Saturday, February 27, 2010
Commentary by
D.Sloane
"As long as people have existed, their curiosity- an aspect of their ability to think and to question the origin of everything- has driven them to search both their own origin and origins of other things. How did these things come to be what they are today? Are they by-products of an accidental chance, or created by a super intelligent Creator, who is self~existent?"
David Num
Introduction
As I studied the first few verses of John's gospel, I became aware of the complexity of meaning hidden beneath the surface of it's word's. I felt like a miner digging deeper and finding rich gold veins. I was transported through time to it's incipient stage as I read verse one from a new perspective and hypotenuse. I saw a fantastic love relationship buried in verse one between Jesus and God the Father.
So it made good sense to see if the richness of John's gospel could be brought to the surface.
This is the results of digging through a lot of information and processing it with the help of the Holy Spirit. Questions such as, "What is John trying to say?", "What is John wanting us to know?", and, "What do we already know about the information that could enlighten our understanding of a particular passage of scripture?", were asked and addressed. This is not to say that this work is exhaustive in uncovering all that there is to be mined in the Gospel of John. But it should ignite a desire in any reader to want to go deeper into the wonderful Word of God.
A few words before we begin.
John is a fisherman who was called into the ministry by Jesus. A plain ordinary man with a strong temperament.
John the "Beloved" writes his gospel long after the other apostles had written theirs. He had the benefit of hindsight and could therefore fill in the gap in areas where the others may have been sketchy. John lived the longest of all the twelve apostles, almost to one hundred years some say. As a result his writing tends to be more spiritually oriented then the other gospels.
I say this because God had more time to mold and shape John into the man He wanted him to be. Remember Jesus called John a "Son of Thunder" in Mark 3:17. John would require some Christian growth which takes a lot of time.
His writing gives us a more mystical viewpoint of Jesus Christ. The opening prologue of this gospel is one of the deepest passages in all of the scriptures. It seems to be mysterious and flat planed, until we go beneath the surface where those who know Jesus will find large nuggets of enlightenment.
John loved Jesus dearly and knew Him in a very close relationship. He is the only person in the Bible who leaned upon Jesus breast, reminiscent of a father son relationship which suggest to us a tight bond between John and Jesus. John 13:23 says, "Now there was leaning on Jesus bosom one of His disciples, whom Jesus loved. John 19:26; 20:2; 21:20, refer to john as the one whom Jesus loved.
John is an apostle of love. So we should pay close attention to John when he speaks of Jesus, for he knows whereof he speaks. He was in on the inner circle of disciples and spent much time with Jesus. If John opened up a church in this day and age, people would flock from miles around to hear first hand all about Jesus Christ. Keep this in mind as we study what John wrote under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit.
May you be blessed and better informed as you bathe in the water of God's Word.
...Christ also loved the church, and gave Himself for it.
That He might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the Word.
Eph. 5:25-26
I John 1:1-3
1 That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life;
2 (For the life was manifested, and we have seen it, and bear witness, and shew unto you that eternal life, which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us,)
3 That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with His Son Jesus Christ.
(KJV)
John was present when Jesus performed miracles and taught. John was also present at the last supper, he was present at Gethsemane. He was the only apostle present at the cross. He saw the empty tomb, was in the upper room. John was on the beach when Jesus appeared and at Jesus ascension.
I am sure that what John writes, Jesus discussed with him in depth. For us it is like inside information from someone close to the source when we read John's gospel. If John were alive today and was a pastor of a church, you can be sure many would seek him out to learn of Jesus.
The primary point that predominates this gospel is that God loves us deeply and has done everything to convey this love to us. John explains the main reason why he wrote his gospel:
John 20:31
31 But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through His name.
(KJV)
That we might have life through His name.
Will we respond to our redeemer? Will we receive His love? God's Word says:
Jer. 31:3
3 The Lord hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with loving kindness have I drawn thee.
(KJV)
As we study together lets watch for the drawing power of God's love towards us. The love of God is very therapeutic. The Fathers love can heal us. If you need a touch from God, I am firmly convinced that as we study together God will meet you right where you are at. Just let God minister to you in the abundance of His love towards you. Daddy says,
"Come into my arms, crawl up into my lap and let me make it all better. I have always loved you and will continue to draw you to myself. I would heal you for I am the Lord your God that healeth thee"
As we study, go ahead and lay your head upon the breast of Jesus. Develop a closeness with Him.
Apostle Peter advises us:
1 Peter 5:7
7 Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.
(KJV)
I believe Jesus would say to you at this point in time:
Matt 11:28-30
28 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest,
Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart; and ye shall find rest unto your souls.
30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.
(KJV)
So let's respond to Jesus and learn of Him, while He gives us rest from our hectic world. Take a moment just now and enter into the presence of God and relax. And when you have timed your self with His timing and feel yourself slowing down, we can begin our study of God's Word.
