John 9:35-41 Scene 4

Jesus heard that they had put him out, and finding him, He said, “Do you believe in the Son of Man?” Isn't this beautiful and comforting? The moment after the religious elite put this man out, Jesus hears about him and then finds him. Most Bible translations translate πιστεύεις (2nd Person, Singular, Present Active Indicative of the root πιστεύω) as 'believe.' While the English word 'believe' may span a wide spectra of meaning, the root πιστεύω plummets from the surface of whimsical thoughts to the gut wrenching resolve of confidence that also embraces total reliance. πιστεύω communicates "without 'Him' I am nothing." Liddell, Scott, Jones gives other possible translations that shed light on this nuance: belief, trust, faith, confidence, and rely. Jesus did a miracle in this man's life by enabling him to see for the first time in his life. But, Jesus now gets to a life change question: Do you rely, trust in the Son of Man? Why does Jesus call Himself "Son of Man" (see footnote)? It is commonly accepted that Jesus was communicating His Messiah-ship. This is supported by most Greek versions that Jesus was inquiring of this man concerning his trust in the 'Son of God.' 'Son of God' is consistent with the whole message of John as he communicates that Jesus is God incarnate (in the flesh). Remember, this is the first time this man has laid eyes on Jesus, the One who healed him. Jesus sent him away to wash and only after washing did he receive his sight. Thus the question. He answered, “Who is He, Lord, that I may believe in Him?” Here is our word 'believe' again. The all definable purpose of knowing His identity was to believe in Him. Jesus said to him, “You have both seen Him, and He is the one who is talking with you.” Jesus always reveals Himself to those who seek Him. And he said, “Lord, I believe.” And he worshiped Him. Our word 'believe' appears here with the man doing as he said. But, his belief takes a profoundly different dimension. He worships Him. This man's belief led him to worship. Does your belief lead you to worship? What is worship? The Greek work translated 'worship' here is προσεκύνησεν (3rd Person, Singular, Aorist Active Indicative) from the root word προσκυνέω which means: go down on one's knees, do obeisance to, worship. Liddell / Scott / Jones also gives other Greek Literature support to the idea of 'give reverence,' 'prostrate oneself,' 'throw a kiss.' 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.” This is one of the most comforting statements made by Jesus to those who are humble and have no pretense of prideful knowledge, especially in the realm of religion. For those who are humble, contrite and seeking, He will give them eyes to see. For those who pridefully claim to see, He will judge making blind them that thought they could see. Those of the Pharisees who were with Him heard these things and said to Him, “We are not blind too, are we?” Their question reveals their heart and invites His judgment. Jesus said to them, “If you were blind, you would have no sin; but since you say, ‘We see,’ your sin remains. Prideful expression of one's condition results in judgment and no life change with the continuance of sin. This was the ultimate state of the man born blind. Sin was not the issue for him. Blindness was the issue. Remember from verse 3, "It was neither that this man sinned, nor his parents; but it was so that the works of God might be displayed in him."


APPLICATION
1. Do not take pride in what you know, but boast in Who you know. Paul said it this way, 'I want to know Him and the fellowship of His sufferings.'
2. God is a jealous God. 'I am the Lord your God....you shall have no other gods before me.'
3. Drawn to Jesus? Call on Him. Seek Him. He will find you. He will answer you. Make sure your belief culminates in worship. For He is worthy!


FOOTNOTE
1. There is debate among the Greek versions regarding this word as to whether it is τὸν υἱὸν τοῦ ἀνθρώπου 'the Son of Man' or, τὸν υἱὸν τοῦ Θεοῦ 'the Son of God.' Majority Text and Textus Receptus render 'τὸν υἱὸν τοῦ Θεοῦ 'the Son of God.' Early versions render τὸν υἱὸν τοῦ ἀνθρώπου 'the Son of Man' (Westcott/Hort and Tischendorf).


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Scene 3: John 9:24-34 Act 9 Scene 3

