¤¤¤
00:00:00.33\00:00:04.30
>>Eric Flickinger:
Welcome to "Sabbath School,"
00:00:14.81\00:00:16.28
brought to you by It Is Written.
00:00:16.31\00:00:18.25
We're glad
you're joining us today.
00:00:18.28\00:00:19.68
We are on a journey through
the book of John, looking at
00:00:19.71\00:00:23.15
some of these great
themes that string all the way
00:00:23.18\00:00:26.49
from the first
chapter to the very end.
00:00:26.52\00:00:29.19
And this week,
this is lesson number 9,
00:00:29.22\00:00:30.99
looking at "The Source of Life."
00:00:31.03\00:00:34.10
What is the source of life?
Well, we're about to find out.
00:00:34.10\00:00:36.77
Let's begin with prayer.
00:00:36.80\00:00:38.40
Father, we want to thank
You for being with us today.
00:00:38.43\00:00:40.74
We thank You for guiding us
through our previous lessons
00:00:40.77\00:00:44.94
on the book of John.
00:00:44.97\00:00:46.27
And today we ask
that You'll do the same.
00:00:46.31\00:00:47.64
As we look at something
incredibly significant,
00:00:47.68\00:00:49.91
the source of life, help
us to come away from our study
00:00:49.94\00:00:53.01
today connected
with that source.
00:00:53.05\00:00:55.45
We thank You, in
Jesus' name, amen.
00:00:55.48\00:00:58.92
We're also grateful to have
with us one of the coauthors
00:00:58.95\00:01:01.26
of this quarter's
"Sabbath School" lesson,
00:01:01.29\00:01:02.96
Dr. Tom Shepherd. He's
the senior research professor
00:01:02.99\00:01:05.29
of New Testament at
the Theological Seminary,
00:01:05.33\00:01:07.76
Andrews University.
Tom, thanks for being here.
00:01:07.83\00:01:10.10
>>Thomas Shepherd:
It's good to be here.
00:01:10.13\00:01:11.43
>>Eric: The source of life,
what is this concept of life
00:01:11.47\00:01:15.60
in the Gospel of John?
00:01:15.64\00:01:16.94
What does he mean
when he talks about life?
00:01:16.97\00:01:19.61
>>Tom: Okay, so, it's really
good when you're studying this
00:01:19.64\00:01:22.58
to go through and look at
the texts that talk about life
00:01:22.61\00:01:26.28
and try to get a feel
for the context and what he's
00:01:26.31\00:01:31.79
focusing on.
00:01:31.82\00:01:34.62
At home, you can easily do
this by using a Bible software,
00:01:34.66\00:01:39.63
or you can use even
"Strong's Concordance"
00:01:39.66\00:01:43.26
and look up the word "life."
00:01:43.30\00:01:45.53
And then you can look up
the--find the terms that are
00:01:45.57\00:01:49.44
used in the Gospel of John.
00:01:49.47\00:01:51.11
And it can be a fun
kind of experience to be
00:01:51.14\00:01:55.58
a Bible detective and look
for yourself at what's going on
00:01:55.61\00:01:59.91
in the Gospel of John.
So, we'll sort of give you
00:01:59.95\00:02:02.25
a little experiment on that,
00:02:02.28\00:02:03.75
a little way of trying to show
that some of the texts in John
00:02:03.79\00:02:09.12
that talk about this.
00:02:09.16\00:02:10.96
All right, so, our first
passage that talks about life is
00:02:10.99\00:02:14.03
actually in the prologue.
00:02:14.10\00:02:15.30
It's in the very first verses of
the book, so we're gonna read--
00:02:15.33\00:02:18.77
you know, I always like to
read more than just one verse,
00:02:18.80\00:02:22.10
so I'm going to
read verses 1 through 5
00:02:22.14\00:02:25.27
of John, chapter 1.
00:02:25.31\00:02:27.61
"In the beginning was the
Word, and the Word was with God,
00:02:27.64\00:02:31.78
"and the Word was God.
00:02:31.81\00:02:33.78
"He was in the
beginning with God.
00:02:33.82\00:02:35.95
"All things were made
through Him, and without Him
00:02:35.98\00:02:39.02
"was not any thing
made that was made.
00:02:39.05\00:02:42.52
"In Him was life, and the
life was the light of men.
00:02:42.56\00:02:47.86
"The light shines in the
darkness, and the darkness
00:02:47.93\00:02:51.13
has not overcome it."
00:02:51.17\00:02:53.47
All right, so, when
you see that word "life"
00:02:53.50\00:02:56.47
there in verse 4,
you say to yourself,
00:02:56.50\00:03:00.31
"Well, what does it
mean, 'In Him was life'?"
00:03:00.34\00:03:04.35
I mean, He was alive.
00:03:05.85\00:03:07.15
You know, you would
say a person is alive.
00:03:07.18\00:03:09.38
But you get the feel that this
is more than just kind of like
00:03:09.42\00:03:14.69
everyday life, you know?
There's something else going on.
00:03:14.72\00:03:17.96
So, maybe we should read
some other of the verses to get
00:03:17.99\00:03:22.06
a feeling for what
is this idea of life.
