Classic Christianity – Book of John Part 39 (07-01-19)
Bob George continues sharing from the gospel of John. He shared about how the disciples waited in Galilee to receive the promised Holy Spirit. That day they were born again. When they received the Holy Spirit, they were changed men. Before they were once cowardly and fearful, hiding in a room fearing for their lives, and now they are preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ boldly before men. There are those in the crowd who were drawn to hear the teachings of Jesus. So too was Nicodemus, a religious Pharisee. Unlike the other Pharisees, he wanted to know the will of God. Nicodemus had said, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the signs you are doing if God were not with him.” The other Pharisees were like Communists or politicians of today, not wanting to hear truth, but just spin a story. They hated Jesus without reason. Jesus came full of grace and truth. This is very evident in John 8 in how he restores a woman caught in adultery. The Pharisees set her up in order try to trap Jesus in his words and see what Jesus would do. Would Jesus obey the law, which demanded such a person be stoned? No, Jesus did not come to condemn but to save. Jesus turned to her and said, “Go now and leave your life of sin.”
Now, all of us, even with the Holy Spirit living in us, have flesh that makes demands of us. We have a choice. Are we going to give in to the desires of the flesh or are we going to walk in the Spirit? Jesus has set us free from sin. So walk free. But if we do sin, and find ourselves on the verge of divorce, is all hope lost? No. Your sins have already been forgiven, and if you are a believer, you have the Holy Spirit living in you. God is at work to change lives and to be your counselor to renew your mind. He deals with you as His child, wanting the very best for you. Come listen to Him share truth into your heart so that you can go and walk in the newness of life. Where sin increases grace increases all the more. Such is the heart of God! The Spirit gives life. You can boldly go to the throne of grace for help in time of need.
What role does the Spirit of God have in your salvation? Was it to forgive your sins? No, Jesus’ death accomplished that. Was it to give you life? Yes, it was to give you life. The Holy spirit came to live in you, your hope of glory. We have a choice to listen to the Spirit or listen to the flesh. The choice is ours. This is what Jesus is saying, “Go now and leave your life of sin”. Put your past behind you. When is your past? Anything a minute ago. Get up and start walking in the newness of life. Press on to the high calling in Christ Jesus.
The Holy Spirit was to give life to man, and would not have been given if Jesus had not been raised, and would not have been given if Jesus did not return to His Father. The Holy Spirit living in you is what saves you. He is the giver of life, God’s life, the very Spirit of Jesus Christ. The Holy Spirit is the same Spirit living in Jesus, who only did what he saw His Father doing, who told him what to say and how to say it.
Hebrews 3:1
Therefore, holy brothers and sisters, who share in the heavenly calling, fix your thoughts on Jesus, whom we acknowledge as our apostle and high priest.
Romans 6:4
We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.
Bob says there is nothing in his life that thrills him like seeing a couple that has had difficulty that have done things they should not have done. They have contemplated divorce, separated, but with an attitude that if this is God’s plan for my life then I am willing to accept it. Until you get to that point then nothing will happen. A spouse, who has separated from her husband, says she has no feelings at all for him anymore. Bob replies, “So what. If you had it once, you can have it again. If you lost it, where did you lose it? Then to watch God at work. And it happens when you do not think it will happen. When nothing else works, God is at work in the hearts of people. Then all of a sudden hearts start getting changed. Then Bob gets a call and hears they are back together. Bob hears from their children, so excited that mom and dad are back together again. God can do far more than whatever we can dream or imagine, if we just let Him do it.
3 John 3-5
3 It gave me great joy when some believers came and testified about your faithfulness to the truth, telling how you continue to walk in it. 4 I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth. 5 Dear friend, you are faithful in what you are doing for the brothers and sisters, even though they are strangers to you.
Romans 3:10
Love does no harm to a neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.
Love is certainly who Jesus is, for God is love.
There are two baptisms, a water baptism and a spiritual baptism. There is a tendency to get all caught up on the physical things. But there is a spiritual baptism coming, and when it comes the Spirit of Christ will be placed in you. John’s baptism is closely tied to the ceremonial washing of the Old Covenant system, and is a physical baptism of water to prepare men’s hearts to listen to the Messiah to come, who will explain everything. Now Jesus has explained everything.
Again, man has tendency to get all hung up on the physical. There is a distinct spiritual birth, separate from water baptism, without which no one can enter the kingdom of heaven. This concept of being born again was what Jesus spoke to Nicodemus about. When one is spiritually baptized, then he is placed into the body of Christ. This concept of the body of Christ, with Jesus as the head, is explained in the scriptures. Read John 3 to refresh your memory on what Jesus spoke to Nicodemus about. This Holy Spirit comes to live in men permanently, forever, and that is when you are placed into the body of Christ.
