JOHN 4:20–26 The woman said to Him, “I know that Messiah is coming.” … Jesus said to her, “I who speak to you am He” (John 4:25–26). As soon as Jesus confronted the Samaritan woman with her sin, she changed the subject. This is very typical. We proclaim the Gospel, we confront unbelievers with their … Continue reading “DISCOVERING THE TRUTH”
EXPOSING OUR SIN
JOHN 4:15–19 Jesus said to her, “Go, call your husband, and come here.” The woman answered and said, “I have no husband” (John 4:16–17). Before anyone can truly come to Christ, they must have a sense of guilt. This is the whole point of verses 15–19. Jesus told the Samaritan woman of a living water … Continue reading “EXPOSING OUR SIN”
LIVING WATER
JOHN 4:10–14 Whoever drinks of this water will thirst again, but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst (John 4:13–14). Before we get into the particulars of the conversation between Jesus and the Samaritan woman, let us look at the contrast between the third chapter of John (Christ’s work … Continue reading “LIVING WATER”
MINISTRY IN SAMARIA
JOHN 4:1–9 How is that You, being a Jew, ask a drink from me, a Samaritan woman? For the Jews have no dealings with Samaritans (John 4:9). When Israel’s last king, Hosea, transferred his allegiance to Egypt, Samaria (the capital of the northern kingdom) was taken captive in the year 722 B.C. Most of the … Continue reading “MINISTRY IN SAMARIA”
THE FINAL CLIMAX
JOHN 3:31–36 He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him (John 3:36). With verse 36, the testimony of John reaches its final climax, that only those who have abiding faith in Jesus Christ will … Continue reading “THE FINAL CLIMAX”
THE PRIDE OF MAN
JOHN 3:22–30 He must increase, but I must decrease (John 3:30). We return to our study of John today by looking at pride. The heart of sin is pride, that desire of men and women to rule their own lives on their own terms for their own benefit. Ultimately, pride has as its object to … Continue reading “THE PRIDE OF MAN”
A CERTAIN SALVATION
ROMANS 8 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? (Rom. 8:35). The Bible teaches us that our redemption is secured by the promises of God, that we are “kept by His power” (1 Peter 1:5). God is the one who called us to Himself. He is the one who sanctifies. He is the … Continue reading “A CERTAIN SALVATION”
GOD’S SOVEREIGNTY
EPHESIANS 1 He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world (Eph. 1:4). As you have probably observed from reading Jesus’ conversation with Nicodemus, regeneration is based solely on God’s choice. He is the one who changes our hearts and enables us to come to faith. He does not give us a new … Continue reading “GOD’S SOVEREIGNTY”
DEPENDING ON GOD
LUKE 8:1–8 But others fell on good ground, sprang up, and yielded a crop a hundredfold (Luke 8:8). In the account of Lydia’s conversion in Acts 16, we see that her new life was initiated by God: “Now a certain woman named Lydia heard us.… The Lord opened her heart to heed the things spoken … Continue reading “DEPENDING ON GOD”
AN ACT OF GOD
EZEKIEL 26:16–38 I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh (Ezek. 36:26). As we have already alluded to, the theological term for being “born again” is regeneration. When we speak of … Continue reading “AN ACT OF GOD”