A Study in 1st John. Part one.

I have been leading a study of the first Epistle of John for a few months at my church. We meet each Saturday morning for an hour and a half. I am considering posting the materials I have developed for those studies here to see if there is any interest. the material here will have to be divided up into much smaller chunks for this format. Let me know what you think.

Introduction:

I want to start with two verses from the very end of this epistle to set the tone for what we are about to begin.

1 John 5:13 ESV

(13)  I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life.

“If the new birth is the root, a changed life is the fruit.” Steve Lawson

Remember these verses from Matthew:

Matthew 7:17-20 ESV

(17)  So, every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit.

(18)  A healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a diseased tree bear good fruit.

(19)  Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.

(20)  Thus you will recognize them by their fruits.

Matthew 7:21 ESV

(21)  “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.)

So, with all that in mind, let us consider also that God wants us to know and fully understand both his word and his son.

1 John 5:20 ESV

(20)  And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know him who is true; and we are in him who is true, in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life.

The word know appears 38 times in the book of 1 John (in the ESV). Knowing that we are saved and having an assurance of that salvation is very important to God. 

Take some time on your own to search out each of the instances, underline it (if you want to), and think about what it means in that context. 

Let’s begin this study of John’s Epistles with an understanding of the world in which they were written, the people to whom they were written, and the purpose for their writing. To begin with, let’s read the first short chapter.

Verse(s) considered along with Observations & Expositions:

1 John 1:1-10 ESV

(1)  That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we looked upon and have touched with our hands, concerning the word of life—

(2)  the life was made manifest, and we have seen it, and testify to it and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and was made manifest to us—

(3)  that which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ.

(4)  And we are writing these things so that our joy may be complete.

(5)  This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.

(6)  If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth.

(7)  But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.

(8)  If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.

(9)  If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

(10)  If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.

The author of this epistle is the Apostle John. There have been challenges to that idea, but the evidence supporting that conclusion is pretty overwhelming. Only two epistles in the New Testament do not directly name their authors. This is one, and the other is Hebrews. The similarities in writing style to the Gospel of John (which also does not name its author) are strong enough to make the authorship conclusive, and early documents (written on parchment rolls) written by disciples (Irenaeus) of the disciples (Polycarp) of John also make the same claim. So, without going into that documentation, we will assume that part is true.

John was probably living in Ephesus in the latter part of the first century when this was written. He was, in all likelihood, in his eighties or nineties at the time, which explains his many references to “little children.” 

Also, when speaking of parchment rolls, F.F. Bruce, in his book The Books and the Parchments, says, “When the roll (of parchment) was wound up, a slip containing the title of the work and the name of the author was usually pasted on the outside. This could easily fall off, leaving the work without a name. It may be that something like this happened to the Epistle to the Hebrews. This Epistle bears no writer’s name, although it was not intended to be an anonymous letter; its recipients no doubt knew quite well who had sent it to them. A number of rolls would be kept together in a cylindrical box, which the Romans called a capsa. If an anonymous roll was kept in a box along with a number of other rolls by a known author, the nameless roll was apt to be credited to that author too. Thus, if the Epistle to the Hebrews was kept along with letters of Paul, it was not unnatural that Paul’s name should come to be attached to it.”

The apostle also appears to have mellowed quite a bit from one of the “Sons of Thunder” that Jesus mentioned when referring to John and his brother James who wanted to bring fire from heaven down on a Samaritan village (see Luke 9:54). He is, at the time of this writing, more of an Apostle of Love and his fiery temperament is more under control, which is a testament to the work of the Holy Spirit and his work of sanctification. We can all be grateful for that work which Paul tells us will be brought to “completion at the day of Jesus Christ” (Philippians 1:6).

John is dealing with certain gnostic or “knowledge” heresies in which some claimed to have special knowledge of God that others did not have. Gnostic is from the Greek word gnosis, which means knowledge. They were like those today who claim to have special, mystical insights and revelations (private messages) from God that the rest of the body of Christ did not have—think of the health, wealth, and prosperity preachers of today. (Steve Lawson: Absolute Assurance, Survey of 1 John. Available on YouTube.) 

