I feel compelled to open up a thread of a devotional nature on John. Lately I have been captivated by this gospel. I invite anybody to share any gems they are getting out of John. Let me ask. Has anybody been blessed reading the Gosoel of John?
Blaine
"Lately I have been captivated by this gospel"
Lets start with you brother, what gems have you gotten and lets see what sparks from there.
:->
Glad to brother. Right now at work. Will share this eve. Watch board.
Blaine
In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God. He was with God on the beginning.
The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us.
God desires relationship. He is a relational Being. One of the greatest, profound, beautiful mysteries is the infinite God disires relationship with us sinful creatures. From the opening chapters of Genesis to the closing chapters of Revelation we see God in relationship to his people.
God dwelling with his people is not about religion, but relationship. This is reflected all throighout John but beautifully depicted in the opening verses of John 15. He speaks of the living, organic relationship of the vine and branches to the believer abiding in Christ and Christ being in him. This is organic relationship not organizational religion. Such thoights should motivate us to heartfelt devotion to Jesus who lives in us.
Paul prays that Christ may dwell in the hearts of the Ephesian bievers through faith. This is the true church. God living in the hearts of his children. This is why I write that we are not bound to a book but to him who is the living Word in our hearts. Certainly such thoughts should not anger but cause us to fall to our knees in love of Jesus.
The marvelous thing is one day we will truly dwell with him in heaven and he with us. Truly then faith and hope will be realized. Then only his pure love will remain and our hearts will truly rejoice. Dear Jesus, may that day come soon.
For your edification.
Blaine Scogin
I remember a friend sharing with me that our walk with Christ is not regulaional, but relational. Love it.
Bkaine
Quote: "This is why I write that we are not bound to a book but to him who is the living Word in our hearts."
And this is what you've gotten out of those first verses from the Gospel of John?
How many of the Brethren here have tried to appeal to you that we are to be extremely grateful for that "book" as you call it and that our walks with GOD are both "experiential AND based upon that Book".
Those that don't have the Scriptures would argue against your repeated putting down of His Word as well.
How many more of the Brethren, world-wide, will it take to convict you of what you have already been corrected on?
We've posted two threads already, showing you that He lifts His Word above His Name - and what those in countries that don't have the Word will go through to get it - and what that "book" has cost men and women through-out history to get it to us.
Again - GOD forgive you for belittling His Gift of His Word to us.
WHY are you reading it?
Is 'this' ALL that you've gotten out of the first verses of John?
Our Greek Professor who was a 'retired' missionary to India but still went there to teach during our summer 'breaks', took an entire semester to teach Just the first 18 verses of John and though he was a serious man and despite how many times he had taught this same class over and over during his life - he'd still break into tears over the Beauty of what is written in just those few verses.
He died in India, in his 70's of malaria - FOR THE WORD - just as millions of others have, since the first Gospel or Epistle was written.
[eta]I felt to add that this was a Pentecostal AoG Bible College, 33 years ago, where the gifts were free to operate in Chapel - and we had Chapel every morning before classes. So please don't come back with, I'm loosing your meaning about the "Experiential side" of His abiding in us that believe His Word.
When I was baptised in the HOLY Spirit, other than getting a joy unspeakable and the prayer language and gifts - the greatest gift that came with it, was an insatiable hunger for His Word.
The HOLY Spirit is called by Jesus, in the Gospel of John, "The Spirit of Truth that will lead us into all truth".
That's the side that we see lacking in these days of "falling away from truth" - the Apostasy.
You will never get what I quoted of you above by reading John, because if what you believe is true - WHY did GOD commission John to Write his Gospel and his Epistles and The Revelation - and Why has GOD preserved His writings for almost 2000 yrs against all attempts to stomp it out and burn these books of the Apostles and to kill those who passed it down to us and those who risk their lives to smuggle it into countries that are crying out for it?
John 12:48 "He that rejecteth Me, AND receiveth not My words, hath one that judgeth him:
the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day."
How would we know 'what' HE had spoken if HE hadn't commissioned and Divinely Inspired His Apostles to give us this eye witness account in written form?
John was the closest disciple to Jesus and I know from all that he wrote down for us, that he would recoil at your persistance in belittling The WORD - most especially on a thread about WHAT John was annointed by GOD to write to us.
WHY and HOW did John's Gospel make it to us intact after almost 2000 yrs?
Joh 14:23 Jesus answered and said unto him, *If* a man love me,
he will keep My words: and My Father will love him,
and We will come unto him, and make Our abode with him.
I recently shared this in my Church,
John 13-23:-There was reclining on Jesus’ bosom one of His disciples, whom Jesus loved.
John always referred to himself as the disciple whom Jesus loved the most in his book. We need to get the same revelation that Jesus loves us the most. If we get it, we will always recline on Jesus instead of our strength. Once the Sheep finds out that the shepherd loves it the most and will take the sheep though best pasture then it will stop searching for pastures and start following the Shepherd.
It is not pride to think that Jesus loves me the most.
Jesus loved John most because John loved HIM Most and defended "The Word of GOD" right through his entire life!
John 14:23 Jesus answered and said unto him, **IF** a man love Me, he will keep My words: and My Father will love him, and We will come unto him, and make Our abode with him.
Notice how many times John writes on "Love" and "The Word" in his Gospel - Epistles and The Revelation that has been handed down to us at such a Great price.
In Jewish custom, it was Very important 'who' you would give the care of your mother over to, in the event of your death.
Speaking of Jewish people - do you have any idea how they would take it if you tried to take their Old Testament away or belittle "The Word" that they hold, that has 456 prophecies about the Messiah in it?
Do you have ANY idea - what this world would have been like, if we never had the Old Testament First and then the New?
What was the United States founding fathers basing their foundations for this new nation on?
Why did the Puritans come here in the Mayflower?
Where did we get our code of moral behavior from - in the past?
How are we to witness to the Jewish people if not from the Book?
Where do we get the knowledge about The Word of GOD in the Old Testament?
HE Spoke the Old Testament into existance through His servants, because He is the Very Word of GOD!
HE IS the One speaking and acting through-out the entire Old Testament and didn't suddenly pop onto the scene only 2000 years ago.
All of the first disciples were Jews and that's The Word that they had and understood that Jesus was fulfilling!
John is a wonderful Gospel, martyr. Should be a great study.
Some thoughts that I have:
We either abide in Christ or we abide in Satan. There is not a third choice. You cannot abide in yourself, since self is associated with the nature of Satan. Anything apart from Jesus Christ can only be associated with Satan. Jesus said, that we are either for Him or against Him. There is not a third choice. Never has been. Blessing or Curse, Life or Death, Good or Evil. Only two choices.
And we abide by relationaly (with the heart) believing and trusting and relying on God's Word spoken to our hearts. Or we believe relationally, the lie of the Devil. Adam and Eve struck up a relationship with the Devil the moment they decided to believe his word over God's word. And that is why our Father is either God or the Devil. Again, only two choices. Jesus even told the Pharisees "you are of your father the Devil". The word "Father" connotates "relationship" and Jesus was actually saying that they had a relationship with the Devil and not God and that really incensed them. Remember, it was the Pharisees that said, "He has a demon", speaking of Jesus.
The Serpent spoke to Eve and she decided to believe his lie, thus abiding in the counterfeit truth of the Serpent. She and Adam then took on the character of Satan merely by believing his lie. Who you believe is who you abide in and who you abide in is whose nature and character you take on. We are either conformed to the image of Jesus Christ or the image and likeness of Satan. That is why the truth is so important and it will set us free from abiding in the "spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience".
This verse highlights that the unbeliever is abiding in the prince of the power of the air.
Eph 2:2 Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:
Eph 2:3 Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.
This is why it is so important to abide in Christ. To abide in Christ is to refuse every lie that masquerades as the truth and to cling to truth as it is progressively revealed throughout our Christian walk to us by God's Spirit.
Something interesting about the Gospel of John is that he has far more references to the Holy Spirit than the other Gospels and talks about more spiritual realities such as the new birth, the water of life, the bread of life, the light of the world, the good shepherd, and the vine and the branches. Ninety-two percent of the material in John's gospel-record is not found in any of the other three synoptic gospels.
In addition, martyr, I like this from James Fowler.
The Confrontation of the Gospel and Religion
In the harmonization of the gospel-records we can perhaps most clearly perceive that in the course of His ministry and the revelation of Himself, Jesus is found to be in constant conflict and confrontation with the prevailing religion of the Palestinian region. Swiss theologian, Karl Barth, has noted most explicitly that "the revelation of God is the abolition of religion."1 Is it any wonder, then, that the presentation of God in man in Jesus Christ should contrast with the message and methods of the Jewish religion in the first century?
Christianity is not religion! The most accepted etymological derivation of the English word "religion" recognizes the root of the word in the Latin word religare, which means "to bind again" or "to tie back." Jesus did not come to bind, fasten, tie, or attach us to anything or anyone. He came to set us free to be functional humanity in the fullest sense, saying, "you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free" (John 8:32), for "if the Son shall make you free, you shall be free indeed" (John 8:36). Paul likewise indicates that "it was for freedom that Christ set us free" (Gal. 5:1), for "where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty" (II Cor. 3:17).
