MILK
John 1:14 Part II
June 9th 2013
Welcome and thank you for coming. It warms my heart to see each of you – and if that’s the case it must melt the heart of God.
Let’s pray.
PRAYER
We left off in John chapter 1 verse 11-14. Last week was part I and we’ll be returning to these passages today for part II. In the meanwhile, let’s get ourselves in tune with hearing the Word by singing His word set to music.
After a few numbers we’ll take some time to commune with God through personal pray time and then we’ll open back up to our passages for today.
Please note that at the back of the room is a clip board where you can put peoples names who are in need of prayer.
After our study we will lift them up to God as a body of believers.
Okay – let’s hear the Word.
WORSHIP
SILENT PRAYER
Now, before we read the Word together you may have noticed that we do not put the passages up on the wall that we are going to study.
We could – a lot of churches do. It’s convenient and easy for you to follow along.
But there is a method to our madness and it has little to do with making things easy on you. I want you to choose to pursue Him rather than lay back like Jaba the Hut to be fed.
Because some of you ask and wonder, let me see if I can explain our reason for letting you open the word yourselves (if you choose).
We KNOW – from scripture – that God said (spoke, uttered, conveyed) “Let there be light,” and then scripture says, “and it was so.”
From this we can say that God created all things by His Word.
Then we also know from the first verses of our study in John that, “In the beginning was the word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God, (that all things were made Him (“the Word”) (and then in verse 14) that “the Word was made flesh.”
So first, by His Word God created all things – material and immaterial, then the Word (God) appeared in flesh as Man, (with me so far?) so now, sitting in our laps, held in our hands, God has given us His Word “made print.”
Nature reveals and speaks of Him.
Jesus reveals and speaks of Him.
And today, His printed Word reveals and speaks of Him.
THIS IS AN IMPORTANT BOOK!
So in my opinion, it is good to absorb (His word in print) with as much wonder as our eyes behold the creations He made (by his word), and with as much savor as our mouths consume elements that represent the Word made flesh.
That is why we seek, hope, and want you to dive into the Word that you own.
If you do NOT have a Bible because you can’t afford one, tell us. We will get you one. You don’t have to have a Bible (and I can’t tell if you do or don’t without my glasses on) . . . but as a person who cares about your spiritual growth I can promise you that having one and marking it up will make a huge difference in your walk.
Okay . . .
Let’s stand and read our text for today:
John chapter 1 verses 12-14 (but lets begin at verse ten for some continuity.
10 He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not.
11 He came unto his own, and his own received him not.
12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:
13 Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.
14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.
Remember last week when I told you we come upon one of the greatest words in scripture? Do you remember what it was?
Okay, so I’m going to read verses 10 and 11 and then right when I’m done you shout the greatest word right after. Ready?
Speaking of Jesus verse ten says:
10 He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not.
11 He came unto his own, and his own received him not.
(AUDIENCE) “BUT!”
“But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name.”
Last week we talked about the state of Mankind from the fall and used scripture to support the idea that all of us have come into this world unclean, stained as it were, coming from parents who were stained, who came from parents who were stained, who ultimately came from the parents of the human race – Adam and Eve.
This concepts has been the source of all sorts of ideas.
Some people don’t like the idea that we are born with sinful natures and instead believe we are all “born good.”
Others claim we are not born with any good in us at all, and call it total depravity. And then others believe Total Depravity only means we do not have it in our natural ability to choose God at anytime.
I think scripture gives us a pretty clear picture of it all, however.
Looking back to the first children born after the fall we discover the free will present in both of them. Genesis chapter four has Abel bringing sacrifices that please or were acceptable to God.
Total depravity would not allow for this in my opinion. His older brother Cain, however, chose to offer something else (the fruit of the ground) which was not acceptable to God and this reaction made Cain angry.
I would suggest that Abel offered an acceptable sacrifice due, in part to the fact that he recognized himself sinful and the offering he submitted may have even been in faithful anticipation of the promised Messiah.
If this was the case, Abel certainly was tainted with the stain of original sin but had within him the ability and/or humility to recognize it . . . and to approach the living God appropriately.
And if this was so regarding Abel, Cain, on the other hand, did not see himself as sinful, or possibly had no faith in the promised Messiah, and offered a sacrifice commensurate with the depravity he embraced.
But bottom line – I would suggest the fact that sacrifice was being offered proves in the cases of Cain and Abel that all were sinful (this is why sacrifice was offered) but total depravity is an incorrect position.
Another question that pops up relative to all being sinful is why wasn’t Jesus sinful from the womb since He was half human.