These heresies were promoted by men like Cerinthus, whom John encountered in a Roman bathhouse in the city of Ephesus. According to Polycarp, in Irenaeus, Against Heresies, “John, the disciple of the Lord, going to bathe at Ephesus, and perceiving [the heretic] Cerinthus within, rushed out of the bath-house without bathing, exclaiming, ‘Let us fly, lest even the bath-house fall down, because Cerinthus, the enemy of truth, is within.’” 

Clement of Alexandria relates how John fearlessly entered the camp of a band of robbers and led its captain, who had once professed faith in Christ, to true repentance (see Who Is the Rich Man that Shall be Saved?). (From John MacArthur’s commentary on 1st John.)

You see, Cerinthus claimed that God’s spirit descended on Jesus at his baptism but left him at the crucifixion. 

Gnostics believed in Dualism, which is a separation of the body and the spirit. The body, which is matter, is evil, and the spirit, which is good. Consequently, they rejected the humanity of Christ, the virgin birth of Christ, they denied that Jesus lived a perfect life in his human body, they denied the validity of Christ’s death on the cross, and they denied the fact that Jesus was resurrected from the dead. They essentially gutted all the core beliefs of Christianity, and so they preyed on Christians to pull them away into their false belief system by claiming that their “knowledge” was superior to the word of God and that whatever the body does is irrelevant to salvation as long as your heart is in the right place. So, Christ’s call to obedience was irrelevant and unimportant.

JMac: John combats the dualism of false teachers who asserted that the “Christ-spirit” departed from the man Jesus just prior to His death on the cross. John writes to show that God has given testimony to the deity of Jesus through both His baptism and death.

Verse of the Week

Verse(s) considered:

Jeremiah 10:12 ESV

It is he who made the earth by his power, who established the world by his wisdom, and by his understanding stretched out the heavens.

Immediate Context:

Jeremiah 10:10-16 ESV

(10)  But the LORD is the true God; he is the living God and the everlasting King. At his wrath the earth quakes, and the nations cannot endure his indignation.

(11)  Thus shall you say to them: “The gods who did not make the heavens and the earth shall perish from the earth and from under the heavens.”

(12)  It is he who made the earth by his power, who established the world by his wisdom, and by his understanding stretched out the heavens.

(13)  When he utters his voice, there is a tumult of waters in the heavens, and he makes the mist rise from the ends of the earth. He makes lightning for the rain, and he brings forth the wind from his storehouses.

(14)  Every man is stupid and without knowledge; every goldsmith is put to shame by his idols, for his images are false, and there is no breath in them.

(15)  They are worthless, a work of delusion; at the time of their punishment they shall perish.

(16)  Not like these is he who is the portion of Jacob, for he is the one who formed all things, and Israel is the tribe of his inheritance; the LORD of hosts is his name.

Observations: 

Six questions of observation:

• Who is being discussed here?
  • God 
    • Specifically, God’s power.
• What is being talked about here?
  • God’s limitless power.
    • Types of God’s power.
      • Creation by the power of his word.
        • He spoke the universe into existence. 
        • 12 For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.  13 And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account.  (Hebrews 4:12-13, ESV)
        • 31 So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples,  32 and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”  (John 8:31-32, ESV)
  • God’s limitless wisdom.
    • 1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.  2 He was in the beginning with God.  3 All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made.  4 In him was life, and the life was the light of men.  5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.  (John 1:1-5, ESV)
  • God’s limitless understanding. 
  • His attributes
    • Omnipotent
    • Omniscient 
    • Omnipresent
    • From AW Pink
      • The Solitariness of God 
      • The Decrees of God
      • The Knowledge of God
      • The Foreknowledge of God
      • The Supremacy of God
      • The Sovereignty of God
      • The Immutability of God 
        • God is distinguished from His creatures
      • The Holiness of God
      • The Power of God 
        • Establishing a correct concept of God’s power
      • The Faithfulness of God
      • The Goodness of God
      • The Patience of God
      • The Grace of God
      • The Mercy of God 
        • God’s mercy originates in His goodness
      • The Lovingkindness of God
      • The Love of God
      • The Love of God to Us
      • The Wrath of God
      • The Contemplation of God
• Where?
  • Everywhere
• When?
  • Always
• Why?
  • For our good and his glory. Romans 8:28
• So what?
  • How should we apply this to our lives?

