SPIRITUAL LIVING #1 INTRODUCTION A. In our text the word Spirit should be spirit. B. A contrast between the flesh and the spirit began in Romans 7. C. Galatians 6:1; Ephesians 1:3; Colossians 1:9; 1 Peter 2:5. D. In a Greek sentence when you do not have a noun in the nominative case (subject), the subject is included in the verb. DISCUSSION I. JOHN 6:35. Εγω ειμι ο αρτος της ζωης. I am the bread of life. A. Jesus is emphasizing who He is. B. Here Jesus is pointing a finger towards Himself and saying, If you want spiritual nourishment in your life, then look to Me and Me only, for I am the bread of life. C. Notice the discussion between Jesus and the multitude in verses 25-40. 1. Their motive: Material Earthly King Food for the body. 2. Jesus had something far more important than the physical blessings. Verses 26-27. a. Labor not (only) for meat which perisheth. Jesus does not prohibit work. 1 Thessalonians 4:11; 2 Thessalonians 3:10. One s primary concern should be to satisfy the spiritual appetite. Matthew 6:25-33. b. But for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life. This shows superiority over material matters which last only a while everlasting life. 3. Question in verse 28. 4. Answer in verse 29. 5. They wanted proof in verses 30-31. Look at what Moses did! Could Jesus excel Moses? Feed them like that all the time? Materialism. They would not be satisfied. See Numbers 11:6. 6. Jesus shows His superiority to Moses in verses 32-33. His bread which could give, not merely sustain life. 7 They are still in verse 34 thinking physical bread. This reveals their interest in life. Pleasure, etc. cannot satisfy. They did not know that nothing but the bread from heaven could satisfy the soul. 8. I am the bread of life verses 35-40. a. This is a divine claim. b. Would bless: never hunger, never thirst, cast not out. c. Came to do God s will verse 38 save the lost! Even though they die, He would save them, raise them up. d. Christ is to the spiritually hungry what bread is to the famishing. e. Matthew 4:4; Luke 12:15; Matthew 5:6; Psalm 34:8; Isaiah 55:2. D. The Jews were dissatisfied. Verses 41-51. 1. JOHN 6:41. Εγω ειμι ο αρτος ο καταβας εκ του ουρανου. I am the bread which came down from heaven. 2. Jews complained in verses 41-42. 3. They thought He was the Son of Joseph they had incomplete knowledge. 4. They were fickle the day before they wanted to crown Him verse 15. E. Jesus reiterated His claim and further explained it in verses 43-51.
1. To receive blessings of true bread, one must be drawn by the Father. This does not eliminate human will. John 5:40; Matthew 23:37. Drawn by the gospel (an inducing power, not an irresistible power). By teaching: verse 45; Romans 1:16; 10:10-17. 2. To receive blessings, one must come this is man s part, verse 35, 40, 45. Must believe trust completely accept him as Deity. The blessing is eternal life. To provide these blessings Jesus had to die verse 51; 1 John 2:2; Hebrews 2:9. F. Now there is dissension among the Jews in verses 52-59. 1. Listen and image the scene. 2. How can? (Verse 52) was their question. John 3:4; 4:11, 12; 6:42. Unbelief never understands the mysteries of salvation. 3. Now listen to Jesus again in verses 53-58. These are figures of speech. How can one partake of the humanity and death of the Christ? Through appropriating His death and blood. Romans 6:3-4. G. Now see the defection of the disciples in verses 60-66. 1. Why? Verse 60. It was not hard to understand, but it was hard to accept. Why? Christ claimed to be superior to Moses. Jesus revealed that anyone may be taught. Jesus claimed it was necessary for Him to die. The spiritual was far more important than the physical. 2. Jesus did not say, If that is too hard, I will make it easier for you. Does this offend you? Jesus explains that He was speaking figuratively refers to His ascension. His words were spiritual and gave life. Luke 8:11; James 1:18; 1 Peter 1:23. H. What are the results of Jesus teaching? Verse 66!!! 1. Those that follow religion for physical benefit go back when difficult things are demanded of them. 2. The worldly minded are offended by the Gospel. 1 Corinthians 1:18-23. Cf. Ephesians 5:11. 3. Many will go back rather than really partake of Christ. They want the blessings of Christianity without any cost! When they find something hard about it, they quit! I. What the twelve in verses 67-71. 1. Jesus proposition to them in verse 67. Jesus puts them to the test! 2. Listen to Peter in verses 68-69. What answer is there to the question, To whom shall be go? 3. Peter s confession is in verse 69. Cf. Matthew 16:16; Romans 10:9; Matthew 10:32. J. There is an exception to that devotion a man by the name of Judas Verses 70-71.
