Ep 1162 | Phil Robertson's Best Unscripted Moments from Political Campaigns to Late-Night TV

Summary

Unashamed with the Robertson Family

Ep 1162 | Phil Robertson's Best Unscripted Moments from Political Campaigns to Late-Night TV
Air Date: September 10, 2025
Featuring: Al Robertson, Jason "Jase" Robertson, Zach Dasher

OVERVIEW

This episode dives into some of Phil Robertson’s most memorable, off-the-cuff moments—from his no-filter political campaign support, to hilarious hunting tales, to his effortless wit on late-night TV. The hosts reflect on Phil’s legacy of authenticity, his unscripted style, and his unashamed witness for Christ. In parallel, they study John 15 and explore what it means to “abide” in Christ, with practical connections to daily Christian living.

---

Phil Robertson: Unscripted & Unfiltered

The Origins of Phil’s Media Presence

• [01:06 – 04:15]
  • Zach explains how their early attempts to make Phil the star of a "vlog" quickly turned into letting Phil freestyle because “Phil is unscriptable.”
    • “I learned very quickly that Phil is unscriptable. What you write really doesn’t matter.” — Zach Dasher [03:10]
  • The original plan included scripted segments. Instead, 800 short, unscripted videos were produced, with Phil delivering wisdom and humor directly to the camera.
  • These evolved into the "At Home with Phil Robertson" podcast—short, spiritual messages meant as a daily rhythm.

Classic Phil Moments: Off the Script, On the Mark

• [05:28 – 06:44]

  • Zach reminisces about his Congressional campaign and the consultants’ desire for a scripted Phil endorsement.
    • Phil rejects the script: "Nah, nah. Turn your cameras on, boys."
    • Phil’s viral line:
      “Guns and Bibles got us here. It’ll be guns and Bibles that keep us here. My nephew Zach Dasher believes in both.” — Phil Robertson (as recounted by Zach) [06:16]
  • The ad’s lack of polish and Phil’s candor caused it to "go viral" and ignite discussion online.

• [06:44 – 09:29]

  • The hosts recall a legendary Phil hunting video in which he explains (with PG-13 humor) how he bagged a deer from his truck while his cameraman disappears for a bathroom break.
    • “The cameraman’s taking a dump and Jimmy Red is squirrel hunting… here I am, I got the deer and I’ve been in the truck, listening to country music.” — Jason, paraphrasing Phil [08:39]
  • Phil’s spontaneous humor, keen observations, and unpretentious storytelling are highlighted.

Phil on Late-Night TV

• [09:40 – 11:29]
  • The Robertsons recount Phil and Willie’s first big late-night show appearance (with Conan O’Brien).
    • Willie froze up backstage, but Phil shined, charming Conan and the audience with tales about making duck calls.
    • “Dad was just funny. And he had O’Brien laughing.” — Al Robertson [10:31]
    • Phil’s authenticity bridges the gap for non-hunter audiences, making duck calls and hunting lingo universally entertaining.

---

Discussion: Abiding in Christ (John 15)

"Abide" vs. "Remain": Unpacking the Language

• [15:42 – 16:35]
  • The hosts turn to John 15, noting the recurring verb “remain/abide” (ten times in eleven verses; over 100 times in the NT).
    • “This idea… becomes kind of this jumping-off place.” — Al [16:16]
  • They link “abide” to its root: to dwell, make a home, be permanently connected—echoing the incarnational ministry of Jesus.

Temple & Garden Themes

• [17:53 – 18:46]
  • Jason and Zach connect “abide” to Old Testament temple and garden language:
    • God’s deepest desire is to dwell with His people, making their hearts His abode.
    • Zach: “The word abide is such a great word… think about home, make our home with him. This really does show the heart of the Father.” [16:35]

Love as the Heart of Christian Obedience

• [20:35 – 22:23]
  • The conversation flows to Jesus’ command:
    • “The greatest command [is]… love one another. It’s all centered around love.” — Jason [20:39]
  • They emphasize that loving one another can only be accomplished through the Spirit.
    • Zach: “The only way we can love one another… is through the work of the Spirit. That’s the only means you would ever have.” [21:34]

The Rich Young Ruler: Transaction vs. Abiding Life

• [25:45 – 28:27]
  • Jason ties the “rich young ruler” story to abiding—he wanted salvation as a transaction, not a relationship.
    • “He did not want to abide in Christ. He didn’t want to follow him… the main part was to come follow me.” — Zach [26:10]
  • Real salvation is not just atonement, but for the purpose of ongoing communion with Christ.

Israel, the True Vine, and the New Creation

• [29:28 – 42:43]
  • The hosts trace the biblical imagery of vine and branches:
    • Jesus is the true vine (John 15), contrasted with Israel’s failed vocation (Psalm 80).
    • The temple/garden/fruit motifs are seen throughout Psalms, Ezekiel, and the New Testament—pointing to Jesus as the new locus of God’s presence and fruitfulness.
    • “Now the locus of fruit production is not in the temple—it’s in Jesus Christ himself, and then us.” — Zach [37:23]
  • Paul’s theology in Romans and Ephesians (Jews and Gentiles united, the dividing wall broken) is rooted in these ideas.

Love Originates with God

• [51:14 – 53:58]
  • The hosts stress that love comes from God first; we love because He loved us (1 John 4:10, 19).
    • Jason: “When you know Jesus, then all of a sudden you’re like, ‘Oh, he chose me before the beginning of time.’” [51:14]
  • Grafting into the vine is not just knowledge or rule-keeping, but being known and loved by God.
    • Al: “It’s love or lie. You can’t have love and lie together… it has to be one or the other.” [55:12]

Joy and Abiding

• [44:26 – 48:18]
  • Jesus shares these things “so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.”
  • Daily self-giving and loving one another is both the evidence and fruit of genuine abiding.

