John 1:7 (English Standard Version) right click to listen to sermon in new window!
7He came as a(A) witness, to bear witness about the light,(B) that all might believe through him.
John the Baptist came to be the witness to and of Jesus Christ that people might believe what he was witnessing.
John 3:26
26And they came to John and said to him,(A) "Rabbi, he who was with you across the Jordan,(B) to whom you bore witness—look, he is baptizing, and(C) all are going to him."
John did a good job because now the people he witnessed to were going to Jesus the way they should be going.!
John 5:33
33(A) You sent to John, and he has borne witness to the truth.
John was the witness to the truth... Jesus is the truth...
How can I apply this scripture to my life? I can be a witness to the light that others might believe through me :-)
This man came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all through him might believe. John 1:7
John was a man sent by God.
Now we know that Jesus was "with" God and that Jesus "was" and "is" God!
John was a man -- a mere man like ourselves.
John was a great man -- but -- just a man.
John was the son of a man -- but he was sent by God.
John was God's messenger
Malachi 3:1 says
Look! I am sending my messenger, and he will prepare the way before me.
How do we know that John is the messenger spoken of?
Matthew 11:10 tells us what Jesus said...
John is the man to whom the Scriptures refer when they say, Look! I am sending my messenger before you and he will prepare your way before you.
Mark 1:2 says
In the book of tghe prophet Isaiah, God said...
The same came for a witness -- an eye witness, a leading witness.
he came "eis martyrian" for a testimony.
The legal institutions had been long a testimony for God in the Jewish Church. by them, revealed religion was kept up; hence, we read of the "tabernacle of the testimony," "the ark of the testimony," the "law and the testimony:" but now divine revelation is to be turned into another channel; now the testimony of Christ is the "Testimony of God."
1 Corinthians 1:6 says
This shows that what I told you about Christ is true.
Among the Gentiles, God had not left himself without witness.
Acts 14:17 says
"...but he never left himself without a witness. There were always his reminders, such as sending you rain and good crops and giving you food and joyful hearts."
But the Redeemer had no testimonies borne him amonth them. There was a profound silence concerning him, "till" John the Baptist came for a witness to Him.
1.) Look at the matter of John's testimony:
he came to bear witness to the light.
Light is a thing which witnesses for itself, and carries its own evidence along with it; but to those who shut their eyes against the light, it is necessary there should be those that bear witness to it.
Christ's light does not need man's testimony -- but the world's darkness does. John was sent of God to tell the world that the long looked for Messiah was now come, who should be a light to enlighten the Gentiles and the glory of His people Israel; and to proclaim the dispensation at hand which would bring life and immortality to light.
2.) Look at the design of John's testimony:
That all men through him might believe; not in him, but in Christ, whose way he was sent to prepare.
He taught men to look "through" him, and pass through him to Christ; through the doctrine of repentance for sin to that of faith in Christ.
He prepared men for the reception of Christ and his gospel by awakening them to a sight and sense of sin: and that, their eyes being thereby opened, they might be ready to admit those beams of divine light which, in the person and doctrine of the Messiah, were now ready to shine in their faces.
If they will receive the witness of a man, they will soon find that the witness of God is greater.
1 John 5:9-10
Since we believe human testimony, surely we can believe the testimony that comes from God. And God has testified about His Son.
All who believe in the Son of God know that this is true.
Monday, March 31, 2008
Saturday, March 22, 2008
John 1:6 Bible Study with audio Sermon (coming tuesday or wednesday!)
John 1:6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John.
A man, sent from God. Where else in scripture do you see such a thing? And this man, he is sent by GOD.
In Gen 45:7, you see that Joseph was sent by God. In Exodus 3:12, God sent Moses. He sent the prophets, who if they spoke a false word, were to be killed. He sent Saul, later known as Paul, to the gentiles in order to preach the gospel. And He sent Jesus, the Christ, His very Son to be the propitiation for our sins.
And God sent this man, John. When God sends a man, He sends him for a reason. This John, which you see from the context is the Baptist, and not the namesake of this gospel, what was He sent for? What will he do? What will God do for His great name through this lowly man?
John 1:6
6There was a man sent from God, whose name was John.
