in our hearts?
But Jesus asked if "WE" can do anything, accept we abide in Him, and I stress the word, "anything".
Wouldn't that fall under the same scripture that says, "I can do all things through Christ, which strengthens, enables, and empowers me."
I think a more accurate translation for the word "through", would be "in" Christ, as some versions put it.
So what does God strengthen, enable, and empower us to be able to do, that we couldn't do before we were in Christ Jesus?
1noone can live without God, saved or not. What u just said makes no sense. It applies ro all the creation.
2 my whole life is s testimony, my ability to be here and have the time to type this is a testimony
3. Im alive
 

p_rehbein

Senior Member
Sep 4, 2013
30,097
6,479
113
#22
I have thought on this Scripture several times and I end up wondering.......

If it is completely true......in that the bad fruit we produce is done WITH CHRIST, hmm..............

I know we can (when we try to do things ourselves) really mess things up when we don't let Christ work through us, but, this particular passage sounds as if even when we do mess things up, it's Him working though us

Does that make sense?

Anyhoo

(edited to add)

I mean, this could end up with someone saying:

Hey, DON'T BLAME ME, it was Christ working through me that caused all that mess..........I can not be held responsible for what I do IF it was really Christ doing it can I?

(see)
 

mailmandan

Senior Member
Apr 7, 2014
25,001
13,008
113
58
#23
Apart from Christ we can do nothing (John 15:5); yet we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us (Philippians 4:13).
 

OneFaith

Senior Member
Sep 5, 2016
2,270
369
83
#24
I Am the True Vine​
Joh 15:1 I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman.
Joh 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.
Joh 15:3 Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you.
Joh 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.
Joh 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.
Joh 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.
Joh 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.
Joh 15:8 Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.

What kind of fruit do you produce now that you are born again, that you couldn't do before?

Jesus said we can do "nothing" without Him, what do you think He means, when He says, nothing?

The Greek describes the word, nothing as, "not even ONE thing".

Anybody know what Jesus is talking about? It would have to be something you couldn't do before you received Jesus in your life, that brings glory to God.

Is it love or forgiveness, the ability to escape sin's hold, go to heaven, or is it something bigger?
Without Jesus we could not literally do anything- including exist. For it is by His words that we were created. ("Let there be ----------, and there was."). "Without Him nothing was created that had been created." So whether physically or spiritually, whether before being saved or after, no one can do anything without Christ- "Who holds all things together." Ever wonder how the molecules of your hand stay separate from the molecules of the air? When you rest your arm on the table, what makes your arm your arm, and the table a table, if everything is just a bunch of molecules? It is Jesus who holds all things together, who put the soul in a man and made him a living being. In the book of Job you'll see that even satan cannot do anything without God's permission and allowed capability.
 

JaumeJ

Senior Member
Jul 2, 2011
21,195
6,509
113
#25
I have thought on this Scripture several times and I end up wondering.......

If it is completely true......in that the bad fruit we produce is done WITH CHRIST, hmm..............

I know we can (when we try to do things ourselves) really mess things up when we don't let Christ work through us, but, this particular passage sounds as if even when we do mess things up, it's Him working though us

Does that make sense?

Anyhoo

(edited to add)

I mean, this could end up with someone saying:

Hey, DON'T BLAME ME, it was Christ working through me that caused all that mess..........I can not be held responsible for what I do IF it was really Christ doing it can I?

(see)

Are you close kin to Will Rogers?
 

know1

Senior Member
Aug 27, 2012
3,071
166
63
#26
1noone can live without God, saved or not. What u just said makes no sense. It applies ro all the creation.
2 my whole life is s testimony, my ability to be here and have the time to type this is a testimony
3. Im alive
The world does not have and lives without God.
He upholds all things by the word of His power, but He has not taken up residence in them.
Old bottles cannot handle new wine.
Neither have they both eaten and drank Jesus' flesh and blood, respectively.
They have no live in them. For it is written, "he who has Christ has life, and he that does not, does not have life.
So Jesus is not speaking to all creation but to the believers.
As for being alive and your life being a testimony... The world can say the same. No glory to God there.
If you ready what is written, AS IT IS WRITTEN, then you would see that Jesus was talking about those who remain or abide in Him and producing the kind of fruit only the vine can produce, vs those who do NOT REMAIN OR ABIDE in Christ and/or fail to produce fruit or good fruit.
And when Jesus said, "without me ye can do nothing", He was talking about those who fail to abide in the vine/Him will not be able to produce ANY good fruit.
I am guessing that you, along with many others, believe, once in Christ, always in Christ. Am I correct?
I no longer wonder what kind of fruit the vine produces, but I still ponder what causes us to remain or abide in Christ and what the determining factor is that would cause us not to remain in Him.
That is for me, because that is what I believe, based on my understanding of what is written.
 

know1

Senior Member
Aug 27, 2012
3,071
166
63
#27
I have thought on this Scripture several times and I end up wondering.......

