INTERESTING FACTS : Charles Finney, born Aug. 29, 1792, Warren, Conn., U.S., died Aug. 16, 1875, Oberlin, Ohio, American lawyer, president of Oberlin College, and a central figure in the religious revival movement of the early 19th century; he is sometimes called the first of the professional evangelists.[1]

 

"[T]he time has come that Christians must vote for honest men and take consistent ground in politics or the Lord will curse them. . . . Christians have been exceedingly guilty in this matter. But the time has come when they must act differently. . . . Christians seem to act as if they thought God did not see what they do in politics. But I tell you He does see it - and He will bless or curse this nation according to the course they [Christians] take [in politics]."[2]

 

Daily Reading : JOHN 7 - 8

 

TEXT : John  7:12 And there was much murmuring among the people concerning him: for some said, He is a good man: others said, Nay; but he deceiveth the people.  7:13 Howbeit no man spake openly of him for fear of the Jews.  7:14 Now about the midst of the feast Jesus went up into the temple, and taught.  7:15 And the Jews marvelled, saying, How knoweth this man letters, having never learned?  7:16 Jesus answered them, and said, My doctrine is not mine, but his that sent me.  7:17 If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself.  7:37 In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink.  7:38 He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.  7:39 (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.)

 

THEME : Knowing God

 

John 7 

 

In this chapter we have,  I. Christ's declining for some time to appear publicly in Judea (Joh_7:1).  II. His design to go up to Jerusalem at the feast of tabernacles, and his discourse with his kindred in Galilee concerning his going up to this feast (Joh_7:2-13).  III. His preaching publicly in the temple at that feast.  1. In the midst of the feast (Joh_7:14, Joh_7:15). We have his discourse with the Jews,  (1.) Concerning his doctrine (Joh_7:16-18).  (2.) Concerning the crime of sabbath-breaking laid to his charge (Joh_7:19-24).  (3.) Concerning himself, both whence he came and whither he was going (Joh_7:25-36).  2. On the last day of he feast.  (1.) His gracious invitation to poor souls to come to him (Joh_7:37-39).  (2.) The reception that it met with.  [1.] Many of the people disputed about it (Joh_7:40-44).  [2.] The chief priests would have brought him into trouble for it, but were first disappointed by their officers (Joh_7:45-49) and then silenced by one of their own court (Joh_7:50-53).  (Matthew Henry)[3]

 

John 8 

 

The story of the woman taken in adultery, Joh_8:1-11. Jesus declares himself the light of the world, Joh_8:12. The Pharisees cavil, Joh_8:13. Jesus answers, and shows his authority, Joh_8:14-20. He delivers a second discourse, in which he convicts them of sin, and foretells their dying in it, because of their unbelief, Joh_8:21-24. They question him; he answers, and foretells his own death, Joh_8:25-29. Many believe on him, in consequence of this last discourse, Joh_8:30. To whom he gives suitable advice, Joh_8:31, Joh_8:32. The Jews again cavil, and plead the nobility and advantages of their birth, Joh_8:33. Jesus shows the vanity of their pretensions, and the wickedness of their hearts, Joh_8:34-47. They blaspheme, and Christ convicts and reproves them, and asserts his Divine nature, Joh_8:48-58. They attempt to stone him, Joh_8:59.  (Adam Clarke)[4]

 

TRUTH FOR TODAY : "BY OBEYING THE FATHER YOU KNOW THE TRUTH ABOUT JESUS."

 

As the Bible says, there is nothing new "under the sun."[5]We often think that the people and the planet are different in our times.  However, there are three beings and that have never changed. The first is God (who, by the way, cannot change because his nature is immutable), the second is Satan (who we assume cannot change), and man who, although still the same (that is, sinful and prone by nature to break God's laws) can change; even though as a whole, humanity has not changed at all.  That said, there are some considerations that are "new under the sun" such as world population, technology, communications, etc. and so forth.  Yet, essentially, there is nothing new under the sun.   This is so, because the three main constituents of life - God, Satan, and man, (all living beings) have not changed.

 

In John chapter 7:12, you read of a "murmuring" among the people concerning Jesus of Nazareth.  Some said Jesus was good.  Others said Jesus was a deceiver.  (The Greek word underlying the English word "murmuring" means to grumble, or to speak "grumbling.") In any case, what you read in John7:12 is precisely what we have in the world today concerning the person, ministry, work, nature, and place of Jesus in history past, present, and future - whom we call Christ.  People are still divided in their opinion about him.  Some say Jesus was a good man. Some say he was a deceiver.  Further, some say he was deceived or deluded (for no human can claim to be God without having a delusional mentality).  Lastly, some say he was a good teacher - but no more.  In addition, there are nuances, or shades of understanding of who Jesus is.  Therefore, as you compare the text of John7:12 and Jesus times, you see there is nothing new under the sun.  People are still the same.

