JESUS, THE FINAL JUDGE
John 18:28-37
HIS HUMILITY, HIS SACRIFICIAL LOVE
V:28. "Then led they Jesus from Caiaphas unto the hall of judgment: and it was early;
and they themselves went not into the judgment hall, lest they should be defiled; but that
they might eat the passover."
A. Jesus allowed Himself to be judged by sinful men using their sinful standards.
1. The one who made man in His own image, allowed Himself to be judged by the
men He made.
2. They brought the Judge of all judges to the judgment hall to be judged.
3. They brought the supreme heavenly judge who is over all worldly judges to be
judged.
B. "They themselves went not into the judgment hall, lest they should be defiled."
1.They brought the author of sanctification to be judged.
2. They brought the way of sanctification to be judged.
3. They brought the reason for sanctification to be judged.
4. They were with Jesus, the only one who could clean them spiritually, yet they did
not want to be made unclean by going into the judgment hall.
5. They misapplied the law. (Leviticus 15:10-11, 19-20).
a. The law referred to touching a man or a woman with a discharge.
6. They had defiled themselves.
1. Jesus said, "It is not what goes into a man that defiles him, but that comes out of
his heart from his mouth." Matt 15:18.
2. They bared false witness against Jesus.
3. They paid others to lie about Jesus.
4. They had malice in their heart against Jesus.
7. Where ever Jesus is, there is purity.
a. They could not be defiled in a place where Jesus was.
C. "But that they might eat the passover."
1. They did not want to miss the passover, but the passover was in front
of them.
THE ACCUSATION AGAINST JESUS
V:29. "Pilate then went out unto them, and said, What accusation bring ye against this
man?"
A. Pilate was the Roman governor who had judicial authority over the area which
included Jerusalem.
1. The Jews presented Jesus to Pilate to be judged without giving him the reason.
B. A good leader does not act with out investigation.
1. Those who bring charges against someone should clearly present the charges.
2. A good leader will examine the evidence before pronouncing judgment.
3. Accusations based on prejudice and hatred will result in false claims.
a. The Jews brought their mess to Pilate expecting him to rule in their favor.
b. They brought their lies.
c. They brought their false claims.
d. They brought their prejudices.
4. Pilate came out of the hall honoring their rites to get their charges against Jesus.
5. Their religious rites were more important to them than the truth.
V:30. "They answered and said unto him, If he were not a malefactor, we would not have
delivered him up unto thee."
A. "Malefactor" is from two Greek words; kalon which means evil and poioon which
means to make, lay wait or deal.
1. They claim Jesus was one who lay wait to do evil or one who deals evil.
a. This charge was vague and not specific enough to make a judgment.
b. They did not tell Pilate what Jesus did to be labeled an evil doer.
2. Specific charges have a specific punishment under Jewish law.
a. No specific charge was given against Jesus.
b. They were bold in their own council against Jesus.
c. They played ignorant in the presence of the real authority.
d. This was a testimony to their untruthfulness.
3. They wanted Pilate to execute their illegal judgment.
4. They accused Jesus of being a malefactor, when they were the malefactors.
a. Their testimony of no evidence against Jesus is proof that they were malefactors.
V:31. "Then said Pilate unto them, Take ye him, and judge him according to your law.
The Jews therefore said unto him, It is not lawful for us to put any man to death."
A. Pilate had no evidence to make a judgment, so he put the decision back into the
hands of the Jewish leaders.
1. We should never judge someone based solely on someone statement.
2. There are two sides to every story.
3.Very often the truth cannot be obtained from testimony of one side.
a. On one side is light and on the other side is darkness.
b On one side is the "Truth" and on the other side is a lie.
c. On one side is salvation on and the other side is death.
d. On one side is mercy and on the other side is man's injustice.
e. On one side was love and on the other side was hate.
f. On one side was heaven and on the other side was hell.
g. On one side was righteousness and on the other side was sin.
h. On one side was God and on the other side was Satan.
B. The Jews did not want justice but an illegal punishment based on their word.
1. They had the power to punish based on their law, but not the authority to put
anyone to death.
2. The Jews were not interested in restoring Jesus to God, but separating Him from
God.
a. Jesus came to restore man to God.
b. Jesus came to save.
c. Satan came to steal, kill and destroy.
3. The teachers of the law were blinded to the scriptures about Jesus by their own
selfish ambitions.
4. We must be careful to believe all scripture and not just what we agree with.
V:32. "That the saying of Jesus might be fulfilled, which he spake, signifying what death
he should die."
A. Jesus was never in any danger before the Roman council or the Jewish leaders.
1. They were allowed to do only what Jesus planned for them to do.
2. Jesus was in complete control of the situation.
a. In Jesus we are in no danger from man.
b. Satan may cast a shadow of danger, but he has no power.
B. Human government has no authority over the government of God.
1. They tried to kill Jesus before, but He would slip away in the crowd.
2. After Jesus raised Lazarus from the grave, the Jewish leaders said they
would kill Lazarus and Jesus. John 12:9-11
3. Jesus planned the manner of His death to save all men. John 12:32
4. At any point in time Jesus could have commanded a legion of angels to come to His
rescue. Matt 26:53.
5. No one could take the life of Jesus.
a. He gave up His life freely for the salvation of those who believe in Him.
John 10 15-18.
b. The death of Jesus was planned by the Father and foretold in the Scriptures
starting in the Garden of Eden after the fall of Adam. Gen 3:15
THE INJUSTICE
V:33. "Then Pilate entered into the judgment hall again, and called Jesus, and said unto
him, Art thou the King of the Jews?"
A. Pilate asked the right question for the wrong reason.
1. Jesus is the King of Kings.
2. He is the spiritual King of all who believe in Him.
3. Jesus was accused of claiming to be the King of the Jews.
4. Jesus was accused of being an enemy to the Roman government.
B. How we see Jesus is important to our testimony about Him.
1. We need to ask ourselves this question. Is Jesus the King of my life?
a. Do you trust Jesus with your life?
b. Do you love Him enough to live according to His Word?
c. Can you trust Him to provide for your present needs?
d. Is your eternal hope in Jesus Christ?
C. Do you see Jesus in the Judgment Hall?
1. Jesus is the judge of the living and the dead.
2. Jesus the eternal Judge has imputed His righteousness on all believers.
a. Jesus has rendered believers innocent of all charges.
b. He has executed a sentence of eternal life with the Father to all believers.
c. Believers ought to be glad Jesus is the judge in our eternal judgment hall.
FAITH IN JESUS
V:34. "Jesus answered him, Sayest thou this thing of thyself, or did others tell it thee of
me?"
A. This is a key question from Jesus to us.
1. Do you believe that Jesus is your king?
a. Do you say Jesus is king because someone else said He is king?
b. It is not what someone else says about Jesus that is important, but
what you say about Jesus.
2. You have to know Jesus for yourself.
a. People say a lot about Jesus that is not true.
b. The only way to know Jesus is to study His Word.
c. When you study the Word of Jesus, you see the His glory all around you.
V:35. "Pilate answered, Am I a Jew? Thine own nation and the chief priests have
delivered thee unto me: what hast thou done?"
A. This is another question for all believers to consider. What has Jesus done?
1. He created the heavens and the earth.
2. He has maintained His creation since its beginning.
3. He made man in His own image.
B. What has Jesus done for you?
1. I don't know about you but...
a. He brought me from a mighty long way.
b. He saved my soul.
c. If it had not been for the Lord on my side, I would not be here.
C. What is He doing NOW.
1. He is keeping me alive.
2. He is the joy in my life.
3. He is my peace in my trials and tribulations.
4. He is the bread on my table.
5. He is water when I thirst.
THE SPIRITUAL KINGDOM OF JESUS
V:36. "Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this
world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now
is my kingdom not from hence."
A. It is good to know that there is a kingdom beyond this world.
1. It is good to know that Jesus is seated at the right hand of the Father, making
intercessions for us.
B. Jesus did not come to take over world kingdoms.
1. In the Garden of Eden, God gave Adam control over his environment. Gen 2:19.
2. After the flood, God established human government with Noah and his family
Gen 9:1-7.
3. Jesus did not come to remove the authority He gave to man over his affairs.
4. Jesus came to establish a spiritual kingdom in His name.
a. Jesus established His Church, the body of Christ.
b. Jesus, the leader of the church is seated at the right hand of the Father.
5. Jesus knows His sheep and they know Him and follow Him. John 10:14-17
6. All believers are members in the kingdom of Jesus with a heavenly heritage.
a. Jesus has an intimate knowledge of all believers.
THE MISSION OF JESUS
V:37. "Pilate therefore said unto him, Art thou a king then? Jesus answered, Thou sayest
that I am a king. To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I
should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice."
A. The mission of Jesus was to be a witness to the truth.
1. The Old Testament was complete more than 300 years before the birth of Jesus
according to the aging of the Dead Sea Scrolls.
2. The truth was available but it was not being told.
a The truth about Jesus and His coming was not told.
b. The truth about the way to salvation was not told.
c. The truth about God's love was not told.
d. The truth about the forgiveness of God was not told.
e. The truth about God's grace and mercy was not told.