1 Corinthians 12:11-13
12 Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ. 13 For we were all baptized by one Spirit so as to form one body — whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free — and we were all given the one Spirit to drink.
There is only unity among people who are plugged into the head, which is Jesus Christ. What unity does righteousness and unrighteousness have? None. And if Christ is in you, then you have the righteousness of Christ imputed to you with the mind of Christ to discern the things of God. Otherwise, you remain unrighteous. So if we all have God’s righteousness, then we are united with Christ as our head, and are called brothers and sisters in Christ.
So when did the Holy Spirit first come to live inside men. In Acts 2, one reads about the day of Pentecost.
Acts 2:1-12
2 When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. 2 Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3 They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. 4 All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.
5 Now there were staying in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven. 6 When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard their own language being spoken. 7 Utterly amazed, they asked: “Aren’t all these who are speaking Galileans? 8 Then how is it that each of us hears them in our native language? 9 Parthians, Medes and Elamites; residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, 10 Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya near Cyrene; visitors from Rome 11 (both Jews and converts to Judaism); Cretans and Arabs—we hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues!” 12 Amazed and perplexed, they asked one another, “What does this mean?”
The Spirit of God came upon these men. In verse 7, we read, “Aren’t all these who are speaking Galileans? 8 Then how is it that each of us hears them in our native language?” So what can one discern from reading these scriptures? A tongue is a language like German or French today. The Apostles were speaking in their native tongue, their own language of Galilee. Each person heard them speaking in their own language while the Apostles were speaking only in their own language. Tongues has never meant anything else but a language. In many churches today, the incorrect teaching is to get a second blessing, a second Spirit other than one received when you were born again. When one is born again today, the Holy spirit takes residence in you immediately, and you have every spiritual blessing in Christ.
Ephesians 1:3
Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ.
Now, in this time of transition, when the Holy Spirit was first given at Pentecost, just 10 days earlier all the disciples were fearful like cowards behind closed doors. What happened to Peter from being scared in a room to speaking boldly to a large crowd of 3000 people? For now he is spoken boldly even proclaiming that the Jews crucified the Lord of glory. The apostles were not babbling, but teaching truth to people, the gospel message. What is different? Peter and the disciples were indwelt with the Holy Spirit of God.
Acts 2:8-14
8 Then how is it that each of us hears them in our native language? 9 Parthians, Medes and Elamites; residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia,] 10 Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya near Cyrene; visitors from Rome 11 (both Jews and converts to Judaism); Cretans and Arabs—we hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues!” 12 Amazed and perplexed, they asked one another, “What does this mean?”
They were preaching the gospel in foreign lands, and people were hearing the message in their native tongue. That is the miracle. What people should be excited about is the preaching of the gospel! There were 3000 people were added to the church that day, not to the local synagogue, that is not the church being referred to here, but new members of the body of Christ, born again with the Spirit of God. Peter was indwelt by the Holy Spirit, speaking the very words the Holy Spirit wanted him to speak. It was the Holy Spirit speaking through him the message of the gospel. Tongues was for communicating truth, an evangelistic gift to go into foreign lands,to fulfill prophecy of the gospel going to the Gentiles and to the ends of the earth.
Acts 2:14-15
14 Some, however, made fun of them and said, “They have had too much wine.” Then Peter stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice and addressed the crowd: “Fellow Jews and all of you who live in Jerusalem, let me explain this to you; listen carefully to what I say. 15 These people are not drunk, as you suppose. It’s only nine in the morning!
What role does the Spirit of God have in your salvation? Was it to forgive your sins? No, Jesus’ death accomplished that. Was it to give you life? Yes, it was to give you life. The Holy spirit came to live in you, your hope of glory. Was anybody rejuvenated prior to Pentecost? No. They were not made alive spiritually. Did they believe in the person of Jesus? Yes. But up until the time they saw what Jesus came to do, which was to take away the sins of the world, to be buried and then to be raised from the dead, they were not indwelt with the Holy Spirit. They had some days to ponder this truth and on the day of Pentecost they were ready to be born again. They were there to be saved on the day of Pentecost. On that day, when Jesus ascended to his Father, then they received the Holy Spirit,to live in them forever.
Jesus death accomplished that. The Holy Spirit was to give life to man, and would not have been given if Jesus had not raised, and would not have been given if Jesus did not return to His Father. The Holy spirit living in you is what saves you. He is the giver of life, God’s life, the very Spirit of Jesus Christ. The Holy Spirit is the same Spirit living in Jesus, who only did what he saw His Father doing, who told him what to say and how to say it.
