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Roof Contribution Announcement

 Matthew 16:18 ESV

And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

 New Bethel AME Church is asking for your assistance, as we continue to maintain our local assembly for a place of fellowship and worship.  We have a goal to obtain funding to replace our roof by the end of this calendar year.  We are asking you to partner with us in making a monthly or one-time donation.  There are multiple ways to make your contribution.  Please feel free to give online via New Bethel’s website (http://www.newbethelameredtop.com), via the donate icon, Givelify, or mail your contribution to the address listed below. Please add the comment ‘roof donation’. We appreciate your continued efforts

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Sunday School Lesson

November 17

Lesson 12 (KJV)

Faith That Is Focused

 

Devotional Reading: 1 Peter 1:3–12

Background Scripture: Galatians 5:22, 23; 1 Peter 1

 

1 Peter 1:13–25

13. Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ;

 

14. As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance:

 

15. But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation;

 

16. Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.

 

17. And if ye call on the Father, who without respect of persons judgeth according to every man’s work, pass the time of your sojourning here in fear:

 

18. Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers;

 

19. But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:

 

20. Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you,

 

21. Who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God.
22. Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently:

 

23. Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.

 

24. For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away:

 

25. But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you.

 

 

Key Verses

As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance: but as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation.—1 Peter 1:14, 15

 

Lesson Aims

After participating in this lesson, each learner will be able to:

 

1. State the definition of holy.

 

2. Contrast holy conduct with unholy conduct.

 

3. Create a plan to identify and correct areas of sinfulness in his or her own life on an ongoing basis.

 

HOW TO SAY IT

 

Bithynia

 

 

 

Bih-thin-ee-uh.

 

Cappadocia

 

Kap-uh-doe-shuh.

 

Galatia

 

Guh-lay-shuh.

 

Horeb

 

Ho-reb.

 

Nero

 

Nee-row.

 

Pontus

 

Pon-tuss.

 

 

 

Introduction

 

1. Holiness Encounter

 

Have you ever had what seemed to be a surprising encounter with God’s holiness? If so, how did you react? Some may claim to have holiness encounters in certain places (compare Genesis 28:16, 17). Others may claim to encounter God’s holiness in certain people (compare 2 Kings 4:9). It seems more likely, however, that we will have encounters with unholiness in this fallen world (compare Genesis 6:5; 19:4, 5; Romans 3:10–18). And before we crave encounters with God’s holiness, we may wish to examine biblical incidents of those first!

 

One example to consider is that of Moses in Exodus 3:1–4:17. At age 40, Moses fled from Egypt and lived in Midian for many years (Exodus 2:12, 15, 22; Acts 7:23). There he did the lonely job of shepherding, moving his flock from pasture to pasture. On one occasion, Moses found himself at the foot of Mount Horeb, later called Mount Sinai. There he encountered a marvelous sight: a fiery bush that didn’t burn up. Curiosity resulted in his standing on “holy ground” (Exodus 3:1–5). Moses had encountered the holy God.

 

The voice in the bush told Moses he would return to this holy place with the people of Israel to worship the Lord (Exodus 3:12). When Moses did return, he encountered not a burning bush but a mountain on fire (19:18)—the holiness of God on a grand scale! Such encounters and others (Isaiah 6, etc.) have lessons to teach about holiness.

 

1. Lesson Context

 

Peter is a perplexing figure in the Gospel accounts. He tended to blurt out whatever was on his mind at the time, sometimes seeming to contradict himself in the process (examples: Matthew 16:22, 23; 26:35; Mark 9:5, 6; John 18:25–27). He was impulsive and recklessly bold, often acting before thinking (Matthew 14:22–33; John 18:10). In short, Peter was an apostle we can relate to.

 

A dramatic change came over Peter after Jesus’ resurrection. He grew spiritually, constantly preaching, teaching, and healing in Jesus’ name (Acts 2:14–39; 3:1–8, 12–26; 10:34–43, 47, 48; etc.).

 

This confident Peter is the same man who wrote the letters of 1 and 2 Peter. In his first letter, Peter addressed “the strangers scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia” (1 Peter 1:1). These regions encompass a very large swath of land in northeastern Asia Minor, now Turkey. Such a large expanse of land suggests that a large number of people were also meant to be reached. The majority of Peter’s audience were likely Gentile believers (consider 1:14; 2:9, 10; 4:3, 4).