---

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “Phil is unscriptable.” — Zach Dasher [03:10]
• “Guns and Bibles got us here. It’ll be guns and Bibles that keep us here. My nephew Zach Dasher believes in both.” — Phil Robertson (as recounted by Zach) [06:16]
• “The cameraman’s taking a dump and Jimmy Red is squirrel hunting… here I am, I got the deer and I’ve been in the truck, listening to country music.” — Paraphrase of Phil by Jason [08:39]
• “The only way we can love one another… is through the work of the Spirit.” — Zach [21:34]
• “When you know Jesus… you realize, oh, he knows me. He’s been knowing me. He knows me better than anyone.” — Jason [51:14]
• “It’s love or lie… You can’t have love and lie together.” — Al [55:12]

---

Key Timestamps

• [01:06] – The origins of “Unashamed” and Phil’s unscripted nature
• [05:28] – Phil’s legendary political endorsement
• [06:44] – Hilarious deer hunting tale
• [09:40] – The Conan O’Brien appearance
• [15:42] – Moving into John 15 & the theme of abiding in Christ
• [20:35] – Love as the center of Christian life and obedience
• [29:28] – Rich young ruler and abiding as a relational call
• [37:23] – Old Testament temple/garden motifs fulfilled in Jesus
• [51:14] – Being known and chosen by God
• [55:12] – Love versus lie, and the necessity of abiding

---

Final Thoughts

The episode skillfully weaves Phil Robertson’s no-nonsense approach to life with a deep Bible study in John 15. Through stories, laughter, and rich biblical insight, the speakers invite listeners to embrace authenticity, to abide in Christ, and to remember that all spiritual fruit stems from God’s indwelling love and presence. The banter honors Phil’s legacy while pointing listeners to the greater story—the gospel lived out with grit and grace.

---

For further study: The episode references multiple passages for deeper reflection (Psalm 80, Ezekiel 47, John 15, Romans 9–11, Ephesians 2), and encourages direct, unscripted engagement with both Scripture and God Himself.

Transcript

[Zach Dasher]

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[Al Robertson]

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[Al Robertson]

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[Zach Dasher]

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[Jason]

UnitedHealthcare nurse Crystal checked in on a patient.

[Al Robertson]

We do a routine call after surgery.

[Jason]

And I could tell in her voice that she was struggling. Crystal knew she needed help. I knew that this is very serious. This is like septic, this is life threatening.

[Al Robertson]

And she knew just what to do.

[Jason]

And I called the hospital and said, she's coming in. Here are her labs and got her.

[Al Robertson]

The help she needed.

[Jason]

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[Al Robertson]

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[Jason]

I am unashamed. What about you?

[Al Robertson]

So we, we had some guests in yesterday and I was showing them around and they were in the studio because there's so much of in here, like we've got these little Easter eggs around of, of dad, you know, because, you know, this all started because the podcast Zach was, it was his podcast when it started. It wasn't even us. We, we were just first, it was just going to be dad. And I thought, well, Dad's not going to get this concept of a podcast. He's just going to be doing the same thing every time he does it.

[Jason]

You know, I was the player to be named later. Were, you know, in a trade when they're like superstar was traded somewhere for a player to be named later.

[Al Robertson]

Yeah, we didn't even know about J. And but so it was really interesting. So like, even though dad is not physically with us in the room on the spirit side, I think his, his presence is still surrounding us. And I don't know, Zach, you were telling us in a previous podcast about you guys got the material from in the woods with Phil, which was what led to the podcast. I mean that, that vlog series, you.

[Zach Dasher]

Know what's funny is that. So I had the original concept. We're going to do this vlog. That's what, that's what it was called back in the day.

[Jason]

Tell us what that is.

[Al Robertson]

Video.

[Zach Dasher]

It's Like a blog, but with video.

[Al Robertson]

Yeah.

[Zach Dasher]

And so it was just going to be Phil basically pontificating. And so I had written Zach and.

[Al Robertson]

I started a production company.

[Zach Dasher]

Do you remember the first hour? We came up with like 20 scripts that were like 10 minutes. They're like little 10 minute video vlogs of Phil.

[Al Robertson]

And it, and it really birthed out of dad telling you and I on a plane one day, get me on the Internet.

[Zach Dasher]

The funny part about it though is I spent probably, I mean I, I learned how to use Final Draft, which is a software that you write scripts with. And I wrote all these, I wrote these scripts for Phil to basically they were going to be I.

[Al Robertson]

The first mo. The, the Torch Bear movie. So you got this.

[Zach Dasher]

So I get there in the first. Then I, But I'd never actually outside of that had worked with Phil in production capacity. And I learned very quickly that Phil is unscriptable what you write.

[Al Robertson]

Really it's not, doesn't matter.

[Zach Dasher]

And I would try to like get him to say what was on. He's like, he wasn't doing it. But it actually worked out. We, we filmed 800 episodes still. And literally it was like, sit down. It was like you show up with the camera and, and you just turn and the guy. I, I, I, the crew started like with like eight people. I got it all the way down to one guy. He would go down there, turn the camera on and it was just like Phil would go. And then we would turn those into these. They're spiritual truths, timeless truths. Kind of like Paul Harvey. Yeah, like the old Paul Harvey show. So we're, we're actually putting it in a podcast now format called at At Home with Phil Robertson. So if you want to check them out, they're on anywhere. You listen to podcasts and you can check them out on a YouTube channel. And they're kind of like a daily rhythm just to get into. They're like eight minutes long, 10 minutes long. They're super short, but they're all awesome.

[Al Robertson]

So I love this idea because I, I've been now like. So every time we do something, we did Doug Commander Sunday, there's videos of dad and so like some of the stuff from the past, I love listening to it again. So it's, it's, I have a hunger for that myself because dad just had so much wisdom and ways of looking at things. I remember one.

[Zach Dasher]

Well, nobody, nobody has really seen these unless you're behind that paywall.

[Jason]

So it's kind of like Jay sent me yesterday. It was Phil with A deer. Which I had seen it before, but it had been years. And is. Is one of the most funny things I've ever watched in my life. It's PG13, which a lot of dad stuff is. Yeah. Not that it's. You know, it's. He's hard to describe.

[Al Robertson]

He's just. The way he said things.

[Jason]

He was basically. It just starts off with a video, and he's. He had just shot a deer.

[Al Robertson]

Yeah.

[Jason]

But it was a small buck. And he tells the story on how he shot this deer. And I. I laughed till I cried, so.

[Zach Dasher]

Oh, hey, Jace. What? I came in. A lot of y' all know, I ran for Congress, like 10, I guess, 12 years ago. Wow.

[Jason]

And.

[Zach Dasher]

And so I'd hired this.

[Jason]

Hi.

