JOHN
CHAPTER ONE
OBSERVATION
STAGE
TABLE
OF CONTENTS
The purpose of
the observation stage is to maintain focus on the text at hand within the
normative rules of language, context and logic
which limit the observer to the content offered by the book of John. This
will serve to avoid going on unnecessary tangents elsewhere; and more
importantly, it will provide the framework for a proper and objective
comparison with passages located elsewhere in Scripture.
Remember that
something elsewhere may be true, but in the text at hand it may not be in
view.
I)
[Jn 1:1-3]:
A)
"IN [THE] BEGINNING" REFERS TO THE BEGINNING OF
ALL TIME AND ALL CREATION WHEN ALL THINGS
CAME INTO BEING
B)
"IN [THE] BEGINNING" CANNOT REFER TO THE TIME OF THE WORD
BEING CREATED, AS SOME MAINTAIN, BECAUSE THE PHRASE "IN [THE]
BEGINNING WAS THE WORD" STATES THAT THE WORD ALREADY "WAS"
IN [THE] BEGINNING, I.E., HE IS ETERNAL, UNCREATED AND GOD
1)
[Compare Jn 1:1-3]:
C)
THE GREEK "HO LOGOS" RENDERED "THE WORD" PORTRAYS A
PERSON
1)
[Compare Jn 1:1-11]:
D)
SINCE THE WORD IS ETERNAL, THE WORD IS GOD
E)
THE WORD WAS ALREADY THERE "IN [THE] BEGINNING"
OF ALL TIME AND ALL CREATION AND AT THAT BEGINNING THE
WORD WAS "WITH," IN THE SENSE OF DIRECTED /
ORIENTED TOWARDS GOD ON AN EQUAL LEVEL, FURTHER CORROBORATING AN ETERNAL
PERSON EQUAL TO GOD - NOT SIMPLY WORDS FROM GOD AS SOME MAINTAIN BECAUSE
WORDS EMANATED FROM A PERSON CANNOT BE EQUAL TO THAT PERSON
F)
THE PERSONS OF GOD THE FATHER AND GOD THE SON, THE WORD, ARE IN VIEW IN
THE PHRASE "AND THE WORD WAS WITH GOD"
1)
[Compare Jn 1:14 NKJV]:
G)
AND GOD - THE NATURE, ALL THE QUALITIES AND ESSENCE OF GOD WAS THE WORD
WHO ALREADY WAS IN [THE] BEGINNING OF TIME AND CREATION. HENCE THE WORD
IS A MODE OF EXPRESSION OF GOD, THE SON OF GOD, JUST AS GOD THE FATHER
IS. IN VIEW ARE TWO PERSONS OF GOD
H)
THE 'WORD' CANNOT BE A GOD OR BE QUALIFIED BY AN ADJECTIVE
RENDERED "DIVINE" IN THE SENSE OF BEING THE DIVINE WORD, AS
SOME MAINTAIN. THE WORD "WORD" IN JN 1:1C MUST REFER TO GOD
1)
"THEOS" = GOD IN THE 3RD CLAUSE OF JN 1:1 IS THE PREDICATE
NOMINATIVE CASE OF THE INTRANSITIVE, COPULATIVE VERB "WAS"
WHICH IT PRECEDES. SINCE THERE IS NO DEFINITE ARTICLE WITH IT, THEN "THEOS"
DEFINES THE CHARACTERISTICS OF "LOGOS." AND SINCE THERE IS NO
WORDING TO IMPLY 'A' GOD, THEN "THEOS" DOES NOT REFER TO 'A'
GOD
2)
THE TWO FORMS OF THE WORD GOD, THEON (2ND CLAUSE) AND THEOS (3RD CLAUSE)
DO NOT REFER TO DIFFERENT GODS AS SOME MAINTAIN, BUT REFER TO THE ONE
AND ONLY ALMIGHTY GOD. THEY DIFFER BECAUSE OF GRAMMAR NOT DEFINITION.
NEITHER REFERS TO 'A GOD'
I)
"THE WORD" IS NOT A COMMUNICATION FROM GOD AS SOME MAINTAIN.