 

A time of terror, of living day to day and being tempted to abandon the faith, forms the backdrop for Peter’s two letters. His first letter mentions being in “Babylon” (1 Peter 5:13), a derogatory code term for the city of Rome (consider Revelation 14:8; 16:19; 17:5; 18:2). After a fire in Rome in AD 64, Emperor Nero blamed the Christian population of the city, putting many of them to death. Both Peter and Paul were in Rome in the mid-AD 60s while Nero persecuted anyone who put their faith in any lord but him. Reliable church tradition maintains that Peter was crucified in Rome in AD 67 or 68.

 

1. Focusing Our Minds

 

(1 Peter 1:13–16)

 

1. With Sobriety (v. 13)

 

13a. Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober.

 

 

 

Wherefore indicates that this train of thought is a conclusion of previous statements regarding the work of prophets. Their work was not only for their contemporary audiences but also to minister to those who hear and believe the gospel later (see 1 Peter 1:12). To gird up the loins refers to a man gathering up his long, robe-like garment and tucking it tightly into his belt. This allows his legs to be unhindered for working or fighting. The image suggests that one’s mind must be prepared to pay close, focused attention.

 

A sober mind is alert, engaged in one’s current situation with seriousness. The Greek word translated “sober” does not necessarily relate to alcohol consumption such as we use that word today. Rather, it is concerned with self-control in a broader sense.

 

 

 

13b. And hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.

 

 

 

Believers’ focus should be on the return of Jesus. This gives hope because of the promise of grace associated with that event. Grace here refers to the good news of Christ’s return—good news for believers, bad news for their persecutors. Hope gives strength to endure hard times, because present troubles pale in comparison to future glory (Romans 8:18–39). With his faith that Jesus can return at any moment, Peter reminds us of Jesus’ own warning to be ready for His return (see Mark 13:32–37).

 

1. With Holiness (vv. 14–16)

 

14. As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance.

 

 

 

Focused minds must produce focused lives. Peter urges his readers to demonstrate their readiness for Jesus’ return by the way they live. We must not be distracted by desires to return to sinful behaviors but instead be like obedient children.

 

This seems to be particularly directed to Gentile believers, who formerly engaged in drunkenness, sexual immorality, and idolatry‌—‌having considered such things normal (see 1 Peter 4:3; Lesson Context). To return to these former lusts would be to revert to willful ignorance, oblivious to the possible return of Jesus at any time. Such reversion is to ignore the consequences of sin (Ephesians 4:18). This reminds us of Jesus’ illustration of the servants who were unprepared when the master returned home (Matthew 24:45–51).

 

15. But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation.

 

 

 

Being holy concerns two different but related concepts. First, holiness implies being separate or different. One foundational difference between God and false gods (idols) is that God made people in His image (Genesis 1:27) and not the other way around (Exodus 20:4–6; Psalm 97:7). Like their God, the nation of Israel was to be unique: a different type of people, a kingdom of priests, a holy nation (Exodus 19:6).

 

Second, holiness demands moral purity. God’s actions are pure and righteous (Ezra 9:15; Psalm 7:11), so His people’s actions should also be pure and righteous. Israel was not to be like the other nations, which lived wickedly (2 Samuel 7:23; contrast Ezra 9:2). To approach a holy God, a person must have clean hands and a pure heart (Psalm 24:3, 4). This twofold cleanliness is expressed in right attitudes and actions.

 

 

 

What Do You Think?

 

What can our church do to help people have a better understanding of what holiness is and what it looks like in practice?

 

 

 

Digging Deeper

 

How do we do so without creating a judgmental, “holier than thou” impression that drives people away?

 

 

 

16. Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.

 

 

 

Peter’s instructions are not new revelations for the church but those of the written precepts for the people of God. These instructions were first found in the Law of Moses. When the Lord called Israel out of Egypt and guided them to be His chosen nation, He demanded one central thing: holiness (Exodus 19:6; 22:31; Deuteronomy 7:6; 14:2; etc.). They were not to be like other nations with their ruthless kings, immoral practices, and injustice toward the poor. They were to be holy because God is holy (Leviticus 11:44, 45; 19:2; 20:7; etc.).

 

In times of suffering such as the church is experiencing as Peter writes, fulfillment of personal longings for material things, health, happiness, and even security seems elusive. But suffering or persecution cannot be allowed to diminish holiness and dedication to God and His ways. If persecution causes Peter’s audience to turn away from holiness, they will no longer be lights pointing to God (Matthew 5:14–16). When we choose holiness, we are choosing to be faithful.

 

 

 

What Do You Think?

 

How should we deal with the “gray areas” of what is holy and what is not?

 

 

 

Digging Deeper

 

In answering this question, use as a starting point the assumption that the New Testament is more concerned with principles in contrast with the Old Testament’s concern for rules.

