A Bible Study, One Verse at a Time: December 2011

Friday, December 16, 2011

John 16:22-28, Principles and application

We end our look at John 16:22-28 with a summary of important principles and some thoughts on application.

The initial overview of John 16:22-28 can be found here.

The previous verse close ups can be found at the following links: 16:22, 16:23, 16:24, 16:25, 16:26-27 and 16:28.

For any person who does not have easy access to Bible software you can look up all cross references listed in this blog at the Bible Gateway website. It is easy and quick to use and you can choose from many different translations. The cross references are a big part of any Bible Study that we may undertake!

John 16:22-28

So also you have sorrow now, but I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy from you. (Joh 16:22)

In that day you will ask nothing of me. Truly, truly, I say to you, whatever you ask of the Father in my name, he will give it to you. (Joh 16:23)

Until now you have asked nothing in my name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full. (Joh 16:24)

"I have said these things to you in figures of speech. The hour is coming when I will no longer speak to you in figures of speech but will tell you plainly about the Father. (Joh 16:25)

In that day you will ask in my name, and I do not say to you that I will ask the Father on your behalf; (Joh 16:26)

for the Father himself loves you, because you have loved me and have believed that I came from God. (Joh 16:27)

I came from the Father and have come into the world, and now I am leaving the world and going to the Father." (Joh 16:28)

The following sections of Biblical principles and Application are based on a method described in Living By The Book by Howard Hendricks

Biblical principles

1. Fundamental universal truths in this passage:

Jesus came from the Father and into the world. If we believe in Jesus, the Father will love us and fill us with joy (which is different from the self centered pleasure we all often seek-see notes to John 16:22) We are now able to have direct communication with God Himself! Because of Jesus' sacrifice and resurrection we can ask God and talk to God directly as Jesus' successful earthly mission acted as our intercessor once and for all.

2. What does this truth address in my situation?

When I ignore God's will in my life to pursue my own pleasures it usually doesn't go so well! I need to constantly communicate with God!
I need to always remember that the line of communication is open. I just need to make use of it. Pray directly to the Father in the name of His Son Jesus Christ! That is important. We (I) must acknowledge Jesus' authority and that He is our savior and redeemer!

Application

1. Is there an example to follow?

YES! We should pray directly and often as Jesus does!

2. Is there a sin to avoid?

Yes, unbelief and not talking to God. It does seem like not following Jesus' commands regarding this topic would be a sin.

3. Is there a promise to claim?

YES! God will listen and answer us if we ask in Jesus' name. We will rejoice and and be full and no one will be able to take that joy away!!

4. Is there a command to follow?

Yes,We are to believe in Jesus and love Him and we are to speak to and ask the Father directly in Jesus' name.

5. Is there a condition to be met?

YES! We must believe in and accept Jesus as our Savior and Lord. We must know and believe that Jesus came forth from the Father, died for our sins and rose again on the third day.

8. Is there an error to mark?

Well?? Maybe more of a misconception about us needing Jesus to always speak to the Father on our behalf. Jesus' actions (His sacrifice and resurrection) have made it possible for us to speak directly to the Father. (provided we have accepted Jesus as our Savior and Lord). So once we have accepted Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord then we are able to ask the Father directly.

Personal application

I need to really know and understand that God always listens and answers in the way that is best and according to His will. Know that we must always ask and pray in Jesus' name. I must always acknowledge Jesus' authority and Lordship! And I must always converse with God. I must keep the communication open and never let my guard down. Never! Always talk to God. That is why Jesus died and rose again. So that we (I) COULD have that type of relationship with God! For without Jesus' death and resurrection we are not able to be in a right relationship with the Father Himself.

That concludes our look at John 16:22-28. After Christmas I will begin to look at Matthew 5:2-12.

Wednesday, December 14, 2011

John 16:22-28, today's verse is John 16:28

Today we finish our verse by verse overview of John 16:22-28.

The initial overview of John 16:22-28 can be found here.

The previous verse close ups can be found at the following links: 16:22, 16:23, 16:24, 16:25, and 16:26-27.

John 16:28

"I came forth from the Father and have come into the world; I am leaving the world again and going to the Father."
(John 16:28)

Grammatical Considerations

Declaration of time: "I came forth..." Jesus states that he did come from the Father to come into the world!

Declaration of time 2: "I am leaving and going to the Father." Jesus again states that in the (near) future He will leave the world and go back to the Father. This is important as the previous verses center around what will happen "..in that day." Everything centers around the fact He came forth from the Father and that He is going back to the Father.

Important Terms

All definitions were culled from the Complete Word Study Dictionary from AMG Publishers and/or

Mounce's Complete Expository Dictionary.