Go ahead and close your eyes and focus on Jesus as you release your burdens to Him and prepare your heart to receive from His Word.
Heb.4:1
1 Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering into His rest, any of you should seem to come short of it.
(KJV)
Heb. 4:3
3 For we which have believed do enter into rest, as He said...
(KJV)
Heb. 4:9-11
9 There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God.
10 For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from His.
11 Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief.
(KJV)
Unbelief in Greek.is Apistia = a lack of trust in God.
So rest and trust God to take care of everything that concerns you as you study His Word.
The Good News According to John
John 1:1
(En arche en ho logos) In the beginning was the Word...
These words pervade the matrix of life like golden threads. John starts out in the location of Alpha beginning, Zero Point. This is a beginning before the creation of all. This is the central point of everything, the place where all that lives comes from. There is no way that anyone could completely describe what is at Alpha beginning. We do know that glory light is there by reading:
PS 104:2
2 Who coverest thyself with light as with a garment: who stretchest out the heavens like a curtain...
(KJV)
John 17:5
5 And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was.
(KJV)
Mark 9:2-3
2 And after six days Jesus taketh with Him Peter, and James, and John, and leadeth them up into an high mountain apart by themselves: and He was transfigured before them.
3 And His reiment became shining, exceeding white as snow; so as no fuller on earth can white them.
(KJV)
Notice that Mark is using natural examples to describe supernatural white light. I am sure it does not do justice to what Mark actually witnessed. He has not the ability to convey to us what he saw other than by things that are already known.
As a baby Christian I saw a man's shirt glow white with light as he walked forward in response to an alter call given by Lonnie Frisbee in 1967, the youth pastor of Calvary Chapel of Costa Mesa. I have never seen light such as that and can not begin to describe what I actually saw.
The God of light is the Father of lights:
James 1:17
17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.
(KJV)
Rev. 21:23
23 And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof.
(KJV)
I had a visitation from Jesus in the seventies once. I was worshiping Him while listening to Christian music on my head phones at work. Suddenly I felt the Holy Spirit come upon me. Then Jesus appeared standing right beside me. I did not see Him with my physical eyes, I saw Him in my spirit.
He was radiating rays of light in all directions from His heart that penetrated everything around. I put down my paint brush and got into a corner where no one could see me, because tears were streaming down my face, as you can imagine.
I lifted my hands up and stood there as Jesus bathed me in His light for about ten minutes, then He left. I walked outside the home I was painting and stood there in the front yard in awe. My friend Mike drove up and we had a conversation which eventually started the "Desert Ministry". A ministry of taking men of God deep into the desert places to seek the Lord without any distractions of modern life.
In this day of high technology movies with computer enhancement CGI we have not even come close to depicting what is in the heavenly realms. Special effects are nothing compared to reality. Avatar can't even begin to come close in it's 3D effects.
1 Cor. 2:9-10
9 But it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love Him.
10 But God hath revealed them unto us by His Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.
(KJV)
Even if the Spirit of God reveals the heavenly realm to us, how can we use earthly language to describe heavenly things? The best we could do is equate what we see with something already known on earth. And we would still not be able to get across what we truly had experienced.
For example check out the way Ezekiel writes about heavenly things in his book, or the way John writes in the book of Revelations. There is so much at Zero Point Alpha beginning that we currently can not comprehend in our present earthly bodies. God does not even try to let us know what Zero Point Alpha beginning looks like.
When we look to the beginning of everything in our minds eye, notice that God would have us to see Jesus. That is sufficient information for us from God's point of view. Our faith should rest in Jesus and not in spiritual experiences.
Jesus says of Himself in the book of Revelations:
Rev. 1:8
8 I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning, and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was (the Word), and which is to come, the Almighty (Supreme Divinity).
(KJV)
Note:Throughout this study, any underlining or bracketed words are added to scripture quotes by me for the sake of emphasis.
Jesus is in front of all things and behind all things all at once. Our limited minds have not the ability to grasp this fact of the infinite One. But by faith we do know and accept the fact that Jesus is everywhere at once. He is at the start of our lives and in the middle of our lives and at the end of our lives all at once.
Like a pencil line drawn on a white paper sheet. The paper is everywhere the line is all at the same time.
Eph. 1:22-23
22 And hath put all things under His feet, and gave Him (Jesus) to be the head over all things to the church.
23 Which is His body, the fulness of Him that filleth all in all.
(KJV)
Jesus is the Creator and the sustainer of all.
Paul the apostle says that we live our lives in Him and have our existence in Him.
Acts 17:28
28 For in Him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, for we are also His offspring.
(KJV)
In the Greek, "In the beginning", could be translated, "Before times eternal", or, "First at the first".
In eternity the Word existed...
I prefer to say: At the border of the first place of time and position, Point Zero, there existed the Divine Expression.
