Reformed Baptist Congregation Exaltation | Edification | Evangelism
“Every word of God proves true: he is a shield to those who take refuge in him.” (Prov. 30:5)
We take refuge in the Lord because he is reliable and trustworthy. He does not and cannot lie. In every situation, God’s Word accomplishes and states perfectly what is required.
Beware: “Do not add to his words, lest he rebuke you and you be found a liar.” (Prov. 30:6). What a great antidote to the vanity and self-sufficiency of man.
Calvin says in his commentary on James 1:23 that, “heavenly doctrine is indeed a mirror in which God presents himself to our view, so that we may be transformed into his image.”
The opposition to the Lord Jesus Christ has been rising like a crescendo. It is soon about to burst upon Him and His disciples. John’s Gospel portrays Jesus as the Son of God. The reason for this is because John desires to provoke (in one sense) his readers to deep faith and belief in Jesus as very God of very God. John’s Gospel rotates around the 7 “I am” sayings of our Lord (John 6:35, 48; 8:12; 9:5; 10:7, 9, 11, 14; 11:25; 14:6; 15:1 – 5. Compare these with 4:25, 26; 8:24, 28, 58; 13:19; 18:5, 6, 8). In these references, Jesus says that He is the Bread of Life, the Light of the World, the Door, the Good Shepherd, the Resurrection and the Life, the Way, the Truth and the Life, and the True Vine. He is also the same as the “I AM” of the Old Testament Scriptures.
John also includes 7 signs that point specifically to the divine character of our Lord. These are changing the water into wine (2:1 – 10), healing the nobleman’s son (4:46 – 54), healing the paralyzed man (5:1 – 9), feeding the 5,000 (6:1 – 14), walking on the water (6:15 – 21), healing the blind man (9: 1 – 41), and raising Lazarus from the dead (11:1 – 44). In each of these miracles, our Lord points to the fact that He is indeed God.
John also tells us why he wrote his Gospel in John 20:30, 31, “Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.” [Read more…]
The Apostle John urges us to be absolutely clear as to what we believe & what we consider of God. I like what John Flavel says about some of these things:
“The truths that Christ teaches have his character and image stamped upon them. Would you like to test whether this or that doctrine is from the Spirit of Christ or not? Examine it by this rule: whatever doctrine you find to encourage and countenance sin, to exalt self, to be accommodating to the world’s designs, and that bends to the humors and lusts of men – you may safely reject. Whatever doctrine makes those who profess it to be carnal, proud and sensual you may safely conclude never came from Jesus Christ. The doctrines of Christ lead to godliness; his truth sanctifies. Do not swallow everything, even if it comes so dearly that does not have some relish of Christ and holiness in it. Be sure, Christ never revealed anything that detracts from his glory or obstructs the purpose of his death.” (Flavel, Works I, pp.128 – 130)