Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | November 29, 2010

“but since you say, ‘We see,’ your sin remains.”

Today’s devotion is John 9:35-41.
 
“35  Jesus heard that they had put him out, and finding him, He said, “Do you believe in the Son of Man?” 
                               
 36  He answered, “Who is He, Lord, that I may believe in Him?”
                          

 37  Jesus said to him, “You have both seen Him, and He is the one who is talking with you.”

 38  And he said, “Lord, I believe.”  And he worshiped Him.

 39  And Jesus said, “For judgment I came into this world, so that those who do not see may see, and that those who see may become blind.”

 40  Those of the Pharisees who were with Him heard these things and said to Him, “We are not blind too, are we?”

 41  Jesus said to them, “If you were blind, you would have no sin;  but since you say, ‘We see,’ your sin remains.”  John 9:35-41.

————————————

“Total Depravity”, the “T” of “TULIP” admits:  “We do not see.  We do not understand.  We do not seek God.  We are not good.  In fact, we are dead in our sins.”

“Total Depravity” is important, because it is the truth of Scripture. 

“10  as it is written,
         “THERE IS NONE RIGHTEOUS, NOT EVEN ONE;
    11  THERE IS NONE WHO UNDERSTANDS,
         THERE IS NONE WHO SEEKS FOR GOD;
    12  ALL HAVE TURNED ASIDE, TOGETHER THEY HAVE BECOME USELESS;
         THERE IS NONE WHO DOES GOOD,
         THERE IS NOT EVEN ONE.”  Romans 3:10-13.

“And you were dead in your trespasses and sins,”  Ephesians 2:1.

“Total Depravity” is important, because it is evidence of humility which leads to grace.

James 4:6
But He gives a greater grace.  Therefore it says, ” GOD IS OPPOSED TO THE PROUD, BUT GIVES GRACE TO THE HUMBLE.”

And, “Total Depravity” is important, because today’s Scripture states:  “but since you say, ‘We see,’ your sin remains.”

“Do you see a man wise in his own eyes?  There is more hope for a fool than for him.”  Proverbs 26:12.

But, there is hope for those who admit that they are blind (“total depravity”)! 

“For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not come to know God, God was well-pleased through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe.”  1 Corinthians 1:21.

This message (and this hope) is “Unconditional Election”, “Limited Atonement”, “Irresistible Grace”, and “Perseverance of the Saints a/k/a Preservation of the Saints”, the “U”, “L”, “I”, and “P” of “TULIP”.

Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | November 28, 2010

“So they put him out.”

Today’s devotion is John 9:18-34.
 
“18  The Jews then did not believe it of him, that he had been blind and had received sight, until they called the parents of the very one who had received his sight, 
                              
 19  and questioned them, saying, “Is this your son, who you say was born blind?  Then how does he now see?”
                              

 20  His parents answered them and said, “We know that this is our son, and that he was born blind;

 21  but how he now sees, we do not know; or who opened his eyes, we do not know.  Ask him;  he is of age, he will speak for himself.”

 22  His parents said this because they were afraid of the Jews; for the Jews had already agreed that if anyone confessed Him to be Christ, he was to be put out of the synagogue.

 23  For this reason his parents said, “He is of age; ask him.”

 24  So a second time they called the man who had been blind, and said to him, “Give glory to God; we know that this man is a sinner.”

 25  He then answered, “Whether He is a sinner, I do not know;  one thing I do know, that though I was blind, now I see.”

 26  So they said to him, “What did He do to you?  How did He open your eyes?”

 27  He answered them, “I told you already and you did not listen;  why do you want to hear it again?  You do not want to become His disciples too, do you?”

 28  They reviled him and said, “You are His disciple, but we are disciples of Moses.

 29  “We know that God has spoken to Moses, but as for this man, we do not know where He is from.”

 30  The man answered and said to them, “Well, here is an amazing thing, that you do not know where He is from, and yet He opened my eyes.

 31  “We know that God does not hear sinners; but if anyone is God-fearing and does His will, He hears him.

 32  “Since the beginning of time it has never been heard that anyone opened the eyes of a person born blind.

 33  “If this man were not from God, He could do nothing.”