In agreement the opening scripture of the Bible says:
Gen. 1:1
1 ( In the beginning God) created the heaven and the earth.
Notice that in the beginning God already existed because He has no beginning. He is already there and has always been there.
In the beginning was the Word.
"Was" is a durative imperfect, meaning continued action. He was before any beginning that we could imagine. God would always have us to see Jesus whenever our minds wander to the beginning of things. He is central to all. He is the true zero point of diminish and return. He is the pivotal point from where everything comes and to where everything is going.
2 Cor. 5:10
10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.
(KJV)
In the beginning was THE WORD.
ho logos-the Word.
We have a dual meaning here. John's usage of the Word can mean a person's thoughts or a person's speech.
A. Logos endiathetos- word conceived. Words are conceived and thought in the mind.
B. Logos prophorikos- word uttered. Words are spoken or expressed.
Intelligence and utterance- ho eso and ho ratio. We know someones mind by their speech as they express themselves to us. We have a word "dialogue" which comes from the Greek word dia-logos which means "flow of meaning or flow of expression".
We know that Christ is the Word, for by Him God makes His mind known by acting and speaking through Him. Thus Jesus is God's expression towards us. God the Father dialogues with us through Jesus. Jesus as the Logos reveals God's mind to us. In a dialogue all parties involved have conversation between themselves. They exchange ideas and opinions with a view to reaching agreement.
Heb. 1:2
2 (God) Hath in these last days spoken unto us by His Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also He made the worlds;
He has directed us to hear Him:
Matt 17:5
5 While He yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye Him,
(KJV)
Heb. 1:1-3
1 God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets,
2 Hath in these last days spoken unto us by His Son, whom He hath appointed heir of all things, by 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 purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high.Christ is the Divine expression of God. God expresses Himself through Christ the Word.
John 1:1
1 ...and the Word was with God,...
(KJV)
Now this is where it gets interesting. There has been controversy and some tampering with the text by many translators at this portion of John 1:1. This portion of scripture does not say pros ton theon, "with God". It plainly says "going" towards God. Pros with the accusative case (theon) after the verb "to be" always means "to go towards." It would seem that the translators did not know how to deal with this from a doctrinal stand point.
If you leave the original rendering than you have some issues of doctrinal correctness that arise. For example, how can there be motion, division, advancement within God as the creator of the universe? Instead of saying," and the Word was going towards God", like the original text, they chose to say, "and the Word was with God", which is not untrue in a technical sense. In keeping with this distortion of what the true text says, I will have to allow it for the sake of good doctrine, and resultant poor literary translating. Although I personally do not have a problem with, "the Word going towards God". Therefore let our rendering say:
..and the Divine Expression was consistently with the Supreme Divinity...
I read one translation of this verse that said the Word and God were face to face. I like it.
John is basically saying the Father and the Son are having a close relationship in the beginning.
John 1:1
...and the Word was God. (Kai theos een o logos)
or
...and the Divine Expression was the Supreme Divinity.
John 5:18
18 Therefore the Jews sought the more to kill him, because He not only had broken the sabbath, but said that God was His Father, making Himself equal with God,
(KJV)
John does not say that the Word was a God. If he had then that would mean Jesus was a created being who worked his way into divinity. And that would mean everybody could become divine. He states that the Word was God.
Our complete text of verse one in plain everyday English says:
"At the border of the first place of time and position there existed the unchanging Divine Expression,
and the Divine Expression was consistently with the Supreme Divinity, and the Divine Expression was the Supreme Divinity."
At the beginning of time before anything was made we find Christ the Word. The Word was from the beginning and the Word was in the beginning. The Word is eternal. The Word in regard to essence and substance was God. God was what the Word was.
John wants us to see this greatest of all mysteries that cannot be adequately described. It is truly a Divine mystery beyond the grasp of intellect, we know and accept the information in our spirits by faith. But we can know the beauty of unity that we see in John 1:1 that exist between the Word and God.
John 1:2
The same was in the beginning with God.
(KJV)
Christ the Son enjoyed eternity with God the Father and was Himself from eternity with God Almighty. The Word coexisted with the Father from the beginning, co eternal. Some cults teach that the Father created the Son, making Jesus not eternal. John refutes this notion by this verse.
God paid for our salvation so that we might enter into eternity and be with Him in this same loving relationship. In reference to this relationship Jesus prayed:
John 17:22-24
22 And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one:
23 I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me.
24 Father, I will that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me: for thou hast lovedst me before the foundation of the world.
(KJV)
The Father loved the Son before the foundation of the world.
1 John 4:16
16 And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him.
(KJV)
It is an incredible love relationship that God desires to have with us for all eternity. For God is love.
Scripture says:
2 Peter 3:9
9 The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.
John 3:16
For God so loved the world that He gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.
