A NEW BEGINNING-II—John 3:1-21
Attention:
Little Jimmy was so happy to see his grandmother that he ran up and gave her a big hug.
"I'm so happy to see you, grandma.
Now daddy will have to do that trick he's been promising to do!"
His grandmother was curious. "What trick is that, sweetie?"
The little guy smiled at her, "I heard daddy tell mommy that he would climb the walls if you came to visit us again!"
Like Tony’s Daddy, Some of us are in desperate need of a New Beginning...We need a NEW Year!
Jesus’ encounter with Nicodemus yielded the essentials of being born again.
Being born again is essential to God’s plan.
What is essential to a new beginning?
The Concessions essential to a new beginning.
‘Concession’—Something surrendered or given up
3 Concessions essential to a new beginning are a Fulfilled...
1. POSITION(:1-2)
2. BIRTH(:3-7)
3. DIRECTION(:8)
4—A concession essential to a new beginning is...
Fulfilled ACCEPTANCE(:9-13) Knowledge
Explanation: (:9-13) Accept Jesus & His testimony
:9—“Nicodemus answered & said to Him, “How can these things be?”
Nic responds with another question seeking Jesus’ explanation. He asks in the context of his own experience as he has not undergone spiritual re-creation/re-birth. Therefore Nic wants to know how such things can be true.
Nicodemus couldn’t understand how the Spirit operated apart from the externals of the Law. He thought Law was necessary for obtaining heaven instead of holding one in restraint apart from the Spirit.
Gal. 3:19, 24-25—“What purpose then does the law serve? It was added because of transgressions, till the Seed should come to whom the promise was made; & it was appointed through angels by the hand of a mediator.”.....“Therefore the law was our tutor to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith. But after faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor.”
—Yes, the law was from God(thru angels) but it was meant as a means to an end—of allowing the Spirit’s control.
:10—“Jesus answered & said to him, “Are you the teacher of Israel, & do not know these things?”
Note the definite article used by Jesus to set apart Nic as “the teacher of Israel” here, as opposed to “a ruler”(:1).
In :1, Nic is one of a group responsible to God for decision-making. But here, Nic is made solely responsible to God for his own teaching & to the detriment of others.
Blood is on his hands! Though he probably never lifted a finger against a soul.
Js. 3:1—“My brethren, let not many of you become teachers, knowing that we shall receive a stricter judgment.”
“Teacher”(See :2)—didaskalov—1) A teacher; 2) In the NT one who teaches concerning the things of God, & the duties of man. Strong—An instructor (genitive case or specially):-- doctor, master, teacher.
“Know”—ginwskw—1) To learn to know, come to know, get a knowledge of perceive, feel—1a) To become known; 2) To know, understand, perceive, have knowledge of—2a) To understand, 2b) To know; 3) Jewish idiom for sexual intercourse between a man & a woman; 4) To become acquainted with, to know. Ginwskw is a knowledge grounded on personal experience. Strong—To "know" (absolutely) in a great variety of applications & with many implications (as follow, with others not thus clearly expressed):-- Allow, be aware (of), feel, (have) know(-ledge), perceived, be resolved, can speak, be sure, understand.
:11—“Most assuredly, I say to you, We speak what We know & testify what We have seen, & you do not receive Our witness.”
Again, with authority, Nic is not only informed of his lack of spiritual insight(:10) but juxtaposes Jesus’ insight here.
Jesus uses the second person plural(“We”) to declare to Nic that they speak what they actually “know.” But to whom does the “we” refer?
It could refer to the Trinity in the same fashion as Nic claimed he was representing the Pharisees(:2).
Those with personal experience with Jesus vs. a secondary experience as the Pharisees.
