Grace Bible Church
Pastor-Teacher
Robert R. McLaughlin
Basic Training in Doctrine
Tuesday, August 12, 2008
A Basic Survey of the Gospel of John
John 1:9 There was the true Light which, coming into the world, enlightens every man.
Christ is
the true Light –
the only real light. John was merely a reflection.
John 1:9 combined with 1JO 1:5 is
yet another proof
of the Deity of the Lord Jesus Christ.
John 20:31 but these have been written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name.
When Jesus Christ came into the world, He was a Light such as the world had never seen before.
The closer we get to the true Light,
the more the wretchedness in self becomes obvious.
The light coming into the world does three things:
The first is alethes which means “true” as opposed to “lies” or that which is concealed.
John uses the word alethinos. This word means “true” as opposed to “partial”, counterfeit, imperfect, or defective.
This word aleethinos means the real, the genuine, that which has not only the name and semblence, but the real nature.
HEB 9:24 For Christ did not enter a holy place made with hands, a mere copy of the true one, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us;
He is the true Light because He is the undeceiving Light. Satan is an angel of light, 2CO 11:14, but he is a deceiver.
As the true Light, Jesus Christ is the real light. This is in contrast to the dim and shaded light of the Old Testament and its rituals.
As the true Light, He is the original Light. There are lesser lights such as he stars, the moon, and the sun.
The true Light
(Jesus Christ) coming into the world points to the beginning of our Lord’s public ministry, MAT 4:16.
If the true Light lights every man, this means that every person who has ever lived can be saved potentially.
The Unlimited Atonement means that Jesus Christ died for the sins of the whole human race.
1 John 2:2 and He Himself [Jesus Christ] is the propitiation for our sins; and not for ours [believers] only, but also for those of the whole world.
The Greek word for “world” here is kosmos. This word has many meanings, but here it refers to the domain or world organization which is under the control of Satan.
2 Cor 4:4 the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelieving so that they might not see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.
The devil is the ruler of this world only because here is where man was placed in charge and here is where man lost it.
Jesus Christ is the savior of the world, John 3:17; 4:42, who gives His life for the world, John 6:33.
That is why Christ is the Light of the world,
John 8:12, 9:5.
1 John 2:15 Do not love the world nor the things in the world.
1. Pre-occupation or obsession with self.
2. Anti-Christ, anti-God system of thinking.
Christianity is
a relationship,
not a religion.
Religion is just
a satanic deception
to blind people
from the truth.
Religion,
MAT 23:25, 27.
2CO 11:13 he has false prophets
2CO 11:15 ministers of righteousness
1TI 4:1 his own doctrines
2CO 11:4 preaches about another Jesus
2CO 11:4 has a counterfeit gospel
GAL 1:6 has another gospel
1CO 10:18-21 he has his own communion table
2. The second way Satan blinds people from receiving the truth about Christ is rationalism, 2CO 4:4; LUK 8:12.
3. The third way that Satan blinds people from receiving the truth about Christ is by deceit or deception, 2CO 11:3; 2CO 2:11; REV 12:9; 20:3.
2 Cor 11:3 But I am afraid that, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, your minds will be led astray from the simplicity and purity of devotion to Christ.
REV 12:9And the great dragon was thrown down, the serpent of old who is called the devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world;
4. The fourth way he tries to blind the world from receiving Christ is through supernatural experiences,
2TH 2:8-12.
5. The fifth way is by snares. Satan has many sets of snares, 2TI 2:26.
The depravity of man is shown by man’s rejection of Jesus when He came, ISA 1:5.
ROM 1:20 For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse.