THE KING’S -BUSINESS
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Him prove by that reception that they have been born of God. The source of the new life in which we enter lies wholly and solely in God. This John emphasizes by the multiplication of negative expressions before he gives a positive statement. Noth ing in man, neither “blood” (literally “bloods”), nor “the will of the flesh,” nor “the will of man,” accounts for it in the least. Our human descent, our natural will, our human will in any 'sense, has nothing to do with it. No combination of human elements, neither our physical life, nor our natural fitness, nor our natural instincts, nor our reproduction from a holy ancestry, not even that which is highest in us, the will of thè rational man, is competent to work the necessary change. God, and God alone, can do it. We must be “begotten of God.” He must impart His holy nature to us (cf. 2 Peter 1:4; 1 Peter 1 :23 ; James 1:18). . V. 14. "And the Word was made (became) flesh, and dwelt: among us, (and we behold His glory, the (omit, the),glory as o f the only begotten of (from) the ( 1 ) The E ternal Word, vs. 1-5. What does a word express? How does God express- His thought of His Sdn, to us? When was the Word ? In the Beginning. . Where was the Word? With God. Who was the Word ? God. What title proves His trinity? Isa. 9:6. Is this “Wonderful” to us? Judges 13:18 (R-V.) How were the heavens created ? Psa. 33: 6 . By whom did God create them.? Ep.h. 3 :9. For whom did God create all things? Col. 1:16, 17: What had the Son before the world was? John 17:5. As the Word; what was He to men? v. 4; Psa. 119:130. What is the Light called?' John 8:12.
Father, full of grace and truth.” The Holy Spirit here leads us out into very deep waters, and we must proceed cau tiously, yet boldly, being very careful not to go beyond what is written. We cannot, for lack of space, here give a full exposi tion of the words. Such an exposition will be found on page 62 of the February, 1913, number of T he K ing ’ s B usiness . But the main thought is that the eternal Word, who was ,God, became a real human being. Real Deity clothed itself with real humanity. His Divine glory became a matter of sensi ble perception (cf. 1 John 1:1-3). The verse may be analyzed and summed up finder the following heads: ( 1 ) The nature of the incarnation—“ The Word became flesh.” (2) The incarnation as an historic fact—He "tabernacled among us." (3) The Apostle’s personal testimony to the fact and character of the incarnate Wdrd—“We beheld His glory: glory as the only begot-' ten of the Father.” (4) The character of the incarnate Word—' "Full of grace and truth,” It would take, pages to give any- ■ thing like an .adequate exposition of these wonderful words. , , How long is He to be the Light of the world? John 9:5. Who now reflects His light? Phil. 2:15. If Jesus is the Light, is He God? 1 John 1:5. What kind of life is there in Him? John 17:3; 3 :36. (2 ) The E ternal Word Rejected, vs. 6-11. Why did the Son of God come into the world? Luke 19:10. Who sent Him?, John 3 :16. What was the purpose of this gift? Rom. 6:23. To whom did He come.? v. 11 (R.V.). Who were His own people to whom He came? Isa. 1:3; 3:12; Luke 2:11. Was He the promised Messiah of the Jews? Micah5:2. Did Jesus tender the kingdom to his people, the Jews? John -10:21-43.
LESSON OUTLINE
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