John 5:15-18 - The Father and the Son's Sabbath Labor

John 5:15-18

The man went away, and told the Jews that it was Jesus who had made him well. And for this reason the Jews were persecuting Jesus, because He was doing these things on the Sabbath. But He answered them, "My Father is working until now; and I Myself am working." For this cause therefore the Jews were seeking all the more to kill Him, because He not only was breaking the Sabbath, but also was calling God His own Father, making Himself equal with God. 

Message: The Father and the Son's Sabbath Labor

Time: John most likely wrote between A.D. 85 and 90. John's purpose in writing was, "that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name (John 20:31)."

What the Lord is Saying: As I read these passages I often will think about the claim that Jesus is God. It is something I see but it is also something that many people refute. Nowhere does Jesus say, "I am God" in scripture and yet there are many examples of Him having God qualities or performing in the same way as God. 

One of the reasons I think about that is thinking about the different type of creatures there are: God and man, angels/demons. And so Jesus clearly is a man and yet I believe He is a super man and yet supermen are not real. There aren't 3 different types of creatures, meaning a third type being a super man. For Jesus to die for our sins, he must be perfect. Can perfection happen in a man? I don't see this. 

This passage is an interesting look at this idea as Jesus as being God as the Jews of the idea believed He was making Himself equal with God for saying that He and the Father are working in the same way. 

Why did the Jews (or Pharisees as is mentioned in Matthew 12:14) claim Jesus and the Father were equal. It seems to be several things. One is that Jesus healed the man at the pool on a Sabbath day, again mentioned in Matthew and also John 5:9, "It was the Sabbath on that day." God is the only one that can do work on the Sabbath. It is not that Sabbath work cannot be done, but only God can do it. 

In addition, he told the lame man afterwards to pick up and carry his pallet/mat. So he instructed someone to break the Sabbath code of doing anything of extra burden. The man no longer needed the pallet/mat. If he did, it is not Sabbath breaking to use it, but since he can walk now he has no use of it. 

Summary: Jesus is accused by the Jews (Pharisees) of being equal with his Father (God) by doing something only He can do - do work and heal someone on the Sabbath. 

Promise: We are called to do what is necessary to preserve life even on the Lord’s Day.

Prayer: Thank you for your great work God, to do the unexpected and to do what only You can do. I thank you and praise You for loving me and showing Your love to me continually. Help me to shine your love to others always. 

Note: If you are interested in other studies/devotions, check out my index of Bible Study's. 

John 5:9b-14 - The Lame Man's Greater Need

John 5:9b-14

Now it was the Sabbath on that day. Therefore the Jews were saying to him who was cured, "It is the Sabbath, and it is not permissible for you to carry your pallet." But he answered them, "He who made me well was the one who said to me, "Take up your pallet and walk." They asked him, "Who is the man who said to you, "Take up, your pallet, and walk?" But he who was healed did not know who it was; for Jesus had slipped away while there was a crowd in that place. Afterward Jesus found him in the temple, and said to him, "Behold, you have become well; do not sin anymore, so that nothing worse may befall you."

Message: The Lame Man's Greater Need

Time: John most likely wrote between A.D. 85 and 90. John's purpose in writing was, "that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name (John 20:31)."

What the Lord is Saying: The next set of verses transition to the Jews. After the lame man has been healed, the Jews criticize him for carrying his pallet, despite the fact that Jesus had told him to, "Take up your pallet and walk." The Jews ask who the man is but the lame man that was healed doesn't know. Later, Jesus finds the man in the temple and tells him now that he is well, do not sin anymore so that nothing worse befalls him. 

Sin is worse than being unable to walk properly. Sin is worse than any other human ailment. Jesus did heal the man and in the process took away from the man what the man thought was his biggest problem. 

Is not this our same problem still today? That is, what we think is our biggest problem is not our biggest problem. Following the pandemic and through the COVID pandemic, it because even clearer that our biggest problem people think they have is their health. It is true that health is focused on life and death on this earth and yet our response to sin or rather how Jesus has died for sin is the biggest issue of the day for it determines where our eternal life will be. 

Even prior to the pandemic I saw this continually emphasized in our prayer circles at church, in that what we brought to the Lord in our prayer requests was most often health related matters. I always thought we were like the lame man, thinking this is what is most important. Maybe because as people, this is the only thing in our lives that we feel we don't have control. And so when COVID hit, and life because so fragile, we proceeded to do at whatever level of person inconvenience - preserve our health. 

And yet Jesus says to the lame man and to me -- "do not sin anymore, so that nothing worse may befall you." Our greatest need is to turn from sin, believe in Jesus and move to living each day for Him. 

I've struggled with this - that is - taking something that has been valued greatly in my life and then seeing that something is more important and then wondering how I am to view that which was previously more important. Like what is our response to COVID or any sickness once we establish that sin is more important? I mean, Jesus healed the man. He wanted to give the man something that was important to him. But we must never lose sight in the fact that sin and dealing with sin is most important. 

We still don't know if this man, that Jesus healed, ever became a saved man. He blamed Jesus for having to carry his mat/pallet.  

Summary: Jesus tells the lame man, after he has healed him, that still his greatest problem remains - sin and how the man responds to it. 

Promise: From Tabletalk, "Our sovereign God may choose to intervene and bring about an unexpected physical healing. It is good and right to pray for Him to do so. Yet we must never forget that people need spiritual restoration far more than they need physical healing. As we minister to others inside and outside the church, let us not fail to call people to faith and repentance."

Prayer: Lord, I love this scripture and its application. It is my heart cry that we would value supremely what you value and that would be our focus always. May sinners be founds saved from the wrath to come and sealed with God for eternity. Lord, help me to make this my greatest focus with people. I'm thankful to hear of Bill who took a moment to do this with an employee at Target. I'm reminded of Dion Lear who had a pen with a simple gospel message that he shared often with others. What's holding me back Lord? 

Note: If you are interested in other studies/devotions, check out my index of Bible Study's. 

John 5:1-9a - Healing at Bethesda

John 5:1-9a

After these things there was a feast of the Jews, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem.

Now there is in Jerusalem by the sheep gate a pool, which is called in Hebrew Bethesda, having five porticoes. In these lay a multitude of those who were sick, blind, lame, and withered, [waiting for the moving of the waters; for an angel of the Lord went down at certain seasons into the pool and stirred up the water; whoever then first, after the stirring up of the water, stepped in was made well from whatever disease with which he was afflicted.] A man was there who had been ill for thirty-eight years. When Jesus saw him lying there, and knew that he had already been a long time in that condition, He said to him, “Do you wish to get well?” The sick man answered Him, “Sir, I have no man to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up, but while I am coming, another steps down before me.” Jesus said to him, “Get up, pick up your pallet and walk.” Immediately the man became well, and picked up his pallet and began to walk.

Message: Healing at Bethesda

Time: John most likely wrote between A.D. 85 and 90. John's purpose in writing was, "that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name (John 20:31)."

What the Lord is Saying: Thus far, what I have seen in this study of John is John starting off by describing many different names for Jesus that conveyed his purpose in coming. And that purpose is wrapped up in the theme of giving eternal life to all who believe which makes up Chapters 3 and 4. Jesus is about getting his name and message out. He is to preach the good news of the gospel, namely that God loves and we are to believe that Jesus is the light and allow our sin to be exposed. And then Jesus also heals. As people come to him and as he is around people, there are those that are hurting and come to him to ask to be healed. Perhaps this is a way to get him message out faster. By people seeing a healing, word travels. And yet it is hoped that what gets communicated is his overarching message. 

Jesus comes to the pool, to see a man. There was a pool there that many thought when the angel visited the pool and stirred the water, many would be healed, but one many could not make it into the pool. The idea was that the first one into the pool would be healed. For this to happen, the man would need others to help him. And other people were too interested in getting the healing. It was 38 years that he had been in the condition of not being able to walk or move himself. 38 years. Interesting that this detail is called out. 

"When Jesus saw him..." To be seen is a major point in anyone's life. To be seen and recognized and mentioned is the greatest moment one can often experience. I will never forget my oldest son playing basketball in a youth faith or church league and shooting a basket and making a layup and immediately looking at me as he came down the court. He wanted to be seen and I saw him. That moment has always stood out to me in my life. 

Jesus asked the man if he wanted to get well and the man's response was affirmative, yes, but he expressed it in the form that no one will help me. 

