Jesus not only could go up, as He did later, but He had come down thence, and, even though man, He was the Son of man that is in heaven. No doubt Jesus Himself had the Holy Ghost given to Him, as it was meet that He in all things should have the pre-eminence; but it shows yet more both the personal glory of Christ and the efficacy of His work, that He now gives the same Spirit to those who receive His testimony, and set to their seal that God is true. In Him was life for this scene of death; and it is of faith that it might be by grace. Answer (1 of 13): John's Gospel is complex. (John 2:1-25) The change of water into wine manifested His glory as the beginning of signs; and He gave another in this early purging of the temple of Jerusalem. 27-30); and (4) the superiority of the Savior (vss. The ignorance of the world has been proved, the rejection of Israel is complete: then only is it that we hear of this new place of children. Our text divides into four sections: (1) Jesus baptizes, too (vss. The Lord and the disciples are next seen in the country district, not far, it would seem, from John, who was baptizing as they were. Still the Lord refused the crown then: it was not the time or state for His reign. John is clear about why he wrote his Gospel (20:31): "so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing, you may have life in His name.". It would not suit God, if it would suit man, that He, seeing all, should just pronounce on man's corruption, and then forthwith let him off with a bare pardon. Then, resuming the strain of verse John 1:14, we are told, in verseJohn 1:16; John 1:16, that "of his fulness have all we received." Here we see Him accepting, not as fellow-servant, but as Lord, those souls who had been under the training of the predicted messenger of Jehovah that was to prepare His way before, His face. It is here life begun the first breathings and pantings of the soul for immortality; yet it is life, though at first feeble and faint, which is eternal in its nature, and which shall be matured in the full and perfect bliss of heaven. It must be so. Here, accordingly, it is not so much the means by which life is communicated, as the revelation of the full blessing of grace and communion with the Father and His Son by the Holy Ghost, in whom we are blessed. He that believes on the Son has everlasting life; and he that disobeys the Son, in the sense of not being subject to His person, "shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him" Such is the issue of the Son of God present in this world an everlasting one for every man, flowing from the glory of His person, the character of His testimony, and the Father's counsels respecting Him. Governmental healing even from Him might only end in "some worse thing" coming. Very remarkable are the following words of the Jews (b) concerning the Messiah, whom they call the latter Redeemer: "whosoever believes in him "shall" live; but he that believes not in him shall go to the nations of the world, and they shall kill him.'' (John 3:36 WEB), He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him. This is the same idea explained in Scriptures such as John 3:18-19, Romans 1:20, and Romans 3:11. Fortunately, the issue does not have to be decided. The looking for signs and wonders is rebuked; but mortality is arrested. Be they who they may now, as many as receive Him become children of God. (Ed. Thus the Holy Ghost, given by the Son in humiliation (according to God, not acting on law, but according to the gift of grace in the gospel), was fully set forth; but the woman, though interested, and asking, only apprehended a boon for this life to save herself trouble here below. Thus former things pass away; the old man is judged, dead, and clean gone. Once we step into the light God gives us a new life. Did they charge Jesus with self-exaltation? (Verses John 5:1-7), On the other hand, the Lord speaks but the word: "Rise, take up thy couch and walk." (ver. Anyone who doesn't obey the Son will never experience eternal life but remains under God's angry judgment.'. 1John 2:25 And this is the promise which He Himself made to us: eternal life. They spoke of the world; the world might hear them. 03 Mar 2023 15:00:59 If He judges, it is not without full warning. The Jews, with all their privileges, were strangers here. John 3:2 Greek him; John 3:3 Or from above; the Greek is purposely ambiguous and can mean both again and from above; also verse 7; John 3:6 The same Greek word means both wind and spirit; John 3:7 The Greek for you is plural here; John 3:8 The same Greek word means both wind and spirit; John 3:11 The Greek for you is plural here; also four times in verse 12 . (Verses John 7:19-23) What judgment could be less righteous? Hence, to such an one, eternal life is not merely something future. Observe: not which was, but "which is." John then declared his own waning before Christ, as we have seen, the issues of whose testimony, believed or not, are eternal; and this founded on the revelation of His glorious person as man and to man here below. How little they conceived of what was then said and done! Still, such is the effect on man under law, that he could not take advantage of an adequate remedy. (Ver. (Ver. It is not here spoken of as coming upon them, or as passing from them. he might be; and this, too, as the expression