‘Jesus probably associates here with Himself ("We") those who have personal experience of grace & so are qualified as witnesses.’ However, Jesus may also be including ‘the convictions of a’ future ‘age.’—RWP
‘He is not a dreamer, guesser, or speculator. He is bearing witness from personal knowledge, strange as this may seem to Nicodemus.’—RWP
“Know”(See :8—“Tell”)—oida(variant of eidw—See :3)—1) To see—1a) To perceive with the eyes, 1b) To perceive by any of the senses, 1c) To perceive, notice, discern, discover, 1d) To see—1d1) i.e. To turn the eyes, the mind, the attention to anything, 1d2) To pay attention, observe, 1d3) To see about something—1d31) i.e. to ascertain what must be done about it, 1d4) To inspect, examine, 1d5) To look at, behold, 1e) To experience any state or condition, 1f) To see i.e. have an interview with, to visit; 2) To know—2a) To know of anything, 2b) To know, i.e. get knowledge of, understand, perceive—2b1) Of any fact, 2b2) the force & meaning of something which has definite meaning, 2b3) To know how, to be skilled in, 2c) To have regard for one, cherish, pay attention to (1Th 5:12). To see with the mind's eye, signifies a clear & purely mental perception.
“Testify”—marturew—1) To be a witness, to bear witness, i.e. To affirm that one has seen or heard or experienced something, or that he knows it because taught by divine revelation or inspiration. Strong—To be witness, i.e. Testify (literally or figuratively):-- Charge, give [evidence], bear record, have (obtain, of) good (honest) report, be well reported of, testify, give (have) testimony, (be, bear, give, obtain) witness.
“Seen”—oraw—1) To see with the eyes; 2) To see with the mind, to perceive, know; 3) To see, i.e. become acquainted with by experience, to experience; 4) To see, to look to—4a) To take heed, beware, 4b) To care for, pay heed to; 5) I was seen, showed myself, appeared. Oraw gives prominence to the discerning mind.... When the physical side recedes,....denotes perception in general (as resulting principally from vision), the prominence being in the mental element. Strong—properly, To stare at, i.e. (by implication) To discern clearly (physically or mentally); by extension, To attend to; by Hebraism, To experience; passively, To appear:-- Behold, perceive, see, take heed.
“Receive”—lambanw—Strong—To take (in very many applications, literally & figuratively [properly objective or active, to get hold of]):-- Accept, + be amazed, assay, attain, bring, X when I call, catch, come on (X unto), + forget, have, hold, obtain, receive (X after), take (away, up).
“Witness”—marturia—1) A testifying—1a) The office committed to the prophets of testifying concerning future events; 2) What one testifies, testimony, i.e. before a judge. Strong—Evidence given (judicially or genitive case):-- Record, report, testimony, witness.
:12—“If I have told you earthly things & you do not believe, how will you believe if I tell you heavenly things?”
Jesus informs Nic that He has couched spiritual truth in a physical context so it can be understood by him, yet he has not grasped their meaning. Jesus relates that Nic, who desirous of heavenly truth, will not be able to “believe” as he cannot grasp the explanatory “earthly” picture/example of those truths.
“Earthly”—epigeiov—1) Existing upon the earth, earthly, terrestrial. Strong—Worldly (physically or morally):-- Earthly, in earth, terrestrial.
“Believe”(See :15)—pisteuw—Strong—To have faith (in, upon, or with respect to, a person or thing), i.e. Credit; by implication, To entrust (especially one's spiritual well-being to Christ):-- Believe(-r), commit (to trust), put in trust with.
“Heavenly”—epouraniov—1) Existing in heaven; 2) Of heavenly origin or nature. Strong—Above the sky:-- Celestial, (in) heaven(-ly), high.
:13—“No one has ascended to heaven but He who came down from heaven, that is, the Son of Man who is in heaven.”
Jesus is informing Nic as to the nature of the person with whom he is now dealing. Here Jesus gives Nic, & the reader, a glimpse of His dual nature as both Divine & human. Jesus is, in fact, the bearer of first-hand information regarding heaven. This is not because He has “ascended to heaven” but rather because He has indeed uniquely descended “from heaven.” He has descended thus becoming “the Son of Man”
‘Hence God’s decree concerning the redemption of His people lies completely outside of the range of man’s knowledge until it is revealed to him.’—William Hendriksen
Mat. 11:27; Lk. 10:22—““All things have been delivered to Me by My Father, & no one knows the Son except the Father. Nor does anyone know the Father except the Son, & the one to whom the Son wills to reveal Him.”