Jesus Christ did not come to found another religion. He came that we might have His life, and experience such in abundant human expression (John 10:10). The Christian gospel is the presence and dynamic of the life of the risen Lord Jesus being manifested in the behavior of receptive believers to the glory of God.
Such freedom of life and worship was alien and foreign to the strictures and structures of Jewish religion that existed in the first century. It can be reasonably argued that Judaism in the first century was representative of religious perversion at its worst. Every form of legalism, exclusivism, moralism, etc. was rampant in their religion. This provided, though, a perfect environment to exhibit the radical antithesis and ultimate contrast to what Jesus came to reveal in Himself, the "good news" of Christianity.
Here is the rest of it, if you would like to read it.
Jesus Confronts Religion
http://www.christinyou.net/pages/confrel.html
Pilgrim
Beautiful thoughts, my brother. John was so secure in his loving relationship with Jesus that he could lean back into the breast, the bosum of Jesus and ask him any question. Such was his relationship with the Savior and such is our relationship with him. For our God is a God of relationship.
I think Greg posted a thread which spoke of the psalmist not involving him self in great matters but trusting in that deepest, of loving iintimacies with God. The psalmist is likening that relationship to a weamed child to his mother. Indeed John beautifully exemplified that relationship by reclining on the breast of Jesus.
Thank you for your beautiful thoughts, Sree May we all walk securely in that loving relationship with Jesus.
Blaine
John 15:7 If ye abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.
Brother, rich thoights from your post that I will have to read several times to absorb. I will, indeed, look.at the link you sent for the article is profound. It is said that all other religions are man reaching up to their gods. But the beautiful thing about Christianity is God reaching down to us in loving relationship. He did this in his beloved Son, Jesus. This is why aJohn 3:16 is so precious to believers.
Indeed their are too choices. The lie of the devil or the truth of Jrsus. Dear God may our choice be the choice of your beloved Son, who is truth.
Blaine
- who successfully twisted and successfully removed The Word of GOD from Eve then Adam ...
Are we any better than Jesus?
"Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil. And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was afterward an hungred. And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread.
But He answered and said, IT IS WRITTEN, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.
Then the devil taketh him up into the holy city, and setteth him on a pinnacle of the temple, and saith unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down: for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee: and in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone.
Jesus said unto him, IT IS WRITTEN AGAIN, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.
Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and sheweth him the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them; andth unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me.
Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: FOR IT IS WRITTEN, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve. Then the devil leaveth Him, and, behold, angels came and ministered unto Him."
Absolutely, JIG. Thank you for your contribution. We do battle against the Enemy just like Jesus did. By believing and declaring WHAT IS WRITTEN. Satan will modify God's Word, oh so little, but enough to add to it's meaning or change it's meaning.
He told Eve, "You surely shall not die", but this was in contradiction to what God spoke. There was no written word then, but it does not matter. God spoke it and Adam knew right well that He spoke those words.
Amen!
Thank you,
Pilgrim
Brother went back and looked at your post again. I did not realize that more spiritual realities are conveyed in this wonderful gospel then in the synoptics. For sure truths like Holy Spirit, new birth, living, water. Wow. Glorious truths. Waiting to see what God will show us in our discussions.
Blaine
Indeed brother even we get that revelation that Jesus loves us we will stop searching for Jesus and follow the Lamb. Love it.
Blaine
Brother Blaine, I know that you haven't been able to hear 'the tone' of my voice in my posts to you of late and for that I am very-very sorry -- I wish you could. You don't have my phone number neither.
I believe you have a very good heart and the Only thing that I would beseech of you is that you allow The Holy Spirit to be your Only Mentor.
With His Love, in truth.
"Howbeit when He, the Spirit of Truth, is come, He will guide you into all truth: for He shall not speak of Himself; but whatsoever He shall hear, that shall He speak: and He will shew you things to come.
He shall glorify Me: for He shall receive of Mine, and shall shew it unto 'you'."
Thank you, my sister. Be blessed in his love and blessing.
Blaine
Yet to all who recieved him, th those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.
Here again God reaching down in relation to us. Wonder of wonders he invites to become his precious sons and daughters by faith in his Son. In love be bestows on us the blessed, awesome eternal relationship of being in the forever family. What other religion can offer this? All other religions yea, they are nothing as to be sons and daughters of the most high Kng of heaven.
Saints feast upon this marvelous truth. We have been given the Spirit by which we can cry Abba Father. Almost like Daddy or Papa. We have been brought into such intimacy to be his favored child. One that had been chosen for all of eternity. Such a glorious reality should evoke such heartful worship of the Triune God.
Oh indeed the scriptures even say Jesus calls us his brothers and sisters. Also we are joint heirs with him.
Wow. Let's us take a time to think about the marvelous God who so loves us that he has made us his own through believing in Jesus.
Indeed. Halleujah! What a Savior.
With much blessing.
Blaine
Then they asked him, "What must we do to do the works God requires?"
Jesus answered, "The work of God is this, to believe in the one he has sen."
Often when I read the above verses I think of salvation. Much like the Philippian jailor I think of the Jews of John 6 asking, what must we do to be saved. Against the wider context of John salvation is certainly implied.
But as I ponder these verses further I am reminded the Jews are a religious people who are works oriented. In their minds they are performance based. The question could almost be thought in terms how can we perform to please God. They did not realize God was reaching down to them in love and requiring a response of faith. That is faith in his Son Jesus.
The crux of every world religion is performance or works. Works to please God or their gods. It is what must I do or we do to work the works of God or their gods. Hinduism, Buddhism, Judiasim, Islam, etc. are man seeking to please a diety. Only the gospel message of Jesus Christ found in Christianity is God reaching down to man in live. This is why Jesus said the work of God is to 'believe' in the one he has sent.
Most basic and we who have been blood baught by the atoming work of Jesus Christ on the cross eould say 'yea and amen'. It is by faith in Jesus that we are saved. For sure we would affirm this.
Yet are we not like the Galatians. We have begun by the Spirit of faith that marvelous journey of love with Jesus. Are we not trying to perfect ourselves with fleshly works. Are we not like those Jews in John 6 asking what must we do to do the works of God. What works must we do to ease God. On the surface these questions seem spiritual. But they do reflect a works oriented, or Pharisical heart. I was glad to see Greg's posted thread on that issue. Saints could it be that God is speaking a message to us in the forum? The message is just believe in my Son. And enjoy the relationship with him.
My pleasing God is not dependent on how much time I spend in the word or prayer, how many New Testaments I give out, or how much I did for Jesus. You name it. My pleasing God is simply to believe in the one he gas sent. For the scriptures say without faith it is impossible to please him.
Such a heart yielded to faith in Jesus will give rise to a heart of obedience. For the saint who walks in the faith live relationship with Jesus will have a heart of obedience to please him. The believer will have a heart yielded to the Holy Spirit who will be attuned to those ways to please his Savior. For sure we live by faith in Jesus and not by the sight of our own works.
Saints let us be free to live by faith. All God requires is we believe in the one he has sent and our works flow out of a heart love for him.
For your edification and blessing.
Blaine Scogin. 2/18/12
Then they asked him, "What must we do to do the works God requires?"
Jesus answered, "The work of God is this, to believe in the one he has sen."
Often when I read the above verses I think of salvation. Much like the Philippian jailor I think of the Jews of John 6 asking, what must we do to be saved. Against the wider context of John salvation is certainly implied.
But as I ponder these verses further I am reminded the Jews are a religious people who are works oriented. In their minds they are performance based. The question could almost be thought in terms how can we perform to please God. They did not realize God was reaching down to them in love and requiring a response of faith. That is faith in his Son Jesus.
The crux of every world religion is performance or works. Works to please God or their gods. It is what must I do or we do to work the works of God or their gods. Hinduism, Buddhism, Judiasim, Islam, etc. are man seeking to please a diety. Only the gospel message of Jesus Christ found in Christianity is God reaching down to man in love. This is why Jesus said the work of God is to 'believe' in the one he has sent.
Most basic and we who have been blood baught by the atoming work of Jesus Christ on the cross eould say 'yea and amen'. It is by faith in Jesus that we are saved. For sure we would affirm this.
Yet are we not like the Galatians. We have begun by the Spirit of faith that marvelous journey of love with Jesus. Are we not trying to perfect ourselves with fleshly works. Are we not like those Jews in John 6 asking what must we do to do the works of God. What works must we do to please God. On the surface these questions seem spiritual. But they do reflect a works oriented, or Pharisical heart. I was glad to see Greg's posted thread on that issue. Saints could it be that God is speaking a message to us in the forum? The message is just believe in my Son. And enjoy the relationship with him.
My pleasing God is not dependent on how much time I spend in the word or prayer, how many New Testaments I give out, or how much I did for Jesus. You name it. My pleasing God is simply to believe in the one he has sent. For the scriptures say without faith it is impossible to please him.
