John – Chapter 9

Jesus saw a man who had been born blind. This circumstance gives an additional display of the power of Christ; for blindness, which he had brought from his mother’s womb, and which he had endured till he arrived at the age of a man, could not be cured by human remedies. This gave occasion to the disciples to propose a question, Of whose sin was this punishment?

Rabbi, who has sinned, this man, or his parents? In the first place, as Scripture testifies, all the sufferings to which the human race is liable proceed from sin. Whenever we see any person wretched, we cannot prevent the thought from immediately presenting it self to our minds, that the distresses, which fall heavily upon him, are punishments inflicted by the hand of God. But here we commonly err in three ways.

First, while every man is ready to censure others with extreme bitterness, there are few that apply to themselves, as they ought to do, the same severity. If my brother meets with adversity, I instantly acknowledge the judgment of God; but if God chastises me with a heavier stroke, I wink at my sins. But in considering punishments, every man ought to begin with himself, and to spare himself as little as any other person. Wherefore, if we wish to be candid judges in this matter, let us learn to be quick in discerning our own evils rather than those of others.

The second error lies in excessive severity; for no sooner is any man touched by the hand of God, than we conclude that this shows deadly hatred, and we turn small offenses into crimes, and almost despair of his salvation. On the contrary, by extenuating our sins, we scarcely think that we have committed very small offenses, when we have committed a very aggravated crime.

Thirdly, we do wrong in this respect, that we pronounce condemnation on all, without exception, which God visits with the cross or with tribulation. What we have lately said is undoubtedly true, that all our distresses arise from sin; but God afflicts his own people for various reasons. There are some men whose crimes He does not punish in this world. Some men will receive punishment in the future life. In this manner, He may inflict on them more dreadful torments; so He often treats His believing people with greater severity, not because they have sinned more grievously, but that He may mortify the sins of the flesh for the future. Wherefore, there are two things here that ought to be observed: that judgment begins, for the most part, at the house of God (1 Peter 4:17).

Consequently, while He passes by the wicked, He punishes His own people with severity when they have offended, and in correcting the sinful actions of the Church, His stripes are far more severe. Next, we ought to observe that there are various reasons why He afflicts men; for He gave Peter and Paul, not less than the wicked robbers, into the hands of the executioner. We cannot always put our finger on the causes of the punishments which men endure.

We are taught by this example that we ought to be exceedingly careful not to push our inquiries into the judgments of God beyond the measure of sobriety, but the wanderings and errors of our understanding hurry and plunge us into dreadful gulfs. It was truly monstrous, that so gross an error should have found a place among the elect people of God, in the midst of which the Law and the Prophets had kindled the light of heavenly wisdom. But if God punished so severely their presumption, there is nothing better for us, in considering the works of God, than such modesty that, when the reason of them is concealed, our minds shall break out into admiration. Our tongues shall immediately exclaim, “Thou art righteous, O Lord, and thy judgments are right though they cannot be comprehended.”

It frequently happens that the anger of God rests on one house for many generations; and, as He blesses the children of believers for the sake of their fathers, so He also rejects a wicked offspring, destining the children, by a just punishment, to the same ruin with their fathers. Nor can any man complain, on this account, that he is unjustly punished on account of the sin of another man; for, where the grace of the Spirit is wanting, from bad crows — as the proverb says 4 — there must be produced bad eggs. This gave reason to the apostles to doubt if the Lord punished, in the son, some crime of his parents.

Neither did this man sin or his parents. Christ does not absolutely say that the blind men, and his parents, were free from all blame; but he declares that we ought not to seek the cause of the blindness in sin. And this is what I have already said, that God has sometimes-another object in view than to punish the sins of men when he sends afflictions to them. When the causes of afflictions are concealed, we ought to restrain curiosity, that we may neither dishonor God nor be malicious towards our brethren. Wherefore, Christ assigns another reason. This man, he says, was born blind, —

Jesus stated that the works of God might be manifested in Him. He does not say a single work, but uses the plural number, works. As long as he was blind, there was exhibited in him a proof of the severity of God, from which others might learn to fear and to humble themselves. It was afterwards followed by the benefit of his cure and deliverance, in which the astonishing goodness of God was strikingly displayed. So then Christ intended, by these words, to excite in his disciples the expectation of a miracle. However, at the same time remind them in a general manner, that this must be abundantly exhibited on the theater of the world, as the true and lawful cause, when God glorifies his name. Men do not have any right to complain of God, when he makes them the instruments of His glory in both ways, whether He shows himself to be merciful or severe.

