But Exhort One Another Daily

Temple Baptist Church - 12-19-2018

Hebrews 3-7-13

Introduction:

A. In my 42+ years of being saved, I have never seen such malicious attacks being made against God’s people. 

1.  If God’s people ever needed each other and the fellowship of the church, it is today.  It is of no wonder that the Holy Spirit said, “Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching!” 

2.  Satan hates you; Satan hates the family; Satan hates this church! He does not worry about the liberal churches or the apostate churches.  He controls those.  He hates conservative, fundamental, Bible believing, sin hating, soul winning, straight preaching churches because, if he can destroy the church, he can destroy you.  If he destroys you, he can destroy your family.

B.  A man once used the phrase “men of quiet desperation.”  We will never know the extent of another’s burden. 

1.  I need you, you need me, and we all need each other!  I do not have the power, in most instances, to take a burden away from you but I can help, to some extent, to bear a part of your burden. 

2.  I heard this somewhere: “A burden shared is half a burden.”  There are times though when I cannot help you, either because of the magnitude of the burden or because of the privacy of the burden but I can pray for you.

a)  People Carry Burdens Of Sin

b)  People Carry Burdens Of Sickness

c)  People Carry Burdens Of Sorrow

d)  People Carry Burdens Of Poverty

e)  People Carry Burdens Of Disappointment

f)  People Carry Burdens Of Discouragement

C.  How can we exhort the brethren daily?  1 Thessalonians 5:14  Now we exhort you, brethren, warn them that are unruly, comfort the feebleminded,support the weak, be patient toward all men.

1.  Someone who is weak in the faith.  Romans 14:1  Him that is weak in the faith receive ye, but not to doubtful disputations.  (I find it interesting that the “weak” one in Romans 14 is the individual that says, “You can’t do this” or “you can’t do that!”  We are certainly not at liberty to commit sin, but we are at liberty instead of under law.  Though we are to receive such a weak one, I do not believe that this is what the verse refers to.)

2.  Or it can mean someone who is going through a trial that has “taken the wind out of their sails!” 

2 Corinthians 1:8  For we would not, brethren, have you ignorant of our trouble which came to us in Asia, that we were pressed out of measure, above strength, insomuch that we despaired even of life: (Though God gives both grace and strength in trials, we are still human and often have a disquieted soul in the midst of troubles.)

Psalms 42:5  Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted in me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him for the help of his countenance.  (Three times in Psalms 42 and 43, we find this verse.  The Psalmist wasn’t too spiritual either, was he?)

D.  How to exhort one another daily.

1.  By having compassion on each other. 1 Peter 3:8  Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous: (Just a shoulder to lean on.)

2.  By praying for each other.  James 5:16  Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.  (It is the best thing that I can do for you.)

3.  By just being there with each other and for each other.  2 Timothy 4:11  Only Luke is with me. Take Mark, and bring him with thee: for he is profitable to me for the ministry.  (Often, during a great trial, one has a tendency to feel alone.)

4.  By being a “listening ear” for each other. Galatians 6:1-2  Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.  (2)  Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.  (A listening ear, not a telling tongue!  Learn to listen and then to keep what you hear in confidence.  Sometimes, people just need to “unload” a little and get something off their chest.)

5.  By doing what we can to strengthen each other’s faith.  Job 16:5  But I would strengthen you with my mouth, and the moving of my lips should asswage your grief.  (Letting them know that they are not alone in their trial: God loves them and will not forsake them, neither will their brother or sister in the LORD.  There is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.)

6.  By exhorting each other to continue in the faith. Hebrews 10:25  Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.  (Your being faithful to church exhorts the weak.  What a blessing it is when, during a great trial, you can come to church and see God’s people!  My family has been there and want you to know what a blessing it is to just come apart [church means a called our assembly] from the world for a little while and worship the Lord together.)

7.  By weeping with each other. Romans 12:15  Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep.  (Sometimes, you just cry with them.  I have been with families that are hurting and, when I tried to pray for them, I just cried with them.  Let me give you an Old Testament example of something to do and something not to do.)

