From darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God
Acts 26:15-18
15 ‘Then I asked, “Who are you, Lord?”
‘ “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,” the Lord replied. 16 “Now get up and stand on your feet. I have appeared to you to appoint you as a servant and as a witness of what you have seen and will see of me. 17 I will rescue you from your own people and from the Gentiles. I am sending you to them 18 to open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.”
Paul was persecuting Christians (Acts 26:9-11). On a journey, Paul saw a light from heaven, brighter than the sun, blazing around him and his companions (Acts 26:12). They all fell to the ground and Paul heard a voice saying “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.” (Acts 26:14)
When Paul asked “Who are you, Lord” (15a), Jesus answered him. See v15b ~ 18.
‘ “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,” the Lord replied. 16 “Now get up and stand on your feet. I have appeared to you to appoint you as a servant and as a witness of what you have seen and will see of me. 17 I will rescue you from your own people and from the Gentiles. I am sending you to them 18 to open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.”
Let us pay attention to the last part of the above paragraph, which is v17b ~ 18.
I am sending you to them
- to open their eyes
- to turn them
- from darkness to light
- from the power of Satan to God
So that they may receive
- forgiveness of sins
- a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me
Here, let us note “from the power of Satan to God”. Before saved by Jesus, people in the world are under the power of Satan.
Similar verses are in 2 Timothy 2:25-16.
25 Opponents must be gently instructed, in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth, 26 and that they will come to their senses and escape from the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will.
Before saved by Jesus, people in the world are in the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will.
They need ‘rescue’.
This reality is also written in 1 John 5:19.
References
[1] The Holy Bible: New International Version (Anglicised Edition, 2011). (2011). (Revised and updated edition, Ac 26:15–18). London: Hodder & Stoughton.
God vindicates His servants
Scripture: Isaiah 54:1-17
Keyword: Isaiah 54:17
17 no weapon forged against you will prevail,
and you will refute every tongue that accuses you.
This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord,
and this is their vindication from me,’
declares the Lord.
It is good to learn the New Testament first if you are new to the Holy Bible. However, we should not neglect the Old Testament. The first part of the Old Testament is filled with real stories from which we can know God. Then the Old Testament continues with the books of prophets such as ‘Isaiah’, from which we can know God.
I. One of the key messages from God in the Old Testament
For example, we can frequently encounter the fact that idolatry and subsequent evil they commit brought God’s fierce anger and His judgement.
The New Testament teaches that ‘greed’ is ‘idolatry’ (Colossians 3:5b).
II. One of the verses of inspiration in the Old Testament
Isaiah 53 describes ‘Messiah’ and His sacrifice. Isaiah 54 is a subsequent chapter.
Isaiah 54:17 specially came into my heart while listening to “Bible.is” app. I close this short message after I leave it to the audience to read or listen to the Old Testament, including Isaiah 53 and 54.
References
[1] The Holy Bible: New International Version (Anglicised Edition, 2011). (2011). (Revised and updated edition, Is 54:17). London: Hodder & Stoughton.
No one has ever seen God, but the one and only Son has made Him known
See John 1:18.
18 No one has ever seen God, but the one and only Son, who is himself God and is in the closest relationship with the Father, has made him known.
I. No one has ever seen God (18a)
Moses closely encountered God, but was not allowed to see His face, but only His back (Exodus 33:18-34:8).
II. The One and Only Son has made Him known (18b)
They saw Jesus face to face. Moreover, Jesus left his face for us to see. His face has been imprinted on the shroud that covered his body laid down from the cross. This shroud is called the Shroud of Turin.
This amazing experience has been described again by John in 1 John 1:1-4.
1 That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched—this we proclaim concerning the Word of life. 2 The life appeared; we have seen it and testify to it, and we proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and has appeared to us. 3 We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ. 4 We write this to make our joy complete.
The Word became flesh! This is most awesome and amazing miracle! Good News of Great Joy! Immanuel! God With Us! The Word has made Him known!!