HE IS A PERSON WHO ALREADY WAS AT THE BEGINNING OF TIME AND CREATION,
HENCE HE HIMSELF IS UNCREATED, ETERNAL AND GOD
J)
THE WORD IS PERSONIFIED BY THE PRONOUN, 'HIM,' THE AGENT OF ALL
CREATION, HIMSELF UNCREATED, ETERNAL AND GOD
II)
[Jn 1:4]:
A)
IN HIM WAS AND WILL ALWAYS BE LIFE, FROM THE BEGINNING OF TIME AND
CREATION. HE WAS AND WILL ALWAYS BE THE SOURCE AND SUSTAINER OF THE LIFE
(TEMPORAL AND ETERNAL) OF ALL THINGS, AND THE SOURCE OF ETERNAL LIFE. HE
WAS AND WILL ALWAYS BE CREATOR, ETERNAL AND GOD
B)
IN HIM WAS AND WILL ALWAYS BE LIFE FROM THE BEGINNING OF TIME AND
CREATION. HE WAS AND WILL ALWAYS BE THE SOURCE AND SUSTAINER OF THE LIFE
OF ALL THINGS, AND THE SOURCE OF ETERNAL LIFE. HE WAS AND WILL ALWAYS BE
CREATOR, ETERNAL AND GOD; AND HE - THE LIFE - WAS AND WILL ALWAYS BE THE
LIGHT OF MEN - THE ILLUMINATION TO MEN OF HIMSELF AS CREATOR, ETERNAL
AND GOD AND OF TRUTH ABOUT GOD
1)
[Compare Jn 1:9-14]:
2)
[Compare Jn 1:1, 4-5, 12-18]:
III)
[Jn 1:5]:
A)
IN HIM WAS AND WILL ALWAYS BE LIFE FROM THE BEGINNING OF TIME AND
CREATION. HE WAS AND WILL ALWAYS BE THE SOURCE AND SUSTAINER OF THE LIFE
OF ALL THINGS, AND THE SOURCE OF TEMPORAL AND ETERNAL LIFE. HE WAS AND
WILL ALWAYS BE CREATOR, ETERNAL AND GOD; AND HE - THE LIFE - WAS IN
[THE] BEGINNING AND WILL ALWAYS BE THE LIGHT OF MEN - THE ILLUMINATION
TO MEN OF HIMSELF AS CREATOR, ETERNAL AND GOD AND OF TRUTH ABOUT GOD.
NEVERTHELESS MEN HAVE DELIBERATELY REMAINED IN DARKNESS - IN SIN,
WILLFULLY OPPOSED TO COMPREHENDING AND KNOWING GOD
1)
[Compare Jn 1:10]:
IV)
[Jn 1:6-7]:
A)
IN VERSES 6 & 7, AUTHOR JOHN BEGINS WITH THE PHRASE, "THERE
CAME A MAN," USING THE GREEK VERB "EGENETO" MEANING
'THERE CAME INTO BEING A MAN;' AS OPPOSED TO USING THE VERB "EN"
RENDERED "WAS" WHICH DESCRIBES THE WORD IN VERSES 1-2 & 4
WHICH PORTRAYS AN ETERNAL, UNCREATED EXISTENCE EXCLUSIVE TO GOD ALONE
SO
A [CREATED] MAN WAS SENT [LIT. HAVING BEEN SENT] BY GOD WHOSE NAME WAS
JOHN REFERRING TO A JOHN DIFFERENT FROM THE AUTHOR, TO BE CORROBORATED
LATER AS JOHN THE BAPTIST. SO JOHN WAS SENT FROM GOD - IN THE SENSE OF
BEFORE JOHN CAME INTO BEING - TO BEAR WITNESS TO MEN OF THE LIGHT, THE
LIFE (TEMPORAL AND ETERNAL), THE WORD, ETERNAL CREATOR - GOD; THAT ALL
MEN THROUGH HIM, (THE LIGHT) MIGHT BELIEVE IN ORDER TO HAVE AN ETERNAL
LIFE RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD. THIS IN TURN IMPLIES THAT AN ATONING
SACRIFICE FOR THE SINS OF THE WHOLE WORLD WILL BE PROVIDED
1)
[Compare Jn 1:23 and Isa 40:3]:
B)
LONG AFTER THE BEGINNING OF CREATION, AT THE TIME OF JOHN THE BAPTIST,
THE WORD, THE LIGHT BEGAN A UNIQUE REVELATION OF HIMSELF TO MEN SO THAT
JOHN THE BAPTIST COULD BEAR WITNESS TO MEN OF HIM THAT ALL MEN COULD
READILY ENCOUNTER HIM, CHOOSE TO KNOW HIM, HENCE UNDERSTAND WHO GOD IS,
AND BELIEVE IN HIM UNTO AN ETERNAL LIFE RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD. SO THE
WORD, THE LIFE, THE LIGHT TOOK UPON HIMSELF HUMANITY IN THE SENSE OF