Job 2:11-13  Now when Job's three friends heard of all this evil that was come upon him, they came every one from his own place; Eliphaz the Temanite, and Bildad the Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite: for they had made an appointment together to come to mourn with him and to comfort him.  (12)  And when they lifted up their eyes afar off, and knew him not, they lifted up their voice, and wept; and they rent every one his mantle, and sprinkled dust upon their heads toward heaven.  (13)  So they sat down with him upon the ground seven days and seven nights, and none spake a word unto him: for they saw that his grief was very great.

Job 4:1  Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered and said,  (Job’s three friends were just that, his friends.  They hurt for him and with him but would have been much better off to listen and not say a word!  When you do not know what to say, just be there and say nothing.)

The Elijah Syndrome

Temple Baptist Church - 12-9-2018

Romans 11:1-6; 1 Kings 19

Introduction:

A.  Paul begins this chapter with a question that he immediately answers for the believers in Rome.  “Hath God cast away His people?”  “God forbid!”

B.  We need to remember that chapters 9-11 deal with the Nation of Israel.

1.  Chapter 9 – The Election of the Nation of Israel.

2.  Chapter 10 – The Rejection of the Nation of Israel.

3.  Chapter 11 – The Restoration of the Nation of Israel.

C.  Though the Nation of Israel became “marred” in the hands of the Potter, the Potter did not throw the clay away. 

Jeremiah 18:1-6  The word which came to Jeremiah from the LORD, saying,  (2)  Arise, and go down to the potter's house, and there I will cause thee to hear my words.  (3)  Then I went down to the potter's house, and, behold, he wrought a work on the wheels.  (4)  And the vessel that he made of clay was marred in the hand of the potter: so he made it again another vessel, as seemed good to the potter to make it.  (5)  Then the word of the LORD came to me, saying,  (6)  O house of Israel, cannot I do with you as this potter? saith the LORD. Behold, as the clay is in the potter's hand, so are ye in mine hand, O house of Israel.

D.  Last week, we saw that God has saved a remnant in Israel and is saving a remnant in our day.  GOD HAS ALWAYS HAD HIS REMNANT!

E.  I want to leave Israel for a few minutes tonight to look at what I call “The Elijah Syndrome.”  Something that none of us are exempt from.  Paul takes us back in time to the condition of the Nation of Israel in the days of Elijah, the prophet.  (1 Kings, chapter 19)

James 5:17  Elias was a man subject to like passions as we are …

F.  Often, in this time of apostasy, when most churches and preachers are “falling away” from the Old Paths, we find out selves seemingly alone in the fight.

G.  I use the word “seemingly” because of God’s promise in Hebrews 13:5 to NEVER leave us nor forsake us.  Never is often referred to as an absolute negative. It means never for any reason or at any time.

H.  We often forget this in these last perilous days.  Bible believing, Bible following people are once again a remnant in our day.  Little hands full of people gather around America and the world worshipping God in the old ways of the fathers.

I.  I want to look at Elijah for a few minutes because we now sit where this great prophet of God once sat.

1.  In 1 Kings, chapter 18, Elijah stood alone on Mount Carmel against the 450 prophets of Baal and God stood with him. 

a.  God wrought a great victory that day through a solitary prophet.  God still controls and victory in our day is assured.

b.  You would have thought that Elijah would now be bold enough “to go bear hunting with a switch!”  Instead of defeat,

2.  In 1 Kings, chapter 19, Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah telling him that on the morrow, he would be as dead as the 450 prophets of Baal.

1 Kings 19:1-2  And Ahab told Jezebel all that Elijah had done, and withal how he had slain all the prophets with the sword.  (2)  Then Jezebel sent a messenger unto Elijah, saying, So let the gods do to me, and more also, if I make not thy life as the life of one of them by to morrow about this time.

3.  Elijah fled from the face of Jezebel though God was still with him.  “He requested for himself” implies that he was speaking to God.

1 Kings 19:3-4  And when he saw that, he arose, and went for his life, and came to Beersheba, which belongeth to Judah, and left his servant there.  (4)  But he himself went a day's journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a juniper tree: (Elijah left his servant and went alone.  No one is invited to a “Pity Party” because they may tell you their problems instead of listening to yours.  This messes up the party!)

4.  Elijah says that “It is enough.”  Spiritually, Elijah was done.  He had had enough and wanted to die.

1 Kings 19:4 and he requested for himself that he might die; and said, It is enough; now, O LORD, take away my life; for I am not better than my fathers.  (Both religious people and the world have always “killed the prophets … tore down the altars” of God.  Sometimes, people of God and men of God come to the point of quitting because their eyes are upon their surroundings instead of upon God.)

