GOD’s OFFER Of LIFE-III—John 1:5-13
Attention:
Since we are new to this particular area, we are currently experimenting to see what will grow on our ‘sand hill.‘ The sand makes it much like a desert in that it doesn’t retain water very well, but it receives much more water than a desert.
We have discovered that Lantana grows well even in the arid sandy soil.
My daughter planted 3 Lantanas of 3 different colors(orange, yellow & cream) in a group by the driveway.
Since the weather has gotten cooler, they have ‘taken off.’ They are not only growing larger but they are in full bloom now.
That’s all well & good but there is something else which which the lantanas do...They are also great attracters of butterflies! They contain & freely offer what the butterflies need. The butterflies are drawn to that which gives them life.
A butterfly which refuses the life-giving nectar of the lantana will die(Not that our lantanas keep the entire butterfly population alive!). Our response to God’s offer of life(in Christ) is similar. If we refuse it, at the very minimum we die spiritually!
Like the lantana’s offer of life to the butterflies, so God’s Offer of Life is extended to & is waiting for you.
The apostle John revealed God’s offer of Life to mankind.
God offers Life to mankind.
How can Life be procured/had?
Last time, we discovered that God’s offer of Life comes to you thru...
1. Its CONTRAST(:5)
2. Its WITNESS(:6-8)
3— God’s offer of Life comes to you thru...
Its EXPOSURE(:9)
Explanation:(:9)Encompassing
:9—“That was the true Light which gives light to every man coming into the world.”
There “was” a “true Light.” This “true Light”(objective) is in direct contrast to false light(subjective) which is available as well. This informs us that men can & generally are drawn to that which is false light. This false light lures them away from trusting that which is “true.” Men must make a choice!
2Cor. 11:14—“....Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light.”
3:19-21—“This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. Everyone who does evil hates the light, & will not come into the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what he has done has been done through God.””
The mere presence of the “true Light” in the world is enough to enlighten/“give light to” every man. Not as His example but as embodiment of God’s Light Himself.
A valid Alternate rendering(Maj. Text—NASB/HCSB/NIV):
NASB—“There was the true light which, coming into the world, enlightens every man.”
NIV—“The true light that gives light to every man was coming into the world.”
HCSB—“The true light, who gives light to everyone, was coming into the world.”
“The peculiar Greek syntax this translation presupposes is a common feature of John’s style(cf. 1:28; 2:6; 3:23; 10:40; 11:1; 13:23; 18:18, 25).”..... “...it is the Word, the Light, that is coming into the world, in some act distinct from creation.”—D. A. Carson
Supporting this rendering are:
Jn. 3:19—“And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, & men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.
Jn. 11:27—She said to Him, “Yes, Lord, I believe that You are the Christ, the Son of God, who is to come into the world.”
Jn. 12:46—“I have come as a light into the world, that whoever believes in Me should not abide in darkness.
?What if some have never heard of the presence of this light? They are still enlightened. The mere presence of the “true Light” is enough to make men accountable.
Also if this is understood as stated in the KJV & NKJV(RT—Received Text), then this it is plain that no one escapes accountability.
“As the “true light,” Jesus is here presented as the source of (spiritual) light [upon entrance to the world]. That light enlightens every person.”—Andreas Köstenberger
The creative ‘light’(Ps. 19:1-6) is funneled down to the more specific ‘light’ of Scripture(Ps. 19:7-14) & lastly the fulfillment of that Scripture, Christ Jesus.
Ps. 19:1-6 “—<
Rom. 1:16-23—“For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first & also for the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, “The just shall live by faith.” For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness & unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them. For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power & Godhead, so that they are without excuse, because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, & their foolish hearts were darkened. Professing to be wise, they became fools, & changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man--& birds & four-footed animals & creeping things.”
As our bodies need water(physical) & seek it, so do we need light(spiritual) & search for it. We have a yearning for it.
Anyone in law enforcement will rightly apply the true adage,
‘Ignorance of the law is no excuse.’
We can apply this as well to a true knowledge of God.
Rom. 2:11-16—“For there is no partiality with God. For as many as have sinned without law will also perish without law, & as many as have sinned in the law will be judged by the law (for not the hearers of the law are just in the sight of God, but the doers of the law will be justified; for when Gentiles, who do not have the law, by nature do the things in the law, these, although not having the law, are a law to themselves, who show the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, & between themselves their thoughts accusing or else excusing them) in the day when God will judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ, according to my gospel.”
Rom. 3:9b-30—“...For we have previously charged both Jews & Greeks that they are all under sin. As it is written: “There is none righteous, no, not one; There is none who understands; There is none who seeks after God. They have all turned aside; They have together become unprofitable; There is none who does good, no, not one.” “Their throat is an open tomb; With their tongues they have practiced deceit”; “The poison of asps is under their lips”; “Whose mouth is full of cursing & bitterness.” “Their feet are swift to shed blood; Destruction & misery are in their ways; And the way of peace they have not known.” “There is no fear of God before their eyes.” Now we know that whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the law, that every mouth may be stopped, & all the world may become guilty before God. Therefore by the deeds of the law no flesh will be justified in His sight, for by the law is the knowledge of sin. But now the righteousness of God apart from the law is revealed, being witnessed by the Law & the Prophets, even the righteousness of God, through faith in Jesus Christ, to all & on all who believe. For there is no difference; for all have sinned & fall short of the glory of God, being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God set forth as a propitiation by His blood, through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance God had passed over the sins that were previously committed, to demonstrate at the present time His righteousness, that He might be just & the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus. Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? Of works? No, but by the law of faith. Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith apart from the deeds of the law. Or is He the God of the Jews only? Is He not also the God of the Gentiles? Yes, of the Gentiles also, since there is one God who will justify the circumcised by faith & the uncircumcised through faith.”