I must work the works of him who has sent Me. He now testifies that He has been sent for the purpose of manifesting the kindness of God in giving sight to the blind man. He borrows also a comparison from the ordinary custom of life; for, when the sun is risen, man rises to labor, but the night is allotted to repose.

He therefore employs the word Day to denote the time, which the Father had fixed. During this time He must finish the work assigned Him. In the same manner, as every man who has been called to some public office ought to be employed in what may be called his daily task, to perform what the nature of his office demands. We ought to deduce a universal rule, that to every man the course of his life may be called his day. Wherefore, as the short duration of the light ought to excite laborers to industry and toil, that the darkness of the night may not come on them by surprise. Their exertions are well begun, so, when we see that a short period of life is allotted to us, we ought to be ashamed of languishing in idleness. In short, as soon as God enlightens us by calling us, we ought to make no delay, that the opportunity may not be lost.

While I am in the world, I am the light of the world. I consider this to have been added, by way of anticipation; for it might have been thought strange that Christ should speak of His time of working as limited. Thus, while He makes a distinction between Himself and others, still He says that His time of working is limited. For He compares himself to the sun which, though it illuminates the whole earth by its brightness, yet, when it sets, takes away the day along with it. In this manner He states that his death will resemble the setting of the sun; not that His death extinguishes or obscures His light, but that it withdraws the view of it from the world. At the same time, he shows that, when he was manifested in flesh, that was truly the time of the daylight of the world. For though God gave light in all ages, yet Christ, by His coming, diffused a new and unwonted splendor. Hence He infers that this was an exceedingly fit and proper time, and that it might be said to be a very bright day, for illustrating the glory of God, when God intended to make a more striking exhibition of Himself in his wonderful works.

But here arises another question. After the death of Christ, the power of God shone more illustriously, both in the fruit of the doctrine and in miracles. Paul applies this strictly to the time of his own preaching, that God, who from the beginning of the world commanded the light to shine out of darkness, at that time shone in the face of Christ by the Gospel, (2 Corinthians 4:6.)

And does Christ now give less light to the world than when he was in the presence of men, and conversed with them? I reply, when Christ had finished the course of his office, he labored not less powerfully by his ministers than he had labored by himself, while he lived in the world. First, it is not inconsistent with what he had said, that he was bound to perform, in his own person, what had been enjoined on him by the Father, and at the time when he was manifested in the flesh for that purpose. Secondly, it is not inconsistent with what he said, that his bodily presence was the true and remarkable day of the world, the luster of which was diffused over all ages. For whence did the holy fathers in ancient times, or whence do we now, desire light and day, but because the manifestation of Christ always darted its rays to a great distance, so as to form one continued day? Whence it follows, that all who have not Christ for their guide grope in the dark like the blind, and wander about in confusion and disorder. Yet we must hold by this meaning of the words, that, as the sun discovers to our view the lovely spectacle of earth and heaven, and the whole arrangement of nature, so God has visibly displayed the chief glory of his works in his Son.

More money for Bailouts

How much more of this governmental bull crap does the American citizen have to take?  The government takes our hard-earned money and passes it out like “snowflakes”.  We try to bailout the Airlines.  The executives buy private jets.  We try to bailout the auto industry.  They keep coming back for more.  However, the American citizen works hard and long to provide a decent living for the family.  In most households both the male and female have to work to sustain even a comfortable living with many surviving from paycheck to paycheck.  Yet, John Doe misses a payment on a bill of $39.00 and he receives phone calls and letters.  The phone calls come early morning or late at night.

We have allowed abortions, which means there are millions of non-existent taxpayers.  The baby boomers are beginning to retire.  This is going to cause a tremendous downfall.  The United States is up past its neck in debt.  The United States is no longer the #1 Superpower in the world.  We are presently engaged in a war for people that don’t want us there.  We have terrorists that believe that if they die they are going to the Spirit World.  We have major concerns in regards  to North Korea and the Soviet Nations.