Ponder over the meaning of this scripture, in reference to those who lived during the Old Testament and regarded as men of faith who believed in the coming Messiah, to discern what the Lord is saying. If you have the Spirit of God in you, then God will reveal to you what this means.
Hebrews 11:39-40
39 These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised, 40 since God had planned something better for us so that only together with us would they be made perfect.
Now continuing on in John 7, starting in verse 40 to the end of the chapter, we have various people divided over who Jesus is. Some say he is a prophet. Others say he is the Messiah. Other doubted because they had read scripture but had not understood all of scripture that had to be fulfilled concerning Jesus, they so focused on the one thing they did not understand and failed to just think about the miracles Jesus performed. The miracles that Jesus performed was enough for Nicodemus to seek the will of God out and meet Jesus at night, and he was a Pharisee! For Nicodemus had said in his heart that no man can do what he is doing unless God were with him.
Nicodemus even challenged the other Pharisees who were making charges against Jesus without even a trial, presuming him guilty before hearing him out. Nicodemus understood that a man is assumed innocent until proven guilty but there is nothing that can be found against Jesus. The Jews logic was on various scriptures concerning the lineage of Christ through the line of David. They knew that Jesus would come from the line of David and did not understand how Jesus would come from Galilee. Nor did they realize Jesus was born in Bethlehem in fulfillment of prophecy. They knew something about prophecy but did not make the connection that Jesus actually fulfilled prophecy.
John 7:42-43
Still others asked, “How can the Messiah come from Galilee? 42 Does not Scripture say that the Messiah will come from David’s descendants and from Bethlehem, the town where David lived?” 43 Thus the people were divided because of Jesus. 44 Some wanted to seize him, but no one laid a hand on him.
Yet the Old Testament prophets spoke concerning the coming Messiah, where he was to be born, where he was to go, and even about his death, burial and resurrection.
Micah 5:2
“But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah,
though you are small among the clans[a] of Judah,
out of you will come for me
one who will be ruler over Israel,
whose origins are from of old,
from ancient times.”
Isaiah 9:1
Nevertheless, there will be no more gloom for those who were in distress. In the past he humbled the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the future he will honor Galilee of the nations, by the Way of the Sea, beyond the Jordan—
So according to the prophets in the Old Testament, Jesus would be born in Bethlehem and would start his public ministry in Galilee. Indeed, if one were to look into scriptures more closely, his death, burial and resurrection were all prophesied by the prophets.
So they doubted he was the Messiah because of not knowing the scriptures fully or lack of knowledge of Jesus lineage and instead made false assumptions. Even the Pharisees tried to poison the others concerning Jesus and they too replied to Nicodemus that a prophet does not come out of Galilee.
John 7:50-52 (TLB)
50 Then Nicodemus spoke up. (Remember him? He was the Jewish leader who came secretly to interview Jesus.) 51 “Is it legal to convict a man before he is even tried?” he asked. They replied, “Are you from Galilee, too? Look into it, and you will find that a prophet does not come out of Galilee.”
They failed to understand that Jesus was born in Bethlehem and later in life started his public ministry in Galilee. They assumed he was born in Galilee and did not know he was born in Bethlehem, thus failing to understand Jesus to be of the royal line of David. The attitude of the Pharisees is not unlike many wicked politicians today. They never answered Nicodemus question but instead did name-calling and re-focused attention not on the question but false charges. Notice also the attitude of the Pharisees even wanting to put Jesus to death, and bothered by the fact the Temple police did not arrest Jesus. Yet the Temple police responded that they never heard anyone speak like this man.
John 7:45
45 Finally the temple guards went back to the chief priests and the Pharisees, who asked them, “Why didn’t you bring him in?”
Bob shared a story concerning the father of his wife Amy. He was born in Russia under communism. This little guy, born an orphan, broken his leg as a little child, and then was adopted. Raised on his own, put his way into law school. Yet, communists see those with knowledge as a threat, and falsely charge people with a crime against the state. This could very well happen in America in the future. So Amy’s father was taken to Germany and put in a slave labor camp. Amy thought he was dead. No one has heard from him in 40 years. Later he made it into America and visited his wife, Amy’s mom and Bob and Amy. So when Bob heard his wife tell this story, immediately Bob thought of John 7:46.
John 7:46
46 “No one ever spoke the way this man does,” the guards replied.
Bob was saying that Amy’s father never heard words of love before, an orphan and raised under communist Russia and in a slave labor camp! Bob recalls the conversation with Amy, as she would read scripture to him, “Little daughter, where did you hear these words? From Jesus. Who is Jesus? No one ever spoke to me this way. In Russia, they throw rocks at you. Over here they throw flowers at you. I never heard anyone speak like this before.”
