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believe. They rejected Him and must die in th e ir sins (v. 24). Christ’s argum ent was, in effect, “If a man rejects the testimony of the Word of God and of the works of God, th ere is no hope for him .” The only testimony th a t th e world has today is the testimony t 5 f the life of the believer. “If any man be in Christ Jesus, he is a new creation” (2 Cor. 5 : 17). His life is an evidence of the power of Jesus Christ to im p art the new natu re. If a man rejects this testimony he must die in 'h is sins. How blind were the jew s in /th e presence of such L ight? How blind is the world today? How im portant th a t believers as light-bearers, should shine undimmed in the m idst of the darkness! That we should prove to the world th a t we have th e light of life! (3) THE CRUCIAL QUESTION, vs. 21-32, “Who a r t th o u ?” Jesus claimed th a t H is origin was from heaven (1 :1 4 ; 3:13-21; 17 :5 ). Their origin was from beneath (v. 44). They were bbrn w ith a devilish n atu re (Matt. 2 3 :15 ). He called them vipers (Matt. 12 :34 ). They were children of w rath (Eph. 2 :3 ; 1 John 3 :8 ): “ H e t h a t c o n iin itte th s in I s o f t h e d e v il: f o r t h e d e v il s ln n e t h f r o m t h e b e g in n in g . F o r t h i s p u r p o s e t h e S o n o f G o d w a s in a n i- r e s te d , t h a t h e m i g h t d e s tr o y t h e w o r k s o f t h e d e v il.” Jesus declares H imself to be th e “ I Am” and if they would not believe they should die in th e ir sins. Believe what? That He was the Prom ised One— the Messiah— th e Son of God. To deny th a t Jesus Is the Son of God God manifest in th e flesh— is to incur the death penalty. God’s way is the way of the cross. . The cross is th e testi mony th a t Jesus is the Son of God,— th e dividing line. “Ye shall die in your sins; whither I go, ye cannot come” (v. 2 1 ). All false systems and cults fail to see Christ on th e cross— th e Son from Heaven; th e Son on e a rth ; th e Son going back to Heaven— all are ready to
crucify the though t of the Cross as the only means of salvation, and therefore they must die in th e ir sins. Jesus and the F a th e r are one. When Jesus spoke, the F ath e r spoke. His testimony reached some of them and they believed. So it will always be,-*:— some will believe and some will reject. There is bu t one way to be made free from sin (v. 36).' The Son of God alone can free from sin (John l : i 2 ; 5:21; Gal. 5 :1 ; Rom. 6:18; 8 :2 ). “ F o r t h e la w o f t h e S p ir it o f li f e In C h r is t J e s u s h a t h m a d e m e f r e e f r o m th la w o f s in a n d d e a th .” He frees from the. gu ilt of sin th a t we may live w ith Him. He frees from th e power of sin th a t we may live for Him. He will free us from the presence of sin th a t we may live as He lives. He frees us from th e ceremonial law; from sp iritu al enemies; se ts us tree to worship a n d ,to serve Him. T ru th ad m itted; tru th appropriated; tru th as sim ilated, gives the enlarged spiritual natu re. (2 Cor. 3:17, 18). “ N o w t h e L o rd is t h a t S p ir it; a n d w h e r th e S p ir it o f t h e L o r d Is, th e r e is lib e r ty B u t w e a ll, w i t h o p e n f a c e b e h o ld in g a in a g la s s th e g lo r y o f t h e L o r d a r e c h a n g e d in t o t h e s a m e im a g e f r o m g lo r to g lo r y , e v e n a s b y t h e S p ir it o f t h e L o rd .” Topics fo r Study
W alking in the Light. Justice in Judgment. Dying in Sin; or, F alling Asleep. The Test of T ruth. The Definition of Discipleship. Issl gfc m THE JUNIORS THE WIND AND WAVES John 6:15-21 Our last lesson was about a little lad th a t helped. W hat did he have? W hat did he do? W hat did Jesus do? , How many baskets full of crumbs did they g ath er up? HELP SOME YOUNG PERSON PREPARE
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