[Zach Dasher]

Like this that you hire these consultants, and they basically build your campaign out. They tell you how to do all the commercials. And. And so they said, we need to get your Uncle Phil, like, publicly endorsing you. Like, I know we've got like. Like, we need to get a video of him endorsing you, and we'll make a commercial out of it. And so again, they tried to write a script for. For Phil. And so we get out of Phil's house and. And it's me and Phil, and then the. The camera guys and the producer, and they had this long script and feels like, nah, nah. He literally crumbles it up, throws it on the ground, says, turn your cameras on, boys. He did this with Benelli, too, by the way. But he. So he looks at the camera. I don't know what he's gonna say. He's. And this is. This was the line. He said, hey, guns and Bibles got us here. It'll be guns and Bibles that keep us here. A nephew, Zach Dasher, believes in both. And then he just walked off. They're like.

[Jason]

That'S it. I think that's brilliant.

[Al Robertson]

It is you.

[Zach Dasher]

Oh, it went viral, too, because then, like, all the, you know, certain websites got a hold of it and they just went berserk.

[Al Robertson]

I thought you go tell the one he said. He said, now, this one right here, I have vetted him since he burst forth from my sister's loins.

[Jason]

Well, I told you about that video. And we. And look, the whole thing, if you just stumbled up on this video, you would think, yeah, this guy's a crazy man.

[Al Robertson]

Yeah.

[Jason]

But so I watched it and I laughed. But then when I watched it again, I figured out the context, which then I understood it, but no one would understand the context. They just. If they watch this. It's funny, but you're like, what does that all mean? But what happened was. And I'll just give you the gist of it, the camera starts on and he's in front of this deer. Well, as he's talking, he's basically telling you why you didn't see the deer get shot. Because he had a cameraman. Obviously there's one here, but you don't hear that till much later. So he just starts off and he's like, you see that right there? And he. The cameraman pans over and there's a deer stand. And he's like, if it's deer season, you never want to get in that because the deer know when you're in it. He said, because every time I got in it, I would look down to where I parked my truck and the deer would cross. He said, so I thought, I'll just stay in my truck. They'll think I'm in the stand. Of course this small deer is there. And he said, and listen to country music. So you're like, well, why didn't they film this? So that's what he tells what happened? And he kind of tells some funnies about that. He's like, they think you're here, but if you stay in the truck, well, they'll just walk right under the stand. You shoot him.

[Al Robertson]

Yeah.

[Jason]

And here he is and he's like, look at this deer he's got. Then he made fun of all the people saying the G2s and the G4. He's like, look at this G4 and G. I mean, it's about the size of a pencil. It's a little, little four point, right? And he's like, so this is how you do it. I'm in the truck listening to country music. That making the deer think that I'm in the stand. He's like, the cameraman's taking a dump and Jimmy Red is squirrel hunting. That's the PG13 part of it. And he says, they come out from squirrel hunting and you know, taking a dump. And here I am, I got the deer and I've been in the truck, listen to country music. And that was, was like a two minute rant on this is our morning. And now we're fixing to go eat the deer.

[Zach Dasher]

He just turned the camera on. He could go, well, you got that Jace. You got that same gift though. You turn the camera. I. I'm always like, Jace is an endless well of content. I mean, it's just, well, you know.

[Al Robertson]

The story recently and I never Heard this part of it, but. But when I remembered back, I remember marveling when. When he told the story, when they. They were coming on to the Conan o', Brien, which I guess was the Tonight show back then or whatever, but so they were. It was the very first one of those big shows. It was Willie and Dad. And I just remember how good that was. But Willie says as they were standing behind that curtain, he just froze. Like, the moment got too big for Willie, which is funny, you know, because Willie's a showman. But he said, I just locked up. And we walked out there. He said, I couldn't even remember my name. He said, but I was sitting on the other side of Phil, and he was sitting right there next to Conan o'. Brien. But he said I was dad, just bring it.

[Jason]

Like, oh, I was one of the greatest.

[Al Robertson]

It was so good. And dad was just funny. And he had o' Brien laughing.

[Jason]

Well, he was. He broke that barrier of people think that duck calls are not interesting. If people don't. I mean, they don't think. They think it's only interesting to duck hunters. But Phil taught me that with that interview, like, wherever I go. I mean, I've been Chicago, Philadelphia, whatever. There's been people not. Who are not duck hunters, but they're interested. They find this language that we're speaking to the animal. They find it very interesting. And especially when you make fun of them for all the sounds. And that's basically what he did. Well, Conan o' Brien thought it was hilarious. I mean, he's like, there's somebody on the planet who's making these little things that sound like the animal world. And he seems to be excited about it. And that whatever that is, makes great entertainment.

[Al Robertson]

It was so funny. And Dad's blowing the calls, and Conan Brown says they're landing on the roof. You know, he just was totally into it, but Willie just sat over there and laughed all the time. But he said, I had nothing. I was just locked up. He said, but dad just, like, brought it home, which was really funny the way it worked.

[Zach Dasher]

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[Al Robertson]

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[Zach Dasher]

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[Al Robertson]

Speaking of, speaking of west coast. So we're, Lisa and I are heading to the state of Oregon. We're gonna parachute in behind blue state lines.

[Jason]

Really? You're actually gonna jump out of a plane?

[Al Robertson]

Well, that's the way I describe it. When we go into the blue state, we parachute in. But, but I love these folks because it's the right Oregon, right to life. It's on Saturday, September 20th. So that's coming up soon. And I know we have a lot of west coast listeners, people in that area. So you know, if you get a chance, check it out. We'd love to see you and meet you there.

[Jason]

Well, that's weird. Al. I'm going to California tomorrow. Of course you can't come because by the time this airs I would have already been there. But I'll give you a report when I get back. I only signed up for it because I thought if there's a group of people in California that's inviting me to share. Jesus, I mean, you'll show up.

[Al Robertson]

Well, that's what I tell. I told our booking person. I was like, is somebody from a blue state asked? The answer is yes. We'll work out the details later because I love going because these people are in some rough like government situations and.

[Jason]

Well, they're in a world within a world out.

[Al Robertson]

They are.

[Zach Dasher]

Well, I've got, I've got Al. I booked out for Swannano, a church. He's coming up October 5th.

[Jason]

That's right.

[Zach Dasher]

Dating the big bucks. He is getting paid a hefty. My honorarium.