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.” Religion is so staunch, yet so steeped in error, that it boldly proclaims is folly. If we follow the hard headed and hard hearted plight of these Jews we will be bold in our knowledge while still not able to explain life's events. If we follow the healed young man we will be humble and thankful, articulating our lack of knowledge while firmly resting on the working of God in his life. 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.” This is the power of first hand experience of a miracle. No matter how others misunderstand you or say that they understand you, you can always rest on the experiential knowledge of the change that God brought into your life. The deeply personal 'call' on ones life will sustain him through all that life, friends, the world and the enemy came attempt to succumb. Personal encounters with God trump everything and everyone for HE IS. So they said to him, “What did He do to you? How did He open your eyes?” Yes. More religious questioning. Tell us again, what and how. Be careful how much detail you require before you declare trust, belief, understanding and empathy. Religion will never cease to pound out the details of a 'God experience,' but not for the purpose of accepting the truth. It seeks an explanation in order to trump of charges of falsehood and disbelief. Such inquisition proves fruitless when religion encounters God at work. 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?” The compose and candor of this man is truly remarkable. Here he is, a man who moments ago was a beggar and an outcast of all Judaic society, standing restored from all abnormalities which supported his ostracized state and truthfully engaging a sector of Judaism that has never known outcast and abnormality. Yet, the 'nothing has never been wrong with me' religious leaders did not have ears to hears. They reviled him and said, “You are His disciple, but we are disciples of Moses. “We know that God has spoken to Moses, but as for this man, we do not know where He is from.” How dare this man call into question our allegiance to Moses. I wonder what Moses would say about that 'righteous indignation'? Moses would say, when asked if man should follow him or the Lord Jesus Christ, he would prostrate himself and once again say, "Who am I compared to the great I AM, YHWH, ἐγὼ εἰμι?" 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. “We know that God does not hear sinners; but if anyone is God-fearing and does His will, He hears him. “Since the beginning of time it has never been heard that anyone opened the eyes of a person born blind. “If this man were not from God, He could do nothing.” The heal man had great insight. He knew their belief struggles rested on what did not know or accept. Yet, Jesus restored this man's sight which is unmistakably undeniable. Then the man acknowledges the holiness of God by saying that God does not hear sinners. Sin separates man from God. BUT....... IF...... ANYONE....... fears God and obeys Him......... THEN.......... HE HEARS. Reverence and obedience is the remedy for religion which is often idolatry and humanism. They answered him, “You were born entirely in sins, and are you teaching us?” They could not and many remain that cannot accept the great restoration and healing of God. It does not matter how you were born and who were your parents. Fear God, obey Him and He will hear you! You will confound those steeped in centuries of religion. They will not know what to do with you. So they put him out. They called him in and now they throw him out. They simply cannot make up their minds. They, like many who do not know God yet are deeply entrenched in religion, simply do not know what to do with someone who has experienced God and has new life.

APPLICATION
- Fear God for 'Thous shall not have any other gods before Me."
- Obey Him. It is better to obey God rather than man. Man looks at the outward appearance, but God looks at the heart.
- No amount of religion can deal with sin. Only the regenerating work of God through the shed blood of the Lord Jesus Christ can deal with (atone) for sin.
- Had a life change? Don't be disturbed that religion and the religious question you, don't understand you and don't want to have anything to do with you. It is Jesus that they are rejecting.

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John 9:13-23 Act 9: Scene 2

Act 9: Scene 2
John 9, Verses 13-23

They brought to the Pharisees the man who was formerly blind. Now it was a Sabbath on the day when Jesus made the clay and opened his eyes. Remember the Pharisees? They are prime specialists of antagonism with the result lead astray effectiveness. The timing is perfect for their best day of antagonism: it was the Sabbath. Then the Pharisees also were asking him again how he received his sight. When you get an answer that you did not want or did not expect, you ask again. And he said to them, "He applied clay to my eyes, and I washed, and I see." A simple answer to a simple, yet complex question. Therefore some of the Pharisees were saying, "This man is not from God, because He does not keep the Sabbath." The Pharisee's reasoning was limited, for they were stuck on the issue of the Sabbath. They rose this issue, according to John's Gospel, back in Chapter 5 when Jesus directed the lame man to pick up his bed and walk (on the Sabbath). There a man of some 38 years was walking. Now a blind man was seeing. They failed to see beyond their religion to see the miracle of life change. They were ... but now they ...! Jesus clearly broke the Sabbath, but He fulfilled the goodness and compassion of His Father, Almighty God, YHWH. But others were saying, "How can a man who is a sinner perform such signs?" And there was a division among them. This issue of the Law of God or the Compassion of God causes division to this day. So they said to the blind man again, "What do you say about Him, since He opened your eyes?" They asked the man again. His answer is of a deeper nature. It ventures from the previous 'what He did' into the 'who He is.' One's being always further explains issues previous decided and limited to one's actions. And he said, "He is a prophet." His answer was clearly more definitive. It was widely accepted in Judaism that if an indisputable miracle it was "prima facie evidence" that divine commission was involved. Therefore, the divine commission would place Him above any human legal authority. Jesus was a prophet. The Jews then did not believe it of him, that he had been blind and had received sight, until they call the parents of the very one who had received his sight, So they chose to discount the miracle by discounting the man. Thereby discounting the miracle. They called his parents. and questioned them saying, "Is this your son, who you say was born blind? Then how does he now see?" The interrogation of the parents. If they could prove that the blindness was not from birth, then they could dismiss the validity of the miracle. So, what do you say, Dad? What do you say, Mom? Was he born blind? His parents answered them and said, "We know that this is our son, and that he was born blind; 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." His parents said this because they were afraid of the Jews; for the Jews had already agreed that if any confessed Him to be Christ, he was to be put out of the synagogue. For this reason his parents said, "He is of age, ask him." They corroborated two facts: 1. This is our son, 2. He was born blind. They did not know 'how' and they refused to venture a guess. They were afraid, but they, nevertheless, did the right thing. They insisted that their son speak for himself for he was of age.

