JEWELS From The GOSPEL of JOHN: The WORD Revealing the WORD - JOHN 5:38-39

The following is a series of short exhortations, brief commentary and writings to convey thoughtful meditation on God's Word. 

I have chosen the Gospel of John as the subject.  I pray that these will be a blessing and an edification for the saints.

JOHN 5:38-39
38 And ye have not his word abiding in you: for whom he hath sent, him ye believe not. 39 Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.

JEWELS From The GOSPEL of JOHN: BURNING MIDNIGHT OIL - JOHN 5:34-36

The following is a series of short exhortations, brief commentary and writings to convey thoughtful meditation on God's Word. 

I have chosen the Gospel of John as the subject.  I pray that these will be a blessing and an edification for the saints.

JOHN 5:34-36 
34 But I receive not testimony from man: but these things I say, that ye might be saved. 35 He was a burning and a shining light: and ye were willing for a season to rejoice in his light. 36 But I have greater witness than that of John: for the works which the Father hath given me to finish, the same works that I do, bear witness of me, that the Father hath sent me.

GROWING IN CHRIST – A DEEPER INTIMACY.

We all have friends, and among them, our best friends, and some of us even have BFF’s! What’s the difference between these three groups?

It’s our level of intimacy, right? With our casual friends, we have a minimum of intimacy; with our good friends, a greater degree of intimacy; with our best friends, the deepest level of intimacy. It’s been said that a good friend will know the names of your parents, but a best friend will know their phone number! 

The greatest intimacy that we as human beings can experience with another human being is in the marital relationship of husband and wife. But there is a greater intimacy to discover even than this! An intimacy with our Creator GOD, our heavenly Father!

JEWELS From The GOSPEL of JOHN: WITNESS PROTECTION PROGRAM - JOHN 5:31-34,37

The following is a series of short exhortations, brief commentary and writings to convey thoughtful meditation on God's Word. 

I have chosen the Gospel of John as the subject.  I pray that these will be a blessing and an edification for the saints.

JOHN 5:31-34,36-37  
31 If I bear witness of myself, my witness is not true. 32 There is another that beareth witness of me; and I know that the witness which he witnesseth of me is true. 33 Ye sent unto John, and he bare witness unto the truth. 34 But I receive not testimony from man: but these things I say, that ye might be saved. But I have greater witness than that of John: for the works which the Father hath given me to finish, the same works that I do, bear witness of me, that the Father hath sent me. 37 And the Father himself, which hath sent me, hath borne witness of me. Ye have neither heard his voice at any time, nor seen his shape.

Church Discipline: PERFECTING HOLINESS

 Poll: How many perfect people do we have here tonight? Just checking - - we are all flawed, and are we not prone to making errors and bad judgment calls every so often? We can all stumble and need a helping hand back up. We can sometimes stray off from the way GOD has for us and need a course correction.
So, we all need help from time to time in getting something corrected.

When it comes to the spiritually mature, the elders of the church, bringing correction to a member of the church, it’s done acceptably only in meekness as proper conduct and with the goal of restoration:

GALATIANS 6:1-5
¹ Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual*, restore such a one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted. ² Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ. ³ For if a man think himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself. ⁴ But let every man prove his own work, and then shall he have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another. ⁵ For every man shall bear his own burden.
* This would include those known as overseers (ACTS 20:28) 

HEBREWS 13:17
17 Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you.

Meekness is not weakness; the LORD Jesus Christ, GOD the Son made flesh lived His entire life in meekness. Meekness is power, authority and strength under control. That’s Jesus! 

In verse 3, what is described here is pride = P.R.I D.E. or Personal Rebellion, I Desire Evil. Any time we are tempted to sin, and we fall into it, it is because we want that pleasure, that gratification, even if it's displeasing to GOD - it doesn't matter to our flesh, we want it regardless. That is pride.

WHY DO CHURCH?

EPHESIANS 4:11-16
11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; 12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:

The foundation of the Cornerstone, Christ Jesus has been established (EPH 2:20) and upon Him the apostles and prophets. As with any foundation, once its built, there is no need to create another foundation - only one is necessary. So these apostles and prophets, having completed their ministry of building the church and through the Holy Spirit, writing the inspired Scriptures for us, the church is then handed over to evangelists, pastors and teachers.

JEWELS From The GOSPEL of JOHN: ETERNAL JUSTICE SERVED - JOHN 5:22,27-30

The following is a series of short exhortations, brief commentary and writings to convey thoughtful meditation on God's Word. 


I have chosen the Gospel of John as the subject. These articles will not run contiguously on this blog but peppered throughout and in the midst of other articles (though some might be posted consecutively). I pray that these will be a blessing and an edification for the saints.

JOHN 5:22,27-30
22 For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son:
27 And hath given him authority to execute judgment also, because he is the Son of man.
28 Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice,
29 And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.
30 I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me.

JEWELS From The GOSPEL of JOHN: Uncondemned with Life Sentence - JOHN 5:24-29

The following is a series of short exhortations, brief commentary and writings to convey thoughtful meditation on God's Word. 

I have chosen the Gospel of John as the subject. These articles will not run contiguously on this blog but peppered throughout and in the midst of other articles (though some might be posted consecutively). I pray that these will be a blessing and an edification for the saints.

JOHN 5:24-29 
24 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.
25 Verily, verily, I say unto you, The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live.
26 For as the Father hath life in himself; so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself;
27 And hath given him authority to execute judgment also, because he is the Son of man.
28 Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice,
29 And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.