I mean, even though his mother was a very good person, wasn’t she too, a sinner from birth, so wouldn’t that make our Lord sinful too?
In fact I was asked this very question last week.
“Maybe,” I suggested at the time, “that it takes two human beings – one male and one female – to create the sin-nature in a person. And since Jesus did not have an earthly father, He did not receive the sin nature at birth.”
Later I got into the word and saw this was not right.
The term “original sin” which is not in scripture is used to describe the effect of Adam’s sin on his descendants – NOT Eve’s.
Romans five goes into this at great length. But the important thing to realize is that the human sin nature is passed along by the father of a child not the mother (doesn’t that make all you women feel vindicated?)
As a result (and as we said last week) we are by nature “children of wrath.”
Listen to Ephesians 2. Speaking to believers it says:
Ephesians 2:1 And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; (comment)
2 Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:
3 Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.
(now listen to the hope)
4 But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,
5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved).”
Support for this idea that we inherit our sin nature through our fathers is found in the fact that sin entered the world through Adam, not Eve.
We know a few things about the fall. First of all, we know that Adam was created from the clay first and Eve was taken and created from Him after.
There was an order here, like it or not. And there is a relationship here too.
From this we might (MIGHT) conclude that Adam had a responsibility for Eve, for God did make her so He would not be alone. It’s a thought.
Additionally, we know that Eve was actually deceived by Satan. Tricked by his wiles.
2nd Corinthians 11:3 says it (not me) “the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness.”
Also we know that Adam was not deceived.
1st Timothy 2:14 says it (not me) “Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived, fell into transgression.”
From this it seems that the serpent either didn’t approach Adam with the temptation or did, and failing with him, then went to his wife.
If the latter is the case, Adam, who named all the animals and had intellect and intuition ought to have gone to her side and warned and protected her.
And when it says Adam was not deceived it seems to refer only to the fact that he was not deceived by the Serpent. He could have, however, been deceived by his wife or he could have willfully eaten the fruit knowing it was forbidden. I don’t know if we can say for sure).
I am of the opinion that because Eve came from Adam, she was weaker in her disposition in fighting deception than Adam. It’s not a matter of not being less smart.
Her disposition is one to believe what she is told.
And she was deceived by the Serpent as a result. But Adam, create first, was created with the fortifications to see through deception either willingly gave into His own will (while failing to protect Eve) OR willingly gave into hers (because men can easily be deceived by women).
And for this purpose the blame for the Fall lies with Him.
Romans 5:12 provides says, “Therefore, just as through one man sin entered into the world, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men, because all sinned.”
The concept of one man being representative of other men down a generational line is called Federal Headship by theologians.
It simply means that a father is the representative of his descendants.
Let me give you an example from scripture.
Hebrews 7:9-10 talks about Abraham paying tithes to Melchizedek on behalf of Levi who would be born generations later.
See Levi, in his position receive tithes, but the writer of Hebrews points out that Melchizedek was so powerful that through Abraham (the Federal Head of Levi) Levi paid tithes.
This is what the passage says:
“And, so to speak, through Abraham even Levi, who received tithes, paid tithes, for he was still in the loins of his father when Melchizedek met him.”
I use this as an example that through the male all things were done and passed down through generations of families – whether it was positive action (like paying tithes) or negative action like sin.
Since Jesus had not a literal, biological father, the sin nature was not passed down to Him. However, since He had a human mother, he was fully human (since His other component was from the Holy Spirit and thus spirit) but without original sin.
Got all that? (Hey this is supposed to be milk? Who brought the steak?)
So we all inherit our fallen sinful nature and remain alienated from God. Creatures and creations but not children.
“BUT . . .” John writes . . .
“as many” (anyone, everyone – as many) as received Him.”
Received whom? His Son.
He came into His own land and His own people – His own brothers and sisters by blood . . . and “His own received Him not” “BUT . . .”
“ as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name.”
Receiving Him means, by definition of the scripture itself, believing on His name.
But as many as believed on His name.
Now listen, to believe on the name DOES NOT . . . NOT . . . NOT mean to believe on the name Jesus.
It means to believe on all the person with the name embodies. It’s a Hebraism and one scholar calls it, “a compressed creed.”
Here comes the tricky part with this passage. And it is going to take a giant step back and examination of scripture to get what it is saying.
Sometimes, understanding the work of God among men can appear highly paradoxical.
Since we seek simplicity and certainty we embrace singular facets of Him and His Gospel to help us cope.
Religion preys upon this by providing processes and rites people need “to do” in order to feel secure. . .
I was baptized, confirmed, been to the temple, served hard, gave offerings . . . I think I’m in a pretty good place with God many people allow themselves to believe.