We have been posting on John1:1-18 for 12 weeks from 13 September till 29 Nov.
Week 1: In Him was Life (John 1:1-5)
Week 2: The true light that gives light to everyone (John 1:6-13)
Week 3: The Word became flesh (Part 1) (John 1:14)
Week 4: The Word became flesh (Part 2) (John 1:15)
Week 5: The Word became flesh (Part 3a) (John 1:16-17)
Week 6: Grace and Truth through Jesus Christ (John 1:17b)
Week 7: Grace
Week 8: Defining ‘Truth’
Week 9: The Importance of ‘knowing’ truth
Week 10: The importance of ‘listening to’ Jesus
Week 11: What spirit do you have? How to accept Jesus?
Week 12: No one has ever seen God, but the one and only Son has made Him known (John 1:18)
What spirit do you have? How to accept Jesus?
Previously, we learnt that one’s ‘hearing’ God would show one’s ‘belonging’ to God (John 8:47). ‘hearing’ God or not was the test to know where one belongs.
Today, let us learn about another test to know where the spirits are from.
I. How to test the spirits whether they are from God
1 John 4:1 says,
Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.
See 1 John 4:2-3.
2 This is how you can recognise the Spirit of God: every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, 3 but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming and even now is already in the world.
If the spirit you have makes you resist or refuse to believe Jesus, that spirit is the spirit of antichrist.
II. How to accept Jesus
First, let us know how near He is. See Revelation 3:20 and Romans 10:8a.
20 Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.
8a But what does it say? ‘The word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart,’
Accept Jesus by believing and confessing. See Romans 10:9-13.
9 if you declare with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved. 11 As Scripture says, ‘Anyone who believes in him will never be put to shame.’ 12 For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile—the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, 13 for, ‘Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.’
An example of confession of faith is written in Matthew 16:13-20.
The importance of ‘listening to’ Jesus
‘Hearing’ is prerequisite of ‘believing’ (Romans 10:17).
I. It is God’s will (command) for us to listen to Jesus.
See Matthew 17:5.
5 While he was still speaking, a bright cloud covered them, and a voice from the cloud said, ‘This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!’
Mark 9:7 and Luke 9:35 also testify God’s voice from the cloud.
II. ‘listening to Jesus’ shows that you are on the side of truth, and you belong to God.
They couldn’t fully figure out truth when they only had the law, and Jesus came to reveal truth. Ironically, some teachers of the law didn’t listen to Jesus but opposed Him. This showed they were not on the side of truth as Jesus said,
Everyone on the side of truth listens to me (John 18:37b).
Whoever belongs to God hears what God says. The reason you do not hear is that you do not belong to God.’ (John 8:47)
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 reveals and assures both the forgiveness and the gifts [3].
Divine Thought
Grace is Divine love and truth is Divine thought [4].
The Revelation of God
John 1:14 said, “…who came from the Father, full of grace and truth”. So, the Son was full of grace and truth as He came from the Father. In the light of v14, we can render v17b as follows.
“God showed his love and revealed the truth about himself through Jesus Christ.” [5] ‘This focus upon truth as the revelation of God’ fits well with the following verse (John 1:18) [5].
Truth as opposed to Gnostic and all other heresy
It is truth as opposed to Gnostic and all other heresy [6].
Finally, let us learn about ‘faithfulness’.
Faithfulness describes God’s attribute of truth [7]
God’s ultimate expression of love and his absolute faithfulness to his covenant are both seen in Jesus Christ [6].
God is abounding in love and faithfulness. See Exodus 34:6.
6 And he passed in front of Moses, proclaiming, ‘The Lord, the Lord, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness,
Proverbs 3:1a says,
“Let love and faithfulness never leave you;”
References
[1] The Holy Bible: New International Version (Anglicised Edition, 2011). (2011). (Revised and updated edition). London: Hodder & Stoughton.
[2] Lange, J. P., & Schaff, P. (2008). A commentary on the Holy Scriptures: John (p. 77). Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software.
