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T HE K I N G ’S B U S I N E S S He is the only begotten Son— Son of His love, v. 16. The F ath e r committed ail things to Him, v. 35. The F ath e r gave Him as a sin offer ing, v. J.7. The F ath e r condemned the world for rejecting Him, v. 18. The F ath e r gives eternal life to all who will receive Him, v. 16. He is a bridegroom seeking a bride, v. 29. He isvfrom above, v. 31. He testifies to th e tru th , v. 32. He has the Spirit w ithout measure, v. 34. HUMAN NATURE: It is carnal; fleshly; in darkness; loves darkness; hates ligh t; already condemned; abides, under w rath ; never can be changed. (3) TESTIMONY CONCERNING ETERNAL L IFE : It is the life,of God; the gift of God. It is in Jesus Christ— through His death, by th e Word, through th e Spirit. I t is separated from n atu ra l life; re ceived by faith alone; fo r the world; for whomsoever. God provided it, Jesu 3 brought it; th e Spirit applies it. (4) TESTIMONY , CONCERNING ETERNAL PUNISHMENT: It is a fact; it is necessary; it is the choice of man. It is separation from God. It is for evil doers. - It is “abiding w rath .” It is n o t annihilation. Sin closed th e door to heaven; the cross opened it. A new and living way is opened for “Whosoever w ill.” SUGGESTIVE COMMENT By Dr. F . W. F a rr This chapter asserts the necessity of being born again. Regeneration is not All things are in His hand, v. 35. The F a th e r loves .Him, v. 35. (2) TESTIMONY1 CONCERNING
gave the serpent his power, and brought sin into the world. The first imperative was: “Ye must be bo rn again.” Now th e second im perative is: “The Son of m an m u st be lifted up.” _ If men are to be born again; ^if they are to have a new nature, a n atu re like God’s, then God must cre ate a law by which th is can be made possible. He m iist die becau.se He m ust save, and He m u st save because His g rea t h ea rt was breaking w ith love for lost men. Jesus uses an illu stration fam iliar to th e Jews. Israel had sinned and God sent fiery serpents, whose sting was death, into th e camp. Moses prayed and God commanded him to make a serpent of brass and lift it upon a pole, and whoever looked upon it, lived. Of course th ere can be no question as to the tru th of these, incidents, or else the whole chapter we are studying would fall, and w ith it the most precious verse in th e Bible, John 3:16. Now Jesus says: “So m ust I be lifted up on the cross, so th a t whoever looks may live.” The cross was the ultim ate w ith Christ so fa r as th e world was con cerned. He endured the cross, despised th e shame' and sat down at th e righ t hand of God. The cross was the throne from which issued salvation and for giveness fo r a lost world. (John 8:28; 12:33-34.) Look upon Him and be healed. There is no v irtue in the look, bu t th e look is evidence of faith. (Isa. 45:22.) “ L o o k u n to m e , a n d b e y e s a v e d , a ll th e e n d s o f t h e e a r t h t f o r I a m G od, a n d th e r e is n o n e e lse .” The n atu re of th e mission of Christ was to re v e a l. th e F a th e r’s love and offer to the world .a sure salvation, to give a ssu ra n ce ,o f th is salvation; and to declare th e fixedness of th e gulf between good and evil. Topics fo r Study (1) THÈ TESTIMONY OF GOD CONCERNING HIS SON:
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