[Al Robertson]

My request was because when I was asked to do this Zach, I said I want to make twice what Zach makes when he preaches and I didn't know that you made nothing, so.

[Zach Dasher]

Well, don't make anything. But I'll. But I will make a dinner.

[Jason]

Give him a two dollar bill.

[Zach Dasher]

I'll give him a two dollar bill. That's not a bad idea.

[Al Robertson]

I'll be in your studio. I'll be in your studio. I'll get to. I hadn't seen your studio.

[Zach Dasher]

Yeah, well, this is not their new year.

[Al Robertson]

Yeah.

[Zach Dasher]

And then I've got a way to get Jace up here to preach at our church too. I gotta. I got a little thing I'm gonna do. It's a. I've identified a piece of property that I'm going to petition. This is a historic piece of property that I'm going to petition them to let Jace do some treasure hunting on the property.

[Jason]

Now we're talking. That's. That'll do it.

[Al Robertson]

You may get more than a horn blow, Zach.

[Zach Dasher]

That's how. That's the only way you're gonna get him to stay. You gotta, gotta, gotta sweeten the pot.

[Al Robertson]

That's exactly right. No, it's gonna be fun. I'm looking forward to that. Yeah, we've got. I'll mention, because we're going to be doing several North Carolina appearances. I'll tell you, as we get closer to those two, I like to let you guys know where we're going. By the way, Al and Lisa Robertson dot com. All of our events are there if you want to check those out. And the information on how you can reach out to these people because sometimes they sell out and stuff like that. And also we do blogs on there and keep that going. So some good information. So check it out. All right, so we ready to get back to John?

[Jason]

Yep.

[Al Robertson]

John 15 is where we're hanging out. We read the first 11 verses at the end of the last podcast and I had made the point in those first 11 verses that this remain is the NIV word. I think. Does your say abide, Zach, in John 15? Because ESV I think says abide.

[Zach Dasher]

I was looking and I was looking in Revelation. I always end up in Revelation for some reason.

[Al Robertson]

I know you spend a lot of time there.

[Zach Dasher]

I really do. It's going to been okay. John 15. Yeah. Most of mine says abide whoever abides in me.

[Al Robertson]

Yeah, 10, 10 times in 11 verses. And I didn't check FJ, but I'll look it up. It's probably the same this, this idea. I mean, obviously Jesus is making a major point when he says the same thing 10 times in 10 verses. And so that Becomes kind of this jumping off place.

[Zach Dasher]

Well, doesn't it make sense though, when you think about what Christ came to do in the incarnation, to dwell with us, to tabernacle with us. So I think the word abide is such a great word here because I think of the word abode, abide. You think about home, make our home with him. I mean, this really does show the heart of the Father is to actually.

[Jason]

Good point. It's stay at home, continue, endure, to exist permanently in, inseparably united. So how many times is it mentioned in the New Testament?

[Al Robertson]

But it's in. And it's a bunch of times in the book of John. Listen to this.

[Jason]

You ready? 118 times. Wow.

[Al Robertson]

Here, listen to the first one. You're going to love this one, Jeff. This is from John 1:32. John gave this testimony. I saw the Spirit come down from heaven as a dove and abide remain on him.

[Jason]

Yep. He also says it again in 33.

[Al Robertson]

Yep. And it's, it's throughout.

[Jason]

I mean, and to Zach's point in John 1:38, where he says, remember the first question.

[Al Robertson]

Yep.

[Jason]

What do you want?

[Al Robertson]

Yep.

[Jason]

And in verse 38, the two disciples said, where are you staying?

[Al Robertson]

Yep.

[Jason]

Same word, stay.

[Al Robertson]

Yeah.

[Jason]

So it is this. It's this idea of John 14:23, the Father and the Son, he who obeys my teaching will come and make our home with them. Room abide.

[Al Robertson]

And it's used a lot as a house as like Zach, you were talking about the whole temple motif all throughout, obviously, 118 times. So that's why he mentions it so heavily here, because we're right in the midst of this conversation. But it's kind of funny because he's talking about the garden mindset, but it's still talking about the Holy Spirit too. I mean, it's just he hasn't left that. That kind of central.

[Jason]

Yeah, well, this is the new garden, which is the spirit indwelling people. So that becomes the kingdom within the world, which I think, and I know Zach probably adheres. Remember when he prayed your kingdom come, he prayed to the Father on earth as it is in heaven. So there's a connection with this temple, heaven and earth coming together, God being the gardener. It's all done in love. I mean, I think love is the catalyst for this whole thing. Because when he gets into these. Obeying my teaching, I'm just going to confess something. For years I read this thinking, oh, and Jesus says, if you'll obey, my teaching will come. I had the list of rules, I had the list like the rich young ruler. If we keep them, then he's with us. But if we mess up, he leaves us. We keep him, he's back with us. We mess up. I had it down to a.

[Zach Dasher]

Like a performance. Like, you're getting paid for what you do.

[Jason]

Well, I don't even know if it was a performance. It's just how I read it. But you know what I found fascinating is when I did a search on this do what I command. Where does it say that? Here, in John 15, in verse 10, if you obey my commands. Because he just said that in 1423, if anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. Well, now he says, if you do what I command, as the Father has loved me, so I have loved you, now remain in my love. That's verse 9, 10. If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love. Well, what commands is he talking about?

[Al Robertson]

And he also said, just as I have obeyed my father's commands and remain.

[Jason]

In his love, what teachings he talking about?

[Zach Dasher]

The greatest command.

[Jason]

Yeah, exactly.

[Al Robertson]

Which he says, when you look at.

[Jason]

All that's right, it's love one another. It's love God, love your neighbor. It's all centered around love. That's why I brought up the rich young ruler, because. And I told you to listen to that podcast 11:30, when we went through love. Because that word perfect is completion, is the same word in 1 Corinthians 13, where he says he defines love. Love is patient, love is kind. It does not boast. This is God's character, keeps no record of wrongs. It always trusts and perseveres.

[Al Robertson]

It never fails.

[Jason]

Never fail. I mean, it's like, well, how can I be like this? And then he says, that which is perfect, when that comes, well, that is God's love. That's why we rely on it, 1 John 4 found.

[Al Robertson]

And he even compared it to faith and hope and said it's great.