ADDING TO HIMSELF HUMANITY IN ORDER TO PROVIDE HIMSELF AS AN ATONING
SACRIFICE FOR THE SINS OF THE WHOLE WORLD. THIS IMPLIES THAT FROM THE
BEGINNING, MEN CHARACTERISTICALLY DID NOT BELIEVE AND DID NOT HAVE AN
ETERNAL LIFE RELATIONSHIP OR ANY RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD AT ALL. MEN HAVE
CHARACTERISTICALLY AND WILLFULLY ALIENATED THEMSELVES FROM GOD BECAUSE
OF THEIR SINS
1)
[Compare Jn 1:14]:
a)
[Compare Jn 1:5]:
C)
JOHN THE BAPTIST WAS A MAN CREATED AND SENT BY GOD TO TESTIFY ABOUT,
I.E., PUBLICLY PROCLAIM THE LIGHT, THE LIFE, THE WORD TO MEN SO THAT ALL
WHO HEAR HIS MESSAGE MIGHT HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO EXPRESS A MOMENT OF
FAITH ALONE IN HIM (THE LIGHT) ALONE WHICH WOULD RESULT IN AN ETERNAL
LIFE RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD
1)
[Compare Jn 1:12-13]:
V)
[Jn 1:8]:
A)
JOHN HIMSELF WAS NOT THE LIGHT, THE WORD. HE CAME ONLY AS A WITNESS TO
THE LIGHT
VI)
[Jn 1:9]:
A)
THE WORD, WHO IS ETERNAL, CREATOR, THE LIFE - GOD, GIVES ETERNAL LIFE TO
EVERY MAN WHO BELIEVES IN HIM. HE IS THE TRUE LIGHT, I.E., THE TRUE
REVELATION OF WHO GOD IS TO EVERY MAN. HE ENTERED HISTORY IN A UNIQUE
FORM AT THE TIME OF JOHN THE BAPTIST IN THE FORM OF HUMANITY SO THAT MEN
MIGHT READILY ENCOUNTER HIM THROUGH THE ONGOING WITNESS OF JOHN AND
OTHERS, CHOOSE TO KNOW HIM HENCE UNDERSTAND WHO GOD IS AND BELIEVE IN
HIM UNTO AN ETERNAL LIFE RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD
1)
[Compare Jn 1:4]:
2)
[Compare Jn 1:7 with 1:9]:
3)
[Compare Jn 1:5, 10-11]:
VII)
[Jn 1:10]:
A)
AT THE TIME OF JOHN THE BAPTIST, THE LIGHT, THE WORD, THE LIFE, CREATOR
- GOD BEGAN AN ONGOING UNIQUE PRESENCE IN THE WORLD TAKING UPON HIMSELF
HUMANITY TO ENLIGHTEN ALL MEN ABOUT HIMSELF SO THAT MEN MIGHT CHOOSE TO
KNOW HIM, HENCE UNDERSTAND WHO GOD IS AND BELIEVE IN HIM UNTO AN ETERNAL
LIFE RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD. ALTHOUGH THE WORLD THROUGH HIM WAS MADE, THE
WORLD DID NOT CHOOSE TO KNOW HIM
VIII)
[Jn 1:11]:
A)
THE WORD, THE LIFE, THE LIGHT OF MEN - CREATOR AND GOD, ENTERED THE
WORLD IN HISTORY IN HIS HUMANITY, COMING TO ALL THINGS AND INDIVIDUALS
OF HIS OWN [NEUTER, PLURAL = ALL THINGS IN THE WORLD INCLUDING MANKIND];
AND HIS OWN PEOPLE [MASCULINE, PLURAL], I.E., ISRAEL DID NOT RECEIVE /
BELIEVE IN HIM TO HAVE AN ETERNAL LIFE FAMILIAL RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD
1)
[Compare Jn 1:45 NKJV]:
2)[Compare
Jn 7:1]:
IX)
[Jn 1:12]:
A)
AS MANY INDIVIDUALS OF HIS OWN CREATION WHO RECEIVE THE WORD, THE LIFE,
THE LIGHT OF MEN, CREATOR, ETERNAL GOD IN A COMPLETED ACTION INSTANT OF
BECOMING BELIEVERS IN HIS NAME, I.E., BY TRUSTING IN HIS CAPACITY,
WILLINGNESS AND TRUSTWORTHINESS TO PROVIDE AN ETERNAL LIFE RELATIONSHIP
WITH GOD THROUGH HIS ATONING SACRIFICE FOR SINS; ARE BORN OF GOD, AS
CHILDREN OF GOD, TO WHOM GOD GAVE HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS AND THE AUTHORITY TO
BECOME CHILDREN OF GOD, RESULTING IN AN ETERNALLY SECURE ETERNAL LIFE