Jesus helped him. Jesus healed him. The man felt if he could get to the water he would be healed. Jesus didn't simply take him to the water which is what He could have done, but by speaking a word to the man, he was healed. That simple. 

And yet, what we don't know is the man's faith nor that he really knew who Jesus was. And Jesus picks him out of the crowd. Many beyond the man wanted to be healed but Jesus chose the man. So Jesus didn't heal everyone. The purpose - to show His power. Not everyone will be healed. 

Summary: Jesus picks a man out from the crowd at the pools of Bethesda in Jerusalem and heals the man, allowing him to get up and walk. 

Promise: God sovereignly determines when and where to act.

Prayer: Lord, you heal. You heal who you choose. And we can also implore you to heal. Yet, you are sovereign and in control. I surrender to you and accept what you provide for me. Lord, comfort those that need healing. That are wanting this to occur. Help people to know You as Savior and Lord. Lord, keep healing as you are doing in people's lives. 

Note: If you are interested in other studies/devotions, check out my index of Bible Study's. 

John 4:43-54 - Ministry in Galilee

John 4:43-54
And after the two days He went forth from there into Galilee. For Jesus Himself testified that a prophet has no honor in his own country. So when He came to Galilee, the Galileans received Him, having seen all the things that He did in Jerusalem at the feast; for they themselves also went to the feast. 

Therefore He came again to Cana of Galilee where He had made the water wine. And there was a royal official whose son was sick at Capernaum. When he heard that Jesus had come out of Judea into Galilee, he went to Him and was imploring Him to come down and heal his son; for he was at the point of death. So Jesus said to him, “Unless you people see signs and wonders, you simply will not believe.” The royal official said to Him, “Sir, come down before my child dies.” Jesus said to him, “Go; your son lives.” The man believed the word that Jesus spoke to him and started off. As he was now going down, his slaves met him, saying that his son was living. So he inquired of them the hour when he began to get better. Then they said to him, “Yesterday at the seventh hour the fever left him.” So the father knew that it was at that hour in which Jesus said to him, “Your son lives”; and he himself believed and his whole household. This is again a second sign that Jesus performed when He had come out of Judea into Galilee.

Message: Ministry in Galilee

Time: John most likely wrote between A.D. 85 and 90. John's purpose in writing was, "that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name (John 20:31)."

What the Lord is Saying: Two days? The event so far in John 4 has covered 2 days (v. 43), is that what John is saying? So Jesus is leaving the area of the Samaritans and is now headed south the Galilee. In Matthew, Mark, and Luke this initial time in Judea and Samaria is not mentioned. Jesus remarks in verse 44 that a prophet has no honor in his own country. Many rejected him in his own city. In Mark 6 it mentions Jesus in arriving in his hometown went to the synagogue and they were widespread offense towards him and in verse 4 of that chapter it states a similar message to this one in John. 

But I suppose what is odd here is that the rest of the passage mentions how the Galileans accepted Jesus. And several situations are mentioned:

• He did a lot of things in Jerusalem (John 1:19-28, 2:13-25)
• He made the water into wine (John 2:1-10)

An official, probably an adviser to Herod Antipas, comes to Jesus asking him to heal his son. The place was Cana of Galilee where he had made water into wine and verse 54 will mention it later as the 2nd since that Jesus performed. This man had obviously heard of Jesus' power, supernatural power and asks Jesus to heal his son, who was close to death in Capernaum (on the northwestern part of the Sea of Galilee). 

Jesus' initial response was a little disdain. Not sure if it was mentioned solely to the man but to others around. Chapter 2:23 recorded the results of Jesus' turning water into wine "many believed in His name, beholding His signs which He was doing." And yet, "Jesus, on His part, was not entrusting Himself to them." Their belief was not sincere belief in Jesus but rather belief in a sign, in a magic trick. And Nicodemus mentions this as well to Jesus in 3:2 and this is when Jesus communicates what is really need to be born again and that is a change must occur in a person on the inside - that each person must believe as recorded in John 3:15 - "that whoever believes may in Him have eternal life." 

And even after these words, the official implores Jesus further (v. 49). Jesus remarks, "Go your way; your son lives." Basically, go back to your home in Capernaum and you will see that your son has been healed. "The man believed." This man had real faith. His faith was not in seeing the sign because he would probably not see his son for some time. But when Jesus spoke the words, he believed. He did not need to see the results. He believed what Jesus said. God's word had taken root in him. And then in verse 51 we hear of the result of the sign. Others in the household would believe. 

Again, there is a belief in Jesus that is needed, beyond the sign, beyond what He can do. 

Summary: There are those that reject Jesus, but in Galilee a royal official asks Jesus to heal his dying son and believes Jesus' that He has healed his son ever prior to see the results. 

Promise: Many saw signs from Jesus but never really believed in Him. Our faith must be grounded in the promises of God. When we are convinced of His trustworthiness, our faith will persevere.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for guiding me and directing me. I have missed finishing these times with You in your word, just allowing myself to get overly busy and yet Lord, you are there and always there. Give me strength in my days and give me direction in helping these boys now that are staying with us, maybe even to help the word of God take root in them. Thank you for helping me understand Your words and knowing You. Thank you for this message of truth, of believing in You beyond what You do for us, beyond seeing what you have done. May that real faith be contagious. Help me to take a moment and speak your truth to others. 

Note: If you are interested in other studies/devotions, check out my index of Bible Study's. 

John 4:39-42 - The Savior of the World

John 4:39-42

And from that city many of the Samaritans believed in Him because of the word of the woman who testified, "He told me all the things that I have done." So when the Samaritans came to Him, they were asking Him to stay with them; and He stayed there two days. And many more believed because of His word; and they were saying to the woman, "It is no longer because of what you said that we believe, for we have heard for ourselves and know that this One is indeed the Savior of the world." 

Message: The Savior of the World

Time: John most likely wrote between A.D. 85 and 90. John's purpose in writing was, "that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name (John 20:31)."

What the Lord is Saying: I love these passages for they have in them little nuggets that I have heard most of my life, like the last phrase, "Jesus is indeed the Savior of the World." Citing Jesus as Savior was most likely using terminology popular during the 1st century in describing the Greek gods as Saviors and Roman emperors as well. And so in describing Jesus as Savior it probably means a little more then because Jesus is above every other perceived leader or deity. And Jesus is the one over all. And yet this does not mean that all are saved because of that proclamation but rather it is only in and through him that people can be saved. 

This passage in John 4 is an example of the harvest being ripe and many coming to know Jesus as Savior and Lord. Salvation has occurred for these people. The woman bore witness of her experience with Jesus and people listened to this woman. Again, women were not respected or their words valued during these times and yet her words had an impact on them and they sought to follow Jesus because of what she said. 

And now they have seen for themselves. It is not clear to me what Jesus said to them. The previous verses seem to be verses he is speaking to his disciples, explaining to them what is truly meant by doing the will of God and planting seeds and reaping what you sow to experience then the fruit of that labor. 

Summary: Many Samaritans put their faith in Jesus and they proclaimed Jesus Savior of the World.

Promise: Christ is the only Savior of the World and there is no hope apart from him for salvation and eternal life. 

Prayer: Lord, your message of renewal and salvation and eternal life continues to be shared. You Jesus are still making an impact today and saving souls and bringing good news. I want to praise you God and Jesus and Spirit for making me know and showing me the way. You are one God, the only true God and I praise You. Keep bringing people to the knowledge of You. 

Note: If you are interested in other studies/devotions, check out my index of Bible Study's. 

John 4:35-38 - The Work of Sowing and Reaping

John 4:35-38

"Do you not say, 'There are yet four months, and then comes the harvest'? Behold, I say to you, lift up your eyes, and look on the fields, that they are white for harvest. Already he who reaps is receiving wages, and is gathering fruit for life eternal; that he who sows and he who reaps may rejoice together. For in this case the saying is true, 'One sows, and another reaps.' I sent you to reap that for which you have not labored; others have labored, and you have entered into their labor." 

Message: The Work of Sowing and Reaping

Time: John most likely wrote between A.D. 85 and 90. John's purpose in writing was, "that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name (John 20:31)."