THE POSITION OF JESUS
B. Jesus is the truth.
1. He came down from heaven so we could come to know Him.
2. He used miracles and signs to draw men to Himself.
a. Once drawn, He shares the truth.
b. In our life today, God uses trial and tribulations to draw us to Him.
c. He comforts us in our situation so we trust Him.
d. Once we trust Him, He shares with us, who He is.
B. "Every one that is of the truth hears the voice of Jesus."
1. Salvation come by belief in the Word.
2. The evidence of those who believe is the way they live.
Thursday, March 29, 2012
Wednesday, March 21, 2012
This Week's Sunday School Lesson, " Faith In Jesus, The Door To Heaven", 3/25/2012
FAITH IN JESUS, THE DOOR TO HEAVEN
John 3:11-21
THE TESTIMONY OF JESUS
V.11."Verily, verily, I say unto thee, We speak that we do know, and testify that we have
seen; and ye receive not our witness."
A. Verily=ameen= firm, trustworthy, truly, faithful
1. You can believe that the Words of Jesus are true.
2. He said "verily" twice meaning that it is absolutely true, and there is no doubt.
B. The "We" may refer to the Holy Trinity.
1. Only Jesus can know the things of heaven.
2. Only Jesus can testify to what is in Heaven.
3. Jesus knows the plan of the Father.
C. The witness of Jesus was not accepted by those who were teachers of the Word.
1. The teachers should have been the ones most capable of discerning the truth of the
earthly ministry of Jesus.
2. They should have been able to recognize that the Jesus in the flesh before them was
the Jesus in the scriptures.
3. The teachers of the Word did not accept the one who was the Word.
a. They purposely blinded themselves to the Word.
b. They refused to see any man as God even though they had the Word which
prophesied Jesus coming in the flesh.
4. We have to be careful to accept the entire Word, not just what we agree with.
a. Every verse in the Bible supports every other verse in some way.
b. We cannot take any of God's Word for granted.
MY PEOPLE PERISH FOR LACK OF KNOWLEDGE
V:12. " If I have told you earthly things, and ye believe not, how shall ye believe, if I tell
you of heavenly things?"
A. We have to be able to recognize the glory of God before us.
1. Nothing that was made was made without Jesus.
2, The Glory of Jesus is present all around us.
3. If we cannot understand Jesus in creation which we can see, we will not appreciate
Jesus fully in heaven.
a. The unlimited power of Jesus is manifested in creation.
b. His authority over the world is constant and consistent in the operation of the
world.
B. To follow Jesus requires blind faith in every word in the Bible.
1. We must stand on His promises for our daily living.
C. The Jews practiced religion, but they didn't always practice godliness.
1. They baptized for ritual cleansing on the outside, the earthly thing.
a. They didn't understand that this was symbolic to the cleaning on the inside, the
heavenly thing.
b. They didn't understand the spiritual baptism into Jesus death bought eternal life.
2. The Jews practiced doing good to those they love, the earthly thing.
a. It was difficult to do good to those who hated them, the heavenly thing.
3. The Jews knew that the spirit returns to the Father at death, the earthly thing.
a. They didn't understand that the spirit is positioned with Father when one believes
in Jesus as their savior, the heavenly thing.
4. The Jews understood spiritual life with Father, the earthy thing.
a. They didn't understand the spiritual life with Father came through faith in Jesus,
the heavenly thing.
V:13. "And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven,
even the Son of man which is in heaven."
A. This is a testimony to Jesus' divine and human nature.
1. "And no man"
a. "No man"= oudeis= not even one, none
2. "Ascended up to heaven", a reference to His resurrection, His victory over death.
3. "He came down from heaven", His incarnation, His human nature
4. "Son of man", His anointing as the Christ
a. Son=houis= child
b. "Man"= anthropos = human being, a certain man
c. Son of man = messianic title
4. "Which is in heaven", His equality with the Father, His omnipresence
B. The only one who fits this description is Jesus, the Christ.
1. The only man who came down from heaven is Jesus.
2. Enoch and Elijah was taken up into heaven, but they did not come down from
heaven.
3. Christ is the only man who came from God who can testify to the things of heaven.
FAITH IN JESUS, THE WAY TO HEAVEN
V:14. "And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man
be lifted up".
A. The people of Israel spoke against Moses and God on their journey to the promise
land. God sent snakes to bite them and many died. They repented and Moses
interceded for them. They were required to look upon a Bronze Serpent that Moses
lifted to live.
1. Jesus used this to symbolized man 's required faith in His death on the Cross for
redemption of sins.
2. Man must believe in Christ and His death on the Cross to obtain the free gift of
eternal life.
B. "Even so "Must" the Son of be lifted up"
1. Jesus came down from heaven for one purpose; to die on the cross.
2. Nothing could change the purpose of Jesus.
3. His purpose had to be fulfilled.
4. Jesus' purpose was the will of the Father.
5. The will of the Father was all men would see the cross of Jesus and be
brought to a point of decision; accept or reject Christ as their personal savior.
6. The love of the Father for His creation was manifested in the death of Jesus on the
cross.
C. The story of the raising of the Bronze Serpent before Israel is a reminder of the Will
of the Father to save some and not all. Numbers 21:5-9
1. Some perished before the serpent was raised.
2. Some were spared to come to repentance and faith in the "lifted up" of the serpent.
to bring salvation.
3. Jesus was "lifted up" on the cross because some would come to faith in Him
and receive eternal life.
4. God is in control of salvation.
5. It is by the grace of God that we were allowed come to a point where we accepted
Christ as our personal Savior.
V:15. "That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life."
A. Faith in Jesus is the prerequisite to eternal life.
1. The "whosoever" is the decision of each person.
2. The "whosoever" indicates that some will choose Christ and some will not.
B. The "whosoever" indicates the two eternal states of man.
1. Eternal life with the Father.
2. Eternal separation from the Father.
C. It is by the Grace of God that we believers are included in the "whosoever".
1. This reason to give God our highest praise.
THE DOCTRINE OF SALVATION
V:16. "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever
believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life."
A. Salvation begins with God's love for His creation.
1. God's love for His creation is the cause of His forgiveness of the sin's of man.
B. Salvation is through faith in Jesus and Jesus only.
C. The "Way" to salvation is faith in Jesus and faith in Jesus alone.
D. Salvation is a choice that God gives to man.
1. The "whosoever indicates divine "Choice"
2. The "whosoever" indicates divine "Election"
3. The "whosoever" indicates the divine "Called Out"
4. The "whosoever" indicates individual responsibility.
5. The "whosoever indicates God's divine "Judgment".
6. The "whosoever" indicates the sovereignty of God.
7. The "whosoever" indicates the Grace of God.
THE GRACE OF GOD
V:17. "For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world
through him might be saved."
A. Jesus the Son, was sent by God the Father to save the world.
1. Two of the persons of the God Head appear together in this verse.
2. The two persons of the God Head are distinct; God the Father and God the Son.
3. There is one God, existing in three persons. The third person is the Holy Spirit.
4. Perhaps it is the Father's plan of salvation executed by the Son.
B. Jesus was sent to save the world.
1. All men have the opportunity to be saved.
2. Jesus came to reconcile the world to God.
a. After Adam all men are born in sin.
b. Jesus death on the cross atoned (paid in full) for the sins of all men.
3. All men are made savable through Jesus.
4. Those who believe in Jesus are not judged by God for their sins.
CHOICES BRINGS CONSEQUENCES
V:18. "He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is
condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son
of God."
A. Those who come to Christ have their sins forgiven.
1. Believers can forget about their past.
2. Believers can let go of the guilt of past sins.
3. Salvation cannot be lost for sins past, present or future.
4. The believers position in heaven is secure.
B. Those who reject Christ are "already " condemned.
1. Already= edee= everywhere of time, time preceding another point of time,
implying completion.
2. Those who will reject Christ have been predetermined by the Father long before
they were born.
3. It is by the Grace of God that believers were elected by the Father to believe
in His Son. John 6:37. John 6:44.
V:19. "And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil."
A. Those who love evil will not come to the light, therefore they are condemned.
1. Those who love darkness will not come to the light because their evil deeds
would be exposed.
2. Those who love the dark are sealed in the dark and cannot be delivered.
B. The two states of man are presented.
1. The state of darkness. Those who are ignorant of the Word of God.
2. The state of light. Those who come to Jesus and study to be like Him.
V:20. "For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his
deeds should be reproved."
A. Evil men practice to be evil.
1. They study to keep their evil deeds from being detected.
2. Some practice deception to appear to be in the light.
B. Evil men hate God because they hate His ways.
1. One design of the gospel is "to reprove" men. It convicts them of sin in order that
it may afford consolation.
2. Men by nature "hate" the gospel. No man who is a sinner loves it; and no man by
nature is disposed to come to it, any more than an adulterer or thief is disposed to
come to the daylight, and do his deeds of wickedness there.
3. The reason why the gospel, is hated is that men are sinners. "Christ is hated because
sin is loved."
4. The sinner must be convicted or convinced of sin. If it be not in this world, it will be
in the next. There is no escape for him; and the only way to avoid condemnation in
the world to come is to come humbly and acknowledge sin here, and seek for pardon.
JESUS IS THE WAY, THE TRUTH AND THE LIFE
V:21. "But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest,
that they are wrought in God."
A. Those who love what is right will come to a knowledge of God.
1. Those who love what is right will confess their sins before God and receive
forgiveness.