 

 

 

Seek Ye First

 

I was angry. My husband had lost his job, making cash flow a real concern. My oldest son was almost expelled from school, and my daughter was sneaking out at night.

 

I wasn’t just angry; I was scared. Instead of consulting God’s Word, I took matters into my own hands. I criticized my husband for any minute that was spent not looking for a job or working around the house. I snapped at my children. Consequentially, my children continued to misbehave. My husband lost interest in searching for another job and forgot to do little maintenance chores around the house. My unholy behavior triggered these.

 

We are to be holy as God is holy. When we are unholy, we aren’t in communion with God. The moment I turned to the Lord for guidance, I no longer experienced separation from Him. If you feel separated from God right now, could the problem be a lack of holiness?

 

—P. L. M.

 

1. Focusing Our Faith

 

(1 Peter 1:17–21)

 

1. In Christ (vv. 17–19)

 

17a. And if ye call on the Father, who without respect of persons judgeth according to every man’s work.

 

 

 

To refer to God as the Father reflects Peter’s internalization of Jesus’ teachings. Jesus frequently referred to God as “my Father” (examples: Matthew 18:10; Luke 10:22; John 5:17) and encouraged His followers to see God as Father as well (Matthew 6:9; John 20:17). This relationship implies that the children of the Father will relate to Him in trust, obedience, and love.

 

Fathers must sometimes act as judges of their children’s behavior and discipline them accordingly; so it is with God. Many people claim that one of their siblings is the parental favorite and therefore receives special treatment. Not so with God the Father. As Peter himself stressed years earlier, “God is no respecter of persons” (Acts 10:34); no one gets preferential judgment. He expects the same holy thoughts, attitudes, and actions from all his obedient children.

 

 

 

17b. Pass the time of your sojourning here in fear.

 

 

 

As children, we were able to hide some disobedience from our parents. That’s not so with God, for He knows all. Therefore, we should have a sense of reverent fear that leads us to obedience (Leviticus 19:37; 25:17, 36, 43; Deuteronomy 5:29; 6:2; Isaiah 8:13; etc.).

 

Since Peter’s message of salvation is a message of grace, that we are saved by faith (see 1 Peter 1:5; 5:10), then where does fear of God fit in? Doesn’t 1 John 4:18 say “perfect love casteth out fear”? Indeed it does. But Peter’s idea here is that since the tests his audience faces can lead them to unfaithfulness, a proper fear for God is necessary to yield faithfulness instead (Psalm 86:15; 2 Chronicles 19:9; Hebrews 11:7).

 

 

 

18, 19. Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.

 

 

 

Peter’s tack now is to establish the value of his readers’ redemption by stressing its cost. Had their redemption been purchased with corruptible things, as silver or gold, then its staying power would have been the same. It would have no eternal value.

 

In making this point, Peter is likely addressing Christians from a Gentile background since the phrase vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers would not refer to Judaism. That way of life was established by God. By contrast, Ephesians 4:17–19 speak to the utter worthlessness of paganism. (The word conversation refers to an entire manner of life, not just talk.)

 

The subphrase by tradition from your fathers can remind us that many sinful and destructive behaviors are carried across generations. People too often find themselves in toxic lifestyles that parallel the life of a parent. But Jesus can rescue us from this cycle as He opens the path to new life available only in Him (Romans 6:4; 2 Corinthians 5:17; Ephesians 4:24; etc.). This new life is possible because Jesus was without sin, likened to a lamb without defect (compare Exodus 12:3–5; Hebrews 9:14).

 

Remembering this puts Christian ethics in perspective. If Jesus, the one without blame or sin, died willingly to offer salvation to all people, should we not strive for blamelessness ourselves (Philippians 2:14, 15)? This striving is the correct response to the holiness and love of Jesus’ life, not an attempt to earn our salvation.

 

 

 

What Do You Think?

 

What visual aids can you use daily to remind you that the fact of 1 Peter 1:19 should result in holy living?

 

 

 

Digging Deeper

 

How might those visual aids differ from life context to life context (work, church, home, etc.)?

 

 

 

1. In Resurrection (vv. 20, 21)

 

20a. Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world.

 

 

 

Peter wipes away all the patterns that influence evil behavior by going back to the earliest era: before the foundation of the world. Even then‌—‌before forming the heavens and the earth, before creating men and women, and before the first sin‌—‌God had planned for our salvation through the spotless Lamb who is His Son. God’s plans are deliberate and eternal.

 

 

 

20b. But was manifest in these last times for you.