What the Lord is Saying: After speaking to the Samaritan woman, the disciples arrive to Jesus, having gone off to get food, but Jesus remarks that the true food or the true sustenance of life is to do the will of God and accomplish His work. This reminds me of Matthew 4:4 and the first temptation that was presented to Jesus by the devil when he asks Jesus to "command that these stones become bread." But He answered and said, "It is written (Deuteronomy 8:3), 'MAN SHALL NOT LIVE ON BREAD ALONE, BUT ON EVERY WORD THAT PROCEEDS OUT OF THE MOUTH OF GOD.'" This is how we truly live, on the Word of God. 

Jesus continues to expand on his words providing to the disciples the imagery of planting seed that will then be harvested. But as he has been doing thus far in explaining the truth of his message, he brings us to message of eternal life. Amazing to me how this continues to be the message John is presenting to us from Jesus. Jesus points the disciples to the fields remarking "they are white for harvest." 

The white fields seems to refer to a harvest crop of corn. Whether it is four months of harvest, Jesus' point is that there is a time period in which one waits for the harvest to reap, but the harvest of bringing people to eternal life, the harvest fields such as He saw from the Samaritan woman and her conversion and then spreading the news that resulted in many coming to Him to hear, this all speaks to a harvest that is ready to reap. There is a plentiful field of ripe corn. 

"He who reaps" is he who takes the time to labor in the Word to convert sinners "is receiving wages" meaning is receiving something infinitely more valuable than what man can give. Again, the parallel thought to the day in which we work and work and work and receive wages. Well, this is working that results in almost easy money. The reaping of the work is ripe for wages. "and is gathering fruit for life eternal." The fruit that is gathered in a harvest is for the benefit of many. It benefits myself and it benefits others. The salvation of people has a big effect on life, on others. Christ does a great work in the life of a converted soul, to the point that this soul will impact many. 

Fruit is really an interesting idea because fruit benefits me. As I enter into time of harvesting and bringing people to the knowledge and acceptance of eternal life, it yields a fruit that benefits many but also benefits me. Paul in Romans 1 mentions a desire to visit those in the Roman church and states, "And I do not want you to be unaware, brethren, that often I have planned to come to you in order that I might obtain some fruit among you also." There is fruit, personal rewards, in sharing the truth of the message of the Gospel with others. And we need this fruit, this food, this living water - to survive? I think it is not simply to survive but to flourish. 

It makes me also think of Steven Curtis Chapman's song, "More to this Life" with these lyrics:

And there's more to this life than living and dying

More than just trying to make it through the day

More to this life, more than these eyes alone can see

And there' s more than this life alone can be.

"he who sows and he who reaps may rejoice together." There is joy together. 

And verse 38 concludes also that sowing and reaping is often done separate. One sows and one reaps. The body of Christ is working together, each with different gifts, and it results in some seeing the labor and some maybe involved in the labor but all work together. 'One sows, and another reaps.'

Summary: The one who sows and the one who reaps bears fruit, and the harvest is ripe, for seeing many arrive to life eternal. 

Promise: Even now, Christ is working through His church to plant spiritual seed and reap spiritual fruit, and all of us are called to participate in this work by exercising our gifts for the sake of the advance of the gospel.

Prayer: O God, what a joy you provide for us to enjoy the fruit of the gospel. Lord, is the harvest still ripe? Sometimes God it doesn't feel like it and yet, sometimes I am not sure if we are being clear in our presentation of You. Help me to navigate this and preach your Word in a clear way. If you deem me to be a laborer, I am content with this. If I can reap, thank you for this. Be glorified. 

Note: If you are interested in other studies/devotions, check out my index of Bible Study's. 

John 4:31-34 - The Food that Sustained Jesus

John 4:31-34

In the meanwhile the disciples were requesting Him, saying, "Rabbit, eat." But He said to them, "I have food to eat that you do not know about." The disciples therefore were saying to one another, "No one brought Him anything to eat, did he?" Jesus said to them, "My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me, and to accomplish His work." 

Message: The Food that Sustained Jesus

Time: John most likely wrote between A.D. 85 and 90. John's purpose in writing was, "that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name (John 20:31)."

What the Lord is Saying: The disciples have returned to Jesus and were surprised he was speaking to a woman and a Samaritan woman at that. As John has presented to us thus far, we have seen Jesus respond about being born again in a different sort of way, even that He is the light in contrast to the darkness, that He provides a living water versus regular drinking water. Living water yields eternal life. And now today we see a reference to food and yet Jesus will talk about a different sort of food. 

I find this interesting and not sure I've put this connection together before in the past of these normal everyday needs or experiences we have as people and how Jesus is using them to reference something new and different. And He is using basics of our life - born, light, water, and now food. He uses physical needs to instruct in spiritual matters. Just as we have needs for these physical needs, Jesus shows that our need for God can be seen in the same way. These bring us life. Abundant life. 

Interlinear - But in the meantime were asking Him the disciples saying Rabbi eat. But He said them I food have to eat that you not. Were saying therefore the disciples to one another No one did bring Him. Says to them - Jesus My food is that I should do the will of the [One] having sent Me and should finish of Him the work. 

The food that Jesus mentions is "do the will" of the One having sent Me and "should finish of Him the work." Jesus is to accomplish or bring to an end or perfect the will of God who sent Him. The way of salvation is completed in Jesus. 

Deuteronomy 8:3 - He humbled you and let you be hungry, and fed you with manna which you did not know, nor did your fathers know, that He might make you understand that man does not live by bread alone, but man lives by everything that proceeds out of the mouth of the Lord.

There are times when I have learned and studied God's word and been in fellowship with others in the faith that I have felt this sustenance from the Lord that he sustains me through His word. That we have all that we need in Him. I wonder often if much of what I am doing is busy work and not ultimate work that is needed. We all have to toil and do so much in life simply to survive. And yet real survival is found not in these activities, but real survival is found in doing the will of the Father. It is in Him that life is complete. 

Summary: The greatest delight (real food) of Jesus is to do the will of God who sent Him and complete/accomplish/perfect that work. 

Promise: We need to reciprocate the same sort of will and zeal that Jesus had in doing the will of the Father through obedience in following His commandments. 

Prayer: Lord, thank you for Your word and that it sustains me this day. I start the day with You Lord, not something I did this weekend, but I return to You again to start afresh. You sustain me and your Words in this book are the true words to my life. Light my way now. Be my water, my food, my sustenance to live in a born again way. Thank you for speaking the truth to me. 

Note: If you are interested in other studies/devotions, check out my index of Bible Study's. 

John 4:27-30 - The Samaritan Woman Bears Witness to Jesus

John 4:27-30

And at this point His disciples came, and they marveled that He had been speaking with a woman: yet no one said, "What do You seek?" or "Why do You speak with her?" So the woman left her water pot, and went into the city, and said to the men, "Come, see a man who told me all the things that I have done, this is not the Christ, is it?" They went out of the city, and were coming to Him. 

Message: The Samaritan Woman Bears Witness to Jesus

Time: John most likely wrote between A.D. 85 and 90. John's purpose in writing was, "that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name (John 20:31)."

What the Lord is Saying: Immediately as I read this scripture, I am encouraged to tell others about my experience with Jesus that I have. I love to read God's word and love to be around people that He has crated. They are an encouragement to me. I need to be more about people. And loving and caring for them. It is hard times in my world because of the position I am in and I wonder if people view me like this. 

The woman expressed a lot of faith. The disciples showed up and once again were surprised at Jesus and how he was speaking to people. We look first to what is appropriate rather than looking first to people and who they are. I do it often as well. I wish I was not like this. 

Tabletalk reminds me something that I forget and that at this time of history, it was viewed a waste of time to even speak to women. It is kind of amazing to think about, but it's only been a little more than 100 years that a woman has been allowed to vote (1920) in this country. At this time, many Jewish men would not even speak to their wives and it was thought to be a waste of time to teach them the Bible and yet Jesus is not only speaking to the woman but offering theology to her. These may seem like small details to emphasize but they are actually big deals. 

And the woman was so eager that she left behind her water pot. And then people listened to her. So she not only went back and spoke but people didn't ignore her but listened. 

Summary: After the Samaritan woman has an encounter with Jesus, she goes back to tell others and they come out to see Jesus. 

Promise: The gospel is not only for the respectable and those who have their lives together. The gospel is also for the outcast, the dysfunctional, and those who have made shambles of their lives.

Prayer: Thank you for loving all and showing value to all people. You set a great example that I need to emulate and I haven't always done this nor continue to do this. Forgive me. Thank you for the reminder here to be vocal as well about what I believe. I need to be your biggest cheerleader. Forgive me for not being that. Thank you for loving me and accepting me anyway. 

