Gospel of John

A Weekly Study - Verse by Verse

Tuesday, June 20, 2006

Seven things we learn about John the Baptist from Luke 1:14-17 as given by the angel Gabriel

1. He was a joy and delight to his father
2. Many rejoiced at his birth
3. He was great in the sight of the Lord
4. He never took wine or other fermented drink
5. That he was filled with the Holy Spirit from birth
6. He brought back many of the people of Israel to God
7. He went in the power and spirit of Elijah to make ready the people preparing them for the arrival of Jesus Christ

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Wednesday, May 10, 2006

How Can He Come After Me and Yet Be Before Me?

John Chapter One Verse 15:

John testifies concerning him. He cries out, saying, "This was he of whom I said, 'He who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.'"

This message John preached in verse 15 seemed strange to the Jews.
You see, John was the forerunner of Jesus, going before Him to prepare His way.
Yet John states that He who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.
Why would a king need a forerunner if he went before the forerunner?
How can someone come after and yet be before someone?

The first verse of this Chapter explains it all:

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning.

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Monday, April 17, 2006

Grace Defined

Have you ever tried to define the term grace? I have often heard it described as undeserved favor. Here are two good definitions from Bible dictionaries:

“A rigid definition is hardly possible, but still a single conception is actually present in almost every case where "grace" is found-the conception that all a Christian has or is, is centered exclusively in God and Christ, and depends utterly on God through Christ.”
from International Standard Bible Encyclopaedia, Electronic Database Copyright (c)1996 by Biblesoft

“Favor or kindness shown without regard to the worth or merit of the one who receives it and in spite of what that same person deserves.”
from Nelson's Illustrated Bible Dictionary, Copyright (c)1986, Thomas Nelson Publishers

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Sunday, April 09, 2006

Blessings I Have Received

Verse 16 of Chapter 1 of John says we have received blessing after blessing from Jesus Christ. What blessings have you received? Here are some of the blessings I have received:

1. Forgiveness of sin
2. Mediator to the Father
3. Holy Spirit
4. He suffered in my place
5. An example for me
6. A teacher (as recorded in Scripture)
7. My redemption
8. My advocate
9. The beauty of the world he created
10. Fair judgment

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Sunday, April 02, 2006

How did Jesus Christ come before John the Baptist as stated in verse 15 of John Chapter 1?

John Chapter One:

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning.

3 Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. 4 In him was life, and that life was the light of men. 5 The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it.

6 There came a man who was sent from God; his name was John. 7 He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all men might believe.

8 He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light. 9 The true light that gives light to every man was coming into the world.

10 He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him.

11 He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. 12 Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God- 13 children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God.

14 The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.

15 John testifies concerning him. He cries out, saying, "This was he of whom I said, 'He who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.'" 16 From the fullness of his grace we have all received one blessing after another. 17 For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.

18 No one has ever seen God, but God the One and Only, who is at the Father's side, has made him known.

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Wednesday, March 22, 2006

Ten examples of how the world did not recognize and did not receive Jesus Christ

1. Did not see Him as the Messiah
2. Ridiculed Him
3. Accused Him of sinful behavior
4. Accused Him of crimes He did not commit
5. Stated He had a devil
6. Saw His good deeds as evil
7. Tried to stone Him
8. Stated He was merely John the Carpenter’s son
9. Thought He was born in Nazareth
10. Crucified Him

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Monday, March 13, 2006

Truth, Acceptance and Rejection

Four truths can we see in reading I John 3:1 and John 1:10-11:

  1. If born again Christians are rejected, they are rejected because the rejecters do not know Jesus Christ
  2. Whosoever accepts Jesus Christ will recognize fellow believers
  3. We are sons of God just as Jesus Christ is
  4. We are loved greatly by God, so much so that He calls us Sons

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