00:03:22.10\00:03:25.83
Let's read John 3:16, of
course, a very famous verse
00:03:25.87\00:03:31.94
of the New Testament.
00:03:31.97\00:03:34.11
>>Eric: "For God so loved
the world that He gave His only
00:03:34.14\00:03:37.28
"begotten Son, that
whoever believes in Him
00:03:37.31\00:03:40.28
should not perish but
have everlasting life."
00:03:40.32\00:03:43.79
>>Tom: Okay, so here the
word "everlasting," or eternal,
00:03:43.82\00:03:46.45
is added to it, and it gives us
the idea that the kind of life
00:03:46.49\00:03:50.13
that's being
described here is eternal life.
00:03:50.16\00:03:54.56
It's not our daily life here now
but that which goes all the way
00:03:54.60\00:04:00.87
into eternity. Of course,
the book of 1 John tells us
00:04:00.90\00:04:04.54
that eternal life
actually begins here
00:04:04.57\00:04:08.18
in our life today.
00:04:08.21\00:04:09.88
All right, let's look at another
text that talks about this,
00:04:09.91\00:04:13.28
John 10, verse 10.
00:04:13.31\00:04:17.32
>>Eric: "The thief does not come
except to steal, and to kill,
00:04:17.35\00:04:20.76
"and to destroy.
00:04:20.79\00:04:22.29
"I have come that
they may have life,
00:04:22.32\00:04:24.96
and that they may
have it more abundantly."
00:04:24.99\00:04:28.03
>>Tom: Okay, so Jesus contrasts
Himself with a thief who comes
00:04:28.06\00:04:32.40
along to steal and
to kill and to destroy.
00:04:32.43\00:04:35.64
That's just the opposite
of life and life-giving.
00:04:35.67\00:04:40.04
And so, He's giving eternal
life to those who trust in Him,
00:04:40.08\00:04:45.61
all right? So, we're starting
to get some feel for this idea
00:04:45.65\00:04:49.62
of life and what it involves.
00:04:49.65\00:04:51.82
Now let's look at another
passage we've looked at before.
00:04:51.85\00:04:55.76
It's John 6, verses 61 to 68.
00:04:55.79\00:05:00.43
We'll see a contrast
00:05:00.46\00:05:02.40
between Jesus' disciples
00:05:02.43\00:05:07.40
and those who left Him.
00:05:07.44\00:05:12.41
>>Eric: "When Jesus knew
in Himself that His disciples
00:05:12.44\00:05:15.01
"complained about this, He said
to them, 'Does this offend you?
00:05:15.04\00:05:18.95
"'What then if you
should see the Son of Man ascend
00:05:18.98\00:05:21.58
"'where He was before?
00:05:21.62\00:05:23.28
"'It is the Spirit who gives
life; the flesh profits nothing.
00:05:23.32\00:05:26.79
"'The words that I speak to you
are spirit, and they are life.
00:05:26.82\00:05:30.66
"But there are some of
you who do not believe.'
00:05:30.69\00:05:32.93
"For Jesus knew
from the beginning
00:05:32.96\00:05:34.83
"who they were
who did not believe,
00:05:34.86\00:05:36.50
"and who would betray Him.
00:05:36.53\00:05:38.33
"And He said, 'Therefore I have
said to you that no one can come
00:05:38.37\00:05:42.00
"to me unless it has been
granted to him by my Father.'
00:05:42.04\00:05:45.14
"From that time many of His
disciples went back and walked
00:05:45.17\00:05:48.58
"with Him no more.
00:05:48.61\00:05:49.94
"Then Jesus said to the twelve,
'Do you also want to go away?'
00:05:49.98\00:05:53.21
"But Simon Peter answered
Him, 'Lord, to whom shall we go?
00:05:53.25\00:05:56.75
You have the
words of eternal life.'"
00:05:56.79\00:05:59.42
>>Tom: Okay, so, we see here
00:05:59.45\00:06:01.76
the very kind of thing
that Jesus is talking about,
00:06:01.79\00:06:05.43
the words of eternal life.
00:06:05.46\00:06:07.46
Now remember, back in chapter 1,
it said that "in Him was life."
00:06:07.50\00:06:12.43
So, life is not
simply a concept,
00:06:12.47\00:06:17.91
it is not simply words, but
it is something that is embodied
00:06:17.94\00:06:22.58
in Jesus Himself:
"In Him was life."
00:06:22.61\00:06:25.31
This is eternal life. He is
the--this is the life of God.
00:06:25.35\00:06:28.62
This is the unborrowed,
underived kind of concept.
00:06:28.65\00:06:35.49
Ellen White talks about that,
about that in Him was this life.
00:06:35.52\00:06:40.13
He has the power to
lay down His life, He says.
00:06:40.16\00:06:43.13
He has the power
to take it back up.
00:06:43.16\00:06:45.00
So, He is the
source of eternal life.
00:06:45.03\00:06:47.97
And then, of course, the words
that He speaks are also tied
00:06:48.00\00:06:53.48
with this idea of life.
00:06:53.51\00:06:55.38
And He says, "It is
the Spirit who gives life;
00:06:55.41\00:06:58.71
"the flesh is no help at all.