Such a heart yielded to faith in Jesus will give rise to a heart of obedience. For the saint who walks in the faith love relationship with Jesus will have a heart of obedience to please him. The believer will have a heart yielded to the Holy Spirit who will be attuned to those ways to please his Savior. For sure we live by faith in Jesus and not by the sight of our own works.
Saints let us be free to live by faith. All God requires is we believe in the one he has sent and our works flow out of a heart love for him.
For your edification and blessing.
Blaine Scogin. 2/18/12
Hi Blaine,
Good thoughts.
Then they asked him, "What must we do to do the works God requires?"Jesus answered, "The work of God is this, to believe in the one he has sent."
The goal is for man to be restored to God through Jesus Christ to a relational state of abiding. When one truly BELIEVES, they then "RECEIVE" and following that they "ABIDE".
Believe, Receive, Abide.
Before anyone receives they have to cross the threshold of believing and once they receive they either realize they received the wrong thing and turn away (repent) from it or they then "abide" in it.
Col 2:6 As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him:
In the Garden, Adam was abiding in the Lord each day until he was tested with another "truth" (or so it seemed). He was tested with another belief and he was tested by another personage. He then believed, received and abided, but he abided in the wrong person.
This is the purpose of Satan's lies. To get us to forsake our relationship with the Lord and to abide in him. When the Son sets us free, He sets us free to abide in Him.
Isn' it interesting that we not only abide in Christ but He abides in us?
John 15:4a Abide in me, and I in you...
How did we learn to abide in Christ? We learned it organically, through relationship with Him who is the Great Initiator (He came to us first, to abide in us). We learn through His words spoken to us. Words of love and comfort and protection. Words of faith, encouragement, instruction. We learn from the example of the Spirit abiding in us.
Much the same way an earthly child learns to abide in her father. Her father demonstrates to her what abiding (relationship) is all about.
The simplicity of Jesus Christ is what Adam and Eve were doing before they fell. Believing, receiving and abiding in who they believed and received.
Gen 3:23 Therefore the LORD God SENT HIM FORTH (cast out) from the garden of Eden, to till the ground from whence he was taken.
This word "SENT" (shalach) means "cast away" or "cast out".
Here in John 15:6 we have this. If a man abide not in me, HE IS CAST OUT.
John 15:6 If a man abide not in me, he is CAST FORTH as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.
Thus, Adam and Eve stopped abiding in the Lord God and were cast out. In the same way, if we do not abide in Christ, we are "cast out". We wither when we stop abiding in Christ.
Abiding is not performance. Abiding is walking with the Lord in the "cool" of the day. The word "cool" in Genesis 3:8 is Ruach as in Ruach Hakodesh (Holy Spirit). "of the day" is yom (sunrise to sunset, from one sunset to the next, continually, perpetually, etc).
Genesis 3:8 And they heard the voice of the Lord God walking in the garden (in the Spirit, continually) in the cool of the day .
The Lord walks in the Spirit because He is the Spirit and this is God's plan for us. To abide in Him in the Spirit from one sunset to the next.
Otherwise, we abide in the Evil One in the "heat of the day."
God bless,
Pilgrim
Ah, my, brother, you bring so much to this thread with what God gives you in your heart. I take great pleasure in reading your post as they truly come from a heart filled with Jesus.
I love taking the time to read savor the deep, intimate thoughts you bring spending time with Jesus.
Please keep posting here as God reveals rich truth to you.
Blaine
Brother as I went back and read your wonderful post I was struck by this phrase ...BELIEVE, RECIEVE, BE. It seems our being in Christ is our abiding in Christ. Besides it rhymes nicely together. That is BELIEVE In Jesus . RECIEVE from Jesus. BE in Jesus and he BE in us.
Love it brother.
Blaine
John 15:10 If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love.
It amazes us that GOD gave Adam and Eve only 'one' commandment with a "do not" in it, yet through the twisting of His Word, they disobeyed that one small commandment.
I wonder if these two quotes will help resolve J-I-G’s earlier concern:
1.
“In Hebrew, davar is a homonym that means both “word” and “thing” – the REAL THING. In the language of the chosen people, words are not only symbols and echoes of a reality but they are themselves reality. When John thought out in Hebrew the prologue of his Gospel, he meant it to mean: “In the beginning was REALITY. And the REALITY was with God. And the REALITY was God." (R. Wumrbrand)
2.
Reality
“When people met Jesus, they had to admit: He was REAL through and through! There was nothing false in anything he did, taught or proclaimed about himself. … The miracles were genuine, there were no tricks involved, and everybody could see that His Father answered all of them in detail. His love was so overwhelming, lasting and so different than anything people had ever encountered before. … .. Jesus lived an absolutely transparent life… He wanted people to watch him and observe him. Why,? Because he had come to show them, by his life and nature what God the father was like. … So far no one had ever seen the Father. … “He who has seen Me has seen the Father” His whole life was wrapped up and consumed with this one goal: To be such a TRUE and CLEAR representation of God the Father that even the most sinful man on earth could recognize God’s love for Him and desire to be born again. by Gisela Yohannnan, Chapter 8, “Broken for a Purpose”
--------------------------------------
In other words, Jesus himself embodied REALITY. That’s what John would have had in mind, and I suspect that’s what Blaine is trying to say. Am I right?
Diane
That's the second 'different' definition of "Logos" that I've seen this week.
Another poster's interpretation was "Plan".
When translating or exegeting - the normal course of action is to see how and where that word is most often used.
Logos -
G3056
λόγος
logos
Total KJV Occurrences: 325
word, 173
Mat_8:8, Mat_8:16, Mat_12:32, Mat_15:19-23 (7), Mat_22:46, Mar_2:2, Mar_4:14-16 (4), Mar_4:18-20 (3), Mar_4:33, Mar_5:36, Mar_7:13, Mar_16:20, Luk_1:2, Luk_4:32, Luk_4:36, Luk_5:1, Luk_7:7, Luk_8:11-13 (3), Luk_8:15, Luk_8:21, Luk_10:39, Luk_11:28, Luk_12:10, Luk_22:61, Luk_24:19, Joh_1:1 (3), Joh_1:14, Joh_2:22, Joh_4:41, Joh_4:50, Joh_5:24, Joh_5:38, Joh_8:31, Joh_8:37, Joh_8:43, Joh_10:35, Joh_12:48, Joh_14:24, Joh_15:3, Joh_15:20, Joh_15:25, Joh_17:6, Joh_17:14, Joh_17:17, Joh_17:20, Act_2:41, Act_4:4, Act_4:29, Act_4:31, Act_6:2, Act_6:4, Act_6:7, Act_8:4, Act_8:14, Act_8:25, Act_10:36, Act_10:44, Act_11:1, Act_11:19, Act_12:24, Act_13:5, Act_13:7, Act_13:15, Act_13:26, Act_13:44, Act_13:46, Act_13:48-49 (2), Act_14:3, Act_14:25, Act_15:7, Act_15:35-36 (2), Act_16:6, Act_16:32, Act_17:11, Act_17:13, Act_18:11, Act_19:10, Act_19:20, Act_20:32, Act_22:22, Rom_9:6, Rom_9:9, Rom_15:18, 1Co_4:20, 1Co_12:8 (2), 1Co_14:36, 2Co_1:18, 2Co_2:17, 2Co_4:2, 2Co_5:19, 2Co_6:7, 2Co_10:11, Phi_1:14, Phi_2:16, Col_1:5, Col_1:25, Col_3:16-17 (2), 1Th_1:5-6 (2), 1Th_1:8, 1Th_2:13 (3), 1Th_4:15, 2Th_2:2, 2Th_2:15, 2Th_2:17, 2Th_3:1, 2Th_3:14, 1Ti_4:5, 1Ti_4:12, 1Ti_5:17, 2Ti_2:9, 2Ti_2:15, 2Ti_2:17, 2Ti_4:2, Tit_1:3, Tit_1:9, Tit_2:5, Heb_4:2 (2), Heb_5:12-13 (2), Heb_7:28, Heb_12:19, Heb_13:7, Heb_13:22, Jam_1:18, Jam_1:21-23 (3), Jam_3:2, 1Pe_1:23, 1Pe_2:8, 1Pe_3:1 (2), 2Pe_1:19, 2Pe_3:5, 2Pe_3:7, 1Jo_1:1, 1Jo_1:10, 1Jo_2:5, 1Jo_2:7, 1Jo_2:14, 1Jo_3:18, 1Jo_5:7, Rev_1:2, Rev_1:9, Rev_3:8, Rev_3:10, Rev_6:9, Rev_12:11, Rev_19:13, Rev_20:4
words, 48
Mat_10:14, Mat_12:37 (2), Mat_24:35, Mat_26:44, Mar_8:38, Mar_10:24, Mar_12:13, Mar_13:31, Mar_14:39, Luk_1:20, Luk_3:4, Luk_4:22, Luk_9:26, Luk_20:20, Luk_21:33, Luk_23:9, Luk_24:44, Joh_14:23, Act_2:22, Act_2:40, Act_5:5, Act_7:22, Act_15:15, Act_15:24, Act_15:32, Act_18:15, Act_20:35, Act_20:38, 1Co_1:17, 1Co_2:4, 1Co_2:13, 1Co_14:9, 1Co_14:19 (2), Eph_5:6, 1Th_2:5, 1Th_4:18, 1Ti_4:6, 1Ti_6:3, 2Ti_1:13, 2Ti_4:15, 2Pe_2:3, 3Jo_1:10, Rev_1:3, Rev_21:5, Rev_22:18-19 (2)
saying, 33
