In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

John 1:1-5

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. John 1:1-5

I started a study of John and this morning, I outline John 1:1-18 but focus on vv1-5 what I see as the first division. 

Main point: Jesus is the Son of God and the basis of all existing life and of life reborn through faith.  

1. Both Jesus and the Word are eternal and the basis for creation and all life - vv1-5. 
2. John the Baptist was sent from God to prepare the world for Jesus - vv6-10.
3. Believers in Jesus will become children of God, reborn through the Holy Spirit - vv11-13.
4. Jesus is the incarnate Son of God, full of grace and truth - vv14-18.   

Observations of the vv1-5 based on the Sword Bible Study Method: 

• What do we learn from the passage about God?: God's Word is eternal - v1; God's word IS God - v1. Jesus is eternal and with God - v2.  Jesus is the basis for all creation, all life, and life is in Him - vv3-4; Jesus is light in men - Holy Spirit - that shines in darkness and overcomes it - vv4-5.     
• What do we learn from the passage about people?: The light people have is a reflection of Jesus and this light gives people power to overcome darkness and sin - v5. 
• 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 are to claim the promise of Jesus' identity as God, Son of God and Holy Spirit.  We are also to claim the promise and truths that Jesus is eternal, the basis of all creation and life, and the Holy Spirit that lives in believers and gives power to overcome darkness, sin, and death. 

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My Prayer: Father God, Jesus, You are an amazing God who loves and saves - You are the author of all creation and life, You save and give new life through You, and You saved me.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of such love and blessings.  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.

The seacoast shall become the possession of the remnant of the house of Judah, on which they shall graze, and in the houses of Ashkelon they shall lie down at evening. For the LORD their God will be mindful of them and restore their fortunes.

Zephaniah 2:4-15

The seacoast shall become the possession of the remnant of the house of Judah, on which they shall graze, and in the houses of Ashkelon they shall lie down at evening.  For the LORD their God will be mindful of them and restore their fortunes. Zephaniah 2:7

I continue my study of Zephaniah using the Christ-Centered Exposition Commentary volume for this book.  For today, my focus is a commentary-assisted review of Zephaniah 2:4-15, which is the text for the first division for the next chapter of the commentary, which includes two divisions.  The first division covers 2:4-15 and the commentary further breaks this down into nine subdivisions - and I tackle the first five today.

Across both the two main divisions and all subdivisions - covering Zephaniah 2:4-3:8 - the commentary shares the following main idea: "[i]n light of God’s judgment, God’s people must seek the Lord in humility or face destruction."  The commentary heading for the first division - covering Zephaniah 2:4-15 - is entitled: The Enemies of God’s People Will Be Judged because of Their Pride.

• The land of the Gentiles will become the feed for the animals of God’s people (2:6): "The specific judgment is that [the enemies of God's people's] land would become pastureland for the people of God....Verses 7 and following explain the future possession of God’s people. This would have been most offensive to the enemies of God’s people. Perceiving themselves to be superior physically, not to mention wealthier, they would have found it absurd that the nation of Judah would overtake them. This is, however, what God decreed because of their insolence and arrogance. In fact, verse 7 gives a foretaste of what was coming for the people of Judah. Yes, they had turned their backs on God, and yes, they were defiantly disobedient, but God was offering them redemption, and it appears, in verse 7, that God believed they would return to Him. He tells us that He would, in fact, return to them." 
  
• The land of the Gentiles will be given to God’s people (2:7): "Verse 7 tells us that God will be doing just such a work here among His people, and part of that restoration will be the settling of the enemies of Judah under the authority of Judah. Out of the ashes will rise this restored people, dedicated to God and enjoying life as He intended it. The resurrecting work of God is intended to help humanity flourish."
  
• The Gentiles’ taunting of God’s people has incurred His wrath (2:8): "It is most likely evidence of the enemies of God’s people taunting them about their God. Their taunting is most likely a blow at the character of God and therefore is much, much worse than simple name-calling. The mocking of the people of Judah may have been much like the psalmist described: “My adversaries taunt me, as if crushing my bones, while all day long they say to me, ‘Where is your God?’” (Psalm 42:10)....While God gives much grace, at the end of the day those who disparage and attempt to challenge God’s character will fail. Not only have they taunted God’s people, but they have also “threatened their territory.” They not only have disregarded God, but they have attempted to usurp God’s authority by encroaching on the territory that God has given to His people." 
  