00:06:58.75\00:07:00.55
"The words that I have spoken
to you are spirit and life,"
00:07:00.58\00:07:05.05
all right? So, the
disciples that, you know, were
00:07:05.09\00:07:09.96
fair-weather disciples,
00:07:09.99\00:07:11.29
they decided that
they need to go away.
00:07:11.33\00:07:13.80
They want to go away from
Him because they don't like
00:07:13.83\00:07:18.27
His words when He
says, "You must eat my flesh
00:07:18.30\00:07:19.97
and drink my blood."
It's seems like, "Ew."
00:07:20.00\00:07:22.90
And they didn't
think more deeply about
00:07:22.94\00:07:26.11
the symbolism
that's involved there.
00:07:26.14\00:07:28.44
And so, when He
asked the disciples,
00:07:28.48\00:07:31.18
the 12 disciples, if they
want to go away, Simon responds,
00:07:31.21\00:07:34.95
"Lord, to whom should we go?
00:07:34.98\00:07:36.95
You have the
words of eternal life."
00:07:36.99\00:07:40.79
So, we're getting the sense
that life in the Gospel of John
00:07:40.82\00:07:44.99
is found in Jesus,
found in His words.
00:07:45.03\00:07:48.30
The Spirit is what
applies it to our life.
00:07:48.33\00:07:51.10
And what's being promised here
is eternal life, eternal life
00:07:51.13\00:07:55.54
that begins now
as we accept Jesus
00:07:55.57\00:07:58.51
and continues into
eternity, all right?
00:07:58.54\00:08:01.81
>>Eric: So we've got this
concept of life, that it's
00:08:01.84\00:08:03.95
much broader than
just day-to-day life.
00:08:03.98\00:08:06.45
It's intended to
be all-encompassing.
00:08:06.48\00:08:09.15
It sounds like this is something
that we should want to have.
00:08:09.18\00:08:13.29
How do we get this life
that John is trying to bring out
00:08:13.32\00:08:18.13
in his gospel?
00:08:18.16\00:08:19.96
>>Tom: Right, this
is like the question
00:08:20.00\00:08:21.93
of the Philippians jailer:
"What must I do to be saved?"
00:08:21.96\00:08:26.60
All right? "What must I do?"
00:08:26.63\00:08:27.94
So, if we go back
to John 3, and we read
00:08:27.97\00:08:32.47
verses 14 through 16 again,
00:08:32.51\00:08:35.21
we'll see, get a
little more context:
00:08:35.24\00:08:37.51
"And as Moses lifted up
the serpent in the wilderness,
00:08:37.55\00:08:41.02
"so must the Son of Man be
lifted up, that whoever believes
00:08:41.05\00:08:44.95
"in Him may have eternal life.
00:08:44.99\00:08:48.22
"For God so loved the world,
that He gave His only Son,
00:08:48.26\00:08:51.79
"that whoever believes in
Him should not perish but have
00:08:51.83\00:08:55.76
eternal life."
00:08:55.80\00:08:57.43
So, there it is.
00:08:57.47\00:08:59.77
This life is found
by believing in Jesus,
00:08:59.80\00:09:02.57
so we have this theme of life.
00:09:02.60\00:09:03.94
We have this theme
of believing that comes
00:09:03.97\00:09:06.94
throughout the whole
book. It's tied to the theme
00:09:06.98\00:09:09.11
of light and trusting in God.
00:09:09.14\00:09:12.25
Now, if you turn over to John
5, verse 24--actually, I think
00:09:12.28\00:09:16.38
verse 24 and 25
are good to read.
00:09:16.42\00:09:19.89
>>Eric: “Most assuredly, I
say to you, he who hears my word
00:09:19.92\00:09:23.12
"and believes in Him who sent me
00:09:23.16\00:09:24.86
"has everlasting life,
00:09:24.89\00:09:26.80
"and shall not come
into judgment, but has passed
00:09:26.83\00:09:29.03
"from death into life.
00:09:29.06\00:09:30.73
"Most assuredly, I say to you,
the hour is coming, and now is,
00:09:30.77\00:09:34.34
"when the dead will hear
the voice of the Son of God;
00:09:34.37\00:09:37.67
and those who hear will live."
00:09:37.71\00:09:40.18
>>Tom: Yeah, it's
a beautiful passage,
00:09:40.21\00:09:42.18
and it talks about, again,
00:09:42.21\00:09:44.01
this idea of life and believing,
and when you believe on Him,
00:09:44.05\00:09:49.08
you have eternal life.
00:09:49.12\00:09:50.75
Now, we should pause
for a moment and talk about,
00:09:50.79\00:09:53.49
you know, what
does it mean to believe?
00:09:53.52\00:09:55.69
It's not just saying--it's
not just agreeing to the truths
00:09:55.72\00:10:01.36
of the gospel; it's actually
making a commitment of your life
00:10:01.40\00:10:05.50
to Christ and entering
into a relationship with Him.
00:10:05.53\00:10:08.94
There's a interesting
story about a man by the name
00:10:08.97\00:10:13.11
of Blondin.
00:10:13.14\00:10:15.01
He was a tightrope
walker, and, believe it or not,
00:10:15.04\00:10:20.22
he walked across Niagara
Falls from the American side,
00:10:20.25\00:10:24.29
I think, over to
the Canadian side.