CONCLUSION
What is the difference between 'religion' and 'Christianity?' Which one is characterized by rules and regulations? Which one is characterized by a relationship?

Can you see beyond the Law of God to the Compassion of God?

Who do you say Jesus is?


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John 9:1-12 Act 9: Scene 1 (Trust and Obey)

Overlook of John Chapters 9 and 10
This passage of John's account of the life of the Lord Jesus Christ covers the so-called 9th and 10th chapters. Chapters 9 and 10 which we will call Act 9 is divided up into 7 scenes. Scene 1 goes from verse 1 to verse 12.
Scene 2: verses 13-23
Scene 3: verses 24-34
Scene 4: verses 35-41
Scene 5: Chapter 10, Verses 1-6
Scene 6: verses 7-18
Scene 7: verses 19-21
We will address each scene with subsequent blog posts.

Act 9: Scene 1 (John 9:1-12)
And as He passed by, He saw a man blind from birth. And His disciples asked Him, saying, "Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he should be born blind?" Ever been part of a group that is playing follow the leader? Now, mix that physical attention with a leader that is sharing imperative information. You and the group are hanging on every word, you focus on him only distracted by a quick glance down to assure your footing. Then, he quickly turns his head. The group then looks to whatever direction he is looking. Ah, the power of a leader. This is the scenario of our passage in John. Jesus is walking. The disciples are following. Jesus sees. The disciples then see. The disciples ask a question. Notice how the 'man blind from birth' did not say anything. No plea. No moaning. No groaning. No belligerence. No irreverence. No victimization. No requests. No verbalization of any kind. Jesus saw him. From this point follow the verb 'see'. The Greek word is εἶδεν originally from οἶδα meaning to perceive, consider, be aware, behold. This word also translates 'to know' in the New Testament. It is compared with the Greek words ὀπτάνομαι (to literally see or appear) and ὁράω (to see, perceive, attend to). Jesus saw the blind man before the blind man knew Jesus was near. The man had Jesus' attention before Jesus had the blind man's attention. Jesus approached the man. Now, the Question. The question of the age. Whose fault was it? Who sinned? The man or his parents? Up until this time some taught that bad things happened to good 'innocent' people. This perspective, which is known in the Old Testament, is about to be turned upside down. For Jesus answered, "It was neither that this man sinned, nor his parents; but it was in order that the works of God might be displayed in him. We must work the works of Him who sent Me, as long as it is day; night is coming, when no man can work. While I am in the world, I am the light of the world." Here we have option number 3 to the blind man's situation. Number 1 is that his parents sinned and he is reaping the physical results. This happens every day. For we are descendants of Adam. Number 2 is that the man himself sinned. It is true that you will reap what you sow. But, now, with the emphasis of Jesus' declaration is Number 3: 'in order that the works of God might be displayed in him.' The purpose of God's works displayed is more supremely important than any miraculous antidote. He is the 'light of the world.' But in this declaration Jesus does not use the ἐγὼ εἰμι phrase which brought Him into the sights of the Jewish religious elite. Jesus already spoke of His deity (ἐγὼ εἰμι) as it relates to the 'Light of the World' in John 8:12. He does not use When He had said this, He spat on the ground, and made clay of the spittle, and applied the clay to his eyes, and said to him, "Go, wash in the pool of Siloam" (which is translated, Sent). Notice that Jesus did and He spoke. The blind man made not request or gesture of need. And so he went away and washed, and came back seeing. I want you to understand that the benevolent action on Jesus part was not a result of the man's persistence or innovation. But, the man, when acted upon and spoken to, obeyed. He heard, went, obeyed and 'came back' with his sight. Gratitude will always carry the day. The man came back out of gratitude. Jesus bestowed on him and met a need that he was not even looking to have met and he was thankful.

• 1 Chronicles 16:8 Give thanks to the Lord, call on his name; make known among the nations what he has done.
• Psalms 100: 4-5 Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name.For the Lord is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations.
• 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 Rejoice always; pray without ceasing; in everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
• Revelation 11: 16-17 And the twenty-four elders, who sit on their thrones before God, fell on their faces and worshiped God, saying, “We give You thanks, O Lord God, the Almighty, who are and who were, because You have taken Your great power and have begun to reign.

