John 1:1-12 – Some Will – Bible study

John 1:11-12 Some Will Many people doubt the Bible and the claims of Jesus Christ. Statements like: a. We are all born sinners. b. All mankind will stand before God in judgment. c. Any statement related to the reality of hell and damnation. can have a very adverse effect on people. They reason, if God is a God of love, He would never do such things. If need be, they reason, He would use His power to make things right. What they do not realize, is that is exactly what God has done. He has used His power to make things right and the way to make things right is through His Son, Jesus Christ. 1. It was Gods power that created the plan of salvation. 2. It was Gods power that caused God to become flesh. 3. It was Gods power that caused the miraculous conception and the virgin birth. 4. It was Gods power that allowed God to walk among mankind for thirty-three years and not obliterate him! 5. It was Gods power that protected and preserved Jesus for three and one half years. 6. It was Gods power that gave and fulfilled all the prophecies about Jesus. 7. It was Gods power that resurrected Jesuss body. 8. It was Gods power that applied Jesus death, burial, and resurrection to our accounts. Yet according to verse \#11\, most will not receive Jesus Christ or what Jesus Christ as done. For a few moments, lets consider that statement: I. The Bible says that some received Him (Jesus) not. They rejected Jesus. A. In context, those to whom Jesus came would mean the Jews. 1. Jesus was born of the seed of Abraham. That would make Jesus a Jew by nationality. 2. Jesus was also born into the Jewish culture, raised in Israel by Jewish parents. 3. So both by blood and culture, Jesus was Jewish. 4. Sadly the Jews as a whole have rejected Jesus as their Christ and Messiah. B. However, in a boarder sense, it would mean humanity, all of the earth, who have also rejected Jesus as their Savior. C. Why has humanity rejected Jesus? The Bible answers that by giving us two categories: knowledge and choice. 1. Some reject Him in ignorance. a. That is one of the reasons God gave preaching, to open the eyes of the blind. b. There are two major causes of ignorance. (1) Knowledge John 1:10 He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not. (2) Comprehension John 1:5 And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not. (a) They do not get how important Jesus is. (b) That can be caused by the devil. 2Co 4:4 In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them. 2. Some reject Him for because they want something else more:: a. \#Matt 13:22\ mentions two things that keep souls from Christ. Matt 13:22 He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful. (1) The CARES of this world (2) The deceit of RICHES (a) You do not have to consider yourself wealthy to let money keep you from Christ. (b) Many let the pursuit of riches keep them from Christ. b. \#1John 2:16\ also mentions two things. 1Jo 2:16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. (1) That verses mentions the LUST of the world and the lust of the eyes. (a) Lets just call it lust. (b) There are many things that the eyes and the flesh lusts after in this world. (c) This is by far the most visible and graphic generation which has ever lived. (2) The PRIDE of life (a) Such pride is what kept the Pharisees from Christ. (b) They couldnt accept their sin and His righteousness. II. The Bible also says that some received Him (Jesus). A. The receivers arent that much different from the rejecters. 1. They arent specially ordained. 2. They arent especially smarter. B. They just responded when the Holy Ghost called! 1. God has done a work that can cause every human to come to salvation. Titus 2:11 For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, a. The word "hath appeared" means "to become visible, to show to, to bring light upon." John 1:4 In him was life; and the life was the light of men. 5 And the light shineth in darkness. (1) In every persons life, God turns the light on at least once. (2) That does not mean that a person knows all they need to know to be saved. (3) It just means that know they need something. (4) That light is enough to get them looking for salvation. b. In this country, I believe God has given enough light so that all can be saved. c. That does not eliminate our responsibility to tell every individual, but youd have to turn off the television, radio, walk past a hundred gospel- preaching churches, refuse to enter a bookstore, or read a Bible or pick up a tract to stay lost in this country. 2. The light some individuals have received may be small due to where they live or their lifestyle, but God has given enough grace for all in this country to be saved. 3. Your light may be as small and as insignificant as hearing this preacher this morning; but if you respond, you can be saved. C. Some get sidetracked, waiting on a brighter light. 1. What they should be watching for is a true light, one that illuminates the truth. John 1:9 That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world. 2. A little bit of truth made visible is a better than a whole lot of lies shining brightly. 3. A small light of truth is better than a bright light of lies. 4. Jesus is THE TRUE LIGHT and what He reveals is truth. a. Jesus has revealed that He is the sinless Son of God. b. Jesus has revealed that you are a sinner. c. Jesus has revealed that He, the sinless, has died for you, the sinner. d. Jesus has revealed that if you will repent of your sin and trust Him as your Savior, He will save you. 5. You dont need to know any more than that to be saved. III. The Bible says that those who received Him received power. A. Power is a right or authority. 1. Power of forgiveness Mark 2:10 But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins. Luke 7:48 And he (Jesus) said unto her, Thy sins are forgiven. Romans 4:7 Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered. a. Despite what our doctors of the mind may tell you, you cannot forgive yourself. b. The reason is because your offenses are not primarily against you. They are against God. c. Once you accept the forgiveness of God, God erases the offense and you can forget it. 2. Power of eternal life John 6:68 Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life. Joh 3:15 That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life. Joh 10:28 And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. Joh 17:2 As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him. a. You cannot live on this earth and in that body forever. b. God does not offer forever life on this world. c. But He does offer forever life after this world. 3. Power of kinship with God John 1:12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God Ro 8:17 And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together. Re 21:7 He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son. a. Every other gift God offers can be summed up in being made a relative of God. b. At salvation, you become His adopted son or daughter with all the rights and privileges thereof. B. However, as much as it bothers people, I must also tell you that those who reject Jesus ChristGod only means of salvationwill face God at a judgment and damnation as their punishment. Matthew 23:33 Ye serpents, ye generation of vipers, how can ye escape the damnation of hell? Matt 13:41 The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity; 50 And shall cast them into the furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth. Revelation 14:10 The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb: 11 And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever The key is to receive Jesus Christ. How? 1. Admit that you are sinner and repent 2. Believe who Jesus said He was and what the Bible said He did. 3. Call on Jesus to save you.