 34  They answered him, “You were born entirely in sins, and are you teaching us?”  So they put him out.”  John 9:18-34.

———————————-

“Blessed are you when men hate you, and ostracize you, and insult you, and scorn your name as evil, for the sake of the Son of Man.  “Be glad in that day and leap for joy, for behold, your reward is great in heaven. For in the same way their fathers used to treat the prophets.”  Luke 6:22-23.

“If you are reviled for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you.”  1 Peter 4:14.

“They will make you outcasts from the synagogue, but an hour is coming for everyone who kills you to think that he is offering service to God.”  John 16:2.

“but they continually mocked the messengers of God, despised His words and scoffed at His prophets, until the wrath of the LORD arose against His people, until there was no remedy.”  2 Chronicles 36:16.

“Which one of the prophets did your fathers not persecute?  They killed those who had previously announced the coming of the Righteous One, whose betrayers and murderers you have now become;”  Acts 7:52.

Whatever suffering we encounter, God gives us grace to deal with it. 

“in no way alarmed by your opponents–which is a sign of destruction for them, but of salvation for you, and that too, from God.  For to you it has been granted for Christ’s sake, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake, experiencing the same conflict which you saw in me, and now hear to be in me.”  Philippians 1:28-30.

Mark 13:11
“When they arrest you and hand you over, do not worry beforehand about what you are to say, but say whatever is given you in that hour;  for it is not you who speak, but it is the Holy Spirit.”

Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | November 26, 2010

“He is a prophet.”

Today’s devotion is John 9:13-17.
 
“13  They brought to the Pharisees the man who was formerly blind. 
                                        
 14  Now it was a Sabbath on the day when Jesus made the clay and opened his eyes.
                                        

 15  Then the Pharisees also were asking him again how he received his sight.  And he said to them, “He applied clay to my eyes, and I washed, and I see.”

 16  Therefore some of the Pharisees were saying, “This man is not from God, because He does not keep the Sabbath ”  But others were saying, “How can a man who is a sinner perform such signs?”  And there was a division among them.

 17  So they said to the blind man again, “What do you say about Him, since He opened your eyes?”  And he said, “He is a prophet.”  John 9:13-17.

————————————

Indeed, Jesus is a prophet.

“The LORD your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among you, from your countrymen, you shall listen to him.”  Deuteronomy 18:15.

“And the crowds were saying, “This is the prophet Jesus, from Nazareth in Galilee.”  Matthew 21:11.

One of the purposes of the miracles of Jesus, such as this miracle of healing the blind man, was to attest to Jesus, His authority, power, and standing as a prophet of God.

“Men of Israel, listen to these words:  Jesus the Nazarene, a man attested to you by God with miracles and wonders and signs which God performed through Him in your midst, just as you yourselves know– ”  Acts 2:22.

But, we should not be dependent on receiving signs.  Jesus reprimanded the people. 

John 4:48
“So Jesus said to him, “Unless you people see signs and wonders, you simply will not believe.”

Even, to His disciple Thomas, “Jesus said to him, “Because you have seen Me, have you believed?  Blessed are they who did not see, and yet believed.”  John 20:29

Although we will not witness the Jesus and His miracles as the people did of that day, we will encounter Jesus through God’s Word, and we will witness both spiritual and earthly blessings of Jesus that should cause us too to attest to Jesus (“He is a prophet.”) and that should cause us to listen to Him.

For example, this Sunday, when we hear the sermon and other parts of the worship service, will we joyfully glean what we can from the sermon, or will we just complain about anything that we think is a deficiency in the sermon and other parts of the worship service?

Will we reserve our faith and our testimony until we see something more?

In conclusion, in response to what we receive this Sunday, even what “manna” we receive each day, let us be joyful with what we get and exclaim:  “Jesus is a prophet!  Listen to Him!”

Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | November 24, 2010

Spit and Blood: Gross or Grace?

Today’s devotion is John 9:6-12.
 
“6  When He had said this, He spat on the ground, and made clay of the spittle, and applied the clay to his eyes, 
                              
 7  and said to him, “Go, wash in the pool of Siloam” (which is translated, Sent).  So he went away and washed, and came back seeing.
                                 

 8  Therefore the neighbors, and those who previously saw him as a beggar, were saying, “Is not this the one who used to sit and beg?”

 9  Others were saying, “This is he,” still others were saying, “No, but he is like him.”  He kept saying, “I am the one.”