B. Those who love what is right will find peace and joy in the Lord.
1. Those who love what is right will study the Word to understand the truth.
2. Those who love what is right will put their trust in Jesus.
3. Those who love what is right will put their hope in the promise of eternal life.
John 3:11-21
THE TESTIMONY OF JESUS
V.11."Verily, verily, I say unto thee, We speak that we do know, and testify that we have
seen; and ye receive not our witness."
A. Verily=ameen= firm, trustworthy, truly, faithful
1. You can believe that the Words of Jesus are true.
2. He said "verily" twice meaning that it is absolutely true, and there is no doubt.
B. The "We" may refer to the Holy Trinity.
1. Only Jesus can know the things of heaven.
2. Only Jesus can testify to what is in Heaven.
3. Jesus knows the plan of the Father.
C. The witness of Jesus was not accepted by those who were teachers of the Word.
1. The teachers should have been the ones most capable of discerning the truth of the
earthly ministry of Jesus.
2. They should have been able to recognize that the Jesus in the flesh before them was
the Jesus in the scriptures.
3. The teachers of the Word did not accept the one who was the Word.
a. They purposely blinded themselves to the Word.
b. They refused to see any man as God even though they had the Word which
prophesied Jesus coming in the flesh.
4. We have to be careful to accept the entire Word, not just what we agree with.
a. Every verse in the Bible supports every other verse in some way.
b. We cannot take any of God's Word for granted.
MY PEOPLE PERISH FOR LACK OF KNOWLEDGE
V:12. " If I have told you earthly things, and ye believe not, how shall ye believe, if I tell
you of heavenly things?"
A. We have to be able to recognize the glory of God before us.
1. Nothing that was made was made without Jesus.
2, The Glory of Jesus is present all around us.
3. If we cannot understand Jesus in creation which we can see, we will not appreciate
Jesus fully in heaven.
a. The unlimited power of Jesus is manifested in creation.
b. His authority over the world is constant and consistent in the operation of the
world.
B. To follow Jesus requires blind faith in every word in the Bible.
1. We must stand on His promises for our daily living.
C. The Jews practiced religion, but they didn't always practice godliness.
1. They baptized for ritual cleansing on the outside, the earthly thing.
a. They didn't understand that this was symbolic to the cleaning on the inside, the
heavenly thing.
b. They didn't understand the spiritual baptism into Jesus death bought eternal life.
2. The Jews practiced doing good to those they love, the earthly thing.
a. It was difficult to do good to those who hated them, the heavenly thing.
3. The Jews knew that the spirit returns to the Father at death, the earthly thing.
a. They didn't understand that the spirit is positioned with Father when one believes
in Jesus as their savior, the heavenly thing.
4. The Jews understood spiritual life with Father, the earthy thing.
a. They didn't understand the spiritual life with Father came through faith in Jesus,
the heavenly thing.
V:13. "And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven,
even the Son of man which is in heaven."
A. This is a testimony to Jesus' divine and human nature.
1. "And no man"
a. "No man"= oudeis= not even one, none
2. "Ascended up to heaven", a reference to His resurrection, His victory over death.
3. "He came down from heaven", His incarnation, His human nature
4. "Son of man", His anointing as the Christ
a. Son=houis= child
b. "Man"= anthropos = human being, a certain man
c. Son of man = messianic title
4. "Which is in heaven", His equality with the Father, His omnipresence
B. The only one who fits this description is Jesus, the Christ.
1. The only man who came down from heaven is Jesus.
2. Enoch and Elijah was taken up into heaven, but they did not come down from
heaven.
3. Christ is the only man who came from God who can testify to the things of heaven.
FAITH IN JESUS, THE WAY TO HEAVEN
V:14. "And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man
be lifted up".
A. The people of Israel spoke against Moses and God on their journey to the promise
land. God sent snakes to bite them and many died. They repented and Moses
interceded for them. They were required to look upon a Bronze Serpent that Moses
lifted to live.
1. Jesus used this to symbolized man 's required faith in His death on the Cross for
redemption of sins.
2. Man must believe in Christ and His death on the Cross to obtain the free gift of
eternal life.
B. "Even so "Must" the Son of be lifted up"
1. Jesus came down from heaven for one purpose; to die on the cross.
2. Nothing could change the purpose of Jesus.
3. His purpose had to be fulfilled.
4. Jesus' purpose was the will of the Father.
5. The will of the Father was all men would see the cross of Jesus and be
brought to a point of decision; accept or reject Christ as their personal savior.
6. The love of the Father for His creation was manifested in the death of Jesus on the
cross.
C. The story of the raising of the Bronze Serpent before Israel is a reminder of the Will
of the Father to save some and not all. Numbers 21:5-9
1. Some perished before the serpent was raised.
2. Some were spared to come to repentance and faith in the "lifted up" of the serpent.
to bring salvation.
3. Jesus was "lifted up" on the cross because some would come to faith in Him
and receive eternal life.
4. God is in control of salvation.
5. It is by the grace of God that we were allowed come to a point where we accepted
Christ as our personal Savior.
V:15. "That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life."
A. Faith in Jesus is the prerequisite to eternal life.
1. The "whosoever" is the decision of each person.
2. The "whosoever" indicates that some will choose Christ and some will not.
B. The "whosoever" indicates the two eternal states of man.
1. Eternal life with the Father.
2. Eternal separation from the Father.
C. It is by the Grace of God that we believers are included in the "whosoever".
1. This reason to give God our highest praise.
THE DOCTRINE OF SALVATION
V:16. "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever
believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life."
A. Salvation begins with God's love for His creation.
1. God's love for His creation is the cause of His forgiveness of the sin's of man.
B. Salvation is through faith in Jesus and Jesus only.
C. The "Way" to salvation is faith in Jesus and faith in Jesus alone.
D. Salvation is a choice that God gives to man.
1. The "whosoever indicates divine "Choice"
2. The "whosoever" indicates divine "Election"
3. The "whosoever" indicates the divine "Called Out"
4. The "whosoever" indicates individual responsibility.
5. The "whosoever indicates God's divine "Judgment".
6. The "whosoever" indicates the sovereignty of God.
7. The "whosoever" indicates the Grace of God.
THE GRACE OF GOD
V:17. "For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world
through him might be saved."
A. Jesus the Son, was sent by God the Father to save the world.
1. Two of the persons of the God Head appear together in this verse.
2. The two persons of the God Head are distinct; God the Father and God the Son.
3. There is one God, existing in three persons. The third person is the Holy Spirit.
4. Perhaps it is the Father's plan of salvation executed by the Son.
B. Jesus was sent to save the world.
1. All men have the opportunity to be saved.
2. Jesus came to reconcile the world to God.
a. After Adam all men are born in sin.
b. Jesus death on the cross atoned (paid in full) for the sins of all men.
3. All men are made savable through Jesus.
4. Those who believe in Jesus are not judged by God for their sins.
CHOICES BRINGS CONSEQUENCES
V:18. "He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is
condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son
of God."
A. Those who come to Christ have their sins forgiven.
1. Believers can forget about their past.
2. Believers can let go of the guilt of past sins.
3. Salvation cannot be lost for sins past, present or future.
4. The believers position in heaven is secure.
B. Those who reject Christ are "already " condemned.
1. Already= edee= everywhere of time, time preceding another point of time,
implying completion.
2. Those who will reject Christ have been predetermined by the Father long before
they were born.
3. It is by the Grace of God that believers were elected by the Father to believe
in His Son. John 6:37. John 6:44.
V:19. "And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil."
A. Those who love evil will not come to the light, therefore they are condemned.
1. Those who love darkness will not come to the light because their evil deeds
would be exposed.
2. Those who love the dark are sealed in the dark and cannot be delivered.
B. The two states of man are presented.
1. The state of darkness. Those who are ignorant of the Word of God.
2. The state of light. Those who come to Jesus and study to be like Him.
V:20. "For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his
deeds should be reproved."
A. Evil men practice to be evil.
1. They study to keep their evil deeds from being detected.
2. Some practice deception to appear to be in the light.
B. Evil men hate God because they hate His ways.
1. One design of the gospel is "to reprove" men. It convicts them of sin in order that
it may afford consolation.
2. Men by nature "hate" the gospel. No man who is a sinner loves it; and no man by
nature is disposed to come to it, any more than an adulterer or thief is disposed to
come to the daylight, and do his deeds of wickedness there.
3. The reason why the gospel, is hated is that men are sinners. "Christ is hated because
sin is loved."
4. The sinner must be convicted or convinced of sin. If it be not in this world, it will be
in the next. There is no escape for him; and the only way to avoid condemnation in
the world to come is to come humbly and acknowledge sin here, and seek for pardon.
JESUS IS THE WAY, THE TRUTH AND THE LIFE
V:21. "But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest,
that they are wrought in God."
A. Those who love what is right will come to a knowledge of God.
1. Those who love what is right will confess their sins before God and receive
forgiveness.
B. Those who love what is right will find peace and joy in the Lord.
1. Those who love what is right will study the Word to understand the truth.
2. Those who love what is right will put their trust in Jesus.
3. Those who love what is right will put their hope in the promise of eternal life.
Thursday, March 15, 2012
This Week's Sunday School Lesson, "Jesus is the Bridegroom" 3/18/2012
JESUS IS THE BRIDEGROOM
John 2:1-12
MARRIAGE, GOD'S FIRST PRIORITY
V:1. "And the third day there was a marriage in Cana of Galilee; and the mother of Jesus
was there."