This we can and do understand with our minds. In loving response we invite Christ the Son of God into our lives and enter into this fantastic love relationship that has always existed and will always exist. This is a foundational fact of why we exist.
It is to have fellowship and relationship with God the Master Creator. And the only way to do that is through the living Word of God, Jesus Christ.
He loves us desperately. He went through great agony to make the way for us to enter onto a loving relationship with Him. Jesus Christ died for you. He suffered all things He did for the joy that was set before Him.
What was that joy? The joy was that He knew one day we would be able to come to God through Him, and come in the righteousness of Jesus Christ - not the righteousness of man, not the righteousness of the law, but righteousness of the Son of the living God risen from the dead. I can come and appear before the throne of grace, the throne of unmerited favor, and stand there because Jesus Christ has made me whole.
John Part Two
John 1:3
All things were made by Him; and without Him was not anything made that was made.(KJV)
The Bible is it's own best commentary. So we will let the Bible unfold this topic of Christ making all things and being involved in making all things.
PS 33:6
6 By the Word of the LORD were the heavens made, and all the host of them by the breath of His mouth.
(KJV)
PS 102:25
25 Of old hast thou laid the foundation of the earth: and the heavens are the work of thy hands.
(KJV)
Col 1:16-17
16 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:
17 And He is before all things, and by Him all things consist.
(KJV)
Heb 1:1-3
1 God...
2 Hath in these last days spoken unto us by His Son, whom He hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also He made the worlds;
(KJV)
John 5:17
17 But Jesus answered them, MY Father worketh hitherto, and I work.
(KJV)
John 5:18-19
18 Therefore the Jews sought the more to kill Him, because He not only had broken the sabbath, but said also that God was His Father, making Himself equal with God.
19 Then answered Jesus and said unto them, Verily, Verily, I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He seeth the Father do: for what things soever He doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise.(KJV)
Jesus is the Lord. Jesus and God are one and the same. And thus the next verse is correct.
Isa 44:24
24 Thus saith the Lord, thy redeemer, and He that formed thee from the womb, I am the LORD that maketh all things, I stretcheth forth the heavens alone, that spreadeth abroad the earth by Myself;
(KJV)
God is still on His throne and He is still in command.
1 Cor 8:6
6 But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in Him, and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by Him.(KJV)
Eph 3:9
9 And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ:
(KJV)
Mystery hid in God, but we are made to see through Jesus Christ. The way the word " mystery" is being used here denotes something that has been revealed or opened up. "The cats out of the bag". It was not known but now it is through Jesus Christ. God knew it, but now we know it through Jesus.
Isa 45:18
18 For thus saith the LORD that created the heavens; God Himself that formed the earth and made it; He hath established it, He created it not in vain, He formed it to be inhabited: I AM the LORD; and there is none else.
(KJV)
God is talking to Christ and to the Holy Spirit here:
Gen 1:26
26 And God said, let us make man in our image, after our likeness : and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.
(KJV)
Isa 66:2
2 For all things hath mine hand made, and all those things have been, saith the Lord (Self existent, Eternal One): but to this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at My Word.
(KJV)
Heb 10:12
12 But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God.
(KJV)
Heb 3:3-4
3 For this man was counted worthy of more glory than Moses, inasmuch as he who hath builded the house hath more honor than the house.
4 For every house is builded by some man; but He that built all things is God.
(KJV)
Rev 4:10-11
10 The four and twenty elders fall down before Him that sat on the throne, and worship Him that liveth for ever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying,
11 Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are were created.
(KJV)
John is letting us know in 1:3 of his gospel that Jesus is none other than God the Creator. God created you and I for His good pleasure. He has and is doing everything possible to bring us into fellowship with Jesus Christ.
The second part of verse three, "...and without Him was not anything made that was made", tells us that we are not an accident. We are told that without Him not even one thing that was created came to be. Christ was involved in our making. Christ was involved in everyone's making. He wants us!
His desire is for us to exist with Him for eternity in a love relationship that cannot be properly described with Words alone. We do know that we bring pleasure to God and that is why we are and were created. But on the flip side God brings pleasure to us. His presence brings fullness of joy.
Ps 16:11
11 Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fullness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.
(KJV)
Why would anyone not want to believe in Christ and miss out on this fantastic love relationship for which all humankind were created?
John 1:4
In Him was life; and the life was the light of men.
(KJV)
The life was in Him, and the life is the light of men. Within Him there was life, and the life was the light of the world. Creation would be like Ezekiels bone yard (Ezekiel chapter 37) if it did not receive life from the Word. The Word is the source of life.
I can talk to non Christians about almost anything and they will usually participate. But when I start to talk about Christ they usually grow cold. That is because they are spiritually dead to God. They live in a universe that is spiritually dark. You and I as Christians are lights shining in the darkness, bringing life and light to a darkened world. We are the only lights that they will see in this world if we have Jesus in our hearts.