 10  So they were saying to him, “How then were your eyes opened?”

 11  He answered, “The man who is called Jesus made clay, and anointed my eyes, and said to me, ‘Go to Siloam and wash’;  so I went away and washed, and I received sight.”

 12  They said to him, “Where is He?”  He said, “I do not know.”  John 9:6-12.

—————————-

Why didn’t Jesus just heal this blind man without making and applying a spit clay paddy?  This does seem a little gross.  Jesus did not even need to touch the blind man.  But, if Jesus did want to touch him for some reason, Jesus could have healed him by just touching his eyes.

We are reminded of a similar healing by Jesus in Mark 7:33-35.  “Jesus took him aside from the crowd, by himself, and put His fingers into his ears, and after spitting,  He touched his tongue with the saliva;  and looking up to heaven with a deep sigh, He said to him, “Ephphatha!” that is, “Be opened!”  And his ears were opened, and the impediment of his tongue was removed, and he began speaking plainly.”  Why didn’t Jesus heal this mute man without spitting and without touching the blind man’s tongue with the saliva? 

The Scripture for today also reminds of the healing of Naaman, the Syrian captain of the army. 

“Elisha sent a messenger to him, saying, “Go and wash in the Jordan seven times, and your flesh will be restored to you and you will be clean.”  But Naaman was furious and went away and said, “Behold, I thought, ‘He will surely come out to me and stand and call on the name of the LORD his God, and wave his hand over the place and cure the leper.’  “Are not Abanah and Pharpar, the rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel?  Could I not wash in them and be clean?”  So he turned and went away in a rage.

Then his servants came near and spoke to him and said, “My father, had the prophet told you to do some great thing, would you not have done it?  How much more then, when he says to you, ‘Wash, and be clean’?”

So he went down and dipped himself seven times in the Jordan, according to the word of the man of God; and his flesh was restored like the flesh of a little child and he was clean.”  2 Kings 5:10-14.

And, how about Passover?  Was it really necessary for the LORD to require the people of Israel to apply blood to the lintel and doorposts in order to save them?  But, here  was the LORD’s provision.  “For the LORD will pass through to smite the Egyptians;  and when He sees the blood on the lintel and on the two doorposts, the LORD will pass over the door and will not allow the destroyer to come in to your houses to smite you.”  Exodus 12:23.

Here is what Scripture states about the necessity of blood.  “And according to the Law, one may almost say, all things are cleansed with blood, and without shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.”  Hebrews 9:22  “…the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin.”  1 John 1:7

The Scripture for today, and these other similar Scriptures, teach us at least three lessons. 

First, God’s grace is particular.  God does not show grace to everyone.  In a sense, God treats objects of His grace as, well, objects, particular objects.

Although Jesus did heal many, He did not heal everyone.  In fact, Scripture emphasized the very particular nature of healing.  “And there were many lepers in Israel in the time of Elisha the prophet;  and none of them was cleansed, but only Naaman the Syrian.”  Luke 4:27

Although the LORD saved the people of Israel, He did not save everyone.  Only those had the blood on the lintel and on the two doorposts were saved.

“For many are called, but few are chosen.”  Matthew 22:14

“Or does not the potter have a right over the clay, to make from the same lump one vessel for honorable use and another for common use?  What if God, although willing to demonstrate His wrath and to make His power known, endured with much patience vessels of wrath prepared for destruction?  And He did so to make known the riches of His glory upon vessels of mercy, which He prepared beforehand for glory,”  Romans 9:21-23.
                                  

Second, God gives grace to the humble.  By doing these miracles in this way, using spit and blood (and the unclean waters of the Jordan), Jesus built up humility in these people.  “But He gives a greater grace.  Therefore it says, ” GOD IS OPPOSED TO THE PROUD, BUT GIVES GRACE TO THE HUMBLE.”  James 4:6 

Third, God intimately and fully handles those whom He saves.  “You scrutinize my path and my lying down, And are intimately acquainted with all my ways.”  Psalm 139:3

“And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.  For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren;  and these whom He predestined, He also called; and these whom He called, He also justified; and these whom He justified, He also glorified.  What then shall we say to these things?  If God is for us, who is against us?  He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him over for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things?”  Romans 8:28-32.

Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | November 23, 2010

This is the meaning of life.

Today’s devotion is John 9:1-5.
 
