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Proverbs 7:9-20
9 In the twilight, in the evening, In the black
and dark night.
10 And there a woman met him, With the attire of a harlot, and a
crafty heart.
11 She was
loud and rebellious, Her feet would not stay at home.
12 At times she was outside, at times in the open square, Lurking at every
corner.
13 So she caught him and kissed him; With an
impudent face she said to him:
14 "I
have peace offerings with me; Today I have paid my vows.
15 So I came out to meet you, Diligently to seek
your face, And I have found you.
16 I have spread my bed with tapestry, Colored
coverings of Egyptian linen.
17 I have perfumed my bed With myrrh, aloes, and
cinnamon.
18 Come, let us take our fill of love until
morning; Let us delight ourselves with love.
19 For my husband is not at home; He has gone on a long journey;
20 He has taken a bag of money with him, And will come home on the appointed
day."
Father God, send your Holy Spirit to those that read this
lesson and open their heart and mind to your wonderful gift of Grace,
especially those that don’t know you with their heart. In Jesus name we pray, Amen!
Gospel of John 1:6-13 NKJV
This lesson starts out with John the
Baptist and his message of the coming Light to the World and ends with the
message of salvation and what being Born Again is about and what we must do to
become a child of God.
6 There
was a man sent from God, whose name was
John.
This John is John the
Baptist and his parents were Zacharias and Elizabeth. Luke 1:11-15 Then an
angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing on the right side of the altar of
incense. 12 And when Zacharias saw him, he was troubled, and fear fell
upon him. 13 But the angel said to him, "Do not be
afraid, Zacharias, for your prayer is heard; and your wife Elizabeth will bear
you a son, and you shall call his name John.
14
And you will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his
birth. 15 For he will be great in the sight of the
Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink. He will also be filled
with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother's womb.
John was definitely sent
by God as you can see by the scriptures. Elizabeth was past her child bearing years
just as Abraham’s wife Sarah was, but all things are possible with God. If a
person just studies the timeline of the Bible they would realize there is a God
and God is in control of all things. Sarah and Elizabeth were both past child
bearing years, yet they both conceived by the power of God, not to mention Mary
the mother of Jesus. The time span between Sarah and Elizabeth was some 2,000
year. Then look at the miracles of Jesus, the Apostles, and modern day
healings. Jesus is alive and well today just as He was when the Universe was
created some 6,000 years ago. So how can people say the Bible is just old
stories?
7 This man
came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all through him might
believe.
This
man came for a witness; “This
man” is referring to John the Baptist. He was sent by God to give testimony
pertaining to Jesus the coming Saviour of the world. He was to prepare the
minds of the people to receive Jesus as the Messiah. John was to lead the
Jewish people to God through repentance and to point out the Messiah to Israel
when he came.
To
bear witness of the Light; Have
you ever wondered why John had to come as a witness before Jesus? Was the
object of John’s testimony that all people might believe? John’s mission or
purpose was to prepare the people that the Messiah was about to come; to direct
the minds of men to the coming Messiah; to prepare them to believe on Him when He
came. In other words you could think of John making an introduction to the
ministry of Jesus and what Jesus came to do; save people; usher in the New
Covenant; promote loving God and our neighbors. John’s mission was like a movie
preview to give the people bits and pieces of what salvation was all about; to pique
their minds; to give the people a hungering of wanting more of Jesus.
That
all through him might believe; People
find this very difficult that all they have to do is believe in what Jesus did
for them on the Cross. People use a completely different rationale when it
comes to believing in Jesus compared to other things. For example when a person
goes to pay a heating gas bill for the gas they have used they pay the Gas
Company, not the Electric Company. This isn’t the way it is with people when it
comes to salvation. Because salvation is a spiritual non-tangible thing, people
think they have to do something on their own to gain salvation instead of
placing their faith in Jesus. They balk at accepting Jesus Christ as the only
Way to the Father, simply because men love to originate their own Salvation. It
makes them feel important, and it appeals to their self righteousness. Above
all, it is because of deception; being deceived by some false preachers,
teachers, priest, doctrine, etc. Men are deceived easily, because it was by
deception that man fell in the Garden of Eden. Basically John the Baptist was
sent to start opening the minds of the people because God knows how stubborn,
stuck in a rut, and opposed to change people are, due to their self
righteousness.
8 He was
not that Light, but was sent to
bear witness of that Light.
