The true Light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world. John 1:9 MEV
Genesis 1:3 Let there be light. The word let is hāyâ. The KJV translates in the following manner: was, come to pass, came, has been, were happened, become, pertained, better for thee.
Judges 6:39 & Psalm 109:12 are two examples where the same word, used many times in the OT, is used.
Judges 6:39 NKJV Then Gideon said to God, “Do not be angry with me, but let me speak just once more: Let me test, I pray, just once more with the fleece; let it now be dry only on the fleece, but on all the ground let there be dew.”
Psalm 109:12 NKJV Let there be none to extend mercy to him, Nor let there be any to favor his fatherless children.
The word hāyâ in Hebrew is said to be more permissive than creative. Gideon knew and the reader knows that dew had already existed, but was “created” around the fleece on the ground for him by God in this case. In Psalm 109, there are many who are capable of extending mercy, but “Let there be none to extend mercy to him”.
Since Jesus is God Himself who existed in the beginning, the Creator and not created, but was created or begotten in Mary’s womb when the word became flesh, I believe that the “let” in Genesis 1:3 is definitely not the creation of light, but signifying that everything created by the light, including the light, was allowed to happen; the creation that followed.
This idea is used by the proponents of the Gap theory as scriptural proof. As for this and the timing of the fall of Satan, I’m not doctrinally adamant on one or the other views because I know for a fact that while being linear, it is not, while being circular, it is not, and it can never be understood by the natural fallen reasoning of man. That’s all I’ll say about it in this here post, which has become longer than it has a right to be!
There was a man sent from God whose name was John. John 1:6 MEV
Not me, the other one. John the Baptist, not John the Guitarist :p
We have all received from His fullness grace upon grace. John 1:16 MEV
Grace upon grace indeed! If not who could stand? This is reflected in Rev. 5:3
For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. John 1:17 MEV
Different covenants.
He confessed, and did not deny, but confessed, “I am not the Christ.” They asked him, “Who then? Are you Elijah?” He said, “I am not.” “Are you the Prophet?” He answered, “No.” John 1:20-21 MEV
By this we understand that those who were questioning were expecting either the Christ, or Elijah, or the end time prophet. Does this carry significance to who the two witnesses are? Selah!
I did not know Him, but He who sent me to baptize with water said to me, ‘The One on whom you see the Spirit descending and remaining, this is He who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.’ John 1:33 MEV
Being washed by the Blood of the Lamb is a necessary step, and is essential to being baptized with the Holy Spirit. Repentance of sin is absolutely necessary for walking in the Holy Spirit.
One of the two who heard John speak, and followed Him, was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother. John 1:40 MEV
Who is the other? Could it be John, the writer of this Gospel?
His mother said to the servants, “Whatever He says to you, do it.” John 2:5 MEV
Jesus protested, but Mary’s faith prevailed, causing Jesus to operate the miraculous. A model. Just saying!
and he said to him, “Every man serves the good wine first, and after men have drunk freely, then the poor wine is served. But you have kept the good wine until now.” John 2:10 MEV
I used to argue that this wine was alcoholic, but now I’m not sure that it matters when it comes to Salvation and Sanctification.
He said to those who sold doves, “Take these things away! Do not make My Father’s house a house of merchandise!” John 2:16 MEV
It is easy to make money off of God’s name. This harkens back to the love of money being the root of all evil. Afterall, we can have only one master. Are we seeving money?
Then the Jews said, “It has taken forty-six years to build this temple, and will You raise it up in three days?” But He was speaking concerning the temple of His body. Therefore, when He was raised from the dead, His disciples remembered that He had said this to them. And they believed the Scripture and the word which Jesus had spoken. John 2:20-22 MEV
The transition from the natural to the spiritual makes all the difference in understanding God, and requires belief in Jesus rising from the dead; that Jesus is Lord.
But Jesus did not entrust Himself to them, because He knew all men, and did not need anyone to bear witness of man, for He knew what was in man. John 2:24-25 MEV
Now that you are a new creation in Christ, can God entrust Himself to you? It depends on what we treasure in our heart; what our heart yearns for, how we act by faith about what we desire, instead of just lip service.
There was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. John 3:1 MEV
There are those among the Pharisees that still seek the truth. It is wise not to judge a book by its cover.
Jesus answered, “Truly, truly I say to you, unless a man is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. John 3:5 MEV
Among other meanings this verse carries, it speaks of water baptism and the infilling of Holy Spirit.
Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ John 3:7 MEV
First, you must be born again.
This is the verdict, that light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. John 3:19 MEV
Even in the Old Testament, from the marriage that God has instituted to the man who was raised from the dead when he touched Elisha’s bones (the irrevocable gifts of God, another principle), we see the heart that God has to cleanse the unclean, to redeem, to reclaim. Is that what our heart beats for? Indeed the light shines brighter in darkness. Be a true and faithful lampstand for the light that has come into the world. Go, tell everyone, shout out the good news from the rooftops.
For everyone who does evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed. John 3:20 MEV
The only reason to be afraid of God. This too is a principle but one that requires much discernment.
He who believes in Him is not condemned. But he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. John 3:18 MEV
No condemnation ether for the original sin or for the present sins which we confess to Him.
John answered, “A man can receive nothing unless it has been given to him from heaven. He must increase, but I must decrease.” John 3:27, 30 MEV
I feel I could write volumes on what John the Baptist said but I say this now, to receive from God, first we need to ask. That which is received from God taken precedence, for He must increase and for that to happen, I must decrease
He who believes in the Son has eternal life. He who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him. John 3:36 MEV
Jesus came to save us from the wrath of God. This is the reason that I believe many of the tenets of the pre-wrath rapture.