00:10:24.32\00:10:27.96
Well, he probably went back and
forth. He did this many times,
00:10:27.99\00:10:30.96
and he tried different things.
00:10:30.99\00:10:34.93
He went out there and sat down
and ate a meal, and he did it
00:10:34.96\00:10:40.10
at night, and one time, what
he did was he offered to carry,
00:10:40.14\00:10:46.54
actually, the Prince of Wales
on his back across the chasm
00:10:46.57\00:10:52.71
of Niagara Falls.
00:10:52.75\00:10:54.35
The Prince of Wales declined,
but his manager, actually,
00:10:54.38\00:11:01.96
did--the name of
Harry-- did agree to do this.
00:11:01.99\00:11:05.53
And he went to walk with him.
00:11:05.56\00:11:09.70
He put on a, you
know, like, tuxedo.
00:11:09.73\00:11:12.60
If he was gonna die,
he was gonna go in style.
00:11:12.63\00:11:16.30
And he climbed onto his
back, and Blondin walked across
00:11:16.34\00:11:19.97
Niagara Falls
with him on his back.
00:11:20.01\00:11:22.61
He actually had him get
off like six or seven times
00:11:22.64\00:11:25.61
so he could
rest, [chuckles] so--
00:11:25.65\00:11:28.32
but they made it
across, and that's true faith.
00:11:28.35\00:11:30.92
You know, he really trusted
his life to Blondin, and Blondin
00:11:30.95\00:11:34.59
never fell, never fell the whole
time, so it's quite an amazing
00:11:34.62\00:11:38.56
kind of an experience.
00:11:38.59\00:11:39.89
Now, we can read some
other texts here as well.
00:11:39.93\00:11:43.26
Let's read John 6:47-51,
and it says, "Truly, truly,
00:11:43.30\00:11:51.34
"I say to you, whoever
believes has eternal life.
00:11:51.37\00:11:54.94
"I am the bread of life.
00:11:54.98\00:11:56.21
"Your fathers ate the manna in
the wilderness, and they died.
00:11:56.24\00:11:59.45
"This is the bread
that comes down from heaven,
00:11:59.48\00:12:01.48
"so that one may
eat of it and not die.
00:12:01.52\00:12:04.15
"I am the living bread
that came down from heaven.
00:12:04.19\00:12:06.15
"If anyone eats of this
bread, he will live forever.
00:12:06.19\00:12:09.46
"And the bread that I will
give for the life of the world
00:12:09.49\00:12:13.96
is my flesh."
00:12:14.00\00:12:16.70
>>Eric: So we're
getting a deeper picture
00:12:16.73\00:12:19.23
of what this life is.
Now, we're not done yet.
00:12:19.27\00:12:23.74
We're continuing looking
at the source of life here.
00:12:23.77\00:12:26.41
But there--if somebody
wants to dig more deeply
00:12:26.44\00:12:28.94
into this subject, we
have a companion book.
00:12:28.98\00:12:31.95
Share with us a little
bit about that companion book.
00:12:31.98\00:12:33.95
>>Tom: The companion
book is written by--sometimes
00:12:33.98\00:12:38.62
by the lesson author, sometimes
by some other person, usually
00:12:38.65\00:12:42.59
a knowledgeable scholar--
and it has information in it
00:12:42.62\00:12:46.96
that will help
you to understand,
00:12:47.00\00:12:48.76
go deeper than what you find
in the "Sabbath School" lesson,
00:12:48.80\00:12:51.70
go deeper than what you
find in the teacher's lesson,
00:12:51.73\00:12:54.04
gives you added information
00:12:54.07\00:12:55.97
for studying, for teaching,
or for sharing in class,
00:12:56.00\00:12:59.91
and it's just good to, you know,
go deeper into the text and get
00:12:59.94\00:13:04.25
a greater understanding.
00:13:04.28\00:13:05.78
>>Eric: So if you'd like to
pick up that companion book,
00:13:05.81\00:13:08.28
it's easy to do. Just
go to itiswritten.shop.
00:13:08.32\00:13:11.42
Again, that is itiswritten.shop.
00:13:11.45\00:13:13.96
You will find the companion book
00:13:13.99\00:13:15.59
to this quarter's
"Sabbath School" lesson there.
00:13:15.62\00:13:17.86
Pick it up, read through
it, study it, delve into it,
00:13:17.89\00:13:21.10
and you will get a lot
00:13:21.13\00:13:22.76
out of it that just
adds to your understanding
00:13:22.80\00:13:25.50
of the great themes
in the book of John.
00:13:25.53\00:13:27.64
We're going to be coming back
in just a moment as we continue
00:13:27.67\00:13:30.31
looking at the concept of
life here on "Sabbath School,"
00:13:30.34\00:13:33.88
brought to you by It Is Written.
00:13:33.91\00:13:35.88
¤¤¤
00:13:35.91\00:13:38.41
>>John Bradshaw: How
easy is it to be thankful?
00:13:40.18\00:13:42.68
Well, we both know the
answer to that question.
00:13:42.72\00:13:45.12
It's easy when the weather's
good, and there's money
00:13:45.15\00:13:48.42
in your pocket, and there's food
on the table, and your parents
00:13:48.46\00:13:52.29
are well, and the children are
great, and grandma and grandpa
00:13:52.33\00:13:55.56
say they're coming by to visit,
when your job is going okay.
