Posts by Yong Joo Park:
The Importance of ‘knowing’ truth
I. Truth sets us free from sin.
See John 8:31-32.
31 To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, ‘If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. 32 Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.’
This freedom is freedom from slavery to sin (John 8:34-36). The Condition of becoming ‘to know the truth’ is ‘if you hold to my teaching’.
II. ‘knowing’ God and Jesus Christ is ‘eternal life’
See John 17:3.
3 Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.
Knowledge
“The word know in verse 3 is ginosko, emphasizing an experiential relationship rather than just necessary information. The verb also appears here in the present tense, suggesting a continuing personal experience and contact with both the Father and the Son.” [2].
“In Judaism, the knowledge of God is primarily the revelation of God contained in his Law, and obedience to this Law means life. That is, true knowledge of God was tied to a particular historical revelation, and this knowledge demanded faith and obedience. The same belief is reflected in the Gospel of John. The knowledge of God referred to here is the knowledge which comes through a specific revelation in Jesus Christ, and it demands a response of love and obedience on the part of those who follow. Knowledge, then, for both Old Testament and New Testament writers is not a beatific vision or an intuitive feeling about God; rather it is based on an objective revelation and demands a positive response in obedience and love.” [4]
Eternal Life
“Christ’s definition of eternal life is important because it differs from the current concept of endless existence” [2].
“Tenney [3] writes, “However fully man lives in the world, he ultimately reaches the point where nothing is new because he has reached human limits. Only the knowledge of God can give enduring satisfaction, because God alone is eternal. Contact with God will provide the fullest experience, and the experience of God’s eternal being will be eternal life”.” [2]
References
[1] The Holy Bible: New International Version (Anglicised Edition, 2011). (2011). (Revised and updated edition). London: Hodder & Stoughton.
[2] Gangel, K. O. (2000). John (Vol. 4, p. 313). Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman Publishers.
[3] Tenney, Merrill C. John: The Gospel of Belief (pp. 245–46). Cambridge: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company.
[4] Newman, B. M., & Nida, E. A. (1993). A handbook on the Gospel of John (p. 527). New York: United Bible Societies.
Defining ‘Truth’
Today, let us define ‘Truth’ in John 1:17b (“grace and truth came through Jesus Christ”) The Reality as opposed to a shadow The law is mere a shadow of the reality, but truth is the reality (Colossians 2:17, Hebrews 10:1) [2]. What reveals and assures what grace does Grace always forgives and gives, and truth […]
Grace
Today, let us study on ‘Grace’ in John 1:17b (“grace and truth came through Jesus Christ”) I. Definition Grace is a free gift from God. The gift is ‘righteousness’ (precisely, the Righteousness of God, as opposed to self-righteousness). The Righteousness of God is the ticket to the Paradise. So, the gift is also ‘salvation’. II. […]
Grace and Truth through Jesus Christ
John 1:17b grace and truth came through Jesus Christ I. The Law gave them the shadow but not the reality (Colossians 2:17, Hebrews 10:1) The law was ‘given’ (17a). The Jews relied on the law and boasted in God (Romans 2:17). Even though they had the law, they didn’t know grace and truth. Their hearts were […]
The Word became flesh (Part 3a)
III. Grace and Truth (16, 17) See v16. 16 Out of his fullness we have all received grace in place of grace already given. This emphasizes ‘grace’ – grace upon grace, abundant grace. See v17. 17 For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. “For the law was given through Moses” […]
The Word became flesh (Part 2)
II. John’s Testimony about Jesus (15) See v15. 15 (John testified concerning him. He cried out, saying, ‘This is the one I spoke about when I said, “He who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.” ’) This John is Baptist (or Witness) John. He was an excellent prophet like Elijah. So, people […]
The Word became flesh (Part 1)
John 1:14 The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. “The Word became flesh” (14a) ‘the Word’ existed before the creation, before our time and space ever existed. ‘the Word’ […]
The true light that gives light to everyone
John 1:6-13 6 There was a man sent from God whose name was John. 7 He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all might believe. 8 He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light. 9 The true light that gives light to everyone was coming […]
In Him was Life
John 1:1-5 1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning. 3 Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. 4 In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. […]
The Unclean and the Clean
Ezekiel 44:23 23 They are to teach my people the difference between the holy and the common and show them how to distinguish between the unclean and the clean. I. The sin of ‘not teaching the unclean and the clean’ (Ezekiel 22:26) Via the prophet Ezekiel, God pointed out the sins of priests in Jerusalem […]