“Who is in heaven”—Not in the better attested manuscripts— But would ‘...emphasize[s] the timeless existence of God's Son who is in heaven even while on earth.’—RWP
(CONT...)4—A concession essential to a new beginning is...
Fulfilled ACCEPTANCE(:9-13)
Argumentation:
Adding to & Taking away:
Deut. 4:1-2—““Now, O Israel, listen to the statutes & the judgments which I teach you to observe, that you may live, & go in & possess the land which the LORD God of your fathers is giving you. You shall not add to the word which I command you, nor take from it, that you may keep the commandments of the LORD your God which I command you.”
Deut. 12:29-32—““When the LORD your God cuts off from before you the nations which you go to dispossess, & you displace them & dwell in their land, “take heed to yourself that you are not ensnared to follow them, after they are destroyed from before you, & that you do not inquire after their gods, saying, ‘How did these nations serve their gods? I also will do likewise.’ “You shall not worship the LORD your God in that way; for every abomination to the LORD which He hates they have done to their gods; for they burn even their sons & daughters in the fire to their gods. “Whatever I command you, be careful to observe it; you shall not add to it nor take away from it.”
Prov. 30:5-6—“Every word of God is pure; He is a shield to those who put their trust in Him. Do not add to His words, Lest He rebuke you, & you be found a liar.”
Mat. 28:18-20—“And Jesus came & spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven & on earth. “Go therefore & make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father & of the Son & of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; & lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.”
Rev. 22:18-19 “For I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: If anyone adds to these things, God will add to him the plagues that are written in this book; & if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part from the Book of Life, from the holy city, & from the things which are written in this book.”
Mat. 7:13-14—““Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate & broad is the way that leads to destruction, & there are many who go in by it. “Because narrow is the gate & difficult is the way which leads to life, & there are few who find it.”
1Cor. 1:20-21—“Where is the wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the disputer of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? For since, in the wisdom of God, the world through wisdom did not know God, it pleased God through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe.”
Illustration:
Evolutionists are generally not accepting of God’s truth as is—They want to add to it or take away from it/They color the truth with something they can reproduce & test by ACCEPTed physical means/Something that is already on their radar...that they have come to believe/Un-Fulfilled ACCEPTANCE
I had to ACCEPT God’s truth as truth before I could be saved/I had to trash all the stuff I had been taught & which is commonly accepted by our culture/ACCEPTANCE
Application:
?You Conceded to a Fulfilled ACCEPTANCE?
?What Concessions have you made in the search for a New Beginning?
5—A concession essential to a new beginning is...
Fulfilled BELIEF(:14-18)
Explanation: (:14-18) Belief/Trust/Confidence
:14—“And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up,”
:15—“that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.”
Acceptance is a first step to Belief & belief is secondary to acceptance.
Here Jesus reveals to Nic that these truths—he is faced with accepting or rejecting—should not be so new & foreign to Israel’s thinking at all. This is because they are seminally present early in her history involving Moses.
In Numbers 21:5-9 the details are given of an incident where the people were grumbling due their misery of limited food & water in the wilderness. Because of their lack of faith, “Fiery serpents” were thus sent among the people, which caused them to pray to YaHoVeH to the removal of the serpents. However, rather than simply removing the serpents from among the Israelites, God told Moses to make a molded bronze image of a(“fiery”) serpent which was then set on a pole for all to see. All who had been bitten, & then looked at the molded serpent thereby lived rather than dying.
Whoever believes, as the people dying of viper bites believed, that were obeying God by looking to the serpent, will have eternal life just as those people gained physical life while unbelievers perished.
The event in Numbers is thus a ‘Type’(earthly picture) of the forgiveness which will be available in the Messiah to come. In fact it pictures His future crucifixion perfectly in that the Messiah would likewise be “lifted up.” Thus the crucifixion is integral to bringing whoever “believes” in Jesus, as the Christ & Savior of their very lives both physically & spiritually.
The “perishing” spoken of is that of eternal separation from the very God who is the embodiment? of love. The opposite of eternal life is eternal death & not annihilation.