[Zach Dasher]

Well, you gotta keep this in mind, too. Going back to what we said earlier and about. You had mentioned a previous podcast. We talked about the ways and the means and that the means we lack the means to love without the Spirit. And so Romans 5 says 5 says that God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who's been given to us. And the fruit of the Spirit is love. That's the first one mentioned. Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness. And then you get that first John 4 passage you're in. So the only way we can love one another, the only way we can actually obey God is through the work of the spirit. That's the only means that you would ever have to be able to be obedient to this.

[Al Robertson]

So Lisa and I are beginning what we call the busy season. Most of our opportunities around the fruited plains are on behalf of the unborn. This is obviously a very personal issue that's been going on for now over 60 years in our country. All of us have ways that we contribute, but it means a lot. And so that's why that we love preborn. Since the Supreme Court overturned Roe V. Wade In 2022, over 100 abortion clinics have shut down, which we praise God for that. But the heartbreaking part is now the abortion pill has taken their place. It's being pushed on women everywhere, and it now makes up more than 60% of all abortions. But there's hope every single day. Preborn is still rescuing lives, about 200 babies a day by simply loving mothers and showing them their child through an ultrasound. When a mom sees her baby and hears that heartbeat, everything changes. And this is where you come in. Just $28 provides that ultrasound that's going to connect that mom to that baby. Think about it. Less than the cost of dinner out, you're literally giving a mother and her baby a chance at life and a chance to meet Jesus. So I'm asking you personally, will you join us on this journey? Go right now to preborn.comunashamed. that's preborn.com unashamed. Or. Or just dial pound 250 on your phone and say the keyword baby. That's pound 250, baby. Together we can save lives. One mom, one baby at a time.

[Jason]

That's how he defeated the evil one and kicked him out. Because the spirit then brings love into the equation. That's why love is so hard to live. And if you look up those 19 times of perfect, you get the rich young ruler in Matthew 19. Remember when he said in. In Matthew's account of it, he said, what must I do to inherit eternal Life? This is 1916. Jesus says, why do you ask me about what is good? There's only one who is good. If you want to enter life, obey the commandments. Well, which ones? And he's like all these I have kept. Well, in verse 21, Jesus said, if you want to be perfect, go sell everything you have. Because he was introducing love. And not only introducing that love, he was wanting him to live that love. And so my point is, if you read in Mark's account, in Mark, chapter 10, same story Jesus looked at him and loved him. He doesn't say the line. Mark didn't give the line about if you want to be perfect, but wherever you see that word perfect, you're going to see love right there next to it. And that was why I wanted you to listen to that episode 11:30. Because what I found fascinating is some people out there thinks that God only loves those who love him. Well, here's the rich young ruler. Well, he did. He rejected him, and he still loved him.

[Al Robertson]

Right?

[Jason]

And so, of course, you know, they try to come up with arguments that justify that, but it's pretty hard to get around. He's offering that love, but he doesn't want to live. He likes the commandment idea. He's like, let me just keep the commandment. But he doesn't want to love people. And so that's why this has to be relational.

[Al Robertson]

And people have made that statement.

[Zach Dasher]

Well, he doesn't want to follow him either. The rich young ruler, if you think about the call, was to sell everything you have, give to the poor, and then do something. What do you tell him to do? And then come follow me. And so if you think about that, that particular gentleman I think is the core of his sin is he did not want to abide in Christ. He didn't want to follow him. He didn't want to roll with Jesus. It wasn't just about giving up, selling all your stuff. It was the main part was to come follow me, to come be a disciple, to come be a follower of me. And the way he was viewing salvation was, this is something that I can take eternal life and I can acquire it as a possession that I own. And it was transactional for him alone. And what Christ was doing in that Mark 10 is that he was just saying, no, you're misinterpreting what eternal life is. Eternal life, we'll see in John 17. Three is not something that you can acquire for your own possession. It's actually a state of being. It's a state of living and abiding with Christ, which is interesting if you think about this text here in John 15. The reason why this, to me, one of the main points of John 15, and why I think it's so powerful, is that this actually happens before the crucifixion of Christ and before the resurrection of Christ. And so we. One of the areas we talk about a lot in this podcast is thinking about salvation not just in terms of atonement. It is atonement, but it's not only atonement. It's atonement, so that we may dwell with Christ, so that we may abide with him. So think about the argument that he's making here. He's making that argument, he's saying, I have to go, basically, I got to die, I got to be buried, I got to be raised and I have to ascend. And he says, you know why I have to do that? You know the main reason why I got to get out of here, because if I don't go, what then? He's not coming. So, so you see that the point of the, of the Gospel, the point of the death, the burial and the resurrection and the ascension of Christ is so that Christ can then come dwell in the bodies of humans through the power of the Holy Spirit. That's a pretty powerful argument if you think about it. And it's a different lens through which I think a lot of us read the scripture, but I think it's how we should have read it.

[Al Robertson]

Jace mentioned Mark. I love Luke's telling of the rich young ruler story in Luke 18, because what he does is. And I think it's because he's viewing it through a gentile lens, because we know Luke was a gentile physician. But he tells the story and then comes right back in the next chapter and tells the story of Zacchaeus. And I love telling those stories together because they show you what a submissive, obedient heart looks like versus one that doesn't. Two wealthy men. But remember Zacchaeus reaction when he climbed the tree? You remember? And he said, Jesus looks up and said, I'm coming to your house. And as soon as he does, he says, I'm going to give back four times what my dishonest gain. Jesus didn't say anything to him about getting rid of wealth. He volunteered that he just on his own, he said, you know what? I'm so fired up about this situation. I've cheated people before. I'm giving four times this money back. He immediately went all in. I love the picture of that.

[Jason]

So John 15 is introducing this idea, but at this point in John 15, it's a Jewish audience only.

[Al Robertson]

Correct?

