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Christ: Our Life

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THERE are many words and phrases that are peculiar to the gospel of John. John’s Gospel is peculiar in itself. Matthew shows us Christ as “King,” Mark as the “Servant,” Luke as the “Man,” and John as the “Life.”

Christ as our Life may be traced right throughout John. Jesus is:

…the Source of life.

“In him was life, and the life was the light of men” (John 1:4).

…the Glory of life.

“This, the first of his signs, Jesus did at Cana in Galilee, and manifested his glory. And his disciples believed in him” (John 2:11).

…the Power of life.

“Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God” (John 3:5).

…the Gift of life.

“but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life” (John 4:14).

…the Assurance of life.

“Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life” (John 5:24)

…the Bread of life.

“I am the bread of life” (John 6:48)

…the Blessings of life.

“Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water'” (John 7:38).

…the Liberty of life.

“So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed” (John 8:36).

…the Testimony of life.

“Jesus said to him, ‘You have seen him, and it is he who is speaking to you'” (John 9:37).

…the Security of life.

“I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand” (John 10:28).

…the Energy of life.

“When he had said these things, he cried out with a loud voice, ‘Lazarus, come out'” (John 11:43).

…the Union of life.

“Whoever loves his life loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life” (John 12:25).

…the Holiness of life.

“You call me Teacher and Lord, and you are right, for so I am. If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you” (John 13:13-15).

…the Hope of life.

“And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also” (John 14:3).

…the Fruitfulness of life.

“Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me” (John 15:4).

…the Spirit of life.

“When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come” (John 16:13).

…the Abode of life.

“Father, I desire that they also, whom you have given me, may be with me where I am, to see my glory that you have given me because you loved me before the foundation of the world” (John 17:24).

…the Rejection of life.

“They cried out again, ‘Not this man, but Barabbas!’ Now Barabbas was a robber” (John 18:40).

…the Humility of life.

“and he went out, bearing his own cross, to the place called The Place of a Skull, which in Aramaic is called Golgotha” (John 19:17).

…the Peace of life.

“On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the doors being locked where the disciples were for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, ‘Peace be with you.'” ‘(John 20:19).

…the Instruction of life.

“When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, ‘Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?’ He said to him, ‘Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.’ He said to him, ‘Feed my lambs'” (John 21:15).

Comments

  1. Jesus is our sustainer and redeemer.Without Him this world would have ended after the death of Jesus. He rose again and now we have the gift of life, life eternal if we choose Him as our savior

  2. “Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God” (John 3:5). This is often used to place the requirement of water baptism on a believer. Would it be correct to point out the next scripture from above: “but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life” (John 4:14). and, to say that the water is Truth?

    • The water is water baptism. It was a necessary requirement of salvation for Israel–see Acts 2:38 and Mark 16:16. Israel had to be cleansed from their idolatry (Ezekiel 36:25) to be a kingdom of priests to reach the Gentiles with the gospel (Exodus 19:5-6) because washing with water was part of making someone a priest (Exodus 29:4). That is why John came baptizing everyone who believed the gospel. Today, though, water baptism does not save us. Rather, we are saved by grace through faith in Jesus Christ (Ephesians 2:8-9), believing that His death atones for our sins (I Corinthians 15:3-4). The water of John 4:14 refers to the living water, that will come from Israel to the Gentiles in God’s eternal kingdom on earth–see Jeremiah 2:13, Ezekiel 47, and Revelation 22:1-3.

      • Jesus is referring to being born naturally when He refers to being born by water. The immediate context confirms this in that v.3-4 Jesus and Nicodemus are discussing being “born again” and Nicodemus’ response indicates that he does not understand. So Jesus explains Himself in v.5 and then gives the interpretation to v.5 in v.6 (flesh in v.6 refers to water in v.5).

        I disagree that baptism was a requirement for salvation for Israel. If that were the case Hebrews 11 would include it or not be written at all. Salvation has always been through faith. First, it is debatable whether Mark 16:9-20 ought to be in the Bible. Second, your interpretation of Acts does not vibe with the rest of NT teachings (Romans 3:20-26 for one of many)that justification for all men is by grace through faith and not of works (i.e. Baptism) Ephesians 2:8-9.

        • This in reply to Sean, I think that what Eric wrote is right because, the bible says “Then Jerusalem,all of Judea and all the region around the Jordan went out to him and were baptized by him (John the baptist) in the Jordan, confessing their sins” (Matt 3:5-6)We must be born again,by being water baptized we are born again.

