| John 1:4-5 Display Chapter and Footnotes 4 In him was life; and the life was the light of men.2 [The word, who is Jesus, is the life of God and the light of men. Christ is the light of men: the true light that enlightens every man who comes into the world, given to them so that they might believe. John 1:7,9. The life of God in measure to control men was lost for all men when Adam disobeyed God and fell. When you have crucified your sinful, selfish life and are afterward restored to the righteousness and holiness of God's image, Christ, then you live in Christ, and Christ lives in you, controlling all your words and deeds; and this life is then eternal. Eternal life is to be a new creature in Christ on earth and forever.] 5 The light shines in the darkness; and the darkness did not comprehend it.3 [The light of the Word, Christ, shines in the darkness of men's hearts, but men do not understand that it is Christ, gently and anonymously reasoning with them, attempting to reprove them for their evil ways. Eph 5:13. If men believe what Christ tells them, they believe and love the truth, but if they deny the reasoning, loving their selfish, evil ways, they hate the truth and light, who is Christ. Peter told believers: "we have the more sure prophetic word [the word in your heart]; to which you do well to pay attention, as to a light that shines in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star [Jesus] rises in your hearts;" 2 Pet 1:19.] | John 1:7,9 Display Chapter and Footnotes 7 This man came as a witness, to bear witness to the Light, so that all men might believe through it [the Light, Christ].4 [John came to bear witness to the Light, (the Light of the Word), so that all men might believe what the light reveals to be true, obey the light, and thereby be saved — this is to believe in Jesus. From the Word of the Lord within: "Heed the light, which is to assent to truth." Jesus tells us: "believe in the light, that you may become the children of light," John 12:36. This Light had been prophesied to be God's new covenant with salvation to the ends of the earth, to both Jews and Gentiles. Isa 42:6,49:6. The light of life, which God has hidden in the heart, is the mediator of the new covenant; he that would come into the new covenant, must believe the light and obey the light, Christ.] 9 Which is the true Light that enlightens every man who comes into the world.5 [All men have a small measure of the light (Christ) given to them so that they might believe the light's anonymous convictions of their evil ways to be true and eventually be saved; for God would have all men to be saved, and so He gives all men equal opportunity to be saved with sufficient light to guide them. If we persistently heed the light and word in our hearts that reproves us, then we receive more of His spirit, eventually being freed from all sin and seeing Jesus bring us our salvation and eternal life. With a hunger for righteousness we seek God by exposing ourselves to his further commands and teachings by waiting on him in humble silence as we listen and watch.] | John 3:19-21 Display Chapter and Footnotes 19 And this is the condemnation, that light has come into the world [every man], but men loved darkness rather than light because their deeds were evil. [All men have a small measure of the light (Christ) that shines in the darkness within them to expose the evil in their hearts as it anonymously pleads with them to turn from their selfish, evil ways; but men, loving their evil ways, ignore the gentle pleadings of God and so remain in darkness, committing sin, walking according to their carnal mind and evil imagination. He who rejects me and does not receive my words, has one for his judge — the words that I have spoken [to him] will judge him in the last day. John 12:48] 20 For everyone who does evil deeds [sins] hates the light [so hates Christ, who is the light] and does not come to the light for fear his deeds will be exposed and reproved. [The true light is given to every man who comes into the world so that he might believe. John 1:7,9. The light shines in darkness, but men do not understand that it is Christ anonymously reasoning with them, attempting to show (reprove) men for their evil. John 1:5, Eph 5:13. Loving their selfish life, and hating the Light (who is Christ) that attempts to correct (reprove) them, selfish men flee from the light (Christ) and so remain in condemnation, walking in darkness, continuing to sin, fulfilling the lusts and desires of their flesh.] 21 But he who practices truth comes to the light, so that his deeds may be shown to have been produced [formed and powered] through God." [Those who have been experiencing the Spirit's removal of sin from their hearts, love the light and eagerly come to the light for further destruction of sin. Those who have been freed from sin, eagerly come to the light to be directed by God to do works of love, to their joy and God's glory: for we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works. Eph 2:10. A man comes to the light by waiting on God in humble silence, watching and listening in hope of change by Jesus. Those who come to the light, love Christ, as evidenced by their obedience to the truth of what the Light and Word reveals to them; and they come to see more light, which then guides them in all words and deeds.] |