GOD’s OFFER Of LIFE-II—John 1:5-13
Attention:
Winslow the ‘rescued’ Greyhound—Very skittish, We only had Winslow(former racing Greyhound) for a few weeks. A great leash dog but absolutely no street smarts. Very skittish. We loved on him practically to embarrassment! One night in winter of early 2013, as I was just getting ready to take Winslow for his usual last walk of the night before going to bed. I was about to attach his leash, when my wife(cleaning the carpet w/ a 'Rug Doctor') opened the door to dump the used water, & Winslow headed out the door & walked down the hill into the road! As I headed for Winslow who was standing there, I had to lean back a little & tread slowly & carefully because it had rained & the red-clay hill was slippery. But just as I got to the bottom of the hill I lost my footing, fell, & got mud all over my pants coat & shoes! I stood up immediately & threw the leash down in anger, getting it all muddy too! Winslow was standing just outside of reach but I didn’t want to put the muddy leash on him, so I calmly started walking up the road to our driveway. He followed along right behind me until we got about ⅔ of the way up the driveway, when Winslow decided to go thru the woods in the opposite direction of the house! We called & called & drove around the neighborhood but no Winslow!
Many days passed & then Jacob, the neighbor’s son, said he had seen a dog like Winslow on the railroad tracks.
We searched for Winslow but to no avail.
One of the neighbors said they had seen a large dog come out of the patch of woods in front of his house. I found the trail thru the woods & it took me out onto the RR tracks. As I looked around for Winslow, there he stood about 100 ft. away on the opposite side of the tracks in some brambles! he had been spending his nights in a cold wet brierpatch. I mustered all the calming compassion I could as I tenderly called for him. But as soon as he saw & heard me, he bolted. He ran in a semi-circle to another part of the tracks, where I cautiously met him. Again as soon as he saw me he ran onto the tracks heading in the opposite direction precisely without stumbling on the RR ties & unflinchingly away from me. I couldn’t possibly keep up.
Winslow never did come home. And he never survived the winter that year in central NC. Because on the way to work one morning, my wife, saw his body, having been run over, laying in the middle of US Hwy 52 near Church Creek which ran under the RR tracks & skirted our neighborhood.
Winslow’s offer of life stood continuously. It was available at every moment. Warmth, Food & Love, Belonging were all waiting.
Likewise, God’s Offer of Life is waiting for you.
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...
Last time, we discovered that God’s offer of Life comes to you thru...
1. Its CONTRAST(:5)
2—God’s offer of Life comes to you thru...
Its WITNESS(:6-8)
Explanation:(:6-8)
:6—“There was a man sent from God, whose name was John.
:7—“This man came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all through him might believe.”
In relation to this Light, there was a person(John) who was sent as “a witness” to/of the Light &/or its presence. The Light needed a witness to its(His) presence. The witness was provided by God because He loved us & wanted men to have the life(:4) & to be drawn to its light.
This means that the life present in the Word can be misunderstood/unappreciated/unseen/incomprehensible/unapprehended/discounted by those in its very presence & influence.
Much as a blindfolded man can stand in a well lighted room & still remain in darkness. He has the capacity to observe the light & so must first be made aware of the presence of the light in order to form a desire to experience it. Once the desire is established, then he may make attempts/efforts to understand it better & make an effort to correct what is preventing him from experiencing it fully. Or he may decide that experiencing the light is not worth his best efforts & remain blindfolded.
JTB baptized people in preparation for Jesus. Though being baptized & anticipating the One who would baptize with the Holy Spirit & fire, one still must center their allegiance in Jesus personally.
Mat. 3:11-12—““I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit & fire. His winnowing fan is in His hand, & He will thoroughly clean out His threshing floor, & gather His wheat into the barn; but He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.””
Acts 19:1-6—“And it happened, while Apollos was at Corinth, that Paul, having passed through the upper regions, came to Ephesus. And finding some disciples he said to them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” So they said to him, “We have not so much as heard whether there is a Holy Spirit.” And he said to them, “Into what then were you baptized?” So they said, “Into John’s baptism.” Then Paul said, “John indeed baptized with a baptism of repentance, saying to the people that they should believe on Him who would come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus.” When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. And when Paul had laid hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them, & they spoke with tongues & prophesied.”
One can sense a personal need for repentance yet never translate the need into action, or make use of it. Some may never act on their felt need.
We all must be born twice!