So Amy’ Father’s heart was ready to hear, and in God’s sovereignty, he made a way for him to hear the truth to be saved, and he gladly received it.
In contrast, the Pharisees and religious leaders of the day were so hardened to truth. They were like the Communists.The Temple police were hearing words of love from Jesus, so how could they arrest him? That goes against all logic and reason.
Yet, the Pharisees were like the Communists. The Pharisees are also not unlike many politicians today and rulers of this world or even religious leaders. What politicians do not care about truth but only about power and position and see any teaching of truth as a threat to them. What religious leaders insist one must be water baptized and only in their church in order to be saved? What religious leaders insist one must participate in a mass in order to have your sins forgiven? What religious leader insists you must believe in Calvinism or Arminianism? In history, one reads about Calvinists persecuting the Armenians? Or Catholics burning people on a stake for refusing to believe that the Eucharist (God in a wafer or loaf of bread) is not necessary for salvation? Is that the way of love? God forbid! What religious people will accuse you today of going against 2000 years of church history?
John 7:47-49
47 “You mean he has deceived you also?” the Pharisees retorted. 48 “Have any of the rulers or of the Pharisees believed in him? 49 No! But this mob that knows nothing of the law—there is a curse on them.”
Have any religious leaders or theologians told you this? So the Pharisees said in their heart, who is this man who dares think he knows more than us? We were trained under Moses and who is this man to tear down all the ways of Moses? So do we base truth from what we hear from men or from every word that proceeds from the mouth of God, words that are spiritually discerned by the spirit that has been given to you? As Jesus conversed with Nicodemus, “Are you born again? Are you like Nicodemus, even though highly religious, was willing to hear words of truth from Jesus? Do you want to do the will of God? Do you have any sorrow over sin? Then a good start is to listen to truth from scriptures, from the man from heaven. The word of God is like a seed that is sewn, and to those who have the right attitude, who turn from pride, and are willing to listen, then the Holy Spirit will be drawing you unto Himself until the point in time your eyes are opened and you believe and receive the gift of eternal life, God’s Holy Spirit to be placed in you. Then you can see clearly. Let the seed of God’s word be sewn in your heart. Go and read the entire of John for yourself. Test and see what is truth from God, asking Him to reveal truth to you. The first time you hear truth you may be like Nicodemus not understanding what born again means. But put yourself in a position to hear truth. Be aware that you might not understand something correctly, having been taught things that are not in accordance with truth from God. Do not let one thing you do not understand blind you to vitally important truth that can save your soul. In due time, God will guide you into all truth. Let the truth of God sink in. If you seek God with all your heart, He will reveal Himself to you.
What is different about Nicodemus? There was something in his heart that wanted to know God’s will. So Nicodemus, who had gone to Jesus earlier and was one of their own number, spoke up.
John 7:50-53
50 Nicodemus, who had gone to Jesus earlier and who was one of their own number, asked,
51 “Does our law condemn a man without first hearing him to find out what he has been doing?”
52 They replied, “Are you from Galilee, too? Look into it, and you will find that a prophet does not come out of Galilee.”
53 And every man went unto his own house.
The Pharisees did not answer that question. Nothing new. People have been spinning stuff for years, just like the politicians. T^hey did not want to answer this question.
John 8:1-6
1 but Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. 2 At dawn he appeared again in the temple courts, where all the people gathered around him, and he sat down to teach them. 3 The teachers of the law and the Pharisees brought in a woman caught in adultery. They made her stand before the group 4 and said to Jesus, “Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of adultery. 5 In the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now what do you say?” 6 They were using this question as a trap, in order to have a basis for accusing him.
After Jesus went to the mount of olives, people came from everywhere to listen to him. He was like a magnet drawing people. So Jesus taught them. Then a very interesting story we read about a woman caught in adultery.
The question the Pharisees asked is not unlike a lawyer who would say to someone on trial, “So when have you stopped beating your wife?” and insisting on only a yes or no answer so as to incriminate you no matter how you answered. That is the same kind of trap they tried to set for Jesus in regards to the woman caught in adultery. So how did they know she committed adultery? Did they set the whole scenario up so as to trap Jesus? The whole account in scripture is in John 8:1-11.