The neighbors therefore, and those who previously saw him a beggar, were saying, "Is not this the one who used to sit and beg?" Don't you just love neighbors? If you can trust them for one thing, it is this. They will be forever equipped of 'would-a's', 'should-a's' and 'could-a's.' They give all pretense of knowing your past. But, do they know you as Jesus does? They knew him as a 'beggar', one who 'asks repeatedly, ask for an addition, ask earnestly or begs.' Others were saying, "This is he, still others were saying, "No, but he is like him." Not all were convinced this was the man. He kept saying "I am the one." If Jesus has done a work in you, you will have those that don't understand and even say that you are not the man they knew. For those of us who are in the beloved, given a new name, transferred out of the kingdom of darkness into the Kingdom of His Dear Son, we are surely not who we were before. Interesting note here. The man who can now see resorts to the ἐγὼ εἰμι (I AM) declaration to accentuate his being. Therefore they were saying to him, "How then were your eyes opened?" Okay, now that we've determined that you are who you say you are, how did this happen? 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." Very simple accurate account of his encounter with Jesus. Can we simply articulate our encounter(s) with Jesus? And they said to him, "Where is He?" Notice how they did not ask the 'who' questions as they did the healed man. They had heard of Jesus. They, quite simply, wanted to know where He was. Do you know Him well enough to inquire of His location? He said, "I do not know." He was blind then, but now he sees.

APPLICATION
Bad things happen to people. Bad things happen to GOOD people. Bad things happen to BAD people. All of life reflects our propensity to be responsible. Therein is the Christian life. When we sin, and we will for Jesus never said we wouldn't, we have the privilege and the power and the provision to confess and repent. Confession and repentance does not insure the righting of all that went wrong as a result of your sin. But it does insure that you are right with God in an unadulterated relationship. That is taking responsibility for our wrong actions. Do it. Be clean. However, what happens when BAD things happen to you when you have not sinned? Be sure that you have no sin to confess or repent of. Then rest and be expectant of the works of God to be revealed in your life.

Confession
Confession means to say the same as. It sounds like, 'I sinned.' Or, "I was wrong." Or, "I lied." Confession does NOT sound like, 'It is wrong." Or, 'I am sorry.' Or, 'Lying is wrong.' Or, ' I am sorry you are so sensitive.'

Repentance
Repentance means to turn away or to change direction. Christianity is about a life change, a continual life change. You can never say 'Been there, done that' with Christianity. Religion is about getting a quick fix. Christianity is about life change. If you sin, then stop doing it.

Be very careful in trusting in God's forgiveness apart from your lifestyle of confession and repentance as the Holy Spirit points out your sin to you.


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John 8:48-59 Choices: Heritage or HIM?

INTRODUCTION
Before we step into this passage, let's review our context. We are slap dab in the middle of John recounting the events that stretch from the beginning of Chapter 7 and end with the 18th verse of Chapter 10. The time is the Feast of Booths with Jesus going up to Jerusalem and declaring His identity (I AM) while encountering multitudes, woman caught in adultery (Where is the man?), believers, a blind man, Pharisees, and Jews. The next section, beginning with chapter 10, verse 22 tells of Jesus returning to Jerusalem to attend the Feast of Dedication.
In the proceeding paragraph, verses 31-47, Jesus was speaking with believing Jews about their level of discipleship only to quickly defend themselves by hiding behind Abraham. In this paragraph, verses 48-59, the Jews begin to attack Jesus.