John had to tell the
people that he was not the Messiah and that his purpose was to pave the way for
Jesus. His words were so convincing some thought he was the Messiah. John 1:19-20 Now this is the testimony of John, when the Jews
sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, "Who are
you?" 20
He confessed, and did not deny, but confessed, "I am not the Christ."
9 That was
the true Light which gives light to every man coming into the world.
That
was the true Light; The
light of course is Jesus Christ. He is the source of all light whether physical
or spiritual. There are many false lights that try to imitate Jesus, but they
fail miserably. Jesus is not a false, uncertain, dangerous guide, but is one
that is true, real, steady, and worthy of confidence. A false light is one that
leads to danger or error, as a false beacon on the shores of the ocean may lead
ships to shallow reefs or rocks and severe danger or death. True light is one
that does not deceive us. As a true beacon will guide a ship into port, Jesus light
will not lead us astray, but to eternal life.
Which
gives light; Jesus
removes darkness, error, and ignorance from the mind when one repents and
accepts Him as their life source.
To
every man coming into the world; This
phrase is expressing that salvation through Jesus is for the whole human race,
Jew and Gentile. John 3:16 confirms this when it states, “….whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting
life.” This phrase from 3:16 also tells us that we have to believe, and
this is the only thing we have to do is believe, for everlasting life.
Everlasting life is for each and every human being if they so desire it.
10 He was in the world, and the world was made through
Him, and the world did not know Him.
He
was in the world; This
phrase is making reference to Jesus in the flesh while walking this earth. It
does not mean His preexistence.
And
the world was made through Him; As
discussed in last week’s lesson when discussing the Trinity, the world was made
by and through Him. See the lesson “John 1:1-5” for more information.
And
the world did not know Him; Although
Jesus created the world and walked among His people He was unknown by His own
chosen people even though they were taught the scriptures of the OT through the
prophets. It is only through the revelation of salvation that one truly knows
God and then a relationship gives birth.
It’s not any different
today, people don’t want to hear about the Gospel. When you bring up the name
of Jesus for discussion a lot of times the topic gets changed rather quickly.
Therefore, they can keep their view of Jesus and what a person must do to go to
Heaven, which in most cases is not right. So you see the majority of people
today are just like the Pharisee’s and reject Jesus. How do you react when
someone on the street, in Wal-Mart, at the shopping mall, or Kroger’s brings up
the name of Jesus? Do you shut them down? If we call ourselves children of God;
believers; aren’t we commissioned to spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ?
11 He came
to His own, and His own did not receive Him.
He
came to His own; This
phrase is referring to the Jewish people; God’s chosen people that were suppose
to enlighten the world around them of God Almighty including Gentiles. They
were to prepare the world for the coming of the Messiah, but failed miserably
because of their acute self-righteousness.
And
His own did not receive Him; “His
own,” refers to His people because God had chosen them to be His above all other
nations; had given to them His laws; and had protected and favored them, Deuteronomy
7:6; Deuteronomy
14:2. But through the
self-righteousness of His people they rejected Jesus.
The phrase means that He
came as the Heir unto His Own Possessions (Matthew 21:38), but His Own servants did not
receive Him; on the contrary, they killed Him (Williams).
How sad this verse is, it
would be like going to a family gathering and being shunned. Can you or have
you experience something like this? This is how Jesus would have felt being
rejected by his Jewish brethren, yet when the Gospel of John is mentioned the
response is LOVE. The sad thing is that even today Jesus is rejected by a
majority of the people in the world.
12 But as
many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to
those who believe in His name:
But
as many as received Him;
This phrase means a few in Jesus lifetime received him, and many more after his
death, but a great mass; the people; the scribes and Pharisees rejected him.
“As receive him” here, means to “believe” in him. The Bible states
believe in terms of receive, accepted, the way, all meaning believe in Jesus.
Terms of this nature precede the word Baptize, and causes people to think that
when they are Baptized they are Born Again which is false. A person is Born
Again and then a change will occur in the believer’s heart that will lead to
Baptism. All who welcome Jesus Christ as Lord of their lives are reborn
spiritually, receiving new life from God. Through faith in Christ, this new
birth changes us from the inside out—rearranging our attitudes, desires, and
motives. A physical birth places you in your parents' family. Being born of God
makes you spiritually alive and puts you in God's family.