          It was not of works, but washing sins away. It was a part of becoming a Christian. The bible says to be baptized in the name of the Father Son and Holy Spirit. It is something we must do, not of works, but of obedience and it is a public showing of our commitment to walk away from sin and to walk with Christ.

          John(the baptist) also says “I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance.” (Matt 3:11) also, in the same verse he (John the baptist) says He (Jesus) will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and Fire.this came after the water baptism.

          So when John says what he says in (John 3:5) its true and I believe that in the above verses is the answer to being born of Water. We must be born of water (baptism) to enter the Kingdom of God. I also agree with you as I do with Eric, that we can not be saved by works, but by faith. Lord knows that the bible says that several times. Romans (6:14) That “For sin shall not have dominion over you for you are not under law, but under grace.)

          • That’s because there are two, different gospels in the New Testament. The gospel of the kingdom was repent and be baptized for the remission of sins (Acts 2:38). This is Isarel’s kingdom program. The gospel for today is the gospel of the grace of God, which is to trust in Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection as atonement for sins (I Cor. 15:3-4). Water baptism is not a part of the gospel today. In fact, Paul sets it in contrast to the gospel by saying in I Cor. 1:17 that “Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel.” That is because we have the dry baptism of being baptized into Jesus’ death today (Romans 6:4). But, water baptism was necessary for salvation in Israel’s program according to Acts 2:38. I know people make the argument that the people in Acts 2:38 were already saved at the time, but the context shows they were not saved. Peter says they are subject to God’s wrath because they crucified Jesus (Acts 2:34-36). The only way out is to repent and be baptized for the remission of sins (Acts 2:38).

        • this being the last, but I felt I needed to put this in. We must be born again, how do we become born again? by water baptism, why though? it is for the remission of sin and with the remission of sin by water baptism, if we have sin we can not enter the Kingdom of Heaven.

          • Jim,

            With all due respect, nothing washes away our sin but the blood of Jesus. By our acceptance of His sacrifice for our lives, we are born from above. By your logic, I would have become born again as a Mormon when I was baptized at eight years old because they baptize in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, too, and we know that wouldn’t have happened. As the saying goes for Christians, “Water baptism is an outward sign of an inward change.” As I also wrote in my earlier post, Jesus uses “flesh” as the parallel to being “born of water,” so this “flesh” birth would be our natural, physical birth.

            Maybe someone out there has already studied this, but I think that we are baptized unto each member of the Trinity. We know that there is the water baptism that illustrates our death and resurrection unto Jesus, and we know of being baptized by the Holy Spirit, and I think that Mark 1:4 shows a baptism unto the Father. It says, “John did baptize in the wilderness, and preach the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins.” Mark is saying that there is a repentance baptism and that it is this baptism that remits our sins. Acts 3:19b says, “Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out.” We know that it is our repenting, our turning from our sin and the world to Jesus, that constitutes our being born again and being brought into fellowship with the Father. I haven’t fully studied this, but I am wondering if sometimes when Scripture speaks of the necessity of baptism that it is referring to a baptism unto the Father and not water baptism.

            Have a blessed day!

            Barbara

      • I agree with Sean. After Jesus tells Nicodemus, in verse 5, that man must be born “of water” and “of Spirit,” He clarifies what He means, through parallelism, in verse 6, equating water with “the flesh” and “the Spirit” with “spirit.” The “flesh” can only refer to physical birth.

        In addition to Sean’s comments about baptism not being what is being referred to with the water, there are a couple other points to consider.The first can be found at the cross where Jesus Himself tells the thief, who wouldn’t have been baptized in water, that he would be with Him in Paradise. The second point has to do with God’s omniscience. Knowing the heart and mind of His creation, God wisely included in His Word all knowledge that we would need to either accept or reject the beliefs and actions that His creation would devise. We live in a time in which life is being reproduced in a manner which is not natural (i.e. cloning), and we know that human cloning is very much the goal of some people. I think that God, in including the “water/flesh” stipulation, is making the point that any “person” that is not brought into existence through natural means “cannot enter the kingdom of God” because he or she was not created in the image of God but of man.

        • Barbara,I totally agree you,as,I was reading the posts, [before your second reply], I also was thinking the same thing about the “thief” on the cross.What about people who have just received Christ on their “death bed”and have never been water baptized, are they going to hell??

  3. Hey Sean,
    Jesus cannot possibly be referring to natural birth in John 3:5 when He states “born of water”. The verb for “born” is γεννάω and is in the Subjunctive Mood. The Subjunctive Mood indicates probablity or possibility unlike the Indicative Mood which indicates certainty. I don’t think Jesus is stating that someone must be physically born as a requirment for Salvation, nonetheless not sure whether people will be physically born in the first place.