00:13:55.60\00:14:00.24
Certainly, you're thankful,
and those sort of thanks
00:14:00.27\00:14:03.30
come easy, but how
easy is it to be grateful
00:14:03.34\00:14:07.98
when things
aren't going so well?
00:14:08.01\00:14:10.51
How can we be thankful to
God when our lives are shaken?
00:14:10.55\00:14:14.32
How can we be
thankful in difficult times?
00:14:14.35\00:14:17.22
You know, the Bible says, in
all things "give thanks," that
00:14:17.25\00:14:20.39
"all things work together for
good to [those who] love God."
00:14:20.42\00:14:24.49
Don't miss "Grateful," where
you'll learn how you can be
00:14:24.53\00:14:27.56
biblically thankful, where
you'll discover how you can
00:14:27.60\00:14:30.40
thank God and trust Him
in all things at all times.
00:14:30.43\00:14:34.20
"Grateful," brought to
you by It Is Written TV.
00:14:34.24\00:14:37.71
¤¤¤
00:14:40.48\00:14:44.95
>>Eric: Welcome
back to "Sabbath School,"
00:14:44.98\00:14:46.41
brought to you by It Is Written.
00:14:46.45\00:14:47.75
We're looking
at lesson number 9,
00:14:47.78\00:14:50.52
understanding life and
who life is, what life is.
00:14:50.55\00:14:55.46
Tom, as we go through this,
I'm gonna read a statement here
00:14:55.49\00:14:58.79
in the book of John,
John 1, verses 9 through 13,
00:14:58.83\00:15:04.37
and I want to
ask you the question,
00:15:04.40\00:15:05.73
what's the difference
between those who believe
00:15:05.77\00:15:07.80
and those who don't believe?
00:15:07.84\00:15:09.14
Some people are
going to have life.
00:15:09.17\00:15:10.47
Some people are
not going to have life.
00:15:10.51\00:15:12.04
So, I'm going to
read John 1:9-13.
00:15:12.07\00:15:17.38
"That was the true Light which
gives light to every man coming
00:15:17.41\00:15:20.72
"into the world.
00:15:20.75\00:15:22.05
"He was in the world,
and the world was made
00:15:22.08\00:15:24.05
"through Him, and the
world did not know Him.
00:15:24.09\00:15:26.89
"He came to His own, and
His own did not receive Him.
00:15:26.92\00:15:29.66
"But as many as received
Him, to them He gave the right
00:15:29.69\00:15:33.03
"to become children of God, to
those who believe on His name:
00:15:33.06\00:15:37.50
"who were born, not of blood,
nor of the will of the flesh,
00:15:37.53\00:15:40.50
nor of the will
of man, but of God."
00:15:40.54\00:15:43.17
>>Tom: Okay, so, first of all,
00:15:43.20\00:15:45.47
we notice that the true
Light gives light to everyone.
00:15:45.51\00:15:48.98
So every person coming
into the world gets some light.
00:15:49.01\00:15:52.11
Some people get more light,
some people get less light,
00:15:52.15\00:15:55.28
but the question always is:
00:15:55.32\00:15:56.62
What will you do with
the light that God gives you?
00:15:56.65\00:16:00.12
If you follow the
light, you get more light.
00:16:00.16\00:16:02.79
We saw this with the
woman at the well, you know.
00:16:02.82\00:16:05.96
She saw the light, and
she couldn't look at it
00:16:05.99\00:16:07.96
quite straight on.
00:16:07.96\00:16:09.93
It was too bright, but
she didn't run away, see?
00:16:09.96\00:16:13.90
That's kind of encouraging
because, you know, sometimes God
00:16:13.94\00:16:17.97
will show us things
that we are like, [sighs]
00:16:18.01\00:16:22.38
"Can I accept that?" you know?
00:16:22.41\00:16:24.71
And He brings us
around and helps us to do it.
00:16:24.75\00:16:28.52
You better listen to God,
but, you know, He's patient too.
00:16:28.55\00:16:32.39
He's gonna work with you.
00:16:32.42\00:16:33.72
So, the true Light
gives light to everyone.
00:16:33.76\00:16:36.62
And notice here in verse 10:
He was in the world, the world
00:16:36.66\00:16:39.96
was made through Him, yet
the world did not know Him.
00:16:40.00\00:16:43.60
Why didn't they know Him?
00:16:43.63\00:16:45.60
'Cause they didn't
want to know Him, all right?
00:16:45.63\00:16:47.84
He came to His own people,
00:16:47.87\00:16:49.34
and His own people
did not receive Him.
00:16:49.37\00:16:51.01
Well, why didn't
they receive Him? Well,
00:16:51.04\00:16:52.67
we've seen some of that
already in the gospel studies.
00:16:52.71\00:16:56.85
Because He was a threat to their
power, and He said things that,
00:16:56.88\00:17:00.12
you know, just, they found
it very difficult to accept.
00:17:00.15\00:17:05.52
It says, "But to those who
did receive Him"--all right,
00:17:05.55\00:17:08.69
so it's knowing
Him; it's receiving Him;
00:17:08.72\00:17:12.26
it's believing in Him.