Rev. 14:9-11; 19:20; 20:10—“Then a third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, “If anyone worships the beast & his image, & receives his mark on his forehead or on his hand, “he himself shall also drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out full strength into the cup of His indignation. He shall be tormented with fire & brimstone in the presence of the holy angels & in the presence of the Lamb. And the smoke of their torment ascends forever & ever; & they have no rest day or night, who worship the beast & his image, & whoever receives the mark of his name.””....19:20—“Then the beast was captured, & with him the false prophet who worked signs in his presence, by which he deceived those who received the mark of the beast & those who worshiped his image. These two were cast alive into the lake of fire burning with brimstone[before the 1000 yrs. begin].”....20:10—“The devil, who deceived them, was cast into the lake of fire & brimstone where the beast & the false prophet are[After the 1000 yrs. ends]. And they will be tormented day & night forever & ever.”
“Lifted up”—uqow—1) To lift up on high, to exalt; 2) metaph.—2a) To raise to the very summit of opulence & prosperity, 2b) To exalt, to raise to dignity, honor & happiness.
“Must”—dei—1) It is necessary, there is need of, it behooves, is right & properIy. Seems to be more suggestive of moral obligation, denoting esp. that constrain which arises from divine appointment. Dei indicates a necessity in the nature of things rather than a personal obligation; it describes that which must be done.
“Whoever”—pav—1) individually—1a) Each, every, any, all, the whole, everyone, all things, everything; 2) collectively—2a) Some of all types. Strong—All, any, every, the whole:-- All (manner of, means), alway(-s), any (one), X daily, + ever, every (one, way), as many as, + no(-thing), X thoroughly, whatsoever, whole, whosoever.
“Believes”—(See :12, 16, 18)—pisteuw—Strong—To have faith (in, upon, or with respect to, a person or thing), i.e. Credit; by implication, To entrust (especially one's spiritual well-being to Christ):-- Believe(-r), commit (to trust), put in trust with.
“Perish”—apollumi—To destroy fully (reflexively, to perish, or lose), literally or figuratively:-- destroy, die, lose, mar, perish.
“Eternal”—aiwniov—1) Without beginning & end, that which always has been & always will be; 2) Without beginning; 3) Without end, never to cease, everlasting. Strong—Perpetual (also used of past time, or past & future as well):-- Eternal, for ever, everlasting, world (began).
:16—“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.”
The life-changing event of rebirth is due only to God’s great all encompassing “love” for His “world,” which He created “very good” in the beginning prior to sin’s entrance.
God’s love is what produced for mankind, “His only begotten Son.” This unique salvatory Son was what God “gave” for the simple purpose of granting eternal life to any & all who believe.
Here we also see the two natures of Christ in His being the Son of God as well as “the Son of Man”(:13).
The real focus of this passage is to make Nic & us realize that God’s purpose is not to condemn but to rescue, as :17 makes plain.
“Loved”(See :19)—agapaw—1) of persons—1a) To welcome, to entertain, to be fond of, to love dearly; 2) of things—2a) To be well pleased, to be contented at or with a thing. Strong—To love (in a social or moral sense):-- (be-)love(-ed). ‘the highest form of love’—RWP
“World”—kosmov—Strong— Orderly arrangement, i.e. Decoration; by implication, The world (in a wide or narrow sense, including its inhabitants, literally or figuratively [morally]):-- Adorning, world. ‘The whole cosmos of men, including Gentiles, the whole human race.’—RWP
“Gave”—didwmi—Strong—To give (used in a very wide application, properly, or by implication, literally or figuratively; greatly modified by the connection):-- Adventure, bestow, bring forth, commit, deliver (up), give, grant, hinder, make, minister, number, offer, have power, put, receive, set, shew, smite (+ with the hand), strike (+ with the palm of the hand), suffer, take, utter, yield.
“Only begotten”—monogenhv—1) Single of its kind, only—1a) Used of only sons or daughters (viewed in relation to their parents), 1b) Used of Christ, denotes the only begotten son of God. Strong—Only-born, i.e. Sole:-- Only (begotten, child).