COMMENTARY
John 8:48-59
The Jews answered and said to Him, "Do we not say rightly that You are a Samaritan and have a demon?" First of all notice the reference to those speaking to Jesus. Now, in verse 48, it is the Jews. Previously, the group was identified as 'those Jews who had believed Him' with the pronoun 'they' designating the continuation of His audience with them (verse 31-47). Now, it is 'The Jews' (verse 48) are now referred to as if to cast a broader net or to turn to a new group. Therefore, it is widely excepted that these 'Jews' are NOT the 'Jews who had believed Him." The second basis for this being a difference group is that the subject of conversation abruptly changes from heritage in Abraham to Jesus possessing a demon. 'Believers' will often struggle with their religious traditions especially when they are grounded on heritage and ancestry. Only 'perpetually abiding in the Word" will rid a heritage (tradition and ancestry) grounded believer of his erroneous convictions. Non-believers, by declaring the issues of their hearts, are compelled attribute all kinds of demonic affiliation to Jesus.
Remember the Samaritan woman at the well in John 4? They were half breeds or mixed breeds. There was no acceptable basis of Jewish heritage or ancestry religion with them. Therefore, the Jews voiced a wide basis for His condemning origin. Jesus answered , "I do not have a demon; but I honor My Father, and you dishonor Me. But I do not seek My glory; there is One who seeks and judges. Truly, truly, I say to you, if anyone keeps My word he shall never see death." Jesus addresses their being and possession charge in the following manner: dismissal, root issues, and result. They say He is a Samaritan. They say that He has a demon and He says that He doesn't. Okay, who is right? While not directly responding to the Samaritan ancestry charge, Jesus directly refutes the demon possession issue. His defense, as ours should be, is specifically related to who we honor. By bringing His Father to His defense He dispels the notion that such a relation can co-habitat with evilness. HONOR is huge. The issues underlying erroneous misconceptions and accusations of Jesus are all to do with the FATHER: His honor, His glory, His searching, and His judgment. Oh my! I hope we see the connection of His Word and Life. Keep His Word! The Jews said to Him, "Now we know that You have demon. Abraham died, and the prophets also; and You say, 'If anyone keeps My word, he shall never taste of death.' Surely You are not greater than our father Abraham, who died? The prophets died too; who do You make Yourself out to be?" The Jews understood His statement. They correctly grasped the weight of Jesus honoring His Father. But they did not accept their relationship. For the are further convinced that Jesus has a demon, for no one would can ascend to such a level of exclusivity. the Jews sought to understand Jesus in their owns terms. They knew all about Abraham and the prophets. They were huge in the religious, heritage and ancestry life of the Jews. Therefore, if Jesus was relating to 'the Father, then there should be no contradiction with Abraham and the prophets. It was commonly asserted that Abraham and the prophets died. All men die for the issue of death is commonly accepted, but the issue of 'not dying' ('never tasting' or 'never seeing' death) is exclusive with Jesus' claims. Some might draw attention to the 'misquote' by the Jews. They say 'taste' but Jesus said 'see'. This not the issue. This issue for us, as it was for them, is to 'keep His Word, then we will neither 'see' nor 'taste' death. Keep His Word! The charge at Jesus' door is this: Who do say you are? Take note for they are cutting to the chase. They are peeling away heritage, ancestral and religious layers to get to the core issue. "Who do You make Yourself out to be?" 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'; and you have not come to know Him, but I know Him; and if I say that I do not know Him, I shall be a liar like you, but I do know Him, and keep His word. Your father Abraham rejoiced to see My day, and he saw it and was glad." Do you see the issues brought up again: the issues of 'glorify,' 'know,' and 'keep His word?' 'Glory' which occurs in various conjugations is from the root Greek word, δόξα , meaning "opinion, praise, honor, glory." May we understand the gravity of this issue. Jesus was focused on honoring or glorifying His Father and not Himself. Are we of the same focus? The other issue brought up is the knowledge of God and its paramountcy. Really there is a limited field of options when gods are considered. There is one God, by the very definition of all encompassing God, and there are the others. The 'others' are not God. Other New Testament writers and Jesus speak of them and him as liars. This passage is consistent with that label and description. Either you are of him and in the camp of liars or you are following God and in the camp of 'not' liars, i.e. the truth. The Jews embraced God, but they did not KNOW Him. They were following Him in their ancestry and heritage but they did not know Him. You can follow but never know that which you follow. That is the crux of the matter regarding 'believing' and 'discipleship.' Knowledge of God, the one True God, transcends ancestry, traditions, and heritage. As Abraham rejoices, so will your Godly ancestors rejoice when you forsake ancestries, customs, traditions and heritages by coming into a knowledge of God through Jesus Christ. For He kept and keeps all His Father's words and so must we. The Jews therefore said to Him, :You are not yet fifty years old, and have You seen Abraham?" They were stuck on their ancestors criteria and qualifications. Jesus said to them, "Truly; truly; I say to you, before Abraham was born, I am." Jesus uses their reluctance to abandon their heritage and ancestry to declare His eternal existence by declaring His name: ἐγὼ εἰμί. Therefore they picked up stones to throw at Him, but Jesus hid Himself, and went out of the temple. The straw that broke the camels back. The Jews, the non-believing ones, took direct offense to His declaring His Name. They could put up with discussions about ancestry, heritages, traditions and customs, but when Jesus declared ἐγὼ εἰμί, they lost it. Religion and all of its good intentions will lead us to be violent to the truth if they religion seeks to establish the truth instead of truth establishing religion. They tried to kill Him but He was still in control. His time had not yet come.

