Sun., Sept. 5 Bible Class Notes — John 1:17,18

We started this study last Sunday. In order to provide continuity, some portions are repeated.

John1:17 “For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.”

NOTE: John says nothing demeaning about either Moses or the Law. Moses and the Law were held in high regard by the Jews, by Jesus, and by all the Apostles.

"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 (Romans 7:12; Romans 7:16  1Timothy 1:8) but it could not save. (Titus 3:5; Galatians 2:16; Galatians 3:10)

The law only condemns. The law shows us our imperfections.

The law prepared the way for Christ (Hebrews 10:1; Galatians 3:24-25)

Christ is the end of the law (Rom_10:4) and fulfilled the law (Matthew 5:17-18; Romans 8:2-4)

"grace and truth came by Jesus Christ"

grace as opposite of law: under law, favor is earned; under grace; favor is granted

Under law: “Do this and live.” Under grace: “Live and do this.”

grace and truth = the Gospel

grace bestows God's blessing on those who should be receiving his wrath

truth - the law was the shadow; Christ is the reality

Jesus better than Moses: grace better than law (Hebrews 3:1-6; Hebrews 10:1)

John1:18 “No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him.”

"No man hath seen God at any time"

     — what about Moses?

Barnes: "This passage is not meant to deny that men had witnessed “manifestations” of God, as when he appeared to Moses and the prophets (compare Num_12:8; Isa_6:1-13); but it is meant that no one has seen the essence of God, or has 'fully known God.'”

Only Christ has seen the essence and the person of God the Father.

Because Christ has this intimate knowledge [who is in the bosom] and fellowship he can enlighten us with the knowledge of the Holy.

declared = fully revealed, drawn Him out = related to exegesis

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?)

God Is a Gentleman — or Is He?

I cannot count the number of times I have heard preachers, Bible teachers, and others say, “God is a gentleman and he will never force you to do what you do not want to do.” Like so many errors, repeat it often enough and people will believe it.

Perhaps you believe this is true. Support your view with Scripture. Can you find one verse — or even one sentence in the entire Bible that will back you up?

Is God a gentleman? Let's see what He says about that. I think it goes without saying that a gentleman is first, foremost, and always a man. A gentleman is a gentle man or perhaps, a gentry man (gentry being derived from Old French for gentleman).

Before we can determine if God is a gentleman, we must first ascertain if he is a man. That answer is specifically answered in God's word, the Bible. “God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good?” (Numbers 23:19). Do you see that? “God is not a man.”

In case there is any doubt, or if you reason that that is just one verse, here is another: “And also the Strength of Israel will not lie nor repent: for he is not a man, that he should repent.” (1 Samuel 15:29).

The Scriptures are clear: God is not a man. If God is not a man, how then could He be a gentleman? To call God a gentleman is to dishonor Him, putting Him on a level with His creation.

We must think of God as He is or we are guilty of mental-image idolatry. We must worship God in truth. We do not have the liberty to misrepresent Him or to portray Him as He is not.

God is God. Is that to say that God is not gentle? No. God is often quite the opposite: “With the pure thou wilt show thyself pure; and with the froward thou wilt show thyself unsavory,” (2 Samuel 22:27). Was God a gentleman when he chased the Canaanites out of their cities with hornets (Exodus 23:28)? Was God a gentleman when he killed in a mass slaughter all the firstborn sons in Egypt on the night of the first Passover? Was God a gentleman when he drowned Pharaoh and his army in the Red Sea?

Will God be a gentleman when he comes back in the person of Jesus Christ “In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ,” (2 Thessalonians 1:8)? There is nothing in the Bible to warrant calling God a gentleman.

Thankfully, God is a merciful and a gracious God and acts kindly toward all those that seek His face and desire to do His will. To those whose hearts are bent toward honoring God, God is gentle, kind, and compassionate. To those whose hearts are contrary to God, God will show Himself contrary.

“Or do you despise the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance? (5) But after your hardness and impenitent heart you treasure up unto yourself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God; (6) Who will render to every man according to his deeds: (7) To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honor and immortality, eternal life: (8 But unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath, (9) Tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that does evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile,” (Romans 2:4-9).

I started this poem who knows when and then filed it. Last May I came across it and read what I had written to my wife. She said, “You should finish that.” So I did. It has no title because I haven’t given any thought to that.

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Grace…

grace…

great grace…

amazing grace

Words of beauty, which found no place

Within this cold and wicked heart

That with my God would have no part.

I, who had in Adam sinned,

Thereby became corrupt within.

An enemy of God was I:

to his refuge I would not fly.

An enemy — yet so much more!

For against him I was at war.

A rebel who could do no good,

and wouldn't — even if I could.

I railed against His Majesty —

the One who had created me.

I fought with him at every turn;

his proffered mercies I did spurn.

I did not know nor understand

— for I am but a puny man —

that none can fight against the Lord

and wrest him of his mighty sword.

Sinner! Sinner! You are undone!

There is no place that you can run.

Put down your arms and quit your fight!

None can endure my awful might!

Turn ye! Turn ye! Why will you die?

Turn! Turn! — and to my bosom fly!

Lay down your arms, and to me come

Give up your fight, you are undone.

Yet, deaf was I and could not hear

the words of doom that reached my ear.

My heart was hard, and just as cold,

Weighted down with a heavy load.

A son of disobedience,

Spiritual things made no sense.

Dead was I — yes, dead in my sin —

But soon there’d be new life within.

Behind the scenes, within my soul,

God was working to bring me low.

Afraid,

afraid,

afraid was I

Afraid to live, afraid to die.

Then came love — such tender love

From God himself, who lives above;

Love that wiped away all my tears,

A love that vanquished all my fears.

A Love that entered deep within,

A love that paid for all my sin;

A love that brought God down to man,

A love that gave me life again.

Now I to him do belong, and

Within my heart he put a song —

A song of praise, a song of peace,

A song of joy and of release.

Soon I’ll be in heaven’s land

And before my Lord I’ll stand.

I who was a child of Hell

Will with my God forever dwell.

‘Tis more than I can comprehend,

That God loved me enough to send

His son to meet the Law’s demand.

That is so great, that is too grand.

Grace…

grace…

great grace…

amazing grace

Poured out freely on Adam’s race.

That I should stand before his face.

Grace…

grace…

great grace…

amazing grace.

(C) 2007 Willard Paul