Sun., July 25 Bible Class Notes — John 1:13

Review last weeks lesson.

Joh_1:13

Which were born:

    the last clause of the verse, in Greek

    refers not to natural birth, but to regeneration, to being born again

not of blood(s)

    the word is plural

    the Greeks and the Hebrews both occasionally used a plural where we would     use a singular noun.

        some think it refers to the blood of both the male and the female

        others say it refers to the totality of blood

        perhaps it refers to all the aggregate parts

        to point out the dignity or excellence of a thing (Adam Clarke)

    we are not saved because of our blood line.

    Matthew Henry: Grace does not run in the blood, as corruption does.

nor of the will of the flesh:

    natural generation?

    "free will"

nor of the will of man:

    "free will"  -- an illusion

Man does not have free will, as we commonly understand it.

God does not have free will.

Need to define “free” and “will”

Fourfold State of Man

   Before the Fall:  free to do good or evil

   After the Fall:    free to do evil, only

       can do relative good, but not absolute

       even the sowing of the wicked is sin

   Christian:          free to do good or evil

   Heaven:            free to do good, only

    

but of God (to be covered on 8.1.2010)