The addition of "unto him" detracts, to my mind, from the exceeding preciousness of what seems to be, at least, left open. Meanwhile there was a manifestation of goodness, active in love in the midst of evil, and toward such; active in the making known God and man, and every moral relation, and what He is toward man, through and in the Word made flesh. This implies that he is now under the wrath of God, or under condemnation. One must be born again. The man could not tell the Jews the name of his benefactor. 42). Do any believe on His name? 27-30); and (4) the superiority of the Savior (vss. His was an errand incomparably deeper, more worthy of God, and suitable to One "full of grace and truth." But there was this difference from the former occasion, that, at the marriage in Cana (John 2:1-25), the change of the water into wine was clearly millennial in its typical aspect. 31-36). John is not saying that Christ in himself is not already as great intrinsically as he could possibly be. Truth and grace were not sought nor found in man, but began to subsist here below by Jesus Christ. For them, Israel, or the world, all is over. Nathanael's call is just as clearly typical of Israel in the latter day. Obedience, however, includes faith. Hence the Lord, while fully owning the labours of all preceding labourers, has before His eyes the whole boundless expanse of grace, the mighty harvest which His apostles were to reap in due time. His own love and person were warrant enough for the simple to lift the veil for a season, and fill the hearts which had received Himself into the conscious enjoyment of divine grace, and of Him who revealed it to them. And they which were sent were of the Pharisees. The character is wholly different from the position and glory of Messiah in Israel, according to promise and prophecy. For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. And such was Jesus. As a present fact, the Lord justifies the judicial act before their eyes by His relationship with God as His Father, and gives the Jews a sign in the temple of His body, as the witness of His resurrection power. The wrath of God - The anger of God for sin. "He must, increase, but I decrease." On this basisJohn 7:1-53; John 7:1-53 proceeds. But Jesus finds him in the temple, and said, "Behold, thou art made whole: sin no more, lest a worse thing come unto thee." "No man hath seen God at any time: the only-begotten Son," etc. The original Greek word, apeithn, means "rejecting belief," "refusing obedience," or "refusing to be convinced." This is the same idea explained in Scriptures such as John 3:18-19, Romans 1:20, and Romans 3:11. But the Lord reproaches him, the master of Israel, with not knowing these things: that is, as a teacher, with Israel for his scholar, he ought to have known them objectively, at least, if not consciously. There was sentence of death pronounced on their system, and they felt accordingly. (Comp. We have now the Word made flesh, called Jesus Christ this person, this complex person, that was manifest in the world; and it is He that brought it all in. Thus, in His person, as well as in His work, they joined issue. Hence it is that here the Son, according to the grace of God the Father, gives the Holy Ghost eternal life in the power of the Spirit. So, when someone testifies to . How truly it is man under law! No such sounds, no such realities were ever heard or known in Israel. The brethren of the Lord Jesus, who could see the astonishing power that was in Him, but whose hearts were carnal, at once discerned that it might be an uncommon good thing for them, as well as for Him, in this world. The word, which occurs only here in the Gospels, is not the same as that at the beginning of the verse, and shows that the faith there intended is the subjection of the will . He that believeth not the Son.Better, he that obeyeth not the Son. "He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water." As there is an absolute necessity on God's part that man should be thus born anew, so He lets him know there is an active grace of the Spirit, as the wind blows where it will, unknown and uncontrolled by man, for every one that is born of the Spirit, who is sovereign in operation. This wrath (comp. Disbelief is regarded in its active manifestation, disobedience. But see the blessed fruit of receiving it. The truth is, the design of manifesting His glory governs all; place or people was a matter of no consequence. It is not merely or most of all a great prophet or witness: He is the Son; and the Father has given all things to be in His hand. Nothing less than everlasting life in Christ can deliver: otherwise there remains judgment. 