 

 

 

The 2,000 years of Jewish history preceding Peter’s ministry anticipated this coming Messiah. The revelation of this chosen one of God has come in these last times for Peter’s first-century readers in Rome (compare Acts 2:14–21; 1 John 2:18; Revelation 22:7, 10, 12, 20). We are still in those last times. What follows this epoch is the end: Jesus’ return to judge and save. As Peter’s readers eagerly awaited Christ’s return, so do we.

 

 

 

21. Who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God.

 

 

 

This verse forms a balance for the expectation of Christ’s return. Christians hope for this return daily in our painful world. If He does not come in our lifetime, our hopes are not dashed. Our hope focuses on the Lord God, the one who raised Jesus from the grave to glory and will do the same for us.

 

III. Focusing Our Love

 

(1 Peter 1:22–25)

 

1. For Fellow Believers (vv. 22, 23)

 

22. Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently.

 

 

 

One word defines how Christians are meant to treat the brethren in the faith: love. This is more than an act of obedience. Our love for each other is to be unfeigned, done with a pure heart, and fervently. We must do more than act like we love each other. We must truly care for each other as we care for ourselves (Matthew 22:37–40).

 

Such love-motivated acts are the obedience to truth that Peter wants his readers to practice. Alone, this is difficult. Peter promises this is done through the Spirit, indicating that God’s Holy Spirit is active in helping us love each other.

 

 

 

What Do You Think?

 

How can you try to improve your relationship with a person who seems suspicious of your motives and intentions?

 

 

 

Digging Deeper

 

Which passages about God’s love most influence your response? What does the context surrounding Paul’s note on unfeigned love in 2 Corinthians 6:6 contribute?

 

 

 

Holiday Humility

 

Thanksgiving was just around the corner when my sister blew apart my holiday spirit: she had invited her best friend. This was someone with whom I had been feuding for decades, fueled by harsh words and emotional wounds. I felt incredibly disrespected that this woman was invited.

 

I cried out to the Lord to help me face this ordeal. When I finished voicing my frustration and pain, I felt oddly renewed, as if I had sloughed off something dead. I still dreaded the upcoming holiday, but I knew what God wanted me to do: I needed to love her with a pure heart.

 

We said our first hellos with wary politeness, but two days later as she was leaving for the airport, we hugged and wished each other well. When we see people in the way God sees them, it allows us to love them with an otherwise impossible love. Who is God calling you to love impossibly?

 

—P. L. M.

 

23a. Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible.

 

 

 

Peter likely learned from Jesus to speak of salvation as being born again (John 3:3, 7). Peter’s speech after healing a man uses a similar idea that he called “times of refreshing” from the Lord (Acts 3:19; compare Romans 12:2). The Christian life is a radically changed life, going from lost to saved, from sinner to saint, from living for oneself to living for Jesus. We commonly refer to this as “conversion,” the starting point for a new, incorruptible life (compare John 3:3–5).

 

 

 

23b. By the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.

 

 

 

Becoming a believer is more than emotions, although it can be an emotional experience. We believe because we have learned from the word of God the truth about Jesus. People cannot believe unless they hear or read about Jesus and His saving work (Romans 10:14). The gospel is still powerful today, 2,000 years after Jesus first preached it. It does not grow old or lose its potency.

 

1. For God’s Word (vv. 24, 25)

 

24. For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away.

 

 

 

Peter quotes an abbreviated form of Isaiah 40:6–8, which uses the illustration of seasonal grass and flowers. They sprout, grow, bloom, then die. People and animals (flesh) are like that too. Our life spans are limited, and death overtakes us all.

 

25a. but the word of the Lord endureth for ever.

 

 

 

Not all things die (see Isaiah 40:8). Peter’s claim of the everlasting power of the word of the Lord is bolstered by his use of a prophecy from Isaiah that was already ancient as Peter writes: the Word of God will never die.

 

 

 

What Do You Think?

 

How much time should we spend studying the Old Testament when we combine (1) the fact that God’s Word endures permanently with (2) the factual change noted in Colossians 2:14?

 

 

 

Digging Deeper

 

How do Romans 15:4 and 1 Corinthians 10:11 help shape your response?

 

 

 

25b. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you.

 

 

 

Peter ties the words of the prophet Isaiah to his own ministry. The ancient and eternal Word lives again in the preaching of the gospel, the word of God’s grace and mercy. For those experiencing uncertainty and fear in persecution, the promise that the gospel is eternal invites them to experience peace and hope.