Note: If you are interested in other studies/devotions, check out my index of Bible Study's. 

John 4:25-26 - Meeting the Messiah

John 4:25-26 

The woman said to Him, "I know that Messiah is coming (He who is called the Christ); when that One comes, He will declare all things to us." Jesus said to her, "I who speak to you am He." 

Message: Meeting the Messiah

Time: John most likely wrote between A.D. 85 and 90. John's purpose in writing was, "that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name (John 20:31)."

What the Lord is Saying: I am coming to the end of the discussion Jesus is having with the Samaritan woman. Anytime Jesus speaks I am reminded of the significance of His speech. Jesus has already in this passage confirmed that true life is found in living water and this is taking something from Him that will yield eternal life. It is not water per se but just like water that provides us with the sustenance each day to live, eternal life is just that, eternal life. It is placing our trust in Him, believing and obeying and in the process we receive living water or water that will never cause us to need water again. 

Jesus has also exposed this woman of sin. This is something else we see in John 3, exposure of sin and the significance of this in a person that comes to Christ. "I know that I am a sinner." 

And then Jesus states that true faith is true worship. And the worship that He is speaking of is not worship based upon location - which was the prevailing thought at the time, but worship, true worship is of the spirit and the truth of who He is. This is another thought that was mentioned in John 3. In being born again, we are born of the Spirit and this Spirit comes to live in our spirit. 

And now the woman recognizes that what she has been hearing from Jesus is significant. As a Samaritan her understanding of the things of God are a little jumbled. Previously, she thought that Jesus was a prophet (verse 19). 

Tabletalk for today mentions:

Samaritan religion, because it accepted only a corrupted form of the Five Books of Moses (Genesis–Deuteronomy), did not have a fully developed idea of the Messiah as the descendant of David. However, that does not mean the Samaritans lacked messianic expectations. Drawing from passages such as Deuteronomy 18:15, the Samaritans looked for a Messiah who would serve primarily as a prophet and restore the “authentic religion” of the Samaritans to God’s people (they called him the Taheb).

And so the Samaritan woman says that "Messiah is coming" and he will be one that will declare to us what we need to know. Jesus responds, "I who speak to you am He." Here are the long awaited words of Jesus confirming clearly that He is the messiah. The word He is added on this verse as clarification. Jesus says in the Greek, "I am the one speaking to you." It is unclear to me if Jesus is saying, I am to link us to the words of God in saying in Exodus 3:14 "And God spoke to Moses, saying, I am (ego eimi) THE BEING." Or if he really one wants to say He is the Messiah. He is the Messiah and this understanding of Him as Messiah is by the Spirit of God speaking that truth. As a reminder, "To the Jew the Messiah was a conquering king, who would help them to ride on the necks of their enemies, and pay back their persecutions and oppressions (Alexander MacLaren)." 

The words are significant in many ways. Jesus is the end all. 

Summary: The Samaritan woman knows the Messiah will coming and Jesus states that He is the Messiah. 

Promise: Our best arguments will convince no one that Jesus is the Messiah and move them to trust in Him. Only the Holy Spirit can do such convincing.

Prayer: O Heavenly Father, you are the Messiah. That statement maybe doesn't mean as much to me as it should, but you are the one promised from the beginning to come and rescue us from ourselves and rescue us from what we thought was the way to You - only obedience. But we must first place our complete faith in you and follow it up with obedience that you prescribe for me. Keep these truths fresh on my lips. Help me God. I am struggling with feeling like I am not doing enough. I am not good enough. Give me a joy of your salvation and help me to have a boldness to speak of You to others. Not out of guilt but out of love. 

 

Note: If you are interested in other studies/devotions, check out my index of Bible Study's. 

John 4:23-24 - How God Must be Worshipped

John 4:23-24

"But an hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers shall worship the Father in spirit and truth; for such people the Father seeks to be His worshipers. God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirt and truth."

Message: How God Must be Worshipped

Time: John most likely wrote between A.D. 85 and 90. John's purpose in writing was, "that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name (John 20:31)."

What the Lord is Saying: Jesus in the last lesson has mentioned worship and today's passage has always been an interesting one to me as Jesus speaks of true worshipers. Jesus is pointing us toward worshiping the father in verse 21 and now again here in these verses to "worship the Father in spirit and truth." For us, maybe this is not as significant as it was in that day. But maybe it is because Jesus seems to be pointing out the importance of how we worship rather than where we worship. 

Tabletalk mentions this and I think it is significant:

Due to the connection between sacred space and proper, divinely appointed worship, first-century Jews and Samaritans debated the location God chose for people to bring Him sacrifices. The Samaritans believed Mount Gerizim, not Mount Zion, was the place the Lord had chosen. Upon learning that Jesus was a Jewish prophet, the Samaritan woman asked Him to weigh in on the debate. Interestingly, Jesus gave an answer she was likely not expecting—the debate between worship on Zion or Gerizim was about to be rendered obsolete. People would worship not only on Zion or Gerizim but anywhere they approach God in spirit and truth (John 4:21–24).

I do think that phrase "In spirit and truth" is an interesting phrase. Jesus has been mentioning the spirit often in the last few chapters, during his time in Judea and Samaria. The little 's' spirit is the place in our human spirit where the Holy Spirit of God resides. This is another way in which man stands out and is different. He has a spirit and the spirit is a place the Holy Spirit speaks to us and resides. The Holy Spirit will operate and then our lives will be lived out in such a way to express the Spirit's work in and through us. I love going back to chapter 3, verse 5 and seeing where Jesus says that "we must be born of the Spirit to enter the kingdom of God." The Spirit must awaken in us a desire for things of God. Our sin is exposed and now we can choose to surrender our lives and follow Him or not. 

Thus, "in spirit" has no limitations on time and space. Places are not bad but the essence of our faith is not being caught up in a church structure but rather in the matter of worshipping God within our spirit. And it is noteworthy that spirit precedes truth. We need the spirit to be defined to know the truth. We align ourselves with Him and worship with Him there is spirit and in truth. Truth is in harmony with the will of God and His nature. 

Summary: True worship is not at a building though this is not bad, but true worship is God's Spirit speaking to our spirit and walking in the truth of the will of God and His nature. 

Promise: True worship does not consist in merely going through the motions but in setting our hearts to love, thank, and praise our Maker while we come before Him privately and publicly.

Prayer: God, what an exciting passage to behold the community I have with You that is distinct and different. Thank you for speaking to me and for your Holy Spirit making known to me the beauty of worshipping you. You speak to me in a way that I don't always comprehend and yet you give me truth in this communication. It is different. You have sent your spirit to be with mine and I praise you for this and thank you for the special union we have. Thank you for awakening me and help me be a conduit to others. Help me understand better how to communicate to others these true words. 

Note: If you are interested in other studies/devotions, check out my index of Bible Study's. 

John 4:16-22 - Debating Theology with Jesus

John 4:16-22

He said to her, "Go, call your husband, and come here." The woman answered and said, "I have no husband." Jesus said to her, "You have well said, 'I have no husband''; for you have had five husbands, and the one whom you now have is not your husband; this you have said truly." The woman said to Him, "Sir, I perceive that You are a prophet. Our fathers worshiped in this mountain, and you people say that in Jerusalem is the place where men ought to worship." Jesus said to her, "Woman, believe Me, an hour is coming when neither in this mountain, nor in Jerusalem, shall you worship the Father. You worship that which you do not know; we worship that which we know, for salvation is from the Jews." 

Message: Debating Theology with Jesus

Time: John most likely wrote between A.D. 85 and 90. John's purpose in writing was, "that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name (John 20:31)."

 

What the Lord is Saying: Jesus has now told the Samaritan woman about living water and that this living water, when requested, He provides her something that causes her to actually never thirst again. He provides her eternal life. Interesting how eternal life is likened to living water. Water is something we need to survive each day on this earth. It sustains us. Even when we are fasting, we are drinking water. And Jesus says to take living water from Him merits eternal life. 

I also think back to Jesus' words in chapter 3 and he remarks, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God." Could there be a link between the two? Is the water in chapter 3:5 referring to the living water that Jesus is speaking of here? 