5.  God’s patience with Elijah.  God sent an angel, ministers to the heirs of salvation, to attend to feed Elijah.

1 Kings 19:5-7  And as he lay and slept under a juniper tree, behold, then an angel touched him, and said unto him, Arise and eat.  (6)  And he looked, and, behold, there was a cake baken on the coals, and a cruse of water at his head. And he did eat and drink, and laid him down again.  (7)  And the angel of the LORD came again the second time, and touched him, and said, Arise and eat; because the journey is too great for thee.  (God understands what it is to feel lonely at times.  Just look at our Lord Jesus’ life.  You can be alone in a crowd!  God knows our frame and is very gentle with us.)

6.  Elijah’s journey to come.  “The journey is too great for thee.”  We often sing the little song “I Have Decided To Follow Jesus.”  One verse says, “Though none go with me, still I will follow.”  Are we willing to live for the Lord if we must do it alone?

7.  God gave Elijah all that he needed to carry on.  1 Kings 19:8  And he arose, and did eat and drink, and went in the strength of that meat forty days and forty nights unto Horeb the mount of God.

8.  God’s question for Elijah. 

1 Kings 19:9  And he came thither unto a cave, and lodged there; and, behold, the word of the LORD came to him, and he said unto him, What doest thou here, Elijah?  (The will of God for us in these days is not hiding in a cave but standing openly for the LORD.)

9.  God’s reminder to us that we are not alone in the battle.

Romans 11:4  But what saith the answer of God unto him? I have reserved to myself seven thousand men, who have not bowed the knee to the image of Baal.  (As in Nehemiah’s day, we may be scattered upon the wall, but we are not alone.  Live each day for Christ as if it is you last day on earth.)

Where to find encouragement:

1.  You Will Find Encouragement In The Lord - 1 Samuel 30:6  And David was greatly distressed; for the people spake of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and for his daughters: but David encouraged himself in the LORD his God.

a.  There Is Encouragement In His Person - Habakkuk 3:17-18  Although the fig tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vines; the labour of the olive shall fail, and the fields shall yield no meat; the flock shall be cut off from the fold, and there shall be no herd in the stalls:  Yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation.

b.  There Is Encouragement In His Presence - Hebrews 13:5  Let yourconversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.

c.  There Is Encouragement In His Power - Romans 8:31  What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?

Hebrews 13:6  So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.

d.  There Is Encouragement In His Purpose - Philippians 4:12-13  I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.   I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.

Romans 8:28  And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

2 Corinthians 1:9  But we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God which raiseth the dead:

e.  There Is Encouragement In His Protection - 2 Corinthians 1:10  Who delivered us from so great a death, and doth deliver: in whom we trust that he will yet deliver us;

2.  You Will Find Encouragement In the Word - Psalms 119:28  My soul melteth for heaviness: strengthen thou me according unto thy word. 

a.  There Is Encouragement In Its Promises - Deuteronomy 1:21  Behold, the LORD thy God hath set the land before thee: go up and possess it, as the LORD God of thy fathers hath said unto thee; fear not, neither be discouraged.

b.  There Is Encouragement In Its Preaching - Hebrews 13:22  And I beseech you, brethren, suffer the word of exhortation: for I have written a letter unto you in few words.

2 Timothy 4:2  Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.

3.  You Will Find Encouragement In The Church - Hebrews 10:25  Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching. 

           

a.  There Is Encouragement In Your Pastor

1)  To Continue - Deuteronomy 3:28  But charge Joshua, and encourage him, and strengthen him: for he shall go over before this people, and he shall cause them to inherit the land which thou shalt see.

2)  To Contend - Jude 1:3  Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.

3)  To Conform -  Titus 2:11-15  For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,  Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;  Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;  Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.  These things speak, and exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no man despise thee.

b.  There Is Encouragement In Your People

1)  There Is Visual Encouragement - Hebrews 10:25  Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.  (It encourages me just to see them!)

2)  There Is Vocal Encouragement - Hebrews 3:13  But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.  (It encourages me just to hear them!)