:17—“For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.”
God actively “sent” “His Son” “into” His creation. He did this for a positive reason & not a negative one, although both are affected in Christ Jesus.
God’s intent thru His Son is that the entire creation may be saved, specifically mankind which is the only part of His creation made in God’s image.
The “world” is in need of salvation. In fact, the condemnation is already upon mankind(:18), thereby salvation —thru being born-from above(:3, 6-7)—is absolutely essential.
“Send”—apostellw—1) To order (one) to go to a place appointed; 2) To send away, dismiss. Strong—From—stellw—properly, To set fast ("stall"), i.e. (figuratively) To repress (reflexively, abstain from associating with):-- Avoid, withdraw self.
“Condemn”—krinw—1) To separate, put asunder, to pick out, select, choose; 2) To approve, esteem, to prefer; 3) To be of opinion, deem, think, to be of opinion; 4) To determine, resolve, decree; 5) To judge; 6) To rule, govern; 7) To contend together, of warriors & combatants. Strong—properly, To distinguish, i.e. Decide (mentally or judicially); by implication, To try, condemn, punish:-- avenge, conclude, condemn, damn, decree, determine, esteem, judge, go to (sue at the) law, ordain, call in question, sentence to, think.
“Saved”—swzw—1) To save, keep safe & sound, to rescue from danger or destruction. Strong—To save, i.e. Deliver or protect (literally or figuratively):-- Heal, preserve, save (self), do well, be (make) whole.
:18—“He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.”
Regarding belief in this only-begotten Son of God, the one(anyone) who willingly places their trust in Him is not condemned at all.
Contrarily, however, the one(anyone) who does not willingly place their faith in the only-begotten is before-the-fact condemned/judged. He/she lives in a continual state of condemnation or God’s dismissive judgment. He/she remains in this continuous state for the simple & obvious reason that he/she has obstinately refused trust “in the name of” the Son of God whom God has sent to save.
This is the heart of the doctrine of ‘Justification by Faith’ alone.
The unbeliever is condemned even prior to the initiation of the Son’s earth-bound mission. Their guilt is compounded at the Son’s appearance.
Jn. 9:39-41—“And Jesus said, “For judgment I have come into this world, that those who do not see may see, and that those who see may be made blind.” Then some of the Pharisees who were with Him heard these words, and said to Him, “Are we blind also?” Jesus said to them, “If you were blind, you would have no sin; but now you say, ‘We see.’ Therefore your sin remains.”
‘The potential for condemnation is bound up with the mission of the Son to bring salvation.’—D. A. Carson
Why is “the name” so important rather than ‘the person’ of Jesus Himself? After all, later in this very Gospel, Jesus declares Himself to be “the way the truth & the life”(14:6). It seems that “the name” incorporates all associated with it & is called into play by it. “The name” itself is a declaration of the depth & universality of God’s love wrought in the sole means of salvation by His living Christ/Messiah.
‘“Because he hath not believed” (oti mh pepisteuken). Perfect active indicative of pisteuw, has taken a permanent attitude of refusal.’...‘the man who is not willing to come to Christ for life...’—RWP
“Already”—hdh—Now, already—with a suggested reference to some other time or to some expectation, the subjective present.
“Name”—onoma—1) Name: univ. of proper names; 2) The name is used for everything which the name covers, everything the thought or feeling of which is aroused in the mind by mentioning, hearing, remembering, the name, i.e. for one's rank, authority, interests, pleasure, command, excellences, deeds etc.; 3) Persons reckoned up by name; 4) The cause or reason named: on this account, because he suffers as a Christian, for this reason. Strong—A"name" (literally or figuratively) [authority, character]:-- Called, (+ sur-)name(-d).
Argumentation:
Rom. 10:9 -10—“that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus & believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, & with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.”
Mat. 10:32-33—““Therefore whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven. But whoever denies Me before men, him I will also deny before My Father who is in heaven.”
