“Search the Scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of Me. And ye will not come to Me, that ye might have life. I receive not honour from men. But I know you, that ye have not the love of God in you.
I am come in My Father’s name, and ye receive Me not: if another shall come in his own name, him ye will receive. How can ye believe, which receive honour one of another, and seek not the honour that cometh from God only?
Do not think that I will accuse you to the Father: there is one that accuseth you, even Moses, in whom ye trust. For had ye believed Moses, ye would have believed Me: for he wrote of Me. But if ye believe not his writings, how shall ye believe My words?” John 5:39-47
John
Jesus Christ; The Living Word, The Living God
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by Him; and without Him was not any thing made that was made. In Him was life; and the life was the light of men. And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.” John 1:1-5
Peace Unto You
“Then the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the midst, and saith unto them,
‘Peace be unto you.’
And when He had so said, He shewed unto them His hands and His side. Then were the disciples glad, when they saw the Lord. Then said Jesus to them again,
‘Peace be unto you: as My Father hath sent Me, even so send I you.’
And when He had said this, He breathed on them, and saith unto them,
‘Receive ye the Holy Ghost: whose soever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whose soever sins ye retain, they are retained.’ ” John 20:19-23
“Great is our Lord, and of great power: His understanding is infinite. The LORD lifteth up the meek: He casteth the wicked down to the ground.” Psalm 147:5-6
Loved before the foundation of the world
“Father, I will that they also, whom Thou hast given Me, be with Me where I am; that they may behold My glory, which Thou hast given Me: for Thou lovedst Me before the foundation of the world.” John 17:24
The One who Testifies of Jesus
“If I had not come and spoken unto them, they had not had sin: but now they have no cloke for their sin.
He that hateth Me hateth My Father also. If I had not done among them the works which none other man did, they had not had sin: but now have they both seen and hated both Me and My Father. But this cometh to pass, that the word might be fulfilled that is written in their law, ‘They hated Me without a cause.’ But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, He shall testify of Me: and ye also shall bear witness, because ye have been with Me from the beginning.” John 15:22-27
To Put Him to Death
“But some of them went their ways to the Pharisees, and told them what things Jesus had done. Then gathered the chief priests and the Pharisees a council, and said, ‘What do we? For this Man doeth many miracles. If we let Him thus alone, all will believe on Him: and the Romans shall come and take away both our place and nation.’
And one of them, named Caiaphas, being the high priest that same year, said unto them, ‘Ye know nothing at all, nor consider that it is expedient for us, that one man should die for the people, and that the whole nation perish not.’
And this spake he not of himself: but being high priest that year, he prophesied that Jesus should die for that nation; and not for that nation only, but that also He should gather together in one the children of God that were scattered abroad.
Then from that day forth they took counsel together for to put Him to death.” John 11:46-53
Knowing The Doctrine of God
“Now about the midst of the feast Jesus went up into the temple, and taught. And the Jews marvelled, saying, ‘How knoweth this man letters, having never learned?’ Jesus answered them, and said,
‘My doctrine is not Mine, but His that sent Me. If any man will do His will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of Myself. He that speaketh of himself seeketh his own glory: but He that seeketh His glory that sent Him, the same is true, and no unrighteousness is in Him.
Did not Moses give you the law, and yet none of you keepeth the law? Why go ye about to kill Me?’ ” John 7:14-19
All Judgment
“For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son: that all should honour the Son, even as they honour the Father. He that honoureth not the Son honoureth not the Father which hath sent Him.
Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth My word, and believeth on Him that sent Me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.
Verily, verily, I say unto you, The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live. For as the Father hath life in Himself; so hath He given to the Son to have life in Himself; and hath given Him authority to execute judgment also, because He is the Son of Man.” John 5:22-27
Not a House of Merchandise
“And the Jews’ Passover was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem, and found in the temple those that sold oxen and sheep and doves, and the changers of money sitting: and when He had made a scourge of small cords, He drove them all out of the temple, and the sheep, and the oxen; and poured out the changers’ money, and overthrew the tables; and said unto them that sold doves,
‘Take these things hence; make not My Father’s house an house of merchandise.’
And His disciples remembered that it was written, ‘The zeal of thine house hath eaten me up.’ ” John 2:13-17
Who is born of God?
Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one that loveth Him that begat loveth Him also that is begotten of Him. 1 John 5:1
Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God? Verse 5
He that hath the Son hath life; he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.
These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God. Verses 12 – 13
And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know Him that is true, and we are in Him that is true, in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life. Verse 20
As I was reading the first epistle of the apostle John I noticed once again the important emphasis he puts on Jesus Christ as the Son of God. The title of this post is “Who is born of God?” That is a question we all must answer, and know ourselves. Are you, have you been born of God?