47 Add to cart SaltDogg Part # 3001523 - Hex Flange Nut 1/2-13 SST 0 SaltDogg Part # 3001523 - Hex Flange Nut 1/2-13 SST $ 1. But the chapter does not close without a further contrast. If he receives Him, it is everlasting life, and Christ is thus honoured by him; if not, judgment remains which will compel the honour of Christ, but to his own ruin for ever. As the believer hath life, so the unbeliever hath wrath abiding on him. It is not John's business here to call attention to His Messiahship, not even when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask, Who art thou? He that believeth not Or, obeyeth not - : from , negative, and , to persuade, or , to obey-the want of the obedience of faith. Accordingly there is a four-fold testimony to Jesus: the testimony of John the Baptist; the Lord's own works; the voice of the Father from heaven; and finally, the written word which the Jews had in their own hands. A. John 3:16 King James Version. The first four chapters of John precede in point of time the notices of His ministry in the other gospels. This is all perfectly true, of course; and we have it elsewhere. It is not simply the new birth such as a saint might, and always must, have had, in order to vital relations with God at any time. This only secures His honour in those that believe God's testimony to Him, the Son of God; and to these He gives life, everlasting life now, and exemption from judgment, in this acting in communion with the Father. Shall never enter heaven. The chapters we have had before us (John 1:1-51; John 2:1-25; John 3:1-36) are thus evidently an introduction: God revealed not in the Word alone, but in the Word made flesh, in the Son who declared the Father; His work, as God's Lamb, for the world, and His power by the Holy Ghost in man; then viewed as the centre of gathering, as the path to follow, and as the object even for the attendance of God's angels, the heaven being opened, and Jesus not the Son of God and King of Israel only, but the Son of man object of God's counsels. The incarnate Word was here full of grace and truth. This verse is the only place where God's wrath is mentioned in the gospel of John. Here, "If any man thirst, let him come unto me and drink." They wonder, as they had murmured before (John 7:12-15); but Jesus shows that the desire to do God's will is the condition of spiritual understanding. He who believes in the Son has eternal life; buthe who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.". Now it is that the great question is decided; now it is that a man receives or refuses Christ. "Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God." (Verse John 7:39), Nothing can be simpler than this. John was not yet cast into prison. Whoever lives a life of faith in the Son will experience the fullness . The word, which occurs only here in the Gospels, is not the same as that at the beginning of the verse, and shows that the faith there intended is the subjection of the . Abideth on him - This implies that he is "now" under the wrath of God, or under condemnation. (Verses John 1:44-51). His opposition to sin, and its terrible effects in this world and the next. Hell will "abide" on the person who does not believe in the Son. (Verse John 3:16), Let it not be passed by, that while the new birth or regeneration is declared to be essential to a part in the kingdom of God, the Lord in urging this intimates that He had not gone beyond the earthly things of that kingdom. How blessed the contrast with the people's state depicted in this chapter, tossed about by every wind of doctrine, looking to "letters," rulers, and Pharisees, perplexed about the Christ, but without righteous judgment, assurance, or enjoyment! The allusion to the fig-tree confirms this. Bridgeway Bible Commentary. He also knew that Jesus would increase in honour and influence, for of his government and peace there would be no end, while he himself would be less followed. It must be so. The Light, on coming into the world, lightens every man with the fulness of evidence which was in Him, and at once discovers the true state as truly as it will be revealed in the last day when He judges all, as we find it intimated in the gospel afterwards. But He, being God, was manifesting and, on the contrary, maintaining the divine glory here below. (Ver. It is here life begunthe first breathings and pantings of the soul for immortality; yet it is life, though at first feeble and faint, which is eternal in its nature, and which shall be matured in the full and perfect bliss of heaven. "Come, see a man that told me all things that ever I did: is not this the Christ?" This phrase does not mean works performed byGod; rather, the intent is "works required and approved by God" (Thayer, p. 248). Hence, after having first unmistakably laid down the necessity of the cross, He next shows the grace that was manifested in the gift of Jesus. John 3:17-21 (A) Condemn the World. I pray that I might live for Him. His exaltation there is not without notice in the gospel, but exceptionally. Nay, "the world knew him not." (Verses John 5:1-7), On the other hand, the Lord speaks but the word: "Rise, take up thy couch and walk." It is the revelation of God yea, of the Father and the Son, and not merely the detecter of man. He that believeth on the Son Who is a proper object of faith and trust; which, if he was not truly and properly God, he would not be: and this is to be understood not of any sort of faith, a temporary, or an historical one; but of that which is the faith of God's elect, the gift of God, and the