00:17:12.29\00:17:13.60
He gave them the right
to become children of God.
00:17:13.63\00:17:16.43
Now, it's not just their
choice that's involved here,
00:17:16.46\00:17:21.77
because it says, "Who were
born, not of blood, nor the will
00:17:21.80\00:17:25.27
of the flesh, nor the
will of man, but of God."
00:17:25.31\00:17:28.11
So, when you and I
open our hearts to God,
00:17:28.14\00:17:31.95
He does something in our life.
00:17:31.98\00:17:34.52
We don't create the new
birth, He does, within our life.
00:17:34.55\00:17:38.75
Let's turn over
to John, chapter 3.
00:17:38.79\00:17:41.46
I want to look at a text here
00:17:41.49\00:17:43.56
as well that helps to
explain this, and it's John 3,
00:17:43.59\00:17:50.37
starting in verse 18
and going through verse 21:
00:17:50.40\00:17:55.04
“Whoever believes in Him"--
00:17:55.07\00:17:57.44
"Whoever believes in Him
is not condemned, but whoever
00:17:57.47\00:18:00.78
"does not believe is condemned
already, because he has
00:18:00.81\00:18:04.11
"not believed in the
name of the only Son of God.
00:18:04.15\00:18:06.45
"And this is the judgment: the
light has come into the world,
00:18:06.48\00:18:10.35
"and people loved the darkness
00:18:10.39\00:18:12.52
"rather than the light
because their works were evil.
00:18:12.55\00:18:16.02
"For everyone who does
wicked things hates the light
00:18:16.06\00:18:19.36
"and does not come to the light,
00:18:19.39\00:18:20.70
"lest his works
should be exposed.
00:18:20.73\00:18:22.33
"But whoever does what is
true comes to the light, so that
00:18:22.36\00:18:26.50
"it may be clearly seen that
his works have been carried out
00:18:26.53\00:18:30.01
in God," all right?
00:18:30.04\00:18:31.84
So there's two groups.
00:18:31.87\00:18:33.78
There's those who love evil,
and there's those who love God.
00:18:33.81\00:18:38.15
Those who love
evil love the darkness.
00:18:38.18\00:18:41.72
Those who love
God love the light.
00:18:41.75\00:18:43.82
Now, it's not just, like,
the light of day or the dark
00:18:43.85\00:18:46.15
of night, but it's the concept
or the symbolism of darkness
00:18:46.19\00:18:50.83
as that which goes with evil
and that which goes with light.
00:18:50.86\00:18:54.36
Now, we have an Old Testament
story that illustrates this
00:18:54.36\00:18:58.60
quite nicely.
00:18:58.63\00:19:00.14
It's found over in
the book of Numbers,
00:19:00.17\00:19:03.57
Numbers, chapter 13
00:19:03.61\00:19:06.94
and verses 25 through 33,
00:19:06.98\00:19:11.95
Numbers, chapter 13,
00:19:11.98\00:19:16.48
verses 25 through 33.
00:19:17.49\00:19:21.19
Now, this is the story of
the spies sent into Canaan.
00:19:21.22\00:19:26.53
So, if you read
chapter 13, verse 1, it says,
00:19:26.56\00:19:29.93
"The Lord spoke to Moses,
saying"--and here's verse 2--
00:19:29.96\00:19:32.93
"'Send men to spy
out the land of Canaan,
00:19:32.97\00:19:35.10
"'which I am giving
to the people of Israel.
00:19:35.14\00:19:36.94
"'From each tribe of their
fathers you shall send a man,
00:19:36.97\00:19:39.94
every one a chief among them.'"
00:19:39.97\00:19:43.78
All right, so
these are the chiefs.
00:19:43.81\00:19:46.48
Now, they go out, and they
spy out the land, and then they
00:19:46.51\00:19:51.95
come back at the end of
40 days to give their report.
00:19:51.99\00:19:55.12
So now let's read Numbers,
chapter 13, verses 25 to 33.
00:19:55.16\00:20:00.40
>>Eric: "And they returned
from spying out the land
00:20:00.43\00:20:02.36
"after forty days.
00:20:02.40\00:20:03.70
"Now they departed and
came back to Moses and Aaron
00:20:03.73\00:20:06.53
"and all the congregation
of the children of Israel
00:20:06.57\00:20:08.87
"in the Wilderness
of Paran, [to] Kadesh;
00:20:08.90\00:20:11.24
"they brought back word to them
and to all the congregation,
00:20:11.27\00:20:14.68
"and showed them
the fruit of the land.
00:20:14.71\00:20:17.01
"Then they told him, and
said: 'We went to the land
00:20:17.05\00:20:20.52
"'where you sent us. It
truly flows with milk and honey,
00:20:20.55\00:20:23.52
"'and this is its fruit.
00:20:23.55\00:20:25.39
"'Nevertheless the people who
dwell in the land are strong;
00:20:25.42\00:20:28.96
"'the cities are
fortified and very large;
00:20:28.99\00:20:31.96
"'moreover we saw the
descendants of Anak there.