In chapter 5 verse 1 John writes “Whosoever believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God” and he goes on stating that to love the Father (the One who begat), is to love the Son (the One who is begotten). If we love the Father we will love the Son; and on the other side too; if we love the Son we love the Father. These are the one’s who are born of God.
We learn in the five verses above too, that Jesus Christ the Son of God is the One who overcomes the world, and through Him we do too. In Him we have life, and without Him is no life. Without life in Him there is only death. Through Jesus Christ and Him alone can we have the true assurance of eternal life, and we can know quite well that we will live with Him eternally.
In knowing Jesus we receive understanding from Him knowledge of who He truly is. In Christ Jesus we are in the True God, and have eternal life. The moment, by grace through faith, you turn from your sin to Christ calling on His name for salvation you receive eternal life.
Who is born of God? If you have not been born of God will you call on Him today?
You Follow Me
“Then Peter, turning about, seeth the disciple whom Jesus loved following; which also leaned on His breast at supper, and said, ‘Lord, which is he that betrayeth Thee?’ Peter seeing him saith to Jesus, ‘Lord, and what shall this man do?’ Jesus saith unto him, ‘If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee? Follow thou Me.’ ” John 21:20-22
The Lord Jesus, recently resurrected from the grave, has told Peter how he is going to live, and how he is going to die. Then Peter begins to think about “that other guy”. We know “that other guy” is John; he is the one who leaned on Jesus’s breast at the meal and the last supper.
Now, Peter’s question is not without the likeness of many people of all ages, including yours truly. “What about Joe?” or we may ask, “What about Jan?”, “What are You going to expect of them?” “Lord, You sent Joe to Hawaii. Why don’t You send me to some place like Hawaii?”
The Lord’s answer to Peter was, “You follow Me”. That is His answer for you and me as well.
Our personal relationship with the Lord involves me going where the Lord leads me. I am to follow Jesus, and not be distracted where He might send you, Joe or Jan.
They Have Believed
“I have manifested Thy name unto the men which Thou gavest Me out of the world: Thine they were, and Thou gavest them Me; and they have kept Thy word. Now they have known that all things whatsoever Thou hast given Me are of Thee. For I have given unto them the words which Thou gavest Me; and they have received, and have known surely that I came out from Thee, and they have believed that Thou didst send Me.” John 17:6-8
These are from the prayer Jesus prayed in the garden of the press – Gethsemane. It has been called His High Priestly prayer, and in reality is the real “Lord’s Prayer”, because this is what He is praying for all those who will follow Him believing.
In these three verses we can learn part of what He is asking for us…
One, that He has revealed the Father’s name to those who believe and redeemed them out of the world;
Two, those who believe are kept by the word of God;
Three, we can know that all things given to Christ Jesus came from the Father;
Four, the words Jesus spoke and lived have been received by those who believe;
Five, those believing receive Jesus Christ, His words, and His works.
How about you? Have you believed that Jesus loved you so much that He died on the cross for your sins, that He was buried, and that He rose again? If not, call out to Him turning from sin to believing in Him. He will hear. He will save you. He makes you clean.
Hated
“If the world hate you, ye know that it hated Me before you. If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.
Remember the word that I said unto you, ‘The servant is not greater than his lord.’ If they have persecuted Me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept My saying, they will keep yours also. But all these things will they do unto you for My name’s sake, because they know not Him that sent Me.”” John 15:18-21
If there is anyone who knows about “Hate” and what it is, it would be Jesus Christ the Son of God, God the Son. He would know because He bore the hatred of man on the cross, and paid the debt for sin which is evil; and which He hated.
Jesus hated evil, because the Father hates evil. It is a violation of all the characteristics of Holy God. It is not evil to speak the truth. It is not evil to hate what God defines as evil or an abomination. All that God has told us in Scripture that is evil is still evil and an abomination to Him.
I for one, who names the name of Jesus Christ the Son of the Living God, do not like being hated for what I believe, for what I write, for the way I live, and hated for what I preach and believe. However, I will not back away, I will not stop speaking, writing, or living for my Lord and Savior. I choose rather to be hated by the world and loved by God; than to be loved by the world and hated by God.
Jesus Christ the God-Man gave His life for me on the cross bearing all my sin and the sins of the whole world, then He was buried and with Him was buried all our shame, guilt and condemnation of sin, and He arose and came out of that grave alive justifying all who will believe on Him calling on His name. That, my friend, is the greatest love you will ever know.
Light
“Then Jesus said unto them,
‘Yet a little while is the light with you. Walk while ye have the light, lest darkness come upon you: for he that walketh in darkness knoweth not whither he goeth.