 

Conclusion

 

1. Holiness Gaps

 

Not long ago, a friend told me he thought “Be ye holy; for I am holy” is the most neglected command in the church. The great apostle Peter did not think holiness should be neglected or dismissed. He held it as a core element to the gospel he preached. Our failures to be holy ultimately misrepresent our belief in the holiness of God. Since God is holy, then we should care about our own holiness. When we behave, think, or speak in unholy ways, we diminish our relationship with God.

 

 

 

Are there holiness gaps in your life, pockets of sinful attitudes and actions you harbor and protect? Are there areas where a holy God is not welcome, where your privacy rights are paramount? Sometimes the holiness gaps are not private at all. Others can see uncontrolled anger, lack of integrity, shameful treatment of a spouse, etc. But no matter how private your hold is on your sinfulness, God is a witness (1 Peter 1:17).

 

This lesson helps us understand why and how to live in stressful times and maintain our faith. We may not face imminent arrest and death for being Christians, but we have trials all the same. Many things call us to acknowledge them to be “lord” in place of Jesus. Peter’s guidance helps us to focus on what is important, to live without fear, to strive for holiness, and to always remain faithful to our calling as followers of Jesus. His words encourage us to remain confident in Jesus, no matter what problems might threaten. Peter would do the same.

 

1. Prayer

 

Lord God, free us from sinful behaviors that weigh us down and cause us to stumble. Empower us to strive for holiness so that we may be more like You. We pray in the name of Jesus, the spotless and holy Lamb of God. Amen.

 

1. Thought to Remember

 

God’s holiness motivates our desire for holiness.

 

 

KID’S CORNER

Friends of the Bride and Groom

Sunday, November 17, 2019

John 3:22-30

 

John 3:22-30

(John 3:22) After these things Jesus and His disciples came into the land of Judea, and there He was spending time with them and baptizing.

After Jesus explained the essentials of the good news to Nicodemus, that one must be born again through believing the truth about Jesus through the work of the Holy Spirit, and that Jesus must be lifted up by dying a sacrificial death on the cross and by rising from the dead, Jesus left Jerusalem to see those in the country and small towns of Judea. Jesus showed concern for all people, not just city dwellers. He also needed some quiet times away from the crowds to teach His disciples. In John 4:2, John explained that “it was not Jesus himself but his disciples who baptized.” We also learn this detail from John’s Gospel: after Jesus’ temptation in the wilderness, for an unspecifiedtime Jesus and John the Baptist continued in ministry together, but probably in separate nearby locations, for immediately after John the Baptist pointed some of his disciples to Jesus, Jesus began to call His disciples from among them (see John 1:29-42). John the Baptist and Jesus’ disciples baptized so people would repent of their sins, receive forgiveness, and prepare to receive the Jesus the Messiah.

(John 3:23) John also was baptizing in Aenon near Salim, because there was much water there; and people were coming and were being baptized—

We do not know the exact locations of these two places, but they were probably located near the Jordan River, where people had become accustomed to going to see John the Baptist (see also John 3:26). John the Baptist’s public ministry of preparation and teaching continued until he was arrested. John had seen Jesus and had pointed people to follow Jesus, and he would continue to do so until God made clear that his work of preparation was done.

(John 3:24) for John had not yet been thrown into prison.

John’s Gospel makes clear that John the Baptist continued in ministry until he was thrown into prison; thus, his public ministry was over. Jesus and John the Baptist worked together in Judea, probably not far from one another. Then, we learn in Mark 1:14, that after John the Baptist was arrested Jesus went to Galilee and began ministry there. With John’s arrest, Jesus knew that their work in Judea had been completed.

(John 3:25) Therefore there arose a discussion on the part of John’s disciples with a Jew about purification.

Concerns about rites of purification and John’s baptism of repentance continued because many Jews did not believe they needed baptism. They believed baptism was reserved only for those converting to Judaism. They also had their rites of purification, which they believed met all their needs along with their temple sacrifices (remember Jesus used their jars for purification when He changed water into wine: see John 2:6). Many Jews did not want to be treated as Gentiles who needed baptism to become Jews.

(John 3:26) And they came to John and said to him, “Rabbi, He who was with you beyond the Jordan, to whom you have testified, behold, He is baptizing and all are coming to Him.”

John the Baptist’s disciples knew how to answer questions about purification, but their discussion with this unnamed Jew (they were all Jews) raised some other troubling questions for them. They did not mention Jesus by name, but called Him, “the one who was with you across the Jordan, to whom you testified” (which reminds us that John the Baptist’s ministry was always one of preparing people to meet Jesus; therefore, he pointed his disciples to Jesus and bore witness that Jesus is the Lamb of God, see John 1:23, 35-37). John’s disciples were concerned that increasing numbers of people were going to see Jesus instead of John. Perhaps they assumed that John and Jesus would continue working together until the Messiah, Jesus, had fulfilled their political understanding of what the Messiah would do (the same understanding of most Jews at that time). John’s disciples would naturally be concerned that John’s ministry seemed to be on the decline, so what might this mean for them and their expectations if John’s ministry just faded away.

