The Whitness pt1
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The Witness
The Witness
Intro the book of John brief recap.
Love and Truth
Scripture
There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. He came as a witness, to bear witness about the light, that all might believe through him. He was not the light, but came to bear witness about the light.
The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world. He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.
And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. (John bore witness about him, and cried out, “This was he of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me ranks before me, because he was before me.’ ”) For from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father’s side, he has made him known.
This is God’s Word let’s pray.
2 things further expounded upon from last week, Word and Light. And third in this section we learn about the Witness.
John
There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. He came as a witness, to bear witness about the light, that all might believe through him. He was not the light, but came to bear witness about the light.
Who is John the Baptist?
We will more fully explore this man John the baptist next time.
Here John the writer is stating there was a man John, but he brings his focus back to the true light.
And i think we will follow that focus today, and focus more on that.
The Role of John.
But to some it up John the baptist, is the greatest prophet, he prepared the way for Jesus, he preached repentance, and even baptized Jesus proclaiming Jesus as the lamb of God.
We will go into further detail later on about John the baptist.
Johns point here is that John the baptist is not the light.
It maybe a temptation to over emphasize the importance of the one who witness the truth.
John as great as he is (which is really great)He not the point, but pointed to Christ. Not the word but proclaimed the word, not the light, but reflected the light.
People believed through him but not in him.
It is incredibly important we get this straight. The whitness is not the focus. No matter how great they are.
They are suppose to point you to the word who is Jesus, the Light that is Jesus, the Life that is Jesus, the love which is jesus, the truth which is jesus, the way that is Jesus.
John is my favorite person in scripture besides Jesus of course. Because of the role that he had and humility that he displayed.
He was at the time the most charismatic influential leader in the world, people were coming in the thousands to the dessert to hear him.
Yet john only points to jesus, shows great humility and gives his disciples to Jesus.
This is the same call of every Pastor, Elder, Deacon, leader, influencer, discipler, and even regular attendant in the church, to point to Jesus. Lay all at his feet for his glory.
It is this very thing that john did of giving the glory and honor to jesus that is the call of our lives.
Problem is that it is the opposite inclination of the world. The world responds to Jesus very differently.
The response to the Light.
The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world. He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him.
The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world. He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.
John 1:9-
Jesus is the true light. Only God is the true Light, God is Light.
The Light is the word who created all.
The people rejected him.
He made them, yet they rejected him.
John points to Jesus and proclaims him, but the world rejects him.
And the world is still rejecting him.
There is a somber tone in this verse can you hear it. Do you see the tragedy of this?
The Word the Light, REJECTED instead of recieved.
This is even more of a Calamity when you realize what it means when they receive.
Received.
But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.
Those who receive become the children of God.
Not because of anything special about them, not because of the willpower or man but because of the will of God.
This is what he wants! He wants you to receive, he wants you to become a child of God.
3 things we learn form this text.
1.God’s desire is salvation.
The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.
2. Change of ownership.
For you are all children of the light and of the day; we don’t belong to darkness and night.
3. Light is meant to be seen.
But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.
Grace upon Grace
Salvation is only from and through God. Our will can not make this happen.
More detail on what we are receiving.
And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. (John bore witness about him, and cried out, “This was he of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me ranks before me, because he was before me.’ ”) For from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father’s side, he has made him known.
John 1:14
Jesus is the word that became flesh.
Jesus is full of glory, grace and truth.
He is the one that John bore witness about.
John gave all glory and authority to Jesus.
Jesus rank is before John because he was before him.
The preexistence of Christ is where his authority comes from.
John is the greatest prophet, Jesus is greater because he is not just a prophet, he is much much more. He is the Word the Logos the Creator, the Divine Pre-existent divine Son of God who is apart of the triune God.
For from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace.
His fullness, Knowing who he is.
Grace upon grace.
Three things we learn from this Grace.
Grace is undeserved.
because the law brings wrath. And where there is no law there is no transgression.
Therefore, the promise comes by faith, so that it may be by grace and may be guaranteed to all Abraham’s offspring—not only to those who are of the law but also to those who have the faith of Abraham. He is the father of us all.
There is confidence instead of shame.
Rom 4:
Grace is sufficient
But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me.
Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me. But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
There is confidence instead of shame.
Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.