He is the baptist (one who baptizes people to repentance of sin)
John 1:33
33I myself did not know him, but he who sent me to baptize with water said to me, 'He on whom you see the Spirit descend and remain, this is he who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.'
He didn't know who the Christ was but God told him when he saw the One on whom the Spirit descended, that would be Him
John 3:28
28You yourselves bear me witness, that I said, 'I am not the Christ, but I have been sent before him.'
He wanted to make it perfectly clear that he wasn't the Christ, but the one sent to prepare them for Him
Malachi 3
1 "Behold, I send my messenger, and he will prepare the way before me. And the Lord whom you seek will suddenly come to his temple; and the messenger of the covenant in whom you delight, behold, he is coming, says the LORD of hosts.
Malachi prophesied about John the baptist being the messenger that would prepare the way for the coming of the Lord
Luke 3:2
2during the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John the son of Zechariah in the wilderness.
The word of the Lord came to John in the wilderness
Matthew 3
John the Baptist Prepares the Way
1 In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea,
John was clearly the one to make way for the Lord
Mark 1:4
4 John appeared, baptizing in the wilderness and proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.
He baptized for the forgiveness of sins and repentance
Mark 1:2
2 As it is written in Isaiah the prophet, "Behold, I send my messenger before your face,who will prepare your way,
he is the messenger
Luke 7:27
27This is he of whom it is written, "'Behold, I send my messenger before your face, who will prepare your way before you.'
Malachi 4:5
5 "Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the great and awesome day of the LORD comes.
some also referred to him as Elijah... he was like Elijah the prophet
Luke 1:76
76And you, child, will be called(A) the prophet of(B) the Most High;for you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways,
He was the prophet of the Most High, preparing His way... He is clearly who he was prophesied to be...
John was a man sent by God.
Jesus was with God and Jesus is God.
John was a man -- a mere man like ourselves.
He was a great man -- but -- a still, just a man.
Jesus is the Son of God
John is a son of man who was sent by God.
How do we know that John is the messenger spoken of in Scripture?
Matthew 11:10 says,
John is the man to whom Scriptures refer when they say, "Look! I am sending my messenger before you and he will prepare your way before you."
Don't forget that the John spoken of here is not the same John as the author of the Book of John. We are talking about John the Baptist here. He was the one sent by God. He answered the call fromg God! Have you answered the call from God yet?
It is important to take time to understand who John is as we continue to learn about his important role as a messenger.
You have been given an important role as a messenger for God. You have been called to go into all the world preaching the gospel to every creature!
A man, sent from God. Where else in scripture do you see such a thing? And this man, he is sent by GOD.
In Gen 45:7, you see that Joseph was sent by God. In Exodus 3:12, God sent Moses. He sent the prophets, who if they spoke a false word, were to be killed. He sent Saul, later known as Paul, to the gentiles in order to preach the gospel. And He sent Jesus, the Christ, His very Son to be the propitiation for our sins.
And God sent this man, John. When God sends a man, He sends him for a reason. This John, which you see from the context is the Baptist, and not the namesake of this gospel, what was He sent for? What will he do? What will God do for His great name through this lowly man?
John 1:6
6There was a man sent from God, whose name was John.
He is the baptist (one who baptizes people to repentance of sin)
John 1:33
33I myself did not know him, but he who sent me to baptize with water said to me, 'He on whom you see the Spirit descend and remain, this is he who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.'
He didn't know who the Christ was but God told him when he saw the One on whom the Spirit descended, that would be Him
John 3:28
28You yourselves bear me witness, that I said, 'I am not the Christ, but I have been sent before him.'
He wanted to make it perfectly clear that he wasn't the Christ, but the one sent to prepare them for Him
Malachi 3
1 "Behold, I send my messenger, and he will prepare the way before me. And the Lord whom you seek will suddenly come to his temple; and the messenger of the covenant in whom you delight, behold, he is coming, says the LORD of hosts.
Malachi prophesied about John the baptist being the messenger that would prepare the way for the coming of the Lord
Luke 3:2
2during the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John the son of Zechariah in the wilderness.