If it is completely true......in that the bad fruit we produce is done WITH CHRIST, hmm..............

I know we can (when we try to do things ourselves) really mess things up when we don't let Christ work through us, but, this particular passage sounds as if even when we do mess things up, it's Him working though us

Does that make sense?

Anyhoo

(edited to add)

I mean, this could end up with someone saying:

Hey, DON'T BLAME ME, it was Christ working through me that caused all that mess..........I can not be held responsible for what I do IF it was really Christ doing it can I?

(see)
A good tree CANNOT produce bad fruit.
 

know1

Senior Member
Aug 27, 2012
3,071
166
63
#28
No one has yet to give a single account of something God did through them that glorified Him.
From what I read, we should be producing much fruit, which gives glory to God.
Doesn't anyone have a single supernatural account that they can brag on God about?
Being alive or simply existing, does not constitute, fruit the vine produces.
 

theanointedwinner

Well-known member
Nov 6, 2018
2,058
1,125
113
#29
No one has yet to give a single account of something God did through them that glorified Him.
From what I read, we should be producing much fruit, which gives glory to God.
Doesn't anyone have a single supernatural account that they can brag on God about?
Being alive or simply existing, does not constitute, fruit the vine produces.
when God speak to you, what did he sound like?
 

p_rehbein

Senior Member
Sep 4, 2013
30,097
6,479
113
#31
No one has yet to give a single account of something God did through them that glorified Him.
From what I read, we should be producing much fruit, which gives glory to God.
Doesn't anyone have a single supernatural account that they can brag on God about?
Being alive or simply existing, does not constitute, fruit the vine produces.

As you are quoting Scriptures to support your comments..........did you consider quoting the one about us not tooting our own horns?

BUT.......if you want us to brag......why did you not start?
 

p_rehbein

Senior Member
Sep 4, 2013
30,097
6,479
113
#32
Matthew 6:1) Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven.

2Therefore when thou doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.

3But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth:

4That thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly.
 

Demi777

Senior Member
Oct 13, 2014
6,877
1,949
113
Germany
#33
The world does not have and lives without God.
He upholds all things by the word of His power, but He has not taken up residence in them.
Old bottles cannot handle new wine.
Neither have they both eaten and drank Jesus' flesh and blood, respectively.
They have no live in them. For it is written, "he who has Christ has life, and he that does not, does not have life.
So Jesus is not speaking to all creation but to the believers.
As for being alive and your life being a testimony... The world can say the same. No glory to God there.
If you ready what is written, AS IT IS WRITTEN, then you would see that Jesus was talking about those who remain or abide in Him and producing the kind of fruit only the vine can produce, vs those who do NOT REMAIN OR ABIDE in Christ and/or fail to produce fruit or good fruit.
And when Jesus said, "without me ye can do nothing", He was talking about those who fail to abide in the vine/Him will not be able to produce ANY good fruit.
I am guessing that you, along with many others, believe, once in Christ, always in Christ. Am I correct?
I no longer wonder what kind of fruit the vine produces, but I still ponder what causes us to remain or abide in Christ and what the determining factor is that would cause us not to remain in Him.
That is for me, because that is what I believe, based on my understanding of what is written.
Im not a part of the OSAS believers. U seem to like jumping to conclusions.
God has saved me.from death many times
 

Grandpa

Senior Member
Jun 24, 2011
11,551
3,188
113
#34
About 10 years ago I was trying to be perfect before the Lord. I was taking all my thoughts captive, like the bible said to do.

Well all my thoughts were evil continually. I didn't want them to be. I wanted to be perfect before the Lord. But I couldn't stop. All these thoughts came to me un-bidden, or like they were an automatic habit. If it wasn't lustful thoughts I was having it would switch to covetous thoughts and vice versa. But it was always one of those two.

So I prayed. I first of all asked the Lord why I couldn't even be good or righteous even for a few moments. Then I asked the Lord for help. I did not understand the magnitude of the help that I was asking for at the time.

But I received Help. And it was a whole lot more help than what I was expecting. I received Rest from my work at trying to be Righteous before God. Instead I was given a New Way. A way of abiding in Christ and Leaning on His Power and Wisdom instead of my own. I received Peace. I received Joy. I received Love. I received Deliverance. I received Salvation.

Now I could dwell on the Righteous thoughts and Righteous teaching of Scripture asking the Lord to help bring it to mind instead of filling my mind with my own way of un-righteousness and evil continually.

