Blessed Necessity

Ref Jhn 4:1-4

by Robert Hawker

And what was there, blessed Jesus, that constrained thee to this necessity? Was it because there was a poor adulterous woman there, that needed thy grace, and the hour was come for her conversion? Sweet thought! let me cherish it this morning. Was there not the same needs be for the Father setting thee up, from everlasting, for the head of thy church and people? Could there have been a church without thee? And when thy church had fallen by sin, what archangel could have recovered her but thee? Why then there was a needs be that thou shouldest take the nature of thy people upon thee, and come to seek and save that which was lost. And as it is said of thee concerning this poor woman, that "he must needs go through Samaria," so must it be equally said, Jesus must needs go to Jerusalem, to save Jerusalem sinners by his blood. Oh yes, there was a blessed necessity upon thee, thou Lamb of God, that thou shouldest do all this

Either Hath or Abideth - Jhn 3:32-36

Jhn 3:32-36  (32) And what he hath seen and heard, that he testifieth; and no man receiveth his testimony. (33) He that hath received his testimony hath set to his seal that God is true. (34) For he whom God hath sent speaketh the words of God: for God giveth not the Spirit by measure unto him. (35) The Father loveth the Son, and hath given all things into his hand. (36) He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.

When it says believeth on the Son what exactly does that mean for us to do?

In verse 36 there is a clear distinction between two classes of people.  Those who believe and have everlasting life and those who refuse His son and abide in His wrath.  One of the first things I notice is that in the Greek the words “hath” and “adideth” transcend our English tense of verbs giving not only a future condition but a present possession as well.  This is to say that all that believe have always been in full enjoyment of the gift of His Son as well as the full manifestation of them are yet future while those who don’t believe have and eternally abide in His wrath, meaning to say it is upon them even now (Rom 9:21).  To take this one step further and what I am trying to say is, those who will or do believe were always one of His sheep and those who don’t never were nor never will be (John 10:26-27).  Last of all I am not saying this for you to believe in election but instead understand how simple the gospel is (BELIEVE).  Don’t worry about if you’re called or not, just believe entirely in His finished work.  How divinely simple to only believe, coming to Him naked striped of anything we did or can do.  For those who believe never came to God with faith but rather for faith.  What a relief of a burden to only believe in the Son whom the Father hath given ALL things. 

The Conviction of Sin

Ref Jhn 3:32-36

by Don Fortner

THE CONVICTION OF SIN does not produce faith. Holy Spirit conviction is the fruit of faith (Zech. 12:10). Agrippa had deep conviction, but not faith. REPENTANCE does not produce faith. Repentance toward God is pro- duced by faith in Christ. When Isaiah saw Christ, then he cried, "Woe is me!" King Saul had repentance, but not faith. KNOWLEDGE does not produce faith. Spiritual know- ledge is produced by faith (Heb.11:3).Demas, Judas, Simon Magus, Diotrephes, Hymenaeus and Philetus all had know- ledge, but none had faith. Any knowledge a man has that precedes faith in Christ is a natural, carnal knowledge. Spiritual knowledge cannot exist apart from spiritual life. I know that faith cannot exist without knowledge. But I also know that knowledge does not produce faith. Understanding of that which God has revealed is the result of believing what God has revealed. LOVE FOR CHRIST does not produce faith. Faith produces love and works by love, but it is not conditioned upon love. If you would be saved, you must quit trying to work up conviction, repentance, knowledge, or love enough to make you qualified to believe and simply trust Christ as a sinner with nothing to offer God.

Servant and The Savior - Jhn 3:28 -31

Jhn 3:28-31 (28) Ye yourselves bear me witness, that I said, I am not the Christ, but that I am sent before him. (29) He that hath the bride is the bridegroom: but the friend of the bridegroom, which standeth and heareth him, rejoiceth greatly because of the bridegroom's voice: this my joy therefore is fulfilled. (30) He must increase, but I must decrease. (31) He that cometh from above is above all: he that is of the earth is earthly, and speaketh of the earth: he that cometh from heaven is above all.

What are the similarities and differences between the servant and the Savior?

Throughout this gospel John makes a point to exalt God and His name while reminding everyone of his own personal place in the flesh. We are repeating some of the previous verses to demonstrate a contrast John makes between the servant and the Savior.

1.             He is Christ; John was only sent before Him.  Vs 28

2.             He is the Bridegroom; John was only the friend.  Vs 29

3.             He must increase or be glorified; while John must decrease.  Vs 30

4.             He is from above; John is of the flesh.  Vs 31

In addition if we were to include verses 27 and 35 we have John receiving nothing unless it was by the grace of God where as Jesus Christ was the only one to whom all things were given.

What a wonderful lesson for us to continue to give God ALL glory for ALL things while lowering ourselves to our place of humility.

To Decrease

ref Jhn 3:28 - 31

by A. W. Pink

The more I "decrease" the more I delight in standing and hearing the voice of that blessed One who is Altogether Lovely. And so conversely. The more I stand and hear His voice, the more will He "increase" before me, and the more shall I "decrease." I cannot be occupied with two objects at one and the same time. To "decrease" is, we take it, to be less and less occupied with ourselves. The more I am occupied with Christ, the less shall I be occupied with myself. Humility is not the product of direct cultivation, rather it is a by-product. The more I try to be humble, the less shall I attain unto humility. But if I am truly occupied with that One who was "meek and lowly in heart," if I am constantly beholding His glory in the mirror of God’s Word, then shall I be "changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord" (2 Cor. 3:18).