Jn. 6:63-71—“It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, & they are life. But there are some of you who do not believe.” For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were who did not believe, & who would betray Him.” And He said, “Therefore I have said to you that no one can come to Me unless it has been granted to him by My Father.” From that time many of His disciples went back & walked with Him no more. Then Jesus said to the twelve, “Do you also want to go away?” But Simon Peter answered Him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. Also we have come to believe & know that You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” Jesus answered them, “Did I not choose you, the twelve, & one of you is a devil?” He spoke of Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon, for it was he who would betray Him, being one of the twelve.”
Jn. 20:24-29—“Now Thomas, called the Twin, one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. The other disciples therefore said to him, “We have seen the Lord.” So he said to them, “Unless I see in His hands the print of the nails, & put my finger into the print of the nails, & put my hand into His side, I will not believe.” And after eight days His[Jesus’] disciples were again inside, & Thomas with them. Jesus came, the doors being shut, & stood in the midst, & said, “Peace to you!” Then He said to Thomas, “Reach your finger here, & look at My hands; & reach your hand here, & put it into My side. Do not be unbelieving, but believing.”[Thomas had previously] And Thomas answered & said to Him, “My Lord & my God!” Jesus said to him, “Thomas, because you have seen Me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen & yet have believed.””
1Pet. 1:17-21—“And if you call on the Father, who without partiality judges according to each one’s work, conduct yourselves throughout the time of your stay here in fear; knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish & without spot. He indeed was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you who through Him believe in God, who raised Him from the dead & gave Him glory, so that your faith & hope are in God.”
1Cor. 1:20-21—“Where is the wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the disputer of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? For since, in the wisdom of God, the world through wisdom did not know God, it pleased God through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe.”
Apart from a BELIEF Fulfilled by Christ Jesus your belief is not based on fact, but upon feeling & falsehood.
Illustration:
Fluorescent light bulbs to replace incandescents /Use ⅓ less energy/The scientists, designers & manufacturers of them had a BELIEF that a comparable small fluorescent could be made....& that it could be made to replace & improve incandescent bulbs in the same receptacles currently in use/Fulfilled BELIEF
A child faced with swimming for the first time/Sees others having fun in the water/But the child is dry & hot on land/The child must have a Fulfilled BELIEF in order to experience the joy swimming brings/Fulfilled BELIEF
Application:
?You Conceded to a Fulfilled BELIEF?
?What Concessions have you made in the search for a New Beginning?
6—A concession essential to a new beginning is...
Fulfilled APPROACH(:19-21)
Explanation: (:19-21)Participation
:19—“And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, & men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.”
The reality of the condemnation which hangs over an unbelieving person’s head is claified outright here. The pure fact remains for the unbeliever that “the light” has entered the creation of God, in the open presence of everyone(1:4-10). Though the Light was both physically & spiritually in men’s presence( observable by them), these same men(generally) “loved” & thus preferred their “darkness” over & above the light(1:5, 10-11) made available to them. They exercised the free-will granted to them negatively rather than for their benefit. Their poor choices being made simply “because” the very things that they enter into & accomplish were “deeds” of “evil.”
“Light”—fwv—from an obsolete faw (to shine or make manifest, especially by rays; Luminousness (in the widest application, nat. or artificial, abstract or concrete, literal or figurative):-- Fire, light.
“Loved”(See :16)—agapaw—1) of persons—1a) To welcome, to entertain, to be fond of, to love dearly; 2) of things—2a) To be well pleased, to be contented at or with a thing. Strong—To love (in a social or moral sense):-- (be-)love(-ed). ‘the highest form of love’—RWP
“Darkness”—skotov—Strong—Shadiness, i.e. Obscurity (literally or figuratively):-- Darkness.
“Deeds”—ergon—from a primary (but obsolete) ergw(to work); Toil (as an effort or occupation); by implication, An act:-- Deed, doing, labor, work.
“Evil”—ponhrov—Strong—Hurtful, i.e. Evil properly, in effect or influence, figuratively, Calamitous; also (passively) Ill, i.e. Diseased; but especially (morally) Culpable, i.e. Derelict, vicious, facinorous; neuter (singular) mischief, malice, or (plural) Guilt; masculine (singular) The devil, or (plural) Sinners:-- Bad, evil, grievous, harm, lewd, malicious, wicked(-ness). Thayer—ponhrov is a word at once stronger & more active(than kakov or faulov(see :20)), it means mischief-making, delighting in injury, doing evil to others, dangerous, destructive.
