Jn 1_6-8
CHAPTER ONE
“The Commission & Witness of John the Baptist”
John 1:6-8
Introduction:
A. John’s purpose – to bear witness & testimony to the Light of the world
B. John’s example – stands as a great example to every believer
C. The believers purpose – to bear the same witness as John, that is, Jesus Christ is the light of the world.
1. A man sent from God (v.6)
2. A man with a mission (v.7)
3. A man who was great, but was not the light (v.8)
Read the Text – 1:6-8
I. A Man Sent From God—v.6
A. John the Baptist was “Only a Man” v.6
1. Christ
a. was “in the beginning”—preexistent
b. “was with God”—coexistent
c. “was God”—self-existent
2. John
a. “was a man”—he came into existence at his birth—he had a beginning
b. John was the “son of a man” – God can use you just like
c. Christ was the “only begotten Son of God”
1) "What [is] man, that You should exalt him, [That] You should set Your heart on him. (Job 7:17 NKJV)
2) What is man that You are mindful of him, And the son of man that You visit him? (Psalms 8:4 NKJV)
B. John the Baptist Was “Sent From God” v.6
1. The word “sent” means to “send out; to commission as a representative, and ambassador.
3 things are true of the person who is “sent from God.”
a. He belongs to God, who has sent him out.
b. He is commissioned to be sent out.
c. He possesses all the authority and power of God, who has sent him out.
2. “From God”—Note 3 significant points.
The servant & messenger of God…
a. Is not sent forth by men, but by God as an ambassador.
1) Paul, an apostle (not from men nor through man, but through Jesus Christ and God the Father who raised Him from the dead)—Galatians 1:1
2) Now all things [are] of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation. Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore [you] on Christ's behalf, be reconciled to God. (2 Corinthians 5:18-20 NKJV)
b. Is sent forth from God, & is chosen by God.
1) "You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and [that] your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you. (John 15:16 NKJV)
c. Is a man of high calling and mission, of enormous responsibility & accountability.
1) Ephesians 3:7— Paul was made a minister by God’s gift and grace.
2) 1 Timothy 1:12…2 Timothy 1:11—Jesus counted Paul faithful, putting him into the ministry, appointing him.
3) 1 Corinthians 1:27-29—God has chosen the foolish things of this world.
II. A Man With A Mission—v.7
A. The Mission – To Bear Witness v.7
John was sent with a very specific message, to proclaim the Light, Christ Himself.
Many people today are spiritually lost due to the sinful preoccupations of this world, and they can’t find there way to the Fathers house.
– "In My Father's house are many mansions; if [it were] not [so], I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. "And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, [there] you may be also (John 14:1-3).
– Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me (John 14:6).
– Therefore, unless Christians shine forth their light as a lighthouse shines forth in the ocean to direct ships, they will be lost, never entering into the Fathers house.
- The Task of Being Light—Matthew 5:14-16
1. God’s light to us is both His,
a. Fully inspired, written revelation—the Bible.
1) Your word [is] a lamp to my feet and a light to my path-Psalms 119:105
b. His Son Jesus Christ, the ever-living Light of the World (see John 1:5, 9).
2. Jesus is “the true light which, gives light to every man who comes into the world” (John 1:9).
a. Christ came to give light.
1) “To those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death” (Luke 1:79).
b. Christ told His disciples.
1) "As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world" (John 9:5).
c. Christ has left the earth and our responsibility is to reflect His light.
1) For you were once darkness, but now [you are] light in the Lord. Walk as children of light (Ephesians 5:8).
d. Christ is not to be a secret or hidden treasure.
1) "You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. "Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all [who are] in the house.
3. Christ declared to all believers, “Your are the light of the world” – Matthew 5:14
a. Light works mostly through the proclamation of the truth of God.
b. Why? Because light uncovers what is sinful & false, & points to what is righteous & true.
1) "And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. "For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed (John 3:19-20 NKJV).
- The Honor of Glorifying God as His Lights—Matthew 5:16
1. This is done by presenting the truth & living the truth.
a. But you [are] a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light (1 Peter 2:9).
b. Philippians 2:14-15 – do all things without murmuring…shine as lights in the world.