Why wasn’t the money given to the people?  They would have bought items to stimulate the economy.

GMAC is expected to receive $3.5 billion more in federal aid to further stabilize the lender, The Wall Street Journal reported Tuesday.

The announcement is expected within days and would coincide with GMAC taking more steps to absorb losses related to its mortgage operations, the newspaper reported, citing people familiar with the situation.

GMAC, which is based in Detroit, has received $12.5 billion in taxpayer money and is 35 percent owned by the federal government. Results of the federal government’s “stress tests” earlier this year demanded that GMAC raise an $11.5 billion capital cushion to help it weather further economic decline. GMAC was unable to raise the funds privately.

The Journal quoted a source as saying that the measure has been crafted to return the company to profitability in the first quarter of 2010.

The new capital will likely allow GMAC to avert placing its ailing mortgage unit, Residential Capital LLC, or ResCap, into bankruptcy, the Journal reported.

‘Strategic review’
GMAC spokeswoman Gina Proia declined comment on the newspaper report but said the company “has been conducting a strategic review of its business and evaluating options to address the challenges in its mortgage operation.”

Proia said GMAC was trying to position itself to improve its financial performance and repay the U.S. government.

Treasury spokesman Andrew Williams also declined comment on the report but reiterated that Treasury is in discussions with GMAC “to ensure its capital needs” as determined by the stress tests.

GMAC, instrumental to the operations of auto-makers General Motors Co. and Chrysler Group LLC, has been in negotiations with Treasury officials for months over additional taxpayer aid.

Michael Carpenter, who succeeded Alvaro De Molina as the company’s chief executive officer in November, has said the company would need no more than $5.6 billion in aid. Lawmakers estimated the company would receive between $2 billion and $5 billion in additional aid.