Additional resource verses for consideration:

Hebrews 4:12 ESV

(12)  For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.

Psalms 19:7-9 ESV

(7)  The law of the LORD is perfect, reviving the soul; the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple;

(8)  the precepts of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes;

(9)  the fear of the LORD is clean, enduring forever; the rules of the LORD are true, and righteous altogether.

 

Verse of the Week Jeremiah 10:10

Verse of the Week

Verse(s) considered:

Jeremiah 10:10 ESV

But the LORD is the true God; he is the living God and the everlasting King. At his wrath the earth quakes, and the nations cannot endure his indignation.

Immediate Context:

Jeremiah 10:10-16 ESV

(10)  But the LORD is the true God; he is the living God and the everlasting King. At his wrath the earth quakes, and the nations cannot endure his indignation.

(11)  Thus shall you say to them: “The gods who did not make the heavens and the earth shall perish from the earth and from under the heavens.”

(12)  It is he who made the earth by his power, who established the world by his wisdom, and by his understanding stretched out the heavens.

(13)  When he utters his voice, there is a tumult of waters in the heavens, and he makes the mist rise from the ends of the earth. He makes lightning for the rain, and he brings forth the wind from his storehouses.

(14)  Every man is stupid and without knowledge; every goldsmith is put to shame by his idols, for his images are false, and there is no breath in them.

(15)  They are worthless, a work of delusion; at the time of their punishment they shall perish.

(16)  Not like these is he who is the portion of Jacob, for he is the one who formed all things, and Israel is the tribe of his inheritance; the LORD of hosts is his name.

Observations: 

Six questions of observation: 

• Who was Jeremiah?
  • Jeremiah was about twenty years old when God’s call came (626 BC).  His father, Hilkiah, was a priest, as was his grandfather. 
  • Jeremiah served the Lord as a prophet for over 40 years. During that time, the nation of Israel was conquered by the Babylonians, and many were taken into exile. One of the major sins of Israel for which God sent them into exile was idolatry. 
• What is being talked about here?
  • The sin of idolatry.
  • Specifically, the types of idols that were created with men’s hands made out of wood or metal.
• Where?
  • The southern kingdom of Judah.
• When?
  • We do not know exactly, but probably before the exile.
• Why?
  • To combat the sin of idolatry.
• So what?
  • How should we apply this to our lives?

Group discussion topics:

• The section of verses surrounding this are discussing idols of wood and metal that men have made with their own hands to worship. 
• This verse declares that only the Lord is the true God.
• He is also the only living God, while the ones made out of wood and metal are not.
• He is also an everlasting King.
  • God has always existed and will always exist. 
    • Psalms 90:2 ESV “Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever you had formed the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God.”
• His wrath shakes the earth. Here is the scene when God is first introducing himself to the new nation of Israel.
  • Exodus 19:16-20 ESV

(16)  On the morning of the third day there were thunders and lightnings and a thick cloud on the mountain and a very loud trumpet blast, so that all the people in the camp trembled.

(17)  Then Moses brought the people out of the camp to meet God, and they took their stand at the foot of the mountain.

(18)  Now Mount Sinai was wrapped in smoke because the LORD had descended on it in fire. The smoke of it went up like the smoke of a kiln, and the whole mountain trembled greatly.

(19)  And as the sound of the trumpet grew louder and louder, Moses spoke, and God answered him in thunder.

(20)  The LORD came down on Mount Sinai, to the top of the mountain. And the LORD called Moses to the top of the mountain, and Moses went up.

• Nations will not endure his indignation. They will all eventually submit to his authority.
  • Matthew 24:7 ESV

(7)  For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places.

