Tag: Jesus Christ

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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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The Creator Among Us: Insights from John 1:10

On By Ben JenningsIn DevotionalLeave a comment

He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not.
John 1:10

Explain

The term world is used in several ways in John and the Bible.

The term “the world” can speak of creation itself.  How amazing is the idea that the One who made the World became like those He created, in the place He created.  He designed mankind.  He made the idea of reproduction and human development, and then He entered into that process of human development as a baby.  He created the idea of thirst and drinking.  He created the idea of hunger and eating.  He came up with the idea of instinct and drives, and he came and became subject to those same ideas.

The term world can also speak of the world system.  Satan is called the “prince of this world”.  The idea is that of what John calls “the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life.”  It is speaking of the things that Satan uses and emphasizes through unregenerate people to keep them blinded in their sin.

The term world can also speak of people.  I believe that this verse speaking of people that were among what He created.  He was among the people that He created, and they did not recognize Him as Creator.  This is an incredible reality that He came from eternity where no one doubts His identity, and everyone treats Him with the Honor and Worship, to come to earth where people did not know or recognize HIm for who He is.

Think about it- He was an unknown Creator coming to be Savior.

Apply

There are still many who do not know Him.  Many know Him merely as a cuss word.  To many He is merely a thought leader in the west.  There are many who have never heard the name of Jesus.  May we never keep him to ourselves.  I should speak of Him as a good steward of the manifold grace of God.

Respond

  1. How can you help get the name and message of Jesus out to the world?
  2. How can you help get the name and message of Jesus into your neighborhood?
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Jesus Christ as the True Light (John 1:8-9)

On By Ben JenningsIn DevotionalLeave a comment

8 He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light.  9 That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world.

John 1:8-9

Explain

Who is “He” and who is “the Light”?

John the Baptist was not the same as Jesus.  He is being distinguished from the Light, Jesus Christ, the Word.  Jesus said that no man born of woman was greater than John the Baptist.  If John the Baptist was not that Light, or equal with that Light, then no one could be the Light that Jesus Christ was, and still is.  

John the Baptist did come so that all men might believe.  He was another bullet point on the long list of proofs that Jesus Christ is the prophesied Messiah, and Savior of the World.  He was not the Savior.  This was a question that many still had over the years even into the book of Acts.  John probably knew of people who had confusion about the place of John the Baptist in God’s view of things.

Acts 19:1-4

1 And it came to pass, that, while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul having passed through the upper coasts came to Ephesus: and finding certain disciples,

2 He said unto them, Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? And they said unto him, We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost.

3 And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized? And they said, Unto John’s baptism.

4 Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus.

How does the true Light lighteth every man in the world?

Some who translate this verse emphasize the word “true” as much as they emphasize the word “Light” which is interesting.  The idea is that this revelation of God in the form of the Word or the Light was a reliable, trustworthy, and clear picture of who God is because the Light is God revealed. 

He has been revealed to every man, He lights every man that comes into the world in the very least through His creation.  This is referenced as we will see in verse 10.

Romans 1 speaks to this truth.

Romans 1:20-21

20 For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:

21 Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.

Notice two things we see in parallel from this passage in John.  First, that the invisible attributes of God are clearly seen in creation.  Second, that the person that suppresses this reality is described has having “their foolish heart…darkened”.  

It’s not that people cannot see God’s light.  It’s that they suppress what they do see, or they exchange what they see into worship of self or worship of the created rather than the Creator.  

Apply

I am to be like John in that I am a witness to the person and work of Jesus Christ.  I must follow John in the attitude reflected in what he said, that, “He must increase and I must decrease.”  John said that in terms of ministry effect and attention from the people.  That same sentiment must characterize my whole attitude.  It’s not about Ben Jennings.  It’s about Jesus Christ.  

I can be encouraged that every men has access to the Light revealed in Creation, and they must hear about the Light of God in the revealing of His Son.  That message must go out through every means possible in my life.

When I worship idolatrously, worshipping the created over the Creator, in a real sense that is darkness.  Darkness is not good.  

This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine!

Respond

Heavenly Father,

Thank you for loving me.  Thank you for giving me opportunity to see Your Light, to know Jesus and to make Him known.  Help me to do that faithfully today.  Help me to love you like I ought to love you.  

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Understanding John the Baptist’s Role as a Forerunner (John 1:6-7)

On By Ben JenningsIn DevotionalLeave a comment

(6) There was a man sent from God, whose name was John.  (7) The same came for a witness, to bear witness of that Light that all men through him might believe.”

John 1:6-7

Explain:

Verse 6 introduces us to a man “sent from God” named John.  This is not the namesake of the Gospel, but John the baptist.  He came as a forerunner of the messiah who proclaimed who Jesus was and why He was coming.  This was predicted in the Old Testament.

Isaiah 40:3-5

[3] The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the LORD, make straight in the desert a highway for our God. [4] Every valley shall be exalted, and every mountain and hill shall be made low: and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough places plain: [5] And the glory of the LORD shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it.

Isaiah has been called “the Bible within the Bible.”  As the Gospels begin with the proclamation of the witness of the forerunner, the 40th chapter of Isaiah foretells of this prophet coming proclaiming the Messiah’s coming, and preparing people for His ministry.

This is also predicted in Malachi.

Malachi 3:1

[1] Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me: and the Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his temple, even the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in: behold, he shall come, saith the LORD of hosts.

What John the Apostle says here about John the Baptist is literally what John the Baptist said about himself.

Luke 3:15-18

[15] And as the people were in expectation, and all men mused in their hearts of John, whether he were the Christ, or not; [16] John answered, saying unto them all, I indeed baptize you with water; but one mightier than I cometh, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to unloose: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with fire: [17] Whose fan is in his hand, and he will throughly purge his floor, and will gather the wheat into his garner; but the chaff he will burn with fire unquenchable. [18] And many other things in his exhortation preached he unto the people.

John the Baptist was not the Light, but he prepared people about Jesus Christ.

What was his aim?

“that all men through him might believe.

Who is “him”? Some say that “him” here is John the Baptist.  Some say that “him” here refers to the Light.  It works either way.  All people who believe eventually believe because of the evidence of who the Light is and was. John’s whole ministry was to get everyone to believe.

Apply:

The ministry of John the Baptist should be imitated by every person who is a Christ follower. We bare witness of the person and work of Jesus Christ. We point people to faith and repentance. We testify that we are not God, we are not the Savior, we are not the answer for people’s sins.  Jesus Christ is.

Respond:

God, I pray that today you’d help me to be a good witness for You.  I love you!  Amen.