Have You Committed The Unpardonable Sin

One of the most agonizing worries is the fear of being cut off from God. Even more distressing is the thought that one may be cut off forever, with no chance of redemption. Some fear that they have committed the “unpardonable sin.” Do you feel guilty, worried that your sins are keeping you away from God?
If you want deliverance from your guilty feelings—if you want to repent and you want relief for your feelings of despondency—there is help available. God is not out to trick people into sinning so He can find an excuse to destroy them. On the contrary, God wants us to be a part of His family and to share in His loving way of life. He wants us to learn from our mistakes, repent and change our lives.
Does your conscience bother you? Scripture explains that those who have actually committed the unpardonable sin have seared their consciences—and are totally consumed with rebellion against God. They are not worried about committing the ultimate transgression. They may be fearful of their ultimate punishment, but they are not equivocating over their unswerving dedication to wickedness and evil.
Just what is the unpardonable sin? Put simply, it is a sin that will not be forgiven. God is willing to forgive our sins if we repent of them, if we are sorry for them and if we are determined to change. But when one sears his conscience to never repent, he cannot be forgiven. Jesus states the problem clearly. “Assuredly, I say to you, all sins will be forgiven the sons of men, and whatever blasphemies they may utter; but he who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit never has forgiveness, but is subject to eternal condemnation” (Mark 3:28–29).
Jesus said that all sins will be forgiven the sons of men, if they repent of those sins. Yet the one unforgivable sin is blasphemy against the Holy Spirit. What does that mean? And how does one blaspheme against the Holy Spirit?
Blasphemy, according to Webster’s Dictionary, is “to speak impiously or irreverently of (God or sacred things)” or “to speak evil of, slander; abuse.” A parallel Gospel account gives us a powerful example. “Then one was brought to Him who was demon-possessed, blind and mute; and He [Jesus] healed him, so that the blind and mute man both spoke and saw. And all the multitudes were amazed and said, ‘Could this be the Son of David?’” (Matthew 12:22–23).
The crowds recognized that the prophesied Messiah, the Son of David, would be able to accomplish this miracle, but the Pharisees falsely asserted that Jesus used the power of Satan. “Now when the Pharisees heard it they said, ‘This fellow does not cast out demons except by Beelzebub, the ruler of the demons’” (Matthew 12:24).
These accusers blasphemed—they spoke evil of God’s miraculous work through the Holy Spirit. Jesus warned them powerfully: “Therefore I say to you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven men. Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man, it will be forgiven him; but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit, it will not be forgiven him, either in this age or in the age to come” (Matthew 12:31–32).
We all need to heed that warning. Notice the Apostle Paul’s warning to Christians, that “if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins” (Hebrews 10:26).
Willful sin is a fully conscious and determined act and attitude to not ever repent of sin. The willful sinner is intractable. He or she has a conscience seared to do evil. This kind of sinner will never even entertain the thought of repenting and desiring to return to God’s way of life (cf. 1 Timothy 4:2). The incorrigibly wicked are not blinded like the rest of the world; they have “knowledge of the truth.” They know the effect of Christ’s sacrifice, yet they profane it. Such ones face “a certain fearful expectation of judgment, and fiery indignation which will devour the adversaries. Anyone who has rejected Moses’ law dies without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. Of how much worse punishment, do you suppose, will he be thought worthy who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, counted the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified a common thing, and insulted the Spirit of grace?” (Hebrews 10:27–29).
Yes, there will be a fiery judgment—a lake of fire for those who persist in sinning willfully and who insult the Spirit of grace. Scripture also gives a warning to all who, as Christians, have been “partakers of the Holy Spirit.” Remember that God gives the Holy Spirit to those “who obey Him” (Acts 5:32). If Christians willfully turn back to evil—if they fall away and turn to a hardened and permanent attitude of disobedience—Scripture teaches that it is impossible to “renew them again to repentance, since they crucify again for themselves the Son of God, and put Him to an open shame” (Hebrews 6:6).
Truly converted Christians are those to whom God has given the Holy Spirit (Romans 8:9). Even converted Christians will sin—but they are committed to repenting always. They need a repentant attitude of mind, always looking forward to changing their behavior and attitude, even if they feel too weak to do so just yet. God is patient, but we need to respond to that patience because the time is growing short. Always desire repentance. Always desire to change your life for good even if, through weakness, you give in to temptation. Ask God for a spirit of repentance!

How Can Christians Avoid the Unpardonable Sin?