CONCLUSION
What is the difference between 'religion' and 'Christianity?' That was the question Steve Hammack asked me on evening. This passage is much about that difference. Religion, with all of its various manifestations, is based on man reaching his hand out and working to reach God. Christianity, with its exclusive path, is all about God reaching to man. Religion is working. Christianity is a relationship. Do you have a relationship with God through His Son. Does your relationships with Him surpass your ancestral relations? If not, then consider yourself to be like a Jew in the passage. You will someday, sooner or later, be violently opposed to Jesus, seeking to kill Him, because He IS greater than any relationship you have on this earth.

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John 8:31-47 Believing and Discipleship

Let me say from the beginning, this passage has pierced me to the heart. Therefore, I will attempt to convey my personal journey in this post. I hope it helps prod you to move deeper in your relationship with HIM. - Dan

John 8:31-47

Jesus therefore was saying to those Jews who had believed Him, From this opening statement, we are tied to the preceding paragraph, specifically verse 30 when many Jews believed Him as He spoke. Therefore this paragraph is one of two paragraphs containing the dialogue between Jesus and those who believed Him. Interesting, "believed Him," not "believed in Him." Literally, πρὸς τοὺς πεπιστευκότας αὐτῷ Ἰουδαίους means 'to the Jews believing Him.' Their 'belief' was perfect (past, with present results) and active tense. Their 'belief' was not any different than mine. They had Jesus speaking with them in flesh. Yet, I have the Spirit as a fulfillment of Jesus' finished work on the cross and the resurrection. "If you abide in My word, 'If" introduces a conditional clause. I may and I may not. 'Abide' communicates a wellspring of meaning consistent with my posture towards 'His word." It is the Greek word, μένω, meaning 'continue, lodge, wait for, remain, live, stay, stand fast, tarry, abide, expect, long for.' The tense of this verb is aorist meaning the my 'abiding' is punctiliar not present as in 'on-going,' and not past as in 'been there, done that.' My 'abiding', even though I don't know the results of my 'abiding' is to be 'continuing simple acts which are dependent or connected to each other. Each single act of 'abiding' stands on its own and will produce the result, no matter what it is. The term 'word' could relate to this written word we call the Bible, the very spoken word(s) of Jesus or the teaching(s) of Jesus. Of these three options the written word, the Bible, is the most objective. Therefore, does that, describe my Bible Study time, my devotional life, my time of listening to God, my thought patterns throughout the day? When someone asks me where I live, do I say, "In His word?" When someone asks me what I am waiting for, no matter the circumstance, am I ready to reply, "In His word?" then you are truly disciples of Mine; 'Then' gives me the result of me 'punctiliarly abiding.' If my Bible study, devotional time, listening time, is characterized by 'longing for,' then I am a true disciple of Jesus. If I do NOT, then I am NOT. I may believe, but I am NOT a true disciple (ἀληθῶς μαθηταί μου ἐστε). At this point, it is fair for me to ask myself, "Am I a true disciple of Christ?" Sometimes 'yes,' and sometimes 'no.' Sometimes 'waiting, longing, expecting,' and sometimes not. I 'believe' but I waffle in the 'punctiliar abiding' in the word of Jesus. How can I get the 'waffling' abiding developed into 'punctiliar abiding?' Honestly, there is no better motivation than knowing the results of my actions. What does 'punctiliar abiding' produce in me? What does NOT 'punctiliar abiding' result in me? Knowing the answers to these questions should motivate me to be a ἀληθῶς μαθηταί. and you shall know the truth, There it is, a result of me be a 'true disciple.' I shall 'know.' The term 'know' is from the Greek word, γινώσκω, meaning 'know, especially through first-hand experience.' It has prominent occurrences in the Bible, Luke 1:34 and Genesis 4:1 which highlight "sexual intimacy" as distinguished from 'mentally knowing.' Therefore, as a result of 'punctiliarly abiding' in His word, I will be a 'true disciple' and will 'first-hand experience the truth.' Not 'A truth',' but 'THE truth' (τὴν ἀλήθειαν). and the truth shall make you free." FREEDOM! THE truth will make me free. I cannot make myself free. But, I can make a decision to 'punctiliarly abide' in His word in order to be free through the 'first-hand knowing' of THE truth. My freedom is directly tied to two things: 1. My habitual abiding in His word, and, 2. 'first-hand' experience of the truth. I purpose to do the first and the second is a result that is all about me being free. Free from what? As one who believes, how am I in bondage? How am I a slave? How am I tied up or restricted? How am I stuck?