FAMILIAL RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD
1)
[Compare Jn 1:12-13]:
B)
SINCE THE WORD - ETERNAL, CREATOR, GOD, THE LIFE, THE TRUE LIGHT FROM
THE BEGINING HAS REVEALED THE TRUTH ABOUT HIMSELF SO THAT MEN MIGHT KNOW
HIM AND THROUGH FAITH IN HIM HAVE ETERNAL LIFE; AND SINCE THE WORD CAME
INTO THE WORLD WITH HUMAN FORM SO THAT MEN MIGHT ALL THE MORE BELIEVE IN
HIM AS TESTIFIED TO BY JOHN THE BAPTIST AND THOSE WHO FOLLOW IN JOHN'S
FOOTSTEPS; AND SINCE AS MANY AS DO RECEIVE HIM - TO THOSE BELIEVING IN
HIS NAME, I.E., TRUSTING IN HIS ATONING SACRIFICE FOR SINS, ARE BORN OF
GOD AS CHILDREN OF GOD INTO AN ETERNAL LIFE FAMILIAL RELATIONSHIP WITH
HIM; THEN ALL MEN THROUGHOUT HISTORY HAVE HAD PROVISION MADE FOR AND
BEEN GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO BELIEVE IN HIS NAME UNTO ETERNAL LIFE -
CORROBORATING THE DOCTRINE OF UNLIMITED ATONEMENT
C)
TO RECEIVE THE WORD, THE LIFE (ETERNAL & TEMPORAL), THE LIGHT OF
MEN, CREATOR OF ALL THINGS - GOD - IS TO BELIEVE IN HIS NAME, I.E., HIS
CAPACITY, WILLINGNESS AND TRUSTWORTHINESS THROUGH HIS ATONING SACRIFICE
FOR SINS TO PROVIDE AN ETERNAL LIFE FAMILIAL RELATIONSHIP WITH HIM AT
THE MOMENT ONE BELIEVES RESULTING IN BECOMING A BORN OF GOD CHILD OF GOD
WHOM GOD GAVE AUTHORITY TO BECOME A CHILD OF GOD
D)
BEFORE ONE BELIEVES IN THE NAME OF THE WORD, ONE IS NOT A CHILD OF GOD,
I.E., NOT IN THE FAMILY OF GOD
X)
[Jn 1:13]:
A)
BUT AS MANY OF HIS OWN CREATION AS DID RECEIVE HIM - TO THE ONES
BELIEVING IN HIS NAME, I.E. TRUSTING IN HIS CAPACITY, WILLINGNESS AND
TRUSTWORTHINESSS TO PROVIDE HIS ATONNG SACRIFICE FOR SINS - WERE BORN
NOT OF MIXING OF BLOODLINES THROUGH PROCREATION, NOR OF A WILL OF AN
INDIVIDUAL TO HAVE SEXUAL INTERCOURSE, NOR OF A WILL OF A MAN TO DECIDE
TO HAVE CHILDREN, I.E., DESCENDANTS, (HEIRS); BUT BORN OF GOD AS
CHILDREN OF GOD TO WHOM GOD GAVE AUTHORITY TO BECOME CHILDREN OF GOD
RESULTING IN AN ETERNAL LIFE FAMILIAL RELATIONSHIP WITH HIM
B)
TO BECOME BORN OF GOD AS CHILDREN OF GOD TO WHOM GOD GAVE AUTHORITY TO
BECOME CHILDREN OF GOD RESULTING IN AN ETERNALLY SECURE ETERNAL LIFE
FAMILIAL RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD IS NOT BY THE MIXING OF BLOODLINES, NOR
BY A WILL OF THE FLESH TO HAVE SEXUAL INTERCOURSE, NOR BY A WILL OF A
MAN TO DECIDE TO HAVE DESCENDANT CHILDREN, BUT IT IS EXCLUSIVELY VIA
BEING BORN OF GOD IN THE SPIRITUAL NOT THE NATURAL REALM
C)
REGENERATION DOES
NOT PRECEDE SAVING FAITH, SAVING FAITH COMES FIRST AND RESULTS IN
REGENERATION - BEING BORN OF GOD
XI)
[Jn 1:14]:
A)
THE WORD - ETERNAL, CREATOR, THE LIFE, THE LIGHT OF MEN - GOD ADDED TO
HIS ESSENCE PERFECT HUMANITY AND DWELT AMONG MEN SO THAT ALL MEN
THROUGHOUT HISTORY, INCLUDING THE FUTURE THROUGH WITNESS ACCOUNTS
BEGINNING WITH JOHN THE BAPTIST MIGHT HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO RECOGNIZE,
KNOW AND BELIEVE IN HIM UNTO AN ETERNAL LIFE RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD
1)
[Compare Jn 1:14 KJV]:
2)
[Compare Jn 1:4, 6-11]:
B)
AUTHOR JOHN AND OTHERS EXPERIENCED SEEING THE GLORY OF GOD IN THE WORD
IN HIS PERFECT HUMANITY - THE ONE AND ONLY WHO CAME FROM THE FATHER
C)
THE WORD BECAME FLESH, I.E., ADDED TO HIMSELF PERFECT HUMANITY AND IN
THAT HUMANITY HE IS ONE AND ONLY FROM THE FATHER IMPLYING A UNIQUE
SONSHIP WITH THE FATHER
D)
BOTH THE FATHER AND THE WORD - THE SON OF GOD ARE IN VIEW AS INDIVIDUAL
PERSONALITIES, I.E., MODES OF EXPRESSION OF GOD. THE WORD BECAME FLESH,
I.E., ADDED PERFECT HUMANITY TO HIS ESSENCE WHICH CAME FROM THE
SOVEREIGNTY OF THE FATHER
E)
THE WORD IS FULL OF GRACE - THE GRACE OF SALVATION AND THE WHOLE OF THE
GRACE OF GOD, BECAUSE HE IS GOD - THE SON OF GOD
F)
THE WORD, CREATOR OF ALL THINGS, GOD - BECAME FLESH, I.E., ADDED TO
HIMSELF PERFECT HUMANITY AND CAME INTO THE WORLD FULL OF TRUTH: THE
TRUTH OF WHO GOD IS, OF (HIS) CREATION AND LIFE, AND THE TRUTH THAT HE
IS, BECAUSE HE HAS MADE HIMSELF TO BE, THE SOLE MEANS BY WHICH AN
INDIVIDUAL CAN BE BORN OF GOD AS A CHILD OF GOD UNTO AN ETERNAL LIFE
FAMILIAL RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD BY GRACE THROUGH A MOMENT OF FAITH ALONE
IN HIS NAME ALONE
XII)
[Jn 1:15]:
A)
JOHN THE BAPTIST, CONTINUING TO BEAR WITNESS TO THE LIFE, THE LIGHT OF
MEN, THE WORD, WHO WAS TO COME INTO THE WORLD, SAID;
"THIS
WAS HE OF WHOM I SAID, 'HE WHO AFTER ME IS COMING
(REFERRING
TO THE WORD'S COMING INTO THE WORD, HAVING ADDED TO HIMSELF PERFECT
HUMANITY AND COMING IN THAT HUMANITY AT THE TIME OF JOHN)
HAS
COME BEFORE ME
(REFERRING
TO THE WORD'S PRESENCE IN THE WORLD AT THE BEGINING OF TIME AND CRATION -
LONG BEFORE HE ADDED TO HIMSELF PERFECT HUMANITY)
FOR
HE WAS BEFORE ME
(REFERRING TO HIS ETERNAL EXISTENCE AS GOD)' "
1)
[Compare Jn 1:26-30]:
2)
[Compare Jn 1:1]:
XIII)
[Jn 1:16]:
A)
OUT OF THE FULLNESS OF THE WORD - FROM HIS FULLNESS OF THE GRACE AND
TRUTH OF GOD - DID ALL MANKIND RECEIVE TIME AFTER TIME, LIKE THE WAVES
OF THE OCEAN; NOT THE LEAST OF WHICH ARE THOSE GRACIOUS AND DAILY
UNMERITED BLESSINGS WHICH SUSTAIN ONES TEMPORAL LIFE; AND THE EVER
COMING MESSAGES OF THE TRUTH ABOUT THE AVAILABILITY THROUGH THE WORD,
THE LIGHT OF MEN OF AN ETERNAL LIFE FAMILIAL RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD BY
GRACE THROUGH A MOMENT OF FAITH ALONE IN HIS NAME ALONE
XIV)
[Jn 1:17]:
A)
OUT OF THE FULLNESS OF THE WORD DID ALL MANKIND RECEIVE, EVEN GRACE IN
PLACE OF GRACE: THE LAW, A GRACE GIFT OF THE STATUTES OF GOD'S
RIGHTEOUSNESS FOR TEMPORAL BLESSING THROUGH MOSES TO HIS PEOPLE AND
INDIRECTLY TO ALL MANKIND, WAS REPLACED BY THE GRACE AND TRUTH OF GOD
THROUGH JESUS CHRIST, THE WORD BECOME FLESH, TO FULLFILL THE LAW AND BY
BEING A SACRIFICE FOR SINS, BECOME THE MEANS BY WHICH AN INDIVIDUAL
COULD BE BORN OF GOD AS A CHILD OF GOD INTO AN ETERNAL LIFE FAMILIAL
RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD BY GRACE ALONE THROUGH A MOMENT OF FAITH ALONE IN