Jn. 1:33; 3:3, 5—““I did not know Him, but He who sent me to baptize with water said to me, ‘Upon whom you see the Spirit descending, & remaining on Him, this is He who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.’”.....“Jesus answered & said to him, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.””.....“Jesus answered, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water & the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.”
An alcoholic may know & admit publicly that he is addicted, yet he may flounder for years reaching rock bottom & be near death before he finally surrenders to accepting help with his problem. And even at rock bottom & near death, he may still refuse to admit that he cannot do it himself.
There is life beyond what he is living! But he must be convinced that it is attainable!
Even if said action is indeed taken, a person must take action by the Spirit rather than by self-help alone.
The potential exists that “all”(mankind) may trust the light/life thru John’s witness.
Belief(trust) is the critical ingredient to having “the life” in hand, having been drawn to its “light.”
*The entire purpose of any “man sent from God,” is that “all” might “believe.” But what are they to believe? or rather what is the focus/expected end of their belief? It is that “all” might trust in the One who possesses the ultimate “life”(:4).
Mat. 19:13-15—“Then little children were brought to Him that He might put His hands on them & pray, but the disciples rebuked them. But Jesus said, “Let the little children come to Me, & do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of heaven.” And He laid His hands on them & departed from there.”
Lk. 18:15-17—“Then they also brought infants to Him that He might touch them; but when the disciples saw it, they rebuked them. But Jesus called them to Him & said, “Let the little children come to Me, & do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of God. Assuredly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will by no means enter it.””
“Man”—anyrwpov—1) A human being, whether male or female; 2) indefinitely, Someone, a man, one; 3) in the plural, People; 4) joined with other words, Merchantman.
“Sent”—apostellw—1) To order (one) to go to a place appointed; 2) To send away, dismiss. Apostellw includes a reference to equipment & suggests official or authoritative sending. Strong—Set apart, i.e. by implication--To send out(properly, on a mission) literally or figuratively.
“John”—Iwannhv—John = “Jehovah is a gracious giver” From Hebrew—Nnxwy Yo-khaw-nawn'—Johanan = “Jehovah has graced”
“Came”(See :11)—ercomai—1) To come—1a) of persons—1a1) To come from one place to another, & used both of persons arriving & of those returning, 1a2) To appear, make one's appearance, come before the public; 2) metaph.—2a) To come into being, arise, come forth, show itself, find place or influence, 2b) Be established, become known, to come (fall) into or unto; 3) To go, to follow one. Ercomai denotes motion or progress generally, & of any sort, hence to "come" & arrive at, as well as “to go.” Strong—middle voice of a primary verb (used only in the present & imperfect tenses, the others being supplied by a kindred [middle voice] eleuyomai; or [active] elyw; which do not otherwise occur); To come or go(in a great variety of applications, literally & figuratively).
“Witness”—marturia—Noun f.—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).
“Bear Witness”—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—1a) To give(not to keep back) testimony, 1b) To utter honorable testimony, give a good report, 1c) Conjure, implore.
“All”—pav—1) individually—1a) Each, every, any, all, the whole, everyone, all things, everything; 2) collectively—2a) Some of all types. Strong—apparently a primary word; All, any, every, the whole.
“Through”—dia—Strong—a primary preposition denoting the channel of an act; Through(in very wide applications, local, causal, or occasional)
“Might Believe”(See :12)—pisteuw—1) To think to be true, to be persuaded of, to credit, place confidence in; 2) To entrust a thing to one, i.e. His fidelity. 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).
:8—“ He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light.””
The one(JTB) who is “witness” to the fact of the life’s existence & presence & its subsequent appeal to men(light), is not himself the “Light.” He is merely a “witness” to the light’s existence & presence.
The apostle John is emphasizing the fact that JTB is merely a witness to the Light & as such is, by default, not “the Light.”
Some considered that JTB was himself the Christ:
Jn. 1:19-27, 34—“Now this is the testimony of John, when the Jews sent priests & Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, “Who are you?” He confessed, & did not deny, but confessed, “I am not the Christ.” And they asked him, “What then? Are you Elijah?” He said, “I am not.” “Are you the Prophet?” And he answered, “No.” Then they said to him, “Who are you, that we may give an answer to those who sent us? What do you say about yourself?” He said: “I am ‘The voice of one crying in the wilderness: “Make straight the way of the LORD,”’ as the prophet Isaiah said.” Now those who were sent were from the Pharisees. And they asked him, saying, “Why then do you baptize if you are not the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?” John answered them, saying, “I baptize with water, but there stands One among you whom you do not know. It is He who, coming after me, is preferred before me, whose sandal strap I am not worthy to loose.””.....““And I have seen & testified that this is the Son of God.””