To
them He gave the right to become children of God; This means that when a person repents,
asks for forgiveness, and submits their lifestyle for Jesus to rule, they are
granted the right to enter into the family of God. As the phrase above and
below state, all we have to do is receive/believe in Jesus and what He did for
us on the Cross.
To those who believe in His name; A believer places his faith in the
death and resurrection of Jesus, and as long as we continue in life here on
earth with our faith in Jesus, we remain in God’s family and will one day be
with Him in Heaven. Only through Jesus is Heaven obtained. John 14:6 Jesus said to him, "I
am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through
Me. John
3:3 Jesus answered and said to him, Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he
cannot see the kingdom of God."
13 who were
born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but
of God.
Who
were born; This verse
is all about having a Spiritual Birth called Born Again, beyond a shadow of a
doubt it refers to a “New Birth,” or to the great change in the sinner’s heart
called regeneration or conversion. It means that they did not become the
children of God by virtue of their physical birth, or because they were the
children of “Jews,” or because they were descended from religious parents. The
term “who were born” denotes this change of being Born Again/Spiritual Birth.
This is also true for today; all people. This verse is supported by the
following versed which we will be studying in a future lesson. John 3:3-8 Jesus answered and said to him, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again,
he cannot see the kingdom of God."
4
Nicodemus said to Him, "How can a man be born when he is old? Can
he enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born?" 5 Jesus
answered, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless
one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. 6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is
born of the Spirit is spirit. 7 Do not marvel that I said
to you, 'You must be born again.'
8 The wind blows
where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes
from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit." Born Again illustrates clearly and
beautifully this great change. A physical birth introduces us to life; a Spiritual
Birth is the beginning of spiritual life. Before a new birth, the sinner is dead in sins (Ephesians 2:1 And you He
made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins,); now he begins truly to live. And as
the natural birth is the beginning of life, so to be born of God is to be
introduced to life everlasting, to light, to happiness, and to the favor of
God.
Not
of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man; Refers to physical birth.
But
of God; This
Spiritual Birth is by the power of God which produces a change within the
person’s heart, resulting in being called His child. No unaided effort of man,
no works of ours, can produce this change. No man is renewed who does not desire and will to be a believer; for the effect of the change, is his will, and no one is changed who
does not strive to enter in to the family of God. Therefore, this very
important verse teaches us: (1) That if men are saved they must be born again.
(2) That their salvation is not the result of their human birth, or of any
honorable or religious parentage. (3) That the children of the rich and the
noble, as well as of the poor, must be born of God if they will be saved. (4) That
the children of religious parents must be born again; or they cannot be saved. None
will go to heaven simply because their “parents” are Christians. (5) That this
work is the work of God, and “no man” can do it for us. (6) That we should
forsake all human dependence, cast off all confidence in the flesh, and go at
once to the throne of grace, and beseech God to adopt us into his family and
save our souls from death/Lake of Fire.
Romans
5:12 Therefore, just as through one
man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all
men, because all sinned. Romans
3:23 for all have sinned and fall
short of the glory of God
Wow so much to think about with this
lesson!
Colossians
1:16
For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth,
visible
and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers.
All things were created through Him and for
Him.
Romans
3:23 for
all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
Romans
6:23
For the wages of sin is death,
but the gift of God is eternal
life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
John 3:3 Jesus answered and said to him, Most
assuredly, I say to you,
unless
one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God."
The
Lighthouse Full Gospel Church
Sinners Prayer; Pray this, and if you believe
it with your heart, Jesus will save you!
“Lord
Jesus I know I am a sinner. I confess my
sins to you; I am sorry for my sins; I repent (Meaning, desiring to turn from a
sinful lifestyle.) of all my sins, and I am asking for your forgiveness. I believe that only you can forgive sin. I commit my life to you and ask you to come
into my heart, direct, and take charge of my life. I believe that you died to set me free from
my sinful lifestyle and you rose from the dead to give me eternal life, and
right now you are seated at the Right Hand of God Almighty. I believe you are
the Son of God; the only Way, the only Truth, the only Life, and my
Savior.” I believe this and have faith
you will make a new person out of me, by sending the Holy Spirit to dwell in my
heart and lead me in a new life. In Jesus name I pray Amen.”
(John 3:16,17; Romans
3:23; 6:23; 5:8; 10:9-13; Ephesians
2:8-10; 1 John 5:11-14; 1:6-10)
(Sin: Rom. 1:22-32; Gal. 5:19-21; Eph.
5:3-7)