A. The third day after Jesus was baptized by John in the Jordan River, He traveled to
His home region. It probably would have taken two days to reach Cana.
1. It is interesting to note that this marriage feast symbolizes all the elements of the
ministry of Jesus.
2. Marriage is the center piece of God's creation. Family is the first human institution
established by God with Adam and Eve.
3. The Church is compared to marriage. Jesus is the bride groom, and the Church is
His bride. Mark 2:19
4. Marriage is the first human institution in God's creation. It is therefore fitting, that a
Marriage celebration is the first to receive Jesus after His baptism.
5. Cana of Galilee was a small city in the tribe of Asher.
a. This was a wedding in the promise land near Jesus home town.
b. Jesus started His ministry at home.
i. Our ministry for Jesus ought to start in our own home with our families.
c. Jesus started His ministry in a small city.
i. You are never too small or insignificant for Jesus to visit you.
B. "The mother of Jesus was there"
1. The wedding party may have been relatives of Jesus.
a. Our ministry ought to start at home.
b. Family ought to be our first priority.
2. Mary the mother of Jesus, a vitreous woman, set the example for all wives.
C. "The third day"
1. After emerging from the water (His baptism), Jesus began His ministry on the "third
day".
2. On the "third day", Jesus was resurrected from the grave, and began the ministry of
Salvation by Grace through Faith.
GOD SHOULD BE THE FIRST INVITED
V:2. "And both Jesus was called, and his disciples, to the marriage."
1. Jesus comes to us by invitation.
2. We must accept Jesus as our personal savior.
3. The disciples of Jesus must follow Him.
4. All marriages should begin under the care of Jesus.
5. Marriages that begin without Christ, begin with Satan as a partner.
INTERCESSORY PRAYER
V:3. "And when they wanted wine, the mother of Jesus saith unto him, They have no
wine."
A. Marriages always start with a need.
1. Mary interceded for the newly married couple.
2. Young marriages have a need for intercessory prayers for unity.
3. They have a need for the older, wiser and experienced Christians to give them
good advice.
JESUS CAME TO SAVE SOULS, MIRACLES WERE THE DRAWING CARDS
V:4. "Jesus saith unto her, Woman, what have I to do with thee? mine hour is not yet
come."
A. There is a time and a place for everything.
1. Jesus was referring to His resurrection when all power would be given to Him.
a. The time prayers to the Father would be asked in His name.
2. This time of His earthly ministry was to preach the Gospel of Salvation.
3. This time of His earthly ministry was to introduce Grace as the redemption of sins.
4. Jesus did not descend to earth for our pleasures, but to reconcile the world back to
the Father.
5. We need to be careful that our desires don't interfere with the mission of the
Church.
B. A newly married couple will face difficulties trying to blend two lives together.
1. Couples should try to work things out first on their own.
2. It was a desirous thing to have more wine, but it was not a necessity.
3. Well meaning friends and relatives some times intercede for us to the Father while
we are trying to work our difficulties out.
4. Jesus' compassion for us includes our desires and our needs.
OBEDIENCE TO GOD'S WORD IS PROFITABLE
V:5. "His mother saith unto the servants, Whatsoever he saith unto you, do it."
A. Good advice comes from wise sources.
1. Those who know the Lord, know His power and authority.
2. Those who know the Lord, know that there is nothing to hard for Him.
3. Those who know the Lord, do not consider how He will do something, but expect
him to answer their prayers.
a. Jesus had never performed a miracle before this time.
b. Mary believed that the Glory of God would be manifested in His Son.
B. We are all servants of Jesus Christ.
1. We should be quick in following all of His commands.
2. Jesus responds to our prayers according to our faith and His will.
AN ENDLESS SUPPLY
V:6. "And there were set there six waterpots of stone, after the manner of the purifying of
the Jews, containing two or three firkins apiece."
A. Sometimes God uses what we have to perform miracles.
1. Firkins = 9-10 gallons, 3 firkins =30 gallons times 6 pots = 180 gallons
2. When God blesses us He blesses out of His abundance.
3. There is no end to what Jesus can do.
B. The water pots were used for purification purposes.
1. Jesus death on the cross cleanse the believer of his sins, an act of purification
before God.
2. The blood of Christ shed on the cross has endless power to atone for the sins of
man.
JESUS IS THE SOURCE OF ALL OF OUR NEEDS
John 2:7 "Jesus saith unto them, Fill the waterpots with water. And they filled them up to
the brim."
A. The pots were filled to the top, symbolizing Jesus desire to fulfill all of our needs.
1. When we respond to Jesus in faith, He cleanses us of all unrighteousness ,
restoring us to full fellowship with the Father.
2. Jesus shows us the importance of honoring our mother.
a. He fulfills her desire to be helpful to her friends.
b. Out of obedience to His earthly mother, he responds to her request.
V:8. "And he saith unto them, Draw out now, and bear unto the governor of the feast.
And they bare it."
A. The director of the feast testified to the effectiveness of the miracle performed by
Jesus.
1. The ruler of the feast would testify to the quality of Jesus' works.
B. Believers should be a witness to others of the work Jesus has done in their lives.
1. The work Jesus does in our lives is designed to benefit others through our
encouragement, through our witness and through our support.
V:9. "When the ruler of the feast had tasted the water that was made wine, and knew not
whence it was: (but the servants which drew the water knew;) the governor of the feast
called the bridegroom."
A. This miracle proves that the Lord is the ruler over the elements of the earth.
1. The Lord is the water of life. John 7:38, Gen 3:20
2. The Lord is the creator of all life, the redeemer of life and the source of eternal life.
B. The wine represents the blood of Jesus shed on the Cross for the redemption of man
to eternal life. Mat 26:28
1. It is possible that water became wine at the time it was drawn by the servants.
2. Jesus provides life to those who are drawn to Him. John 6:54
3. There is enough eternal life (through his blood) to cover all believers. Mark 14:24
JESUS GIVES HIS BEST
V:10. "And saith unto him, Every man at the beginning doth set forth good wine; and
when men have well drunk, then that which is worse: but thou hast kept the good wine
until now."
A. The best of a believer's life comes at the end of his earthly life when he enters eternal
life with Jesus.
1. A believer is never perfected to his best until he enters into eternal rest with the Lord.
a. Jesus is the way to it, the truth about it and the life in it.
2. The best of a believer life is his marriage to the bride groom who is Christ Jesus.
3. The invitation to the wedding is the blood of Jesus represented by the good wine.
4. Only the Lord can make the wine perfect and pure.
5. Only Jesus can render man perfect before God.
V:11. "This beginning of miracles did Jesus in Cana of Galilee, and manifested forth his
glory; and his disciples believed on him."
A. Jesus began his miracles in His home town among His own people.
1. The work of the Lord ought to begin with our families.
2. Others will come to believe in Jesus when we proclaim His glory.
B. The miracles of Jesus show Him to be more than a prophet.
2. The glory of the Lord is ever present in His works.
3. The works of the Lord is all around us; the earth, the sun, the moon, the stars and
even us.
C. The disciples saw the miracles of Jesus and they believed in Him.
1. Believers ought to see Jesus as their savior.
2. Believers ought to be in awe of Jesus when they view His miracles in creation
daily.
B. God's first priority is the welfare of the soul.
1. His first priority is not physical comforts which is bestowed upon man by His
miracles.
2. The miracles of Jesus called attention to His glory, His power and His authority.
3. His miracles draw men closer to Him.
V:12. "After this he went down to Capernaum, he, and his mother, and his brethren, and
his disciples: and they continued there not many days."
A. Those who follow the Lord must be willing to be led to where ever He goes.
1. The work of the Lord is never done, so Christians should never get to comfortable.
B. Cana was high on the mountain and Capernaum was near the shore of the sea of
Galilee.
2. The High place of the Lord's ministry is the wedding of the believers with Himself.
3. The High position of God's creation is man in right standing with Himself.
a. Jesus did not come down from heaven to save the earth, the trees or animals.
He came down to save man from his sins.
;
John 2:1-12
MARRIAGE, GOD'S FIRST PRIORITY
V:1. "And the third day there was a marriage in Cana of Galilee; and the mother of Jesus
was there."
A. The third day after Jesus was baptized by John in the Jordan River, He traveled to
His home region. It probably would have taken two days to reach Cana.
1. It is interesting to note that this marriage feast symbolizes all the elements of the
ministry of Jesus.
2. Marriage is the center piece of God's creation. Family is the first human institution
established by God with Adam and Eve.
3. The Church is compared to marriage. Jesus is the bride groom, and the Church is
His bride. Mark 2:19
4. Marriage is the first human institution in God's creation. It is therefore fitting, that a
Marriage celebration is the first to receive Jesus after His baptism.
5. Cana of Galilee was a small city in the tribe of Asher.
a. This was a wedding in the promise land near Jesus home town.
b. Jesus started His ministry at home.
i. Our ministry for Jesus ought to start in our own home with our families.
c. Jesus started His ministry in a small city.
i. You are never too small or insignificant for Jesus to visit you.
