God’s Offer Of Life-1 Series

GOD’s OFFER Of LIFE-I—John 1:5-13

Attention:

The planned communities in & around Carrabelle. Somewhere ‘down-the-line’ realty investors saw land development in Carrabelle as an opportunity. They convinced the city to grade the land, provide roads, provide sewer access. The companies/investors built docks for river access, built club & gatehouses, pools, etc.—Their’s was the promise of life for our city & county—Everybody got on board & committed financially & infrastructurally(?)...BUT the economy went sour. The monies promised for development were really committed to other things. No houses were ever built, no lots sold, & the city & investors were left in the lurch. Now the promised development consists of ghost towns—Their Offer of life failed miserably & hurt many!

Unlike that of the investors in Carrabelle, God’s Offer of Life stands to this day & beyond. It cannot fail!

The apostle John revealed God’s offer of legitimate Life to mankind.

God offers Life to mankind.

How can Life be procured/had?

God’s offer of Life comes to you thru...

1—God’s offer of Life comes to you thru...

Its CONTRAST(:5)

Explanation:(:5) Comparison/Juxtaposition/Association

:5—“And the light shines in the darkness, & the darkness did not comprehend it.”

?In what sense does the light presently shine(“the light shines”)? In what sense did the darkness “not comprehend” it(“the darkness did not comprehend”)?

“The light shines”

The light is present/visible in the darkness. It is in direct contrast to the darkness & can be perceived in/by the darkness. However, the darkness did not comprehend/apprehend the light though it was there.

Men are designed to be drawn to attain to their purpose[to the life]. They can be consumed by circumstance, which keep them blinded to God’s truth. Thereby they miss the “life” available to them.

We see that “darkness” is presented here as a vessel within which & whereby sin thrives.

That “darkness” personifies humanity! And it personifies the absence of life which is ‘death’!

Jn. 8:12—“Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.””

That general segment of mankind which operates in the confines of “darkness,” will not, by willful choice, grasp/seize/take eagerly/catch/overtake the light which is “shining” before them & in their midst!

“Shines/Appears”—fainw— fainei—PAI3S—1) To bring forth into the light, cause to shine, shed light; 2) Shine. Fainw refers to the actual external appearance, generally correct, but possibly deceptive. Strong–To lighten(shine), i.e. Show (transitive or intransitive, literal or figurative). From??—Shine, give light.

“Darkness”2X—skotia—skotia—FSN—1) Darkness; 2) The darkness due to want of light; 3) metaph. used of Ignorance of divine things, & its associated wickedness, & the resultant misery in hell. Strong—Dimness, obscurity (literally or figuratively). From??—Darkness, gloom. “Comprehend/Understood/Apprehended”—katalambanw— katelaben—2AAI3S —1) To lay hold of—1a) To lay hold of so as to make one's own, to obtain, attain to, to make one's own, to take into one's self, appropriate, 1b) To seize upon, take possession of, 1c) To detect, catch, 1d) To lay hold of with the mind. Strong—To take eagerly, i.e. Seize, possess, etc. (literally or figuratively). From—kata—down from, through out 2) according to, toward, along.—&— lambanw—To claim or procure for oneself, Seize, win, attain, make one’s own; In Jn.1:5=1. 1. Grasp, comprehend[with the mind?], appreciate, overcome, put out, master. 2. Seize w/ hostile intent, overtake, come upon, catch, detect.

Some noteworthy & informational occurrances:

Mk. 9:18—““And wherever it[mute spirit] seizes[katalambanw] him, it throws him down; he foams at the mouth, gnashes his teeth, & becomes rigid. So I spoke to Your disciples, that they should cast it out, but they could not.””

Jn. 8:3-4—“Then the scribes & Pharisees brought to Him a woman caught[katalambanw] in adultery. And when they had set her in the midst, they said to Him, “Teacher, this woman was caught in adultery, in the very act.”

Jn. 12:35—“Then Jesus said to them, “A little while longer the light is with you. Walk while you have the light, lest darkness overtake[katalambanw] you; he who walks in darkness does not know where he is going.”

Argumentation:

Jn. 9:30-34—“The man answered & said to them, “Why, this is a marvelous thing, that you do not know where He is from; yet He has opened my eyes! Now we know that God does not hear sinners; but if anyone is a worshiper of God & does His will, He hears him. Since the world began it has been unheard of that anyone opened the eyes of one who was born blind. If this Man were not from God, He could do nothing.” They answered & said to him, “You were completely born in sins, & are you teaching us?” And they cast him out.”

Php. 2:5-11—“Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, & coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself & became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. Therefore God also has highly exalted Him & given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, & of those on earth, & of those under the earth, & that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”