Grace Bible Church
Pastor-Teacher
Robert R. McLaughlin
Tuesday, September 2, 2008
A Basic Survey of the Gospel of John
John the Baptist is the herald of the Lord Jesus Christ to the nation of Israel.
When it says that John “cried out”, that is an idiom meaning that he made a public speech.
Both ginomai – “He has a higher rank than I” and eimi -“He existed before me” appear in this statement by John the Baptist.
In his message John the Baptist recognized the uniqueness of the Person of Christ. He emphasized that Jesus Christ is the God-Man.
John the Baptist was a man who was totally oriented to the plan of God and the grace of God.
This man lived a very intense life and a very focused life because He centered His life around the person of the Lord Jesus Christ.
He believed he needed to stay in the position God called him to, and he would totally concentrate and do the job with all of his strength.
“Heartily”- ek psuches = out of the five parts of the soul.
John the Baptist was born into the tribe of Levi and from the family of Aaron.
He stayed true to the unique and difficult calling that God had laid upon him.
The Church is the fullness of Christ!
This fullness is referring to virtue love developed through the power of the filling of the Sprit (verse 16) combined with Christ dwelling in your right lobes through metabolized Bible doctrine (verse 17).
The fullness of the Lord in EPH 3:19 is His mind and words dwelling within us.
Grace is the limitless favor God is free to bestow on undeserving sinners because He is completely satisfied with the Person and Work of His beloved Son Jesus Christ.
The first “grace” is Phase II grace, or grace for our post-salvation life here on earth.
The second grace is Phase I grace, or grace related to salvation.
Phase I is Salvation.
Phase II is your lifetime as a Believer.
Phase III is Eternity.
Just as God provided everything for salvation, so too does God provide everything for your lifetime as a believer.
ACT 16:31, “Believe on the Lord Jesus and you will be saved.”
We begin with Christ at the cross and we end being conformed to the image of Christ.
EPH 4:32 Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.
MAT 10:8 Freely you received, freely give.
We receive new grace that is imparted as the former grace is received.
Mercy is given by God for the past, while grace is given for the present and future.
The more grace we use, the more grace we will receive.
Grace is that which happened in eternity past.
Truth is that which reveals it in time.
Predestination = God providing, according to His sovereign will for believers, everything they would ever need to grow to spiritual maturity and glorify Him.
God’s plan of grace is declared to us in time through Bible doctrine.
Truth is part of the essence of God.
Ps 51:6 Behold, You desire truth in the innermost being, And in the hidden part You will make me know wisdom.
COL 3:16 Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you,
The contrast between Moses and Jesus Christ in this verse teaches that there are different dispensations according to the Bible.
The Law refers to the first five books of the Old Testament which were written by Moses.
This anticipates John chapters 14-17 where Jesus Christ actually announces the Church Age.
Jesus Christ revealed grace and truth to the fullest degree.
1. The law addresses mankind as members of the old creation. Grace makes men members of a new creation.
2. The law manifested what was in man: sin. Grace manifests what is in God: love.
3. The law demanded righteousness from men. Grace brings righteousness to men!
4. The law sentences a living man to death. Grace brings a dead man to life.
5. The law speaks of what men must do for God. Grace tells us what God has done for men.
6. Law gives knowledge of sin. Grace puts away sin.
7. Under law, blessings accompany obedience; under grace, God bestows His blessings as a free gift.
Your eternal destiny and eternal rewards will depend upon your response to grace and truth!
He has stored all His glorious resources into the nature of the man Jesus Christ.
The Glory of God is revealed by the truth of the word of God, Bible doctrine, and the word of God reveals the policy of God, which is grace.
Jesus Christ is the revealer of God.
The basic principle for seeing God and understanding God begins at the cross.