B. "The mother of Jesus was there"
1. The wedding party may have been relatives of Jesus.
a. Our ministry ought to start at home.
b. Family ought to be our first priority.
2. Mary the mother of Jesus, a vitreous woman, set the example for all wives.
C. "The third day"
1. After emerging from the water (His baptism), Jesus began His ministry on the "third
day".
2. On the "third day", Jesus was resurrected from the grave, and began the ministry of
Salvation by Grace through Faith.
GOD SHOULD BE THE FIRST INVITED
V:2. "And both Jesus was called, and his disciples, to the marriage."
1. Jesus comes to us by invitation.
2. We must accept Jesus as our personal savior.
3. The disciples of Jesus must follow Him.
4. All marriages should begin under the care of Jesus.
5. Marriages that begin without Christ, begin with Satan as a partner.
INTERCESSORY PRAYER
V:3. "And when they wanted wine, the mother of Jesus saith unto him, They have no
wine."
A. Marriages always start with a need.
1. Mary interceded for the newly married couple.
2. Young marriages have a need for intercessory prayers for unity.
3. They have a need for the older, wiser and experienced Christians to give them
good advice.
JESUS CAME TO SAVE SOULS, MIRACLES WERE THE DRAWING CARDS
V:4. "Jesus saith unto her, Woman, what have I to do with thee? mine hour is not yet
come."
A. There is a time and a place for everything.
1. Jesus was referring to His resurrection when all power would be given to Him.
a. The time prayers to the Father would be asked in His name.
2. This time of His earthly ministry was to preach the Gospel of Salvation.
3. This time of His earthly ministry was to introduce Grace as the redemption of sins.
4. Jesus did not descend to earth for our pleasures, but to reconcile the world back to
the Father.
5. We need to be careful that our desires don't interfere with the mission of the
Church.
B. A newly married couple will face difficulties trying to blend two lives together.
1. Couples should try to work things out first on their own.
2. It was a desirous thing to have more wine, but it was not a necessity.
3. Well meaning friends and relatives some times intercede for us to the Father while
we are trying to work our difficulties out.
4. Jesus' compassion for us includes our desires and our needs.
OBEDIENCE TO GOD'S WORD IS PROFITABLE
V:5. "His mother saith unto the servants, Whatsoever he saith unto you, do it."
A. Good advice comes from wise sources.
1. Those who know the Lord, know His power and authority.
2. Those who know the Lord, know that there is nothing to hard for Him.
3. Those who know the Lord, do not consider how He will do something, but expect
him to answer their prayers.
a. Jesus had never performed a miracle before this time.
b. Mary believed that the Glory of God would be manifested in His Son.
B. We are all servants of Jesus Christ.
1. We should be quick in following all of His commands.
2. Jesus responds to our prayers according to our faith and His will.
AN ENDLESS SUPPLY
V:6. "And there were set there six waterpots of stone, after the manner of the purifying of
the Jews, containing two or three firkins apiece."
A. Sometimes God uses what we have to perform miracles.
1. Firkins = 9-10 gallons, 3 firkins =30 gallons times 6 pots = 180 gallons
2. When God blesses us He blesses out of His abundance.
3. There is no end to what Jesus can do.
B. The water pots were used for purification purposes.
1. Jesus death on the cross cleanse the believer of his sins, an act of purification
before God.
2. The blood of Christ shed on the cross has endless power to atone for the sins of
man.
JESUS IS THE SOURCE OF ALL OF OUR NEEDS
John 2:7 "Jesus saith unto them, Fill the waterpots with water. And they filled them up to
the brim."
A. The pots were filled to the top, symbolizing Jesus desire to fulfill all of our needs.
1. When we respond to Jesus in faith, He cleanses us of all unrighteousness ,
restoring us to full fellowship with the Father.
2. Jesus shows us the importance of honoring our mother.
a. He fulfills her desire to be helpful to her friends.
b. Out of obedience to His earthly mother, he responds to her request.
V:8. "And he saith unto them, Draw out now, and bear unto the governor of the feast.
And they bare it."
A. The director of the feast testified to the effectiveness of the miracle performed by
Jesus.
1. The ruler of the feast would testify to the quality of Jesus' works.
B. Believers should be a witness to others of the work Jesus has done in their lives.
1. The work Jesus does in our lives is designed to benefit others through our
encouragement, through our witness and through our support.
V:9. "When the ruler of the feast had tasted the water that was made wine, and knew not
whence it was: (but the servants which drew the water knew;) the governor of the feast
called the bridegroom."
A. This miracle proves that the Lord is the ruler over the elements of the earth.
1. The Lord is the water of life. John 7:38, Gen 3:20
2. The Lord is the creator of all life, the redeemer of life and the source of eternal life.
B. The wine represents the blood of Jesus shed on the Cross for the redemption of man
to eternal life. Mat 26:28
1. It is possible that water became wine at the time it was drawn by the servants.
2. Jesus provides life to those who are drawn to Him. John 6:54
3. There is enough eternal life (through his blood) to cover all believers. Mark 14:24
JESUS GIVES HIS BEST
V:10. "And saith unto him, Every man at the beginning doth set forth good wine; and
when men have well drunk, then that which is worse: but thou hast kept the good wine
until now."
A. The best of a believer's life comes at the end of his earthly life when he enters eternal
life with Jesus.
1. A believer is never perfected to his best until he enters into eternal rest with the Lord.
a. Jesus is the way to it, the truth about it and the life in it.
2. The best of a believer life is his marriage to the bride groom who is Christ Jesus.
3. The invitation to the wedding is the blood of Jesus represented by the good wine.
4. Only the Lord can make the wine perfect and pure.
5. Only Jesus can render man perfect before God.
V:11. "This beginning of miracles did Jesus in Cana of Galilee, and manifested forth his
glory; and his disciples believed on him."
A. Jesus began his miracles in His home town among His own people.
1. The work of the Lord ought to begin with our families.
2. Others will come to believe in Jesus when we proclaim His glory.
B. The miracles of Jesus show Him to be more than a prophet.
2. The glory of the Lord is ever present in His works.
3. The works of the Lord is all around us; the earth, the sun, the moon, the stars and
even us.
C. The disciples saw the miracles of Jesus and they believed in Him.
1. Believers ought to see Jesus as their savior.
2. Believers ought to be in awe of Jesus when they view His miracles in creation
daily.
B. God's first priority is the welfare of the soul.
1. His first priority is not physical comforts which is bestowed upon man by His
miracles.
2. The miracles of Jesus called attention to His glory, His power and His authority.
3. His miracles draw men closer to Him.
V:12. "After this he went down to Capernaum, he, and his mother, and his brethren, and
his disciples: and they continued there not many days."
A. Those who follow the Lord must be willing to be led to where ever He goes.
1. The work of the Lord is never done, so Christians should never get to comfortable.
B. Cana was high on the mountain and Capernaum was near the shore of the sea of
Galilee.
2. The High place of the Lord's ministry is the wedding of the believers with Himself.
3. The High position of God's creation is man in right standing with Himself.
a. Jesus did not come down from heaven to save the earth, the trees or animals.
He came down to save man from his sins.
;
Thursday, March 8, 2012
This Week's Sunday School Lesson, "Jesus Christ, The Word Of Life", 3/11/12
JESUS CHRIST, THE WORD OF LIFE
John 1:1-14
V.1. "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was
God."
A "In the beginning was the Word."
1. The beginning is before creation, an eternal time.
2. Word = Logos= a collection of the thing of the mind, the mind of Christ, the Word
of life.
3. This indicates the eternity of Jesus.
B. "The Word was with God."
1. This indicates two of the Persons in the God Head.
2. The Person of the Father and the Person of the Son.
3. The Person of the Holy Spirit is not mentioned here, but is ever present.
C "The Word was God."
1. This indicates the unity of the God Head
2. Jesus, the Son and the Father are one.
V.2. "The same was in the beginning with God.
A. His divine nature
1.Christ has a divine nature equal to the divine nature of the Father.
2.Christ's divine nature existed from eternity past and has no beginning.
V:3. "All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was
made. "
A. Christ, the Word, the logos was involved in creation.
1. The Word has character; "Him" who is Christ.
2. The Word is a Person, "Him", who is Christ.
B. Christ has sole power and authority over creation.
1. Everything that was made was made by Christ.
2. Christ has sole control over creation.
V:4. "In him was life; and the life was the light of men."
A. In Jesus, the Word, is all life.
1. Human life was spoken into existence by the Word.
2. Eternal life is made possible by belief in the Word.
3. The Word is the source of all life; human, animal, and plant.
4. The Word is the principles to live life in it's highest sense.
B. All knowledge has its origin and existence in the Word.
1. The Word is the light to man to know who God is.
2. The Word is the light to man to know the righteousness of God.
3. The Word is the light to man to know sin.
4. The Word is the light to man to know God's love.
5. The Word is the light to man to know his need for a Savior.
V:5. "And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not."
A Darkness= skotia =ignorance of divine things.
1. Darkness may refer to the pagan world or the fallen spirit of man.
2. There are two classes of existence; those in the light and those in the dark.
B. Darkness has two classes;
1. Those in the dark permanently.
a. They will never understand the light.
2. Those in the dark temporally.
a. They will be drawn to the light and will understand the Word.
b. They will understand the wisdom of God.
C. Christ is the light to all, but not all will receive the light.
V:6. "There was a man sent from God, whose name was John."
A. God selects and identifies those He will use.
1. John was chosen by God to serve.
2. Every believer is chosen by God to serve.
B. God places people in positions to help others in the ministry.
1. John was sent by God to support Jesus.
2. Every believer is here to play an important supporting role.
3. God prepares us and equips us with gifts, talents and life experiences
to serve in the ministry with others.
4. God places us in time and position to serve in His plan of redemption.
V:7. "The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him
might believe."
A. John, sent by God was given a purpose.
1. He was sent to be a witness for Jesus.
2. He was sent to be a witness to the truth of God's Word.
3. He was sent to proclaim the salvation that is in Jesus Christ.
4. He was sent to let his light shine so others might believe.
B. Every Christian is sent by God to be a witness for Jesus.
1. Every Christian is commissioned by God to present the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
2. You are the elect and you were elected by God for a good purpose.
C. The power in the light to believe is the Holy Spirit.
V:8. "He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light."
A. John's position was to be a witness for Jesus.
1. We need to understand that we were called to a position.
2. We need to stay in our position.
3. We should not try to take over someone else's position.
B. John was not Jesus, but a witness for Jesus.
1. We are not Jesus, but a disciple of Jesus.
2. We are not the pastor, but a servant under the pastor.
C. John was placed in a supporting role to Jesus and he served in that role.
1. Every believer has been placed in a supporting role and we must serve Jesus
in our role.
2. Some are out of their place because they are trying to be in someone else's place.
3. Some are out of place because they don't want be involved or serve.
V:9. "That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world."
A. Jesus is the true Light.
1. This True Light is the Wisdom of God.
2. This True Light is available to everyone.
3. This True light affect everyone.
a. Every person is equipped with a conscience.
b. Every conscience because of the True Light knows the difference between right
and wrong.
B. Jesus was always the True Light of the world before His incarnation into human flesh.
1. His light was manifested in creation.
2. Man now responds to this True Light as the way to eternal life.
V:10. "He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him
not."
A. The coming of the Lord Jesus was proclaimed throughout the Old Testament.
1. The Jewish leaders were well aware of His coming.
a. The place of His coming. Micah 5:2
b. The timing of His coming. Dan 9:25
c. The way of His coming. Isa 7:14
B. The Jewish leaders failed to recognize Jesus or proclaim His Gospel.
1. They were responsible for the study and the teaching of the Word.
2. Jesus was born a Jew and Jewish leaders failed to teach Jesus as the King.
C. The Jewish leaders had no trouble finding Jesus as King in the scriptures. Matt 2:2-4.
1. The Jewish leaders made every effort to expose Jesus as a fraud. Matt 21:15, 23,
26:59.
2. You can ignore the Word of God, but it does not relieve you of the responsibility
to believe.
3. Your unbelief can cause you to loose blessings that God has in store for you.
V:11. "He came unto his own, and his own received him not."
A. "He came unto his own."
1. His own=ta idia = His own messianic rights and possessions
2. His own was to bring the Gospel Message.
3. His own was to bring salvation to the world.
4. His own was to complete the Father's plan of redemption.
5. His own was to establish peace between the Father and man with His death on the
cross.
6. His own was to be the payment for the sins of man with His shed blood on the
cross.
7. His own was to be advocate for man before the Father.
9. His own was to show God's love for his people with sacrificial death of His Son.
10. His own was the Grace and Mercy of the Father.
B. " His own received him not."
1. His own=hoi idioi= own people.
2. His own was the community that He grew up in.
3. His own was the Jewish Nation.
4. His own was 40 generations of Jews.
C. Jesus came as the savior of the world and His own people refused to recognize Him.
1. Jesus came to the world in the flesh, just as the scriptures foretold His coming
yet those who knew and were responsible for the scriptures remained blind
to him.
2. It is the Grace of God that allows us to know Him. John 6:37
V:12. "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."
A. ".But as many as received him"
1. There are many that will come to Christ and there are many who will not come.
a. Christ died for the sins of the whole world.
b. Receive= lambano= to get hold of, to procure for oneself
B. " To them gave he power"
1. Power = exousian= freedom of choice
C. " To become the sons of God"
1. To become children of God in name, dignity and nature
D. " Even to them that believe on his name."
1. Believe=pisteuousin= to give credit to a person's testimony, absolute trust in Jesus
E. Notice, it is God who gives us freedom of choice to trust Jesus and become sons of
God.
1. The world can read the Gospel but want have the freedom of choice to trust Jesus.
2. Only God's elect is given the freedom of choice to trust Jesus. Praise God!
V:13. "Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man,
but of God."
A. " Which were born" =egenneetheesan = spiritual rebirth, a radical change involving
total personality.
B. "Not of blood "- not of superior human descent, JFB
C. "Nor of the will of the flesh" - not of human generation at all, JFB
D. "Nor of the will of man" - not of man in any of the ways in which his will brings
anything about. JFB
E. Notice, God makes it plain that salvation has absolutely nothing to do with man or
his works.
1. God gives us the freedom of choice to choose Him. John 15:16
2. Our freedom of choice to believe in Jesus is divinely acquired.
V:14. "And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the
glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth."
A. " And the Word was made flesh."
1. Jesus by the power of the Holy Spirit through the body of Mary took on human
flesh. Matt 1:19-21
B. "And dwelt among us."
1. Jesus born of Mary lived on earth for 33 and a half years. Luke 3:23
2. Jesus continues to dwell among us in His Word.
3. All believers have the indwelling of the Holy Spirit which is a constant reminder
of His Word.
C. " And we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,"
full of grace and truth"
1. Peter, James and John witness the transfiguration of Jesus. Mark 9:2-4.
2. All of the disciple witness the resurrected Jesus and His ascension into heaven.
3. The disciples of Jesus are the eye witness account of the miracles and teachings
of Jesus.
4. The Gospel is the disciples inspired account of the human life and times of Jesus by
His disciples.
5. We can believe their account because they confirm the prophecies of the Old
Testament.
John 1:1-14
V.1. "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was
God."
A "In the beginning was the Word."
1. The beginning is before creation, an eternal time.
2. Word = Logos= a collection of the thing of the mind, the mind of Christ, the Word
of life.
3. This indicates the eternity of Jesus.
B. "The Word was with God."
1. This indicates two of the Persons in the God Head.
2. The Person of the Father and the Person of the Son.
3. The Person of the Holy Spirit is not mentioned here, but is ever present.
C "The Word was God."
1. This indicates the unity of the God Head
2. Jesus, the Son and the Father are one.
V.2. "The same was in the beginning with God.
A. His divine nature
1.Christ has a divine nature equal to the divine nature of the Father.
2.Christ's divine nature existed from eternity past and has no beginning.
V:3. "All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was
made. "
A. Christ, the Word, the logos was involved in creation.
1. The Word has character; "Him" who is Christ.
2. The Word is a Person, "Him", who is Christ.
B. Christ has sole power and authority over creation.
1. Everything that was made was made by Christ.
2. Christ has sole control over creation.
V:4. "In him was life; and the life was the light of men."
A. In Jesus, the Word, is all life.
1. Human life was spoken into existence by the Word.
2. Eternal life is made possible by belief in the Word.
3. The Word is the source of all life; human, animal, and plant.
4. The Word is the principles to live life in it's highest sense.
B. All knowledge has its origin and existence in the Word.
1. The Word is the light to man to know who God is.
2. The Word is the light to man to know the righteousness of God.
3. The Word is the light to man to know sin.
4. The Word is the light to man to know God's love.
5. The Word is the light to man to know his need for a Savior.
V:5. "And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not."
A Darkness= skotia =ignorance of divine things.
1. Darkness may refer to the pagan world or the fallen spirit of man.
2. There are two classes of existence; those in the light and those in the dark.
B. Darkness has two classes;
1. Those in the dark permanently.
a. They will never understand the light.
2. Those in the dark temporally.
a. They will be drawn to the light and will understand the Word.
b. They will understand the wisdom of God.
C. Christ is the light to all, but not all will receive the light.
V:6. "There was a man sent from God, whose name was John."
A. God selects and identifies those He will use.
1. John was chosen by God to serve.
2. Every believer is chosen by God to serve.
B. God places people in positions to help others in the ministry.
1. John was sent by God to support Jesus.
2. Every believer is here to play an important supporting role.
3. God prepares us and equips us with gifts, talents and life experiences
to serve in the ministry with others.
4. God places us in time and position to serve in His plan of redemption.
V:7. "The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him
might believe."
A. John, sent by God was given a purpose.
1. He was sent to be a witness for Jesus.
2. He was sent to be a witness to the truth of God's Word.
3. He was sent to proclaim the salvation that is in Jesus Christ.
4. He was sent to let his light shine so others might believe.
B. Every Christian is sent by God to be a witness for Jesus.
1. Every Christian is commissioned by God to present the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
2. You are the elect and you were elected by God for a good purpose.
C. The power in the light to believe is the Holy Spirit.
V:8. "He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light."