On the other hand, to avoid complexity, and get to the bottom-line of our relationship with God others promote singular concepts and call them complete:
Hence we have the constant recitation of passages like Romans 10:9:
“If you believe in your heart and confess with your mouth you will be saved.”
Period. Done. That’s it.
But taking the whole Bible in hand it is impossible to take all the content it presents and either systematize it or reduce it down to a single phrase.
Imagine an enormous paining on a wall – an oil that paints God’s perspective and mind on all things.
The size of it makes the paintings over the windows seem like postage stamps. And it is done with the hand of a Rembrandt.
First of all, we would have to stand way way way back to take it all in, but we would be so far back we paradoxically wouldn’t be able to really see the finer points.
And then, on the other hand, as human beings, we are more like ants walking about on the surface of the canvas, seeing the paint way up close – far too close to really discern the basic elements of the picture.
The solution is found in a contextual understanding of the Word of God – which in and of itself as a whole serves somewhat as a giant parable.
For the babes in Christ God has given some very easy stories. For the mature, they develop in complexity and texture, revealing His living narrative in grander and grander fashions.
So far, from our study in John, we’ve learned that because of the fall we are all born sinful, and are therefore alienated from the presence of God, who departed when sin was brought into the world.
We know that God elected a nation to then become His people. That He promised them a land and a Messiah, but when He came into His own, His own received Him not.
And, as we read in the parable of the King and the guests last week, God sent His servants out into the world, and invited all to come to the feast and celebration of His Son.
And “as many as received him (BELIEVED ON HIM), to them gave he power to become the sons of God, (fading) even to them that believe on his name.”
There are a number of important things we learn from this passage and I would challenge each of you to refuse the temptation to assign any sort of finality to the collective meaning of the verse.
What I mean by this is the passage speaks to an immediate result for those who “receive or believe” on Him and the passage also speaks of a life-long result that is just as important for those who receive or believe.
In other words, we find ourselves having to step WAAAAAAAAAY back to try and take it in while at the same time ants crawling all over its bumpy colorful surface.
And both perspectives are need to contextually understand what it means.
The verse itself tells us, through a study of the Greek, that
“when we believe on embodied work of Jesus we have the right to become the Sons of God.”
In the immediate, I would suggest this speaks of a heavenly adoption that occurs by and through rebirth (which the next verse covers).
Romans 8:5 says that in receiving His Son we have received a relationship with God, saying:
“For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.”
You know what this means?
It means that where we were once alienated and outside His family, and having great cause to fear God, that consuming fire, in receiving His Son we have not . . .
“received again the spirit of bondage that we should fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, “Abba, Father.”
What a blessing, eh?
We can call God Papa with a clear conscience and absolute right! Amazing, eh?
Galatians 3:26 says it plainly for ANYONE who arrogantly thinks they are a child of God by virtue of their first birth:
“For ye are all the children of God by . . . (that’s right) faith in Christ Jesus.”
Galatians 4:5 tells us that Christ came to redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive “the adoption of sons.” And then goes on and adds:
6 And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, “Abba, Father.”
7 Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.
How do we receive and believe on Him?
Again, Romans 10 makes it clear:
“That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.”
Ephesians 2:8 “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God.”
All of these things are true. All of them acceptable to God. Believing and receiving we become the Sons and daughters of God.
But we have to admit that there is more that is being said here. Where other parts of scripture make it plain that faith in Jesus Christ is what makes us Sons and Daughters of God, faith – receiving . . . believing . . . always (if we are allowed to abide in this life) always does two things:
True faith always grows and true faith always produces fruit.
That is why within this passage (and in the context of the rest of scripture) we see a future tense.
Read it again with me:
“But . . .
“as many as received him to them gave he the right to become the sons of God, (fading) even to them that believe on his name.”
Titus 3:3-8 lays out perhaps the best New Testament description of all who were not children of God, then all who receive Him by faith, and then what is expected of His children. Listen up as Paul writes:
Speaking of our lives prior to becoming sons and daughters he writes:
“For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another.”
(In one way or another that’s a pretty good summary at what lies at the heart of people who have not received Christ)
We were “sometimes foolish,” “disobedient,” “deceived,” “serving divers lusts and pleasures,” “living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another.”
Who were you?
When I was an active Latter-day Saint I used to think that I was the only one who was “foolish” or “disobedient” or “deceived” or “serving divers lusts and pleasures” because I am an alpha male to the max.
Metallica. Pain. Fighting. Bloodshed. Sex drugs and rock and roll.