Next up in our study of the encounter Jesus has with the Samaritan woman is Jesus asking about her husband and she admits she does not have a husband and Jesus clarifies with this woman that she actually has had five husbands. Again, this woman, is an outcast. She most likely comes to the well by herself, not the common practice, because no one will come with her. She was rejected in her community by her sexual immorality. She's had five husbands already and the man she is with right now is not her husband. She admits this. Upon Jesus confronting her, she does not lie or hide. Before him, she admits that she has no husband. Could it be that because of the way Jesus speaks to her she has a need to be honest and admit her sin? "the one whom you now have is not your husband; this you have said truly." And yet she at first tries to hide by saying she has no husband. 

Upon hearing this, though, the woman is astonished and further understands Jesus as being someone different. He's already mentioned living water. And now he know about her and her past. And yet she knows he is still speaking to her. I am reminded that this is significant because Jews were very careful about associating with anyone or anything that was deemed unclean. Surely this woman would be an example of someone unclean. And yet Jesus in these back to back passages speak to a religious leader and a social outcast and both have the same need - spiritual rebirth. 

Even though the woman is an outcast she has understanding of spiritual matters. She understands the difference between the Samaritans and the Jews. The Samaritans only worshipped here and only recognized the first 5 books of the Old Testament and other alterations. And Jesus acknowledges this but also makes me mention that the past ritual of where one should worship is not the issue of the moment - but rather the issue first and foremost is salvation and it is from the Jews (v. 22). 

Jesus makes it clear that where you worship or the surroundings will not be important. There will not be limitations to worship. Salvation will be different. In chapter 3, I saw something significant and that is the ability of a person to even see their need to believe and be born again (v.16) came about from the Spirit (v. 6,8) and in this awakening their sin is exposed (v.19).   

There is clearly something really different here. And it is like it isn't over yet and there is more to understand. 

Summary: The woman's sin of being with a man not her husband is exposed by Jesus and Jesus points to her a time when worship will be different and salvation from the Jews. 

Promise: In the Gospel, our sin is exposed and we acknowledge our estrangement from God. The Gospel does more than make life better. It improves and satisfies the condition of us. 

Prayer: Father, you are real and true and Jesus is true and Holy Spirit, you have awakened me to know You and have salvation in You. Thank you for continuing to teach me through the reading now of Your word. Keep enlightening me and others and help me to speak the truth of Your gospel to others. Expose people. Expose their sinful nature so they see you are the answer. 

Note: If you are interested in other studies/devotions, check out my index of Bible Study's. 

John 4:10-15 - Eternally Satisfying Water

John 4:10-15

Jesus answered and said to her, "If you knew the gift of God, and who it is who says to you, 'Give Me a drink,' you would have asked Him, and He would have given you living water." She said to Him, "Sir, you have nothing to draw with and the well is deep; where do You get that living water? You are not greater than our father Jacob, are You, who gave us the well, and drank of it himself, and his sons, and his cattle?" Jesus answered and said to her, "Everyone who drinks of this water shall thirst again; but whoever drinks of the water than I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall become in him a well of water springing up to eternal life." The woman said to Him, "Sir, give me this water, so I will not be thirsty, nor come all the way here to draw." 

Message: Eternally Satisfying Water

Time: John most likely wrote between A.D. 85 and 90. John's purpose in writing was, "that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name (John 20:31)."

What the Lord is Saying: Yesterday, I started Jesus' encounter with the woman at the well in Samaria, after he left Judea, possibly due to the concern that he was gaining popularity and that the Jewish leaders of the day might expose him. As he goes to Samaria, he encounters a woman who we would typecast as an outcast and yet he interacts with her like he would with anyone else. 

Jesus has asked her for a drink and her response is not in providing him the drink but rather is wondering why a Jew would be speaking to a Samarian woman. Jesus follows this up by giving an answer that I think says, either you provide me a drink or you should realize that I am different from your average Jew and can provide you something way better than water. 

His response is somewhat revealing a mystery. "If you knew the gift of God, and who it is who says to you, 'Give Me a drink,' you would have asked Him, and He would have given you living water." If only she knew. If only she knew who she was addressing. And that He provides a gift of God which is the living water. Jesus gives living water. 

And then, like Nicodemus who wonders how he could be born again, this woman does not understand and thinks living water is better water than what she is drinking, but still water. But Jesus clarifies the water that He is offering -- "but whoever drinks of the water than I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall become in him a well of water springing up to eternal life."

This water is something that will cause her to not thirst again. I think this is an important note about the water because he is denoting the water will spring up to eternal life but also that the water will produce in her a need to never thirst again. All she had to do was ask and He would give. But one does need to ask. Jesus shows that a person needs to ask. A person needs to know they have a need and yet in receiving it is a gift. Jesus wants to give gifts and again, all that he wants is a request. Eternal life is given for asking. It is bestowed for asking. I do not see how from these verses, even the verses in chapter 3 that any thing more could be stated needing to be done to receive this eternal life. Now I do believe we do see that obedience follows receiving the gift. But that is later, right now it is simply asking. 

Summary: Jesus lets the Samaritan woman know that living water is eternal life and for her to receive she must ask. 

Promise: Take what He is offering and we will never thirst again.

Prayer: Father, thank you for providing this message and the promise of eternal life. Thank you that you want to provide us gifts and all that we must do is ask. It is amazing that it is this easy. It is this simple and yet this profound. It is amazing that so many are too proud to ask. How easy is the gospel message. Lord, direct me to the living water that brings eternal life. Lord provide it to me. I am asking. I want it and I want You. Thank you for this free gift. 

Note: If you are interested in other studies/devotions, check out my index of Bible Study's. 

John 4:1-9 - Jesus Meets a Woman at Samaria

John 4:1-9

When therefore the Lord knew that the Pharisees had heard that Jesus was baptizing more disciples than John (although Jesus Himself was not baptizing, but His disciples were), He left Judea, and departed again into Galilee. And He had to pass through Samaria. So He came to a city of Samaria, called Sychar, near the parcel of ground that Jacob gave to his son Joseph; and Jacob's well was there. 

Jesus therefore, being wearied from His journey, was sitting thus by the well. It was about the sixth hour. There came a woman of Samaria to draw water. Jesus said to her, "Give Me a drink." For His disciples had gone away into the city to buy food. The Samaritan woman therefore said to Him, "How is it that You, being a Jew, ask me for a drink since I am a Samaritan woman?" (For Jews have no dealings with Samaritans.)

Message: Jesus Meets a Woman at Samaria

Time: John most likely wrote between A.D. 85 and 90. John's purpose in writing was, "that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name (John 20:31)."

What the Lord is Saying: I did a reading of this passage, up to verse 25-26. In the previous encounter someone has with Jesus, Nicodemus comes to Jesus and Jesus explains to him that he must be born again and in the process, Nicodemus understand that this "born again" is not as it appears literally, but Jesus mentions this born again must happen in a person's life in order to enter the kingdom of God. 

Now in these verses, Jesus has left the land of Judea and has arrived to a city of Samaria called Sycar. (Note: Sychar is only mentioned here and there is no record of this being an actual place. although many scholars have argued that this is the city of Shechem.) Samaria is to the north of Judea. 

It is here that Jesus encounters a woman at a well to draw water. And here, like in John 3, Jesus will describe living water and this is not the same as the water that the woman came to draw at the well. 

Jesus has left Judea with John giving the idea that Jesus was beginning to gain popularity as the Pharisees were hearing word that Jesus was baptizing many people (disciples) than John (though this was not true), He left to go north to Samaria. It was a long journey and upon arriving is at a well and a woman is there to draw water and he asks her for a drink. It seems that Jesus did want a drink, but what transpires is the woman is startled that Jesus (a Jew) would even be speaking to her. 

Tabletalk records that by the 1st century, the people of Samaria were a people of mixed Jewish-Gentile ancestry. They followed a compromised version of the Old Testament. As such, they were considered unclean. 

I suppose the big idea here in this lesson is that Jesus does not dismiss anyone. After this passage we will learn more about the woman at the well. Right now, all that we see is she is a person that for a Jew is unclean simply because of her birth and yet Jesus does not ignore her. Jesus interacts with her. Jesus is fine being with her. We will learn more about her soon, but for now, there is a lesson that Jesus has something to offer to all people. I think of people that have been labeled outcasts, such as black people by whites, or Asian people or anyone of a number of different people, even women, or children. The example here is that Jesus treats everyone the same. And He desires to be with every person in the same way. He does not go out of His way to avoid people, which I see as being something I have done. I have avoided seeing a homeless person by taking a different route. During COVID, we would not go near people for fear of catching a germ. 