Lk. 3:16—“John answered, saying to all, “I indeed baptize you with water; but One mightier than I is coming, whose sandal strap I am not worthy to loose. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit & fire.”
Argumentation:
Jn. 1:31-37—““I[JTB] did not know Him[Jesus]; but that He should be revealed to Israel, therefore I came baptizing with water.” And John bore witness, saying, “I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, & He remained upon Him. I did not know Him, but He who sent me to baptize with water said to me, ‘Upon whom you see the Spirit descending, & remaining on Him, this is He who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.’ “And I have seen & testified that this is the Son of God.” Again, the next day, John stood with two of his disciples. And looking at Jesus as He walked, he said, “Behold the Lamb of God!” The two disciples heard him speak, & they followed Jesus.”
Acts 19:1-7—“And it happened, while Apollos was at Corinth, that Paul, having passed through the upper regions, came to Ephesus. And finding some disciples he said to them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” So they said to him, “We have not so much as heard whether there is a Holy Spirit.” And he said to them, “Into what then were you baptized?” So they said, “Into John’s baptism.” Then Paul said, “John indeed baptized with a baptism of repentance, saying to the people that they should believe on Him who would come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus.” When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. And when Paul had laid hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them, & they spoke with tongues & prophesied. Now the men were about twelve in all.”
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.”
Mat. 10:16-22—““Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves. Therefore be wise as serpents & harmless as doves. But beware of men, for they will deliver you up to councils & scourge you in their synagogues. You will be brought before governors & kings for My sake, as a testimony to them & to the Gentiles. But when they deliver you up, do not worry about how or what you should speak. For it will be given to you in that hour what you should speak; for it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father who speaks in you. Now brother will deliver up brother to death, & a father his child; & children will rise up against parents & cause them to be put to death. And you will be hated by all for My name’s sake. But he who endures to the end will be saved.”
Acts 10:43““To Him all the prophets witness that, through His name, whoever believes in Him will receive remission of sins.””
Heb. 3:1—“Therefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle & High Priest of our confession, Christ Jesus,”
Acts 1:6-8—“Therefore, when they had come together, they asked Him, saying, “Lord, will You at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” And He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons which the Father has put in His own authority. But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; & you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, & in all Judea & Samaria, & to the end of the earth.””
Jude :20-25—“But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life. And on some have compassion, making a distinction; but others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire, hating even the garment defiled by the flesh. Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, And to present you faultless Before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy, To God our Savior, Who alone is wise, Be glory & majesty, Dominion & power, Both now & forever. Amen.”
Eph. 5:8—“For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light”
Our ‘walk’ assumes a witness!
Illustration:
The time my truck tire blew out/By Federal law I must turn on my hazard flashers &, within 10 min., place 3 reflective signs with orange-red triangular symbols outlined in red/1st—10 ft. behind vehicle, 2nd 100 ft. beyond the 1st, 3rd placed 100 ft. in front of the stopped truck/Warns others of a change in traffic patterns—of slow moving or stopped vehicle/Its WITNESS
In the Andes mountains of Valera,Venezuela in 1998-99(?)/There was a torrential rain storm overnight & the next day/We had an appointment to a particular part of the country & the narrow road snaked around the mountain/As we rounded a curve there was a large clump of plants in the middle of the road causing us to slow down—& just beyond it, a rivulet was gushing across the road & down the mountain!/Someone had put the plant clump there as a warning—a Witness to the danger ahead(a car could have easily been washed off of the road down the mountainside & into the valley!)/Its WITNESS
Caution signs in grocery store/ “Caution wet floor” with a picture of a foot slipping/Its WITNESS
Application:
? You WITNESSed God’s offer of Life?
?You accepted God’s offer of Life?
CONCLUSION:
Visualization:
Our offer of legitimate Life to our dog Winslow was refused.
Action:
God’s offer of Life comes to you thru...
2. Its WITNESS(:6-8)
1. Its CONTRAST(:5)
Presented 10/06/2013am to:
FBC Cbelle
206 Storrs Ave. SE
Carrabelle, FL 32322
