THE GOSPEL OF JOHN – Part 7

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THE GOSPEL OF JOHN – Part 7

John 1:9-13.  “The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world. He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.”

The Bible is the Prophetic, Creative, Causative, Inerrant, Infallible, Living Word and Breath of God.  Once this Word lives in you, it will tell the Truth to you and through you, and nothing will ever be the same!

 In keeping with our theme that the Bible, when correctly understood, is found to be an immensely powerful prophetic book and that it contains all the Oracles of God, which teaches and transforms us at all points.

We will endeavor to read and understand on three main levels:  The physical, natural and external, which is to take the Word at face-value, or the DIANOIA; the psychological, which deals with the mind, the will and the emotions, or the PSUCHE; the spiritual, which deals with our core, our heart, from which springs all matters of life, or the PNEUMA.

First, please notice that John begins this teaching and prophetic word by saying, “The TRUE LIGHT that gives LIGHT TO EVERYONE, WAS coming into the world”; “He was IN the world”.

 First, from the PNEUMA:  From these words are from God, and we know that God is That Light, or ‘Phos’, which is the origin and giver of life to f all living things, from which springs the DIANOIA and the PSUCHE of all humankind.

This is one of the deepest and most profound of oracles, for, without the “Phos” of God, there would be no life – no you or me; neither would life continue without Him, He is the One Who sustains life, (Psalms 54:4).

The Bible also tells us that in the first century A.D., “though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him”.  This is still true for many people, today.

Scientists have spent and continue to spend hundreds of billions of dollars each year in search of life outside of earth. Most of them reject the fact that God is The Light and that through Him all things were made; and, without Him, there would be nothing. They ignore the fact that In him is life, and that life is the light of all mankind. This Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness, external and the darkness innate to man, cannot comprehend it. This search for life begins and ends with God. Hebrews 11:6, tells us, “And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him.”  There is no ‘reward’ for those who seek elsewhere.

It is by faith in Christ alone, that the Godly conquer kingdoms, perform acts of righteousness, obtain promises, shut the mouths of lions, quench the power of fire, escape the edge of the sword, from weakness are made strong, become mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight. It is by faith alone that we will see God in the resurrection, all of which is the outcome of our faith.

Let this prophetic word and teaching of the PNEUMA of God dwell in you. Meditate on it. Allow it to seep upward into your mind, will and emotions, your PSUCHE and allow it to manifest in your cognitive mind, your DIANOIA, and nothing will be impossible for you, (Matthew 17:20).

Secondly, John is telling us that this is “He who was, is, and is to come”. This is, God, the Pre-existent and Eternal God, Who is now among us. It is worthy to note that Jesus and John repeat and confirm these words in Revelation 1:8,

Grace to you and peace from Him who is, and who was, and who is to come, and from the seven spirits who are before His throne, and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To Him who loves us and released us from our sins by His blood— 6and He made us into a kingdom, priests to His God and Father—to Him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen. BEHOLD, HE IS COMING WITH THE CLOUDS, and every eye will see Him, even those who pierced Him; and all the tribes of the earth will mourn over Him. So it is to be. Amen.

And in Revelation 4:8.

“I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.”

It would be impossible for John to know this about God, and he could not have known to utter these words unless it is God speaking through him.

This tells us that God is speaking and revealing profound insights about His Person, His Nature, His Character, His Purposes and His Plans. You and I would be wise to listen and adhere to these Words.

Finally, and most importantly, John writes, “though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.”

Please read this, again, carefully.  “Yet to all who did receive Him” , 

The Greek word and translation of the word “receive” in this verse, is “lambano“, which means to lay hold, to obtain and to get.  So ‘receiving Him’ is much more than a casual agreement or a greeting, as we hear in so many sermons and church services now-a-days.  It is aggressively laying hold by actively accepting what is available and offered; to accept with initiative, and it  emphasizes the volition  and assertiveness of the receiver.

Everyone is invited; and, everyone has free will and the power of choice; but, only those who receive Him, will be given the right to become a child of God.  (Perhaps, another way of saying this is “Many are called, but few are chosen”, Matthew 22:14.)

Also, “to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God.”

The Greek word and translation of the words ‘gave the right’, comes from the word, ‘eksousía‘  which is a “right or privilege and an authority, or better, a conferred power; a delegated empowerment and authorization given by God. It is the authority God gives to His saints, authorizing them to act to the extent they are guided by faith by His revealed word.”

This is not poetic hyperbole or a vain philosophy. This is the Truth of the Word of God.  You can become a child of God; joint heirs with His only-begotten Son, Jesus; with full rights, authority and responsibilities as an heir.

Believe it.  Feel it.  Think it.  Do it.

Your Brother and Friend,

Mike Young

“And, nothing will be impossible for those who believe” Matthew 17:20

Please bookmark this page and follow along as we study the Book of John, like never before! Next Episode THE GOSPEL OF JOHN – Part 8