Summary: Jesus encounters a Samarian woman at the well, an outcast by many Jews simply because of her ancestry, and Jesus asks her for a drink. 

Promise: Jesus is the only way of salvation, so all people need Him. Let us treat people in the same way, as people that need Jesus. 

Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank you for this lesson and the simple reminder that I am to love and accept all people and not be scared of anyone or avoid anyone. Give me strength and courage to practice this in my everyday life. 

Note: If you are interested in other studies/devotions, check out my index of Bible Study's. 

TABLETALK - February 2018

I continue in my daily studies to be guided by Tabletalk magazine. 2018 was a study on the Gospel of John and its straightforward presentation of the person and work of Christ, the work of the Holy Spirit, and other doctrines. 

• January 2018 (July 4, 2023 - July 23, 2023) John 1:1-2:22 - The preexistence of Christ, the ministry of John the Baptist and the person of Christ. 
• February 2018 (July 24, 2023 - August 10, 2023) John 2:23 - 3:36 - Regeneration and our need to believe in Christ for Salvation

Encounter with Nicodemus

Jesus and the Hearts of Men - People were believing in Jesus' name, but Jesus did not entrust Himself to them. Jesus knows hearts and must have not seen true faith in all people. Nicodemus Comes to Jesus - Nicodemus, observing the signs Jesus was doing, comes to Jesus to remark him as a Rabbi and that He must be sent from God. Our Need for Regeneration - To see the kingdom of God, you must be born again, by the Spirit of God. Irresistible Regeneration - The Spirit moves in us to be born again, and we believe then, which pleases God. Mysterious Regeneration - Even to the Jewish leader and teacher, the things of truth can be mysterious. The Witness of Jesus - Jesus testifies that He has come from heaven to speak of the things of God. We must know the basics to understand the heavenly things. The Son of Man Lifted Up - We must believe in Jesus that He was lifted up on the cross to pay the penalty for our sins. God's Love for the World - God's love is significant and is a love that up to this point has not been mentioned in this way by God for His people and yet it is a love central to our Bible and changes everything about us who believe for eternity. Why God Sent His Son - Those who look to Christ escape condemnation, but those who refuse to trust Him are as good as condemned already. Loving the Darkness - The Light has come into the world but people love evil and hate the Light for fear of being exposed. Doing the Truth - We must expose ourselves to God, admitting we are sinners and run to the Light, believing, and we are saved and God gets all the glory. Christ Increasing - God gave Jesus authority and we are commissioned to be His ambassadors, giving Him all the attention. The Divine Testimony of Jesus - Jesus comes from God and is God, different from finite man, speaking the words of God and has the fullness of the Spirit. The Father's Love for His Son - Jesus has it all. He is loved by the Father and the Father has given him all things. Believing in and Obeying the Son - It's simple and profound, the Spirit draws us, we believe in Jesus, and we obey. All are needed. All must happen. 

The Problem of Forgiveness - RC Sproul - Distinguish between forgiveness and feeling forgiven. When we don't think God will forgive us after He has we are committing the sin of arrogance. God requires perfect holiness. Once it is lost, we cannot regain it. Forgiveness is objective, but the feeling of it subjective. I can feel forgiven but not be forgiven. I can be forgiven but not feel it. God forgets our sin. He does not hold them against us. Forgiveness means not bringing it up. If people confess their sin, we are to forgive, but if people don't repeat, we are not obligated to forgive. The Bible provides a provision of marriage dissolution for adultery. But we still must forgive and treat the person as a brother/sister in Christ, but we can end the marriage. We can have forgiveness, but there still may be consequences. 

How Not to Do Theology - Rev. Robert Rothwell (Associate editor of Tabletalk magazine) - After Hurricane Katrina in 2017 many people lost their lives for operating a generator inside. They didn't know and died from carbon monoxide poisoning. We need to know our theology for it determines our eternity. Do we all realize that we are each theologians because we have thoughts about God? But in this regard, our thoughts are our own and not divine revelation. This works when our thoughts match scripture, but what about when they don't. The idea of sola scriptura is the belief that studying the scripture on my own will give us understanding of truth. God promises in His Word to provide other people, our church leaders and theologians understanding of theology. Rarely is anything new being discovered. Even during the reformation period, what Luther stated about justification by faith alone and Scripture as the infallible authority was not new information. Lots of teachers out their to gravitate towards, but we need to be careful we don't put all our eggs in one basket, so listen to many. Reading blogs is great and other things on the internet, but we need to dive into Scripture and listen to known sound teachers. We can each do theology and it is not only seasoned veterans that can assist us. We must be careful to not get puffed up on ourselves though. We must stay humble. 

Studying Scripture and Doing Theology - R. Carlton Wynne (associate pastor of Westminster Presbyterian Church in Atlanta) - Everyone is a theologian. God is able to make Himself known to those He has made in His image (Gen. 1:26–27). Theology (joins the Greek logos, or “word,” with theos, or “God”) literally, a word or knowledge concerning God—delivered by God to us first. Scripture is God-given and infallible and “the only rule to direct us how we may glorify and enjoy him” (Westminster Shorter Catechism 2). The Apostle Peter teaches that the human writers of the Bible “spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit” (2 Peter 1:21). Scripture is the letter of Jesus Christ to His church (see Rev 2–3; 22:16). And just as He, now risen from the dead, gives life to all of His people (John 5:21), so His Word remains “living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword” (Heb. 4:12). The psalmist sings to the Lord, “I have more understanding than all my teachers, for your testimonies are my meditation” (Ps. 119:99). Pay careful attention to the meaning of particular passages in their immediate contexts, but also trace organic connections with other passages across the whole of Scripture. Doing theology centers on the question, what does the whole Bible say about God, man, sin, Christ, the church, heaven, or any other topic relevant to God’s Word? For things “hard to understand” (2 Peter 3:16), we can and should look for help from godly teachers, Bible commentaries, and the wealth of the church’s past reflections on the Bible. After all, they, too, are Christ’s gifts to us (Eph. 4:11–14). Our final authority must be the Spirit speaking in the Scriptures He inspired. Westminster Confession of Faith: “The infallible rule of interpretation of Scripture is the Scripture itself; and therefore, when there is a question about the true and full sense of any Scripture (which is not manifold, but one), it must be searched and known by other places that speak more clearly” (WCF 9.1). Jesus promised His Apostles that the “Spirit of truth” would guide them into all truth (John 16:13). Sometimes we do eisegesis, reading things “into” (eis in the Greek) the text that are not there, rather than exegesis, reading the truth “out of” (ex in the Greek) the text. His Word is able to expose and correct the faulty assumptions we bring to it. Through careful reading of what Scripture says to better align our thinking with Scripture. For example, a new Christian may have learned that Jesus died to take away sin (1 John 3:5). This knowledge, however limited it may be, becomes a grid through which he reads about the Jewish sacrifices described in the Old Testament. Suddenly, upon reading Hebrews 10:4 (“For it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins”), a new theological insight develops: the sacrifices in Israel anticipated the coming of Christ, who is the only effective sacrifice for sin (Heb. 7:27; 9:26). The Christian’s knowledge of Scripture thereby increases, and soon, John the Baptist’s declaration in John 1:29 (“Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away sin of the world!”) sparkles on the page with a newfound brilliance. God’s revelation has come to us for an even higher purpose, namely, that we might know God personally in Christ and worship Him in the bond of fellowship. 

