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).
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 could think he might be the Messiah. But, he was not the light, but a witness to the light (John 1:8), expressing himself as ‘the voice’ (John 1:23). John made it clear “Jesus is greater”. The reason John told was that Jesus was ‘before’ him, even though he was born 6 months earlier than Jesus on the earth. We learn that it is important to know and testify the fact that the Word existed before the creation, before you, I, and any of us were ever created.
Regarding to minimum preparation for witnessing as a believer, one may refer to 1 Peter 3:15. As a disciple, one may refer to Matthew 28:18-20.
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’ was intimate and together with God. ‘the Word’ was God (John 1:1).
This Word was born as a baby to be with us. His name is Jesus. Hallelujah! This is Good News of Great Joy (Luke 2:10)! Great Joy is from the Salvation gracefully & mercifully given to those who do not deserve. This joy is for everyone (Luke 2:10, John 1:9). He was conceived in Virgin Mary through the Holy Spirit. His Father was literally God in heaven. We celebrate this event every year. This event is Christmas! Merry Christmas!
On Christmas, the whole world celebrates with great joy, playing carols, sending greeting cards, having family gatherings, enjoying the holidays, and helping the poor.
“and made his dwelling among us.” (14b)
His name is also Immanuel (Matthew 1:23, Isaiah 7:14), meaning ‘God with us’. In the Old testament, God descended on Mount Sinai (Exodus 19:18), revealed His Glory, and gave the Law through Moses. This was an awesome event! But ‘God made His dwelling among us’ is even more awesome!! Amen.
“We have seen his glory” (14c)
Jesus performed numerous awesome miracles that no one has seen before. This is glorious! He taught the awesome Truth like no other. This is glorious! He died for our sins, raised in three days, and became the king of kings, and the lord of lords (Revelation 19:16, Philippians 2:9-11). This is glorious! Overcoming temptations, answering to tricky questions without being trapped, being a man with the Word within, … There are many other glories we can see about Him.
“the glory of one and only son” (14d)
The Word was one and only son of God before the creation (Hebrews 1:2). Also, on the earth Jesus was literally one and only son of God, who was conceived in a virgin called Mary through the Holy Spirit.
“who came from the Father, full of grace and truth” (14e)
Grace is mercy. Grace is Grace because it was given to those who do not deserve. Jesus forgave and healed many people while the Law would condemn them.
Jesus is the Truth (John 14:6). Jesus lived and taught Truth such as hate your life to keep it for eternal life (John 12:25, Matthew 10:39, Luke 17:33), serve to be great (Matthew 20:26-27, Mark 10:43-44, Luke 22:26), narrow gate to life; wide gate to destruction (Matthew 7:13-14, Luke 13:24) to name a few. His entire life was full of examples for all mankind to follow.
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 into the world. 10 He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognise him. 11 He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. 12 Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God—13 children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.
(message)
John 1:5 says that the darkness has not comprehended or understood the light. Then, how on earth anyone will recognise and believe the light?
I. The world needed a witness to the light (6-8)
John 1:6-8 tell us about Witness (and Baptist) John sent from God to help us believe. John 1:5 (the darkness not understanding the light), John 1:10 (the world not recognising Jesus), John 1:11 (the world not receiving Jesus) show importance of witnesses and their evangelism. A witness can help those not recognising or receiving (v10-11) receive and believe (v12-13).
II. The true light that gives light to everyone (9-11)
John 1:9 declares the great news of “the true light that gives light to everyone” coming into the world. Here, ‘light’ is ‘life’ in the Word as already mentioned in John 1:4.
V10 (not recognising him) shows the world is ignorant, spiritually blinded and spiritually dead.
John 3:18-20 explains the reason of v10 and v11 as below.
18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son. 19 This is the verdict: light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. 20 Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that their deeds will be exposed.
The reason is ‘They loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil’ (darkness would hide them, but light would expose them). ‘Evil doers will not come to the light in fear that the light will expose their evil deeds.’
III. The amazing gift: the right to become children of God (12-13)
See v12.
12 Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God—
V12 becomes possible through testimonies of witnesses (7,8). The right to become children of God became available and possible through Jesus. This right is the greatest gift. As shown in the Old Testament, God performed awesome miracles proving He is One and True God. He is the right object of worship for all mankind. Finding Him out is already so great blessing but the right to become His children is the greatest blessing. Children of God is born of God (13d). They are not of
- natural descent (13a): physical birth [2]
- human decision (13b): self-determination [2]
- a husband’s will (13c): the choice of another person [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. 12). Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman Publishers.