II. SPIRITUAL LIVING #2 JOHN 8:12. Εγω ειμι το φως του κοσμου. I am the light of the world A. Christ is presented in many ways. No single metaphor fully describes Him. The I AM s emphasize the person of Christ and tell what He is like. What is light? 1. To the scientist, photographer, astronomer? To one lost in a cave? 2. What is it worth to us? a. A blessing about which we seldom think until something happens. b. Without light, what would life be? c. Hell is described as a place of outer darkness. MT 8:12; 22:13; 25:30. 3. In our text, Jesus is in the temple, early in the morning, perhaps pointed to a rising sun. B. God often used light to signify His presence with men. 1. Moses and the burning bush. EX 3:2. 2. The pillar of fire signified God s presence. EX 40:34-38. 3. The real presence of God was in Jesus. MT 1:23; JN 14:9. The light of the world! C. Jesus was often spoken of as a light. 1. Prophecy. IS 9:2; LK 1:78, 19; 2:32. 2. Near the beginning of His work on earth. MT 4:6; JN 1:6, 7; 1:4, 5. 3. One is condemned if he rejects the light. JN 3:19-20. 4 The climax is reached in JN 8:12. D. Figures of speech represent Christ as light. 1. Bright and morning star. RE 22:16. 2. Sun of righteousness. ML 4:2. E. In what way is Jesus the light of the world? 1. Intellectual light Christian nations vs. non-christian nations art, music, law, culture, literature, education, etc. 2. Moral light of the world His morals. 3. He is the spiritual light of the world. Authority Mt 28:18. His word is final. RE 22:18-19. 2 TI 1:10 tells us all we know of life, immortality, etc. F. THE light of the world. There is no other. All the world. G. Following Jesus the light of the world keeps one from walking in darkness. 1. The setting for this lesson. As the fathers followed the cloud of fire in the wilderness; they had just commemorated that event at the feast. Jesus, the true light must also be followed. Those who failed to follow perished in EX 13:21, and so it is now, MT 16:24. 2. We follow Christ by going where He leads. 1 PE 2:21. That requires complete trust. JN 3:16, 36. Strict obedience HE 5:8, 9; MT 7:21; LK 6:46; RO 6:16-18. And continuing in the Way 1 PE 2:9; EP 5:8. 3. What does it do to the one who walks in the light? 1 JN 1:7 fellowship with Christ and with one another and cleansing by blood. 1 JN 2:9-10 causes to love the brethren. 1 TH 5:1-11 makes sober and alert. JN 12:35 know where to go PS 119:105. JN 3:19-21 clean conscience. H. Shall have the light of the life. 1. Shall have includes one becoming a light reflector. 1 PE 2:9. Like the rivers of water of JN 7:38. One who receives blessings, in turn becomes a blessing to others. RO 1:17. God works through man 2 CO 4:7; the individual becomes a light to others. Ye are the light of the world. MT 5:16; PH 2:15.
2. The light of the life. Light is necessary to life in every realm. ML 4:2 healing. I. The reaction of the Pharisees was immediate in verses 13-20. 1. They denied His testimony v. 13. 2. But Jesus proved His claim. Heavenly origin v. 14. His intimate union with the Father v. 15. By the perfect agreement of two witnesses His and the Father s vs. 17-18. J. Where is the Father? They rejected God. Only was to the Father is through the Son. JN 14:6, 9; MT 11:27. They asked this is derision. Jesus did not retaliate. We should meet the sneers of sinners the same way. 2 TI 2:25. K. What is YOUR reaction? Two choices: believe or turn against. Do not be confused IS 5:20. Follow the light PS 119:105, 130.