(John 3:27) John answered and said, “A man can receive nothing unless it has been given him from heaven.

In answer, John the Baptist told his disciples a universal truth: everything and every person that they had received during their ministry together they had received from heaven. Using the word “heaven” was a devout and respectful way of saying “God.” God was involved in the life of every person who came to John and his disciples with sincere repentance asking to be baptized as preparation to receive the Messiah when He came. Likewise, everything and every person Jesus and His disciples received in their ministry, they received from Jesus’ Father in heaven. Later, in John 6:37, Jesus declared: “All those the Father gives me will come to me, and anyone who comes to me I will never drive away.” In his humility, John the Baptist gave God the glory for all he had accomplished as the Holy Spirit had worked within him. John also gave God the glory for all that God was accomplishing through Jesus; for John had seen the Holy Spirit descend and remain on Jesus (see John 1:33). John was not jealous of Jesus’ success, though his disciples might have been jealous for John. It is a universal truth that as created in the image of God, as children of God through faith in Jesus Christ, we show our love for God by using the gifts God has given us with all our strength in the power of the Holy Spirit while leaving the results with God. As followers of Jesus Christ, we can be happier and more at peace if we do not compare the results of our work with the results of others and then think we are better or lesser than others.

(John 3:28) “You yourselves are my witnesses that I said, ‘I am not the Christ,’ but, ‘I have been sent ahead of Him.’

John the Baptist did not teach them a new truth but reminded his disciples of what he had taught them. They had heard him say that he was not the Messiah. He reminded them that he had been sent ahead of the Messiah to prepare the way for His coming. John did not aspire to work as an equal with Jesus, for John had said in John 1:27, “the one who is coming after me; I am not worthy to untie the thong of his sandal.” John the Baptist rejoiced that he had been able to serve God in the power of the Holy Spirit, for he knew from experience what the angel told his father in Luke 1:15, “for he will be great in the sight of the Lord. He must never drink wine or strong drink; even before his birth he will be filled with the Holy Spirit.”

(John 3:29) “He who has the bride is the bridegroom; but the friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly because of the bridegroom’s voice. So this joy of mine has been made full.

From their knowledge of the Hebrew Scriptures, John the Baptist and his disciples knew that the LORD considered His relationship with Israel as close and personal as a bridegroom and bride, as close as a husband and wife. Spiritually, the LORD and Israel became one. In Jeremiah 2:2, the LORD told the prophet, “Go and proclaim in the hearing of Jerusalem, Thus says the LORD: I remember the devotion of your youth, your love as a bride, how you followed me in the wilderness, in a land not sown.” Then, in Jeremiah 2:32, the LORD declared His judgment against the Jews, “Can a girl forget her ornaments, or a bride her attire? Yet my people have forgotten me, days without number.” In the days of Jesus, the Jews (certainly the religious leaders) did not act as the bride of the LORD God.

In the New Testament, the Church is called the bride of Christ. All who believe in and receive Jesus as the Son of God and their Lord and Savior become part of the bride of Christ, the true Church. After the church in Corinth began falling away from the Lord Jesus into sin, the Apostle Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 11:2-3, “I feel a divine jealousy for you, for I promised you in marriage to one husband, to present you as a chaste virgin to Christ. But I am afraid that as the serpent deceived Eve by its cunning, your thoughts will be led astray from a sincere and pure devotion to Christ.” In Revelation 22:17, we learn how the Holy Spirit working through the Church (the Bride of Christ) calls people to faith in Jesus: “The Spirit and the bride say, ‘Come.’ And let everyone who hears say, ‘Come.’ And let everyone who is thirsty come. Let anyone who wishes take the water of life as a gift.” John the Baptist said that he was happy to be the friend of Jesus, the bridegroom. John was happy to hear everything that Jesus taught. He was happy when he learned what Jesus was doing. He wanted his disciples to be happy when they listened to Jesus or heard about His work. Just as a person brightens when they hear the voice of the one they love, John brightened every time he heard the voice of Jesus, the Lamb of God. John’s joy was fulfilled in hearing and seeing Jesus, in learning about all Jesus was doing, and knowing that increasing numbers of people were being given to Jesus by His Father. John rejoiced knowing he fulfilled God’s purpose for him whenever he pointed people to Jesus.