Revelation 21:24 ESV

(24)  By its light will the nations walk, and the kings of the earth will bring their glory into it,

Applications: 

• Be careful of the value I place on things/people/activities in my life.
  • Clothes
  • Friends, relatives, teachers
  • Money
  • Activities
  • Devices

 

“The LORD is my rock …”

Journeys Through the Word

“The LORD is my rock …” 

Verse(s) considered:

Psalms 18:2 ESV

The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.

Immediate context: 

Psalms 18:1-5 ESV

(1)  To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David, the servant of the LORD, who addressed the words of this song to the LORD on the day when the LORD delivered him from the hand of all his enemies, and from the hand of Saul. He said: I love you, O LORD, my strength.

(2)  The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.

(3)  I call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised, and I am saved from my enemies.

(4)  The cords of death encompassed me; the torrents of destruction assailed me;

(5)  the cords of Sheol entangled me; the snares of death confronted me.

Additional context for consideration:

Luke 1:46-49 ESV (Mary’s Song of Praise: The Magnificat)

(46)  And Mary said, “My soul magnifies the Lord,

(47)  and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,

(48)  for he has looked on the humble estate of his servant. For behold, from now on all generations will call me blessed;

(49)  for he who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is his name.

Psalms 18:6-19 ESV

(6)  In my distress I called upon the LORD; to my God I cried for help. From his temple he heard my voice, and my cry to him reached his ears.

(7)  Then the earth reeled and rocked; the foundations also of the mountains trembled and quaked, because he was angry.

(8)  Smoke went up from his nostrils, and devouring fire from his mouth; glowing coals flamed forth from him.

(9)  He bowed the heavens and came down; thick darkness was under his feet.

(10)  He rode on a cherub and flew; he came swiftly on the wings of the wind.

(11)  He made darkness his covering, his canopy around him, thick clouds dark with water.

(12)  Out of the brightness before him hailstones and coals of fire broke through his clouds.

(13)  The LORD also thundered in the heavens, and the Most High uttered his voice, hailstones and coals of fire.

(14)  And he sent out his arrows and scattered them; he flashed forth lightnings and routed them.

(15)  Then the channels of the sea were seen, and the foundations of the world were laid bare at your rebuke, O LORD, at the blast of the breath of your nostrils.

(16)  He sent from on high, he took me; he drew me out of many waters.

(17)  He rescued me from my strong enemy and from those who hated me, for they were too mighty for me.

(18)  They confronted me in the day of my calamity, but the LORD was my support.

(19)  He brought me out into a broad place; he rescued me, because he delighted in me.

Thoughts along the road: (Observations) 

• This is the verse of the day from the Bible app on my phone. While I appreciate the daily verse each day, I don’t always go beyond just a general affirmation of the goodnes of God in his word in applying that particular verse to my life on that particular day. Today I was prompted to do more than that because I am going through a difficulty in my life that makes me want to do more than just “going through the motions” in my devotional life.
• I needed to take a closer look at this verse and see how it both applies to my life and how it changes my view of who God is. So, let’s take a bit of a deeper dive.
• This begins with “The LORD is my rock.” What is a rock? Scripturally speaking, I think about the firm foundation that Jesus said we should build our lives on. 
• Is your life standing firm? We all have waves crashing against us all the time trying to take us out, overwhelm us, destroy us. God is telling us here not to give up. He is our foundation. He will hold us up. We just need to stand firm in him and cling to what we know is true—the power of his word. Nothing endures like the faithfulness and word of our God. 

I’ll pick up here tomorrow. I think that going through this verse one phrase at a time will be worth the energy—for both of us. 🙂

Journeys Through the Word

“I am the light of the world …” 

Verse(s) considered:

John 8:12 ESV

Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”

Immediate context: 

John 8:12-18 ESV

(12)  Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”

(13)  So the Pharisees said to him, “You are bearing witness about yourself; your testimony is not true.”

(14)  Jesus answered, “Even if I do bear witness 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 judge no one.

(16)  Yet even if I do judge, my judgment is true, for it is not I alone who judge, but I and the Father who sent me.

(17)  In your Law it is written that the testimony of two people is true.