    John 3:5 reads- Jesus answered, Verily, Verily I am saying to you unless one might be generated out of water and of [the]Spirt, he is not able to enter the Kingdom of God

    Also if Jesus had meant physical birth as a requirment for Salvation in “born of water” He would be contradicting the whole point of His teaching to Nicodemus. Jesus was teaching to Nicodemus that being born a physical Israelite does not automatically secure someone for a future inheritance in the Kingdom. Instead He told Nicodemus that one must be “born from above”.

    • This is definitely a topic to discuss. If we take a look at jesus and what he came to do, we can gain more insight into this scripture. Throughout the gospels, Jesus was ensuring those that were not confidence in the New kid on the block, that he only came to fulfil the law and the prophets. This is only a compulation of what Joel 2:28, talks about God pouring out His spirit upon all flesh. Jesus only came to fulfil the word including the plan of the tabernacle. If you go back and read Exodus 27 and you will see the plan of salvation. god never changed, but first he sent John the Baptist, then the main man Jesus to reveal the plan through, Repentance and water baptism (as the priest did to go into the holy of holies) and now Spirit baptism. Review the plan, it has not changed. God just wants to fulfil it in each of our lives. Be Bless

  4. LORD JESUS help us to understand your ways including salvation
    and help us O LORD —TO NOT DISOBEY YOU— by using our own understanding but by going to your testimonies and your precepts
    as YOU AND THE FATHER HAVE INSTRUCTED US and help us LORD to PRAY and ASK —a work— that you require of us —O LORD CAN ANYONE WHO IS NOT YOURS HAVE SALVATION—WE ASK IN YOUR NAME JESUS AMEN

    Mark 8:35
    For whosoever will save his —LIFE—shall lose it
    But whosoever shall lose his —LIFE—FOR MY SAKE—AND THE GOSPELS—THE SAME SHALL SAVE IT

    Luke 8:21
    And HE answered and said unto them
    —MY— mother and —MY—brethren are these which hear the word of— GOD —and do it

    Acts 10:34
    Then Peter opened his mouth and said Of a truth I perceive
    that GOD is no respecter of persons

    Acts 10:35
    But in —EVERY NATION—he that feareth HIM AND WORKETH RIGHTEOUSNESS IS ACCEPTED WITH HIM

    Acts 10:48
    And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the LORD
    Then prayed they him to tarry certain days

    1 John 2:28
    And now little children —ABIDE IN HIM—that when HE shall
    appear we may have confidence and not be ashamed at HIS coming

    1 John 2:29 —IF— you know that HE is righteous you know
    —THAT EVERYONE THAT DOETH RIGHTEOUSNESS IS—BORN OF HIM—

    1 John 3:10
    In this the —CHILDREN OF GOD ARE MANIFEST—and the children
    of the devil —WHOSOEVER— DOETH NOT RIGHTEOUSNESS—IS NOT OF GOD—neither he that loveth not his brother

    1 John 4:6
    We are of GOD he that knoweth GOD heareth us he that is not of GOD heareth us not HEREBY WE KNOW THE SPIRIT OF TRUTH AND THE SPIRIT OF ERROR

    1 John 8:31
    Then said JESUS unto those Jews which believed on HIM
    —IF— YOU CONTINUE IN MY WORD—THEN—ARE YOU MY DISCIPLES INDEED

    Romans 13:11
    And that knowing the time that now it is high time to—AWAKE—
    out of sleep —for now is our salvation closer than —WHEN WE BELIEVED—

    1 Peter 1:9
    Receiving the end of your faith even the salvation of your souls

    1 Peter 1:22
    Seeing you have purified your souls in OBEYING THE TRUTH through the spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren see that you love one another with a pure heart fervently

    1 Peter 1:25
    BUT THE WORD OF THE LORD ENDURETH FOREVER
    And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you

    Matthew 4:4 But HE answered and said IT IS WRITTEN man shall not —LIVE— by bread alone
    BUT BY EVERY WORD THAT PROCEEDETH OUT OF THE MOUTH OF GOD

    Matthew 12:37
    For by thy words thou shalt be justified and by thy words thou shalt be condemned

    Proverbs 18:21
    Death and —LIFE— are in the power of the tongue
    and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof

    Help us O LORD that we would be faithful to YOU and the FATHER
    and that we would have faith in your works/words and not our own
    that we have made up help us to do the works that YOU require that we may boast of that which is holy godly and righteous— AND IN NOTHING THAT WE HAVE MADE UP— WE ASK AND PRAY JESUS IN YOUR NAME ACCORDING TO THE WILL OF OUR FATHER IN HEAVEN AMEN