Now, scripture and the Words of the Lord come un-bidden into my mind instead of the lustful and covetous thoughts. Not that I'm perfect now, because I'm not. But I'm not trapped in my own ways and my own thoughts. I have a Way to repent towards now. I have something to Abide in that I didn't before. I have someone to Rest in who is more Powerful than I am. Who is more Wise than I am. Whose Way is much better than mine.
 

stonesoffire

Poetic Member
Nov 24, 2013
10,665
1,829
113
#35
Agreed, but I still think there's more to that statement Jesus made than what's done within us.
He said, "Ye can DO nothing...", as in, we doing something in Jesus' name, or God doing through us, such as being a doer of the word that we hear, the word of God, or the word of faith, and then God providing the power to cause it to manifest or to be done.
I've pondered this for a couple of months now, and it just comes across as something bigger, something more.
I see this at this moment as the works that He did and said we would do the same. They can only be done by His Spirit in us flowing outward. Whether anointed words or deeds...all from Him the source of life through us.

Possibly why there is that scripture of "I never knew you".
 

stonesoffire

Poetic Member
Nov 24, 2013
10,665
1,829
113
#36
About 10 years ago I was trying to be perfect before the Lord. I was taking all my thoughts captive, like the bible said to do.

Well all my thoughts were evil continually. I didn't want them to be. I wanted to be perfect before the Lord. But I couldn't stop. All these thoughts came to me un-bidden, or like they were an automatic habit. If it wasn't lustful thoughts I was having it would switch to covetous thoughts and vice versa. But it was always one of those two.

So I prayed. I first of all asked the Lord why I couldn't even be good or righteous even for a few moments. Then I asked the Lord for help. I did not understand the magnitude of the help that I was asking for at the time.

But I received Help. And it was a whole lot more help than what I was expecting. I received Rest from my work at trying to be Righteous before God. Instead I was given a New Way. A way of abiding in Christ and Leaning on His Power and Wisdom instead of my own. I received Peace. I received Joy. I received Love. I received Deliverance. I received Salvation.

Now I could dwell on the Righteous thoughts and Righteous teaching of Scripture asking the Lord to help bring it to mind instead of filling my mind with my own way of un-righteousness and evil continually.

Now, scripture and the Words of the Lord come un-bidden into my mind instead of the lustful and covetous thoughts. Not that I'm perfect now, because I'm not. But I'm not trapped in my own ways and my own thoughts. I have a Way to repent towards now. I have something to Abide in that I didn't before. I have someone to Rest in who is more Powerful than I am. Who is more Wise than I am. Whose Way is much better than mine.
Big amen!
 

luigi

Junior Member
Dec 6, 2015
1,222
216
63
#37
I Am the True Vine​
Joh 15:1 I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman.
Joh 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.
Joh 15:3 Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you.
Joh 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.
Joh 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.
Joh 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.
Joh 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.
Joh 15:8 Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.

What kind of fruit do you produce now that you are born again, that you couldn't do before?

Jesus said we can do "nothing" without Him, what do you think He means, when He says, nothing?

The Greek describes the word, nothing as, "not even ONE thing".

Anybody know what Jesus is talking about? It would have to be something you couldn't do before you received Jesus in your life, that brings glory to God.

Is it love or forgiveness, the ability to escape sin's hold, go to heaven, or is it something bigger?
As the apostles and many other Christian believers in the first century, did many of the works/miracles the Lord did, I then believe these represent but a few of the things the Lord meant by being unable to do anything productive, other than through Him.
However, are not singularly minded as were first century Christians who did the works/miracles Christ did, we are thus unable to do the works/miracles the Lord said would accompany they who believe on Him.

John 14:12 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.
 
Sep 3, 2016
6,337
527
113
#38
I Am the True Vine​
Joh 15:1 I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman.
Joh 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.
Joh 15:3 Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you.
Joh 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.
Joh 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.
Joh 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.
Joh 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.
Joh 15:8 Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.

What kind of fruit do you produce now that you are born again, that you couldn't do before?

Jesus said we can do "nothing" without Him, what do you think He means, when He says, nothing?

The Greek describes the word, nothing as, "not even ONE thing".

Anybody know what Jesus is talking about? It would have to be something you couldn't do before you received Jesus in your life, that brings glory to God.

Is it love or forgiveness, the ability to escape sin's hold, go to heaven, or is it something bigger?

