John 3:22 to 4:2, Jesus gave Water Baptism; Spirit is given by Measure.
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I am a retired pastor of
the Church of God (Tennessee). My name is Isaac Livingston. I am from Neyyoor India. |
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Email: Pastor True Gospel
"John 3:34 For he whom God hath sent speaketh the words of God: for God giveth not the Spirit by measure unto him. 35 The Father loveth the Son, and hath given all things into his hand. 36 He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him."
Jesus gave Water Baptism
"John 3:22 After these things came Jesus and his disciples into the land of Judaea; and there he tarried with them, and baptized. 23 And John also was baptizing in Aenon near to Salim, because there was much water there: and they came, and were baptized." Jesus took water baptism form John the Baptist. Then, Jesus was baptizing people and his disciples were with him. This verse points out that he was baptizing from Aenon because there was much water there. Why need much water? Then only people can be immersed. So, it is proof that baptism is by immersion; and Jesus was baptizing people. "24 For John was not yet cast into prison. 25 Then there arose a question between some of John's disciples and the Jews about purifying." So, John was still ministering, and his disciples had some traditional discussion with Jews. "26 .. they came unto John, and said unto him, Rabbi, he that was with thee beyond Jordan, to whom thou barest witness, behold, the same baptizeth, and all men come to him. 27 John answered and said, A man can receive nothing, except it be given him from heaven." The disciples of John told him that Jesus was baptizing people, and John confirmed to them that it was from God. Jesus Christ has done everything according to God the Father. Chapter 4 says, "1 When therefore the Lord knew how the Pharisees had heard that Jesus made and baptized more disciples than John, 2 (Though Jesus himself baptized not, but his disciples,)" Couple of things here. 1, Jesus baptized his disciples. 2, Jesus came to know that Pharisees heard that Jesus has baptized more people than John the Baptist. So after that, Jesus did not baptize people by himself, but by his disciples. However, some preachers, who oppose water baptism, make an issue about this for nothing, saying that Jesus Christ did not baptize anybody. They are just nuisance and nothing more.
John accomplished and Jesus begins his mission
"Chapter 3:28 Ye yourselves bear me witness, that I said, I am not the Christ, but that I am sent before him." God sent John the Baptist to prepare the way and to introduce Jesus to his people. John the Baptist says in John 1:23, "I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness, Make straight the way of the Lord, as said the prophet Esaias." John was telling the Jews that he himself is not Christ. Even though he did not tell them openly, he gave them hints that Jesus is the Christ. Verse 29 says, "He that hath the bride is the bridegroom: but the friend of the bridegroom, which standeth and heareth him, rejoiceth greatly because of the bridegroom's voice: this my joy therefore is fulfilled." The bride, the bridegroom, and the friend, are all figure of speech. Jesus is the bridegroom, the pure believers are the bride, and the friend is John the Baptist, who rejoiced in the ministry of Jesus. They all will inherit the kingdom of God, in the highest honor with the heavenly glory of God. Verse 30 says, "He must increase, but I must decrease." When John the Baptist has completed his work, it was time for Jesus to take over. John says that Jesus must increase, and he must disappear. When his work was finished, John was taken.
God was Speaking and Working through Man Jesus
Verse 31 says, "He that cometh from above is above all: he that is of the earth is earthly, and speaketh of the earth: he that cometh from heaven is above all." Scripture says clearly that God the Word became flesh Man Jesus. He was in heaven, and he is the only one who has changed his abode from heaven to earth. He is the only one who knew exactly what is in heaven, and so he is above all others. The Pharisees, scribes, and priests were from the earth and they knew nothing from heaven. And so, Jesus is above all of them. "Verse 32 what he hath seen and heard, that he testifieth; and no man receiveth his testimony." Jesus is telling the true record of heaven, and no one accepted it. We have seen it in John 1:11 also. It says, "He came unto his own, and his own received him not." Jews, the religious people, did not receive him. "33 He that hath received his testimony hath set to his seal that God is true." John the Baptist received Jesus, introduced him, and endorsed him. Verse 34 says, "For he whom God hath sent speaketh the words of God:" Jesus speak only what God told him to speak. They are 100% the words of God the Father. Jesus says in John 12:49, "I have not spoken of myself; but the Father which sent me, he gave me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak. In John 14:10 he says, .. the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me,.." It is God the Father, who was speaking through Jesus.
Spirit is given by measure. How much we receive?
The rest of the Verse 34, "for God giveth not the Spirit by measure unto him." It is not by measure, that is, the Father gave him immeasurable quantity of the Spirit. Did you catch what the verse says? It is beyond measure. It is, how much of the Spirit we receive. Jesus has received the Spirit in full. If we receive the spirit, we must receive as much spirit as we need, to overcome sins, the world, and Satan. But, most Christians want just a spoon full of spirit, just to say few words. That is all they need. Verse 35 says, "The Father loveth the Son, and hath given all things into his hand." All things, why? The Son gave himself 100% to God the Father, and so God the Father abides in him. Many scripture verses explain that. Scripture says that we can also abide in God. That is the main teaching of Jesus Christ. We will study them in detail as we come to the verses in this book, the gospel of John. Verse 36 says, "He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him." We have already studied 'what is to believe on the Son' in verse 18 in detail in the last session. Please, you may refer that if needed, or you can write to me if you have doubts. We must believe on the Son, who is the resurrected Lord Jesus Christ in the Spirit, who is God. If we believe in him, we will do what he tells us to do. Then we will have eternal life. If not, the wrath of God will be upon us. I hope that we all believe in the resurrected Lord Jesus Christ, who is the begotten Son of God, and who is God. Then, we all will see him on that day.
Note: If any point needs explanation, OR, if you find
an error according to scripture,
Please write to me in the 'Mail Box' below. I will
reply promptly. Thanks.
God Bless You
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What is the true gospel and what are false gospels?
Matthew 28:20, & Mark 16:15. Jesus Christ preached his commandments to obey, as his
Gospel; it is the true Gospel to inherit Eternal life. Genesis 3:1-4 & 2 Corinth 11:2-4. But Preachers, who are Serpents of Satan, preach the life of man Jesus just to believe, but not to live as a chaste virgin, as the gospel; it is another gospel, which cannot and will not give Eternal life.What will the true Gospel do?
The true gospel will convert evil people to do good and thereby they will inherit the kingdom in heaven.
John 3:19-21 say that people are two kinds, evil and true. Evil doers will not come to the Light, who is God; but people of truth come to God for their deeds to be made manifest. We have good and evil people by our standard of our society or culture. These evil people may be converted to be doers of truth by the power of God, and they may inherit the kingdom of God in heaven.
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Email: Pastor True Gospel
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