Tag: Gospel

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Born of God: The Right to Sonship Explained (John 1:12-13)

On By Ben JenningsIn DevotionalLeave a comment

But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: 13 Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. John 1:12-13

Explanation:

The word “as many as” is the word οσοι, and is interpreted “all who”, “whoever” , all, “those”.  Its only distinction is that they received him.  The word “power” is the word ἐξουσία.  The idea is not a power as in an ability, but power as in a “right”, or “privlege”.  Paul had just made the statement that the Jews had not received their messiah.  Here he is saying that those who have the right to be the sons of God are now that through receiving Christ.  It is a belief not just that He existed, but a belief in His identity in relationship to ours.  

This right to be born as a son of God doesn’t come by blood.  You are not a son of God by being a Jew, a blood relative of Abraham.  In the first centruy, jews believed that they were saved based on the merit of their father, Abraham.  This isn’t true.  God has no grandchildren.

Romans 9:6-7

6 Not as though the word of God hath taken none effect. For they are not all Israel, which are of Israel:

7 Neither, because they are the seed of Abraham, are they all children: but, In Isaac shall thy seed be called.

This right to be born as a son of God doesn’t come by “the will of the flesh”.  You are not a son of God by pursuing after the law to deserve the designation of “righteousness”.  

Romans 9:31

31 But Israel, which followed after the law of righteousness, hath not attained to the law of righteousness.

This right to be born as a son of God doesn’t come by “the will of man”.  John Philipps said about “the will of man” here.

“No amount of parental or personal resolve can make me a child of God. My parents may have me baptized as a baby, but that does not make me a child of God; that is only “the will of man.” I may use all my strength of character to live a good life, perform religious duties, achieve spiritual goals, but those things will not impart new life. It is a birth. We are “born of God. “- John Phillips

Clearly, our right to be born into God’s family, and his regenerating work that happens when we receive Him is all of God.  We are responsible to receive, and He does what He promised He would do- new birth!

Application

Receive. Believe and receive  are used here synonomously.  This means that we must believe Him as He presents Himself and not just in his existence.  How does He present Himself?  As a Savior who takes away our sins, and as our Lord who should be obeyed.  We receive Him personally as our personal Savior and Lord, and not just a mental excercise that He is that for the world.  When we receive Him, we are born again by the Spirit.

Sonship.  The new birth puts us into a relationship with our Heavenly Father through the Word, the Lord Jesus Christ.  We should live as people who have a relationship with God, communicating with Him and hearing from the Word.

Humility.  Nothing in my hands I bring.  Only to the cross I cling.  I do not claim to have any merit for a gift because I received it and opened it.  Thanks goes only to the one who gives it.  There is nothing to boast in and no work done by receiving it.  Yet, I am responsible to receive it.

Response

  • Humble myself.
  • Pray more.
  • Proclaim Jesus.
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Condemned already. John 3:17-18

On By Ben JenningsIn Devotional1 Comment

H- Highlight
17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.  18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

John 3:17-18

E- Explanation:

When Moses put the serpent up in the wilderness, he did so in response to the great need of the people of Israel. They were already bitten. They already had poison running through their veins. They were going to die. Their only real hope was to trust in God by looking to the provision that He had given to them. 

We are sinners. The wages of that sin is death. Outside of Christ, we stand already condemned. The death sentence hangs over us. The default position of every person is condemned. 

Christ’s purpose in coming was not judgement. He came to save. He came to be lifted up so that all would believe on Him.

Luke 19:10 (KJV)

10 For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.

2 Peter 3:9 (KJV)

9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

Ephesians 2:8-9 (KJV)

8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:

9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.

A- Application:

If you are not saved today, know that right now you are condemned. Look to Jesus and live! Today is the day of salvation. Not tomorrow. Right now. You don’t know what tomorrow holds. Call on the name of the Lord to save you from your sin! Do it today.

If you are saved today, point people to Jesus. Everyone is going to spend eternity somewhere. Heaven or hell. Those without Christ are condemned already. Tell them about Jesus Christ! Tell them about the salvation in Jesus that is by faith alone, through grace alone, in Christ alone. 

R- Response:

Heavenly Father, please help me find someone who needs to hear about you today. I pray that you’d help me to lead someone to you even this week. Amen.

Podcast Episode- The Gospel According to Isaiah 53- The Life of the Suffering Servant

On By Ben JenningsIn PodcastLeave a comment

5 Predictions about Jesus life. The predictions were made:

  • He would be a servant.  He came not be served but to serve and to give His life a ransom for many.

  • His coming would be notable.  He is that root out of dry ground, that life in the dessert.  He is the way, the truth and the life.

  • His appearance was not notable, but He is beautiful to all that know Him.  He has the beautiful feet of the one who brings good news.

  • His experience was like ours, and we can know that He has dealt with all of the grief and sorrows of life that we do.  He loves us and cares for us.

  • He was rejected, and as a result of His rejection and substitutionary death on the cross, you and I can be accepted into the family of God, and be forgiven of all of our sin.

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The Gospel According to Isaiah 53: Predictions about His Life- Prediction #5- His reception will be rejection. (53:3-4)

On By Ben JenningsIn DevotionalLeave a comment

(4)  Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.

Isaiah 53:4

Explanation:

Isaiah did write that the Messiah would experience the griefs and sorrows of life. He predicted that those who he would come to would see him as an ordinary person- not particularly physically attractive, subject to everything in life that we endure. And what that would mean is that he would be assessed as someone that endured the punishment of God, and subject to the curse just like everyone else. He was esteemed as “stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.” What was the case that the rules of Israel made against Jesus?

(4)  Pilate therefore went forth again, and saith unto them, Behold, I bring him forth to you, that ye may know that I find no fault in him. (5)  Then came Jesus forth, wearing the crown of thorns, and the purple robe. And Pilate saith unto them, Behold the man! (6)  When the chief priests therefore and officers saw him, they cried out, saying, Crucify him, crucify him. Pilate saith unto them, Take ye him, and crucify him: for I find no fault in him. (7)  The Jews answered him, We have a law, and by our law he ought to die, because he made himself the Son of God.

John 19:4-7

They thought He was just another man who was claiming to be God. They thought that His punishment was just and brought about by God through them as God’s servants because they were “keeping the law”. Jesus was not punished by God for claiming to be God. Jesus was punished by God, as we shall see, but not for His own sin. God the Father declared multiple times, “This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased.”

The resurrection is God’s final answer as to the acceptability of Jesus Christs identity and His sacrifice for sins.

Application:

Jesus told his followers that just like he would be rejected we would be, too.

(18)  If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you. (19)  If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you. (20)  Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also.

John 15:18-20

(33)  These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.

John 16:33

We can count it an honor to be rejected for proclaiming the name of Jesus because He was rejected for us.

Respond:

Lord, help me to be willing to be rejected for you. Thank you for being rejected for us. Amen