I am a retired pastor of
the Church of God (Tennessee). My name is Isaac Livingston. I am from Neyyoor India. |
Email: Pastor True Gospel
The prince of this world is cast out. Believe in the light, that ye may be the children of light. Jesus Christ is the light into the world, and if we believe on him, we should not abide in darkness. Jesus Christ hath blinded their eyes, and hardened their heart; that they should not see with their eyes, nor understand with their hearts, and be converted. God will not save them.
The context of this chapter and verse is that
Jesus was coming close to the end of his life. He knew it, but his disciples
did not. His death will be very painful, he will be whipped, beaten, mocked, and
at the end be nailed to a cross. He was just a man, and so he was shivering
in his fear, and it was very difficult for him to handle. This is his
situation.
"John 12:27 Now is
my soul troubled; and what shall I say? Father, save me from this hour: but
for this cause came I unto this hour." He was God, he
stripped himself to nothing, became flesh, became a mere man, and the
purpose was to die as a sacrifice. Yet, he feared death, his soul was troubled, and he cried out to
God. "28 Jesus says, Father,
glorify thy name. Matthew 26 says, Jesus
"fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let
this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt."
Mark 14 and Luke 22 have recorded the same
prayer. John recorded the portion that Jesus prayed
to God the Father to glorify his name through his death. That is, Jesus was accepting
to go through the sufferings of the cross. At that point,
God the Father answered his prayer, in a manner that his followers also could hear the
voice of God. "28 Father,
glorify thy name. Then came there a voice from heaven, saying, I have both
glorified it, and will glorify it again. 29
The people therefore, that stood by, and heard it,
said that it thundered: others said, An angel spake to him.
30 Jesus
answered and said, This voice came not because of me, but for your sakes.
His disciples and the people around them heard the voice of God and God wanted them to know that Jesus
was sent by God the Father.
"31 Now is the judgment of this world: now shall the prince of this world be cast out." Usually preachers take this passage to refer the final judgment by Jesus Christ. No, this is not the final judgment. It is something else. Lucifer was the archangel of God. When he has committed sin at the garden of Eden, he was rejected from being an angel, and was turned as the devil, who is Satan. Adam and Eve were thrown out of the garden of Eden, but Satan was not thrown out of the heavenly places. When Satan bruised the heels of Jesus at the cross, Jesus bruised his head by casting Satan out of heaven. Satan fell on the earth. The angels of Satan were also thrown out. Satan is very angry and taking it upon the earth. It is referred here as the judgment to this world. "Revelation 12 says, 8 Satan prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven. 9 And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him. 12 ...Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea! for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time." Satan, the devil, the prince of this world, lost his place in heaven and access to heaven, and is thrown down on earth. He will persecute people in his anger.
"32 And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me. 33 This he said, signifying what death he should die." He be lifted up from the earth refers to his death on the cross. Draw all men unto him does not mean that he will save all people; but as Christ in the omnipotent Spirit, he draws all people to let his 'Will' be known in their conscience. "34 The people answered him, We have heard out of the law that Christ abideth for ever: and how sayest thou, The Son of man must be lifted up? who is this Son of man?" Their question was this: The bible says that Christ must live forever. They know that he was Christ, and so he must not die. This is their concept. Then why he says that he will die? They had the same problem that most Christians have today. Jesus was in flesh, so he was a man. But Christ is in the omnipotent Spirit, so he is God. For our understanding, look at him as Jesus, and as Christ; one before his death and one after his resurrection. Jesus was a man and he died. Christ is in the omnipotent Spirit, and he is God. Christ will abide for ever and ever as God.
"35 Then Jesus said unto them, Yet a little while is the light with you. Walk while ye have the light, lest darkness come upon you: for he that walketh in darkness knoweth not whither he goeth. 36 While ye have light, believe in the light, that ye may be the children of light. These things spake Jesus, and departed, and did hide himself from them." Here, the light refers to the holy spirit. Jesus Christ is the custodian of the holy spirit. Until we receive the spirit from him for ourselves, Jesus Christ is the light for us. We must ask and receive the holy spirit from him. He will give us the holy spirit to lead us in godly lives and to make us holy. The holy spirit is given to people by measure and so we can become more and more stronger in the spirit.
"37 But though he had done so many miracles before them, yet they believed not on him:" It happened then, and even now it happens. Miracles are manifested in front of our eyes, and it is tangible for the body. But preaching, about God and heaven; is spiritual, and it is tangible only to the spirit. So, if God does not reveal it, or if we do not have the holy spirit, we cannot believe what the person says. So, religious people are not believers. They can see miracles; but cannot believe the preaching. Isaiah says the same thing in verses 38&39. "38 That the saying of Esaias the prophet might be fulfilled, which he spake, Lord, who hath believed our report? and to whom hath the arm of the Lord been revealed? 39 Therefore they could not believe, because that Esaias said again," In the next verses Isaiah says: "40 He hath blinded their eyes, and hardened their heart; that they should not see with their eyes, nor understand with their heart, and be converted, and I should heal them. 41 These things said Esaias, when he saw his glory, and spake of him." God has made it standard that if we do not have the holy spirit, we will not understand spiritual message. The consequence is that if we do not have the spirit, we cannot go to heaven.
"42 Nevertheless
among the chief rulers also many believed on him; but because of the
Pharisees they did not confess him, lest they should be put out of the
synagogue:" It looks like, the politics of
today. We throw them out of restaurants, stores, and from common places; but they put them out of
synagogues; worship places. So, people kept their mouths shut; and had no
confrontation with
Pharisees. "43 For they loved the
praise of men more than the praise of God." So,
they shut their mouth, the
Pharisees accepted them, but God has rejected them. "44 Jesus cried and said, He that believeth on me, believeth not on
me, but on him that sent me. 45 And he that seeth me seeth him that sent
me. 46 I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on me
should not abide in darkness." If we have
the holy spirit, which is light, we will believe God and his
message, which are of the light, and we will not be in darkness. The true message of God is like the presence of God. If we receive the
message, we will receive the messenger, and we will receive God in us.
So, we will have the Light, and will never be in darkness.
"47 And if any man hear my words, and believe not, I judge him not: for I came not to judge the world, but to save the world. God became flesh as Jesus, not to judge, but to die for the world. He became Christ after his resurrection, came to the world to turn his people away from sins and iniquities, but not to judge them. He came twice not to judge. But he will come again, and he will be the judge at that time. 48 He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day. So, someone will judge them. Who is this someone? "John 5:22 says ... the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son:" 1 John 5:7 says, he is the Word. It is Jesus Christ, who is God and the Judge. 49 For 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. 50 And I know that his commandment is life everlasting: whatsoever I speak therefore, even as the Father said unto me, so I speak." The Father gave the commandments to Jesus and Jesus preached them to the people. They became the commandments of Jesus Christ, which will give eternal life. So, the commandments became the gospel of Jesus Christ, and if we obey them, we will inherit eternal life. Let us obey his commandments and inherit his kingdom. To obey them is not grievous, so it is not that difficult.
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
HOME |
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.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.
Email: Pastor True Gospel