John 8:12
12 Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, "I AM the light of the world: he that followeth Me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life."
(KJV)
John 3:16
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.
(KJV)
John 4:14
14 But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.
(KJV)
John 5:21
21 For as the Father raiseth up the dead, and quickeneth them; even so the Son quickeneth whom He will.
(KJV)
John 5:26
26 For as the Father hath life in Himself; so hath He given to the Son to have life in Himself;
(KJV)
John 10:10
10 The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I AM come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.
(KJV)
John 10:28
28 And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.
(KJV)
John 11:25
25 Jesus said unto her, "I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in Me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:
(KJV)
John 14:6
6 Jesus saith unto him, "I am the way , the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by Me.
(KJV)
John 17:2
2 As thou hast given Him power over all flesh, that He should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him.
(KJV)
Jesus is the source of all life. The name of God given to the Israelites is Yahweh which is translated Jehovah or Lord in our bibles, which means literally "He who causes to be", He who gives life. We serve a God of life. The Jewish people have a saying, "To life".
The second part of verse four...and the life was the light of men. Have you ever looked at someone and seen the vitality of life in their eyes and looked at someone else and seen a dullness with no life expressed. One is spiritually dead towards God, and the other is alive towards God.
Only God can ignite a heart on fire for Jesus Christ until light shines forth. Men are supposed to shine with the light of God. We were designed to glow with light. We are not to hide our light. We are to shine.
Phil 2:15-16
15 That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom you shine as lights in the world;
16 Holding forth the Word of life; that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither laboured in vain.
(KJV)
Matthew 5:16
16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
(KJV)
It has been my observation that when Christians back slide their light from God seems to dim. But when they get their hearts right with God they glow again. I have also observed those who glow the brightest are the ones who stay in fellowship with God and one another. Matthew 25:1-13.
1 Jn 1:6-7
6 If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth:
7 But if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin.
(KJV)
2 Cor 6:14-18
14 Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? And what communion hath light with darkness?
15 And what concord hath Christ with Belial? Or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?
16 And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? For ye are the temple of the living God: as God hath said, "I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people."
17 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the LOrd, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,
18 And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.
(KJV)
The Lord does make a distinction between light and darkness in people. You are a Christian and you do not have anything in common with an unbeliever. If you are truly walking in the light then you will have fellowship with one another. We are in the world but we are not of the world.
1 Jn 1:6-7
6 If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth:
7 But if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin.
(KJV)
You are a light holder. God places us around this spiritually dark world to illuminate the way of salvation through Jesus Christ. Is your light shining? There are basically three types of Christians in most of Christendom.
The first one comes to church and does not really care about the things of God. They are not really interested in learning about God. (They would not have read this far in this study.) It is enough that they have come to church. When God pours out His Spirit upon them their hearts are like an upside down cup. The Spirit flows over and past them. They are not even aware of the Holy Spirits presence or His moving in their midst. They do not contain anything to share with anyone else when they leave.
The second type believes in the things of God when they come to church. They believe in God's miracles. They believe that God's Word is true. But they are not expecting anything from God. There is no anticipation for what God might do. They are only interested in filling their heads with more knowledge as they worship at the alters of knowledge. When God pours out His Spirit upon them their hearts are like a cup laying on it's side. The Spirit flows over and past them. And they are aware of Him but do not respond. They have little to share with others when they leave.
The third type of christian is expecting God to move when they come to church. They have a hunger and a burning desire for God.
They believe and are waiting to receive. They are anticipating miracles in their midst and know that they want to see God's hand in their lives. They are like King David:
Ps 42:1-2
1 As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God, My soul thirsteth for God, for the living God: when shall I come and appear before God?
(KJV)
When God pours out His Spirit upon them their hearts are like a cup that is right side up. It gets filled to overflowing. They are the ones who are glowing and filled with the Spirit. When they leave they are overflowing with much to share with others.
Eph 5:18-19
18 And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; be ye filled with the spirit;
19 Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord;
(KJV)
Verse 19 of the above scripture tells us how to get filled and how to stay filled.
Which type of christian have you been lately...?
Well you read down this far so your doing great!
So far we have learned that Jesus is God:
Lord show us the Father, and it sufficeth us. "Have I been so long time with you, and yet thou hast not known me, Philip? He that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Show us the Father?"
John 14:8-9
And that God wants to reveal Himself through us. Jesus said:
"Ye shall be witnesses unto me."
Acts 1:8
Our lives are to bear witness of Jesus Christ and who He is.
John 1:5
5 And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehends it not.
(KJV)
Continuously the light radiates in darkness; and the darkness does not have the ability to take it in. Before you invited Christ into your heart you were in darkness. You could not see or understand the Good News of the Gospel. And you were not able to have the benefits of Christ in you.