A. John's position was to be a witness for Jesus.
1. We need to understand that we were called to a position.
2. We need to stay in our position.
3. We should not try to take over someone else's position.
B. John was not Jesus, but a witness for Jesus.
1. We are not Jesus, but a disciple of Jesus.
2. We are not the pastor, but a servant under the pastor.
C. John was placed in a supporting role to Jesus and he served in that role.
1. Every believer has been placed in a supporting role and we must serve Jesus
in our role.
2. Some are out of their place because they are trying to be in someone else's place.
3. Some are out of place because they don't want be involved or serve.
V:9. "That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world."
A. Jesus is the true Light.
1. This True Light is the Wisdom of God.
2. This True Light is available to everyone.
3. This True light affect everyone.
a. Every person is equipped with a conscience.
b. Every conscience because of the True Light knows the difference between right
and wrong.
B. Jesus was always the True Light of the world before His incarnation into human flesh.
1. His light was manifested in creation.
2. Man now responds to this True Light as the way to eternal life.
V:10. "He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him
not."
A. The coming of the Lord Jesus was proclaimed throughout the Old Testament.
1. The Jewish leaders were well aware of His coming.
a. The place of His coming. Micah 5:2
b. The timing of His coming. Dan 9:25
c. The way of His coming. Isa 7:14
B. The Jewish leaders failed to recognize Jesus or proclaim His Gospel.
1. They were responsible for the study and the teaching of the Word.
2. Jesus was born a Jew and Jewish leaders failed to teach Jesus as the King.
C. The Jewish leaders had no trouble finding Jesus as King in the scriptures. Matt 2:2-4.
1. The Jewish leaders made every effort to expose Jesus as a fraud. Matt 21:15, 23,
26:59.
2. You can ignore the Word of God, but it does not relieve you of the responsibility
to believe.
3. Your unbelief can cause you to loose blessings that God has in store for you.
V:11. "He came unto his own, and his own received him not."
A. "He came unto his own."
1. His own=ta idia = His own messianic rights and possessions
2. His own was to bring the Gospel Message.
3. His own was to bring salvation to the world.
4. His own was to complete the Father's plan of redemption.
5. His own was to establish peace between the Father and man with His death on the
cross.
6. His own was to be the payment for the sins of man with His shed blood on the
cross.
7. His own was to be advocate for man before the Father.
9. His own was to show God's love for his people with sacrificial death of His Son.
10. His own was the Grace and Mercy of the Father.
B. " His own received him not."
1. His own=hoi idioi= own people.
2. His own was the community that He grew up in.
3. His own was the Jewish Nation.
4. His own was 40 generations of Jews.
C. Jesus came as the savior of the world and His own people refused to recognize Him.
1. Jesus came to the world in the flesh, just as the scriptures foretold His coming
yet those who knew and were responsible for the scriptures remained blind
to him.
2. It is the Grace of God that allows us to know Him. John 6:37
V:12. "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."
A. ".But as many as received him"
1. There are many that will come to Christ and there are many who will not come.
a. Christ died for the sins of the whole world.
b. Receive= lambano= to get hold of, to procure for oneself
B. " To them gave he power"
1. Power = exousian= freedom of choice
C. " To become the sons of God"
1. To become children of God in name, dignity and nature
D. " Even to them that believe on his name."
1. Believe=pisteuousin= to give credit to a person's testimony, absolute trust in Jesus
E. Notice, it is God who gives us freedom of choice to trust Jesus and become sons of
God.
1. The world can read the Gospel but want have the freedom of choice to trust Jesus.
2. Only God's elect is given the freedom of choice to trust Jesus. Praise God!
V:13. "Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man,
but of God."
A. " Which were born" =egenneetheesan = spiritual rebirth, a radical change involving
total personality.
B. "Not of blood "- not of superior human descent, JFB
C. "Nor of the will of the flesh" - not of human generation at all, JFB
D. "Nor of the will of man" - not of man in any of the ways in which his will brings
anything about. JFB
E. Notice, God makes it plain that salvation has absolutely nothing to do with man or
his works.
1. God gives us the freedom of choice to choose Him. John 15:16
2. Our freedom of choice to believe in Jesus is divinely acquired.
V:14. "And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the
glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth."
A. " And the Word was made flesh."
1. Jesus by the power of the Holy Spirit through the body of Mary took on human
flesh. Matt 1:19-21
B. "And dwelt among us."
1. Jesus born of Mary lived on earth for 33 and a half years. Luke 3:23
2. Jesus continues to dwell among us in His Word.
3. All believers have the indwelling of the Holy Spirit which is a constant reminder
of His Word.
C. " And we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,"
full of grace and truth"
1. Peter, James and John witness the transfiguration of Jesus. Mark 9:2-4.
2. All of the disciple witness the resurrected Jesus and His ascension into heaven.
3. The disciples of Jesus are the eye witness account of the miracles and teachings
of Jesus.
4. The Gospel is the disciples inspired account of the human life and times of Jesus by
His disciples.
5. We can believe their account because they confirm the prophecies of the Old
Testament.
Thursday, March 1, 2012
This Week's Sunday School Lesson, "Wisdom is Christ", 3/5/2012
WISDOM IS CHRIST
Proverbs 8:22-35
CHRIST BEFORE CREATION
V.22. "The LORD possessed me in the beginning of his way, before his works of old. "
A. John 1:1 which speak about Christ is a reflection on this verse.
" In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was
God."
1. Wisdom is Christ.
2. Wisdom existed before creation began.
3. Wisdom belongs to the Lord.
4. Wisdom is the Word.
5. Wisdom was always with God.
4. Wisdom has a divine author.
B. Wisdom = chukmah= shrewdness, prudence, used to describe a skillful craftsman.
1. Jesus is wisdom, but He is more than that.
a. He is love.
b. He is forgiveness.
c. He is joy.
d. He is peace.
e. He is salvation.
f. He is life.
2. Wisdom is one of the divine aspects of Christ.
a. He is omnipresent.
b. He is omnipotent.
c. He is omniscience.
V:23. "I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning, or ever the earth was."
A. "I was set up"=nicaktiy= to be anointed, to be poured out, to be installed ( as a king).
1. Christ was installed as king before the foundation of world.
2. Christ is the body of wisdom.
3. Christ is eternal.
4. Before plans were made for the earth, Christ was.
a. Wisdom was in place before any plans were made.
b." The same was in the beginning with God." John 1:2
CHRIST DURING CREATION
V:24. "When there were no depths, I was brought forth; when there were no fountains
abounding with water."
A. John 1:3 is a reflection of this verse;
" All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was
made."
1. Jesus was actively involved in the creation of the world.
2." Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the
deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters. " Gen 1:2
B. This divine aspect of Jesus was set in place first for the production of all things.
1. From this divine aspect is the council of peace between the Father and the Son
concerning the redemption of mankind.
V:25. "Before the mountains were settled, before the hills was I brought forth."
A. Compare Psalms 90:2. What the Psalmist said of Yahweh, the teacher here asserts of
Wisdom; "she was before the everlasting hills.".
1. The mountains and the hills could not be set in place without the wisdom of Christ
speaking them into existence.
2. Christ has no beginning but creation does.
a. Christ confirms His eternal existence.
"Are you the first man ever born? Were you brought forth before the hills?
Do you listen in on God's council? " Job 15:7-8
b. The wisdom of Christ is beyond man's comprehension.
c. The power and authority of the wisdom of Christ is grounded in His eternity.
V:26. "While as yet he had not made the earth, nor the fields, nor the highest part of the
dust of the world."
A. Field= chuwts= outside places, broad spaces of the earth, inhabitable part of the
earth.
1. Dust= teebeel= the friable soil on the surface of the earth.
2. The wisdom of Christ considers the basic needs of man to produce crops to
provide for his existence on earth.
V:27. "When he prepared the heavens, I was there: when he set a compass upon the face
of the depth."
A. The Lord Jesus has a complete love for His creation. He leaves out no details that
makes life on earth livable for man.
1. The wisdom of the Lord Jesus prepared all things between the heavens to the
deepest parts of the earth for the growth and development of mankind.
V:28. "When he established the clouds above: when he strengthened the fountains of the
deep."
A. It is the wisdom of Christ that sets the clouds above the waters.
1. The clouds collect the moisture from the waters and holds them in suspension
in vapors until they are released back to water the earth.
2. The wisdom of Christ presents us with the ability and the authority to make all
things work to benefit man.
V:29. "When he gave to the sea his decree, that the waters should not pass his
commandment: when he appointed the foundations of the earth"
A. It was by the wisdom of Christ that He set the boundaries of the sea so that the earth
would remain dry. Gen 1:9
1.The Lord planned the dry land and the seas as the source of man's provisions,
recreation and pleasure.
2. By His wisdom Jesus planned for all the needs of man and His creation.
A RELATIONSHIP WITH CHRIST BRINGS JOY
V:30. "Then I was by him, as one brought up with him: and I was daily his delight,
rejoicing always before him."
A. This verse can be considered in two ways; 1.Christ with the Father and 2. Christ and
His wisdom as partners in creation.
1. The relationship is permanent, continuous and unified. John 1:1-2
B. A relationship with Christ is continuous and delightful.
1. A relationship with Christ brings continuous joy. Matt 3:17
2. A relationship with Christ is intimate.
V:31. "Rejoicing in the habitable part of his earth; and my delights were with the sons of
men."