 

Note in verse 13 that "no man spake openly of him for fear of the Jews." The fear of the Jewish religious leaders and authorities, who had the power to cast out Jewish people from the synagogue, was no doubt, the primary reason no one spoke openly of Jesus Christ.  Today, there are many professing Christians who do not, or will not, speak of Jesus openly.  Their reason is similar - fear of being cast out or cast away.  Some fear the rejection by family and friends, (as following Christ at times tends to erode some relationships).  For others it is simply a lack of desire to be associated with Christ and his teachings.  (I would especially accent the Biblical teaching about Jesus being the only way to heaven.  In addition, there is the doctrine of judgment and condemnation for rejecting Jesus Christ as personal Savior, the result of which is spending eternity in hell).  Therefore, many in our day are the same as those found in John7:13.  They will not speak openly or clearly about Jesus. 

 

This includes Christian preachers and teachers.  Many preachers and teachers today are eviscerating the Bible of its essential teachings for fear of "offending" people.  This is an irony, since the presumption is that a man who represents Christ would speak only what Jesus or the Apostles said.  However, this is not the case.  The flagrant absence of fundamental Biblical teaching is evidence not only that people have not changed with respect to the texts of John 7:13, but it is also a sign of the times; specifically, that the return of Jesus is near.  Jesus spoke of false teachers and the false prophets that would multiply and thrive just before his return.  Further, the Apostle Peter spoke of "false teachers" who were among the people of Israel in the Old Testament that would be inside the Church as well.  One may be a false teacher by intention, the other by default.  This means, a man who will not declare Jesus Christ as he is in the New Testament (that is, not speaking "openly" of him) is a false teacher by virtue of what he "does not say," as compared to false teachers who speak openly of Jesus stating things Jesus "did not say."

 

In the Gospel according to John chapter 7:16, Jesus declares his doctrine comes from the Father.  As the second person of the Trinity - Jesus Christ, the Word come in the flesh, never does anything apart from the Father who is the first person of the Trinity.  Obviously, the Holy Spirit as the third person of the Trinity never works independent of Jesus and the Father either.  In the doctrine of the Trinity, God who is One works as One.  In any case, what follows in John 7:17 is critical. In that verse, the experiential side of the Bible is known to any who do the Father's will.

 

Jesus said - "If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself." This is vital to understanding the truths of the Holy Scriptures.  You find the reality of the Holy Scriptures [as truly given by God] in the experience of truth as it relates to you in daily life.  It is more than mere academics.  It is more than just "hearing a word from God." It is more than just "reading the Bible." (Remember, the Jewish religious leaders read the Bible.  However, they did not know the truth as Jesus point out.)

 

Joh 5:37  And the Father himself, which hath sent me, hath borne witness of me. Ye have neither heard his voice at any time, nor seen his shape. Joh 5:38  And ye have not his word abiding in you: for whom he hath sent, him ye believe not. Joh 5:39  Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me. Joh 5:40  And ye will not come to me, that ye might have life.

 

These words of Jesus are truly challenging.  In John 5:37 - 40, Jesus clearly shows you one can read and study the Bible and still not know God.  (Naturally, this includes going to Church services, praying, and listening to sermons.) Why is this so?  It hinges on the fact whether the human heart is willing to obey or not willing to obey  (Please do not forget, the Bible is an intriguing book, and many who want to read it - even in a religious  sense, due to a fascination with its contents.  However, fascination and  interest does not necessarily translate in to obedience.)

 

James, believed to be Jesus "physical" brother (that is, James would be the son of Joseph and Mary, while Jesus was conceived by the Holy Spirit in Mary without sexual contact) wrote some words in the Bible that make the point Jesus made in John 7:17.

 

Jas_1:22  But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. Jas 1:23  For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: Jas 1:24  For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was. Jas 1:25  But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.

 

Notice, the emphasis on deception.  It is one thing to be deceived by another person, and an entirely different matter to deceive yourself.  Anyway, in both James 1:22 and John 7:17 the truth is the same.  You must obey God to know God Himself wrote the Holy Scriptures.  In addition, as you obey God his - "exceeding great and precious promises," as well as his principles of life etc. and so forth, you find to be a reality in your life.  Prayers are answered.  Promises come to pass.  The laws of God work.  Therefore, his Word becomes a "lamp unto your feet and a light unto your path." Without this, that is - obedience, one cannot know whether Jesus words and teachings were truly of God or not.