operation of his Spirit; by which a man sees the Son, goes unto him, ventures and relies . By the grace of God, John had come to know and appreciate the true identity of Jesus Christ. John was to bear witness that Jesus Christ came from heaven as the Lamb of God Who takes away the sin of the world. So it's only really news when a great musician or band puts out a turgid stinker. The issue of all is, that the will of man is the real cause and spring of enmity. He has life; the man who disobeys has not, and while he disobeys shall not see life, for he cannot be a subject of a kingdom to whose laws he refuses allegiance. In our text, John hits it once more (and it won't be the last time! John practiced law for 40 years and he now monitors local politics. (Ver. It was not intended for other beings it was God's free gift to man, to the believer, of course. The distinctiveness of such a testimony to the Saviour's glory need hardly be pointed out. Such was the grace that God was displaying in Him, the true and full expresser of His mind. As Burge (pp. John 3:16 gives us the glorious hope of eternal life in heaven through the love of God and death of Jesus Christ. THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL
Resurrection will be the proof; the two-fold rising of the dead, not one, but two resurrections. It was not so. Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleHe that believeth on the Son,. Who is a proper object of faith and trust; which, if he was not truly and properly God, he would not be: and this is to be understood not of any sort of faith, a temporary, or an historical one; but of that which is the faith of God's elect, the gift of God, and the operation of his Spirit; by which a man sees the Son, goes unto him, ventures and relies upon him, and commits himself to him, and expects life and salvation from him; and who shall not be ashamed and confounded; for such an one hath everlasting life; he has it in Christ his head, in whom he believes; he has a right unto it through the justifying righteousness of Christ, and a meetness for it by his grace; he has it in faith and hope; he has the beginning of it in the knowledge of Christ, and communion with him; he has some foretastes of it in his present experience; and he has the earnest and pledge of it in his heart, even the blessed Spirit, who works him up for this selfsame thing: and he that believeth not the Son; that does not believe Christ to be the Son of God, or Jesus to be the Messiah; or rejects him as the Saviour; who lives and dies in a state of impenitence and unbelief: shall not see life; eternal life; he shall not enter into it, and enjoy it; he shall die the second death. Shall not see life. Very remarkable are the following words of the Jews (b) concerning the Messiah, whom they call the latter Redeemer: "whosoever believes in him "shall" live; but he that believes not in him shall go to the nations of the world, and they shall kill him.'' His opposition to sin, and its terrible effects in this world and the next. And in this He is sovereign. Further, if Jesus had made such a statement, He would have contradicted numerous other Bible passages that make it clear that salvation is by faith (John 3:16; John 3:36; Ephesians 2:8-9; Titus 3:5). 1John 2:25 And this is the promise which He Himself made to us: eternal life. The disciples of John dispute with a Jew about purification; but John himself renders a bright witness to the glory of the Lord Jesus. This, of course, supposes the setting aside of Jerusalem, its people and house, as they now are, and is justified by the great fact of Christ's death and resurrection, which is the key to all, though not yet intelligible even to the disciples. John the Baptist was the earthly witness that God used to present His dearly beloved Son to the world. What sayest thou of thyself? John is published weekly in The Inquisitor, bi-monthly in The Forum News, and frequently in the Shreveport Times. Not Jacob was there, but the Son of God in nothing but grace; and thus to the Samaritan woman, not to the teachers of Israel, are made those wonderful communications which unfold to us with incomparable depth and beauty the real source, power, and character of that worship which supersedes, not merely schismatic and rebellious Samaria, but Judaism at its best. While almost all entity Note.How flatly does this contradict the teaching of many in our day, that there neither was, nor is, anything in God against sinners which needed to be removed by Christ, but only in men against God! What Does It Mean That There Is No One Holy Like God? He had no need that any should testify of man, for He knew what was in man. 2. In short, the riches of God's grace are here according to the glory of the Son, and in the power of the Holy Ghost. Nevertheless, the heavenly part is little dwelt on, as John's gospel displays our Lord more as the expression of God revealed on earth, than as Man ascended to heaven, which fell far more to the province of the apostle of the Gentiles. Piety here is the same that it will be there, except that it will be expanded, matured, purified, made