They answered Him, "We are Abraham's offspring, They, the believing Jews answered Him. Aw, the all to familiar response to someone's talk about freedom and my potential slavery. My first response, like theirs, is "I am a Christian. I am a Believer. I am a Child of the King. I am Redeemed. I am Forgiven. I am covered in the Blood." Look at all of my 'I am....s.' Not one 'He is.....' or mention of the word 'disciple' or 'true disciple' or 'waiting' or 'longing' or 'expecting' or ....... Do I defend my free/bondage state with my family relations? These Jews were resting on their forefather and his favor with God. I am reminded that God has no grandchildren. and have never yet been enslaved to anyone; The beauty of denial. These Jews, these believing Jews were defending their free/bondage state of being with their recollection of the past, how well they 'knew' their own history. No enslavement, really? What about the Egyptians, the Assyrians, the Babylonians, and currently the Romans? The beauty of denial. how is it that You say, 'You shall become free'?" They, like me, are interested in freedom. But, I so often, front load my attraction to resulting freedom instead of focusing on the first element of the process leading to freedom which is 'punctiliarly abiding'. I want to be free from the things I know and the things I do not yet know. But, I must not focus on being free. I must not bring my positions and relations to my defense. There is only one option. I must focus on 'punctiliarly abiding' in His word and then, through first-hand experience of the truth, the truth will make me free. I cannot make myself free. The truth will make me free. My ability to defend myself based on relationships and simply not able to recall any instances of bondage are lame responses to being a disciple of Jesus. In fact, having those behaviors and NOT 'punctiliarly abiding' in His word has its own outcome.

Jesus answered them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who commits sin is the slave of sin, and the slave does not remain in the house forever; Jesus responds to the believing Jews as He responds to me in that my enslavement is due not to physical bondage or relational misfortunes but in whole due to me committing sin. I am drawn to two words: 'commit' and 'sin.' For whatever 'commit' is I do not want to do it. And, whatever 'sin' is, I do not want to do it. For the 'committing of sin' leads to forever bondage. The Greek word ὁ ποιῶν (Present Active Participle from ποιέω) literally means to 'do, make, act, construct, manufacture, cause, create, bring into existence, compose, invent, describe, represent, bring about, or procure. Okay, with the broad range of meaning in ποιέω there is room for good and evil. For there is nothing wrong with 'doing, making, constructing, etc.' The only warning to myself is that I am not 'The Inventor, The Maker, The Constructor, The Creator, etc.' Hence, the next word. The Greek word for 'sin' is τὴν ἁμαρτίαν (from ἁμαρτία) meaning: missing the mark, fault, failure, sinful deed, error in judgment. Straightforward! W. E. Vine (Expository Dictionary of N.T. Words) states "It is the most comprehensive term for moral obliquity." Do not 'cause error in judgment.' Do not 'cause fault.' Do not 'construct sinful deed(s).' For in being the one who ποιῶν τὴν ἁμαρτίαν I am a slave (δοῦλός). I personally know that sin hurts God. For my disobedience to His perfect will for me is often worked out in my mistrusting of Him. In sinning I do not believe what He says is truly good and the best for me. I trade His love for the love of other people and things. I trade listening to Him for listening to myself and other people. I trade waiting on Him for succumbing to myself and the so-called expectations of others. In all this I trade freedom in Christ for bondage to sin. I do that which I do not want to do and I don't do that which I should be doing. Who can rescue me from this 'bondage to sin?' That was Paul's question in Romans. the son does remain forever. If therefore the Son shall make you free, you shall be free indeed. YEAH! Only the Son of God can rescue. For only one who is free can rescue. He makes me free! I cannot unbind myself. So much for 'self help books.' The Bible is the 'He helps book.' I must not turn to anything but the Son of God for freedom. Therefore, I know that you are Abraham's offspring; yet you seek to kill Me, because My word has no place in you. Apart from my dependence on the Son of God and His word, I will rely on my heritage of all sorts, legitimate or illegitimate. Any deterrence from the Son of God and His word will result in my total opposition to the Son of God and His word. He knows my sin. Therefore, why hide behind excuses. Oh, but how tempting it is to leave the God I love and resist His loving call to return. I speak the things which I have seen with My Father; therefore you also do the things which you heard from your father." The lines of legitimate heritage are clearly drawn. Jesus speaks of what He has seen. And I will do that which I heard. Who's your daddy? They answered and said to Him, "Abraham is our father." I must be careful of my familial proclamations especially when 'slavery,' 'bondage' and 'freedom are at stake. Jesus said to them, "If you are Abraham's children, do the deeds of Abraham. 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. You are doing the deeds of your father." This is sometimes true of me as a believer as it was of them. I believe but I find myself retracting to illegitimate relations and behaviors. John,in the Revelation, wrote Jesus' words to a Church in which He wish they were either hot or cold. But, they were neither, so He will spew them out of His mouth. I am in treacherous territory when I believe but perform mutinous deeds. Sin, an absence of total trust, can be eradicated only by the Son of God. They said to Him, "We were not born of fornication; we have one Father, even God." I cannot honestly use this defense. However, when I sin or verbalize my tendency to defend my slavery on familial grounds, I must NOT defend myself. If I do I will find myself, as they did, digging a deeper hole. They claimed identity with the Father through birthright, but neglected the Son of God and His offer of freedom. Do I take my position in the Father lightly? May it never be. 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. Why do you not understand what I am saying? It is because you cannot hear My word. Jesus responds with words that deeply warn me. He makes the connection between relationship and love. I claim to be of the Father, but do I love Jesus; not just believe Him or in Him? He is ...... Do I understand? If I do not love (not believe) then I cannot hear, much less understand, His word. It is impossible to 'punctiliarly abide' is His word if I cannot hear and understand. Hence the reason why. 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. If I do not love the Son as a result of being of the Father, abiding in His word by being able to hear and understand, then my true father is the devil, even if I say otherwise. Is my life full of murder, falsehood and lies? Then, this is so. But because I speak the truth, you do not believe Me. Which one of you convicts Me of sin? If I speak truth, why do you not believe Me? He who is of God hears the words of God; for this reason you do not hear them, because you are not of God." Jesus speaks the truth and His words stand faithful for me to spend all of my days 'punctiliarly abiding.' I believe and there is nothing wrong with Jesus. He is without sin. Therefore, it is possible to believe or to believe in Jesus without being a 'true disciple' and also without being 'of God.' My love for Jesus, the Son of God will reveal if I am truly a disciple, believing Him and of God.