A. The Lord Jesus rejoices in the presence of His Father.
1. The Lord Jesus rejoices in His works. Heb 2:12
2. As the Fathers rejoices with the Son, the Son rejoices in His sheep.
B. With Jesus as our example, we must rejoice in Him.
1. We must rejoice with each other.
2. We must find joy in God's creation.
THE PROMISE OF BLESSING
V:32. "Now therefore hearken unto me, O ye children: for blessed are they that keep my
ways."
A. God give us a conditional promise.
1. The believer's part;
a Obey God's commands.
B. God's Promise
1. Those who obey his commands will be blessed.
C. It's God's way and not our way.
1. God sometimes uses His Word to direct us.
2. Other times God will uses His leaders to direct us.
a. At times God will give direction and visions to our pastors, our parents
and elders that He does not give directly to us.
b. We must be careful to receive instructions from others that are wise.
V:33. "Hear instruction, and be wise, and refuse it not."
A. The first step in becoming wise is to consider God's ways.
a. Near instruction - Hebrew, disciplinary instruction: the first step to wisdom.
1. The second step to becoming wise is to follow God's instructions.
V:34. "Blessed is the man that heareth me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at the
posts of my doors."
A. Like tending a garden, the Word of God must have continuous attention.
1.Temptaton is waiting at our door for any opportunity to come in.
2. The door to our hearts must be locked against sin with a constant study of God's
Word.
B. Feed the devil the Word and he will flee.
1. Gossip is an open invitation for the devil to take up residence in your life.
2. When gossip calls, answer with the Word.
V:35. "For whoso findeth me findeth life, and shall obtain favour of the LORD."
A. It is God who gives, and we as believers must find Him. We must seek
with all our energy, as if all depended on our earnestness.
B. 'Life" - Hebrew, 'lives;' namely, that of the present world and the world to come.
1.We must live for today with our focus on eternity with Christ.
C. He who seeks so as to find, "shall obtain" - literally, shall draw forth [puwq], as in
a continuous stream, a blessing heretofore hidden, but now granted, at once
precious and abundant (Gejer) - namely, the "favour of the Lord," including in it
every other blessing.
1. When you seek the Lord, you draw the blessings of the Lord to you.
2. By seeking the Lord on a continuous daily basis, we bring blessings into our
lives that we can't possibly know beforehand.
a. Deuteronomy 33:23, "Naphtali, satisfied with favour, and full with the
blessing of the Lord;"
b. Psalms 5:12, "With favour wilt thou compass him (the righteous) as with a
shield;" also especially Psalms 145:16,19).
Proverbs 8:22-35
CHRIST BEFORE CREATION
V.22. "The LORD possessed me in the beginning of his way, before his works of old. "
A. John 1:1 which speak about Christ is a reflection on this verse.
" In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was
God."
1. Wisdom is Christ.
2. Wisdom existed before creation began.
3. Wisdom belongs to the Lord.
4. Wisdom is the Word.
5. Wisdom was always with God.
4. Wisdom has a divine author.
B. Wisdom = chukmah= shrewdness, prudence, used to describe a skillful craftsman.
1. Jesus is wisdom, but He is more than that.
a. He is love.
b. He is forgiveness.
c. He is joy.
d. He is peace.
e. He is salvation.
f. He is life.
2. Wisdom is one of the divine aspects of Christ.
a. He is omnipresent.
b. He is omnipotent.
c. He is omniscience.
V:23. "I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning, or ever the earth was."
A. "I was set up"=nicaktiy= to be anointed, to be poured out, to be installed ( as a king).
1. Christ was installed as king before the foundation of world.
2. Christ is the body of wisdom.
3. Christ is eternal.
4. Before plans were made for the earth, Christ was.
a. Wisdom was in place before any plans were made.
b." The same was in the beginning with God." John 1:2
CHRIST DURING CREATION
V:24. "When there were no depths, I was brought forth; when there were no fountains
abounding with water."
A. John 1:3 is a reflection of this verse;
" All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was
made."
1. Jesus was actively involved in the creation of the world.
2." Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the
deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters. " Gen 1:2
B. This divine aspect of Jesus was set in place first for the production of all things.
1. From this divine aspect is the council of peace between the Father and the Son
concerning the redemption of mankind.
V:25. "Before the mountains were settled, before the hills was I brought forth."
A. Compare Psalms 90:2. What the Psalmist said of Yahweh, the teacher here asserts of
Wisdom; "she was before the everlasting hills.".
1. The mountains and the hills could not be set in place without the wisdom of Christ
speaking them into existence.
2. Christ has no beginning but creation does.
a. Christ confirms His eternal existence.
"Are you the first man ever born? Were you brought forth before the hills?
Do you listen in on God's council? " Job 15:7-8
b. The wisdom of Christ is beyond man's comprehension.
c. The power and authority of the wisdom of Christ is grounded in His eternity.
V:26. "While as yet he had not made the earth, nor the fields, nor the highest part of the
dust of the world."
A. Field= chuwts= outside places, broad spaces of the earth, inhabitable part of the
earth.
1. Dust= teebeel= the friable soil on the surface of the earth.
2. The wisdom of Christ considers the basic needs of man to produce crops to
provide for his existence on earth.
V:27. "When he prepared the heavens, I was there: when he set a compass upon the face
of the depth."
A. The Lord Jesus has a complete love for His creation. He leaves out no details that
makes life on earth livable for man.
1. The wisdom of the Lord Jesus prepared all things between the heavens to the
deepest parts of the earth for the growth and development of mankind.
V:28. "When he established the clouds above: when he strengthened the fountains of the
deep."
A. It is the wisdom of Christ that sets the clouds above the waters.
1. The clouds collect the moisture from the waters and holds them in suspension
in vapors until they are released back to water the earth.
2. The wisdom of Christ presents us with the ability and the authority to make all
things work to benefit man.
V:29. "When he gave to the sea his decree, that the waters should not pass his
commandment: when he appointed the foundations of the earth"
A. It was by the wisdom of Christ that He set the boundaries of the sea so that the earth
would remain dry. Gen 1:9
1.The Lord planned the dry land and the seas as the source of man's provisions,
recreation and pleasure.
2. By His wisdom Jesus planned for all the needs of man and His creation.
A RELATIONSHIP WITH CHRIST BRINGS JOY
V:30. "Then I was by him, as one brought up with him: and I was daily his delight,
rejoicing always before him."
A. This verse can be considered in two ways; 1.Christ with the Father and 2. Christ and
His wisdom as partners in creation.
1. The relationship is permanent, continuous and unified. John 1:1-2
B. A relationship with Christ is continuous and delightful.
1. A relationship with Christ brings continuous joy. Matt 3:17
2. A relationship with Christ is intimate.
V:31. "Rejoicing in the habitable part of his earth; and my delights were with the sons of
men."
A. The Lord Jesus rejoices in the presence of His Father.
1. The Lord Jesus rejoices in His works. Heb 2:12
2. As the Fathers rejoices with the Son, the Son rejoices in His sheep.
B. With Jesus as our example, we must rejoice in Him.
1. We must rejoice with each other.
2. We must find joy in God's creation.
THE PROMISE OF BLESSING
V:32. "Now therefore hearken unto me, O ye children: for blessed are they that keep my
ways."
A. God give us a conditional promise.
1. The believer's part;
a Obey God's commands.
B. God's Promise
1. Those who obey his commands will be blessed.
C. It's God's way and not our way.
1. God sometimes uses His Word to direct us.
2. Other times God will uses His leaders to direct us.
a. At times God will give direction and visions to our pastors, our parents
and elders that He does not give directly to us.
b. We must be careful to receive instructions from others that are wise.
V:33. "Hear instruction, and be wise, and refuse it not."
A. The first step in becoming wise is to consider God's ways.
a. Near instruction - Hebrew, disciplinary instruction: the first step to wisdom.
1. The second step to becoming wise is to follow God's instructions.
V:34. "Blessed is the man that heareth me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at the
posts of my doors."
A. Like tending a garden, the Word of God must have continuous attention.
1.Temptaton is waiting at our door for any opportunity to come in.
2. The door to our hearts must be locked against sin with a constant study of God's
Word.
B. Feed the devil the Word and he will flee.
1. Gossip is an open invitation for the devil to take up residence in your life.
2. When gossip calls, answer with the Word.
V:35. "For whoso findeth me findeth life, and shall obtain favour of the LORD."
A. It is God who gives, and we as believers must find Him. We must seek
with all our energy, as if all depended on our earnestness.
B. 'Life" - Hebrew, 'lives;' namely, that of the present world and the world to come.
1.We must live for today with our focus on eternity with Christ.
C. He who seeks so as to find, "shall obtain" - literally, shall draw forth [puwq], as in
a continuous stream, a blessing heretofore hidden, but now granted, at once
precious and abundant (Gejer) - namely, the "favour of the Lord," including in it
every other blessing.
1. When you seek the Lord, you draw the blessings of the Lord to you.
2. By seeking the Lord on a continuous daily basis, we bring blessings into our
lives that we can't possibly know beforehand.
a. Deuteronomy 33:23, "Naphtali, satisfied with favour, and full with the
blessing of the Lord;"
b. Psalms 5:12, "With favour wilt thou compass him (the righteous) as with a
shield;" also especially Psalms 145:16,19).
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