Mat_15:12, Mat_19:11, Mat_19:22, Mat_28:15, Mar_7:29, Mar_8:32, Mar_9:10, Mar_10:22, Luk_1:29, Joh_4:37, Joh_4:39, Joh_6:60, Joh_7:36, Joh_7:40, Joh_8:51, Joh_8:55, Joh_12:38, Joh_15:20, Joh_18:9, Joh_18:32, Joh_19:8, Joh_19:13, Joh_21:23, Act_6:5, Act_7:29, Act_16:36, Rom_13:9, 1Co_15:54, 1Ti_1:15, 1Ti_3:1, 1Ti_4:9, 2Ti_2:11, Tit_3:8
sayings, 16
Mat_7:24, Mat_7:26, Mat_7:28, Mat_26:1 (2), Luk_6:47, Luk_9:28, Luk_9:44, Joh_10:19, Joh_14:24, Rom_3:4, Rev_19:9, Rev_22:6-7 (2), Rev_22:9-10 (2)
account, 8
Mat_12:36, Mat_18:23, Luk_16:2, Act_19:40, Rom_14:12, Heb_13:17 (2), 1Pe_4:5
speech, 8
Act_20:7, 1Co_2:1, 1Co_2:4, 1Co_4:19, 2Co_10:10, 2Co_11:6, Col_4:6, Tit_2:8
matter, 4
Mar_1:45, Act_8:21, Act_15:6, Act_19:38
utterance, 4
1Co_1:5, 2Co_8:7, Eph_6:19, Col_4:3
things, 3
Luk_1:3-4 (2), Act_20:24 (2)
communication, 2
Mat_5:37, Eph_4:29
reason, 2
Act_18:14, 1Pe_3:15
thing, 2
Mat_21:24, Luk_20:3
work, 2
Rom_9:28 (2)
cause, 1
Mat_5:32
communications, 1
Luk_24:17
concerning, 1
Phi_4:15
do, 1
Heb_4:13
doctrine, 1
Heb_6:1
fame, 1
Luk_5:15
intent, 1
Act_10:29
mouth, 1
Act_15:27
move, 1
Act_20:24
preaching, 1
1Co_1:18
question, 1
Mar_11:29
reckoneth, 1
Mat_25:19
rumour, 1
Luk_7:17
say, 1
Heb_5:11
show, 1
Col_2:23
speaker, 1
Act_14:12
talk, 1
Mat_22:15
tidings, 1
Act_11:22
treatise, 1
Act_1:1
word’s, 1
Mar_4:17
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I believe that the over-whelming consensus between Greek scholars on the definition of Logos in the verses we see, is definitely "Word(s)" - as much as I love Wurmbrand and have read most all of his books, and sincerely suggest that others do as well. Especially his sermons that he gathered in his memory from prison and solitary confinement - as he states himself - he surely did go off in that environment - Understandably.
Jesus loved John most because John loved HIM Most and defended "The Word of GOD" right through his entire life!
I wonder which scripture verses might suggest this – either that Jesus loved John more than others, or that it would have been because he was the best at defending “The word of God”.
I have seen it explained that John was really saying this: “The disciple whom Jesus just kept on loving.” The verb form of “love” is in the imperfect tense – that is continuous tense, rather than the more common tense, the aorist. ( I checked this out, and see this to be true - at least all in the verses I checked out just now - where this comes up).
In other words, John is not talking about being a special favorite of Jesus. It’s more like this: Jesus just kept on loving me - so mercifully, so steadfastly – me - a sinner who doesn’t deserve such grace! In other words, John is referring to himself from humble self-perception.
Doesn’t that sound more likely? Would John really have wished to convey the idea that he was the special best and most favorite in Jesus’s eyes? Would any mature Christian talk that way – in comparison to his or her fellow believers? Surely that is not the idea of divine “love” conveyed in scripture - though it may be our fleshly use of the word.
Diane
I would say pretty much so. Though you articulated it more elequently than I. The NIV says in Col.3 the reality is found in Christ. Indeed Jesus tells Phillip that he who has seen me has seen the Father. No one has seen God the Father as he is spirit. But we look st Jesus in whom dwells all of the fulness of diety. So yes, Jesus is very real.
Also I believe what you and Pilgrim are bringing to the table is God is restoring the relationship lost in the garden. In the garden man was cast out because of the sin of Adam. But now that relationship has been restored by God in the person and work of his Son. For sure John shows how relational God is in his marvelous gospel. Again I am reminded that our walk with God is not regulational but relational.
Blaine
How would John be so 'arrogant' as to refer to himself as the disciple that Jesus loved [eta] 5 times in his own Gospel [13:23 - 19:26 - 20:2 - 21:7 - 21:20]?
Why was John's head on Jesus' chest during the last supper?
Why did Jesus only tell by the dipping of his bread into the sop, who would betray him to John?
Why did he give him charge of His mother, Mary?
Why did he give him the Revelation?
Why did he frazzle-up the boys a bit by suggesting that John may be around till He returns.
On the thread called "Love", a Pastor gave a very good example of what "love" is by drawing a dot within a circle and many smaller dots at differing distances from the larger center dot within that circle.
John was closest to that Center Dot.
Second post down on this thread -
https://www.sermonindex.net/modules/newbb/viewtopic.php?topic_id=43158&forum=36&12
I think you just answered the question at the end of your post. John was very secure in that love Jesus had for him. John beautifully exemplifies the love relationship God has for each of us if we would but believe in him.
Blaine
Hi Blaine. If you look up those verses where John calls himself "the one that Jesus loved" - he normally mentions another disciple before he states that of himself.
Why would he write, under Divine Inspiration, that compared to Peter, he was the disciple that Jesus loved. :)
The secret is in that link just given.
Love in Him.
hi there brethern
by far my favouret gopsle is john ,along with his first letter
i trust in the one who saved me to keep me because of what he said in his word ,and the high preastly prayer ,which is also his word ,,,i treat jesus prayer to the father in chapter 17 of blessed gosple of john ,,as reliable as all the prophecy in all the bible
my joy and sercurity come from not my abilty to endure and abide ,but gods power to keep me ,,,,his purity and perfect obedance to our father is my garenty that his prayers will be answerd regarding us his children
we will be one with him
as he is is one with the father
we will behold that glory that he has
he who is born of god, god the keeps and the evil one cannot touch him
we will not follow the voice of strangers
but we will hear his voice ,and follow him
for he knows,and he gives to us eturnal life
and brethern ,if you are truely gods
you wil never ever perish
for a good tree cannot ,produce the bad fruit of eturnal death
neither can any one pluck us from his hand ,nor our fathers hand
we will abide
we will endure
because of the blood shead for us was not in vain
the the power of that is able in us to will and also to do for his good pleasure
we have been created in jesus christ for good works ,which god has befor prepared and ordained ,that we should walk in them
we are new creations in christ
old things have passed away
BEHOLD ALL THINGS ARE NEW
he who is born of of god does continue to practice wilfull sin
for gods seed is in him and he cannot sin
he who sins is of the devil , for the devil has sinned from the beginning
tho we walk through the valley of the shadow of death
I SHALL NOT FEAR
he will NEVER LEAVE US OR FOR SAKE US
for me the gosple of john ,and the letter of john
has caused me through his powerfull spirit ,to understand and hold on the the promises of god
and alowed me to cast away all trust in my self ,in my good works ,and in my abilty to endure ,and trust in the finished work ,of christ on the cross,,and his word spoken from his mouth
his blood
his gosple
evedence of this in my life ,is the gift of faith he gave me ,and a deepening repentance
and a comformety into the image of his son ,through the spirit of holiness
and a love for the brethern
but seeking my own wreatcheredness in light of his holyness
i cant trust in these evedences of the new birth
for i would still fall short of the glory of god that is clear
so the gosple of john has been a powerfull lesson for me
the spirit has used that gopsle as a catalist , to my salvation ,and understanding ,and apresating,,the rest of the writtern word of god
bless you all in jesus name
therfore let us go to him out side the gate afresh
bearing his reproch
let us crawl again to the cross
let be sprinkeld a fresh by the blood of the evalasting
confesing our falts to one another and praying for one another ,that we may be heald
for the efectual fevernt pray of the righeous avalith much
allways think other as better then our selfs
father more of your spirit ,,more
Roadsign,
Doesn’t that sound more likely? Would John really have wished to convey the idea that he was the special best and most favorite in Jesus’s eyes? Would any mature Christian talk that way – in comparison to his or her fellow believers? Surely that is not the idea of divine “love” conveyed in scripture - though it may be our fleshly use of the word.
