What is the meaning of John 15:3? You – Jesus is speaking directly to His disciples, the eleven who remained after Judas departed (John 13:10–11). – By extension, this “you” embraces every believer united to Christ (Romans 8:1; 1 Peter 2:9). – The personal address underscores relationship, not mere religion—He knows His own by name (John 10:3). are already – The cleansing Jesus announces is a present, completed fact, not a future possibility (Romans 5:1; 1 John 3:2). – Salvation is settled at the moment of faith; abiding fruit comes afterward (Ephesians 2:8-10). – This certainty steadies the heart in seasons of pruning that immediately follow in the passage (John 15:2). clean – “Clean” points to full forgiveness and inner purity, something only God can provide (Psalm 51:7; Titus 3:5). – In Christ, sin’s stain is washed away (1 Corinthians 6:11; Hebrews 10:22). – The disciples still needed their feet washed (daily confession and growth, John 13:14), but their standing before God was already pure. because of the word – The agent of cleansing is the word Jesus had spoken; His message carries divine power (Ephesians 5:26; James 1:21). – That spoken word revealed who He is, called for faith, and imparted life to those who believed (John 5:24; 17:17). – Regular exposure to Scripture continues to wash the believer’s mind, aligning thoughts and desires with God’s will (Psalm 119:9). I have spoken to you – The emphasis is on Jesus’ own voice. He does not delegate cleansing to tradition or ritual but accomplishes it personally (Hebrews 1:2; John 6:63). – His words are Spirit and life, and they remain active every time we open the Bible (Hebrews 4:12). – Listening to Him is the ongoing posture of discipleship, the root of abiding (Revelation 3:20). summary John 15:3 assures true followers that they stand forgiven and purified right now, solely through the life-giving words of Christ they have received. This settled cleansing frees us to abide, bear fruit, and endure pruning, confident that our relationship with the Vine is secure and sustained by His living Word. |
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