(John 3:30) “He must increase, but I must decrease.”

The religious leaders in Jerusalem got this truth backwards. For them, they felt they must increase in authority, power, and wealth while God, Jesus, and the Scriptures must decrease in authority and influence. Many around the world today feel this same way. Like Moses, John the Baptist was a model of humility. For example, after the Israelites rebelled against the LORD in the wilderness, the LORD told Moses in Deuteronomy 9:14, “Let me alone that I may destroy them and blot out their name from under heaven; and I will make of you a nation mightier and more numerous than they.” Instead of agreeing to this fabulous offer, in deep humility Moses fasted and prayed forty days to save them from destruction, telling the Israelites in Deuteronomy 9:26, “I prayed to the LORD and said, ‘Lord GOD, do not destroy the people who are your very own possession, whom you redeemed in your greatness, whom you brought out of Egypt with a mighty hand.’” In the presence of his disciples, John the Baptist expressed concern for the glory of Jesus just as Moses expressed concern for the glory of God. In Deuteronomy 9:28-29, Moses said he prayed and reasoned with the LORD, because “otherwise the land from which you have brought us might say, ‘Because the LORD was not able to bring them into the land that he promised them, and because he hated them, he has brought them out to let them die in the wilderness.’ For they are the people of your very own possession, whom you brought out by your great power and by your outstretched arm.”

John the Baptist wanted all his disciples to go to Jesus, as their Rabbi (Teacher), Messiah, Son of God, and Lamb of God, for he knew that he fulfilled God’s purpose when he pointed people to Jesus. Like all those who came to him, John told his disciples that they must go to the One he pointed out to them. John pointed all those who came to him for baptism to Jesus; therefore, Jesus’ numbers of followers increased while his decreased. At some point, John knew he would totally “decrease” on the earth, and he wanted his disciples to go to Jesus rather than be scattered in disillusionment.

It is the height of arrogance for anyone to use God, Jesus, and their teaching of the Bible to make themselves increase in reputation or authority or power or wealth or in other ways at the expense of teaching the truth revealed in the Bible. As Paul pointed out to the Corinthian Christians, some will come before the Church and the world to make themselves look great and smart by decreasing the glory and honor that only God, Jesus, and the Bible truthfully and rightfully deserve.

 

Friends of the Bride and Groom

Sunday, November 17, 2019

John 3:22-30

 

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 (John 3:29—KJV). He who has the bride is the bridegroom; but the friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly because of the bridegroom’s voice. So this joy of mine has been made full (John 3:29—NASB). He who has the bride is the bridegroom. The friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly at the bridegroom’s voice. For this reason my joy has been fulfilled (John 3:29—NRSV). Do the followers of Jesus Christ see themselves as friends of the bridegroom? Though today we have shortened “bridegroom” to “groom,” the titles mean the same. What does the friend of the bridegroom normally do? If he is also the best man at the wedding, and John the Baptist would have been too humble to call himself “a best man,” the best man stands ready to serve the groom in every way possible before and after the wedding ceremony. All the groom’s friends would be ready to do the same. Since Jesus is the bridegroom and the New Testament calls the Church the “Bride of Christ,” surely everyone in the Church can consider themselves friends of Jesus and the Church. After the wedding, the special work of the best man eventually comes to an end, but the friendship of a true friend never ends. The work of John the Baptist eventually came to an end, but he acted as a friend of Jesus throughout all the time he knew Him. John described how a friend of Jesus would act. First, a friend of Jesus will always stand ready to serve Jesus. At a wedding the needs of the bride and groom come first, and all their friends rejoice at their happiness and make themselves ready to be of service. Second, a friend of Jesus will joyfully anticipate hearing Jesus’ voice and His call to be of service. They will read the Bible to learn how they can best serve the groom and the bride: Jesus and the Church.

Thinking Further

Friends of the Bride and Groom

Sunday, November 17, 2019

John 3:22-30

Name _________________________________

 

1. In the early stages of Jesus’ ministry, why might it have been important for Him to have His disciples baptizing in Judea somewhere near John the Baptist and his ministry in Judea?

 

 

2. Why do you think John the Baptist’s disciples expressed concern that increasing numbers, indeed “all,” they said, were going to Jesus?