The word of the Lord came to John in the wilderness
Matthew 3
John the Baptist Prepares the Way
1 In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea,
John was clearly the one to make way for the Lord
Mark 1:4
4 John appeared, baptizing in the wilderness and proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.
He baptized for the forgiveness of sins and repentance
Mark 1:2
2 As it is written in Isaiah the prophet, "Behold, I send my messenger before your face,who will prepare your way,
he is the messenger
Luke 7:27
27This is he of whom it is written, "'Behold, I send my messenger before your face, who will prepare your way before you.'
Malachi 4:5
5 "Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the great and awesome day of the LORD comes.
some also referred to him as Elijah... he was like Elijah the prophet
Luke 1:76
76And you, child, will be called(A) the prophet of(B) the Most High;for you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways,
He was the prophet of the Most High, preparing His way... He is clearly who he was prophesied to be...
John was a man sent by God.
Jesus was with God and Jesus is God.
John was a man -- a mere man like ourselves.
He was a great man -- but -- a still, just a man.
Jesus is the Son of God
John is a son of man who was sent by God.
How do we know that John is the messenger spoken of in Scripture?
Matthew 11:10 says,
John is the man to whom Scriptures refer when they say, "Look! I am sending my messenger before you and he will prepare your way before you."
Don't forget that the John spoken of here is not the same John as the author of the Book of John. We are talking about John the Baptist here. He was the one sent by God. He answered the call fromg God! Have you answered the call from God yet?
It is important to take time to understand who John is as we continue to learn about his important role as a messenger.
You have been given an important role as a messenger for God. You have been called to go into all the world preaching the gospel to every creature!
Friday, March 14, 2008
John 1:5 Bible Study with audio sermon
John 1:55 And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend[a] it.
Audio sermon is available. Click on this link or email me for an email attachment.
Jesus is the light and men are the darkness who do not understand the light...
Jesus is able to shine despite the darkness
Psalm 139:12 Indeed, the darkness shall not hide from You, But the night shines as the day; The darkness and the light are both alike to You. The darkness cannot hide from Jesus because He has authority over the darkness and the light
Luke 17:24 For as the lightning that flashes out of one part under heaven shines to the other part under heaven, so also the Son of Man will be in His day. When Jesus returns, He will shine so bright under the heavens we will have no doubt He is the light
2 Samuel 22:29"For You are my lamp, O LORD;The LORD shall enlighten my darkness. Jesus is our lamp who enlightens the darkness
Job 34:22 There is no darkness nor shadow of death Where the workers of iniquity may hide themselves. Even darkness isn't dark enough to hide from the light of Jesus
Isaiah 5:20 Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; Who put darkness for light, and light for darkness; Who put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!
Isaiah 9:2 The people who walked in darkness Have seen a great light; Those who dwelt in the land of the shadow of death, Upon them a light has shined.prophecy?
Isaiah 42:16 I will bring the blind by a way they did not know; I will lead them in paths they have not known. I will make darkness light before them, And crooked places straight. These things I will do for them, And not forsake them.Jesus lets us see by His light
Isaiah 50:10 Who among you fears the LORD? Who obeys the voice of His Servant? Who walks in darkness And has no light? Let him trust in the name of the LORD And rely upon his God.Trust in Jesus and He will bring you from darkness into light
Daniel 2:22 He reveals deep and secret things; He knows what is in the darkness, And light dwells with Him.there is nothing in darness He doesn't know
Micah 7:8 [ Israel's Confession and Comfort ] Do not rejoice over me, my enemy; When I fall, I will arise; When I sit in darkness, The LORD will be a light to me.Jesus is our light even when we are in darkest despair
John 3:19 And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.men loved evil more than good and were condemned
John 8:12Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, "I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life."Jesus is the light of the world!
John 1:5 *The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not
overcome it.*
Who is this light? Notice /who/ , not what. From the last verse you
see that Christ is life and that this eternal life was the light of
men. So Christ is the light, and He shines in the darkness. Also,
this shining is ongoing as the verb is in the present tense.
What is the darkness? It's not merely a dark room, but you see that it
has a will from the fact that this darkness cannot overcome Christ.
So what? Well, this means that the darkness is trying to overcome the
Lord of Glory. It means that the darkness is a real and prevalent
force that is trying to oppose God. And it means that the darkness cannot,
ever, overcome God.
Now that you have finished the paragraph, what does the context mean?
This logos, that you have a fuzzy image of, is was and always will be.
It is God, and He is life, and nothing can overcome Him.
John 1:10 He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not.
John 3:20 For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.
John 12:37 But though he had done so many miracles before them, yet they believed not on him:
Romans 1:28 And even as they did not like to retain God in [their] knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;
1 Corinthians 2:14 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know [them], because they are spiritually discerned.
From whom may we better expect the light of divine revelation than from him who gave us the light of human reason? And if, when God gave us natural life, that life was in his Son, how readily should we receive the gospel-record, that he hath given us eternal life, and that life too is in his Son!
The manifestation of him to the children of men. It might be objected, If this eternal Word was all in all thus in the creation of the world, whence is it that he has been so little taken notice of and regarded? To this he answers (v. 5), The light shines, but the darkness comprehends it not. Observe,
The discovery of the eternal Word to the lapsed world, even before he was manifested in the flesh: The light shineth in darkness. Light is self-evidencing, and will make itself known; this light, whence the light of men comes, hath shone, and doth shine. [1.] The eternal Word, as God, shines in the darkness of natural conscience. Though men by the fall are become darkness, yet that which may be known of God is manifested in them; see Rom. 1:19, 20. The light of nature is this light shining in darkness. Something of the power of the divine Word, both as creating and as commanding, all mankind have an innate sense of; were it not for this, earth would be a hell, a place of utter darkness; blessed be God, it is not so yet. [2.] The eternal Word, as Mediator, shone in the darkness of the Old-Testament types and figures, and the prophecies and promises which were of the Messiah from the beginning. He that had commanded the light of this world to shine out of darkness was himself long a light shining in darkness; there was a veil upon this light, 2 Co. 3:13.
The disability of the degenerate world to receive this discovery: The darkness comprehended it not; the most of men received the grace of God in these discoveries in vain. [1.] The world of mankind comprehended not the natural light that was in their understandings, but became vain in their imaginations concerning the eternal God and the eternal Word, Rom. 1:21, 28. The darkness of error and sin overpowered and quite eclipsed this light. God spoke once, yea twice, but man perceived it not, Job 33:14. [2.] The Jews, who had the light of the Old Testament, yet comprehended not Christ in it. As there was a veil upon Moses’s face, so there was upon the people’s hearts. In the darkness of the types and shadows the light shone; but such as the darkness of their understandings that they could not see it. It was therefore requisite that Christ should come, both to rectify the errors of the Gentile world and to improve the truths of the Jewish church.
Audio sermon is available. Click on this link or email me for an email attachment.
Jesus is the light and men are the darkness who do not understand the light...
Jesus is able to shine despite the darkness
Psalm 139:12 Indeed, the darkness shall not hide from You, But the night shines as the day; The darkness and the light are both alike to You. The darkness cannot hide from Jesus because He has authority over the darkness and the light
Luke 17:24 For as the lightning that flashes out of one part under heaven shines to the other part under heaven, so also the Son of Man will be in His day. When Jesus returns, He will shine so bright under the heavens we will have no doubt He is the light
2 Samuel 22:29"For You are my lamp, O LORD;The LORD shall enlighten my darkness. Jesus is our lamp who enlightens the darkness
Job 34:22 There is no darkness nor shadow of death Where the workers of iniquity may hide themselves. Even darkness isn't dark enough to hide from the light of Jesus
Isaiah 5:20 Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; Who put darkness for light, and light for darkness; Who put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!
Isaiah 9:2 The people who walked in darkness Have seen a great light; Those who dwelt in the land of the shadow of death, Upon them a light has shined.prophecy?
Isaiah 42:16 I will bring the blind by a way they did not know; I will lead them in paths they have not known. I will make darkness light before them, And crooked places straight. These things I will do for them, And not forsake them.Jesus lets us see by His light
Isaiah 50:10 Who among you fears the LORD? Who obeys the voice of His Servant? Who walks in darkness And has no light? Let him trust in the name of the LORD And rely upon his God.Trust in Jesus and He will bring you from darkness into light
Daniel 2:22 He reveals deep and secret things; He knows what is in the darkness, And light dwells with Him.there is nothing in darness He doesn't know
Micah 7:8 [ Israel's Confession and Comfort ] Do not rejoice over me, my enemy; When I fall, I will arise; When I sit in darkness, The LORD will be a light to me.Jesus is our light even when we are in darkest despair
John 3:19 And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.men loved evil more than good and were condemned
John 8:12Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, "I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life."Jesus is the light of the world!
John 1:5 *The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not
overcome it.*
Who is this light? Notice /who/ , not what. From the last verse you
see that Christ is life and that this eternal life was the light of
men. So Christ is the light, and He shines in the darkness. Also,
this shining is ongoing as the verb is in the present tense.
What is the darkness? It's not merely a dark room, but you see that it
has a will from the fact that this darkness cannot overcome Christ.
So what? Well, this means that the darkness is trying to overcome the
Lord of Glory. It means that the darkness is a real and prevalent
force that is trying to oppose God. And it means that the darkness cannot,
ever, overcome God.
Now that you have finished the paragraph, what does the context mean?
This logos, that you have a fuzzy image of, is was and always will be.
It is God, and He is life, and nothing can overcome Him.
John 1:10 He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not.
John 3:20 For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.
John 12:37 But though he had done so many miracles before them, yet they believed not on him:
Romans 1:28 And even as they did not like to retain God in [their] knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;
1 Corinthians 2:14 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know [them], because they are spiritually discerned.
From whom may we better expect the light of divine revelation than from him who gave us the light of human reason? And if, when God gave us natural life, that life was in his Son, how readily should we receive the gospel-record, that he hath given us eternal life, and that life too is in his Son!
The manifestation of him to the children of men. It might be objected, If this eternal Word was all in all thus in the creation of the world, whence is it that he has been so little taken notice of and regarded? To this he answers (v. 5), The light shines, but the darkness comprehends it not. Observe,
The discovery of the eternal Word to the lapsed world, even before he was manifested in the flesh: The light shineth in darkness. Light is self-evidencing, and will make itself known; this light, whence the light of men comes, hath shone, and doth shine. [1.] The eternal Word, as God, shines in the darkness of natural conscience. Though men by the fall are become darkness, yet that which may be known of God is manifested in them; see Rom. 1:19, 20. The light of nature is this light shining in darkness. Something of the power of the divine Word, both as creating and as commanding, all mankind have an innate sense of; were it not for this, earth would be a hell, a place of utter darkness; blessed be God, it is not so yet. [2.] The eternal Word, as Mediator, shone in the darkness of the Old-Testament types and figures, and the prophecies and promises which were of the Messiah from the beginning. He that had commanded the light of this world to shine out of darkness was himself long a light shining in darkness; there was a veil upon this light, 2 Co. 3:13.
The disability of the degenerate world to receive this discovery: The darkness comprehended it not; the most of men received the grace of God in these discoveries in vain. [1.] The world of mankind comprehended not the natural light that was in their understandings, but became vain in their imaginations concerning the eternal God and the eternal Word, Rom. 1:21, 28. The darkness of error and sin overpowered and quite eclipsed this light. God spoke once, yea twice, but man perceived it not, Job 33:14. [2.] The Jews, who had the light of the Old Testament, yet comprehended not Christ in it. As there was a veil upon Moses’s face, so there was upon the people’s hearts. In the darkness of the types and shadows the light shone; but such as the darkness of their understandings that they could not see it. It was therefore requisite that Christ should come, both to rectify the errors of the Gentile world and to improve the truths of the Jewish church.
Saturday, March 8, 2008
John 1:4 Bible Study with audio sermon
AUDIO SERMON (right click to open in new window -- if you have problems opening it, please email me and I will email it directly to you!)
John 1:4
"In him was life, and the life was the light of men."
John continues to teach more about the character and nature of the Word.
This verse states that in Him was life.
What kind of life is it?