We have seen that the unpardonable sin is a sin that will not be forgiven because the sinner willfully blasphemes the Holy Spirit, and hardens his heart to never repent. Such a sinner sears his conscience to do evil, and will end up in the lake of fire, as we read in Revelation 21:8. How can we avoid having this belligerent and hardened mindset?
We all have the opportunity to choose life and love, rather than death and disobedience. But how can anyone deliberately and permanently decide to go the wrong way into rebellion? Here is what Mr. Herbert W. Armstrong wrote concerning that deliberate choice: “This may come from wrong reasoning; from wrong desire thought out to a final fixed, permanent decision as to his way of life; or, from allowing resentment in his heart toward either God or some person who may have wronged him. To allow resentment to embitter him, until he comes to change his whole life course, turning from God” (What Do You Mean, ‘The Unpardonable Sin’?, 1972, p. 34).
Hurt feelings often lead to resentment, and resentment turns to hate and bitterness. Are you resentful and hateful toward someone? We must always be on guard against such feelings. Remember: “Whoever hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him” (1 John 3:15). If you have those feelings, you need to overcome them by choosing to fear God and choosing to understand the seriousness of hate and resentment.
In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus gave another antidote to feelings of hate and desires for revenge. “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust” (Matthew 5:43–45).
To a carnal mind, that approach sounds naive and foolish. But following those instructions to pray for our enemies can keep us from the poison of bitterness. Yes, this is a revolutionary way of life. It is the antithesis of today’s selfish, covetous, me-first philosophy. But it is the way of life taught by the Son of God, and the way of life everyone in the Millennium—Christ’s future 1,000-year rule on earth—will learn. Try it! Actually get down on your knees—and pray for the welfare of someone you may even hate. You will be surprised at the relief of stress you will experience. Our attitude and approach toward others is extremely important.
God, in His judgment, will avenge injustice. As the Apostle Paul wrote: “Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, ‘Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,’ says the Lord” (Romans 12:19). We must all stand before the judgment seat of Christ (14:10). Trust God to punish the wicked, just as He says.
Notice one more key to overcoming bitterness. “Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord: looking carefully lest anyone fall short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up cause trouble, and by this many become defiled” (Hebrews 12:14–15).
Here is another warning to avoid bitterness. Notice the prescription: “Pursue peace with all people, and holiness.” Jesus said in the Sermon on the Mount: “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God” (Matthew 5:9). He said: “Do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you” (Matthew 5:44). Will you take His challenge? Will you humble yourself before God and pray for your enemies? This will go a long way toward overcoming any root of bitterness you may have.
One can also lose the Holy Spirit, and go down the pathway toward the unpardonable sin, by continued neglect. Do you neglect prayer, Bible study and fellowship with converted Christians?
This world has such a pull on our interests that we can be distracted from our spiritual priorities. What is your personal goal in life? Jesus said: “Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you” (Matthew 6:33). That should be our goal in life, according to our Savior! Neglecting our spiritual priorities leads to spiritual weakness, but God’s Spirit is the Spirit of power and of love and of a sound mind. The Apostle Paul wrote: “Therefore I remind you to stir up the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands. For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind” (2 Timothy 1:6–7).
Without that spiritual power, we will be unable to change our lives. But God is willing to give us that gift, the most valuable gift beyond the gift of His Son for the sins of the world. What must we do? On the day of Pentecost, at the very beginning of the New Testament Church, the Apostle Peter said: “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit” (Acts 2:38). Christians do receive that gift, but it is a gift that must be treasured, and even “stirred up,” as the Apostle Paul exhorted.
Continued neglect of our spiritual priorities will lead to a “care-less” attitude—an attitude that can lead to a hardened heart and the unpardonable sin. “Therefore we must give the more earnest heed to the things we have heard, lest we drift away” (Hebrews 2:1). Otherwise, “how shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation?” (v. 3). Christians must make the commitment never to allow bitter or resentful attitudes to poison their hearts and minds. And we must make the commitment to seek the Lord while He may be found. Keep up heartfelt prayer and Bible study. Choose to stay awake spiritually. Be committed to staying spiritually active and alert!
One of the most comforting and encouraging truths of the Bible is that billions of people—individuals whom some Christians have condemned or considered lost forever—were actually blinded spiritually. They were carnal, they were even wicked, but they never heard or understood the true Gospel. Yes, they will certainly be judged, as the wicked people of Sodom and Gomorrah were judged when God poured out fire and brimstone upon them. But did these blinded people commit the unpardonable sin? Jesus spoke about those cities which should have repented at His disciples’ preaching: “Assuredly, I say to you, it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment than for that city!” (Matthew 10:15). Even the people of Sodom and Gomorrah will have their opportunity for salvation!

Hope and Encouragement

God gave His promises to the patriarch Abraham, but on the surface it appeared that fulfillment of the promises was impossible. Notice what the Bible says about Abraham’s attitude. “Who against hope believed in hope, that he might become the father of many nations, according to that which was spoken, ‘So shall thy seed be’” (Romans 4:18, KJV).
Abraham “against hope, believed in hope” or as the New King James Version states it, Abraham “contrary to hope, in hope believed.” I can identify with that. Before I became a Christian, I felt the same way. Your Bible is filled with God’s promises to you. You can have an assurance, an expectation, and a hope for the future. There is not only hope, but promise—the promise of a new world, the Kingdom of God on earth and the millennial rule of Jesus Christ. I learned of Jesus’ promise to return to this earth—and that He would establish lasting world peace. Paul went on to say: “But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ” (Ephesians 2:13).
If you feel cut off from God, you can be reconciled. You can have hope. You can be brought near by the blood of Christ. If you want ministerial counsel, please call or write to the Regional Office nearest you, listed on page 30 of this magazine. There is hope for you—and for billions of people on this earth. God wants all of mankind to respond to His love. He “desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth” (1 Timothy 2:4). You, too, can come to that knowledge of truth.
If you are committed to changing your life—if you are truly sorry for your sins and truly repent—you will be forgiven. A vital key to avoiding the unpardonable sin is always maintaining a repentant attitude. “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9).
We need to confess our sins to our God and Savior. Remember the tax collector whom Jesus said went home justified rather than the Pharisee? He prayed: “God, be merciful to me a sinner” (Luke 18:13). May God help you to seek Him wholeheartedly, because He is able to forgive you your sins, and to cleanse you from all unrighteousness. If we maintain this repentant attitude, we can know that we have not committed, and will not commit, the unpardonable sin!