While ye have light, believe in the light, that ye may be the children of light.’
These things spake Jesus, and departed, and did hide himself from them.” John 12:35-36
Light is wonderful to have. Without light we would be stumbling around in the dark. Light shows us danger in our path, the way ahead, and even is a source of life.
Few people clean under their beds, and if you take a light and shine it under the bed you will see all kinds of dirt and dust. Light exposes the things that are hid in darkness. Jesus is the Light of the world. He has told us so in John 8:12 and John 9:5.
Because Jesus is the Light of the world many hate them because they do not want their evil hearts to be exposed, because their deeds are evil (John 3:19). I pray that your sin has been exposed and your condemnation, and that you have turned your heart away from sin to Christ Jesus.
Jesus also said to those who believe on Him, “You are the light of the world” Matthew 5:14. When we have put our faith in Him, we are His light in this dark world.
Hear God’s Words
“He that is of God heareth God’s words: ye therefore hear them not, because ye are not of God.” John 8:47
Jesus was spending time telling the religious leaders of their unbelief. They claimed to love Moses and the Law; also claiming to be children of Abraham. Though they were biological descendants of Abraham Jesus was confronting them concerning their spiritual connection with Abraham. They had none.
The message from Jesus for us today is this. Just because you were born in a Christian household does not make you a Christian. A friend of mine once told me this, “God does not have any grandchildren.” Those who believe in Him through the death, burial, and resurrection of His Son Jesus are sons and daughters of God – born again by grace through faith (Ephesians 2:8-10).
The evidence you are a child of God is clearly explained in Jesus’s words above. We hear His word and do them. We believe His word and put them to work in our lives.
How about you? Have you been born again? Do you believe the word of God concerning what He has said about Jesus His only begotten Son? If you do not, then you are not a child of God, but a child of wrath, and doomed eternally.
You can call on the name of Jesus right now, turning from sin and unbelief, to the Lord Jesus Christ believing Him.
The Father’s Will
“And this is the Father’s will which hath sent Me, that of all which He hath given Me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day. And this is the will of Him that sent Me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on Him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.” John 6:39-40
Many have asked, “What is God’s will?” or “What is God’s will for my life?” Jesus gives us the answer for that in the words He speaks above.
One, it was the Father’s will to send His Son Jesus and to give Him those who would follow Him… I pray that includes you.
Two, it is the Father’s will that of all that the Father has given Him, including His own life, nothing would be lost.
Three, that those who see the Son of God believing on Him would have everlasting life.
Four, that all those who believe on Him would be resurrected and live with Him through eternity.
These four things are seen in the two verses above. It is the Father’s will that you would call on the name of the One who died for your sins, our sins; was buried, and He rose again the third day. Because He lives we live.
God Does Not Condemn You
“For God sent not His Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through Him might be saved. He that believeth on Him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.” John 3:17-19
The truth of the matter is we were all condemned through the sin of Adam and Eve while they were living in paradise. They had it made and chose to believe the lie of the serpent rather than the One who walked with them in that beautiful paradise.
Because they chose to sin against God they condemned the whole race of Adam – that is you and me. Since that sad day every child ever born into this world is in a condemned state, spiritually dead, separated from God, and headed to an eternity separated from good and from God, to a burning eternal fire.
For Adam and Eve God sent the means of redemption through the shed blood of innocent animals (possibly lambs) a covering for their sin. For us today, He has given us His Son Jesus Christ.
For all who will believe on the name of Jesus Christ, believing that He died on the cross for our sins, that He was buried, and that He rose from the grave bodily we can have eternal life with Him. There is no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus (Romans 8:1). God does not condemn; He delivers us unto eternal life.
Will you call on His name today, believing Him? He will hear and He will deliver you from condemnation.
The Mouth and The Scripture
“He that keepeth his mouth keepeth his life: but he that openeth wide his lips shall have destruction.” Proverbs 13:3
“They said therefore among themselves, ‘Let us not rend it, but cast lots for it, whose it shall be’, that the Scripture might be fulfilled, which saith, ‘They parted My raiment among them, and for My vesture they did cast lots.’ These things therefore the soldiers did.” John 19:24
“For these things were done, that the Scripture should be fulfilled, ‘A bone of him shall not be broken.’ And again another Scripture saith, ‘They shall look on Him whom they pierced.’ ” John 19:36-37
Let us all pray for the wise use of our mouth and lips; especially in this day when people are spouting all kinds of vulgar, mean, and rude things; and in doing so show no respect for our fellow member of Adam’s race.