III. SPIRITUAL LIVING #3 July 14, 2013 JOHN 8:58. πριν Αβρααμ γενεσθαι εγω ειμι. Before Abraham was, I am. A. In John 8:46-59, Jesus reaches a climax of one of His greatest discourses. 1. John 8:12-20 Jesus declares Himself to be THE light of the world. 2. John 8:21-31 Jesus emphasized the necessity of their believing in Him. 3. John 8:32-45 Jesus taught them concerning the power of the truth and their need of being made free. 4. All of that was important, only because of His Deity. 5. In fact the entire Bible, the salvation of our souls, and the purpose of our living, is dependent upon the Divinity of Jesus. B. There are five claims made by Jesus, all of which show Him to be divine. 1. Jesus was without sin John 8:46-50. a. They tried to convict Him of sin. Accused Him of breaking God s law of the Sabbath John 5:16, but He proved His innocence. Accused Him of blasphemy in claiming equality with God John 5:18, but He likewise proved His claim. Finally, in their desperation they sought false witnesses Matthew 26:59-66. They condemned Him in the Jewish court on the ground of blasphemy- Mark 14:55, 556; John 19:7. But He was innocent. They condemned Him in the Roman court on the ground of insurrection Luke 23:1-5; John 19:2. He was innocent Luke 23:4. He was proved innocent of every charge. He still cannot be convicted of any sin. b. He was tempted to sin the Devil went all out to tempt Him. Tempted in all points Hebrews 4:15. The account of His temptation Matthew 4:1-11 is more comprehensive than is generally thought. Perhaps each of the three enticements appealed to every avenue of temptation. And He as tempted again and again Luke 4:13; 22:28. He bore this temptation without miraculous help. Or else, He would not be tempted as we are Hebrews 4:15. He had emptied Himself Philippians 2:7. John 17:4-5. c. His sinlessness proves His Deity. If He had sinned, they would have known it. Being without sin He would not make a false claim. If He were an imaginary character, account for Man s conception of His being perfect! Therefore, He must be the Son of God! d. The Jews, unable to answer Him, accused him of being demon possessed. What a demonstration of human nature! 2. Jesus could keep man from death John 8:51-53. a. He was not speaking of physical death. The Jews reasoned vs. 52, 53 that good men died physically. And they did, except Enoch and Elijah. Genesis 5:24; 2 Kings 2:11. Their biographies end: And they died. Genesis 5:5, 8, 11, 14, etc. Hebrews 9:27. b. Death was the penalty for sin Genesis 3:3. Christ relieves it. By sin one becomes guilty; by Christ he is forgiven. Colossian 1:14. Through sin one loses fellowship with God Isaiah 59:1-2; through Christ he regains it Ephesians 2:18; John 10:9; 14:6. By sin one dies; by Christ he is made alive 1 Corinthians 15:21-22. Therefore, Christ could remove the eternal penalty of sin.
c. The promise verse 51. Was universal if a man Matthew 11:28-30; Revelation 22:17. Was conditional if.keep my saying. Means to hide it in his heart Psalm 119:11. And to retain it in his memory 1 Corinthians 15:3; Psalm 1:2. And to be governed by it 1John 1:7; Psalm 119:105. Was spiritual shall never see death. One who keeps His sayings will never be separated from God. 3. My Father honors me I know Him. John 8:54-55. a. God honored Him often. By enabling Him to work miracles during the days of His flesh John 3:2; 9:33. God approved Him Acts 2:22, 23; John 11:4; God honored Him orally Matthew 3:17; 17:5. God honored Him by His resurrection Romans 1:4. God honored Him with eternal glory John 17:5. Such honor could only be given to a divine One. b. He knew the Father. Had been with God from the beginning John 1:1, 14, 18; 7:29. Knew the mind of God Matthew 11:27; John 10:15. Was one with Him. 4. Jesus was the fulfillment of Abraham s prophetic vision John 8:56-57. a. The promise to Abraham Genesis 12:3. To be fulfilled in Christ Galatians 3:16. Abraham believed and thus saw the fulfillment in the distant future explained in Hebrews 11:13. b. Christ was the fulfillment of that promise thus divine. The Jews misunderstood that promise and were confused. Many misunderstand it now and are also confused. 5. The Grand Climax I AM. John 8:58. a. A title used of God in Exodus 3:14. b. Jesus claims unity with God in essence. Eternal Psalm 90:2; Colossians 1:17; Micah 5:2. No past, no future only present tense insofar as Divinity is concerned. c. This is in harmony with John 1:14, 18. d. Think of His being before Abraham and the impact it must have had on those Jews. CONCLUSION A. Jesus had now made His grandest claim of all. The Jews religious leaders rejected it. B. Jesus hid Himself John 8:59 from these religious leaders and this principle still prevails. C. For us to be living a spiritual life, we must accept and live daily before the Christ.
SPIRITUAL LIVING (4) IV. JOHN 9:5. φως ειμι του κοσμου. I am the light of the world. V. JOHN 10:7. εγω ειμι η θυρα των προβατων. I am the door of the sheep. JOHN 10:9. εγω ειμι η θυρα. I am the door. JOHN 10:11. Εγω ειμι ο ποιμην ο καλος. I am the good shepherd JOHN 10:14. εγω ειμι ο ποιμην ο καλος. I am the good shepherd VI. JOHN 11:25. Εγω ειμι η αναστασις και η ζωη. I am the resurrection, and the life. VII. JOHN 14:6. Εγω ειμι η οδος και η αληθεια και η ζωη. I am the way, the truth, and the life VIII. JOHN 15:1. Εγω ειμι η αμπελος η αληθινη. I am the true vine JOHN 15:5. εγω ειμι η αμπελος. I am the vine CONCLUSION A. Other passages with in the Gospel of John. JN 4:26; 6:20, 48, 51; 8:18, 24, 28; 9:9; 13:19; 18:5, 6, 8. B. The point of all of these passages in John is that anything we want in our spiritual lives we can find by looking to our Savior, Jesus Christ.