:20—“For everyone practicing evil hates the light & does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed.”
Thru their heartfelt love of darkness their living is a mutual complement to it, in that they “practice” such “evil” things.
Lovers of darkness naturally “hate” “the light.” They hate the light so much that they refuse to approach the light(with favor). They will not approach the light because of an inward fear that the evil they practice might be openly called out as evil.
“Practicing”—prassw—1) To exercise, practice, to be busy with, carry on—1a) To undertake, to do; 2) To accomplish, perform—2a) To commit, perpetrate; 3) To manage public affairs, transact public business—3a) To exact tribute, revenue, debts; 4) To act. Strong—To "practise", i.e. Perform repeatedly or habitually; by implication, To execute, accomplish, etc.; specifically, To collect (dues), fare (personally):-- Commit, deeds, do, exact, keep, require, use arts.
“Evil”—faulov—1) Easy, slight, ordinary, mean, worthless, of no account; 2) Ethically, bad, base, wicked. Faulov is the bad chiefly as the worthless, the good for nothing.
“Hates”—misew—1) To hate, pursue with hatred, detest; 2) To be hated, detested.
“Exposed”—elegcw—1) To convict, refute, confute—1a) Generally with a suggestion of shame of the person convicted, 1b) By conviction to bring to the light, to expose; 2) To find fault with, correct. Strong—To confute, admonish:-- Convict, convince, tell a fault, rebuke, reprove.
‘To correct a fault, to reprove, to convict.’—RWP
:21—“But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in God.””
It is important to note the tie between knowing of & “doing” “truth.” It is an attitude of the heart just as is “practicing evil” & avoiding the light(:20).
The person practicing truth, contrary to the one “practicing evil,” willingly & joyfully approaches “the light” knowing that the perfect light of Jesus Christ manifests the works of truth for what they really are... works that have been “done in God.” All real works of truth will have been wrought in us by, in, thru & for God Himself, thru a personal submission & surrender to His design, applying every aspect of who we are(heart, soul, mind, & strength) to His will.
Unlike the unbeliever, there is only reverential fear(& not condemning fear), in approaching God.
1Jn. 4:18—“There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love.”
‘He does not claim that they are perfect, only that they have been wrought in the sphere of & in the power of God. Hence he wants the light turned on.’—RWP
God’s light makes manifest/exposes two sets of works—evil & godly. The single light of Christ makes plain all works of God’s truth as well as all evil & evil motives.
“Does”—poiew—Strong—To make or do (in a very wide application, more or less direct).
“Truth”—alhyeia—1) objectively—1a) What is true in any matter under consideration; 2) subjectively—2a) Truth as a personal excellence. Strong—Truth:-- true, X truly, truth, verity.
“Clearly Seen”—fanerow—1) To make manifest or visible or known what has been hidden or unknown, to manifest, whether by words, or deeds, or in any other way. Strong—To render apparent (literally or figuratively):-- Appear, manifestly declare, (make) manifest (forth), shew (self).
“Have been done”—ergazomai—Verbal form of ergon(See :19, 20— “Deeds”)—1) To work, labor, do work; 2) To trade, to make gains by trading, "do business"; 3) To do, work out; 4) To work for, earn by working, to acquire. Strong—To toil (as a task, occupation, etc.), (by implication) Effect, be engaged in or with, etc.:-- Commit, do, labor for, minister about, trade (by), work.