“1  As He passed by, He saw a man blind from birth. 
                                          
 2  And His disciples asked Him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he would be born blind?”
                                        

 3  Jesus answered, “It was neither that this man sinned, nor his parents;  but it was so that the works of God might be displayed in him.

 4  “We must work the works of Him who sent Me as long as it is day;  is coming when no one can work.

 5  “While I am in the world, I am the Light of the world.”  John 9:1-5. 

——————————-

This is the meaning of life – that “the works of God might be displayed”.  This is the meaning of creation.  This is also the meaning of our personal lives. 

This understanding should help give us patience and help us not be too critical of ourselves or others.  We may think that our life (or others’ lives) will only be a success if we (or they) do something great in our own eyes.  But, we understand from this Scripture that this blind man was severely limited by his blindness as to what he could personally accomplish.  We too may be severely limited by what we can personally accomplish.  However, the blind man’s purpose and our purpose (the meaning of our lives) are to serve as objects upon which “the works of God might be displayed” in us.

However, like Christ, we are not just passive objects.  We also have the active duty to “work the works of Him who sent” us.  We love to quote Philippians 2:13:  “for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.”  But, what does the prior verse state?  “So then, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your salvation with fear and trembling;”  Philippians 2:12.

As Jesus is “the Light of the world”,  we are to imitate Jesus and also be light in this world.  “Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.”  Matthew 5:16

Using verses such as Matthew 5:16, we can add God’s glory to the meaning of life.  What does “the works of God” do?  They bring glory to God.  Thus, the meaning of life is that “the works of God might be displayed to bring glory to God”.

Here is what the Reformed Confession The Westminister Confession of Faith states:

Question 1:  What is the chief and highest end of man?

Answer:  Man’s chief and highest end is to glorify God, and fully to enjoy him forever.

Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | November 22, 2010

“Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was born, I am.”

Today’s devotion is John 8:48-59.
 
“48  The Jews answered and said to Him, “Do we not say rightly that You are a Samaritan and have a demon?” 
                                   
 49  Jesus answered, “I do not have a demon;  but I honor My Father, and you dishonor Me.
                                 

 50  “But I do not seek My glory;  there is One who seeks and judges.

 51  “Truly, truly, I say to you, if anyone keeps My word he will never see death.”

 52  The Jews said to Him, “Now we know that You have a demon Abraham died, and the prophets also;  and You say, ‘If anyone keeps My word, he will never taste of death.’

 53  “Surely You are not greater than our father Abraham, who died?  The prophets died too;  whom do You make Yourself out to be?”

 54  Jesus answered, “If I glorify Myself, My glory is nothing;   it is My Father who glorifies Me, of whom you say, ‘He is our God’;

 55  and you have not come to know Him, but I know Him;  and if I say that I do not know Him, I will be a liar like you, but I do know Him and keep His word.

 56  “Your father Abraham rejoiced to see My day, and he saw it and was glad.”

 57  So the Jews said to Him, “You are not yet fifty years old, and have You seen Abraham?”

 58  Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was born, I am.”

 59  Therefore they picked up stones to throw at Him, but Jesus hid Himself and went out of the temple.”  John 8:48-59.

————————–

In the November 17, 2010 devotion, “What did Jesus testify about Himself?“,

Click here: What did Jesus testify about Himself? « Reformed Doctrine Blog 

we considered some of the “I am” descriptions that Jesus gave to us in this Book of John.  Here is another “I am” description through which Jesus testifies to His eternal and divine nature.  “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was born, I am.”

This is what the Reformed Confession The Belgic Confession speaks about Jesus’ eternal and divine nature.

Article 10:  That Jesus Christ is true and eternal God.

We believe that Jesus Christ, according to his divine nature, is the only begotten Son of God, begotten from eternity, not made nor created (for then he should be a creature), but co-essential and co-eternal with the Father, the express image of his person, and the brightness of his glory, equal unto him in all things.  He is the Son of God, not only from the time that he assumed our nature, but from all eternity, as these testimonies, when compared together, teach us. Moses saith, that God created the world;  and John saith, that all things were made by that Word, which he calleth God.  And the apostle saith, that God make the worlds by his Son; likewise, that God created all things by Jesus Christ.  Therefore it must needs follow, that he, who is called God, the Word, the Son, and Jesus Christ, did exist at that time, when all things were created by him.  Therefore the prophet Micah saith, His goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting. And the apostle: He hath neither beginning of days, nor end of life.  He therefore is that true, eternal, and almighty God, whom we invoke, worship and serve.

Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | November 21, 2010

“Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.”

Today’s devotion is John 8:37-47.
 
“37  “I know that you are Abraham’s descendants;  yet you seek to kill Me, because My word has no place in you. 
                                   
 38  “I speak the things which I have seen with My Father;  therefore you also do the things which you heard from your father.”
                                     

 39  They answered and said to Him, “Abraham is our father ”  Jesus said to them, “If you are Abraham’s children, do the deeds of Abraham.

 40  “But as it is, you are seeking to kill Me, a man who has told you the truth, which I heard from God;  this Abraham did not do.

 41  “You are doing the deeds of your father ”  They said to Him, “We were not born of fornication;  we have one Father: God.”

 42  Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love Me, for I proceeded forth and have come from God, for I have not even come on My own initiative, but He sent Me.

 43  “Why do you not understand what I am saying?  It is because you cannot hear My word.

 44  “You are of your father the devil, and you want to do the desires of your father.  He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth because there is no truth in him.  Whenever he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own nature, for he is a liar and the father of lies.

 45  “But because I speak the truth, you do not believe Me.

 46  “Which one of you convicts Me of sin?  If I speak truth, why do you not believe Me?

 47  “He who is of God hears the words of God;  for this reason you do not hear them, because you are not of God.”  John 8:37-47.

———————————

We share God’s Word liberally.  Some understand and believe;  others do not understand and do not believe.

There is Godly wisdom in not casting our pearls before swine.  Matthew 7:6.  But, just because there are those who do not understand and do not believe, that fact should not induce us to only share God’s Word with those who we think will be receptive.

Rather, we are commanded to preach the Gospel to all creation.  Notice how liberally, everywhere, the Gospel is preached. 

Matthew 11:5
“the BLIND RECEIVE SIGHT and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the POOR HAVE THE GOSPEL PREACHED TO THEM.”
                                      
Matthew 24:14
“This gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all the nations, and then the end will come.”
                                         
Mark 13:10
“The gospel must first be preached to all the nations.”
                                       
Mark 16:15
“And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.”
                                 
Luke 3:18
“So with many other exhortations he preached the gospel to the people.”
                                             
Luke 4:18
“THE SPIRIT OF THE LORD IS UPON ME, BECAUSE HE ANOINTED ME TO PREACH THE GOSPEL TO THE POOR.  HE HAS SENT ME TO PROCLAIM RELEASE TO THE CAPTIVES, AND RECOVERY OF SIGHT TO THE BLIND, TO SET FREE THOSE WHO ARE OPPRESSED,”
                                        
Luke 9:6
“Departing, they began going throughout the villages, preaching the gospel and healing everywhere.”
                                          
Romans 1:15
“So, for my part, I am eager to preach the gospel to you also who are in Rome.”
 
1 Corinthians 9:16
“For if I preach the gospel, I have nothing to boast of, for I am under compulsion;  for woe is me if I do not preach the gospel.”
 
2 Corinthians 10:16
so as to preach the gospel even to the regions beyond you, and not to boast in what has been accomplished in the sphere of another.
                                        
Revelation 14:6
“And I saw another angel flying in midheaven, having an eternal gospel to preach to those who live on the earth, and to every nation and tribe and tongue and people;”
 
 
Although not everyone will understand and believe, we can be encouraged that the elect will understand and believe.  There are those, in the words of Scripture for today, who are of God who hear the words of God.  
 
We may look at the crowd and not be able to pick up who will accept and who will reject God’s Word.  As a Gideon, when I distributed Scripture, I was often surprised who would accept and who would reject the Scriptures in our sidewalk distributions.  The well-dressed, smiling and beautiful people would often reject the Scriptures;  whereas the sarcastic “poorly dressed” people would often accept the Scriptures. 
 
We also must remember that there are two purposes in sharing God’s Word.  God will use our preaching to irresistably draw His elect to saving faith.  But, God will also use our preaching to hold the unbelieving accountable.  “Now we know that whatever the Law says, it speaks to those who are under the Law, so that every mouth may be closed and all the world may become accountable to God;”  Romans 3:19.
 