Your explanation seems consistent with the character of God, knowing that we are all mere men and that He is no respecter of persons. John also needed the sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit. John learned humility and I don't think he would be pointing out that Jesus loved him to the exclusion of others.
I think John loved much because he was forgiven much. Please consider the following:
Mar 3:17 And James the son of Zebedee, and John the brother of James; and he surnamed them Boanerges, which is, The sons of thunder:
Jesus surnamed James and John, "sons of thunder".
No one knows why Jesus gave them this name. Perhaps it was because they wished to call down thunder from heaven and consume a certain village of Samaritans. It is fairly evident they had much zeal (however misplaced) and power in preaching the Gospel.
Luke 9:55 But he turned, and rebuked them, and said, Ye know not what manner of spirit ye are of.
Luke 9:56 For the Son of man is not come to destroy men's lives, but to save them. And they went to another village.
Diane, knowing the Spirit of God as John did and knowing himself as well, it does seem like he would be saying "who Jesus kept on loving".
I am sure John remembered this time and even how he and James even tried to justify their zeal by pointing to what Elijah did.
Luk 9:54 And when his disciples James and John saw this, they said, Lord, wilt thou that we command fire to come down from heaven, and consume them, even as Elias did?
Maybe this trait ran in the family. It certainly runs in the family of ALL men so why would James and John be any different? And their mother was no different than they or anyone of us.
Mat 20:20 Then came to him the mother of Zebedee's children with her sons, worshipping him, and desiring a certain thing of him.
Mat 20:21 And he said unto her, What wilt thou? She saith unto him, Grant that these my two sons may sit, the one on thy right hand, and the other on the left, in thy kingdom.
But Jesus answered and said, Ye know not what ye ask. Are ye able to drink of the cup that I shall drink of, and to be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with? They say unto him, We are able. (Matt 20:22).
I love John. He is one of the greatest Apostles because he learned to be the least. Unlike Judas, he received the Lord's correction and teaching.
He learned something very important at the last supper when the other disciples actually seemed to get quite angry at he and James.
Mat 20:24 And when the ten heard it, THEY WERE MOVED WITH INDIGNATION AGAINST THE TWO brethren.
Mat 20:25 But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Ye know that the princes of the Gentiles exercise dominion over them, and they that are great exercise authority upon them.
Mat 20:26 But it shall not be so among you: but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister;
Mat 20:27 And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant:
John never forgot that correction from the Lord and we can see that just in the way that John refers to himself in Revelation 1 and other books.
John could also write the following because he could never be accused of taking any preeminence amongst others.
3Jn 1:9 I wrote unto the church: but Diotrephes, who loveth to have the preeminence among them, receiveth us not.
John is a true picture of humility and servanthood.
Pilgrim
I like this from Barnes.
The highest honor that can be conferred on any man is to say that Jesus loved him. Yet this is an honor which all may possess, but which none can inherit without his spirit and without loving him. It is an honor which cannot be won by wealth or learning, by beauty or accomplishments, by rank or earthly honors, but only by the possession of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price, 1Pe_3:4; compare Rom_8:9.
This morning I woke up with these thoughts downloaded from his precious Spirit. We see that John is a book of God's loving relationship to man. This relationship is beautifully depicted at the last supper when John leaned back upon the breast of Jesus to ask who would betray him (Jn.13:21). I am sure in the culture of that day just as in ours certain inferences would be drawn. But John was so secure in the Savior's love he felt no embassment leaning back upon the breast of Jesus. Certainly Jesus was not embarrassed.
Imagine you are a guest at a dignataries house. You dress appropiately and conduct yourself with the appropiate protocals. You stay within the bounds of sppopiate behavior. Suppose you are in the dignatairs study speaking about professional matters. All of a sudden there is a squeal of delight. A little child runs into the study yelling daddy. The child climbs in the dignataries lap. There is a moment of love and delight between father and child. The child by birth and love has the liberty to climb into the fathers lap and call the dignatary daddy. You have no such freedom as the guest.
Granted this illustration pales in comparison to our relationship to our heavenly Father. But perhaps we can see the security of an intimate love relationship with Jesus. Certainly John knew of that relationship simply calling himself the disciple whom Jesus loved. The marvelous thing is that same intimate love relationship is open to us if we will but choose to follow the liver of our souls.
I have been intrigued by Mark's account of the rich young ruler. In chapter 10 Marks recounts the young man who came to Jesus with a question about eternal life. There is something very profound that Mark records about this exchange between Jesus and the rich young man. In verse 21 it says Jesus looked at him and loved him. Oh my goodness! To revel in the love of the Son of God! Who would not want to melt in such wondrous love and follow this man to the ends of the earth. You would think any command Jesus gave would have been gladly carried out to this heart of love. But tragically the young man rejected the secure love of Jesus for the insecurity of wealth. We see that Jesus let him go.
Dear saint may we walk in the secure love of Jesus in intimate relationship with him.
Posted for your edification.
Blaine Scogin. 2/19/12
Wr have been given his blessed Spirit by which we cry out "Anna Father". We too can squeal with delight and cry out to our daddy.
Forum no irreverence meant here. But God our heavenly Father is also our Papa.
Blaine
Jesus loved the rich young ruler but let him go! Amazing when you think about that in today's contemporary "Christian" settings.
Would some say, "He would be a fine addition to our church and all of his money would help the "Kingdom of God.""
Would some compromise or water down the requirements of the Gospel in order to add this "rich young ruler" to their church rolls?
Mar 10:20 And he answered and said unto him, Master, all these have I observed from my youth.
So much for keeping the commandments outwardly. The One who sees the heart is not impressed and He touches something in this young man's heart that he was not willing to give up for the privilege of following Jesus, namely his riches.
As the rich young ruler started to walk away, sad and grieved, did Jesus let him go, or say, "well, maybe we can let you hold onto your greed if you still want to follow me. Afterall, we don't have anything and 10% of what you have would really help us out in the ministry". No, the Scriptures indicated that the Rich Young Ruler went his way and Jesus did not stop him.
What a stark contrast to today in the Church of Laodicea where following Jesus does not mean what it used to mean.
Mar 10:29 And Jesus answered and said, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my sake, and the gospel's,
Mar 10:30 But he shall receive an hundredfold now in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions; and in the world to come eternal life.
Pilgrim
Brother Blaine, I appreciated your thoughts this morning. This Gospel is my favorite as well. It was the only little book that I had in my possession the day that I was saved. That alone brings tears because it was one way I knew that something had happened to me after praying that prayer for salvation, because this one little book exploded inside me when I read it again, After He came in. Oh, Glory to GOD alone!
I wish we could all chip in and buy you a laptop. Reading the endless commentaries about John; from men long respected; I think you'd truly enjoy reading what they have to say about John himself.
I only grabbed these few very small quotes that I thought that you would appreciate as I did - but the volumes written about "The Beloved Disciple" are truly a blessing beyond any words.
John, the most apologetic Gospel author, defended the Deity of Christ against those that were bringing doubts to His Deity - yet merely a fisherman - but the one that most truly "grasped" or "comprehended" the Agape of GOD.
The majority write that he died of old age and is quoted below.
GOD Bless!
"The meagerness of the vocabulary, however, is compensated by its richness. The few constantly recurring words are symbols of fundamental and eternal ideas. “They are not purely abstract notions, but powerful spiritual realities, which may be studied under a multitude of aspects. If the author has only a few terms in his vocabulary, these terms may be compared to pieces of gold with which great lords make payment” " (Godet)
"But the highest honor bestowed on this disciple was his being admitted to the bosom place with his Lord at the table, as “the disciple whom Jesus loved” (Joh_13:23; Joh_20:2; Joh_21:7, Joh_20:24), and to have committed to him by the dying Redeemer the care of His mother (Joh_19:26, Joh_19:27). There can be no reasonable doubt that this distinction was due to a sympathy with His own spirit and mind on the part of John which the all-penetrating Eye of their common Master beheld in none of the rest; and although this was probably never seen either in his life or in his ministry by his fellow apostles, it is brought out wonderfully in his writings, which, in Christ-like spirituality, heavenliness, and love, surpass, we may freely say, all the other inspired writings." [Jamieson, Fausset & Brown]
"It has been said also that, going into a bath one day at Ephesus, he perceived the presence of Cerinthus, who denied the divinity of the Saviour, and that he fled from him hastily, to express his disapproval of Cerinthus’ doctrine.
It is also said, and of this there can be no doubt, that during his latter years he was not able to make a long discourse. He was carried to the assembly, and was accustomed to say nothing but this: “Little children, love one another.” At length his disciples asked him why he always dwelt upon the same thing. He replied, “Because it is the Lord’s command; and if this is done, it is sufficient” [Albert Barnes]
How about an IPad that woukd be nice....chuckle....Actually I doubt that a lap top eould contain all that wad written about John's gosoel. Thanks for the quotes. Very edifying.
Blaine
Brother you are white right. I had often thought the rich young ruler woukd have been a marvelous addition to our American church culture. The sadness of all of this was the young man was missing out on the true wealth. That being a rich intimate relationship with Jesus himself.