Argumentation:
Isa 44:13-20—“The craftsman stretches out his rule, He marks one out with chalk; He fashions it with a plane, He marks it out with the compass, And makes it like the figure of a man, According to the beauty of a man, that it may remain in the house. He cuts down cedars for himself, And takes the cypress & the oak; He secures it for himself among the trees of the forest. He plants a pine, & the rain nourishes it. Then it shall be for a man to burn, For he will take some of it & warm himself; Yes, he kindles it & bakes bread; Indeed he makes a god & worships it; He makes it a carved image, & falls down to it. He burns half of it in the fire; With this half he eats meat; He roasts a roast, & is satisfied. He even warms himself & says, “Ah! I am warm, I have seen the fire.” And the rest of it he makes into a god, His carved image. He falls down before it & worships it, Prays to it & says, “Deliver me, for you are my god!” They do not know nor understand; For He has shut their eyes, so that they cannot see, And their hearts, so that they cannot understand. And no one considers in his heart, Nor is there knowledge nor understanding to say, “I have burned half of it in the fire, Yes, I have also baked bread on its coals; I have roasted meat & eaten it; And shall I make the rest of it an abomination? Shall I fall down before a block of wood?” He feeds on ashes; A deceived heart has turned him aside; And he cannot deliver his soul, Nor say, “Is there not a lie in my right hand?”
The ACCEPTANCE isn’t there...the BELIEF isn’t there...so naturally the APPROACH isn’t there either.
Mat. 6:19-24—““Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth & rust destroy & where thieves break in & steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys & where thieves do not break in & steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. The lamp of the body is the eye. If therefore your eye is good, your whole body will be full of light. But if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in you is darkness, how great is that darkness! No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one & love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one & despise the other. You cannot serve God & mammon.”
If you accept untruth/darkness/worldliness/flesh as light then when the true light is apparent, you will have difficulty(at best) accepting or believing it. Until a person comes to the end of himself, & turns to Christ, he is condemned.
Jn. 10:7-9—“Then Jesus said to them again, “Most assuredly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. All who ever came before Me are thieves & robbers, but the sheep did not hear them. I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, & will go in & out & find pasture.”
If we can find pasture at the hands of the Great Shepherd, then surely we can approach the shepherd, not with fear, but with confidence!
Heb. 4:12-13, 16—“For the word of God is living & powerful, & sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul & spirit, & of joints & marrow, & is a discerner of the thoughts & intents of the heart. And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are naked & open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account.”....“Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy & find grace to help in time of need.”
Eph. 2:14-18—“For He[Jesus Christ] Himself is our peace, who has made both[Jew & Gentile] one, & has broken down the middle wall of separation, having abolished in His flesh the enmity, that is, the law of commandments contained in ordinances, so as to create in Himself one new man from the two, thus making peace, & that He might reconcile them both to God in one body through the cross, thereby putting to death the enmity. And He came & preached peace to you who were afar off & to those who were near. For through Him we both[Jew & Gentile] have access by one Spirit to the Father.”
Eph. 3:8-12—“To me, who am less than the least of all the saints, this grace was given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, & to make all see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the ages has been hidden in God who created all things through Jesus Christ; to the intent that now the manifold wisdom of God might be made known by the church to the principalities & powers in the heavenly places, according to the eternal purpose which He accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord, in whom we have boldness & access with confidence through faith in Him.”
Illustration:
APPROACH:
My experience at 28 yrs. of age entering a church bldg. for worship after being saved/I was there for a purpose—to get baptized & become part of the church/I felt like the only one in the room...Like everybody was looking at me/Fearful, Apprehensive—unsure of their belief....their biblical-ity...their ritual, sincerity, etc./Fulfilled APPROACH
Mother kept you from wild animals/Inbred fear of them/After you leave home you discover they are to be enjoyed with a knowledgeable respect/You become a biologist/Fulfilled APPROACH
Church membership
Application:
?You Conceded to a Fulfilled LIGHT?
?What Concessions have you made in the search for a New Beginning?
CONCLUSION:
Visualization:
Little Jimmy’s Dad needed a New Beginning!
Action:
Concessions essential to a new beginning are a Fulfilled...
1. POSITION(:1-2)
2. BIRTH(:3-7)
3. DIRECTION(:8)
4. ACCEPTANCE(:9-13) Accept Jesus & His testimony
5. BELIEF(:14-18)
6. APPROACH(:19-21)
Presented 01/09/2010 am To:
Needmore Baptist Church
1620 Mt. Vernon Rd.
Woodleaf, NC 27054