Jesus already paid the price. Basically each time we sin and we know we are sinning, we are crucifying the Lamb of God over and over again! But God is just and forgive our sins over and over again. However, there is no forgiveness of the Unpardonable Sin!!!!!!

Potential Catastrophic Breach Of Security

HONOLULU – President Barack Obama is demanding answers on why information was never pieced together by the U.S. intelligence community to trigger “red flags” and possibly prevent the botched Christmas Day attempt to blow up a Detroit-bound airliner.

“There was a mix of human and systemic failures that contributed to this potential catastrophic breach of security,” Obama said Tuesday.

Administration officials are poring over reams of data, looking for failings that allowed a 23-year-old Nigerian, Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab, with suspected ties to al-Qaida to board the Northwest Airlines flight from Nigeria by way of Amsterdam

John Chapter 8

The Pharisees and the adulteress. (1-11) Christ’s discourse with the Pharisees. (12-59)

Verses 1-11: Christ neither found fault with the law, nor excused the prisoner’s guilt; nor did he countenance the pretended zeal of the Pharisees. Those are self-condemned who judge others, and yet do the same thing. All who are any way called to blame the faults of others, are especially concerned to look to themselves, and keep themselves pure. In this matter Christ attended to the great work about which he came into the world, that was, to bring sinners to repentance; not to destroy, but to save. He aimed to bring, not only the accused to repentance, by showing her his mercy, but the prosecutors also, by showing them their sins; they thought to insnare him, he sought to convince and convert them. He declined to meddle with the magistrate’s office. Many crimes merit far more severe punishment than they meet with; but we should not leave our own work, to take that upon ourselves to which we are not called. When Christ sent her away, it was with this caution, Go, and sin no more. Those who help to save the life of a criminal, should help to save the soul with the same caution. Those are truly happy, whom Christ does not condemn. Christ’s favour to us in the forgiveness of past sins should prevail with us, Go then, and sin no more.

Verses 12-16: Christ is the Light of the world. God is light, and Christ is the image of the invisible God. One sun enlightens the whole world; so does one Christ, and there needs no more. What a dark dungeon would the world be without the sun! So would it be without Jesus, by whom light came into the world. Those who follow Christ shall not walk in darkness. They shall not be left without the truths which are necessary to keep them from destroying error, and the directions in the way of duty, necessary to keep them from condemning sin.

Verses 17-20: If we knew Christ better, we should know the Father better. Those become vain in their imaginations concerning God, who will not learn of Christ. Those who know not his glory and grace, know not the Father that sent him. The time of our departure out of the world, depends upon God. Our enemies cannot hasten it any sooner, nor can our friends delay it any longer, than the time appointed of the Father. Every true believer can look up and say with pleasure, My times are in thy hand, and better there than in my own. To all God’s purposes there is a time.

Verses 21-29: Those that live in unbelief, are for ever undone, if they die in unbelief. The Jews belonged to this present evil world, but Jesus was of a heavenly and Divine nature, so that his doctrine, kingdom, and blessings, would not suit their taste. But the curse of the law is done away to all that submit to the grace of the gospel. Nothing but the doctrine of Christ’s grace will be an argument powerful enough, and none but the Spirit of Christ’s grace will be an agent powerful enough, to turn us from sin to God; and that Spirit is given, and that doctrine is given, to work upon those only who believe in Christ. Some say, Who is this Jesus? They allow him to have been a Prophet, an excellent Teacher, and even more than a creature; but cannot acknowledge him as over all, God blessed for evermore. Will not this suffice? Jesus here answers the question. Is this to honour him as the Father? Does this admit his being the Light of the world, and the Life of men, one with the Father? All shall know by their conversion, or in their condemnation, that he always spake and did what pleased the Father, even when he claimed the highest honours to himself.