How much can that be said of us today?
Blaine
Brother your post really touched my heart. For I can see you have been impacted by this marvelous gospel. May God so fill our hearts with love for Jesus as your heart so reflects.
With much blessing to you.
Blaine
Hi Blaine,
Today you just pray a prayer and that seems to be all there is to it. But Jesus knew what following Him meant and the Rich Young Ruler could not follow him and keep his greed at the same time. The Lord was not trying to be unkind to the young man. He knew that at some point, he would have fallen away on his own because he kept an idol in his heart. Jesus said you cannot serve two masters, either you will hate the one and love the other or hate the other and love the one.
Jesus was trying to let him know at the outset that he was just setting himself up for disappointment to try to follow two "Masters". Jesus also showed him that he was only keeping the law from an external point of view. He was very proud of the fact that he was "keeping" the commandments, but the Lord revealed to him the covetousness in his heart.
Do we tell people today what the cost for following Jesus is? If we did, there may well be less "converts". Jesus is not worried about nickels, noses and numbers. Even when the 70 disciples left Him, He turned to the other 12 and asked them if they were going to leave Him, too. He did not ask them in a state of consternation. He wants people to follow Him with their whole heart, because that is what it takes. Otherwise, at some point in your walk, you will favor the other "master" that you never gave up, over Jesus.
He does tell us to count the cost, doesn't He? Jesus was not hiding the cost of following Him from the Rich Young Ruler. And the cost was just too much for the young man who was proud of his religiousness. He must have thought he was a shoo-in to be one of the Lord's followers. He approached the Lord in great self-confidence.
Blaine,we may not have it all together on the outside in some men's estimation, but the Lord looks on the heart, doesn't He?
Be blessed in Him,
Pilgrim
amen marter amen ,,,,,,brother i can see he is the light of your life also
bless you
Agreed brother. Jesus is after our hearts and not the money. In other scripture it says he owns the whole earth. But God does desire we follow him voluntarily with our hearts. He wants us to be willingly owned by him.
Now that is a thought for meditation.
Blaine
Amen brother, Blaine.
Everything in the universe is the Lord's for His taking. There is only one thing in the entire universe that God cannot have for the taking and that is our hearts. He waits for it to be given to Him. He will woo, and convince and "reason" (Isaiah 1) with us, but He will not take.
Blessings to all,
Pilgrim
I think of those verses that say the eyes if the Lord range through out the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him. More than anthing else Jesus desires a devoted, simple, pure heart from our lives.
But Pilgrim it is astounding that thoug& he could. God foes not command we give our hearts to him. He desires we yield our hearts to his loving heart. Like the bride groom he is be pursues us to win our hearts with his everlasting, eternal love.
Such beautiful thoughts of our Savior, Bridegroom. Such thoights should inspire devotion to Jesus.
Blaine
Good reading!
Praise God you were edified, brother. I pray others who read the thread will be so built up. In the last few days since opening this thread ny own understanding of John has been deeply enriched by others posting into this thread.
Blaine
I like that quote by Richard Wurmbrand, Diane. And conversely, what Satan offers is illusion. Like JIG said, he twisted just one thing the Lord told Adam and Eve. He corrupted the communication and truth from God that went forth to Adam. Adam knew nothing about the corruption or perversion of Reality. It was not God's plan for Adam to fall. It was and always is God's plan for us to grow in Him and learn through obedience and not to learn by experiencing sin.
I have spoken to people that said God set Adam and Eve up for a fall. But God does not tempt any man and can never be accused of being complicit in sin. Satan was no accident, either and did not catch God by surprise. Yes, even Satan fulfills purposes of God.........for now.
I posted in Greg's testimony thread about the Pharisees that they "shut up the kingdom of heaven". And I asked a question: How do they shut up the Kingdom of Heaven? And they neither go in themselves.
The clue is the law of first mention. Where is the first time in the Bible that the kingdom of heaven was shut up? The Serpent shut it up. By lying about the character of God. He attacks the truth about God, because he wants us to turn away from God and towards him. He wants us to abide in him instead of abiding in God. There is no other way to turn when you turn away from God. The only other alternative is the Devil.
In essence, Satan the father of lies (lies about God), works through people like the Pharisees to shut up the kingdom of heaven. He transmits his lies through people. They shut it up, by keeping people from the knowledge of Jesus Christ. Because it is the knowledge of God that is the key which the door. Jesus Christ then, is the knowledge of God come to earth.
Col 2:9 For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.
In Jeremiah 9, 24, Matthew 7 and Matthew 25 we have further light regarding God's heart and what kind of knowledge to seek and I submit this is the knowledge that Satan hates for people to have. This is the knowledge that he seeks to twist, pervert and corrupt because this is the knowledge that destroys his work.
Jer 9:23 Thus saith the LORD, Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches:
Jer 9:24 But let him that glorieth glory in this, THAT HE UNDERSTANDETH AND KNOWETH ME, that I am the LORD which exercise lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness, in the earth: for in these things I delight, saith the LORD.
Jer 24:7 And I will give them AN HEART TO KNOW ME, that I am the LORD: and they shall be my people, and I will be their God: for they shall return unto me with their whole heart.
Matt 7:23 And then will I profess unto them, I NEVER KNEW YOU: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
Mat 25:12 But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I KNOW YOU NOT.
So, we see the knowledge that is both the key and the door to eternal life is the knowledge of the HOLY, the knowledge of God in Christ Jesus. All other knowledge will pass away. This is how Satan uses men to shut up the kingdom of God to themselves and others, by corrupting, twisting and perverting the knowledge of God in Christ Jesus.
John is a wonderful Gospel because it reveals much about Jesus Christ to us and how to abide in Him.
As we get to know the "Real Thing", it will be easier to spot the counterfeit.
Pilgrim
John 15:13
Greater love has no one than this, that be lay down his life for his friends.
I once saw a calendar with a picture of a military cemetary on the front. The lawns and the flowers were arranged and landscaprd beautifully. The graves of those who had fallen in combat were there to remind us those who had who had paid the ultimate sacrifice. And the above verse was quoted at the bottom of the picture......
Beautiful but this is not what Jesus meant. He is speaking if his sacrificial love that would take him to this cross. He is speaking of a pure, agape love that would require him to give his life in our place to die for our sins.
Often when the theology of the cross is articulated the focus, and rightly so, is on justification. It is easy to get lost in the forensic aspect of the cross. If we look at this merely from a legal transaction we lose sight of the heart of God. For the heart of God is love from a heart that desires to redeem a humanity lost in sin. This is the motive behind the cross. God's love to not only redeem us, but to bring us into a loving friendship with him.
This is an aspect of the cross, the work of redemption, one does not hear often. To think that God desire us, who once were his enemies, to be intimate friends with him. Yet in the verses of John 15:13-15 this is what is implied. God delights in us and desires our friendship.
Such a reality is not only reserved for saints such as Abraham but for the New Testament child of God. For those who have come to saving faith in Jesus. Friend savor that reality. Let the precious truth resonate in your inmost being. God truly delights in us and desires our most intimate friendship with him.
Precious Lamb. Thank you for your deep and intimate love that brings us into friendship with you. In your blessed Name. Amen.
Posted for your edification.and blessing.
Blaine Scogin
2/20/12
Hi Blaine,
I like this from Sylvia Pearce's book, "Treasures of Darkness". She says the book of John is the "I am" book.
"Jesus never said that He would give us a little piece of himself called “the way, the truth, and the life.” He didn't say he would give us a little bit of bread and it would be life to us. He didn't say that he would give us resurrection, or life, or living water, and these would help is have more of God. No, what he did strongly and emphatically declare was this: “I am the Word, I am the Light of the world, I am the Living Water, I am the Bread of Life, I am the Resurrection and the Life, I am the Way, I am the Truth, and I am Eternal Life.” God's name always has been “I AM,” not, “I have it to give.” We do not have a distant God, dishing out to us humans, little bits of himself to live on. No, He has given us the fullness of Himself.
Eternal Life is a Person
“He that hath the Son hath (Eternal) Life;” (I John 5:12)
The mystery of the gospel is, “Christ in you, our only hope of glory” (Colossians 1:27). He is the deity in the temple, He is the contents of the vessel, He is the vine of the branch, He is the husband of the wife, and He is the head of the body. He firmly announced to all His creation, “My glory will I not give to another”(Isaiah 42:8). Therefore, salvation is a Person, Love is a Person, the Truth is a Person, Peace is a Person, Righteousness is a Person, and Eternal Life is not just a place we go after death, but it is a Person! His plan from the beginning was to create a family of sons who would freely contain and express His deity nature throughout eternity.
We often forget that we are not the contents of the cup, and we drive ourselves to utter frustration when we try to be the contents.
It takes a great blow to our egos to really know that we are only the clay pots and not the glory of the contents. Christ is the content, it is He that fills the temple. Yet we have been falsely taught that we are the one who should fulfill the law and try to fill our temples with good works. The essence of all idolatry is trying to be what only God is. This too is the essence of legalism. Trying to be good leaves our hearts empty and still crying out for more. For it is Christ who can fulfill the law in us, and it is He that wants the glory. We are His dwelling place, not our own dwelling place.