Let us rather speak words that will glorify our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ who loved us so much, as God Incarnate, laid down His life on the cross and died for our sins, was buried, and He rose again. In doing this thing of grace He fulfilled Scripture. There is no better thing we can do that tell others that “Jesus died for our sins…”.
It Is a Spiritual Battle
“The way of a fool is right in his own eyes: but he that hearkeneth unto counsel is wise.” Proverbs 12:15
“Jesus answered, ‘My kingdom is not of this world: if My kingdom were of this world, then would My servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is My kingdom not from hence.’ ” John 18:36
Pray that others may not continue in the foolishness of thinking they are right in walking their own way. Give them ears to hear the truth of who Jesus is, to realize their lost condition, the spiritual darkness and death in which they exist.
Let us also pray that we grow stronger in the power of the Spirit of God because the battle we face is not carnal, but spiritual, and can only be won by the power of the Holy Spirit overcoming evil with good.
The power of the new life in Jesus Christ is that He died for our sins, was buried, and He rose again. He said, “I will come again, and receive you unto Myself…” John 14:3. He is coming again.
The World Didn’t Give it to Us, and the World Can’t Take it Away
“The wicked worketh a deceitful work: but to him that soweth righteousness shall be a sure reward.” Proverbs 11:18
“Verily, verily, I say unto you, That ye shall weep and lament, but the world shall rejoice: and ye shall be sorrowful, but your sorrow shall be turned into joy.
A woman when she is in travail hath sorrow, because her hour is come: but as soon as she is delivered of the child, she remembereth no more the anguish, for joy that a man is born into the world. And ye now therefore have sorrow: but I will see you again, and your heart shall rejoice, and your joy no man taketh from you.” John 16:20-22
While the world is doing its wicked works let us be faithful to serve the Lord in righteous faith and living.
Remember that we, as faithful followers of Jesus Christ, have peace and joy that does not come from possessions of things or people or even family. Our peace and joy comes from heaven and like our Savior says, “…Your joy no one takes from you”.
If you do not know this One who give joy and peace; He is Jesus Christ, He loves you so much that He died on the cross in our place for our sins, He was buried, and He rose again and ascended into heaven, and is seated this day and forever at the right hand of the Father. Call on the name of Jesus, with sorrow for your sin, and He will hear you, and He will give you an eternal home with Him.
Lips and Words
“He that hideth hatred with lying lips, and he that uttereth a slander, is a fool.” Proverbs 10:18
“Jesus answered and said unto him, ‘If a man love Me, he will keep My words: and My Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.’ ” John 14:23
Pray for honest lips and encouraging words to our neighbor, our enemies, and the brethren in the faith. If we love God and His Son Jesus we can do no other.
Make sure the place you abide is with Him.
Wisdom and Understanding Hearing the Words of Jesus
“The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.” Proverbs 9:10
“He that rejecteth Me, and receiveth not My words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day.” John 12:48
Let those who have heard the words of Jesus Christ believing and receiving Him continue in the wisdom of Jesus Christ and the Father; in holiness.
May those who have not yet believed and received Him, hear Him today, believe and receive Him by grace through faith in the finished word of His atoning death on the cross, His burial, and bodily resurrection.
Words of Wisdom
“Receive my instruction, and not silver; and knowledge rather than choice gold. For wisdom is better than rubies; and all the things that may be desired are not to be compared to it.” Proverbs 8:10-11
“My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me: and I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any pluck them out of My hand. My Father, which gave them Me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of My Father’s hand. I and My Father are one.” John 10:27-30
We need to ask wisdom for those who are lost and perishing in sin so that they might hear the words of Truth which our Lord speaks and that they will hear and believe unto salvation.
Knowing Who Jesus Christ Is
“My son, keep my words, and lay up my commandments with thee.” Proverbs 7:1
“And He said unto them, ‘Ye are from beneath; I am from above: ye are of this world; I am not of this world. I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I am, ye shall die in your sins.’ ” John 8:23-24
Knowing who Jesus the Christ is, and believing Him, determines our eternal destiny.
Consider the Ant; Abiding in the Word
“Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise: which having no guide, overseer, or ruler, provideth her meat in the summer, and gathereth her food in the harvest.” Proverbs 6:6-8
“And the Father Himself, which hath sent Me, hath borne witness of Me. Ye have neither heard His voice at any time, nor seen His shape. And ye have not His word abiding in you: for whom He hath sent, Him ye believe not.” John 5:37-38
The LORD of all creation has given us the ant, and all of heaven and earth, to learn from them. Let us pray for wisdom to acknowledge and learn from them.
May we also pray that we will not be sluggards in being students, avid students and disciples of the word of God. It would be a sad thing to hear the Lord say to us one day “…You have not His word abiding in you”.
The Fire and Hammer 