Sermon Tone Analysis

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”