Bob made a point to mention that not all manuscripts contain John 7:53 to John 8:1-11. You may see a footnote in your bible stating this. Notice that the apostle Paul did not use the King James bible. The original bible was in Hebrew and came from meticulous copying by Jewish scribes. If there was just one letter missing, they destroyed the entire scroll and started all over. They had a high regard for preserving the word of God. Consider the fact that the scribes saw the power of God, the parting of the Red Sea and all sorts of dealings of God with the Jews throughout history. For God Himself was at work to preserve His word. The dead sea scrolls were fond in recent history, the earliest dated copy of the scriptures. So is the older better, or the many better? In virtually all translations today there is nothing different in regards to salvation. So why are these certain passages missing in certain passages? There were scriputes in James, about picking up snakes, that are not in the earlier manuscripts. And there are biases, like those who want to make a doctrine out of it, and you have to get away from such biases. In certain manuscripts found, they were not written down. In later ones, they were. A Jewish scribe still wrote down these things at a certain time even though the earlier ones did not have them. Does that make it not inspired? No. Do they change any significant doctrine or meaning of God’s word or do they provide greater clarity into the walk of Jesus Christ and his manner of love? I say they provide better clarity or amplification on the life of Christ and into the mindset of the religious Pharisees.
The main point Bob emphasized was that Jesus acted in love. He did not come to condemn but to save. He walked in love and is full of mercy and grace. His attitude is one of how to restore man. When you see someone in a sin, do you look down on them and tell them they deserve to be where they are or do you have pity and a longing in your heart for the person to be set free, to walk in new free freedom, to change their attitude toward sin. Bob says he has no greater joy than to see someone who is on verge of divorce be restored in their marriage. No matter what the other person has done, would it not be better if the person confesses their adultery and shows genuine godly sorrow. Would it not be wonderful to see the spouse totally forgive and welcome back the partner in marriage, knowing the person has cut all ties with the other person with evidence of clearing himself.
John 8:3-6
They made her stand before the group 4 and said to Jesus, “Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of adultery. 5 In the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now what do you say?” 6 They were using this question as a trap, in order to have a basis for accusing him.
John 8:6-8
But Jesus bent down and started to write on the ground with his finger. 7 When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, “Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.” 8 Again he stooped down and wrote on the ground.
We do not have a clue what he wrote. He might of wrote down the law to condemn them, but whatever he wrote, he wrote on the ground.
John 8:9
9 At this, those who heard began to go away one at a time, the older ones first, until only Jesus was left, with the woman still standing there.
Notice that the older ones left first, for they have had more time to sin. What Jesus is saying is this. Someone caught somebody in the act of sin. The law says condemn him and Jesus says restore him. When someone is trapped in a sin, do you have a heart that says, “Oh, I want to go and restore this person” or do you have a heart that says, “Oh, that scumbag, she deserves this”? Do you have the heart of Jesus, who says, “I did not come to condemn but to save.”
John 8:10-11
10 Jesus straightened up and asked her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?”
11 “No one, sir,” she said. “Then neither do I condemn you,” Jesus declared. “Go now and leave your life of sin.”
Change your mind. You have been caught in something. Go God’s way instead of man’s way. Begin thinking with the heart of God instead of the desires of the flesh.
So also with us. We have the Spirit of God living in us and we also have the flesh which makes demands of us.
Galatians 5:16-18
16 So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. 17 For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever[a] you want. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.
We have a choice to listen to the Spirit or listen to the flesh. The choice is ours. This is what Jesus is saying, “Go now and leave your life of sin”. Put your past behind you. When is your past? Anything a minute ago. Get up and start walking in the newness of life. Press on to the high calling in Christ Jesus.
Hebrews 3:1
Therefore, holy brothers and sisters, who share in the heavenly calling, fix your thoughts on Jesus, whom we acknowledge as our apostle and high priest.
Romans 6:4
We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.
Bob says there is nothing in his life that thrills him like seeing a couple that has had difficulty that have done things they should not have done. They have contemplated divorce, separated, but with an attitude that if this is God’s plan for my life then I am willing to accept it. Until you get to that point then nothing will happen. A spouse, who has separated from her husband, says she has no feelings at all for him anymore. Bob replies, “So what. If you had it once, you can have it again. If you lost it, where did you lose it? Then to watch God at work. And it happens when you do not think it will happen. When nothing else works, God is at work in the hearts of people. Then all of a sudden hearts start getting changed. Then Bob gets a call and hears they are back together. Bob hears from their children, so excited that mom and dad are back together again. God can do far more than whatever we can dream or imagine, if we just let Him do it.
John 12:46-48
46 I have come as a Light to shine in this dark world, so that all who put their trust in me will no longer wander in the darkness. 47 If anyone hears me and doesn’t obey me, I am not his judge — for I have come to save the world and not to judge it. 48 But all who reject me and my message will be judged at the Day of Judgment by the truths I have spoken.