Not one person outside of Christ is capable of shining God's light through their life. Many falsely claim that they have light outside of Christ. They shine with false light that deceives many. But the darkness does not and can not ever have the light of God outside of Christ.
For those who like to dig a little deeper, the word "comprehends" is the Greek word "katalambano". This word has a spectrum of meaning. As used here in this verse it is indicating that the darkness can not lay hold of or appropriate the light by seizing upon or taking possession of it and that it can not perceive or understand it.
12 Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.
1 John 8:12
14 Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.
15 Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.
16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
Matthew 5:14-16
7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.
1 John 1:7
Spiritual light is only revealed to us by God. We do not have the capacity to see and understand it outside of God. We are unreceptive to the Gospel of Jesus Christ until God opens our spiritual eyes. When we walk in darkness we do not hold the light.
The apostle John now transports us away from Alpha Beginning Point Zero through time and space to tell us about a man.
This is no ordinary man for he has been sent from God. And yet he is only a man. A man who has no record of performing any signs or wonders and speaks not of visions or dreams. And yet Jesus says of him:
28 For I say unto you, Among those that are born of women there is not a greater prophet than John the Baptist:...
Luke 7:28
He is I am sure a man who loves God and has strong passion for God. This is where we have the entrance of John the baptist and his witness to the true light.
John 1:6
6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John.
(KJV)
There was a (anthropos) human being set apart (apostello) and sent out on a mission from the Supreme Divinity, whose name was John.
This man is an apostle in that he is sent out on a mission. A man on a mission from God to speak to other men. A Divine appointment.
His mission is to direct people to Jesus Christ the Lamb of God. We also are sent out to do the same. We are not to self assign our own mission. Our mission must come from God alone.
2 Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long suffering and doctrine.
3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;
4 And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.
5 But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry.
2 Tim 4:2-5
Johns authority lies in the fact that the Supreme Divinity has sent him. He needs no other recommendation than that. On that basis alone we will hear him and pay close attention to his testimony.
John 1:7
7 The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the light, that all men through him might believe.
(KJV)
This man has the incredible honor of being the first person to actually lead others to Jesus Christ!
Remember Jesus says of Him:
28 For I say unto you, Among those that are born of women there is not a greater prophet than John the Baptist:...
Luke 7:28
In the above scripture the word prophet means a fore teller and an inspired speaker. John spoke under the inspiration of God through revelation by the Holy Spirit.
29 Let the prophets speak two or three, and let the other judge.
30 If any thing be revealed to another that sitteth by, let the first hold his peace.
1 Cor 14:29-30
Prophets speak by direct divine inspiration, an immediate revelation - not something he thought of, but something given at the spur of the moment by sudden inspiration from the light of a sudden revelation at the moment by the Holy Spirit.
Today, to stand in the office of prophet, one is first a minister of the Gospel, separated and called to the ministry with the calling of God upon his life. The prophet is a ministry gift. The prophets of the Old Testament were called seers. They would see and know things supernaturally by God.
A prophet may speak forth his revelations through the gift of prophecy. A prophet may also bring forth his revelation just by telling what the Holy Spirit is saying. Sometimes the prophet does operate in the place of a fore teller.
Today revelations are to be judged. Other people have the Spirit of God, especially those who are used in this area, so that's why the Word says , "Let the others judge." There is similarity between the prophet's ministry of the Old Testament and the New Testament. However, the prophet under the New Testament does not have the same status as the prophet under the Old Testament.
John's assignment is to bear witness of the light and not himself. Men were to pass through John to Jesus and believe.
Unfortunately there are those in the ministry who make a great show in their ministering. They secretly harbor thoughts of personal advancement in the ministry, their ministry. They use manipulative techniques and tactics on the sheep of God. When they speak, you can't imagine them speaking as they do in every day life.
One kind of sings his words while another rages his words. Some are like viewing a staged play. The point is that they are trying to be somebody and are leaning on the arm of the flesh to do and accomplish God's work.
Some practice in front of mirrors to perfect their performance as if it really mattered. They study the mannerisms of others who have large followings, copying their particular style. They have not a clue about the anointing that God gives to His ministers. They lean on the arm of the flesh instead of the anointing of God.
3 Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?
Galatians 3:3
When we try to draw people unto ourselves the anointing diminishes. We as Christians are not to bear witness of ourselves. We are to bear witness of the light so that men might believe through us and not to us.
Which bring us to our next verse.
John 1:8
8 He was not that light, but was sent to bear witness of that light.
(KJV)
This verse needs to be said and reflected upon. So many servants of God start out well but gradually start to act as though they themselves were the light.
I was told a story by a carpenter who was invited to a black tie party. The host had invited everyone who had anything to do with the building of their new home. The host had also invited their personal friends, one of whom is a well known religious television personality. This was a very expensive party costing upwards of $35,000.00 dollars. When the religious personality showed up he seemed to draw all of the attention to himself.
