Sunday, August 29, 2010

Sun., Aug 29 Bible Class Notes – John 1:15-17

John 1:15

John's sole purpose was to prepare the way for Jesus to fulfill his ministry. John 1:6-7; Matt. 3:3

He did this by bearing witness to what he knew and saw of Christ

"cried" = loudly, to cry out

"this was he of whom I spake" - before Jesus came to him (Matt 3:11)

John 1:16

...is a continuation of verse 14, verse 15 being a parenthesis, and are the words of the writer, not the baptizer.

"of his fullness" - refers back to v. 14, full of grace and truth

"grace for grace" = not new grace in exchange for old grace, but new grace added to grace, there always being a sufficient and adequate supply to meet all of our wants

John 1:17

"The law was given by Moses" - Moses is known as "the great law giver."

The law was actually given by God through Moses.

This does not make the law an enemy to grace.  There was grace under the Law and there is law under grace.

The law is good (to be continued — next week?)

Saturday, August 28, 2010

Sun., Aug. 22 Bible Class Notes

There are no notes for this past Sunday. I was ill and did not teach.

Sun., Aug. 15 Bible Class Notes – John 1:14

And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

the Word — ο Λόγος   Definite article

    Last time John calls Jesus Christ by this name in this Gospel

    The second person of the Trinity; the Triune Godhead

    Deity

was made flesh or, became flesh

    flesh, not man, σαρξ not ἄνθρωπος

The son of God was in every way human, assuming our entire human nature.

    This does not mean he was sinful.

    He also took a body that was like ours which was subject to fatigue, hunger, pain.

There was a permanent union of human and divine natures in the person of Jesus Christ, so that Christ is 100% God and 100% human.

    (see Athanasian Creed)
Gal 4:4

and dwelt among us
    (tabernacled, tented)
    he lived among us.

        his impeccable life was on constant public display

and we beheld his glory

    at the Transfiguration    Mat 17:1-2

the glory as of the only begotten of the Father

John 17:5    John 17:24    2 Peter 1:17

full of grace and truth

    does this speak of graciousness?

or

    does this speak of the riches Christ brought with him for us?

Monday, August 16, 2010

Sun., Aug. 8 Bible Class notes – John 1:13, cont’d.

John 1:13  Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

but of God

Things that will not save you:

     (in addition to blood, the will of man and the will of the flesh)

     Your desire to be saved (although desire should be there).

     Baptism (Mar_16:16)

     "The Sacraments" (Last rites, confession, penance)

      Saying or praying a prayer.

      Walking the aisle

      Making a decision for Christ.

      Keeping the Ten Commandments

      Doing good works

What is it that will save you: Jesus! Jesus saves!

[The following is from a forum that I participate in]:

To believe one possesses some volitional will to assent to the truth of the Scriptures despite their clear teachings is to assume one can believe without any initiative by God, that is, one is performing a work to save oneself. But the Scriptures are clear, in that the unsaved…

- is deceitful and desperately sick (Jeremiah 17:9).
- is full of evil (Mark 7:21-23).
- loves darkness rather than light (John 3:19).
- is unrighteous, does not understand, does not seek for God    (Romans 3:10-12).
- is at enmity with God (Romans 8:7-8)
- is helpless and ungodly (Romans 5:6).
- does not seek God (Romans 3:11)
- is dead in his trespasses and sins (Ephesians 2:1).
- is by nature a child of wrath (Ephesians 2:3).
- cannot understand spiritual things (1Corinthians 2:14).
- is a slave of sin (Romans 6:16-20).

We are not “born again” as a result of something we have done, but solely on the basis of God's sovereign will and power.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The Father elects to salvation, the Son dies to procure salvation, the Spirit applies salvation

John 6:44         

Romans 9:15; Romans 9:16; Romans 9:18-26

Tuesday, August 3, 2010

Sun., Aug. 1 Bible Class notes – John 1:13, cont’d.

Hand out Free Will drawing handouts & discuss same.

Free Will 01 

birth, creation, resurrection, bride = pictures of salvation

Two stories used to illustrate coming to Christ that are not true:

“I met Jesus at the crossroads: Satan, too, was standing there….”

Jesus is a life preserver: you just need to reach out and grab him.

 

but of God

    but of [the will of] God

    salvation is monergistic

      Joshua 24:19 - You cannot

      Isaiah 43:11 – Beside me there is no savior

      Hebrews 12:2 – Author and Finisher

      Ephesians 2:8 - Grace

This is not to say that the one coming to Christ does nothing, is totally passive:

     Lazarus (John 11:1)    Dry Bones of Ezekiel (Ezekiel 37:3-10)

Next Sunday: things that do not save you and how God brings you to himself.