Could this be why Christians are so miserable? We, of all people, who know that our sins are forgiven and our future destination is heaven, should live in the joy of the Lord most of the time. But do we? I dare say that if we are honest, most of us experience the very opposite. I believe that most of us live condemned and frustrated lives, trying to cope with what we have and wonder why faith doesn't work. That is why so many Christians are crying out to Jesus, “Come quickly Lord Jesus,” as they wait to be relieved from their misery by the second coming of Christ.
Our salvation and entrance into the kingdom of God is wonderful, but it's not good enough to just know that our sins are forgiven. What about now? What about the present tense? Why do we love the Jesus who saves us, but hate the human person that He saved? Did He do only half the work? Maybe we are getting closer to our answer by looking at just that. We think that we are responsible for finishing or perfecting the other half of what doesn't seem complete, namely us. What a job!
We are taught to pray more, read our Bibles more, come to Church more, tithe more, and strive to become more like Jesus. Then there is the problem of the world: we should keep ourselves from worldly thoughts and not overindulge in worldly pleasures such as eating, drinking, smoking, and carousing. Then there are our personal shortcomings: tempers, jealousies, pride, and secret sins. The list goes on forever. But most of all we must look good to the world and keep our reputations and God's reputation respectable because we must be good witnesses. I say it again, “What a job!”
Why doesn't Christianity work? I'm not happy and I'm not satisfied--God is satisfied because He sees his son in me, but I'm not satisfied. I look most of the time like Paul in Romans Seven--“the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not that I do. For the will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not.”
Since the problem is exposed in Romans seven, then the whole solution, which is the missing link in Christianity, is hidden there as well. The real problem and hidden sin of the Christian is self-effort. “I ought to. I should do better by self-effort.” It is very subtle, though, for it seems right and good, yet in truth it is the very heart of our problem. The law continually stirs up self-effort because we believe we can and should do it. We are not believing in God, but in ourselves. Colossians 1:27 says, "To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.” The mystery of the Gospel is “Christ in you,” yet we believe more in our own performance than Christ in us. That is why the third person of the Trinity (the Holy Spirit) is the least known to most Christians. We are provided with the life of Christ by the Holy Spirit, yet we strive in our own efforts to be that life.
Paul strongly warned the Galatians against legalism in their church. They began their Christian walk by faith alone, but soon after, added all kinds of laws to live by. Therefore, Paul cried out, “O foolish Galatians, who has bewitched you that you should not obey the truth. This only would I learn of you; Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law, or the hearing of faith? Are you so foolish? Having begun in the Spirit, are you now made perfect by the flesh”(Galatians 3:1-3)? Paul’s strong warning “Who has bewitched you,” implies that the devil is at work. It is devilish to try to become what only God himself is.
Let us understand though, that the law isn't wrong in itself, for it is God’s perfect picture of His holy nature. Our problem is not God’s picture of himself, the problem is how to be like that picture. We can never be like God by self-effort, yet God wants us to come to the end of believing that “WE” can do it. The only way that we can come to the end is for us to go right on trying. But don't try half way. Try with all your heart. Try until you’re bloody from trying.
Most Christians settle somewhere in-between; a little bit of Jesus, a little bit of me, a little bit of the law, a little bit of righteousness, a little bit of the devil, a little bit of sin, “Ho hum! God doesn't expect me to be perfect anyway.” On the contrary, Jesus demands perfection, “Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect” (Matt. 5:48). Jesus says it has to be all or nothing. It is better to try until we can’t try anymore, than to settle somewhere in the middle ground.
That is why Jesus said to the Laodiceian church in the book of Revelation, that because they were lukewarm and neither cold nor hot, He would spew them out of his mouth (Rev. 3:15-16). God wants self-effort to become exceedingly sinful. God wants you to be real desperate, so desperate that you can't try anymore. Then you are more than happy for righteousness not to depend on you. It is a desperate, but thankful heart, that knows that righteousness and eternal Life are both a person, and that person is Christ, who lives in us."
Pilgrim
My Brother Pilgrim,
Such rich, penetrating thoughts come from your post. I delight to read them because you bring to the table the heart and mind of Christ. You seen to express the very heart of John's gospel.
Indeed we are so foolish to think we can live the life that Jesus has already promised. Jesus said apart from me you can fo nothing. This in the context of the vine and branches. Until we realize that the secret is to rest, abide, remain, dwell in his life, we will be miserable.
In an earlier post I shared that the work of God is to believe in the one he has sent. All to often we are like the Jews of of John 6. Asking what must I do to do the works that God requires? We treatt the walk of faith as a performance task. How much time should I spend in the word? How long should I pray? what can I do to be more holy? And so forth. For sure we guarantee ourselves a Roman 7 experience. Also the questions focus on I or me. Not on Jesus.
If we would but meditate on Gal.2:20. If we would but crucify ourselves so that by faith he may live in us. As Paul says we always carry around in our bodies the death of Jesus so that the life of Christ will be revealed in our mortal bodies.
Brother for sure Jesus is the I AM of our lives. For sure Jesus is our All. Paul reminds us that in Jesus are hidden all of the TREASURES of wisdom and knowledge. May we be as David and behold his beauty. May our hearts be captivated by his marvelous attributes.
I know some believe the decalogue is the complete embodiment of God's perfection. But I dare say that Jesus supetcedes even the law. For Jesus, as God's Son, embodies the fulness of everything that is in the godhead.
Why, oh why, after an encounter with the living Word, would one want to go back to their own self-righteousness? For he is our righteousness, holiness, and redemption. It is because of him we are in Christ Jesus. For in him all of the fullness of Derty lives.
Oh, let us be captivated by Jesus. Let us behold his beauty. Oh that his presence will live in us. For surely in his presence is fulness of Joy.
Blaine Scogin
Oh, Hallelujah! What an awesome thread!
It seems like the Holy Spirit is drawing many to the Gospel of John. I just received 20 beautiful Gospels of John to hand out as the Holy Spirit leads. Yesterday I got to share the Gospel with 4 people and watch the Holy Spirit hold them still and work in their lives while I shared it. I know seeds were planted and watered. All glory to God. He will give the increase. Some points were just made clearer to them.
When I first heard the Gospel I responded. Never heard of being born again. But that was the day of Salvation for me. The Holy Spirit revealed Jesus to me. It was a Saul - Paul conversion. Then we were out on the Streets after worshiping & praying lifting up Jesus and handing out the "Gospel of John's". All glory to God.
It is the Gospel that shows who Jesus is. Most powerful. God's plan of Salvation.
John 6:29 Jesus answered and said to them, "this is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He sent."
Seems like the Holy Spirit is stirring us up again to do the same. Lift up Jesus and hand out the Gospel of John's.
This is where I ordered mine from. They have been around over 100 years and they are all about the Gospel of John's and sharing it. They have little lessons too on how to share. So helpful.
May Jesus continue to be lifted up that all men would be drawn unto Himself. May we get filled up with Him so we have Him to give out. Glory to His Name. It's all about Jesus & souls being saved, delivered & filled with the Holy Spirit.
Praise God He is being lifted up in this thread.
Such a wonderful testimony, sister. May God bring much blessing to your family through John's wonderful gospel.
Blaine
John 15:15
I know no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master's business. Instead I have called you friends, for everything that I have learned from my Father I have made known to you.
It us easy to accept the fact we are servants, even bondslaves of God. But hear Jesus has taken us one step closer in intimacy by calling us friends. As such he says friends have no secrets from one another. For he tells his disciples everything he has learned from the Father he has made known to us. Nothing is hidden from us. He waits to reveal his treasures to us if we woukd but spend time with him.
Therein lies the secret. To learn what he has revealed to us we must spend time with Jesus. This must be a time of intimacy with him. This must be time in the secret place. Jesus speaks of the one who seeks the Father in the inner room and the Father who sees in secret rewards that precious saint. The reward is probably the presence of God himself. And no doubt those secrets whispered to the seeking heart of the child of God.
The scriptures say that God reveals his secrets to his servants the prophets. But now John is saying that God's secrets are revealed to his friends. We are his friends by his redemptive work on the cross. But to find out about a friend you must spend time with that person. A relationship must be cultivated. For our friendship with God to grow we must spend time with him.
May we grow in our friendship with Jesus.
For your edification and blessing.
Bkaine Scogin
2/20/12
John 1:39
So they went and saw where he was staying and spent the day with him.
The whole gosoel of John resonates with relationship. It is primarily intimate relationship of God with his people. It is a relationship of love.
As I was listening to John this morning the above verse resonated in my spirit. And they spent the day with him. John and Andrew, two of Jesus first disciples, saw him. John the baptist declared that he was the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. Something in Jesus attracted John and Andrew that they left John the baptist and followed Jesus. The scrptures say that they spent the day with Jesus.
