There came a man sent from God, whose name was John.  He came as a witness, to testify about the Light, so that all might believe through him. He was not the Light, but he came to testify about the Light.

• "Sent from God
  • Miraculous birth
  • Foretold in prophecy
  • Announced by none less than Gabriel himself
  • None greater... LK. 7:25
  • Cousin to the Messiah
  • "A witness to testify" - John is described solely in terms of his mission

1 John 1:1-2 - What was from the beginning, what we have heard, what we have seen with our eyes, what we have looked at and touched with our hands, concerning the Word of Life-- 2 and the life was manifested, and we have seen and testify and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and was manifested to us

1:14 - Christ came to show us God, full of Grace and Truth.

•     John was not the light. There were people following John around… He said, "It’s not ME you are looking for…." 1:29 – 30.  READ
  
  John is not contrasting FALSE light to true light… John the Baptist was not shining False light – In fact Jesus calls John "the lamp that was burning and was shining." (5:35)
  
  Jesus called the disciples Light in Matt. 5:14
  
  Eph. 5:8 says all who are godly "are light"

The writer wants to clarify the source of the light. It’s NOT John, and by the way, it’s not YOU. It’s Christ!

EX: Sun and Moon.

• "So all might believe" – This is why John did what he did… The voice calling out in the wilderness… Repent! Believe!

What’s your purpose on this earth? Run around like a rat in a cage for 65 years, play golf for the last 10 and then push up daisies in a cemetery? 

We’re supposed to be a reflection of God’s glory. We’re here to testify… to tell what we’ve seen! 

EX: Mirror

EX: Song "It’s all about ME… And all this is for me… and for the comfort of my life, It’s all about me….  " 

If you want to be fulfilled, then you must know your purpose in life.

TRANS – Believe WHAT? Or better… WHO?

2. If you want to have impact for eternity, then you must keep your focus on Christ.

9 There was the true Light which, coming into the world, enlightens every man. 10 He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him. 11 He came to His own, and those who were His own did not receive Him.

•     True Light
  • Genuine – "True" as John uses it means what is really real. Not just words piled upon words, but regardless of what Coca-Cola says, "He’s the REAL THING."
  • Authentic – World religions and philosophies may have some degree of truth "Be kind to other people"… But it is not the real truth. Satan himself we know poses as an "angel of light".  He quoted the Bible to Jesus when he was tempting Him to sin…

"At the heart of Christianity is the so-called scandal of particularity"

Jesus asked the disciples "But who do YOU say that I am…"

Unique in all the world in that only in Christianity does God reach out to man. Every other religion mankind is seeking his way to god through good works, special knowledge, personal discipline, secret ceremonies… the list goes on and on.

Enlighten

• "Coming into the world, enlightens every man"
•  "Coming into the world" = incarnation   
•    "Enlightens every man"

Enlighten, (6 million Google hits) enlightenment (18.8 million hits)

Enlighten def. To enable (one) to understand, especially in a spiritual sense: edify, illuminate. To impart information to: acquaint, advise, apprise, educate, inform, notify, tell.

• Some have said this means the Light is "Available" for everyone
• Some have said this means the light is actually SEEN by everyone – universalism!

I think John goes ahead and explains himself in the very next verse.

1. General revelation – v. 10

He was in the world
The world was made through him
The world did not know him.

 Go back and read 1:3 "All things came into being through him…"

if time – Wisdom in  Proverbs

8:22-21—is the agent of creation

8:1-11—seeking those who will follow

8:36—rejected by some

8:35—accepted by other

1. Creation

   Rom 1:20 - For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse.

2. Conscience

Rom 2:15-16 - that they show the work of the Law written in their hearts, their conscience bearing witness and their thoughts alternately accusing or else defending them, 16 on the day when, according to my gospel, God will judge the secrets of men through Christ Jesu

2. Special revelation – v. 11
   
   "His own"… could be everyone… since he created everyone, but most agree this means the Jews.
   
   <<<TRANS>>>> – Failed in the world, failed with his own… not too impressive!

BUT…. In vs. 12.

3. If you want to have security, then you must understand the basis of your salvation.

12 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name, 13 who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.

What DOES happen?. V. 12

a.  You receive Christ

Look back to vs 11 – He came to his own…. They did not receive him…

When someone comes to your house, you "receive" them, when someone gives you a gift, you "receive" it…

Contrast of "the world" and "his own" with "as many" – open ended = ANY
ONE!

How do you "receive Christ"? by…

b.  You believe in His Name

"Name" is much more than a nametag – "Hi, my name is…"

In the Jewish culture, the name is bound up with the person. You don’t separate the two. Even in our own country – Westerns on TV…"I’ll stake my name on that… partner…"

Ex 20:7 -  " You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain,

"his name" is a summary of the Gospel.

John 20:31- but these have been written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name 

c.  You become a Child of God

"Power" = exsousia – also translated power, or authority.

Col 1:12- giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified us to share in the inheritance of the saints in Light.

Rom 8:15-17 - For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out, " Abba! Father!" The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ

<<trans>>> John wants to make sure we’ve got the right perspective here..

What DOESN’T happen? V. 13

John contrasts Spiritual birth with human birth. John 3:3 to 7

Becoming a child of God is not something to get proud over nor to take for granted.. 

d.  Not because of family – (lit. "bloods")

"Natural descent" NIV – (could be a reference to the Jews)

Could actually be a reference to the contribution to the natural process of birth from wife or from husband and wife.

e.  Not because of bodily desire– "the flesh" – (Human decision NIV)

f.   Not because of self effort – the will of man ("aner" not "anthropos") 

EX: Reading the book "The Wonderful Way Babies are Made".

What was your contribution to being born? 

Application: 

1. John came to point people to Christ,
   If you want to be fulfilled, then you must know your purpose in life.


2.   Jesus came to shine the light
   If you want to have impact for eternity, then you must keep your focus on Christ.


3. You come to a place of decision.
   If you want to have security, then you must understand the basis of your salvation.