HIS NAME ALONE
B)
FOR THE FIRST TIME, AUTHOR JOHN PROVIDES THE NAME OF JESUS CHRIST, (=
MESSIAH / = HEBREW: HAMASHIOCH) TO IDENTIFY BUT NOT BE LIMITED IN SCOPE
TO THE PERFECT HUMANITY OF THE WORD, THE LIFE, THE LIGHT OF MEN, THE SON
OF GOD HAVING COME INTO THE WORLD; FOR THE WORD, JESUS CHRIST IS
ETERNAL, HE WAS IN THE BEGINNING AND FOREVER WILL BE JESUS CHRIST
XV)
[Jn 1:18]:
A)
NO ONE - NO FINITE HUMAN BEING HAS EVER SEEN GOD IN HIS ESSENCE WITH
ONES PHYSICAL EYES
B)
THE CORRECT RENDERING OF VERSE 18 HAS "THE ONE AND ONLY GOD"
IN IT AS OPPOSED TO "THE ONE AND ONLY SON" OR "THE ONLY
BEGOTTEN..." TO CONVEY THE FACT THAT NO HUMAN BEING HAS SEEN GOD AT
ANY TIME, BUT GOD THE ONE AND ONLY - THE WORD IN HIS PERFECT HUMANITY
WHO IS IN THE BOSOM OF THE FATHER HAS DECLARED HIM, I.E., MADE HIM KNOWN
C)
NO FINITE HUMAN BEING HAS SEEN GOD AT ANY TIME; BUT THE ONE AND ONLY
GOD, THE WORD, WHO HAS ALWAYS BEEN FACE TO FACE WITH GOD - ABLE TO SEE
AND INTIMATELY KNOW GOD, WHO IS IN THE BOSOM OF THE FATHER - IN THE
CLOSEST PERSONAL INTIMATE RELATIONSHIP WITH HIM - HAS BECOME FLESH. AND
IN HIS PERFECT HUMANITY HE HAS COME INTO THE WORLD TO DECLARE THROUGH
HIMSELF WHO GOD IS. MANKIND CAN NOW BEHOLD THE GLORY AS OF THE ONE AND
ONLY FROM THE FATHER, FULL OF THE GRACE AND TRUTH OF GOD. THE WORD
BECOME FLESH HAS MADE GOD KNOWABLE AND KNOWN TO MANKIND, SO THAT MEN CAN
CHOOSE TO KNOW GOD AND TRUST IN THE WORD UNTO AN ETERNAL LIFE FAMILIAL
RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD
XVI)
[Jn 1:19-28]:
A)
THE JEWISH RULERS SENT PRIESTS AND LEVITES FROM JERUSALEM TO INTERROGATE
JOHN THE BAPTIST WHICH IMPLIES THAT HE DID NOT CONFORM TO THEIR SPHERE
OF RELIGIOUS AND CIVIL AUTHORITY
1)
[Compare Jn 1:24]:
B)
THE PRIESTS AND LEVITES ASKED JOHN THE BAPTIST, 'WHO ARE YOU?' EVIDENTLY
WITH SOME CONCEPT OF "THE CHRIST" IN MIND. JOHN RESPONDED
CURTLY AND INTUITIVELY, 'I AM NOT THE CHRIST,' ANTICIPATING WHO THEY
THOUGHT HE MIGHT BE. THE NAME 'THE CHRIST,' ACCORDING TO SCRIPTURE, IS
THE MESSIAH / SAVIOR /RULER OF ISRAEL AND THE WORLD WHO BEING GOD AND
MAN WAS TO COME FROM GOD AND OUT OF ISRAEL TO DELIVER ISRAEL AND MANKIND
FROM BONDAGE AND SIN INTO THE ETERNAL KINGDOM OF GOD - THE CHRIST!
1)
[Compare Isa 40:1-5]:
2)
[Compare Ps 2:1-12]:
C)
THEN THE JEWISH INTERROGATORS ASKED JOHN THE BAPTIST "WHAT THEN"
ARE YOU ELIJAH?" EVIDENTLY REFERRING TO THE PROPHET OF ANCIENT
TIMES WHO SCRIPTURE FORETOLD WAS TO COME BACK INTO THE WORLD AFTER HE
WAS TRANSLATED INTO HEAVEN HUNDREDS OF YEARS AGO
1)
[Compare 2 Ki 2:11]:
2)
[Compare Mal 4:5-6]:
D)
THE JEWISH INTERROGATORS PERSISTED WITH JOHN THE BAPTIST. THEY ASKED, "ARE
YOU THE PROPHET," THEIR THIRD CHOICE OF WHOM THEY THOUGHT JOHN THE
BAPTIST MIGHT BE. THEY WERE REFERRING TO SCRIPTURE TO THE ONE WHOM MOSES
FORETOLD WOULD BE A PROPHET LIKE HIMSELF - THE KEY PROPHET OF ISRAEL -
WHO WOULD LEAD THEM IN A FINAL EXODUS FROM THEIR ENEMIES AND FROM SIN
INTO THE PROMISED ETERNAL KINGDOM OF GOD - THE CHRIST!