[Jason]

He's his disciples. And so that's why when he says I'm the vine, he's going back to when Israel was known as divine. And we'll read that. But what we're doing, it's hard for us not to fast forward to us because it's just so inspiring and exciting. And I just wanted to show you those 19 times where that word perfect is used. One of them is the rich young ruler. Another One is in First John 4, when it says, we rely on the love God has for us in verse 16. But he eventually says, perfect love, cast out fear. Well, there's another one of those 19. There it is. And another one. Just to make this practical, if you go to the book of Ephesians, which we studied on the podcast, watch how this works. If I just give you a thumbnail of the whole book, the first chapter of Ephesians, the last two words in verse four of chapter one, he says, in love, he predestined us to be adopted as his sons. Well, then he brings up the Holy spirit in verse 13. You were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel. Having believed, you were marked in him with the promised Holy Spirit. And then you remember, when he gets to the end of chapter two, he's like, you're no longer foreigners or aliens, but you're fellow citizens, members of his household. You're joined together, verse 21, and rise to become a holy temple in the Lord. And in him. You two are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit. I mean, incredible. Look, you get to chapter four, and he says, remember the famous verse, verse three? Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit. And you say, where are you going with this? Watch when it gets to the church. And he says in verse 13 that he has all these roles of pastors and teachers to prepare God's people for works of service. Well, these are acts of love, right until verse 13, until we all reach unity in the faith, in the knowledge of the Son, and become that word right there is perfect. That's one of the 19 times. So you become perfect because you're doing these acts of service that are in love, that are a reflection. But he goes on to say in verse 15, we speak the truth in love. We will in all things grow up into him who is the head, that is Christ, that love is the foundation. He goes on to say in chapter five, and I'll end with this one, Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children. Which is where he started in Ephesians 1.

[Al Robertson]

Live a life of love.

[Jason]

And live a life of love. Then here's to Zach's point. And just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God, So when John 15, when he was like, I had to clean you up and I had to move in so that you could actually be a place, even though you're just a human body where God can dwell. Because in him there is no sin, you know, in him there's no, you know, this. This idea of accusation from the evil one. And so that. That's what he's pointing to towards in John 15 of what will happen. And the great news is in Ephesians, it's Jews and Gentiles, everybody. Which.

[Al Robertson]

That was the big theme, right?

[Jason]

Exactly.

[Al Robertson]

The bringing together of the two.

[Jason]

This is the point. This is the new creation outline that he's introducing through the Spirit. So if we go back to his context, you have to look at it through the eyes of Israel, because Israel was God's chosen nation and it's deemed the branch. Do you want to read that? Psalm 80? Because Psalm 80 is powerful. When he says, I am the true vine. Yep, the true vine. Well, what does that infer? There was a vine that wasn't the true vine because they rejected him, which was the nation of Israel, you say, well, how do you know that? Because he's. He's getting this from Psalm 80, which is showing to his audience, this was the plan of God. Me, you're looking at him. I am the Israelite of all Israelites, because I'm God in human form.

[Zach Dasher]

Here's my question. Do you make time for annual checkups, doctor visits, lab blood work? What keeps you consistent? Well, for me, just recently, in the last couple years, I've really been trying to get healthy. I've got a bunch of kids now, right? Got five kids, and I got a young daughter that we adopted a few years ago. And I want to be healthy for her as I grow up. I don't want to be. I want to be able to jump on the trampoline with her and take her on walks and play with her. And I just found out that we all have two ages, the number that's on our license and our body's biological age. And get this, I've already lowered mine without even realizing it. Here's the problem. Most Americans eat a ton of processed food. They don't eat nearly enough fruits and vegetables, which means that many of us are actually 10, sometimes 15 years older on the inside of our body than our real age. It's like a ticking time bomb. But a major university study found a way to slow that down. And all it took was filter grains, which I have in my hand right here. No diet changes, no new workouts, just filled the grains. Every fruit and veggie in field of greens. Right here, it's Dr. Selected. And they did it. With a specific health benefit in mind for your cells, heart, lungs, kidney, metabolism and even healthy weight. That gives me peace of mind knowing that I can slow down how fast I'm aging so that I can be there for my kids. And when I take field of greens in the morning, it gives me a steadier energy throughout the day. I don't have that afternoon crash. I sleep better. Better gut health as well. I want to encourage you to join us and skip the untested green drinks and go with field of greens. So check out the university study and get 20% off when you use promo code unashamedieldofgreens.com that's fieldofgreens.com promo code unashamed.

[Jason]

So watch Psalm 80. It starts off saying, verse one, Hear, O us, hear us, O shepherd of.

[Al Robertson]

Israel, which we've been taught. John 10, right?

[Jason]

I'm the shepherd. So already, you know, you know this has something to do with this. Verse three, restore us, O God, make your face shine upon us that we may be saved. He says it again in verse seven, restore us, O God Almighty, make your face shine upon us that we may be saved. And watch what he goes to in verse eight. You brought a vine out of Egypt. Well, who was liberated from Egypt?

[Zach Dasher]

Israel.

[Al Robertson]

Israel, Israel.

[Jason]

And we're talking liberation, freedom. Like fast forward to Jesus now. He's offering a new liberation, not from some Roman oppressor or Egyptian oppressor, but the evil one as the oppressor, sin as the oppressor. You drove out the nations and planted it, because here we have this idea of garden again. You cleared the ground for it and took root and filled the land. It's a new garden, it's a new creation.

[Al Robertson]

And they had it in a place. They dwelt in Canaan, which was this land promised to Abraham. So, I mean, it's a literal place for them.

[Zach Dasher]

Well, you got to think of that. You got to think of the garden, too, as a temple. As to. I know we said this all the time, but there's three other passages that echo that same thing. Psalms 92, Ezekiel 47, which we mentioned in the last podcast, and then Psalms 1. But what all three of those passages, and many more, what they do is they take the production of fruit, and the Old Testament centers that fruit production in the temple, in the garden. So in Psalm 92, it says, the righteous flourish like the palm tree, and they grow like a cedar in Lebanon. They are planted. Here's that idea of plant fruit in the house. The temple in the house of the Lord they flourish in the courts of our God. They still bear fruit in old age. They are ever full of SAP and green. And then Ezekiel, it says, and on the banks and on both sides of the river, remember that stream that was flowing out from the temple? There will grow all kinds of trees for food. Their leaves will neither wither nor their fruit fail. But they will bear fruit, a fresh fruit every month, because the water for them flows from the sanctuary. So their fruit will be food. And then in Psalm 1 and 2, says the same thing about the law, that he's like a tree. The man who delights in the law of the Lord is like a tree planted by streams of water that yield its fruit in its season. It does not wither. So in John 15, what he's doing is he's saying that Christ is going to be the cornerstone of the temple. And that's where now the locus of fruit production is not in the temple, it's in the temple, Jesus Christ himself, and then us.