Verses 30-36: Such power attended our Lord’s words, that many were convinced, and professed to believe in him. He encouraged them to attend his teaching, rely on his promises, and obey his commands, notwithstanding all temptations to evil. Thus doing, they would be his disciples truly; and by the teaching of his word and Spirit, they would learn where their hope and strength lay. Christ spoke of spiritual liberty; but carnal hearts feel no other grievances than those that molest the body, and distress their worldly affairs. Talk to them of their liberty and property, tell them of waste committed upon their lands, or damage done to their houses, and they understand you very well; but speak of the bondage of sin, captivity to Satan, and liberty by Christ; tell of wrong done to their precious souls, and the hazard of their eternal welfare, then you bring strange things to their ears. Jesus plainly reminded them, that the man who practised any sin, was, in fact, a slave to that sin, which was the case with most of them. Christ in the gospel offers us freedom, he has power to do this, and those whom Christ makes free are really so. But often we see persons disputing about liberty of every kind, while they are slaves to some sinful lust.

Verses 37-40: Our Lord opposed the proud and vain confidence of these Jews, showing that their descent from Abraham could not profit those of a contrary spirit to him. Where the word of God has no place, no good is to be expected; room is left there for all wickedness. A sick person who turns from his physician, and will take neither remedies nor food, is past hope of recovery. The truth both heals and nourishes the hearts of those who receive it. The truth taught by philosophers has not this power and effect, but only the truth of God. Those who claim the privileges of Abraham, must do Abraham’s works; must be strangers and sojourners in this world; keep up the worship of God in their families, and always walk before God.

Verses 41-47: Satan prompts men to excesses by which they murder themselves and others, while what he puts into the mind tends to ruin men’s souls. He is the great promoter of falsehood of every kind. He is a liar, all his temptations are carried on by his calling evil good, and good evil, and promising freedom in sin. He is the author of all lies; whom liars resemble and obey, with whom all liars shall have their portion for ever. The special lusts of the devil are spiritual wickedness, the lusts of the mind, and corrupt reasonings, pride and envy, wrath and malice, enmity to good, and enticing others to evil. By the truth, here understand the revealed will of God as to the salvation of men by Jesus Christ, the truth Christ was now preaching, and which the Jews opposed.

Verses 48-53: Observe Christ’s disregard of the applause of men. those who are dead to the praises of men can bear their contempt. God will seek the honour of all who do not seek their own. In these verses we have the doctrine of the everlasting happiness of believers. We have the character of a believer; he is one that keeps the sayings of the Lord Jesus. And the privilege of a believer; he shall by no means see death for ever. Though now they cannot avoid seeing death, and tasting it also, yet they shall shortly be where it will be no more forever, (Ex 14:13).

Verses 54-59: Christ and all that are his, depend upon God for honour. Men may be able to dispute about God, yet may not know him. Such as know not God, and obey not the gospel of Christ, are put together, (2Th 1:8). All who rightly know anything of Christ, earnestly desire to know more of him. Those who discern the dawn of the light of the Sun of Righteousness, wish to see his rising. “Before Abraham was, I AM.” This speaks Abraham a creature, and our Lord the Creator; well, therefore, might he make himself greater than Abraham. I AM, is the name of God, (Ex 3:14); it speaks his self-existence; he is the First and the Last, ever the same, (Re 1:8). Thus he was not only before Abraham, but before all worlds, (Pr 8:23; Joh 1:1). As Mediator, he was the appointed Messiah, long before Abraham; the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world, (Re 13:8). The Lord Jesus was made of God Wisdom, Righteousness, Sanctification, and Redemption, to Adam, and Abel, and all that lived and died by faith in him, before Abraham. The Jews were about to stone Jesus for blasphemy, but he withdrew; by his miraculous power he passed through them unhurt. Let us stedfastly profess what we know and believe concerning God; and if heirs of Abraham’s faith, we shall rejoice in looking forward to that day when the Saviour shall appear in glory, to the confusion of his enemies, and to complete the salvation of all who believe in him.