I must expectantly hope in His word. I must love Him. I must believe Him. I must trust Him. I must listen to Him. I must NOT break His heart.


James 2:19 "You believe that God is one. You do well; the demons also believe, and shudder.'


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John 8:21-30 HE spoke, THEY believed

My purpose in presenting this section of the Gospel of John is to illustrate the basic principles of Bible study as taught by Dr. Howard Hendricks in his Living by the Book materials. First, I give you the text without verse designations. In my presentation of the text in this manner you will notice it also arranged as to accentuate those speaking. For this section is a dialogue. Then, I will list my notes for the three essential steps moving towards the goal of life change.

John 8:21-30
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."

So the Jews were saying, "Surely He will not kill Himself, will He, since He says, 'Where I am going, you cannot come'?"

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

So they were saying to Him, "Who are You?"

Jesus said to them, "What have I been saying to you from the beginning? 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."

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

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. 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." As He spoke these things, many came to believe in Him.

STEP ONE: OBSERVATION
This the step in which we ask and answer the question: "What do I see?"

Who?

• Jesus
• the Jews
• He who sent
• Father
• Son of Man
• I AM (ἐγὼ εἰμι)
  
• Many

What?

• die
• sin
• kill
• believe
• true
• initiative

When?

• again
• the beginning
• future (go away, die, in sin, lift up, will know)
• Past (have been saying)

Where?

• I am going
• below
• above
• this world

How?

• Jesus: "...you will die in your sins; for unless you believe that I am He, you will die in your sins."
• Jesus: "He has not left Me alone, for I always do the things that are pleasing to Him."

STEP TWO: INTERPRETATION
We ask and answer the question: "What does it mean?"
What does it mean that we will die in our 'sin' if we seek Him? Seeking after something first implies that you either do not know what you seek to know or that you do not have that which you seek to have. Therefore, the process of 'seeking' will fall short in attaining the object sought. Hence, 'seeking' after Jesus will result in death in your sin.

What does it mean that we will not die if we 'believe' Him? 'Believing' Him will result in not dying. This is juxtaposed to 'seeking' with a determinate result. 'Believing' takes hold of the object without the consistent ongoing inquisition.

What does it mean that we are to 'know' Him? We must 'know' Him. Knowing about Him is not knowing Him. Knowing what He has done is not knowing Him. He is. We must be aware of our emphasis on knowing about Him and His works as compared to knowing Him and with His works as secondary. Am I content to know Him?

What does it mean to please the Father? If Jesus is the pattern for my life then, I must be aware, from Scripture, what pleases the Father.



STEP THREE: APPLICATION
We ask and answer the question(s): "How does it work?" "So what?"
How are we to seek? HIM. However, do not let 'seeking' be my definitive act.
How are we to believe? HIM. I must believe HE IS, ἐγὼ εἰμι.
How are we to 'know?' HIM. I must know HE IS, ἐγὼ εἰμι. My knowing of HIM is greatly aided by the crucifixion, the demonstration of HIS love, covering of sin, and my penalty carrier.
What pleases the Father? I will earnestly seek from this time, to plunge into the Scripture to discover what 'pleases' the Father. Then, I will arrange those into morning by morning articulations and meditations that will result in me knowing HIM, believing HIM and seeking HIM.



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