[Jason]

And I just read that in Ephesians 2. But look, watch how this flows in Psalm 80. So he said, you brought the vine out of Egypt, you cleared the ground, the mountains were covered with its shade, the the mighty cedars with its branches. Now listen to this. It sent out this nation, its bows to the sea, it shoots as far as the river. Now he's talking about probably Euphrates or whatever. But it's symbolic for this living water that Jesus, he's now taking Israel's history and applying it to himself as the true liberator of not just for the nation of Israel, but for everybody. But it is the nation of Israel. And his audience are these 11 guys at this point. And so then. But watch. Watch what the psalm does. It gets to Jesus when in verse 12, it says, why have you broken down its walls? So that all who pass by pick its grapes, boars from the forest ravage it, and the creatures of the earth, of the field feed on it. Return to us, O God Almighty. Because they're just all this that God has given them, they're just wasting it. And all the nations are. They're getting hooked up with other gods. I mean, the same story. Idolatry, idolatry. But watch what he goes on to say. Verse 15. The root, watch over the vine. The end of 14 after he says, return to us, O God Almighty. Look down from heaven, this is 14 and see, watch over this vine, the root your right hand has planted. Who's at the right hand of God? Now we're getting somewhere. The Son, you have raised up for yourself.

[Al Robertson]

Or the branch is another.

[Jason]

Or the branch. But he's saying Israel. But that would produce the Son, the vine. So verse 16, your vine is cut down. It is burned with fire. At your rebuke, your people perish because they didn't trust God.

[Al Robertson]

Correct.

[Jason]

But let your hand rest on the man at your right hand.

[Al Robertson]

Oh, here we go.

[Jason]

Well, who is this?

[Al Robertson]

Here we go.

[Jason]

Watch this phrase. The Son of man you have raised up for yourself. Who is that? Remember, although go back to every podcast we've done in the past three months. The Son of Man, Jesus referred to himself as the Son of man. Then we will not turn away from you. Revive us. And you talk about revival. That's what the psalmist was pointing toward in what Jesus would accomplish. And we will call on your name. Romans 10. Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord, restore us, O Lord God Almighty, make your face shine a upon us that we may be saved. Which made me think of that passage in Corinthians, we all reflect the Lord's glory. You know, think of all those passages. The Lord shines on us in a dark place, you know, when Peter said that. So I think that's fascinating.

[Al Robertson]

It is fascinating. And you can also read about it. We're not reading them on the podcast, but if you want, for your own Study, Ezekiel 15, 1:5, Isaiah 51:7, these same pictures. And then Zach did a bunch of them from even the water flowing out, it's this idea. And then Paul to me is, we mentioned the book of Romans when He wrote Romans 9, 10, and 11. This is exactly the sort of picture he was showing, is exactly what he used to show.

[Jason]

And the reason we're doing that, you say, why is this a big deal? Because there's a lot of confusion, especially in Romans 9, 10, and 11, about some of the terminology. But if you're not looking at this plan through the nation of Israel, coming down to Jesus being the true Israelite, think where Romans 1, it says the gospel was first for the Jew, then for the Gentile. You will get confused. And that's why I brought up this point about the rich young ruler, because some people equate the language to the Jews. As you know, there was an elect part of the Jews that would be saved, that would trust him. But then all of a sudden, that bleeds over to, well, there's only a few people. God loves the rich young ruler. What about that? It doesn't make sense. And they come up with different arguments. But once you keep it in the context of the flow of God's. And in Ephesians, the reason I went through that is I skipped over chapter two. But that was all about this dividing wall of hostility between the Jews and Gentiles being. Which I just read that in Psalm 80 about tearing down the walls. He would also accomplish that in Jesus so that everyone. This whole plan was so that everyone could have that opportunity to have God dwelling in them.

[Al Robertson]

I love it. It's so good. And. And it's that idea Paul talks about that you're grafted into. What, the vine. Which is back to this idea that we're at in John 15. So back to John 15. We left off in verse. We read through verse 11.

[Jason]

Oh, we read through 11.

[Al Robertson]

Yeah. Because. Because I wanted to make the point out of that 11. So I stopped there. That this concept of joy and that idea of complete. Jason, there's that word again about that perfect and mature. That's probably one of the words. I don't know that it is. I didn't look it up.

[Jason]

Every year when September comes. I know. And you know what that means.

[Al Robertson]

The countdown begins.

[Jason]

Yep. And it's always been my happy place of the year, because I feel like I go back into the womb for nine months, and then I'm reborn to hunting season.

[Al Robertson]

Well, so duck season, of course, means duck stamp. You have to have a Ducks Federal duck stamp, and you go to duckstamp.com and now you'll see that they have something new. It's a digital duck stamp that goes right into your phone, which is fantastic. It's simple, it works offline, and it's ready when the warden shows up if he does. But here's what folks don't really realize. Buying that duck stamp is one of the most effective ways that you can support real conservation efforts in America. Wetlands, ducks, migration routes, it all gets protected for our kids and our grandkids to enjoy. Our dad put that in our hearts, and that's part of what we're doing as well. So it's more than just a stamp. It stands for something much bigger.

[Jason]

Yeah. And, I mean, my dad put that in us, but he got that from the actual Bible. He's like, we're stewards of the land, and that's the way God designed it. And part of the responsibility of being over the animal world is protecting the land and producing an environment that they can flourish.

[Al Robertson]

Exactly. So here's what you do. Go to duckstamp.com unashamedtoday to be a part of something that really matters. That's duckstamp.com unashamed. But the idea that joy is why he's telling them this, which was very powerful. And so let me read a few more of these verses, because he just continues it on. And he comes back to this. My command is this. And here's the point you were making about what commandment are we talking about? Love each other as I've loved you. Greater love has no one than this. That he lay down his life for his friends, which I thought was really interesting. He's about to do that literally, because he's going to give his life. But he's also talking about laying down the life on a daily basis, because that's where the Holy Spirit comes in. So it's both. I mean, very rarely would one of us have an opportunity to physically give our life. It does happen from time to time. But everybody has an opportunity to give your life every day. And that's part of what he's talking about. And I love that he brings up friends here. He gets in that forever family mode. Verse 14 says, you are my friends if you do what I command. Which is what? Love one another. I no longer call you servants because a servant does not know his master's business. And I think that's a nod back to the idea of Israel never really understanding what God was trying to do with them, to make them sons instead. I have called you friends for everything I learned. For everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. So this is a very intimate moment with the disciples. 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. That's the second time he said that. And then he ties it off again by saying, this is my command. Love one another.