more glorious. First, we must worship, if at all, in spirit and in truth. The person of the Son was there the object of divine and overflowing joy even then, although, of course, in the full sense of the word, the Holy Ghost might not be given to be the power of it for some time later; but still the object of worship was there revealing the Father; butJohn 7:1-53; John 7:1-53 supposes Him to be gone up to heaven, before He from heaven communicates the Holy Ghost, who should be (not here, as Israel had a rock with water to drink of in the wilderness outside themselves, nor even as a fountain springing up within the believer, but) as rivers flowing out. Thus we feed on Him and drink into Him, as man, unto life everlasting life in Him. Eternal lifeis onlyreceivedby faith in His cruel death and His glorious Resurrection. But all that is historically related of the Lord Jesus inJohn 1:1-51; John 1:1-51; John 2:1-25; John 3:1-36; John 4:1-54. was before the imprisonment of the Baptist. Abideth on him. 1. (John 3:36 KJV), He that believeth on the Son hath eternal life; but he that obeyeth not the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abideth on him. 2:25), and works belief in us (John 6:28-29), then we realize that the "whosoever" are those that God has granted the act of believing. What love! Hath everlasting life He has already the seed of this life in his soul, having been made a partaker of the grace and spirit of him in whom he has believed. Categories . All rights reserved. Very remarkable are the following words of the Jews F2 concerning the Messiah, whom they call the latter Redeemer: Proud member As this chapter sets forth the Lord Jesus with singular fulness of glory, on the side both of His Godhead and of His manhood, so it closes with the most varied and remarkable testimonies God has given to us, that there may be no excuse. John 7:25-31) He is going where they cannot come, and never guessed (for unbelief thinks of the dispersed among the Greeks of anything rather than of God). (36) Here too we have, in the words of John, thoughts which we have found already (John 3:15-16), and shall find again (), in the words of Christ Himself.He that believeth not the Son. Governmental healing even from Him might only end in "some worse thing" coming. Life resurrection will display how little they had to be ashamed of, who believed the record given of His Son; the resurrection of judgment will make but too plain, to those who despised the Lord, both His honour and their sin and shame. Here (John 5:1-47) the first view given of Christ is His person in contrast with the law. not the Jews only; for, as far as intelligence went, it was little better with the disciples till He rose from the dead. By and by He will apply it to "that nation," the Jews, as to others also, and finally (always excepting the unbelieving and evil) to the entire system, the world. He is viewed as retaining the same perfect intimacy with the Father, entirely unimpaired by local or any other circumstances He had entered. Fritzsche, p. 21). John 3:2 Greek him; John 3:3 Or from above; the Greek is purposely ambiguous and can mean both again and from above; also verse 7; John 3:6 The same Greek word means both wind and spirit; John 3:7 The Greek for you is plural here; John 3:8 The same Greek word means both wind and spirit; John 3:11 The Greek for you is plural here; also four times in verse 12 . For evidently it is the theme of worship in its Christian fulness, the fruit of the manifestation of God, and of the Father known in grace. How striking the omission! The Son gives life, as the Father does; and not merely to whom the Father will, but to whom He will. Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God's wrath remains on them. Man, under law, proved powerless; and the greater the need, the less the ability to avail himself of such merciful intervention as God still, from time to time, kept up throughout the legal system. It was not that they were better than their neighbours. But he that receiveth not the gospel published by him who is the Son of God, and doth not embrace him as his Saviour, and yield obedience to him, shall not be saved. (VersesJohn 3:7-8; John 3:7-8), It is hardly necessary to furnish detailed disproof of the crude, ill-considered notion (originated by the fathers), that baptism is in question. Granted He was the Son of man; but as such, He had all judgment given Him, and would judge. (Ver. But the wrath of God abideth on him; as the sentence of wrath, of condemnation, and death, and the curse of the law were pronounced upon him in Adam, as on all mankind, it continues, and will continue, and will never be reversed, but will be executed on him, he not being redeemed from it, as his final unbelief shows; and as he was by nature a child of wrath, as others, he remains such; and as the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all unrighteousness and ungodliness of men, it comes upon the children of disobedience, and remains there; it hangs over their heads, and lights upon them, and they will be filled with a dreadful sense of it to all eternity.