In summary, “So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth:  it shall not return unto me void,  but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.”  Isaiah 55:11
 
Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | November 19, 2010

Are you a Slave or a Son? Seek Jesus Who can make you a Son and free!

Today’s devotion is John 8:31-36.
 
“31  So Jesus was saying to those Jews who had believed Him, “If you continue in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine; 
                                           
 32  and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.”
                                         

 33  They answered Him, “We are Abraham’s descendants and have never yet been enslaved to anyone;  how is it that You say, ‘You will become free’?”

 34  Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who commits sin is the slave of sin.

 35  “The slave does not remain in the house forever;  the son does remain forever.

 36  “So if the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed.”  John 8:31-36.  (Emphasis added,)

————————————————–

“Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who commits sin is the slave of sin.”  We are reminded of Romans 6:16.  “Do you not know that when you present yourselves to someone as slaves for obedience, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin resulting in death, or of obedience resulting in righteousness?”

But, there is hope!  

“If you continue in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine;  and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.”    

So, we “continue” in God’s Word.  “But his delight is in the law of the LORD, And in His law he meditates day and night.”  Psalm 1:2.  This law leads us to Jesus.  “Therefore the Law has become our tutor to lead us to Christ, so that we may be justified by faith.  But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor.  For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus.”  Galatians 3:24-26. 

We learn about the Truth.  “Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life;  no one comes to the Father but through Me.”  John 14:6.  “and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.”

“Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.  For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death.  For what the Law could not do, weak as it was through the flesh, God did: sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and as an offering for sin, He condemned sin in the flesh, so that the requirement of the Law might be fulfilled in us, who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.”  Romans 8:1-4.

“The slave does not remain in the house forever;  the son does remain forever.”  This Scripture reminds us of Galatians 4:21-31.  The slave represents those who are under the Law.  The son represents those of faith in Christ Jesus.  Those who are under the Law will not share “the house”, which represents heaven, with those who are of faith in Christ Jesus. 

“21  Tell me, you who want to be under law, do you not listen to the law?

 22  For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by the bondwoman and one by the free woman.

 23  But the son by the bondwoman was born according to the flesh, and the son by the free woman through the promise.

 24  This is allegorically speaking, for these women are two covenants:  one proceeding from Mount Sinai bearing children who are to be slaves;  she is Hagar.

 25  Now this Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia and corresponds to the present Jerusalem, for she is in slavery with her children.

 26  But the Jerusalem above is free; she is our mother.

 27  For it is written,
         “REJOICE, BARREN WOMAN WHO DOES NOT BEAR;
         BREAK FORTH AND SHOUT, YOU WHO ARE NOT IN LABOR;
         FOR MORE NUMEROUS ARE THE CHILDREN OF THE DESOLATE
         THAN OF THE ONE WHO HAS A HUSBAND.”

 28  And you brethren, like Isaac, are children of promise.

 29  But as at that time he who was born according to the flesh persecuted him who was born according to the Spirit, so it is now also.

 30  But what does the Scripture say?
         “
CAST OUT THE BONDWOMAN AND HER SON,
         FOR THE SON OF THE BONDWOMAN SHALL NOT BE AN HEIR WITH THE SON OF THE FREE WOMAN
.”

 31  So then, brethren, we are not children of a bondwoman, but of the free woman.”  Galatians 4:21-31.

In conclusion, our Scripture for today instructs us that Jesus makes us free from sin.  We may be tempted to seek the Law to make us free from sin.  But, through the sin within us, the Law makes us a slave in bondage to sin.  “I was once alive apart from the Law;  but when the commandment came, sin became alive and I died;  and this commandment, which was to result in life, proved to result in death for me;  for sin, taking an opportunity through the commandment, deceived me and through it killed me.”  John 7:9-10. 

But, there is hope!

“So also we, while we were children, were held in bondage under the elemental things of the world.  But when the fullness of the time came, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the Law, so that He might redeem those who were under the Law, that we might receive the adoption as sons.  Because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!”  Therefore you are no longer a slave, but a son;  and if a son, then an heir through God.”  Galatians 4:3-7. 

Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | November 18, 2010

“unless you believe that I am He, you will die in your sins.”

Today’s devotion is John 8:21-30.
 