[Jason]

Yeah. First of all, that word complete is not the same word with this perfection, but it's something just as interesting. It's to be filled to the brim. Well, it's kind of like this is the process of you getting the spirit. So it's like when he. I'll tell you the other places. He used it in John. He used it in John 3:29, John the Baptist, when he said, the friend who attends the bridegroom waits and listens for him and is full. Same word, completed with joy when he hears the bridegroom. So he's filled with joy. Well, the spirit, all these attributes. The fruit of the spirit goes back to the actual spirit, because that's what really, the Bible is about, when you think about it, I think the relational aspect of it's like Jesus died on the cross. And you could give 50 reasons why. That's powerful motivating. But the number one is who was on the cross? It wasn't just because he was on. Other people have been sacrificed or had injustice have, but who was on that cross. And it's the same point with who you have inside of you. The spirit, you're filled with that. And the outflow of that is the fruit.

[Zach Dasher]

Well, think about the real time application of this, of what he says here in John 15, that I've chosen you, you didn't choose me. Well, he's speaking to the 11 disciples who have remained after he's just told one of them that you're going to betray me. And Judas. And John 13 leaves. So he's literally not abiding in a real literal sense. He's not actually abiding with Christ.

[Al Robertson]

He was a branch that just branched off, right?

[Zach Dasher]

He's the branch he says in John 15, 6, anyone who does not abide in me, he's thrown away like a branch that withers. And the branches are gathered and thrown into the fire and burned. And literally when Judas, he leaves, he's not abiding in Christ. And you see the rest of his life, there's zero fruit production. There's only destruction in the end for him. But why? Well, he walked away. He wasn't a part. He didn't abide in Christ. Now to the 11 that are left here, that's who he's speaking to. They're that representation of those like us when we abide in him. Look at the fruit that came out of those 11. I mean, a lot of what we're reading here in the Bible came from some of the 11 that were in that room that Jesus is telling them, like, yeah, you're going to do incredible things, but the emphasis is on the production of fruit more than anything else here. What they're going to actually produce by abiding in Christ themselves.

[Jason]

Well, yeah, and if you look at those verses about it gets back to this idea of you think you're choosing God, but what happens is when you choose God and start studying and start reading, then you realize, oh, he's been pursuing me the whole time. And I think that's. And I've done this before. But you know, think about the first Corinthians 8. And this kind of goes back to the rich young ruler when it says knowledge puffs up, but love builds Up. Just think. There's the what you think you know versus who you know. Because when you know Jesus, then all of a sudden you're like, oh, he chose me before the beginning of time. I thought I was, like, doing in my favor here in that First Corinthians, 8 says, the man who thinks he knows something, this is 8, 2 does not yet know as he ought to know. But the man who loves God, and here's the key phrase is known by God. So that's the. That's the realization that we all have. We're like, all right, I love God. And then when you start looking into who he is, you're like, oh, he knows me. He's been knowing me. He knows me better than anyone. He knew me in my mother's womb. I mean, it goes back to that kind of thinking. And I think that's why he makes statements like that. He makes a similar statement in 1 John 4, which I've been asked about this many times, when it says, this is love. Not that we love him, but that he loves us. 4, 10. So listen, same phrase. This is love. First John 4:10. Not that we love God. Why is he saying that? Because love comes from God is the answer. And that he had just said that phrase I just said in a previous verse. And also just to back up a little bit, in first John four, seven, let us love one another, for love comes from God. So it's the same concept here. So back to verse 10. This is love. Not that we love God, but that he loved us and sent his son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. So I think that's what he's.

[Al Robertson]

And then he closes in 19. He says, we love because he first loved us. If anyone says, I love God, yet hates his brother, he is a liar. And then here's the famous granny verse. How many times do we hear this growing up, Joe for anyone who does not love his brother whom he hath seen that she used to do, cannot love God whom he hath not seen.

[Jason]

And it goes back to this being born again. Also, even in the first John 4. It's like anyone who is born of God, that's where love originates with you. Because now you're. You receive God's spirit, which is love, just like the nature of God. So think about when he said, being born of water and the spirit, you know, in John 3, it all goes back to that. Even in John 1, where he's like, you're born again, not based on your kind of decision. Or like, oh, I'M going to make a choice and I'm going to give birth to royalty. And he has that illustration in John 1:12. But you're born of God. This was his plan. And you are now in a position to realize that. I'm the one who started this. I'm the one who chose you to be here on the earth. Think Acts 17. He gives all men life, breath, and everything else. Why did he do it? So that we would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him. But when you find him, you realize, oh, he was looking for me the whole time. I mean, that is the way to wrap your head around that, because it says it over and over.

[Al Robertson]

I love the way John 2 compares it. It's love or lie. And you remember that third time when Satan went to Jesus and said, we can rule together. In other words, all you gotta do is just bring me into the phone and remember what Jesus said. Worship the Lord your God and serve him only. You can't have love and lie together. We can't hold hands with Satan and somehow think that we're going to get through. Well, we'll just. We're going to understand at that. No, it has to be one or the other. Satan can't be a part of that because he's not loved. Which is where we're headed next in the text. Because he talks about hate.

[Jason]

Yeah. And it goes back to that tree and the branches. The tree came first. Here you're a branch in the tree. You're like, well, I want to just be my own tree. Well, that's the other side of the world. Now you got the evil one's request saying. And that's how it works. I mean, because it's tricky to read that. You're like, why is he making a point of that? He's like, remain in me.

[Al Robertson]

All right, well, we're out of time yet again, but I feel like we're making progress. We actually got into half of this text and it's so rich and so good. So we're hoping that you're following along with us. Read these Old Testament passages because it makes it come to life so much better. So, anyway, keep up your studies. We'll see you next time.

[Jason]

Yeah, next time. We'll get into the world within the world.

[Al Robertson]

Yeah. There you go. Thanks for listening to the Unashamed podcast. Help us out by leaving a rating and review on Apple Podcast. And don't miss an episode by subscribing on YouTube. And be sure to click the little bell and choose all notifications to watch every episode.