A Continuance Of Grace

Temple Baptist Church - 12-2-2018

Romans 11:1-6

Introduction: 

A.  Verse 1-2 - Paul now asked the obvious question: “Hath God cast away his people.”  Immediately, we find Paul’s answer to the question: “God forbid!”  How could God cast away the Nation of Israel despite the prayers of God’s people. 

Romans 10:1  Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved.

B.  Going back to Jeremiah, Chapter 18, we find God’s answer to the question:

Jeremiah 18:4-6  And the vessel that he made of clay was marred in the hand of the potter: so he made it again another vessel, as seemed good to the potter to make it.  (5)  Then the word of the LORD came to me, saying,  (6)  O house of Israel, cannot I do with you as this potter? saith the LORD. Behold, as the clay is in the potter's hand, so are ye in mine hand, O house of Israel.

C.  Though set aside for a while, God will never cast away His peculiar people, Israel.

Jeremiah 31:1-3  At the same time, saith the LORD, will I be the God of all the families of Israel, and they shall be my people.  (2)  Thus saith the LORD, The people which were left of the sword found grace in the wilderness; even Israel, when I went to cause him to rest.  (3)  The LORD hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee.

D.  Verses 2-3 - Elijah prayed against Israel in what we call in imprecatory prayer.  “Lord, they have killed thy prophets, and digged down thine altars; and I am left alone, and they seek my life.”

E.  Verse 4-5 – God answered Elijah.  “I have reserved to myself seven thousand men, who have not bowed the knee to the image of Baal.”  

F.  Though the Nation rejected the prophets in both Old and New Testaments, there has continued to be a remnant of believers in every dispensation.

1.  The Old Testament Saints – Acts 15: 7-11  And when there had been much disputing, Peter rose up, and said unto them, Men and brethren, ye know how that a good while ago God made choice among us, that the Gentiles by my mouth should hear the word of the gospel, and believe.  And God, which knoweth the hearts, bare them witness, giving them the Holy Ghost, even as he did unto us; And put no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith.  Now therefore why tempt ye God, to put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear?  But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved, even as they.

a)  Grace Was Before The Law - Genesis 6:8  But Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD.

b)  Grace Was During The Law - Jeremiah 31:2  Thus saith the LORD, The people which were left of the sword found grace in the wilderness; even Israel, when I went to cause him to rest.

Psalms 78:37-39, 72  For their heart was not right with him, neither were they stedfast in his covenant.  But he, being full of compassion, forgave their iniquity, and destroyed them not: yea, many a time turned he his anger away, and did not stir up all his wrath.  For he remembered that they [were but] flesh; a wind that passeth away, and cometh not again . . . (72)  So he fed them according to the integrity of his heart; and guided them by the skilfulness of his hands.

2.  The New Testament Saints - Romans 3:24  Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:

a)  Saving Grace - Ephesians 2:8-9  For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:  Not of works, lest any man should boast.

Galatians 2:16  Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed

in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.

b)  Securing Grace - 2 Thessalonians 2:16  Now our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God, even our Father, which hath loved us, and hath given us everlasting consolation and good hope through grace,

2 Timothy 1:9  Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began.

c) Sanctifying Grace – Titus 2:12 Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;

            3.  The Tribulation Saints

a)  Evident Grace - Revelation 7:13-14  And one of the elders answered, saying unto me, What are these which are arrayed in white robes? and whence came they? And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation,and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.

b)  Enduring Grace - Revelation 12:11  And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.

            4.  The Millennial Saints

Isaiah 11:10-11  And in that day there shall be a root of Jesse, which shall stand for an ensign of the people; to it shall the Gentiles seek: and his rest shall be glorious. (11) And it shall come to pass in that day, that the Lord shall set his hand again the second time to recover the remnant of his people …

5.  The Eternal Saints (It started in grace and it will always be grace through out all eternity.  Halleluiah!)

Ephesians 2:5-7  Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)  And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:  That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.

G.  The Character of God’s Grace.

1.  God’s Grace Is Amazing - Romans 5:8  But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

1 Corinthians 15:10  But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.

2.  God’s Grace Is Admonishing - Titus 2:11-12  For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;

3.  God’s Grace Is Available - Titus 2:11  For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,

4.  God’s Grace Is Attacked - Galatians 1:6  I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel:

Jude 4  For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ.