The Role of Creeds and Confessions in Doing Theology - R. Scott Clark (professor of church history and historical theology at Westminster Seminary California) - Ecumenical creeds and Reformed confessions are like maps of Christians of the past. Creed comes from the Latin word credo, “I believe.” The ecumenical creeds, including the Apostles’ Creed (developed during the first four centuries AD), the Nicene–Constantinopolitan Creed (often called the Nicene Creed; AD 325/381), the Athanasian Creed (after AD 428), and the Definition of Chalcedon (AD 451), widely accepted across the ages of church traditions and often responses to heresies of Christian religion at the time. Other Reformed confessions include the Belgic Confession (1561), the Heidelberg Catechism (1563), the Canons of Dort (1619), and the Westminster Standards (1648). Deuteronomy 6:4: “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one” is known as the Shema, after the Hebrew word translated as “Hear!” in the verse. It is quoted by Jesus, Paul refers to it and James alludes to it. Our Lord Himself commands us to confess the faith. He said, “So everyone who confesses me before men, I also will confess before my Father who is in heaven, but whoever denies me before men, I also will deny before my Father who is in heaven” (Matt. 10:32–33) even where there is opposition in culture. The confessions serve the Scriptures. They are ecclesiastically sanctioned summaries of God’s Word, not an alternative authority of thought. Some have been revised and further supported by scripture references. They themselves declare scripture alone as authority. They are not of equal value to Scripture. The creeds and confessions are the living voice of the church’s understanding of God’s Word on the most important issues of Christian doctrine and living. Without the roadmap of the creeds and reading the Scripture in isolation from the Church it can lead to different understandings. Thus with creeds and confessions we are learning from their journey before us and learning with them the most vital doctrines of the Christian faith and basic Christian practice: the observance of the Lord’s Day, attendance to worship and the means of grace, prayer, repentance, and dying to sin and living to Christ by grace alone.

Doing Theology Together under the Leading of the Holy Spirit - Gabriel N.E. Fluhrer (Senior pastor at the First Presbyterian Church in Chattanooga, Tenn.) - The Bible and church history teach us that the Holy Spirit guides not just Christians individually (Rom. 8:4) but the church corporately. Doing church is not optional in the NT. Upon professing faith we are to belong to a local body of fellow followers. Jesus passed authority to the apostles and those they would teach to teach and baptize. Paul’s letters are to church’s and to be read in churches. And the Holy Spirit would guide people into truth after Jesus’ death. John 14 promises guidance by the Holy Spirit and “you” in these passages is plural. And then Paul gives instruction to those that will have the gift of teaching and instruction. The Lord has gifted His church to serve with gifts of teaching and preaching (see Eph. 4:11–12; Heb. 13:7). Jesus and the disciples well versed in Jewish synagogues where community was important and reading and interpretation of scriptures not only by rabbis but every devout Jew. There is community interpretation, never in isolation, learning from the past. If the Holy Spirit guides the people of God, why has there been so much error in church history, and why have so many important truths been buried for so long? First, false teaching will be prominent until Christ's return, even in the church (Matt. 24:11; Acts 20:29; 2 Tim. 4:3–4). This should be no surprise. Second, God is sovereign and allows false teaching. God will guide His people by His Spirit to glory and as He does they shall prevail. 

The Goal of Doing Theology - Sinclair Ferguson (a Ligonier Ministries teaching fellow and vice-chairman of Ligonier Ministries) - Theology is a joyful and glorious activity because it is ultimately about the glory and joy of our God. Its goal is that of the angels, indeed, of God Himself: this combination of glorifying and enjoying God, which is to the unbeliever the ultimate contradiction but for Christians the discovery of our destiny. Next to the Lord Jesus, no one has embodied what this means more fully than the Apostle Paul. Romans 9–11 provides us with an extended illustration. These three chapters, then, are perhaps the headiest theology anywhere to be found in Paul’s letters. What triggered Paul’s entire exposition here was his “great sorrow and unceasing anguish” of heart for his kinsmen (9:2). He longs that they will be saved (10:1). Why? A further step backward into Romans 1–3 provides the answer. It is because of his passion for God’s glory. He sees the tragedy of man’s condition—made in God’s image and for His glory but in sin exchanging the glory of God for creatures and idols (1:23). Sin is indeed “any want of conformity unto, or transgression of the law of God” (Westminster Shorter Catechism 14). But its result is that we “fall short of the glory of God” (Rom. 3:23) and lose both our crown and our destiny. If we see this, the fallen condition of our kinsmen and its repercussions are heartbreaking indeed. So, those who “do theology” for the glory of God must also be prepared for sorrow (9:2) and have a willingness to sacrifice (v. 3) and evangelize (10:14–17). Besides acting as a catalyst, Paul’s way of “doing theology” has life-changing repercussions. Romans 9:1–11:36 hinges into Romans 12–16 and especially into the first words of those chapters (12:1–2). The mercy God displays (11:30–32) calls for unconditional consecration to Him expressed in nonconformity to the world and transformation into Christ’s image, ultimately to reflect His glory. But how does this take place? By “doing theology” to His glory and for His pleasure. For transformation takes place “by the renewal of your mind” (12:2).

Wonder and Awe - Thomas Brewer (Managing editor of Tabletalk magazine and teaching elder in the Presbyterian Church in America) - We use telescopes to look out into space, trying to understand the shape of our universe. Galileo invented the microscope by reversing the telescope and in the process discovered a very small world living. Like a droplet of lake water will reveal an amoeba swimming. With our eyes we see nothing, but with the microscope a new world. And yet we can go smaller still and see how the amoeba is made up. And in the middle of space and these small details is us humans comprehending some and not comprehending other. “What is mankind that you are mindful of them, human beings that you care for them?” (Ps. 8:4). “I know that you can do all things; no purpose of yours can be thwarted” (Job 42:2). Such thoughts lead to wonder and awe as we acknowledge that He continues to uphold the universe by the word of His power (Heb. 1:3).

It's So Easy to Be Jealous - Rev. Stephen Mueller (church-planting pastor of Gospel Church München in Munich, Germany) - Pr 23:17, “Let not your heart envy sinners, but continue in the fear of the Lord all the day.” Part of envy and jealousy is being sad when things are going well for someone else and rejoicing when things are not going well for them. Author rememberss a wedding in which his friends did skits and received accolades and did well while what he did not merit much. This is when he recognized his joy in seeing them do poorly. But in the process of being jealous he started to not feel good at all or enjoy himself. Pr. 14:30: “A tranquil heart gives life to the flesh, but envy makes the bones rot.” Upon recognizing the sin, asked the Lord to forgive him and things improved and he could rejoice with friends when great things happened to them. We have no need to compare ourselves anymore with others.

Church Matters - Jon D. Payne (Senior minister of Christ Church Presbyterian in Charleston, SC) - More and more people are punting church thinking that the church is not offering them what they need to build their lives seriously. People continue to miss the point of church. "God ordained the visible church as an organization for the gathering, protecting, and perfecting of the church as an organism––the members of the body of Christ (Rom. 12:3–8; 1 Cor. 12:12–31)." To be the church we must be a part of a local body. Our spiritual life is not simply individualistic it is to be connected to others and the church is this connection we all need and all must have. 

The Benefits of Fasting - Rebecca Vandoodewaard (author and mother) - Fasting is a popular decision for the healthy and there are probably more people fasting at the gym than at the church. Fasting is a discipline and hard work and Scripture associates hardship with it. It is marked by prayer, repentance, and grief. First, fasting reminds us we are not in control. If no food, we will die. Second, self-control is learned and gets stronger as one repeats it. Third, a growling stomach is a reminder to pray, and opens up wider angles of praying. Fourth, it creates a spiritual seriousness, it is giving ourselves in a way others cannot see. It draws us into the throne room of heaven to plead in Jesus' name. Take it seriously. 

Pursuing Assurance of Salvation

I John 5:13
These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know that you have eternal life.

2 Peter 1:3-11
3 seeing that His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence. 4 For by these He has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises, so that by them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world by lust. 5 Now for this very reason also, applying all diligence, in your faith supply moral excellence, and in your moral excellence, knowledge, 6 and in your knowledge, self-control, and in your self-control, perseverance, and in your perseverance, godliness, 7 and in your godliness, brotherly kindness, and in your brotherly kindness, love. 8 For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they render you neither useless nor unfruitful in the true knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 For he who lacks these qualities is blind or short-sighted, having forgotten his purification from his former sins. 10 Therefore, brethren, be all the more diligent to make certain about His calling and choosing you; for as long as you practice these things, you will never stumble; 11 for in this way the entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ will be abundantly supplied to you.

Matthew 7:21-23
21 “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter. 22 Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?’ 23 And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; DEPART FROM ME, YOU WHO PRACTICE LAWLESSNESS."

Message: Pursuing Assurance, Assurance and Sanctification, False Assurance

What the Lord is Saying: Jesus is exclusive. I John 5:13 states, "These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know that you have eternal life." There are not multiple ways, but one way. Refuse to believe and one is condemned. Peter states in 2 Peter 1:10, "give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall." Again, what you believe is important; nothing more important. It is one thing to believe an airplane will take you from one destination to another, but it is quite something else to board that plane, experience it and actually travel. Again, in reading the Bible we must remember the two perspectives, what God knows and what people experience. They are not always one in the same. God is infinite, all-knowing. Man is finite with boundaries. A God who created the world is different from a man who builds a house. Jesus uses pictures or stories to communicate truths. The Parable of the Sower is one of the stories. This parable tells us to simply look at the type of soil we are, but to examine oneself. Again, to what 2 Peter 1:10 says, make sure. Confirm your faith. And so we go through a process, according to scripture to confirm or have assurance of our being saved. 