Came forth:

See notes to John 16:27

into the world:

E Sword Concordance Search--- Joh 1:9 Joh 3:17 Joh 3:19 Joh 6:14 Joh 11:27 Joh 12:46 Joh 17:18 1Ti 1:15 Heb 1:6 1Jn 4:9

Definition----The world is differentiated from the Spirit realm Jesus came forth from the Father into the world. Jesus was not of this world but came to us to die for our sins and rise again on the third day so that we may be forgiven.

leaving:

One key definition means to permit and another to let go free. Jesus' death and resurrection were part of the Father's plan. Can also mean TO FORGIVE!! WOW!

Other Relevant Cross References

Joh 8:14 Joh 13:1 Joh 13:3 Joh 17:5 Act 1:9-11 Joh 7:29 Heb 9:24 1Pe 2:21

Summation

Jesus sums it all up in this sentence. He came forth from the Father and into this world. Jesus did what He was sent to do (save us from our sins) and is going back to His rightful place with the Father! Knowing that the Greek word for leaving also means to forgive adds even more weight to this verse!

In the next post we will try to tie the verses together and look at some application. (although application is often very personal).

Saturday, December 10, 2011

John 16:22-28 Continued, Today's Verse(s) are John 16:26-27

Today we will look at two verses since they are connected as one complete thought. To look at them separately would be to miss the point.

The initial overview of John 16:22-28 can be found here.

The previous verse close ups can be found at the following links: 16:22, 16:23, 16:24 and 16:25.

John 16:26-27

In that day you will ask in my name, and I do not say to you that I will ask the Father on your behalf; for the Father himself loves you, because you have loved me and have believed that I came from God.
(John 16:26-27)

Grammatical Considerations

Declaration of Time: "In that day..." means future tense. What Jesus is explaining to His disciples will happen in the future.

Connective word: "for..." The second statement (John 16:27) explains the first statement. (John 16:26)

Cause and effect: The disciples (and us) will ask in Jesus' name and He will not need to ask on our behalf "....FOR the Father Himself loves you, BECAUSE you have loved me and have believed that I cam from God." (capitalization added by me for effect) We can ask in Jesus' name BECAUSE the Father loves us BECAUSE we love His Son, Jesus Christ.

Important terms

All definitions were culled from the Complete Word Study Dictionary from AMG Publishers and/or

Mounce's Complete Expository Dictionary.

ask:

E-Sword concordance search-- Mat 6:8 Mat 7:7 Mat 7:11 Mat 21:22 Mar 11:24 Luk 11:9 Joh 14:13-14 Joh 15:7 Joh 15:16 Jas 1:5-6 Jas 4:2-3 1Jn 3:22 1Jn 5:14-16

Definition--To request, beseech, sometimes even demand.

in My name:

Definition--Of Christ the Messiah as where His name is said so as to be honored, revered. believed on. When something is done in His name, meaning in and through Him and through FAITH in Him. Implying authority...to come or do something in or by the name of someone (in this case Jesus!) By praying in his name we are acknowledging Jesus' authority and lordship.
Also to invoke
Further cross references: Many references where the apostles have questions for Jesus. This verse is Jesus telling them they will not have questions any longer on the day they see Him again (His resurrection). Isa 65:24 Mat 21:22 Heb 10:19-23 Heb 7:25-26 Col 3:17 Heb 10:19-23

request:

E Sword Concordance Search---- 1Th 4:1 1Th 5:12 2Th 2:1 1Jn 5:16
Definition-----To entreat, beseech with an accounting of that person or thing.

Himself:

When used it this context it sets that person apart from the rest. And obviously Jesus is trying to explain to the apostles just how special it is that God Himself loves them (and us). The Himself adds emphasis. (also can mean of one's own motion---God chooses to love us!)

loves:

E Sword Concordance Search--- Joh 10:17 Joh 14:21 Joh 14:23 1Jn 2:15 1Jn 5:1 Mat 10:37 Joh 7:29 Rom 8:31 Gal 4:4 1Ti 1:15
Definition----The use of phileo for love here could possibly have some special meaning as philo means friend...and/or having the same interest.....and Phileo is used in both instances of the word in this verse. Ie: God loves us now in a different way (??) than before since we have loved His Son! Or a better way to put it might be that we have moved into a CLOSER relationship with God than before. (God has always loved us) Our relationship to the Father is different now because we have (by our acceptance of Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord) decided to follow(and obey) the interests and commands of God. To be honest, I feel like I am just shy of the correct words here!

believed:

E Sword Concordance Search---Mat 8:13 Luk 1:45 Joh 1:12 Joh 3:18 Joh 4:50 Joh 11:40 Joh 17:8 Joh 20:29 Gal 3:6 Heb 4:3 Jas 2:23 1Jn 5:10
Definition:----to be firmly persuaded as to something . Also to believe in God, to trust in Him as able and willing to help and answer prayer.

came from (or came forth):

E Sword Concordance Search---Joh 16:28 Joh 17:8
Definition---Of one from whose presence one goes forth with authority. (also as with liquids-to flow out of) Jesus came from God WITH AUTHORITY given to Him by God the Father! Also to come from someones presence.