H.  The Consistency Of Grace.  Grace has never changed.

a.  Grace Offered In The Past - Romans 10:21  But to Israel he saith, All day long I have stretched forth my hands unto a disobedient and gainsaying people.

b.  Grace Offered In The Present - John 7:37  In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink.

Revelation 22:17  And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.

I.  The Continuing of Grace.  Salvation will always be grace and grace alone and I thank God for it.

1.  Grace Frees Us From Works - Romans 11:6  And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work.

2.  Grace Frees Us From Boasting - Romans 3:27-28  Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? Nay: but by the law of faith.  Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.

3.  Grace Frees Us From Worry - Romans 4:4-5  Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt.  But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.

When The Word Became Flesh

Temple Baptist Church - 12-2-2018

John 1:14

Introduction:

A.  Christmas is almost upon us once again and our hearts turn back to Bethlehem and the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ.

B.  I want to look at these verses considering His First Advent.  These verses are so profound as they give us valuable insight into who Christ was, what He became, and why He came.

C.  In these verses, we see:

1.  The Eternality of Christ – Verse 1 — “In the beginning was the Word.”  1 John 1:1  That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life;  (The Gospel of John and the Book of 1 John begin with the same truth concerning Christ’s eternality.  The great “I AM THAT I AM,” the self-existing One, the Everlasting Father of Isaiah 9, the Eternal God.  A truth to be believed though a truth that cannot be comprehended.  He was, He is, He always will be!)

2.  The Union of Christ – Verse 1 – “and the Word was with God.”  1 John 5:7  For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one.  (John 10 says, “I and the Father are one!”  God is one God, manifesting Himself in three persons: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Ghost.  All three are co-equal in all power and attributes.  Perfectly one in person, one in purpose, and one agreement.)

3.  The Deity of Christ – Verse 1 – “and the Word was God.”  Titus 2:13  Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;  (The great Jehovah God of the Old Testament; LORD God.  Essential to our ability to glorify God is the knowledge of God’s person.  There are so many names given to God in the Old Testament that give insight concerning His person, position, and power.  El Shaddai-Almighty God, El Elyon-the Most-High God, El Olam-The Everlasting God, Yahweh-the Existing God, Adonai-Master. 

4.  The Creation of Christ – Verse 3 – “All things were made by Him.”  Ephesians 3:9  And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ:  (Everything that exists came by Christ, through Christ, and belongs to Christ.  God said it and it was done!  The universe, this world, and everything in them belongs to Him.)

5.  The Life of Christ – Verse 4 – “In Him was life.”  John 14:6  Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.  (Man cannot give life.  Only Life can beget life and that Life comes from God.  Plant life, animal life, fowl life, and the life of man came from God.  THE life, not a life.)

6.  The Illumination of Christ – Verse 4 – “and the life was the light of men … which lighteth every man.”  John 1:9  That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world.  (With man’s life comes the “light” of the knowledge of God.  Every man is born God conscious, not atheistic.  Atheism is learned from other atheists.  Theism is inherent in man.  God breathed into Adam’s nostrils the “breath of life.”  God’s life, eternal life.)

7.  The Will of Christ – Verse 7 – “that all men through Him might believe.”  1 Timothy 2:4  Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.  (God is not willing that any perish.  God takes no pleasure in the death of the wicked.  To die without Christ is to die out of the will of God.)

8.  The Rejection of Christ – Verse 10-11 – “the world knew Him not … His own received Him not.”  John 15:18  If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you.  (The world wants no God.  The world wants to be their own personal “god.”  No God, no accountability; no God, no purpose in life; no God, no life after death.  BUT, we are accountable, we do have purpose, and there is life after death.  “The fool hath said in his heart, there is not God.”)

9.  The Incarnation of Christ – Verse 14 – “And the Word was made flesh.”  1 John 1:2  (For the life was manifested, and we have seen it, andbear witness, and shew unto you that eternal life, which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us;)  (The “seed of the woman” was born in Bethlehem 2,000 years ago.  The Word was made flesh and dwelt among us.”  That is the Reason for the Season.  “For God so loved the world!”)

10.  The Purpose of Christ – Verse 12 – “But as many as received Him.”  1 John 3:23  And this is his commandment, That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment. (Receiving the promise of God: “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”)

Conclusion:  The greatest Gift ever given was the Gift of God’s Son.  Receive Him and have eternal life in heaven; reject Him and have eternal life in hell.