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The Gospel Writer


[PRINT HERE] John 3 (3-8-17) Lecture Notes

St. Joseph Missionary Baptist Church

Wed Night Bible Study

JOHN 3:31-36

Dr. E.C. Gregory, PhD – Bible Facilitator                             3-8-17                                   Dr. H.T. Rhim, Pastor

THE TESTIMONY OF JOHN THE EVANGELIST

(The Gospel Writer)

John 3:31-36 (NLT) 
31  “He has come from above and is greater than anyone else. We are of the earth, and we speak of earthly things, but he has come from heaven and is greater than anyone else.
32  He testifies about what he has seen and heard, but how few believe what he tells them!
33  Anyone who accepts his testimony can affirm that God is true.
34  For he is sent by God. He speaks God’s words, for God gives him the Spirit without limit.
35  The Father loves his Son and has put everything into his hands.
36  And anyone who believes in God’s Son has eternal life. Anyone who doesn’t obey the Son will never experience eternal life but remains under God’s angry judgment’

3:31. Here John the Evangelist developed the theme about the supremacy of Jesus, which John the Baptist spoke of to his followers (vv. 28-30). Since Jesus has come from heaven, His words surpass those of any religious teacher. Each human teacher is limited by his earthly boundaries (he belongs to the earth and is from the earth). But the Logos (Jesus) from heaven is above all; He is preeminent (Col. 1:18).

3:32. What Jesus spoke came from His previous vision of and communion with the Father in heaven (cf. 1:114). Yet in spite of this clear reliable witness, mankind as a whole has rejected His message (cf. 1:11).

3:33. The message of Jesus has not been universally rejected as verse 32 by itself might indicate. One who receives it gives his attestation or certification to the fact that God is truthful (cf. v. 21). To reject this testimony is to call God a liar (1 John 5:10).

3:34. Jesus gives the perfect truth of God as He speaks the words of God, because He has the full endowment of the Holy Spirit, the Spirit without limit. The Old Testament prophets had the Spirit only for limited times and for limited purposes.

The Apostle John referred to Jesus as the One whom God has sent. Thirty-nine times the Gospel of John refers to Jesus being sent from God (vv. 17344:345:23-243036-386:2938-3944577:1628-298:16182629429:410:3611:4212:44-454913:162014:2415:2116:517:31821232520:21). This affirms Jesus’ deity and heavenly origin, as well as God’s sovereignty and love in initiating the Son’s Incarnation (cf. Gal. 4:41 John 4:9-1014).

3:35. The relationship between the Son and the Father is one of loving intimacy and complete confidence. The Son is endowed with all authority to accomplish the Father’s purposes (5:22Matt. 28:18).

3:36. Man has only two options: trust in the Son or reject the Son (cf. vv. 1618). Unbelief is tragic ignorance but it is also willful disobedience to clear light. God’s wrath is mentioned only here in the Fourth Gospel (but cf. Rev. 6:16-1711:1814:1016:1919:15). “Wrath,” God’s necessary righteous reaction against evil, remains on the unbeliever. This wrath is future but it also exists now. Endless sin and disobedience will result in endless punishment (Matt. 25:46).

The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures by Dallas Seminary Faculty.

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