A woman was telling a story about trying to give away pencils in Austria, that had " Jesus loves you" printed on them. The police of that country would not let her give out the pencils. They said that they would have to arrest her if she did.
The religious person had his program showing in the movie theaters in Austria at the same time. Someone asked him how he was able to accomplish this in that foreign country. He replied, "When you have accomplished as much as I have and when you are established and your name is well known and you have been around as long as I have, it is not hard."
His attitude was that of a very important person as he was saying this. The woman remarked, "I thought Jesus had accomplished a lot and was established and had been around a long time."
The essence of this story is that we are not the light, but we are sent to bear witness of that light.
It is interesting to note that today everything that this pompous religious personality had accomplished has been taken from him and given to others. The Catholic church now owns his facilities that he had worked so hard the bulk of his life to build.
We are not sent to build grand buildings. We are not sent to wear long flowing religious garments. We are not the light. Jesus is the light. We are to bear witness of that light.
If we are not doing that than what in the world are we doing? If you want to really be used of God with an anointing on your ministry, you have to bear witness of Christ. Let the candle of your life burn with the fire of Christ.
A candle with out fire in a darkened room is of no use.
John Part Four
John 1:9
9 That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world.
(KJV)
Christ was the true light. Not John. Not us. Christ is the source of light. There are many around who claim that they are the light. Meditators, chanters, channeled spirits, and a host of others will claim to be the light. But they are not the light. Christ makes our hearts pump, not us.
John 1:10
10 He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not.
(KJV)
The ultimate tragedy is spiritual blindness. It can rob us of salvation through Jesus Christ. The maker of the world shows up, the light of the world, and this polluted world can't even see Him. Even a dog knows his master. The creator of the earth walked in the midst of the people He created and they could not see Him. They were not aware that He created them.
John 1:11
11 He came unto his own and his own received him not.
(KJV)
The people around Jesus Christ in these scripture verses were not aware that He was actually Almighty God the Master Creator walking in their midst. They missed out on a walk with God. They were essentially blinded to reality. They had no awareness of the truth of what was actually real around them. You could say that their focus was off.
We who are the people of the Lord are to be aware of His presence and His hand at work in our lives. We have got to get our focus on the Lord and magnify Him. (Psalms 34:3) Develop an awareness of the Lord in your life.
There are many things competing for your focus, trying to draw you away from the Lord. Are you aware of them or are you aware of the Lord? Are you determined to keep your eyes on Him? Do you know him? When you bow the knees of your heart in prayer do you have an encounter with the Risen Living Christ?
Some well intentioned churches are seeking after the "blessing" of God and not fully after the one who blesses.
John 12:21
21 The same came therefore to Philip, which was of Bethsaida of Galilee, and desired him, saying, Sir, we would see Jesus.
Song of Solomon 2:9
9 My beloved is like a roe or a young hart: behold, he standeth behind our wall, he looketh forth at the windows, shewing himself through the lattice.
(KJV)
We look through the lattice for Jesus, not at the lattice, or we will miss Him. These men wanted to see Jesus, they were not going to miss Him in their midst. There has to be an absolute resolve within your heart that says, "I would see Jesus. I want to know your presence Lord. I want to really know you. I do not want to miss out on what you are doing around me. Open my eyes that I might see. I am determined to keep my focus on the Lord and the things of God. I will turn away from those things that draw me away from the Lord. I will walk with God".
John 1:12
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:
(KJV)
Here we have the ones who are aware that Jesus is Lord. They welcome Him with open and accepting hearts. The result is that He gives them the authority to be God's children. It is not enough to say I know His name. We have to believe on His name. Which means trusting in Him and relying on Him. Looking to Him in all things and for all things.
Standing next to a ladder and saying, "I know that this is a ladder", is not the same as standing on that ladder and committing your entire weight to it and having it hold you up. Saying that bungee jumping is safe is one thing. And actually jumping out into the air, trusting the large rubber band to hold your weight is another.
Is Christ holding you up? Are you trusting Him, are you resting in Him?
You are a child of God not because of the church you go to, not because of the organization you belong to, not because of your traditions, not because of the religious things that you do. Only by receiving and believing in Jesus can we become children of God.
We on our own accept Christ. We on our own walk with Christ and we on our own will stand before Christ at the end of this life. We alone are responsible for what we do with Christ. Let Christ be your Savior. Let Christ be your redeemer. Let Christ be the Lord of your life. Trust Christ fully and you will find Him Faithful in all things.
John Part Five
John 1:13
13 Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.
(KJV)
We are in the family of God as a free gift from God. He sought after us when we knew Him not. He sent His messengers after us with the Gospel. He never gives up on us. We are ultimately His fruit. He gets all the glory and all the credit. It is God's will for us to be in His family. He has adopted us. And we now have many brothers and sisters, mothers and fathers in this vast family of God. We are born again.