John uses (zwh) 37 times: 17 times it occurs with (aiwnios), and in the remaining occurrences outside the prologue it is clear from context that “eternal” life is meant. The two uses in 1:4 <," target=_blank>http://net.bible.org/verse.php?book=Joh&chapter=1&verse=4>, if they do not refer to “eternal” life, would be the only exceptions. (Also 1 John uses zoe 13 times, always of “eternal” life.) -NET bible translation notes
Psa 36:9
"For with you is the fountain of life; in your light do we see light."
You see, in Christ is life, and only in Him do you have that life. As this life is in Him, it must be eternal because He is God. And only through Jesus can you hope to see that light.
Psa 36:10-12
"Oh, continue your steadfast love to those who know you, and your righteousness to the upright of heart! Let not the foot of arrogance come upon me, nor the hand of the wicked drive me away. There the evildoers lie fallen; they are thrust down, unable to rise."
This life is in Christ and through Christ. You cannot demand it, take it, or decide for it.
John 1:12-13
But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, [even] to them that believe on his name: Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.
Col 1:17
"And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together."
You must have Christ Jesus, or you do not have Life.
John 14:6
Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me."
In Him is life, the only life, the only way to life.
He is your only light, your only truth.
John 1:4
"In him was life, and the life was the light of men."
In order for there to be light, there must also be darkness. Throughout the Bible, the term "darkness" refers to something that is bad, evil, wickedness, blindness, etc.
Prov 4:19
"But the way of the wicked is like deep darkness; they do not know what makes them stumble"
Eccl 2:13
"wisdom is better than folly just as light is better than darkness"
Isaiah 5:20
"Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness..."
John 3:19-20 says,
"the light has come into the world, and men love darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed"
We practice evil when we break God's holy law, the Ten Commandments. The Bible says that we all sin,
"For no one is without sin..." (I Kings 8:46),
"there's certainly no righteous man on earth who does good and never sins" (Ecclesiastes 7:20),
"for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23).
How do we come out of darkness into light?
In the Bible, "light" refers to something that is good or righteous, not evil or wicked or corrupt. We first saw that light was good when God created it in Genesis 1:3-4 And God said, Let there be light: and there was light. And God saw the light, that it was good: and God divided the light from the darkness.
John 8:12
Jesus said, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life"
We are commanded to live in the light.
Ephesians 5:8-11
"walk as children of the light... finding out what is acceptable to the Lord. And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness..."
And to live in the light, we must turn away from our darkness (repent of our sins) and walk in the light.
Romans 13:12-14
"The night is far spent, the day is at hand. Therefore let us cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light. Let us walk properly, as in the day, not in revelry and drunkenness, not in lewdness and lust, not in strife and envy. But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts"
Furthermore the Bible states in 1 John 1:7
"But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin"
Once we repent (turn from our darkness (sins)) and put our trust in Jesus Christ, we become a light for the dark world.
The Bible says in Matthew 5:14
"You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden"
Matthew 5:16 says,
"...let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven"
1 Thess 5:5 says,
"You are all sons of light and sons of the day. We are not of the night nor of darkness"
In Jesus Christ is everlasting life. That everlasting life is a light for those living in darkness (living in sin) and condemned to Hell (further darkness and eternal separation from God). We are called to turn away from our darkness (repent from our sins) and walk in the light (live in righteousness). When we truly repent of our sins and trust in Christ to save us and give us eternal life, we become a light to the world by living a righteous life in contrast with the darkness we once loved.
John 1:4
"In him was life, and the life was the light of men."
John continues to teach more about the character and nature of the Word.
This verse states that in Him was life.
What kind of life is it?
John uses (zwh) 37 times: 17 times it occurs with (aiwnios), and in the remaining occurrences outside the prologue it is clear from context that “eternal” life is meant. The two uses in 1:4 <," target=_blank>http://net.bible.org/verse.php?book=Joh&chapter=1&verse=4>, if they do not refer to “eternal” life, would be the only exceptions. (Also 1 John uses zoe 13 times, always of “eternal” life.) -NET bible translation notes
Psa 36:9
"For with you is the fountain of life; in your light do we see light."
You see, in Christ is life, and only in Him do you have that life. As this life is in Him, it must be eternal because He is God. And only through Jesus can you hope to see that light.