• All the people who have opposed God and His people will bow before Him (2:11): "Ultimately, inherent in this issue is the fundamental question of the gospel: what will you do with God? In the end, everyone will ultimately respond with the same declaration, “Jesus is Lord,” as Scripture reminds us. However, Scripture also affirms that most of those who will ever live will make their declaration through forced submission. Only those who voluntarily declare that Jesus is Lord, in this life, will enjoy the benefits afforded to the children of God.  Those who reject Him will not escape the declaration that Jesus is Lord; instead they will find it to be a sobering and terrifying moment as they declare it to be so, but they do so too late, having missed their opportunity to submit before God. Scripture teaches that their just recompense, then, will be eternal judgment. Verse 11 reflects that truth." 
  
• God will use His own people to destroy the Gentiles (2:9): "Verse 9 points out that these enemies would eventually be reminiscent of Sodom and Gomorrah. They would be a “perpetual wasteland,” according to the prophet. Their property and land would become the possession of the people of God." 
  

Be one of God's remnant that is saved from eternal damnation - confess your sin and declare Jesus as Your Lord and Savior!

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My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are SO full of grace and compassion - I am not unlike those in Judah who often stray from You.  I was an enemy of You and hostile to You, yet You loved me first and made me one of Your elect!  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of such blessings.  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.

 

For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world except the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?

1 John 5

For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world except the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God? 1 John 5:4-5

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 5:1-5. John first describes the identity of those born of Christ: those who believe that Jesus is the Messiah has been born of God (v1a).  At the same time, if you love God, you must love those who are born of God (v1b). The bond is love as John has been discussing in 1 John 4 - God is love and the origin of love is God.  In v2, John provides a litmus test of knowing that we love those born of God (or children of God) - we know because "we love God and his commandments" (v2b). Obedience to God's commandments is another measure or litmus test of love - v3. Obedience is not seen as burdensome because we are moved to obedience as a response to God's overwhelming love for us and because God brings about our obedience through the Holy Spirit (see Romans 1:5).  Vv4-5 describe how those born of God overcome the sin and brokenness of the world, including victory over sin and death.

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My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are greater than the world as You became part of the world, died a worldly death, but rose again to defeat both sin and death - thank You Jesus for Your sacrifice and how this gives me victory over sin and death.  I am not deserving of such blessings - 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.

By this it is evident who are the children of God, and who are the children of the devil: whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is the one who does not love his brother.

1 John 3

By this it is evident who are the children of God, and who are the children of the devil: whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is the one who does not love his brother. 1 John 3:10

I continue my study of 1,2,3 John using the Christ-Centered Exposition commentary series volume for these books.  This morning, my focus is a commentary-assisted review of 1 John 3:4-10. 

Per the commentary for this text:

Main idea: "Jesus Christ came to redeem and renew sinners by paying the penalty of sin and defeating the Devil."

Excerpts from the commentary introduction:

• The text includes two core elements of doctrine, that (1) Jesus came to take away our sins (v3:5), and (2) destroy the works of the devil (v3:8). Both are captured by scripture elsewhere (1 Corinthians 15:54, Isaiah 25:8, Hebrews 2:14-15) that shares how these victories are already won through Jesus' death on the cross and His resurrection.
  
•  The practice of sin is inconsistent with being a child of God. 
• John seeks to address "falsely assured non-Christians" by "shock[ing] and wak[ing] them up to their true spiritual status."
  

Divisions per the commentary: 

1. He Came to Deliver Us from Sin (3:4-6): "Sin is the great enemy and problem of humanity, and only God can rescue us and solve our problem." Sin is rebellion against God and it is inescapable that it is habitual for all of us. Thus we all need to be saved from this "predicament." Jesus is the perfect sinless sacrifice that dies once and for all of humanity over the course of redemptive history.  It logically follows that if we truly abide in Him, we do not practice sin. "Sin no longer dominates us or enslaves us. Sin is no longer the character and conduct of my life. Because I now abide in Christ and in the power of His person and work in the gospel, I may fall into sin, but I will not walk in sin. Sin will not be my habit; it will not be my normal practice. I no longer love sin; I hate sin. I no longer delight in sin; I despise sin."
   
2. He Came to Destroy the Works of the Devil (3:7-8): Beware of false teachers who goad us into sin.  If we abide in Him we are armed (see Ephesians 6) with the ability to defend ourselves against sin and false teachers.  Christ lives in us - animating our obedience (Galatians 2:19-20).
   
3. He Came to Demarcate the Children of God (3:9-10): "By means of the new birth, sin’s power has been neutralized and dealt a death-blow. And, by virtue of His two appearings, sin’s presence will soon pass away forever....Regeneration does not produce invisible or rotten fruit. If anyone is in Christ, he or she is a new creation and all things become new (see also 2 Corinthians 5:17)." As children of God we have new birth; as children of God we do not practice sin; we love one another. "This is what our God does. This is what His children will do. You see, the child has the distinguishing marks of his parents. What he sees his Father do, that is what he will do. What he sees His Savior do, that is what he will do too."