This is why we must place and maintain our Faith exclusively in our Perfect Sacrifice Jesus Christ and the Cross of Calvary where the victory was one so we stay in His death, burial, and resurrection and are, therefore, victorious (It is His life that brings victory). That is the only way we are triumphant in Christ (II Cor. 2:14). And that is the only way He can work in us both to will (change their desires), and to do (give them the power of the Holy Spirit) (Phil. 2:13), so we can overcome sin, the world, and the flesh, and the Devil. This is the only way believers can yield themselves as God’s servants (slaves) of obedience instead of being slaves to sin unto death (Rom. 6:16). The Holy Spirit recognize the Believer as a humble servant in the heart when the Believer recognize their moral and spiritual poverty. For they know that in them (that is, in their flesh) dwells no good thing. It is of the LORD mercies that we are not consumed, because His compassion fails not. O wretched and vile Believer that I am! At our best state is altogether vanity. We know we are am unable to serve Him in our own power, self-will, strength, ability, and power. Without Jesus we can do nothing!
 
Sep 3, 2016
6,337
527
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#39
This is why we must place and maintain our Faith exclusively in our Perfect Sacrifice Jesus Christ and the Cross of Calvary where the victory was one so we stay in His death, burial, and resurrection and are, therefore, victorious (It is His life that brings victory). That is the only way we are triumphant in Christ (II Cor. 2:14). And that is the only way He can work in us both to will (change their desires), and to do (give them the power of the Holy Spirit) (Phil. 2:13), so we can overcome sin, the world, and the flesh, and the Devil. This is the only way believers can yield themselves as God’s servants (slaves) of obedience instead of being slaves to sin unto death (Rom. 6:16). The Holy Spirit recognize the Believer as a humble servant in the heart when the Believer recognize their moral and spiritual poverty. For they know that in them (that is, in their flesh) dwells no good thing. It is of the LORD mercies that we are not consumed, because His compassion fails not. O wretched and vile Believer that I am! At our best state is altogether vanity. We know we are am unable to serve Him in our own power, self-will, strength, ability, and power. Without Jesus we can do nothing!
This is why we must place and maintain our Faith exclusively in our Perfect Sacrifice Jesus Christ and the Cross of Calvary where the victory was won so we stay in His death, burial, and resurrection and are, therefore, victorious (It is His life that brings victory). That is the only way we are triumphant in Christ (II Cor. 2:14). And that is the only way He can work in us both to will (change their desires), and to do (give them the power of the Holy Spirit) (Phil. 2:13), so we can overcome sin, the world, and the flesh, and the Devil. This is the only way believers can yield themselves as God’s servants (slaves) of obedience instead of being slaves to sin unto death (Rom. 6:16). The Holy Spirit recognize the Believer as a humble servant in the heart when the Believer recognize their moral and spiritual poverty. For they know that in them (that is, in their flesh) dwells no good thing. It is of the LORD mercies that we are not consumed, because His compassion fails not. O wretched and vile Believer that I am! At our best state is altogether vanity. We know we are am unable to serve Him in our own power, self-will, strength, ability, and power. Without Jesus we can do nothing!
This is why we must place and maintain our Faith exclusively in our Perfect Sacrifice Jesus Christ and the Cross of Calvary where the victory was one so we stay in His death, burial, and resurrection and are, therefore, victorious (It is His life that brings victory). That is the only way we are triumphant in Christ (II Cor. 2:14). And that is the only way He can work in us both to will (change our desires), and to do (give us the power of the Holy Spirit) (Phil. 2:13), so we can overcome sin, the world, and the flesh, and the Devil. This is the only way believers can yield themselves as God’s servants (slaves) of obedience instead of being slaves to sin unto death (Rom. 6:16). The Holy Spirit recognize the Believer as a humble servant in the heart when the Believer recognize their moral and spiritual poverty. For they know that in them (that is, in their flesh) dwells no good thing. It is of the LORD mercies that we are not consumed, because His compassion fails not. O wretched and vile Believer that I am! At our best state is altogether vanity. We know we are am unable to serve Him in our own power, self-will, strength, ability, and power. Without Jesus we can do nothing!
Jesus says, "Without me, you can do nothing." The question is, "How much value do we place on the Offering of Christ?" Do we feel that the Cross is the answer to every question, the solution to every problem, the strength for every weakness, the life for every death, the salvation for every sin, and the health for every sickness? How you as a Believer look at the Cross, is how you value the Cross. This is very, very serious, so we should think about it very carefully.

For one to receive the proper benefits of the Cross, in other words that for which Jesus died, one must understand its proper value, and at the same time, properly understand its value.

JSM
 

know1

Senior Member
Aug 27, 2012
3,071
166
63
#40
when God speak to you, what did he sound like?
To be quite honest, He talks and sounds like me, so much so, that many times I have difficulty determining who is doing the speaking, because it is such a small voice.

Sometimes it is louder and clearer than others.

When it comes to giving me revelation to scripture, things I know nothing about, well, then I usually question if it was of the devil or of God. If it checks out, I say it was of God. If it doesn't, then I surmise it was of the devil.

Only once did God speak to me soo loud and clear, that I could discern His voice from others.