(18)  I am the one who bears witness about myself, and the Father who sent me bears witness about me.”

Additional context for consideration:

Psalms 36:9 ESV

For with you is the fountain of life; in your light do we see light.

Isaiah 9:2 ESV

The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shone.

Isaiah 42:6 ESV

“I am the LORD; I have called you in righteousness; I will take you by the hand and keep you; I will give you as a covenant for the people, a light for the nations,

John 12:35 ESV

So Jesus said to them, “The light is among you for a little while longer. Walk while you have the light, lest darkness overtake you. The one who walks in the darkness does not know where he is going.

Thoughts along the road: (Observations) 

• This section of the Gospel of John contains many different contentious interactions with the leaders of the Jews while he is also teaching the people present in the temple area during the Feast of Booths.
• Jesus had previously (John 7:37-38) offered to quench the thirst of his hearers, telling them to come to him and drink and that after they did, “rivers of living water” would flow out of their hearts.
• Here Jesus declares that he is the “light of the world.” 
• That light is the same light that is referred to in the first chapter of John where it says:
  • John 1:5-9 ESV

(5)  The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

(6)  There was a man sent from God, whose name was John.

(7)  He came as a witness, to bear witness about the light, that all might believe through him.

(8)  He was not the light, but came to bear witness about the light.

(9)  The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world.

• He promises that those who follow him will not walk in darkness.
  • We can walk/live in the light of the truth. 
  • We’ll be able to see the differences between truth and lies.
• Because we have the light in our lives, we’ll clearly see how we can apply the light to our lives and see our way through dark and difficult times by continuing to follow him. 

Where to go from here: (Application)

Because we have that light in our lives, it shines a light both on our current position and condition (making us aware of both where we are, the blessings we have, and our sinful condition). We need to apply that knowledge to begin to move closer to him and to attend to the active sin in our lives. That is best accomplished by shining his light and the light of his word on our situation.

We need to be in his word daily. Remember that the Holy Spirit uses the Bible to make. us more like Jesus. It is the primary tool of our sanctification. So read it, study it, and apply it to your life daily. 

But all of this reading and studying and application only works if we already have Jesus as our Lord and Savior. If you have not submitted to him as Lord and Savior yet, all the Bible reading and studying and application will be for nothing because it does not work on a spiritual corpse. Please remedy that today. The following is from EvanTell.

There is nothing more important than your need to place your trust in Christ for salvation. If you would like to do this, you can tell God you are trusting Jesus Christ as your Savior through a simple prayer. It is not a prayer that saves you; it is trusting Christ that saves. Prayer is simply how you tell God what you are doing.

Dear God, I know I’m a sinner. I know my sin deserves to be punished. I believe Christ died for me and rose from the grave. I trust Jesus Christ alone as my Savior. Thank you for the forgiveness and everlasting life I now have. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Assurance of Salvation

John 5:24  “I tell you the truth, those who listen to my message and believe in God who sent me have eternal life. They will never be condemned for their sins, but they have already passed from death into life. 

“And a brother is born for adversity …”

Journeys Through the Word

“And a brother is born for adversity …” 

Verse(s) considered:

Proverbs 17:17 ESV

A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.

Immediate context: 

For today’s context, I am choosing some verses from the Gospel of John because Jesus is always our best example of a brother.

John 15:12-17 ESV

(12)  “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.

(13)  Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.

(14)  You are my friends if you do what I command you.

(15)  No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you.

(16)  You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you.

(17)  These things I command you, so that you will love one another.