Other relevant cross-references:

Zep 3:17 Heb 12:6 Jud 1:20-21 1Pe 1:8 Eph 6:24 1Jn 4:19 Joh 14:16 Gal 4:4-6 Rom 8:3 Isa 63:9 Heb 10:19-23

Summation

In that day (Jesus' resurrection-the day His mission on earth was completed) we (once we accept Him as our Savior) will understand and ask the Father in the name of Jesus. Jesus also states plainly that he will not ask the Father on our behalf. In 16:27 he continues that thought....

"for the Father Himself loves you, because you have loved me and have believed that I came from God." Joh_16:27 Once again it seems that Jesus' job as intercessor for us was completed once and for all at his Sacrifice and Resurrection.

God! Himself! Loves us! (phileo-we are closer now--He always loved us..that is why He sent His son) We are in a new and right relationship with Him because we have Loved his Son and have believed that Jesus came from the Father! And we believe that Jesus came to the earth from the Father with the authority (given to Him by the Father) to take away our sins with His sacrifice and resurrection, thus enabling this new and beautiful relationship we have with the Father.

Because we love His Son Jesus Christ and because we understand and acknowledge Jesus' authority given to Him by the Father, we have entered a new relationship of love with the Father. The use of phileo for love highlights this right relationship as this connotes a different kind of love. In other words we are on the same page as God now. (The page He wants us to be on!) Because we have believed and love His Son Jesus, we are now finally in the right relationship with God. We are now trying and striving for the things He wants us to try and strive for. (we still fail some times---but now we can be corrected as our overriding desire is to continue to grow and improve our relationship with the Father! It is only now that we are starting to live as He wants us to live)

(I still feel like I am just shy of the correct words here! Idea is correct but I must admit some clearer words are needed from me!)

Sunday, December 4, 2011

John 16:22-28 continued, Today's verse: John 16:25

Today we continue our study of John 16:22-28 with a closer look at John 16:25. The initial overview of John 16:22-28 can be found here.

The previous verse close ups can be found at the following links: John 16:22, 16:23, and 16:24.

John 16:25

I have said these things to you in figures of speech. The hour is coming when I will no longer speak to you in figures of speech but will tell you plainly about the Father. (John 16:25)

Grammatical Considerations

Declaration of time: "I HAVE said these things..." Jesus makes it clear that his use of parables (figures of speech, has been His way of teaching His disciples. He is also about to tell them that this method will change.

Declaration of time 2: "The hour is coming...I will no longer speak to you in figures of speech...but will tell you plainly about the Father." In the future Jesus will NO LONGER speak in figures of speech. He promises that. He will begin to speak plainly (nothing hidden) to His disciples.

Important terms

All definitions were culled from the Complete Word Study Dictionary from AMG Publishers and/or

Mounce's Complete Expository Dictionary.

figurative language:

Definition----This word(s) (also figures of speech or proverbs in the KJV) is only found in this verse!! No matter what version I look in!!! Although according to The Complete Word Study Dictionary, John uses this synonymously with parable. But a parable tends to be more of a brief discourse where the fictitious is used to represent and illustrate the real. This same word is used as proverb in 2Pe 2:22. Either way it highlights how up to this point Jesus explained things to his apostles and others through parables as they were yet unready for it in plain language. Jesus' parables were told to provide a vision of life, especially like in God's kingdom. These parables were proclamations of the gospel. The hearer must respond and is invited by the story to make a decision.

hour:

Definition---Jesus often uses this word to describe a time as yet to come. Usually with reference to His Glory or Second Coming.

plainly:

ESword Concordance Search---John 16:29
Definition---exactness of speech
Other cross references----John 16:12, Mat 13:10-11, Mat 13:34-35, 2Co 3:12-18, Psa 78:2

Summation

Jesus promises His Apostles (and us) that He will speak clearly and plainly to us about the Father. They were not ready for these things as Jesus had not yet come into His glory. Once that was achieved all would be made clear to His apostles. And the same is true for us. Once we accept Jesus as our Savior and Lord and understand the sacrifice He made for us and understand and believe His resurrection Jesus will speak plainly to us through His words and the Scriptures.