“21  Then He said again to them, “I go away, and you will seek Me, and will die in your sin;  where I am going, you cannot come.” 
                                     
 22  So the Jews were saying, “Surely He will not kill Himself, will He, since He says, ‘Where I am going, you cannot come’?”
                                             

 23  And He was saying to them, “You are from below, I am from above;  you are of this world, I am not of this world.

 24  “Therefore I said to you that you will die in your sins;  for unless you believe that I am He, you will die in your sins.”

 25  So they were saying to Him, “Who are You?”  Jesus said to them, “What have I been saying to you from the beginning?

 26  “I have many things to speak and to judge concerning you, but He who sent Me is true;  and the things which I heard from Him, these I speak to the world.”

 27  They did not realize that He had been speaking to them about the Father.

 28  So Jesus said, “When you lift up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am He, and I do nothing on My own initiative, but I speak these things as the Father taught Me.

 29  “And He who sent Me is with Me;  He has not left Me alone, for I always do the things that are pleasing to Him.”

 30  As He spoke these things, many came to believe in Him.”  John 8:21-30. 

——————————————

The world teaches self-esteem, diversity, and tolerance.  The world teaches that everybody is right and good.

Jesus teaches humility, one narrow way to salvation, and sovereign control.  Jesus teaches that nobody is right and good. 

In this Scripture for today, Jesus said three times in slightly different ways that “unless you believe that I am He, you will die in your sins.” 

Jesus’ message is quite different than many seeker-sensitive messages that we hear in churches.  But, Jesus speaks “these things as the Father taught” Him. 

Are our verbal and written messages also “these things as the Father taught” us?

Psalm 25:5
“Lead me in Your truth and teach me, For You are the God of my salvation;  For You I wait all the day.”

We need grace from God to learn the truth and speak the truth.  But, there is hope!  We have Jesus who is “full of grace and truth”!  We have the Holy Spirit to guide us into all the truth!

“And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth.  John testified about Him and cried out, saying, “This was He of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me has a higher rank than I, for He existed before me.'”  For of His fullness we have all received, and grace upon grace.  For the Law was given through Moses;  grace and truth were realized through Jesus Christ.”  John 1:14-17.

John 16:13
“But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth;   for He will not speak on His own initiative, but whatever He hears, He will speak; and He will disclose to you what is to come.”

And, what was the result of these strong words of Jesus (“unless you believe that I am He, you will die in your sins.”)?

“As He spoke these things, many came to believe in Him.”  John 8:30.

Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | November 17, 2010

What did Jesus testify about Himself?

Today’s devotion is John 8:13-20.
 
“13  So the Pharisees said to Him, “You are testifying about Yourself;  Your testimony is not true.” 
                                   
 14  Jesus answered and said to them, “Even if I testify about Myself, My testimony is true, for I know where I came from and where I am going;  but you do not know where I come from or where I am going.
                                         

 15  “You judge according to the flesh;   I am not judging anyone.

 16  “But even if I do judge, My judgment is true;  for I am not alone in it, but I and the Father who sent Me.

 17  “Even in your law it has been written that the testimony of two men is true.

 18  “I am He who testifies about Myself, and the Father who sent Me testifies about Me.”

 19  So they were saying to Him, “Where is Your Father?”  Jesus answered, “You know neither Me nor My Father;   if you knew Me, you would know My Father also.”

 20  These words He spoke in the treasury, as He taught in the temple;  and no one seized Him, because His hour had not yet come.”  John 8:13-20.

————————

What did Jesus testify about Himself?

Here are some “I am” descriptions that Jesus gave to us in this Book of John.

John 6:51
“I am the living bread that came down out of heaven;  if anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever;  and the bread also which I will give for the life of the world is My flesh.”

John 8:12                                                                                                                                      “Then Jesus again spoke to them, saying, ” I am the Light of the world;  he who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life.”

John 10:9
“I am the door;  if anyone enters through Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture.”
 
John 10:11
“I am the good shepherd;  the good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep.”
 
John 10:36
“do you say of Him, whom the Father sanctified and sent into the world, ‘You are blaspheming,’ because I said, ‘I am the Son of God’?”
                                          

John 11:25
“Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me will live even if he dies,” 

John 14:6
“Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.”
                           

John 15:5
“I am the vine, you are the branches;  he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing.”

 

What did the Father testify about Jesus?

Matthew 17:5
“While he was still speaking, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and behold, a voice out of the cloud said, “This is My beloved Son, with whom I am well-pleased;  listen to Him!”

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