Additional context for consideration:

Romans 5:7-8 ESV

(7)  For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die—

(8)  but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Thoughts along the road: (Observations) 

• The love of a brother is seen here as something that will undergo trials—adversity.
• A brother, a true brother is one of either a blood relation, a spiritual relation, or a deep friendship. It is a deep bond that is not either easily forged or broken. 
• With Jesus as our example, he calls us friends if we do what he commands.
• If we are his friends, then we are spending time with him regularly—daily.
• If we are being obedient to him and commune with him continuously, then it seems that he will go beyond the surface-level friendship with him and call us brothers. That is how it seems to be for the disciples that have followed him, and he is addressing this in John 15. At this point in the gospel, it is very near the end of Jesus’ ministry, and they have stuck with him through thick and thin.
  • He is telling them that they are more than servants or friends. They are brothers. They are in on his mission with him, and we know that he will be passing the work onto them after his death, resurrection, and ascension. 
  • So he is also telling them that he is in it all the way for them, too. Look at the verses that precede this declaration where he talks about “no greater love.”
  • That is why I think that Jesus is our best model for friendship—and servanthood.
• Paul shows us Jesus’ intent, in other words stating that he died for us—while we were yet sinners so that we could become his friends and brothers.
  • He chose us while we were still sinners and, through his death and resurrection, enabled us to become what we could never do on our own.

Where to go from here: (Application)

We are tasked with emulating our savior. We are to emulate his actions of love in all that we do. 

How can we do that on a daily basis? 

Spend time with your friends. Maybe not every single day, but regularly.

Stay in touch with them. Phone calls, texts, etc …

How can we be that friend? 

Make sure that when hard times come that you are first in line to offer whatever help you can. 

But, most of all. stay present in your friends lives.

Pray for them, regularly.

If they are Christians, discuss spiritual topics with them. Share things you discover about God in your quiet time and encourage them to do the same. Encourage their walk with the Lord. Be mutually accountable. Remember that iron sharpens iron. 

If they do not know the Lord, be an example of Godly love and be ready to share the gospel with them when an opportunity presents itself. They may reject it, but don’t give up on them.

“And nations shall come to your light …”

Journeys Through the Word

“And nations shall come to your light …” 

Verse(s) considered:

Isaiah 60:3 ESV

And nations shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising.

Immediate context:

Isaiah 60:1-5 ESV

(1)  Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the LORD has risen upon you.

(2)  For behold, darkness shall cover the earth, and thick darkness the peoples; but the LORD will arise upon you, and his glory will be seen upon you.

(3)  And nations shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising.

(4)  Lift up your eyes all around, and see; they all gather together, they come to you; your sons shall come from afar, and your daughters shall be carried on the hip.

(5)  Then you shall see and be radiant; your heart shall thrill and exult, because the abundance of the sea shall be turned to you, the wealth of the nations shall come to you.

Additional context for consideration:

Isaiah 2:2-3 ESV

(2)  It shall come to pass in the latter days that the mountain of the house of the LORD shall be established as the highest of the mountains, and shall be lifted up above the hills; and all the nations shall flow to it,

(3)  and many peoples shall come, and say: “Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob, that he may teach us his ways and that we may walk in his paths.” For out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.

Thoughts along the road: (Observations) 

• There will come a day … when nations shall come to your light.
  • Someday, nations (and people) will see clearly the light that will come from Israel. The light of salvation.
  • The kings (rulers of the world) will come to see the brightness rising as the sun from the east.

Where to go from here: (Application)

While these verses look forward to a time in the Millenium when there will be people born that reject Jesus, others will recognize the King of Glory and flock to Jerusalem and the light that shines from it.

The situation today is far grimmer than it will be in the Millenium. Almost all in this world reject Jesus, and almost none accept that he is light or salvation at all.

Our job is to shine the light that we have as brightly as possible. We need not be discouraged because we are promised that our obedience in that task will yield results—even if we cannot see them. In the book of Acts, Paul was a bit discouraged, but the Lord encouraged him:

Acts 18:9-10 ESV

(9)  And the Lord said to Paul one night in a vision, “Do not be afraid, but go on speaking and do not be silent,

(10)  for I am with you, and no one will attack you to harm you, for I have many in this city who are my people.”

So, never give up. Keep shining your light, and do not be afraid to speak up. As difficult as things might be now, God is still God, and we are his chosen instruments.

“I sought the LORD …”

Journeys Through the Word

“I sought the LORD …” 

Verse(s) considered:

Psalms 34:4-5 ESV

I sought the LORD, and he answered me and delivered me from all my fears.