2. Your good works & deeds are to glorify God’s grace & power not ourselves.
B. The Purpose –That Men Might Believe v.7
- John 2:23-25—to believe-to commit – “genuine saving faith”
1. Saving faith is not head knowledge, not just a mental conviction & intellectual assent (agreement).
2. Saving faith is believing in Jesus, who & what He is the Savior & Lord of life.
3. Saving faith is a commitment—the commitment of a man’s total being & life to Jesus Christ
Isaiah 53:1 cf. Romans 10:16 – Isaiah used the phrase, “believed our report.”
Isaiah was saying believing the message is the way of salvation
- 3 Steps Involved in Faith—Romans 10:16-17
1. The step of seeing (John 2:23) or hearing (Romans 10:16).
a. A person must be willing to listen to the message of Christ, the revelation of truth.
1) "But he who received seed on the good ground is he who hears the word and understands [it], who indeed bears fruit and produces: some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty." (Matthew 13:23)
2) But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name. (John 1:12)
3) These were more fair-minded than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily [to find out] whether these things were so. (Acts 17:11)
4) For this reason we also thank God without ceasing, because when you received the word of God which you heard from us, you welcomed [it] not [as] the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which also effectively works in you who believe. (1 Thessalonians 2:13)
2. The step of mental assent (agreement).
a. A person must agree that the message is true, but this is not enough.
b. This agreement must lead to action!
1) Illustration of a bomb being in this classroom!
2) Standing in front of a moving Semi, but not getting out of the way.
3) Eating to much can harm the body, believing this must lead to a change.
3. The step of commitment.
– A person hears the truth of the Gospel, agrees that it is true, then does something about it.
– This person commits and yields his or her life to Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.
– This truth becomes a part of his very being, a part of his behavior and life!
a. Saving faith is believing in name of Jesus Christ & committing your life to Him!
b. Trusting Him completely for who He is and what He has done.
1) John 3:15-16
2) "Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life. (John 5:24 NKJV)
3) Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. (John 11:25 NKJV)
4) But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name. (John 20:31 NKJV)
- Faith & Obedience—Romans 10:16—The Gospel is to be Obeyed!
1. Obedience and belief are synonymous terms when dealing with the gospel.
– “A Persons Failure To Obey—to be Holy—Places Us In Danger of Eternal Punishment!”
a. The Lord Jesus will be revealed from heaven with His mighty angels, “in flaming fire taking vengeance on those who do not know God, and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. These shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power.” (2 Thessalonians 1:8-9 NKJV)
2. A False Assurance.
a. There is no such thing…
– as belief without obedience – 1 John 2:3-6; John 14:15, 21
– as believing in Jesus Christ and not following Him – John 13:13-17; 1 Pet.2:21
– as believing Christ has forgiven you of your sins & still living in sin – 1Jn 3:6-9
– as believing the gospel and living like the world – 1 John 2:15; James 4:4
b. What fellowship does light have with darkness? – 2 Corinthians 6:14-7:1
1) Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness?
And what accord has Christ with Belial? Or what part has a believer with an unbeliever?
And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For you are the temple of the living God. As God has said: "I will dwell in them And walk among [them]. I will be their God, And they shall be My people."
Therefore "Come out from among them And be separate, says the Lord. Do not touch what is unclean, And I will receive you."
"I will be a Father to you, And you shall be My sons and daughters, Says the LORD Almighty."
Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.
2) And having been perfected, He became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him. (Hebrews 5:9 NKJV)
Lets go back to John 1:7
III. A Man Who Was Great, but Was Not the Light—v.8
A. The Humility of John the Baptist
1. Jesus Himself said, “among those born of women there has not risen one greater than John the Baptist. (Matthew 11:11 NKJV).
2. Read John 1:19-23, 27
a. He confessed he was not the Christ – v.20
b. He prepares the way for Jesus – v.23
c. He says he was unworthy to loosen Christ’ sandal strap – v.27
d. He points all people to Jesus not to Himself – v.29, 35-37
e. John wants the Lord to increase not Himself – v.30
3. Passages on humility.
a. Matthew 23:12
b. Philippians 2:3-4
c. Romans 12:3
d. James 4:10
e. 1 Peter 5:5
4. It takes a humble person to come to God & be saved.
a. Luke 18:9-14