[3] Lenski, R. C. H. (1961). The interpretation of St. John’s gospel (p. 93). Minneapolis, MN: Augsburg Publishing House.
[4] Spence-Jones, H. D. M. (Ed.). (1909). St. John (Vol. 1, p. 22). London; New York: Funk & Wagnalls Company.
[5] Newman, B. M., & Nida, E. A. (1993). A handbook on the Gospel of John (p. 26). New York: United Bible Societies.
[6] Robertson, A. T. (1933). Word Pictures in the New Testament (Jn 1:17). Nashville, TN: Broadman Press.
[7] https://www.shema.com/gods-attributes-gods-faithfulness-and-truth-3033/
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. Origin
Grace began with Abraham’s righteousness of faith (Genesis 15:6) [2] well before the law was given.
6 Abram believed the Lord, and he credited it to him as righteousness.
God credited ‘belief (faith)’ to Abram as righteousness. Abram was renamed Abraham (Genesis 17:5).
III. Faith vs Work
The difference between ‘work’ and ‘faith’ is explained in Romans 4:4-5.
4 Now to the one who works, wages are not credited as a gift but as an obligation. 5 However, to the one who does not work but trusts God who justifies the ungodly, their faith is credited as righteousness.
We can become righteous only by ‘faith’. Why can righteousness not be obtained by ‘work’ (= by keeping the entire law of Moses)?
For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it. (James 2:10)
Therefore no one will be declared righteous in God’s sight by the works of the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of our sin. (Romans 3:20)
IV. Conclusion
Even though we are sinners according to the law, we can be forgiven by grace.
Grace is free to us, but costly to God [3] because He had to pay for the penalty of our sins on the cross.
References
[1] The Holy Bible: New International Version (Anglicised Edition, 2011). (2011). (Revised and updated edition). London: Hodder & Stoughton.
[2] Lange, J. P., & Schaff, P. (2008). A commentary on the Holy Scriptures: John (p. 77). Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software.
[3] The Grace of God Revealed in Jesus Christ. Dec 2016. https://www.bbgb.org/the-grace-of-god-revealed-in-jesus-christ
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 far from the Lord (Isaiah 29:13).
They brought to Jesus a woman caught in the act of adultery, who should be stoned according to the law, but they were so ignorant that the law condemns not only the woman but also themselves, not to mention that their intention to trap Jesus through this case was so wrong (John 8:3-11, neither do I condemn you). They didn’t know they were hypocrites (Romans 2:21-23, Matthew 23:13-39). They were in darkness and they needed the true light, Jesus.
II. Grace and Truth through Jesus Christ (17b)
Grace and truth had to ‘come’ [2] over (17b).
Many prophets and righteous people have been longing to see ‘grace’ and hear ‘truth’ but did not see or hear it (Matthew 13:17). Grace and truth revealed and declared by Jesus make the believers in A.D. greater than John the Baptist or any other great men before him (Matthew 11:11).
References
[1] The Holy Bible: New International Version (Anglicised Edition, 2011). (2011). (Revised and updated edition). London: Hodder & Stoughton.
[2] Lange, J. P., & Schaff, P. (2008). A commentary on the Holy Scriptures: John (p. 77). Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software.
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” (17a)
The law is righteous. Through the law, we can understand God’s justice. For example, without knowing the law, we can’t exactly know how much the thief must make restitution. According to the law, the thief should pay back ‘five times’ for cow and ‘four times’ for sheep if the animal was killed or sold (Exodus 22:1), ‘double’ if the animal is alive and not sold (Exodus 22:4), and ‘double’ for silver or goods (Exodus 22:7). Through the law, we can understand human rights. For example, if you find out someone stole yours, you can know you have the right to ask him/her double or more depending on the situation. You become fair and wise!
But we can’t become righteous or saved by keeping the law because it is impossible to keep this ‘written code’. If you keep everything in the law and break one thing in the law, you become a lawbreaker (James 2:10) and condemned by the law. The law is powerless to save us (Romans 8:3) but teaches us that we are sinners (Romans 3:20).
