The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world. He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him.

John 1:6-10

The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world. He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. John 1:9-10

I continue my study of John and this morning, I focus on on vv6-10. 

Observations of the vv6-10 based on the Sword Bible Study Method: 

• What do we learn from the passage about God?: God sent John ahead of Jesus to prepare the way - v6; Jesus is the Light referred to in vv4-5 that gives light to and helps everyone overcome darkness (sin and death) - He is coming into the world (as incarnate Son of God) - v9.  Although Jesus existed in the beginning and is the author of creation, the world did not know Him (including His purpose - (to seek and save the lost, to serve and not be served - Luke 19:10, Mark 10:45) because He had yet to start His ministry on earth as the incarnate Son of God - v10.     
• What do we learn from the passage about people?: John was sent from God - v6; John was sent to prepare the way for Jesus and His purpose - v7; John is not Jesus, his purpose was to "bear witness" about Jesus, His ministry, and purpose - the gospel - v8.  John's role was prophesied in the OT (see also Isaiah 40:3, Malachi 3:1), so John's appearance fulfills prophecy.
• Is there anything from the passage God wants us to obey (SPEC: Sins to avoid,Promises to claim, Examples to follow, Commands to obey?): We should not worship any man who is sent by God, worship only God. We are to see how Jesus gives light and life to everyone - power to overcome darkness - which is sin and death.  We should follow John's example to share the Good News about Jesus. 

Comment and discuss this post

My Prayer: Father God, You are an awesome God that loves and saves, giving me power to overcome sin and death.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of how You bless in such ways.  My sin is great and it continues....daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from such sin and turn towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please continue to heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

In the day of prosperity be joyful, and in the day of adversity consider: God has made the one as well as the other, so that man may not find out anything that will be after him. In my vain life I have seen everything. There is a righteous man who perishes in his righteousness, and there is a wicked man who prolongs his life in his evildoing. Be not overly righteous, and do not make yourself too wise. Why should you destroy yourself? Be not overly wicked, neither be a fool. Why should you die before your time? It is good that you should take hold of this, and from that withhold not your hand, for the one who fears God shall come out from both of them.

Ecclesiastes 7-11

In the day of prosperity be joyful, and in the day of adversity consider: God has made the one as well as the other, so that man may not find out anything that will be after him. In my vain life I have seen everything. There is a righteous man who perishes in his righteousness, and there is a wicked man who prolongs his life in his evildoing. Be not overly righteous, and do not make yourself too wise. Why should you destroy yourself? Be not overly wicked, neither be a fool. Why should you die before your time? It is good that you should take hold of this, and from that withhold not your hand, for the one who fears God shall come out from both of them.  Ecclesiastes 7:14-18

I continue my study of Ecclesiastes using the Christ-Centered Exposition commentary series volume for this book. My focus this morning is a commentary assisted review of Ecclesiastes chapters 7-11 and the commentary's third division for these chapters - The Gospel Is the Answer to Our Brokenness and Meaninglessness.   

 Excerpts and highlights from the commentary on this division: 

• "Solomon exposes us to the brokenness of the world—a brokenness that really hurts and brings emptiness—for the positive outcome of causing us not to build our lives on things or people other than God. Ecclesiastes is God’s goodness to us because He refuses to allow us to wallow in our broken futility.  Our frustration over the absurdity of life drives us to God and His gospel. That is the answer to brokenness and meaninglessness."
• The commentary shares how "Ecclesiastes encourages faith in God and His gospel in two ways in Ecclesiastes 7-11.  First God is in control and working things out according to His timing and plan.  Therefore Ecclesiastes 7:14-18 exhorts us to fear God."
• We are referred to Ecclesiastes 9:13-16 which tells the story of of poor man who saves a city from a siege but this poor man is soon forgotten - the story of course points to Jesus and how He, while many believer He is forsaken, He is not as He rises from the grave to Heaven to be seated at the right hand of God. Jesus is the answer to our worlds sin, brokenness, and resulting meaningless.
• The commentary for this division closes by describing how "Jesus is the Savior who rescues us from brokenness. Jesus is the wise man who makes us wise. Jesus is the poor man who makes us rich. And yet He was rejected too! Mark Dever points out that Isaiah 53 explains the wisdom and foolishness of Ecclesiastes 7–11. The righteous man got what the wicked deserved, so the wicked could get what the righteous deserve (Dever, “The Ungodly”). The poor, wise Savior who rescued the world is rejected and despised because the wisdom of God is foolishness to the world and the wisdom of the world is foolishness to God (1 Corinthians 1:18-25). It pleased God to save through a cross that looked like foolishness. Turn to Jesus, and He can free you from your brokenness and meaninglessness. Let Him turn your foolishness into wisdom."  Amen!
  

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves us and is full of grace and compassion - taking on flesh and willingly laying down Your life so that I could have life now to the full and for eternity with You.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of such a gift - the greatest gift of all time.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please continue to heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

[T]his is the testimony, that God gave us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.

1 John 5

[T]his is the testimony, that God gave us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. 1 John 5:11

I continue my study of 1,2,3 John using the Christ-Centered Exposition commentary series volume for these books.  Today, my focus is an unassisted review of 1 John 5:6-12.  The text starts by describing Jesus as coming by "water and blood," seemingly associating Jesus' arrival or incarnation with His baptism and crucifixion (v6).  V6 also refers to the Holy Spirit, present at Jesus' baptism and described in v6 as testifying that Jesus was God's Son, with who God is well pleased - the Holy Spirit is identified as the truth in v6 as well.  Vv7-8 describe how three testify - water (baptism), blood (crucifixion), and the Holy Spirit - they all testify to who God is as His Son - agreeing in their testimony.  Many who saw Jesus, including Peter, testify that Jesus is the Messiah, the Promised Deliverer, and the Son of God, but we are encouraged to see in v9 how the testimony of God Himself regarding His Son is more reliable and a greater testimony.  V10 shares how, if we believe in Jesus, we have this same testimony - from God - in us.  If you do not believe in God, you make God a liar, not believing in His testimony.  Core to God's testimony is described in v11.  The text for today wraps with a comparison of believers vs unbelievers - if we have the Son we have life, if not, no life.  See also John 3:16-18. Don't doubt the testimony of God and believe!

Comment and discuss this post.  

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are a good, good God and Father - better than any earthly father could ever be.  You are Truth and Life and You have given me victory over sin and death - thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of such love and blessings and a gift - the greatest gift of all time.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.