I John in general is a great book to speak to assurance of one's salvation. I find a lot of similarities between it and what I read and studied in John 3 about the Light and Darkness. I John tells us to "walk in the light", to confess our sin. Again, walk and confess are the first subjects spoken of in the book. Romans says, "For all have sinned." Romans 1 is a book that speaks of people falling away from their faith and one of the marks of a person falling away and distancing themselves from God is "being wise in their own eyes." People who think they are great do not think they have done anything wrong. 

I John also tells us to keep His commandments, to Love One Another, to Not Love the World, to practice purity or righteous living. So many people treat faith like going to the supermarket, it is good and necessary to do but not something I need to do all the time, only when I'm hungry. But, this isn't a part of our life, this is our entire life. As I John 2 says, we can't practice sin and expect to abide in Him. We must live the way our heart states we are to live. We are to give to those in need. And also test those spirits because there are alternate truths or beliefs that will be presented to us throughout life. Again, these are all ways we assure our salvation. They prove to ourselves that we are saved. Paul says, to "work out your salvation with fear and trembling."  Each of us needs to know we are in Christ, it is part of our duty. 

Therefore, much of our faith is about reminders. 2 Peter 1:12 says, "Therefore, I shall always be ready to remind you of these things, even though you already know them, and have been established in the truth which is present in you." And much of scripture is written to remind us. I see this in the Old Testament. God wants people to honor Him and yet there are numerous examples of him continue to love and provide for His people despite their rejection of Him. He wants His name to be great. He wants us to know that our lives will be lived better, with more peace as we live according to His ways. 

I think we can know we are saved. We can know we are set apart. We can have that same knowledge that only God can have. Other faiths don't agree. Again, there are differences in understanding. Our faith systems are made up of people talking and conversing and further developing their faith. 

Some say that having this assurance makes one not want to serve and yet this misses the point of the assurance because this assurance is not a one time event, but a continual process, I believe. Assurance grows us in holiness. 

Knowing I am saved encourages me to do good works. Ephesians 2:8-10 speaks of my salvation by grace alone not be works, but then in verse 10 I am moved to do those good works. The works don't save me because that is an act of God. I am not God. God is different from me. The works I do confirm my faith. Without the works I am not saved, it is true. But the works are there to strengthen me and give me assurance. 

Matthew 7:21-23 is a great passage and the pastor preached from this text this past Sunday. For the first time I was really struck by the phrase, practice lawlessness and it reminded me of I John 3:4, "Everyone who practices sin also practices lawlessness; and sin is lawlessness." The stumbling block of our faith is continually practicing our sin. We need to rise to a point in our lives where sins that we have struggled with in the past are somewhat conquered. 

The focus today on this passage though is the danger of false assurance. These are individuals who think they are saved, but are not. I found that when my friend and I went to the mall to speak to about what they believe, we often found people that believed they were fine with God. I think what stands about this passage is this individuals were practicing supernatural sort of things such as casting out demons and performing miracles. These are not ordinary people that may think they are saved because of growing up in the church. These are individuals that are practicing religious theatrics. But perhaps they are not doing them with the right motives. 

The point in this verse to me is we need to evaluate our motives always for what we are doing for God and get serious about our sin. 

Summary: Assurance of Salvation is possible and necessary in our life as we grow towards holiness.

Prayer: O Father God, I praise you for granting me that assurance that I am born again and sealed forever with You. Thank you for that assurance and providing me multiple ways in Scripture to confirm this in my life.  

John 3:36 - Believing in and Obeying the Son

John 3:36

He who believes in the Son has eternal life; but he who does not obey the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.”

Message: Believing In and Obeying the Son

Time: John most likely wrote between A.D. 85 and 90. John's purpose in writing was, "that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name (John 20:31)."

What the Lord is Saying: This chapter is beginning to come to a close and it is chapter full of a lot that we hold dear in the faith. Jesus' encounter with Nicodemus still boggles my mind into thinking about the fact that to be born again happens by being "born of the Spirit (v. 8)." And the turning point in each person being born again is they are allowing their sin to be exposed to God (v. 20 - For everyone who does evil hates the Light, and does not come to the Light for fear that his deeds will be exposed). I don't know it is an amazing turn of the events for me. As people of God, it remains central to me that the difference between the follower and the non-follower is really recognizing our sin and our distance from God because of it. And yet what changes our condition is the Spirit of God working in us. And the reality is that Jesus is God in the flesh. God has given Jesus everything, the fullness of the Spirit (v. 34), speaking the words of God (v. 34) as God gives Jesus all things (v. 35). It is about Him increasing (v. 30) and conversely I decrease.  

And now it is the crescendo of the passage, "He who believes in the Son has eternal life." Stated again, "He who believes in the Son has eternal life." And yet, we have seen that mere belief is not enough. The turning tide of every Christian is His obedience. "he who does not obey the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him." A Christian works. We are created in Christ Jesus for "Good works. (Eph. 2:10)" We are to be about these deeds. Our life must change if we are truly in Christ; we must be a new creature (2 Cor. 5:17). 

O God, in my life I just think of these people in my life that are lost and even those that are engulfed in a religion in which it seems to be so complicated in the deeds it expects from its flock. I think of the man the other day that is engulfed in Mormonism and I've spoken to so many like him. They are on this course that is not to glorify only God and live only for Jesus. Rescue him. Rescue. Awaken your spirit in my son Derek, in my Dad. Bring them into the life of Jesus and knowing Him as Savior and Lord. It is the only way. It is the only way. There is no greater joy knowing You and yet there is no greater angst and hurt than those who don't know you. I find that I want there to be something that saves them. Lord, I love your gospel and I must admit God, I hate it at the same time. I love you have saved me, but it hurts that others are taking a different course. I keep wanting their to be a different answer and yet it all comes down to you Jesus and the Spirit of God changing people's lives. O how I heart for these people that train themselves daily in the things of the flesh, steering their lives more and more away from submitting to God to submitting to self. They are becoming hardened, captured away from You God. Turn the tide God. Turn the tide in people's lives. 

Summary: It's simple and profound, the Spirit draws us, we believe in Jesus, and we obey. All are needed. All must happen. 

Promise: We must urge people to repent and believe today when we give them the gospel.

Prayer: O God, I've said it and I will continue to say. Knowing You is not because of me, but because of You. You get all the glory. You've given me eternal life. Help me to keep on getting out of the way and keep on remembering my sin and training myself for Godliness. 

Note: If you are interested in other studies/devotions, check out my index of Bible Study's. 

John 3:35 - The Father's Love for His Son

John 3:35
The Father loves the Son and has given all things into His hand.

Message: The Father's Love for His Son

Time: John most likely wrote between A.D. 85 and 90. John's purpose in writing was, "that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name (John 20:31)."

What the Lord is Saying: Verse 35 seems like a culminating verse in what has been voiced thus far. Yet, this is the first time the Father is mentioned in chapter 3. In Chapter 1:14, We saw the Word (Jesus) "glory as of the only begotten from the Father." Jesus in 2:16 asks those in the sanctuary to "stop making My Father’s house a place of business." As such there is clearly a distinction between the Father and the Son. The Father loves the Son. And yet though there is a distinction it also reads here that the Father "has given all things into His hand." As such there is nothing that the Father has that the Son lacks. And yet the Father sends the Son. They share the same divine essence. 

Matthew 11:27 says, "All things have been handed over to Me by My Father; and no one knows the Son except the Father; nor does anyone know the Father except the Son, and anyone to whom the Son wills to reveal Him."

John 6:46, "Not that anyone has seen the Father, except the One who is from God; He has seen the Father."

Summary: Jesus has it all. He is loved by the Father and the Father has given him all things. 

Promise: God has revealed Himself fully and finally in His Son, Jesus Christ.

Prayer. O God, thank you for sending your Son and giving Him all things. He is all that you are God. 

 

Note: If you are interested in other studies/devotions, check out my index of Bible Study's.