    2 Corinthians 10:13
    But we will not boast of things without our measure
    But according to the measure of the rule which GOD hath distributed to us a measure to reach even unto you

    2 Corinthians 10:16&17
    To preach the gospel in the regions beyond you
    and not to boast in another mans line of things
    made ready to our hand
    (17)BUT HE THAT GLORIETH LET HIM GLORY IN THE LORD

    John 5:34
    But I receive not testimony from man
    BUT THESE THINGS I SAY THAT YOU MIGHT BE SAVED

    Psalm 33:10
    For the word of the LORD is right
    and all HIS works are in truth

    Proverbs 6:23
    For the commandment is a lamp
    and the law is light
    and reproofs of instruction are the —WAY OF LIFE —

    John 5:43
    I am come in MY FATHERS NAME
    and you receive ME not
    if another come in his own name
    him you will receive

    John 5:44
    HOW CAN YOU BELIEVE
    which receive honor one of another
    and seek not the honor that —COMETH FROM GOD ONLY—

    John 7:18
    He that speaketh of himself seeketh his —OWN GLORY—
    But he that seeketh HIS glory that sent him the same is true
    AND NO UNRIGHTEOUSNESS IS IN HIM

    John 6:63
    It is the spirit that quickeneth
    the flesh profiteth —NOTHING—
    the words I speak unto you
    THEY ARE SPIRIT—THEY ARE LIFE

    Hebrews 5:8&9
    Though HE were a son yet learned he obedience
    By the things which HE suffered
    (9) And being made perfect —HE— became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that —OBEY HIM—

    LOVING THE LORD

  5. Can anyone explain what water signifies? Through out the Bible water is prominent.

    Exd 17:6 Behold, I will stand before thee there upon the rock in Horeb; and thou shalt smite the rock, and there shall come water out of it, that the people may drink. And Moses did so in the sight of the elders of Israel.

    Jhn 2:9 When the ruler of the feast had tasted the water that was made wine, and knew not whence it was: (but the servants which drew the water knew;) the governor of the feast called the bridegroom,

    Mat 3:16 And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him:

    Jhn 3:5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and [of] the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.

    Jhn 4:14 But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.

    Jhn 19:34 But one of the soldiers with a spear pierced his side, and forthwith came there out blood and water.

    Rev 22:1 ¶And he shewed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb.

    I’m sure there are many more. Water is probably the most important part of our life. 70% of the Earth is covered in Water. 90+% of our body is water. We have to drink water to live. Have you ever tried to squeeze water out of a rock? But we are made from the very rock of this Earth. When God made us He breathed life into us, could that also have been the water? (Just thinking out loud) I think I will study more tomorrow on this. Would love to hear our thoughts.

  6. Isaiah 12:3
    Therefore with joy shall you draw water out of the wells of salvation

    Jeremiah 2:13
    For My people have committed two evils they have forsaken ME the fountain of living waters and hewed them out cisterns that can hold no water

    John 4:14
    But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst But the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life

    Ephesians 5:24-26
    Therefore as the church is is subject unto CHRIST so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing
    (25)Husbands love your wives even as CHRIST also loved the church and gave himself for it
    (26)That HE might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word

    LOVING THE LORD

    • Hi Steve, Thank you for more scripture on Water, LOL I won’t take Ephesians 5:24 personally to go ask my husband, but I do see a common thread with Water as Christ.

      Psa 51:2 Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.

      Hbr 10:22 Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.

      Rev 1:5 And from Jesus Christ, [who is] the faithful witness, [and] the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood,

      Rev 7:14 And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.

      Also I notice before Christs death cleansing from sin was with water, as in washing feet, and baptism.

      Mar 1:4 John did baptize in the wilderness, and preach the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins.

      After Christs death it seems we are cleansed in His Blood. Which would make since at Christs death:

      Jhn 19:34 But one of the soldiers with a spear pierced his side, and forthwith came there out blood and water.

      Blood and water flowed from Him representing His death is for all,(before and after His death) and from then on we will be washed in His Blood for the forgiveness of sin.

      Water – Wine – Blood

      1Cr 11:25 After the same manner also [he took] the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink [it], in remembrance of me.

      Thank You Jesus! Thank you brothers and sisters in the Lord for allowing me to post my thoughts and study with you.I sometimes may seem out of the box, but I love Jesus and I am filled with His Holy Spirit, and can take correction or feed back if I am totally off, Please with kind words. Your Sister Cheryl