of the true and full grace of God in His only-begotten Son given. Thus solemnly does the meek Lord Jesus unfold these two truths. He bore witness that: "The Father loves the Son and has given all things into His hand.He who believes in the Son has eternal life; but he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him." John was to bear witness that Jesus Christ came from heaven as the . Believing in the existence of Jesus does not result in eternal life, for the historical evidence of His existence (in both sacred and secular writings) is irrefutable. All others prove not only that they are bad, but that they hate perfect goodness, and more than that, life and light the true light in the Word. It is a present possession. His opposition to sin, and its terrible effects in this world and the next. This verse is the only place where God's wrath is mentioned in the gospel of John. John 3:36 New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update (NASB95) 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." They wonder, as they had murmured before (John 7:12-15); but Jesus shows that the desire to do God's will is the condition of spiritual understanding. Follow the buttons in the right-hand column for detailed definitions and verses that use the same . (John 3:34-36) The price for rejecting the true testimony regarding Jesus. They knew what they worshipped, but not the Father, nor were they "true." He could, therefore, tell them of heavenly things as readily as of earthly things; but the incredulity about the latter, shown in the wondering ignorance of the new birth as a requisite for God's kingdom, proved it was useless to tell of the former. The Lord, it is true, could and did go farther than the prophets: even if He taught on the same theme, He could speak with conscious divine dignity and knowledge (not merely what was assigned to an instrument or messenger). So bright was His glory, so concerned was the Father in maintaining it, so immense the blessing if received, so tremendous the stake involved in its loss, that God vouchsafed the amplest and clearest witnesses. Very remarkable are the following words of the Jews (b) concerning the Messiah, whom they call the latter Redeemer: "whosoever believes in him "shall" live; but he that believes not in him shall go to the nations of the world, and they shall kill him.''. 22-24); (2) John's disciples are jealous (vss. The dreadful truth comes out: the Lord did not trust Himself to them, because He knew all men. Was this false and blasphemous in their eyes? Subtitle: Theology Speaker: Dr. Toby B. Holt Broadcaster: First Presbyterian Church Event: Sunday Service Date: 5/20/2021 Bible: John 3; John 3:1 Length: 36 min. There is difference of manner for the world and His own ignorance and rejection. (Comp. Grace begins, glory descends; "Jesus saith unto her, Give me to drink." It was much, yet was it little of the glory that was His; but at least it was real; and to the one that has shall be given. Scripture is, or may be, before man always. This is indispensable; for God is a Spirit, and so it cannot but be. John 1:19-37; John 1:19-37) It is here presented historically. This brings in the great counterpart truth, that even God present on earth and made flesh is not enough. Man might pull Him down destroy Him, as far as man could, and surely to be the basis in God's hand of better blessing; but He was God, and in three days He would raise up this temple. It is the final setting aside of Judaism then, whose characteristic hope was the display of power and rest in the world. 42). infinite truth! The law works no deliverance; it puts a man in chains, prison, darkness, and under condemnation; it renders him a patient, or a criminal incompetent to avail himself of the displays of God's goodness. And they haven't even carefully read what John 3:18 itself says. It is His person as incarnate first, then in redemption giving His flesh to be eaten and His blood to be drank. Of this we learn nothing, here. The present tense. John 3:16 Meaning. Now, it is the Holy Ghost in the power that gives rivers of living water flowing out, and this bound up with, and consequent on, His being man in glory. Compare 1 Peter 4:17; Romans 2:8; Romans 11:30, Romans 11:31. If, on the contrary, a soul has been taught of God the glory of the person of Him who was made flesh, he receives in all simplicity, and rejoices in, the glorious truth, that He who was made flesh was not made flesh only to this end, but rather as a step toward another and deeper work the glorifying God, and becoming our food, in death. How striking the omission! hath everlasting life; he has it in Christ his head, in whom he believes; he has a right unto it through the justifying righteousness of Christ, and a meetness for it by his grace; he has it in faith and hope; he has the beginning of it in the knowledge of Christ, and communion with him; he has some foretastes of it in his present experience; and he has the earnest and pledge of it in his heart, even the blessed Spirit, who works him up for this selfsame thing: and he that believeth not the Son; that does not believe Christ to be the Son of God, or Jesus to be the Messiah; or rejects him as the Saviour; who lives and dies in a state of impenitence and unbelief: shall not see life; eternal life; he shall not enter into it, and enjoy