The "Personal Kingdom Builders" (of which there are many that you would not even suspect) do not want you to go to other churches. They want you to stay within the confines of their belief structure in "their" church. They are fearful that you might go and stay somewhere else. Which would mean possibly a loss of tithe income for their kingdom. But if they were truly serving God there would be no reason to keep you from exploring our wonderful family the Body of Christ.
I like to visit other churches to see how that part of my family worships and conducts itself. I like to meet other brothers and sisters in Christ. We are one Body, no matter where we meet together. Too often, where a Christian fellowships is over emphasized.
And there seems to be an unspoken message that if you do not fellowship where I fellowship then somehow we can not fellowship together. But there is only one family of Believers, and many meeting places. We have to remember that each and everyone of the meeting places got their start from some doctrinal viewpoint and will reflect that viewpoint. We must be open to one another as the body of Christ. It is not what we know about Jesus that brings us together. It is that we know Jesus that brings us together.
Rom 12:4-5
4 For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office.
5 So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another.
(KJV)
1 Cor 6:17
17 But he that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit.
(KJV)
1 Cor 10:17
17 For we being many are one bread, and one body, for we are all partakers of that one bread.
(KJV)
1 Cor 12:12-27
12 For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ.
13 For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.
14 For the body is not one member, but many.
15 If the foot shall say, Because I am not the hand, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body?
16 And if the ear shall say, Because I am not the eye, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body?
17 If the whole body were an eye, where were the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where were the smelling?
18 But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him.
19 And if they were all one member, where were the body?
20 But now are they many members, yet but one body.
21 And the eye cannot say unto the hand, I have no need of thee: nor again the head to the feet, I have no need of you.
22 Nay, much more those members of the body, which seem to be more feeble, are necessary:
23 And those members of the body, which we think to be less honourable, upon these we bestow more abundant honour; and our uncomely parts have more abundant comeliness.
24 For our comely parts have no need: but God hath tempered the body together, having given more abundant honour to that part which lacked:
25 That there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another.
26 And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it.
27 Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular.
(KJV)
Eph 2:16-22
16 And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby:
17 And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh.
18 For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father.
19 Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints, and of the household of God;
20 And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;
21 In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord:
22 In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.
(KJV)
Col 3:15
15 And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be thankful.
(KJV)
1 John 1:7
7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.
Jesus is the light. Are you walking in Him? Then you can have fellowship with anyone in the Body of Christ no matter where they fellowship. I believe that you will fellowship where you are getting spiritually fed. I know that I will not stay where I am not getting fed spiritually.
We are a part of the greatest family of all time. Act like it and visit your family openly and freely. Enjoy each other for you will be together for all eternity. Some would discourage visiting the other members of the Body of Christ by calling you names like "Lone ranger" or a "spiritual nomad", ignore them.
I believe that it is very healthy for you to explore the Body of Christ. I always encourage it! You can still fellowship where you are getting fed. And you should give your tithe and support where you are getting fed. I am not saying God wants you to not belong to one particular church. What I am saying is that it is acceptable to celebrate our diverse family while attending our church of choice.
I pray that God would tear down all churches that would capture portions of the Body of Christ and deliberately keep them from interacting and dialoguing with the full family of God. One of the main signs of a cult is that you are made to think that you are superior and separate from the rest of the Body of Christ. Watch out for this. It is a party spirit.
Do not allow it to happen to you. Visit your Christian Family. Always have an open heart for all believers in Christ Jesus!
This next verse says it like it is. The churches of Christ salute you the reader, a member of God's great family. And beware of personal kingdom builders who would seek to separate you from the rest of the Body of Christ.
Rom 16:16-18
16 Salute one another with an holy kiss. The churches of Christ salute you.
17 Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them.
18 For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple.
(KJV)
1 Cor 3:4-9
4 For while one saith, I am of Paul; and another, I am of Apollos; are ye not carnal?
5 Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers by whom ye believed, even as the Lord gave to every man?
6 I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase.
7 So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase.
8 Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour.
9 For we are labourers together with God: ye are God's husbandry, ye are God's building.
(KJV)
"When one comes from one church to another, often they do not agree with the vision and goals of the new church. Sadly, they do not understand that even though different ministries and churches have different goals, different visions, different emphases does not make one right and another wrong. God has placed differences in His body so that we can meet different needs and complement one another, not compete with one another.
Just as there are different callings on individuals, churches also have special callings. One ministry might emphasize deep worship, healing, and pastoral care; another might be more directed toward teaching and mission outreach; another might specialize in prophecy, the end times, and restoration. It is important for every Christian to be a part of a church body that has a similar calling and spirit to his."
(Dr. Gary L. Greenwald "The Spiritual Dynamics of Relationships" pg 47.)
To be continued...
Thanks for coming along with us in the study of God's Word!
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