But Titus says those who have not yet received their new identity are not just alpha males. It also says:
“living in “malice,” “envy,” “hateful,” and hating one another.”
I recall being on BYU Swim Team prior to serving a mission and I was a wild one. And we had a guy come home from his mission. He was a great swimmer. Very conservative and outwardly stellar.
One night as we were travelling back from a meet we were talking about another teammate named Russ (who was in another van). This teammate was not LDS and was also a bit wild. It was in this context that I heard the stellar stalwart return missionary say,
“The Church does not need a guy like Russ. We’re so much better off without him.”
It was the first time in my life that I realized that what existed in the heart of some people was just as ugly as what existed within (and without) of me.
Since then I’ve met down to earth cowboys who manage money really well, love morally driven music, and the simple life who will beat their wives. And bar owners who give the shirts off their backs for lost and needy kids.
Paul says here we were all something that was alienated from God. Verse four:
4 But after that the kindness and love of God our Savior toward man appeared,
5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;
6 Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior;
In other words, after having been lost, God manifested Himself to us, and saved us by and through His grace. (verse 7)
7 That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.
Here, again, we are presented with the fact that BEING JUSTIFIED BY HIS GRACE we SHOULD BE MADE HEIRS – NOT WE HAVE AUTOMATICALLY BECOME FULL HEIRS.
Listen to the final verse where Paul concludes:
8 This is a faithful saying, and these things I will that thou affirm constantly, that they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable unto men.”
AGAIN . . .
Where other parts of scripture make it plain that faith in Jesus Christ is what makes us Sons and Daughters of God BY HIS GRACE, this faith – receiving and believing on Him . . . will always do two things:
True faith always grows and true faith always produces fruit.
Let’s wrap this section of our study of John with a most fitting example the Lord uses to describe God’s acceptable process of believing and receiving and then ALWAYS growing and AWAYS producing fruit.
It is found in a parable we have already covered when we studied Matthew – and it is known as the parable of the sower.
At first He simply tells the story. It is point blank and there for those with ears to hear to hear and those without to not.
But after He tells the parable, and then explains why He teaches in parables, His explanation of the Parable of the story (to His twelve) is absolutely revelatory.
So in chapter 13 at verse 3 He begins and says:
3 Behold, a sower went forth to sow;
4 And when he sowed, some seeds fell by the way side, and the fowls came and devoured them up:
5 Some fell upon stony places, where they had not much earth: and forthwith they sprung up, because they had no deepness of earth:
6 And when the sun was up, they were scorched; and because they had no root, they withered away.
7 And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprung up, and choked them:
8 But other fell into good ground, and brought forth fruit, some an hundredfold, some sixtyfold, some thirtyfold.
9 Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.
In our passage from John 1:12, which (AGAIN) says
“But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name.”
What soil/seed example best reflects those who having received Him went on to BECOME a son or daughter of God?
Well to help you out, let’s hear how the Lord describes the various grounds and seed sown (as He says at verse 18 of Matthew 13):
18 Hear ye therefore the parable of the sower.
19 When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth it not, then cometh the wicked one, and catcheth away that which was sown in his heart. This is he which received seed by the way side.
The seed (or Word testifying of Him on whom they could believe) was sown. But it did not take root because the wicked one snatched it away BEFORE it could.
This person never became the Son of God.
20 But he that received the seed into stony places, the same is he that heareth the word, and anon with joy receiveth it;
(these received Him – with joy)
21 Yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended.
This type of person believed and received the right, but their faith did NOT grow nor produce fruit. Why? Tribulation and or persecution (LISTEN) for the words sake!
And they became offended.
(verse 22)
22 He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful.
This person ALSO received the Word, it even took root, but the cares and riches of the world choked it out – causing the plants growth to stunt and the fruit to wither, making he that received it failing in the two areas we always find with real faith – growth and fruit.
But in our final ground, we have an example of someone who joins the ranks of those who . . .
Not only “received and believed” but took the right and “became a son of God.”
Ready? This is speaking of you.
23 But he that received seed into the good ground is he that
heareth the word,
and understandeth it
which also beareth fruit
and bringeth forth, some an hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.
We will pick up on this in our final part of covering John 1:12-14 next week.
Take note –this Thursday night we are going to hold a casual gathering from 7-8:30 right here in the building.
What it’s going to be is a series covering a number of models present in the Bible like models for salvation, baptism, rebirth, Christian living, things like that.
I’m not going to prepare for it much so it is going to serve as a casual Bible study with a biblical theme. All over twelve are welcome.
OPEN HOUSE ANNOUNCEMENT?
PRAYER LIST
STANDING THEME ISAIAH 33:22