1)
[Compare Dt 18:15-19]:
E)
JOHN TELLS HIS JEWISH INTERROGATORS THAT HE IS THE VOICE WHICH ISAIAH
WROTE ABOUT: THE ONE WHO CRIES OUT IN THE WILDERNESS, TELLING ISRAEL TO
MAKE STRAIGHT THE WAY OF THE LORD WHO IS COMING INTO THE WORLD TO
ESTABLISH HIS ETERNAL KINGDOM RULE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS AT JERUSALEM THROUGH
HIS CHOSEN PEOPLE ISRAEL. SO ALL ISRAEL MUST TRUST IN THE LORD FOR
DELIVERANCE FROM SIN AND COMMIT TO RIGHTEOUSNESS SO THAT THE GLORY OF
THE LORD WILL BE REVEALED TO ALL MANKIND
****** EXCERPTS FROM
ISAIAH CHAPTERS 7, 9 & 40 ******
IN
VIEW OF THE IMMINENT RETURN IN ANCIENT TIMES OF ISRAEL FROM BABYLONIAN
CAPTIVITY TO A JERUSALEM WHICH WOULD BE REBUILT, A VOICE OF A PROPHET
CRIED OUT TO THE PEOPLE OF JERUSALEM TELLING THEM IN A FIGURATIVE /
SPIRITUAL SENSE, NOT A LITERAL SENSE, THAT IN THE WILDERNESS THEY WERE
ALL TO PREPARE THE WAY OF THE LORD IN THE SENSE OF MAKING THE WAY OF THE
LORD RIGHTEOUS; AND IN THE SAME SENSE, MAKE A STRAIGHT HIGHWAY FOR OUR
GOD IN THE DESERT, AND LIKEWISE HAVE EVERY VALLEY LIFTED UP, EVERY
MOUNTAIN AND HILL LEVELED, AND UNEVEN GROUND BECOME SMOOTH AND ROUGH
PLACES A PLAIN, I.E., SO THAT THE PEOPLE OF ISRAEL WOULD BE
CHARACTERIZED AS HAVING THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD THUS HAVING REMOVED THE
SPIRITUAL HINDRANCES WITHIN THEMSELVES TO THE COMING OF THE LORD AND HIS
RIGHTEOUSNESS SO THAT ALL MANKIND WOULD SEE THE GLORY OF THE LORD WHEN
HE COMES TO RULE OVER HIS EVERLASTING KINGDOM OF HEAVEN ON THE EARTH, AS
DECLARED BY THE PROPHET TO BE TRUE, FOR ISAIAH DECLARED THAT THE MOUTH
OF THE LORD HAD SPOKEN IT TO HIM. SO THE TIME OF THE LORD'S RULE WOULD
BEGIN WHEN EACH ONE OF NATIONAL ISRAEL, TO WHOM THE MESSAGE OF THE
PROPHET CRYING OUT WAS EXCLUSIVELY DIRECTED, RESPONDED TO IT EVIDENTLY
VIA A MOMENT OF FAITH ALONE IN THE COMING LORD ALONE TO DELIVER ONE FROM
ONE'S SINS SUCH THAT EACH ONE WOULD BE PROVIDED WITH THE GIFT OF GOD'S
PERFECT RIGHTEOUSNESS WITHIN ONESELF UNTO ETERNAL LIFE AND BY THAT
PREPARE THE WAY OF THE LORD TO COME TO RULE OVER HIS EVERLASTING KINGDOM
OF HEAVEN ON THE EARTH THROUGH HIS PEOPLE ISRAEL. NOTICE THAT THIS
REPENTANCE CANNOT MEAN DOING GODLY WORKS IN ORDER TO RECEIVE REMISSION
(FORGIVENESS) OF SINS IN ORDER TO ENTER THE KINGDOM OF GOD, AS SOME
CONTEND; BECAUSE DOING GODLY WORKS CANNOT ERASE SINFUL DEEDS. NOR CAN
REPENTANCE MEAN TO TURN FROM SIN IN THE SENSE OF NOT COMMITTING SINS ANY
MORE; FOR THAT IS A TASK WHICH IS NOT POSSIBLE GIVEN THE SINFUL NATURE
OF EVERY INDIVIDUAL. ISAIAH INDICATED PREVIOUSLY THAT THIS OUTCOME WAS
TO BEGIN WITH A CHILD BORN SUPERNATURALLY OF AN ISRAELITE MAIDEN /
VIRGIN - A SON AND CHILD OF ISRAEL, WHO WOULD BE DECLARED WONDERFUL,
COUNSELOR, MIGHTY GOD, EVERLASTING FATHER, PRINCE OF PEACE WHO WOULD
COME TO ESTABLISH HIS EVERLASTING KINGDOM OF HEAVEN RULE OVER THE WORLD
UPON THE THRONE OF DAVID FROM JERUSALEM THROUGH HIS PEOPLE, ISRAEL AS
BOTH GOD AND MAN
[Compare
Isa 7:14-16]:
[Compare
Isa 9:6-7]:
[Compare
Isa 6:3]:
****** END OF EXCERPTS
FROM ISAIAH CHAPTERS 7, 9 & 40 ******
E
cont.) JOHN TELLS HIS JEWISH INTERROGATORS THAT HE IS THE VOICE WHICH
ISAIAH WROTE ABOUT: THE ONE WHO CRIES OUT IN THE WILDERNESS, TELLING
ISRAEL TO MAKE STRAIGHT THE WAY OF THE LORD WHO IS COMING INTO THE WORLD
TO ESTABLISH HIS ETERNAL KINGDOM RULE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS AT JERUSALEM
THROUGH HIS CHOSEN PEOPLE ISRAEL. SO ALL ISRAEL MUST TRUST IN THE LORD
FOR DELIVERANCE FROM SIN AND COMMIT TO RIGHTEOUSNESS SO THAT THE GLORY
OF THE LORD WILL BE REVEALED TO ALL MANKIND, (cont.)