00:20:31.99\00:20:34.73
"'The Amalekites dwell
in the land of the South;
00:20:34.76\00:20:37.03
"'the Hittites, the
Jebusites, and the Amorites
00:20:37.07\00:20:39.93
"'dwell in the mountains; and
the Canaanites dwell by the sea
00:20:39.97\00:20:42.77
"and along the
banks of the Jordan.'
00:20:42.80\00:20:45.61
"Then Caleb quieted the
people before Moses, and said,
00:20:45.64\00:20:48.94
"'Let us go up at once and take
possession, for we are well able
00:20:48.98\00:20:52.65
"to overcome it.'
00:20:52.68\00:20:53.98
"But the men who had
gone up with him said,
00:20:54.02\00:20:56.32
"'We are not able to
go up against the people,
00:20:56.35\00:20:58.25
"for they are stronger than we.'
00:20:58.29\00:21:00.89
"And they gave
the children of Israel
00:21:00.92\00:21:02.62
"a bad report of the land which
they had spied out, saying,
00:21:02.66\00:21:06.06
"'The land through which we
have gone as spies is a land
00:21:06.09\00:21:09.03
"'that devours its inhabitants,
and all the people whom we saw
00:21:09.06\00:21:12.70
"'in it are men
of great stature.
00:21:12.73\00:21:15.00
"'There we saw the
giants (the descendants of Anak
00:21:15.04\00:21:17.51
"'came from the giants);
and we were like grasshoppers
00:21:17.54\00:21:20.51
in our own sight, and so
we were in their sight.'"
00:21:20.54\00:21:24.18
>>Tom: [chuckling] Okay.
00:21:24.21\00:21:27.18
Now, the children have a
song they sing, "Twelve Spies."
00:21:27.22\00:21:31.52
I don't know if
you've ever sung this song.
00:21:31.55\00:21:34.96
Do you remember the
names of the 12 spies?
00:21:34.99\00:21:39.49
Well, they're all listed in
the Bible, but there's only two
00:21:39.53\00:21:44.80
that we remember
their names, and those are
00:21:44.83\00:21:47.70
Joshua, son of Nun, and Caleb.
00:21:47.74\00:21:51.47
And, of course, Caleb is the one
who speaks up here, and he says,
00:21:51.51\00:21:54.91
"Let us go up at once and
occupy it, for we are well able
00:21:54.94\00:21:58.91
to overcome them."
00:21:58.95\00:22:01.22
He brings them a good
report about the land.
00:22:01.25\00:22:04.75
Now, you know, they started
their report--all 12 spies
00:22:04.79\00:22:08.49
started their report well.
00:22:08.52\00:22:10.26
They said, "We came to
the land to which you sent us.
00:22:10.29\00:22:12.26
It flows with milk and
honey, and this is its fruit."
00:22:12.29\00:22:15.56
They brought this huge
grapes, you know, vine of grapes
00:22:15.60\00:22:21.94
that they had brought
back, a big cluster of grapes
00:22:21.97\00:22:25.27
that had to be
carried between two people.
00:22:25.31\00:22:27.44
It was so big, you know.
00:22:27.48\00:22:29.08
So, you know, it
was very impressive,
00:22:29.11\00:22:31.91
"flows with milk and honey."
00:22:31.95\00:22:33.42
"However," they said,
there are giants in the land,
00:22:33.45\00:22:38.42
fortified cities.
00:22:38.45\00:22:40.62
And the Amalekites dwell there,
the Hittites, the Jebusites,
00:22:40.66\00:22:45.33
and the Canaanites.
00:22:45.36\00:22:47.36
"And we're just not
able to take this place."
00:22:47.40\00:22:52.37
And Caleb says, "No, no,
no, no, no, we can take it.
00:22:52.40\00:22:56.60
We can take it."
00:22:56.64\00:22:57.94
Now, what made the difference
between Caleb's and Joshua's
00:22:57.97\00:23:02.51
report and the report
of these other 10 spies?
00:23:02.54\00:23:05.78
>>Eric: It seems like
they had belief in what God
00:23:05.81\00:23:08.58
had told them,
and the other spies,
00:23:08.62\00:23:10.45
they looked more
about what they saw.
00:23:10.49\00:23:13.69
>>Tom: Yes,
isn't it interesting?
00:23:13.72\00:23:15.19
The 10 spies focused their
attention on the obstacles,
00:23:15.22\00:23:19.53
and the two spies
focused their attention
00:23:19.56\00:23:22.66
on God's promise, right?
00:23:22.70\00:23:24.60
So what are you
gonna trust, God's promise
00:23:24.63\00:23:27.50
or the obstacles that
you see in front of you?
00:23:27.54\00:23:31.07
Well, they looked at the
obstacles, and at the end,
00:23:31.11\00:23:34.94
they say, "And we seemed
ourselves like grasshoppers,
00:23:34.98\00:23:39.68
and so we seemed to them.”
00:23:39.71\00:23:42.75
So, they had a
grasshopper complex,
00:23:42.78\00:23:46.59
where they thought, you
know, "We just can't do it.
00:23:46.62\00:23:48.96
"We don't have
the power to do this.
00:23:48.99\00:23:51.23
We're not going to
succeed. It's hopeless."
00:23:51.26\00:23:54.76
And, of course, all of
those men die in the desert,
00:23:54.83\00:23:58.33
except Caleb and Joshua.