 

 

3. What does “No one can receive anything except what has been given from heaven” mean to you?

 

 

4. Why was John’s joy fulfilled?

 

 

5. How did John the Baptist express his humility to his disciples, and what effect might that have had on them?

 

Discussion and Thinking Further

1. In the early stages of Jesus’ ministry, why might it have been important for Him to have His disciples baptizing in Judea somewhere near John the Baptist and his ministry in Judea? Jesus would be close for John to point people toward; then, Jesus would be understood as the One John the Baptist had come to proclaim and prepare people to receive. Some of Jesus’ disciples had first been John’s disciples and they could teach John’s disciples about Jesus when asked by their friends. Both Jesus and John needed to preach together to reach as many as they could with the good news of Jesus’ coming before John was arrested and Jesus began His ministry in Galilee.
2. Why do you think John the Baptist’s disciples expressed concern that increasing numbers, indeed “all, ” they said, were going to Jesus? Probably they saw their own influence decreasing and their own hopes about John the Baptist not being fulfilled. Perhaps they thought that John the Baptist would be working together with the Messiah, perhaps at the Messiah’s right hand, and this would be a wonderful opportunity for them to serve both Jesus and John the Baptist, which included political views of what the Messiah would do when He came and what they would do.
3. What does “No one can receive anything except what has been given from heaven” mean to you? As a faithful follower of Jesus Christ, I can only do the tasks that God wants me to do with the gifts He has given me, and that includes receiving and accepting the consequences of my faithful deeds in Jesus’ Name. I should not compare myself to what others are doing or become jealous of other servants of the Lord Jesus, but simply try to follow the commands of Jesus and the leading of the Holy Spirit day-by-day.
4. Why was John’s joy fulfilled? John compared himself to the friend of a bridegroom, who was happy for both the groom and the bride. As a friend of Jesus, he rejoiced to see Jesus fulfilling what he had proclaimed about His coming, and he rejoiced over all Jesus was doing as the Messiah, the Son of God, the Lamb of God.
5. How did John the Baptist express his humility to his disciples, and what effect might that have had on them? He said that he and his ministry must decrease, and Jesus and His ministry must increase. As his ministry decreased, he could point his disciples to Jesus that they might follow Jesus instead of him. Since John said Jesus was the Messiah, they might have been disappointed that John would not be working with Jesus and helping them work with Jesus too—they might have expected both their ministries to increase instead of Jesus’ ministry and not their ministry.

 

Word Search

Friends of the Bride and Groom

Sunday, November 17, 2019

John 3:22-30

 

I V D P L F Y Z N O N E A E V

J N H E R T N I J D N E I R F

U P E Y C L O U Y C X G J C I

T M S V D R D A G Z O B E P J

R A G J I E E Z Q S T R D Q T

M H T D A G H A L E U I I R K

Y I A N K N O X S J V D S H I

J Z L T M T L T O E O E Y E B

R B O A C E I R W T P G R A B

Y E I X S F D N Z F N R T V A

L S C R I A O E R Y A O N E R

H E U E N S T V W B W O U N D

F I D S I Q B R G A I M O Y J

X C F R E V U D M D S A C W V

Z H P U N J E A C L O Q H X T

 

Judean

Countryside

Aenon

Salim

Prison

Purification

Rabbi

Jordan

Testified

Receive

Given

Heaven

Bridegroom

Friend

Decrease

 

True and False Test

Friends of the Bride and Groom

Sunday, November 17, 2019

John 3:22-30

 

Circle the True or False answers. Correct the False statements by restating them.

1. After they left Jerusalem, Jesus and His disciples went into the Judean countryside. True or False
2. After John left Jerusalem, John and his disciples went to prepare the Samaritans to receive the good news about the Messiah. True or False
3. John and Jesus both baptized where there was abundant water. True or False
4. John the Baptist’s disciples told him that they were concerned when they saw everyone going to Jesus for baptism. True or False
5. John reminded his disciples that he had been sent ahead of Jesus so they could work as Messiahs in the kingdoms of Israel and Judah. True or False
6. John compared Jesus to a bridegroom and himself as a friend of the bridegroom. True or False
7. The New Testament says the Church is the bride of Christ. True or False
8. John said that as the friend of Jesus his joy had been fulfilled. True or False
9. The purpose of the church is to help church leaders increase in authority, power, and wealth as they teach their ideas about the Bible. True or False
10. John expressed his humility when he said about Jesus, “He must increase, but I must decrease.” True or False

 

 

John 3:22-30 True and False Test Answers

1. True
2. False
3. False
4. True
5. False
6. True
7. True
8. True
9. False

10.True

 

Prayer

Lord God, free us from sinful behaviors that weigh us down and cause us to stumble. Empower us to strive for holiness so that we may be more like You. We pray in the name of Jesus, the spotless and holy Lamb of God. Amen.