THE KING’S BUSINESS
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were haters of the truth and sought to kill the man who told the truth which He had heard from God. If the Word of God is not allowed to have “free course” (R. V.) he will turn from faith to bitter hatred (cf. v. 31 with v. 40). Those who clearly see that Jesus is all that He claims to be, but will not accept Him as such, after-* wards become His bitterest enemies. v. 56. “Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day: (;) and he saw it, and was .glad.” It'is a remarkable statement that our Lord here makes, and the question arises at once, when did Abraham see Christ’s day. The answer is found in Qen. 18. There we are told that “Jehovah appeared unto” Abraham “as he sat in the tent door in the heat of the day” (Gen. 18:1). Then we are told of “three” who “stood over against him:” as we read on through chapters 18 and 19 we find that one o f these three: was different from the other two,% and remained behind while the other two went on to Sodom (Gen. 18:22, (1 ) The Fulness of Light, v. 12. Who was the promised light? Luke 2:32. Who was to light every man that came into the world ? John 1 :5. What is the condemnation of the sinner? John 3 :19. Who hate the light? John 3:20. Is there any darkness in Him ? John 1 :5. Who are to come to the Light? Isa. 60:1. As Light, what is He to those who receive Him? Psa. 27:1. For what is light sown? Psa. 97:11. As children of Light, how should we walk? 1 Thess. 5:4-8. (2 ) The Freedom From Sin, vs. 31-39. What will free from sin? v. 32. What is truth? John 17:17. Who is truth? John 14:6. Who sets free from sin? v. 36. How does the Son free from sin? John T:12. Can the Son free whomsoever He will? John 5:21. LESSON
23; 19:1). The One who remained behind was the Lord Jesus, Jehovah appearing in human form before His incarnation in Jesus o f Nazareth. vs. 57', 58. “Then said the Jews (The Jews therefore said) unto Him, Thou art Hot yet fifty years old, and hast Thou seen Abraham? Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am.” Here we find another wonder ful statement of our Lord’s: “Before Abra ham was, I am,” more literally translated, “Before Abraham came to be (i. e., began to be), I am.” Note the exact form of our Lord’s wonderful statement: “Before Abra ham was, I AM.” “I AM” is the name of Jehovah, and Jesus here takes that name to Himself. There was a time when Abra ham “came to be,” (the exact force of the Greek word translated “was” in v. 58), but there was no time when our Lord came to be, He was the eternal “I AM.” OUTLINE By what law are men made free from sin? Rom. 8:2. When freed from sin, what do men become? Rom. 6:18. What admonition is given to these free men? Gal. 5:1. What is the effect of this freedom? 2 Cor. 3:17, 18. (3 ) The Forerunner of Abraham, v*. 56-58. How did Abraham see Christ’s day? Gen. 18:22; Gal. 3:7-9. Did the prophets long to see Christ’s day? 1 Peter 1 :10-12. What is the incommunicable name of God in the Old Dispensation? Ex. 3:14. Was the “I Am” the' Eternal One? Isa. 46:9-10. What did Jesus call Himself when revealed to John ? Rev. 1 :8. Did God attest the claim of Jesus, as Messiah, at His baptism? Matt. 3:17. Did He also attest it at the transfigura-
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