!All are indeed accountable to God!
“True”—alhyinov—Adj.—1) That which has not only the name & resemblance, but the real nature corresponding to the name, in every respect corresponding to the idea signified by the name, real, true genuine—1a) Opposite to what is fictitious, counterfeit, imaginary, simulated or pretended, 1b) It contrasts realities with their semblances, 1c) Opposite to what is imperfect defective, frail, uncertain.; 2) True, veracious, sincere. Strong—Truthful.
“Gives light/Enlightens”—fwtizw—1) To give light, to shine; 2) To enlighten, light up, illumine; 3) To bring to light, render evident—3a) To cause something to exist & thus come to light & become clear to all; 4) To enlighten, spiritually, imbue with saving knowledge—4a) To instruct, to inform, teach, 4b) To give understanding to. Strong—To shed rays, i.e. To shine or transitively--To brighten up (literally or figuratively). Used 11X.
“World”(See :10)—kosmov—1) An apt & harmonious arrangement or constitution, order, government; 2) Ornament, decoration, adornment, i.e. the arrangement of the stars, 'the heavenly hosts', as the ornament of the heavens. 1Pe 3:3; 3) The world, the universe; 4) The circle of the earth, the earth; 5) The inhabitants of the earth, men, the human family; 6) The ungodly multitude; the whole mass of men alienated from God, & therefore hostile to the cause of Christ; 7) World affairs, the aggregate of things earthly—7a) The whole circle of earthly goods, endowments riches, advantages, pleasures, etc, which although hollow & frail & fleeting, stir desire, seduce from God & are obstacles to the cause of Christ; 8) Any aggregate or general collection of particulars of any sort. Kosmov has very frequently an unfavorable meaning, denoting the inhabitants of the world, mankind in general, as opposed to God. A similar meaning is often attached to aiwn, it means the spirit of the age, often in an unfavorable sense. Strong—Orderly arrangement, i.e. Decoration; by implication--The world(in a wide or narrow sense, including its inhabitants, literally or figuratively [morally]).
“John uses the word kosmov...seventy-eight times in his Gospel(versus eight instances in Matthew & three each in Mark & Luke).”.....“Most characteristically...the term refers to sinful humanity(e.g., 3:16).”—Andreas Köstenberger
Argumentation:
1Jn. 2:8—“Again, a new commandment I write to you, which thing is true in Him & in you, because the darkness is passing away, & the true light is already shining.”
Jn. 12:44-50—“Then Jesus cried out & said, “He who believes in Me, believes not in Me but in Him who sent Me. And he who sees Me sees Him who sent Me. I have come as a light into the world, that whoever believes in Me should not abide in darkness. And if anyone hears My words & does not believe, I do not judge him; for I did not come to judge the world but to save the world. He who rejects Me, & does not receive My words, has that which judges him--the word that I have spoken will judge him in the last day. For I have not spoken on My own authority; but the Father who sent Me gave Me a command, what I should say & what I should speak. And I know that His command is everlasting life. Therefore, whatever I speak, just as the Father has told Me, so I speak.””
Jn. 9:39-41—“And Jesus said, “For judgment I have come into this world, that those who do not see may see, & that those who see may be made blind.” Then some of the Pharisees who were with Him heard these words, & 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.”
1Thes. 5:1-10—“But concerning the times & the seasons, brethren, you have no need that I should write to you. For you yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night. For when they say, “Peace & safety!” then sudden destruction comes upon them, as labor pains upon a pregnant woman. And they shall not escape. But you, brethren, are not in darkness, so that this Day should overtake you as a thief. You are all sons of light & sons of the day. We are not of the night nor of darkness. Therefore let us not sleep, as others do, but let us watch & be sober. For those who sleep, sleep at night, & those who get drunk are drunk at night. But let us who are of the day be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith & love, & as a helmet the hope of salvation. For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us, that whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with Him.”
2Sam. 22:29(Ps. 18:28)—““For You are my lamp, O LORD; The LORD shall enlighten my darkness.”
Illustration:
Radio waves/Mobile phone Microwaves/No one can get away from them/We have the means to access them if we so choose/EXPOSURE
Every person is equipped with a means to access the message/Our deeds, thoughts, heart, loves are fully known by God/If we will not listen to what is broadcast, we miss the warning...we miss the encouragement...we miss the salvation/EXPOSURE
Certain kinds of light reveal certain things/Ultraviolet—exposes raw bodily fluids/Crime Scene Investigation units use this/EXPOSURE
The invisible ink’ pen given out during VBS/Felt tip marker/The grandkids demonstrated it!/Messages can be written which are unseen!/But the pen also has a button on one end that turns on an light(ultraviolet?), when held closely to it causes the words or scribbles or drawing to appear/EXPOSURE
Application:
? You EXPOSED by God’s offer of Life?
?You accepted God’s offer of Life?
CONCLUSION:
Visualization:
Like the lantana’s offer of life to the butterflies, so God’s Offer of Life is extended to & waiting for you.
Action:
God’s offer of Life comes to you thru...
3. Its EXPOSURE(:9)
1. Its CONTRAST(:5)
2. Its WITNESS(:6-8)
Presented 10/20/2013am to:
FBC Cbelle
206 Storrs Ave. SE
Carrabelle, FL 32322