1)
[Compare Jn 1:14]:
F)
THE JEWISH INTERROGATORS, SENT BY THE PHARISEES, RULERS OF THE JEWS,
DEMANDED TO KNOW WHY JOHN THE BAPTIST WAS BAPTIZING JEWS AT BETHANY
ACROSS THE JORDAN. JOHN'S ANSWER: HIS WATER BAPTISMS WERE PUBLIC
EXPRESSIONS WHICH SYMBOLIZED ISRAELITES' ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF THE COMING
OF THE LORD, "THE CHRIST," WHICH INCLUDED BELIEVING IN HIM FOR
FORGIVENESS OF SINS UNTO AN ETERNAL LIFE FAMILIAL RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD
IN THE KINGDOM OF GOD, AND A COMMITTMENT TO LIVE RIGHTEOUSLY BEFORE THE
LORD IN ORDER TO PREPARE THE WAY FOR HIS ENTRY INTO THE WORLD TO
ESTABLISH HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS AND HIS ETERNAL KINGDOM THROUGH HIS CHOSEN
PEOPLE ISRAEL. IN VIEW OF THE GLORY AND RIGHTEOUS CHARACTER OF THE
CHRIST WHO IS TO COME, JOHN DECLARED HIS UNWORTHINESS TO LOOSE THE CORD
OF HIS SANDAL
1)
[Compare Jn 1:15 YLT]:
a)
John The Baptist, Continuing To Bear Witness To The Life, The Light Of
Men, The Word, Who Was To Come Into The World, Said;
"This
Was He Of Whom I said, 'He Who After Me Is Coming (Referring To The Word's
Human Presence, The Christ To Come, At The Time Of John)
Has
Come Before Me
(Referring
To The Word's PreMessianic Presence In Human Form In The World)
For
He Was Before Me
(Referring
To His Eternal Existence As God)' "
b)
[Compare Jn 1:26-30]:
c)
[Compare Jn 1:1]:
d)
[Compare Jn 1:29-30]:
XVII)
[Jn 1:29-34]:
A)
AT THE MOMENT WHEN JOHN THE BAPTIST FIRST KNEW THAT JESUS WAS THE
CHRIST, JESUS WAS COMING TOWARD HIM AND JOHN DECLARED THAT HE WAS THE
LAMB OF GOD, (THE ATONING SACRIFICE), WHO TAKES AWAY THE SIN OF THE
WORLD. HERETOFORE, JOHN HAD ANNOUNCED THAT THERE WAS A MAN, (THE CHRIST)
WHO WAS TO COME AFTER HIM; WHO (IN PREMESSIANIC HUMAN FORM) HAD COME
BEFORE HIM BECAUSE HE (BEING ETERNAL GOD) WAS BEFORE HIM. JOHN DID NOT
KNOW THE CHRIST UNTIL THE TIME HAD COME FOR THE CHRIST TO BE ANNOUNCED
AND REVEALED TO ISRAEL; AND THEN GOD REVEALED HIM TO JOHN THE BAPTIST.
JOHN WATER BAPTIZED ISRAELITES TO SYMBOLIZE THEIR ACCEPTANCE BY FAITH IN
THE COMING OF CHRIST AND HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS UNTO AN ETERNAL LIFE FAMILIAL
RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD IN THE KINGDOM OF GOD
1)
[Compare Jn 1:12-13]:
2)
(Review Jn 1:23 NKJV):
B)
JOHN THE BAPTIST BORE FURTHER WITNESS OF THE CHRIST WHEN HE SPOKE OF
SEEING THE HOLY SPIRIT DESCENDING FROM HEAVEN LIKE A DOVE AND REMAINING
UPON JESUS AS GOD'S CONFIRMATION TO JOHN THROUGH THIS REVELATION THAT
JESUS WAS THE CHRIST, THE COMING MESSIAH. JOHN DID NOT KNOW JESUS AS THE
CHRIST BEFORE THIS, BUT NOW JOHN DECLARES THAT THE CHRIST IS THE SON OF
GOD AND THE ONE WHO BAPTIZES WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT IDENTIFYING THE
BELIEVER WITH CHRIST AND HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS
XVIII)
[Jn 1:35-51]:
A)
AS JOHN THE BAPTIST CONTINUED TO ANNOUNCE JESUS AS THE LAMB OF GOD,
ANDREW AND ANOTHER DISCIPLE OF JOHN BEGAN TO FOLLOW JESUS. SIMON PETER,
PHILIP AND NATHANAEL JOIN THEM. DECLARATIONS ARE MADE OF FINDING THE
MESSIAH IN JESUS, AND THAT HE IS THE SON OF GOD AND KING OF ISRAEL. DUE
TO NATHANAEL'S REMARKABLE FAITH IN HIM, JESUS SAYS TO NATHANAEL: "HEREAFTER
YOU SHALL SEE HEAVEN OPEN, AND THE ANGELS OF GOD ASCENDING AND
DESCENDING UPON THE SON OF MAN"
1)
[Compare Jn 1:38 Greek]:
2)
[Compare Gen 28:10-12]:
3)
[Compare Dan 7:9-14]:
4)
[Compare Ps 80:14-17]:
CORROBORATION
AND FURTHER COMMENTARY OF VERSES 1-18 