Psa 36:10-12
"Oh, continue your steadfast love to those who know you, and your righteousness to the upright of heart! Let not the foot of arrogance come upon me, nor the hand of the wicked drive me away. There the evildoers lie fallen; they are thrust down, unable to rise."
This life is in Christ and through Christ. You cannot demand it, take it, or decide for it.
John 1:12-13
But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, [even] to them that believe on his name: Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.
Col 1:17
"And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together."
You must have Christ Jesus, or you do not have Life.
John 14:6
Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me."
In Him is life, the only life, the only way to life.
He is your only light, your only truth.
John 1:4
"In him was life, and the life was the light of men."
In order for there to be light, there must also be darkness. Throughout the Bible, the term "darkness" refers to something that is bad, evil, wickedness, blindness, etc.
Prov 4:19
"But the way of the wicked is like deep darkness; they do not know what makes them stumble"
Eccl 2:13
"wisdom is better than folly just as light is better than darkness"
Isaiah 5:20
"Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness..."
John 3:19-20 says,
"the light has come into the world, and men love darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed"
We practice evil when we break God's holy law, the Ten Commandments. The Bible says that we all sin,
"For no one is without sin..." (I Kings 8:46),
"there's certainly no righteous man on earth who does good and never sins" (Ecclesiastes 7:20),
"for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23).
How do we come out of darkness into light?
In the Bible, "light" refers to something that is good or righteous, not evil or wicked or corrupt. We first saw that light was good when God created it in Genesis 1:3-4 And God said, Let there be light: and there was light. And God saw the light, that it was good: and God divided the light from the darkness.
John 8:12
Jesus said, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life"
We are commanded to live in the light.
Ephesians 5:8-11
"walk as children of the light... finding out what is acceptable to the Lord. And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness..."
And to live in the light, we must turn away from our darkness (repent of our sins) and walk in the light.
Romans 13:12-14
"The night is far spent, the day is at hand. Therefore let us cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light. Let us walk properly, as in the day, not in revelry and drunkenness, not in lewdness and lust, not in strife and envy. But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts"
Furthermore the Bible states in 1 John 1:7
"But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin"
Once we repent (turn from our darkness (sins)) and put our trust in Jesus Christ, we become a light for the dark world.
The Bible says in Matthew 5:14
"You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden"
Matthew 5:16 says,
"...let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven"
1 Thess 5:5 says,
"You are all sons of light and sons of the day. We are not of the night nor of darkness"
In Jesus Christ is everlasting life. That everlasting life is a light for those living in darkness (living in sin) and condemned to Hell (further darkness and eternal separation from God). We are called to turn away from our darkness (repent from our sins) and walk in the light (live in righteousness). When we truly repent of our sins and trust in Christ to save us and give us eternal life, we become a light to the world by living a righteous life in contrast with the darkness we once loved.
Saturday, March 1, 2008
John 1:3 Bible Study with audio sermon! fixed!
John 1:3
All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. (link to audio sermon!) (right click to open in new window so you can continue reading post)
Please bear with me as I get back into the practice of preaching a sermon! My audience while speaking here was a table lamp!! He was the "light" of the room, but not the same as the Light of the World! Some people were not able to listen to the sermon. It had a broken link. I think I have fixed it now!
If the link opens and says it is broken, then copy and paste this into your browser.
http://www.esnips.com/doc/4090be00-b4f0-4b16-80f4-6a2ef18b62a1/John-1-Bible-Study
John 1:10 He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him.everything was made through Christ and nothing was made without Him
Hebrews 1:1-3
God's Supreme Revelation
1 God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets,
2 has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds;
3 who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself[a] purged our[b] sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, this one says it very clearly...
everything is made through Jesus...
All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made.
When were all things, made?
In the beginning. (Gen 1)
Who is him?
In context he is the Word. From the previous verse you know that the Word was with God in the beginning. Now you are told that without the Word nothing was made. So, everything that is made is made through him. And again, he is the Word, the Word is Jesus Christ (v 14 , 29-36), and Jesus is God.(v1)
The difficult part of this comes from the greek text, which has 'that was made' as part of verse 4. If you look at the NET translation notes, they are online, you will see that, according to Aland, this phrase may have been attached to v4 by the gnostics and the Eastern church, then attached to v3 at the time of the Arian heresy, but this was only in the Eastern church. This change was unknown in the Western or Roman church. Yet, the phrase reads better in context in v3, and follows more closely to John's style of writing than if it is in v4, as most texts show it to be. This other construction would read "That which came into being — in it the Word was life"; "That which came into being — in the Word was its life." Though either construction carries the meaning, the prior allows better flow in english and fewer mental pretzels.
All {f} things were made by him; and {g} without him {h} was not any thing made that was made.
The Son of God declares that his everlasting Godhead is the same as the Father's, both by the creating of all things, and also by preserving them, and especially by the excellent gifts of reason and understanding with which he has beautified man above all other creatures.
{f}Paul expounds on this in Col 1:15-16.
Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature:
For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:
{g}That is, as the Father did work, so did the Son work with him: for the Son was a fellow worker with him.
{h} Of all those things which were made, nothing was made without him.
John 1:10 He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him.
1 Corinthians 8:6 yet for us there is but one God, the Father, from whom are all things and we exist for Him; and one Lord, Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we exist through Him.
Colossians 1:16 For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities-- all things have been created through Him and for Him.
Hebrews 1:2 in these last days has spoken to us in His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the world.
*************************************************************************
John 1:1-3
{1}In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
{2}The same was in the beginning with God.
{3}All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.
All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. (link to audio sermon!) (right click to open in new window so you can continue reading post)
Please bear with me as I get back into the practice of preaching a sermon! My audience while speaking here was a table lamp!! He was the "light" of the room, but not the same as the Light of the World! Some people were not able to listen to the sermon. It had a broken link. I think I have fixed it now!
If the link opens and says it is broken, then copy and paste this into your browser.
http://www.esnips.com/doc/4090be00-b4f0-4b16-80f4-6a2ef18b62a1/John-1-Bible-Study
John 1:10 He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him.everything was made through Christ and nothing was made without Him
Hebrews 1:1-3
God's Supreme Revelation
1 God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets,
2 has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds;
3 who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself[a] purged our[b] sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, this one says it very clearly...
everything is made through Jesus...
All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made.
When were all things, made?
In the beginning. (Gen 1)
Who is him?
In context he is the Word. From the previous verse you know that the Word was with God in the beginning. Now you are told that without the Word nothing was made. So, everything that is made is made through him. And again, he is the Word, the Word is Jesus Christ (v 14 , 29-36), and Jesus is God.(v1)
The difficult part of this comes from the greek text, which has 'that was made' as part of verse 4. If you look at the NET translation notes, they are online, you will see that, according to Aland, this phrase may have been attached to v4 by the gnostics and the Eastern church, then attached to v3 at the time of the Arian heresy, but this was only in the Eastern church. This change was unknown in the Western or Roman church. Yet, the phrase reads better in context in v3, and follows more closely to John's style of writing than if it is in v4, as most texts show it to be. This other construction would read "That which came into being — in it the Word was life"; "That which came into being — in the Word was its life." Though either construction carries the meaning, the prior allows better flow in english and fewer mental pretzels.
All {f} things were made by him; and {g} without him {h} was not any thing made that was made.
The Son of God declares that his everlasting Godhead is the same as the Father's, both by the creating of all things, and also by preserving them, and especially by the excellent gifts of reason and understanding with which he has beautified man above all other creatures.
{f}Paul expounds on this in Col 1:15-16.
Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature:
For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:
{g}That is, as the Father did work, so did the Son work with him: for the Son was a fellow worker with him.
{h} Of all those things which were made, nothing was made without him.
John 1:10 He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him.
1 Corinthians 8:6 yet for us there is but one God, the Father, from whom are all things and we exist for Him; and one Lord, Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we exist through Him.
Colossians 1:16 For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities-- all things have been created through Him and for Him.
Hebrews 1:2 in these last days has spoken to us in His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the world.
*************************************************************************
John 1:1-3
{1}In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
{2}The same was in the beginning with God.
{3}All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.
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