A Successful Life
Our measure of success is Christ increasing
Introduction
Redemption begins with repentance. (22-24)
Everyone needs redemption.
Repentance is a dying.
The increase of Jesus is the measure of our success (25-30)
Recognized the source of success (27)
Changed the definition of success (29)
Redefined the measure of success (30)
In short, John says, He must become greater; I must become less. The ‘must’ (dei) is nothing less than the determined will of God. John finds his joy, not in grudgingly conceding victory to a superior opponent, but in wholeheartedly embracing God’s will, and the supremacy it assigns to Jesus. A great deal of later Christian piety has turned on the same truth.
Jesus is both the standard and the goal (31-36)
Standard (31-34)
a. He is from above and above all (31). He is to be distinguished from those whose origin is earthly. He cannot be assessed by earthly methods. He is therefore different from John the Baptist.
b. He spoke from personal experience (32).
c. Although his testimony was rejected by some, when accepted it witnessed that God is truthful (33).
d. The validity of the divine messenger is possession of the Spirit (34).