Saint how does this resonate with us? What does this simple sentence say to us? I have shared in my two previous post God desires friendship with us. He us calling us into greater intimacy with him than even those Old Testament saints did not possess. For sure Abraham, Moses, and David had intimacy with God. But as a hole the Old Testament saints were in the shadow of the law in relating to God. But now because of the work of Christ on the cross we have been brought into greater intimacy with God.
The invitation and access have been granted to us. We need but accept it and act on it. God places no limits how close we get to him. The only limits are what we place on ourselves. Jesus said he would not drive away those who would come to him. We only drive ourselves away, often to shallow distractions.
To know somebofy in friendship you must spend time with that person. Jesus is personal as he lives in us by his Spirit. How much more intimate, real, can that be. Forum can you not grasp the reality that Jesus lives in you. This is Christ in you, the hope of glory.
I know some will object and rather vehemently to my saying that we are not bound to a book but to a Person. Unless the Author gives life to the words in the book then the book, the Bible is only a rule book. There are some who would take even the New Testament and make it a new rule book.
Many of our persecuted brethren in prison are denied access to the written scriptures. Yet their faith is sustained through the living presence of Christ himself. Youcef Nadarkhani, our Iranian brother, who may be executed for his faith in Christ, has not had access to a Bible in over 2 years. Yet his faith remains strong through the presence of Jesus, the living Wotd and the prayers of the saints. Many of us marvel at the faith of Richard Wormbrandt. It was said the inky thing he coukd remember of his Bible was the name of Jesus. This was while be was in prison.
Saints Jesus is real. Again Jesus is real. He is to be experiened in friendship. And that through spending time with him. Let me ask you who are married. Is your spouse some type of a concept or idea or philosophy or bound in a book. I honestly hope not. If you think such then you are in trouble. I pray you experience your spouse in warm, intimate friendship. Spending time with them.
I pray we all grow in loving, intimate relationship with Jesus. I pray we be as John anf James and spend the day with him.
For your edification.
Blaine Scogin
Posted 2/21/12
Definitely agree, Blaine, about "knowing" Him and that the "knowing" should be progressive revelation about Him but how would any of us know Who He is and what HE said and did 'without' The WORD that you're posting about on this thread?
If the New Testament was never written, what would we know about Him and what He said and did and what will come in the future?
It's not just a "rule book" - it an Auto-Biography and Love Letter from our Husband, Father, Friend.
The WORD is Spirit, Jesus said and doesn't merely go into 'the mind' to be remembered - Thank GOD - it goes into our spirit like money in the Bank and it gives "Life" to the spirit that testifies of Him.
If we're "married" we Should want to know as much about what our spouse as humanly possible - and with Christ, His Word brings about what is Not "humanly possible".
We need both, just as much as we need both legs in order to walk. We need to know what His Words are to us and we need to have that intimate and growing one-on-one, give-and-take, listen-and-speak, Living and Loving Relationship with Him.
His Love Letters that He's left for us, mean an awful lot to most of us - because they are 'Life' and not just ink on a page. It's when His Word is read with 'just' someone's mind and not by the spirit, that it gets watered down, twisted and loses it's 'Life'.
Thanking GOD for John's 2 books and his 3 letters. Very much so!!
Big Amen to that, sista!
For that Anen, sistuh.
Blaine
John 14:17 Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.
"And to make all people see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the ages has been hidden in God who created all things through Jesus Christ" (Eph. 3:9).
What is the mystery that Paul discusses? Paul discusses the unfolding of the eternal plan of God. This plan was born in the very heart of God in the beginning of beginnings. Our Heavenly Father wanted to have sons for a relationship and a love fellowship. In order to eternally accomplish that result, God would have to live in them with His eternal Spirit and nature so that they could relate to Him, understand Him, and have fellowship with Him. Man in his natural senses cannot see, hear, and know God (I Cor. 2:9,12). God has to reveal Himself to man by the Spirit in a Spirit renewed mind (I Cor. 2:10,13; Eph. 4:23). The mystery has to be revealed by the Holy Spirit to man. Revelation comes from the Greek word apokalupsis. The prefix apo means forth from, and kalupto which means to envelop, wrap around as bark, skin, shell or plaster, to cover over, by implication to hide or conceal. So revelation means the removing forth from the veil. Revelation is an uncovering, unveiling, or laying bare – a disclosure of all facts of Divine truth. Revelation is the means that God uses to uncover and show us the mystery. At the Spirit birthing, we are put in Christ and Christ is put in us. The heart and glory of the mystery is that we are in Christ, and Christ is in us (Col. 1:26-28).
This is why we are called a new creature in Christ Jesus (II Cor. 5:17). Never before had God come to live inside of man as his very life. In the Old Testament, prophets, priests, and other special leaders had the anointing of God upon them. They were His servants, but never His Spirit birthed sons. Paul said, "the mystery which has been hidden from ages and from generations, but now has been revealed to His saints" (Col. 1:26). Paul said that the Gentiles are now fellow heirs of God in Christ (Eph. 3:6). Paul said that his goal was to make all people see what is the fellowship of the mystery (Eph. 3:9). We now have a shared life in Christ in this new creation life. This means we do things together and not separate. Just as a husband and a wife do things together, so should every member of the body of Christ live and do things together with Christ. The fellowship of the mystery is Paul's focus, when he compares it with marriage (Eph. 5:32). Spiritual fellowship with God is not found on the outside of us. Spiritual fellowship is not found by doing things for God in our own flesh and strength. Spiritual fellowship and communion with God is found through Christ living on the inside of us as us. The fellowship of the mystery of Christ in us is the source of genuine fellowship with God!
Written by Dwight Davis
Brother rich thoughts from this article. Indeed the riches of the mystery is Christ in us, the hope of glory. It never dawned on me that this is a profound nysytery. Indeed a rich mystery that Jesus is living in us. Like you said, he is the contents of the cup.
Blaine
John 4:50: "The man took Jesus at his word and departed."
How many times do we come to Jesus in desperation, wanting him to touch someone we love in a supernatural way? How many times has he given us a special word, a special promise as we spend time alone with him in his Word, yet we depart our quiet time without taking him at his word and trusting His word will be accomplished in our life?
Today's Prayer
Dear God, how I long to be a true disciple of yours. I wish that I could have followed you around Galilee and into Cana. Would I have struggled with disbelief as I watched you help people? Sometimes I feel like the Samaritan woman, unworthy and not wanting anyone to know the truth about my past. Yet, I find incredible hope in these verses. You knew that woman. You knew she had five husbands and yet you offered her living water. I want this living water you have to offer. The world and its ways have left me thirsty for something it cannot give. I come to you this morning, thirsty. Fill me up with you. Teach me what it means to worship you in spirit and truth. I want to be a true worshipper, the kind you notice! Open my eyes to the harvest that is all around and cause me to get busy for you. Use my words and my life to point others to you. As I depart from our special time together, I want to take you at your word. Only you can make that happen. In my weak faith, hold my hand and show me the way. In Jesus name, Amen.
ptl.org
John 5:24: "I tell you the truth, whoever HEARS my word and BELIEVES him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life."
Today's Devotional
Hearing God's word is very important. One has to hear before one can believe. It is in hearing and believing that we begin to experience eternal life now and we cross over from spiritual deadness to new life. We must daily put ourselves in a position to hear His Words because our minds are assaulted daily by the enemy's fiery arrows of doubts. We need the sword of the Spirit (Eph. 6:17) to stand firm in our battle against the evil one. Memorize this verse today. Write it down on a piece of paper and carry it with you. Use it as ammunition whenever the devil plants a seed of doubt in your mind about your eternal destiny.
Today's Prayer
Dear Jesus, as I am reading through John, I notice several times a repeated phrase you use, "I tell you the truth." Often I will use that phrase when I think someone might doubt my words and I want them to really believe me. How you must have longed for us to believe you! By faith, I accept the truth of your Words and I believe that God the Father sent you. By faith, I receive the gift of eternal life and I will not listen to the whispering voices of condemnation any longer. I have crossed over from death to life. Period! Thank you for the truth of your Words. I am standing firm on what you have spoken. Amen.
PTL.org
Anen. For faith comes from hearing the message and the message is heard through the wotd of Christ.
Blaine
John 6:63
It is the Spirit who gives life. The flesh counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to you are spirit and they are life.
John 6:68
Lord to whom shall we go. You have the words of eternal life.
To the child born of God these words are sweet music. They resonate in the heart of the believer and resonate in prayer and praise. The prayer of a blood baugt child of God is "Dear Jesus show me more of you. May I &ear more of your sweet words that are spirit and life. Dear Jesus may I hear your words that would bring me eternal life. Dear Savior make me like Mary to sit quietly at your and hear blessed words from your lips".
Yet to many of you these sweet words of Jesus will be offensive. You will become angry and outraged. The words of Jesus will strike at the core of your religious spirit.
In John 6 it says many of his deciple withdrew. The words of Jesus were too much for them. Onky the twelve were left. Ny question. Are his words too much too much for you. Or will you be as Peter and say you have the words of eternal life.
Posted for your thoughs and edification,
Blaine Scogin
2/28/12
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