Comment and discuss this post. 

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank You for willingly going to the cross so that I could have life - to the full now, and for eternity.  I am not deserving of Your sacrifice.  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.

For it was fitting that he, for whom and by whom all things exist, in bringing many sons to glory, should make the founder of their salvation perfect through suffering. For he who sanctifies and those who are sanctified all have one source.

Hebrews 2

 For it was fitting that he, for whom and by whom all things exist, in bringing many sons to glory, should make the founder of their salvation perfect through suffering. For he who sanctifies and those who are sanctified all have one source. Hebrews 2:10-11

I continue my study of Hebrews, assisted by the commentary Christ Centered Exposition: Exalting Jesus in Hebrews. My focus this morning is an overview of the commentary for Hebrews 2:10-18, and a look at specifically at Hebrews 2:10-13, the first of three divisions from Hebrews 2:10-18 as outlined by the commentary. The overview indicates how Hebrews 2:10-18 "further explains what it means (from v9 - see post from a couple of days ago) for Christ to “taste death for everyone...” [and it addresses key questions such as]: Exactly how does Christ accomplish this feat? What are the results? How do God’s people benefit?"  In looking specifically at Hebrews 2:10-13, the commentary then stresses the following key points:

• Christ came into the world to adopt us as sons and daughters to glory.  "These words provide a gospel summary that focuses on the relational and familial aspects of the gospel. The gospel transforms believers into children of God and siblings of the Lord Jesus. Our purpose is to bring the glory of God into greater visibility—to be the public display of the glory of God both now and for all eternity. Thus, we become “sons and daughters to glory” in order to magnify the glory of God for all to see." We exist to glorify God!
  
•  The fittingness of God the Father's plan to send His Son to "redeem humanity through a perfect and suffering Savior. The justice of God demanded a substitutionary atonement for the forgiveness of sins....Because of Christ’s perfect obedience to the Father, Jesus has become the “source” of salvation.
• The Old Testament citations in this text (Psalm 22:22 and Isaiah 8:17-18) referring to "brothers and sisters" are "rooted in the reality because believers are Christ’s “brothers and sisters,” we are also “children” of God." The commentary also argues that believers should see how "[t]he Law and the Prophets bear witness to Christ. He is their telos....[and] that the message of the Old Testament is fundamentally messianic. The Old Testament must be read in light of its fulfillment in Christ."

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are a great God, who died for me as a perfect, substitutionary atonement for my sins - thank You Jesus for bearing my punishment that I deserved.  I am not deserving of the grace You poured out for me and continue to pour out for me.  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.

The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him.

Romans 8

The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him. Romans 8:16-17

This morning, I continued my study of Romans.  Using my commentary - Exalting Jesus in Romans (eBook) - I continued with chapter ten The New Way of the Spirit, which covers Romans 8.  My focus today is Romans 8:14-17, which my commentary refers to under the heading The Spirit of Adoption.  Here, Paul describes a glorious relationship that we have with our Savior - He is our Father in Heaven (Paul refers to Jesus as Abba and Father in v15) and we are part of his family via adoption (also in v15). What is also clear is that unbelievers are not children of God, as scripture makes clear that only those who are led by the Spirit of God (and you can't do this without accepting Jesus as Your Lord and Savior) are children of God (v14). All are created by God but not all are part of God's family.  Paul also highlights in v17 how we are heirs - implying an inheritance.  Paul's letters refer to "inheritance" 7 times (most prominently in Ephesians 1) and once by Peter (1 Peter 1:4) - these instances describe something incredible and according to Peter: "an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you." Believers need to let this sink in on both counts - how we have a Father in Heaven of course who is always there for us, loves us more than anyone ever will, and how He has saved place in Heaven for us.  However, we must also remember that there is a cost which Paul refers to in v17 which indicates "provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him."  We may not want to suffer but we know that God is glorified most when we are weak (2 Corinthians 12:9-11). 

My commentary encourages us to see this new identity, intimacy, and inheritance. We are part of a "royal family" and have "all the rights and privileges of a natural child." We are also encouraged to see the horizontal dimension of our relationship to other believers - brothers and sisters in Christ. The commentary also wants us to seek our Father's vocation - to be a light as He is a light. Our new intimacy should give us confidence to approach God as the "fear" (v15) is replaced with "acceptance and security."  We know we can come to God with all of our cares and concerns. 

Comment and discuss this post here.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank You for the blessings of adoption!  Amazing - I am not deserving of such blessings and of ALL the blessings You pour out for me - particularly salvation.  My sin - worry, etc. 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.