John the Baptist is referred to as “a voice of one calling in the wilderness, ‘Prepare the way for the Lord,’” (3:4). It’s a bit unusual to for someone to be referred to as “a voice.” I suppose if you were a sports announcer, say for the Atlanta Braves, then you might be known asContinue reading “Two Voices for God”
Tag Archives: gnosticism
A Look at John’s Manger (2)
He was no mere tourist—He “made His dwelling among us,” (John 1: 4). The word translated “dwelling” is also used for the tabernacle in the wilderness and is meant to remind us of such. God didn’t desert His people in the wilderness! In fact, He was there in their midst the entire time. In theContinue reading “A Look at John’s Manger (2)”
There Is No Substitute!
I have much to write to you, but I do not want to use paper and ink. Instead, I hope to visit you and talk with you face to face, so that our joy may be complete. (John in 2 John v. 12) John had a lot on his heart that he wanted to share withContinue reading “There Is No Substitute!”
To Pray or not to Pray? (The Sin Leading to Death)
John is speaking of the confidence we have in prayer in 1 John 5:14-15. Building on the theme of assurance that runs throughout the letter (note all the places where the word “know” is used), he wants us to understand that when we ask anything according to His will, it will be granted! God isn’tContinue reading “To Pray or not to Pray? (The Sin Leading to Death)”
Living in the Light
John assures the disciples he is writing in 1:1-4 of his first letter that the message they had shared with them about Christ was rooted in historical reality. There were Gnostic influencers who were spreading the heresy that Christ had not come in the flesh (see this in 2 John v. 7). John wants themContinue reading “Living in the Light”
For the Bible Tells Me So
Back when peoplewrote letters, they did so for lots of reasons. They wanted to stay in contact with a loved one from whom they were separated (this was especially true in the days before there were phones and later when people had phones but long-distance calls were expensive). They also wrote to share news (thisContinue reading “For the Bible Tells Me So”
Assurance And The Disciples
When John writes of keeping commands (2:3,3:22,24,5:3), doing what is right (2:29,3:7,3:10), and not sinning (2:1,3:6,9,5:18), he is speaking directionally. Everyone is headed toward something and the disciple is headed in the direction of His Father. God is both the light (v. 5) and in the light (v. 7), (think of our sun, it is lightContinue reading “Assurance And The Disciples”
A Taste of Grace with Bruce Green 