Those who look to him are radiant, and their faces shall never be ashamed.

Immediate context:

Psalms 34:1-9 ESV

(1)  Of David, when he changed his behavior before Abimelech, so that he drove him out, and he went away. I will bless the LORD at all times; his praise shall continually be in my mouth.

(2)  My soul makes its boast in the LORD; let the humble hear and be glad.

(3)  Oh, magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt his name together!

(4)  I sought the LORD, and he answered me and delivered me from all my fears.

(5)  Those who look to him are radiant, and their faces shall never be ashamed.

(6)  This poor man cried, and the LORD heard him and saved him out of all his troubles.

(7)  The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear him, and delivers them.

(8)  Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good! Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him!

(9)  Oh, fear the LORD, you his saints, for those who fear him have no lack!

Additional context for consideration:

Matthew 6:33-34 ESV

(33)  But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

(34)  “Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.

Thoughts along the road: (Observations) 

• “I sought the Lord …” Herein lies the key to understanding these verses. Seeking the Lord is our first and primary responsibility. Everything else depends on it.
• “He answered me …” This cannot happen without first having sought him. Also, know that he always answers. You may not get what you think you want, but he always answers.
• “… and delivered me from all my fears.” The key to this part is trusting that after you have sought the Lord and you are trusting that he is answering you in the best way for his glory and your good (See Romans 8:38&39). Your fears ought to fade away like a mist in the sunlight. The same motivation that propelled you to seek the Lord out in the first place ought also to give you peace and leave the results to him.
• “Those who look to him are radiant …” If we have sought the Lord and trusted him to answer us and worked out the best result ought also to be radiant. Radiant with the glow of satisfaction that the Lord God of all creation has undertaken to work things out in the best way for his glory and our good. There’s no better place to be than in the center of God’s will.
• “… and their faces shall never be ashamed.” What a great promise this is! We will never be ashamed. When I have sought him out and put my trust in him, I will never be ashamed.

Where to go from here: (Application)

God promises that if we seek him out and seek his righteousness out first, everything else will work out, all of our needs will be taken care of, our fears will evaporate, and we will be radiant and unashamed. What a grand and glorious promise this is. I can live without fear and in a constant state of radiant rejoicing—even in the midst of trials and temptations. 

How are you doing with this today? Are you living in fear or rejoicing? Have you sought the Lord in your situation, are you putting your complete trust in him, or are you still looking at your circumstances instead of your redeemer?

If you belong to the Lord, the choice is yours.

If you don’t belong to the Lord and want to be able to seek him and choose these results, then repent of your sin and trust him as your Lord today. 

Acknowledge that “Christ died for our sins (just as the scriptures said) and rose from the dead.” I Corinthians 15:3-5

There is nothing more important than your need to place your trust in Christ for salvation. If you would like to do this, you can tell God you are trusting Jesus Christ as your Savior through a simple prayer. It is not a prayer that saves you; it is trusting Christ that saves. Prayer is simply how you tell God what you are doing.

Dear God, I know I’m a sinner. I know my sin deserves to be punished. I believe Christ died for me and rose from the grave. I trust Jesus Christ alone as my Savior. Thank you for the forgiveness and everlasting life I now have. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Assurance of Salvation

John 5:24 ESV

Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life. 

If you’ve earnestly prayed this prayer, then welcome to the family. The promises spoken about above are now yours. 

“He leads me in paths of righteousness …”

Journeys Through the Word

“He leads me in paths of righteousness …” 

Verse(s) considered:

Psalms 23:1-3 ESV

(1)  A Psalm of David. The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.

(2)  He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters.

(3)  He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.

Immediate context:

Psalms 23:1-6 ESV

(1)  A Psalm of David. The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.

(2)  He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters.

(3)  He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.

(4)  Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.

(5)  You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.

(6)  Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD forever.

Additional context for consideration:

Romans 4:5-8 ESV

(5)  And to the one who does not work but believes in him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted as righteousness,

(6)  just as David also speaks of the blessing of the one to whom God counts righteousness apart from works:

(7)  “Blessed are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven, and whose sins are covered;

(8)  blessed is the man against whom the Lord will not count his sin.”