it; he shall die the second death. Even now faith knows, that instead of sin being the great object before God, ever since the cross He has had before His eyes that sacrifice which put away sin. This testimony differs from the rest in having a more permanent character. His exaltation there is not without notice in the gospel, but exceptionally. (36) Here too we have, in the words of John, thoughts which we have found already (John 3:15-16), and shall find again (), in the words of Christ Himself.He that believeth not the Son. To this last the Lord attaches the deepest importance. "Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up." (Ver. Isaiah 44:3; Isaiah 44:3, Isaiah 59:21, Ezekiel 36:25-27 ought to have made the Lord's meaning plain to an intelligent Jew. There are many aspects to be considered. Salem Media Group. Piety here is the same that it will be there, except that it will be expanded, matured, purified, made more glorious. In the Word was life, and the life was the light of men. If He spoke the truth, they were blasphemers. hath everlasting lifealready has it. Her testimony bore the impress of what had penetrated her soul, and would make way for all the rest in due time. He would have every soul to know assuredly how he stands for eternity as well as now. But this, however worthy of God, and indispensable for man, could not of itself give an adequate expression of what God is; because in this alone, neither His own love nor the glory of His Son finds due display. None but a divine being could thus deal with the world. But how precious the grace, in presence of their hatred and proud self-complacency! And John told us thatwe receive this gift by grace through faith so that all who believe in Jesus would not perish but have everlasting life. Yet thousands choose to remain in this state, and to encounter alone all that is terrible in the wrath of Almighty God, rather than come to Jesus, who has borne their sins in his own body on the tree, and who is willing to bless them with the peace, and purity, and joy of immortal life. (ver. It is the revelation of God yea, of the Father and the Son, and not merely the detecter of man. (Ver. Such is the miserable condition of the sinner! Life out of death was wanted by man, such as he is; and this the Father is giving in the Son. (See Hebrews 12:2, Hebrews 13:11-13) Again, let me just remark in passing, that although, no doubt, we may in a general way speak of those who partake of the new nature as having that life, yet the Holy Ghost refrains from predicating of any saints the full character of eternal life as a present thing until we have the cross of Christ laid (at least doctrinally) as the ground of it. "He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water." However, *all* are invited to reciprocate---to live into the gift God has, already, given them in Christ (see John 1:12 ). The brethren of the Lord Jesus, who could see the astonishing power that was in Him, but whose hearts were carnal, at once discerned that it might be an uncommon good thing for them, as well as for Him, in this world. Yet, this obe- dience salvation formula is identically repeated in John 3:16. Neither does the Spirit say exactly as the English Bible says "sons," but children. For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. The Structure of This Text. It is not merely or most of all a great prophet or witness: He is the Son; and the Father has given all things to be in His hand. John was not yet cast into prison. On the third day is the marriage in Cana of Galilee, where was His mother, Jesus also, and His disciples. It becomes a question of man's own condition, and how he stands in relation to the kingdom of God. And He did accept that place thoroughly, and in all its consequences. Answer: John 3:16 does not say that unbelievers have the ability of their own sinful free will, to receive Christ. This is all perfectly true, of course; and we have it elsewhere. He is under the eternal sentence of death. Copyright 2023, Bible Study Tools. John 7:24) They reason and are in utter uncertainty. They had no common thoughts, feelings, or ways with the Father and the Son. Such was Jesus in person, contrasted with all who belong to the earth. John 4:1-6; John 4:1-6) What a picture of rejection and humiliation! John 3:1-36 follows this up. It is not simply the new birth such as a saint might, and always must, have had, in order to vital relations with God at any time. The evangelist has used this encounter between Jesus and Nicodemus to bring forth some important points. He lives continually in an economy which is alienated from God, and which, in itself, must be habitually the subject of God's displeasure and indignation. Man, under law, proved powerless; and the greater the need, the less the ability to avail himself of such merciful intervention as God still, from time to time, kept up throughout the legal system. Shall not see life. (John 3:36 KJV). The Lord Jesus presents Himself as putting an end to all this now for the Christian, though, of course, every word God has promised, as well as threatened, remains to be accomplished in Israel by-and-by; for Scripture cannot be broken; and what the mouth of the Lord has said awaits its fulfilment in its due sphere and season.
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2022.08.24 Wednesday