Thoughts along the road: (Observations) 

• When/if the Lord is my shepherd, I will not want. I believe the when/if is implied here because the Lord is not everyone’s shepherd. Many of us have gone astray or have deliberately run away from God.
• Part of his care is rest; rest in green pastures where there is plenty of food. Another part is peace, beside the peaceful still waters where my thirst can be quenched. Jesus talks about coming to him and getting our thirst quenched. (See John 4:10-14 and John 7:37.)
• If the Lord is our shepherd, he restores our soul. He gives us new life. We become a new creation. (See 2 Cor 5:17.)
• He leads us in paths of righteousness if he is our shepherd. Look at the verses above from Romans 4. When we believe in him, God gives us faith which is counted as righteousness. We give him our sin and death and he gives us his righteousness and eternal life. That is the great exchange. 

Where to go from here: (Application)

So, where do we go from here? If we have believed and put our faith in him we can rejoice in all the benefits of that relationship. Our wants are supplied. We can rest in his love and care. We have peace because we are protected by the shepherd. Our souls are restored and we have become new creations. And, finally, we walk in new paths of righteousness. 

How is your walk today? Is it all it could or should be? If not, take it to him for renewal and restoration. Repent and change your direction today. The shepherd is waiting.

“The righteous shall live by faith.”

Journeys Through the Word

“The righteous shall live by faith.” 

Verse(s) considered:

Romans 1:17 ESV

For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, “The righteous shall live by faith.”

Immediate context:

Romans 1:16-17 ESV

(16)  For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.

(17)  For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, “The righteous shall live by faith.”

Additional context for consideration:

Hebrews 11:1-9 ESV

(1)  Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.

(2)  For by it the people of old received their commendation.

(3)  By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible.

(4)  By faith Abel offered to God a more acceptable sacrifice than Cain, through which he was commended as righteous, God commending him by accepting his gifts. And through his faith, though he died, he still speaks.

(5)  By faith Enoch was taken up so that he should not see death, and he was not found, because God had taken him. Now before he was taken he was commended as having pleased God.

(6)  And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.

(7)  By faith Noah, being warned by God concerning events as yet unseen, in reverent fear constructed an ark for the saving of his household. By this he condemned the world and became an heir of the righteousness that comes by faith.

(8)  By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place that he was to receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going.

(9)  By faith he went to live in the land of promise, as in a foreign land, living in tents with Isaac and Jacob, heirs with him of the same promise.

Thoughts along the road: (Observations) 

• The “it” in verse 17 is the Gospel. 
• The gospel reveals the righteousness of God, and it does so through the medium, action, and power of faith.
• The power of God saves us—through the faith that we receive from God. (See Ephesians 2:8-9)
• The natural man does not and cannot see the righteousness of God unless it is revealed to him by God.
  • The eyes of natural men are blinded by the God of this world.
  • The unregenerate man is dead in his sins and cannot discern the things of the Spirit. 
  • Only when God chooses to begin the work of regeneration and give the gift of faith can any man discern and begin to act on that faith.
  • That faith allows us to begin a new life based on and in that faith. We emerge as new creatures birthed by God. (2 Corinthians 5:17)
• When we possessors of that faith that is gifted to the newly righteous man, we walk in the newness of life.
  • When we are walking in that new life, we are walking in faith. It is faith and only faith that allows us to “live and move and have our being.”

Where to go from here: (Application)

Look at the list of people in Hebrews 11 that lived by faith. It is only through the faith that God gifted them with and that they exercised that they were able to walk in the faith that we are talking about today. You and I both need to dig down deep into that faith that we have been gifted with and walk in that newness of life—to live and move and have our being in Christ. 

We need to draw our life-giving sustenance from the Word of God. We need to soak up the truth of God’s word every day. We need to bask in its light and marinate in its truth for it is living and active and sufficient for training in righteousness. 

Step out in the faith you have been gifted today and walk in that righteousness and share your faith with someone else so that they, too, can live that new life.