00:23:58.37\00:24:01.27
And when it comes
time, 40 years later,
00:24:01.30\00:24:04.71
to divide the land, Joshua
is-- Caleb is 85 years old.
00:24:04.74\00:24:10.25
You think about this, 85.
00:24:10.28\00:24:12.41
And he says, "I'm as strong
now as I was 40 years ago."
00:24:12.45\00:24:16.42
He says, "Give me the
land where the giants live.
00:24:16.45\00:24:19.42
That's the place I'll take."
00:24:19.45\00:24:20.82
You know, what does he do?
He goes and drives them out.
00:24:20.86\00:24:23.63
That becomes his land.
00:24:23.66\00:24:25.29
He was an amazing
guy. That's a man of faith.
00:24:25.33\00:24:27.96
>>Eric: So we see
examples of faith here
00:24:28.00\00:24:30.17
in the Old
Testament of Joshua and Caleb.
00:24:30.20\00:24:33.94
What's the basis of our
faith when we look to Jesus,
00:24:33.97\00:24:38.77
or we should look to Jesus, and
we tend to see the obstacles?
00:24:38.81\00:24:43.45
>>Tom: Yeah.
>>Eric: What do we base
00:24:43.48\00:24:45.45
our faith on to move
forward, to move past?
00:24:45.48\00:24:48.12
>>Tom: All right, so we should
base our faith on evidence,
00:24:48.15\00:24:51.95
right? And God has given us
00:24:51.99\00:24:53.69
plentiful
evidence and good evidence.
00:24:53.72\00:24:57.89
We talked before--I think
maybe it was last quarter when
00:24:57.93\00:25:01.70
we talked about the evidence
for Jesus' resurrection,
00:25:01.73\00:25:05.93
that
Jesus--there's good evidence
00:25:05.97\00:25:08.37
that Jesus rose from the dead.
00:25:08.40\00:25:09.70
We have plenty of things.
00:25:09.74\00:25:11.04
The tomb was empty--
oh, it was this quarter.
00:25:11.07\00:25:13.38
The tomb was empty, and
the disciples stealing the body
00:25:13.41\00:25:18.61
was not a good explanation.
00:25:18.65\00:25:20.28
There were soldiers
that were guarding the tomb.
00:25:20.32\00:25:22.48
There was the folded cloth, and
grave robbers wouldn't do that,
00:25:22.52\00:25:27.79
and they wouldn't
steal a body either, so--
00:25:27.82\00:25:30.99
and many people saw Jesus
after He rose from the dead,
00:25:31.03\00:25:33.63
more than 500 at one time,
so there's good, strong evidence
00:25:33.66\00:25:36.60
that Jesus is exactly who
He said He was, and that means
00:25:36.63\00:25:39.93
that all the things
that He said are true
00:25:39.97\00:25:42.40
so that we can trust those.
00:25:42.44\00:25:43.61
So we base our
faith on evidence.
00:25:43.64\00:25:45.54
Now, we don't
have just the evidence
00:25:45.57\00:25:47.54
of what is said in the Bible.
00:25:47.58\00:25:50.95
We have the evidence
of our own experience.
00:25:50.98\00:25:53.28
I've been a Christian
for more than 50 years,
00:25:53.31\00:25:56.75
50-60 years, and
it's been a good life.
00:25:56.79\00:26:01.29
God has been merciful
to me and to my family
00:26:01.32\00:26:04.19
through some difficult times.
00:26:04.23\00:26:06.19
And so, my testimony is that
when you go through trouble,
00:26:06.23\00:26:11.00
the thing that
really kept us going
00:26:11.03\00:26:14.34
is the promises of the Bible
00:26:14.37\00:26:16.57
and then good friends around us.
00:26:16.60\00:26:18.87
So, there's evidence to base our
faith on, and we should share
00:26:18.91\00:26:23.65
that faith with other people
to help them know about it,
00:26:23.68\00:26:26.31
live our faith in front
of them, and invite them.
00:26:26.35\00:26:29.52
Invite them to hear
the Word of God at church,
00:26:29.55\00:26:32.19
share literature with them.
These are ways that we can help
00:26:32.22\00:26:34.52
more people to enter faith,
00:26:34.56\00:26:36.52
and that's really what
our calling is, is to help
00:26:36.56\00:26:39.96
more people know about Jesus.
00:26:40.00\00:26:41.76
>>Eric: You know, some people
have given the illustration
00:26:41.80\00:26:45.40
that the most powerful sermon
that you'll ever preach will be
00:26:45.43\00:26:47.74
the life that you live, and
I don't think that that negates
00:26:47.77\00:26:51.34
the importance or the
significance of sermons.
00:26:51.37\00:26:53.68
They have their
place, most certainly.
00:26:53.71\00:26:55.64
However, how you live your
life is going to speak volumes
00:26:55.68\00:26:59.48
to people around you.
00:26:59.51\00:27:01.55
They're going to see the
gospel, or the lack thereof,
00:27:01.58\00:27:04.22
in the life that you live.
00:27:04.25\00:27:06.32
And so, as we study the
book of John, as we study
00:27:06.35\00:27:09.32
the life of Jesus, that
should increase, strengthen
00:27:09.36\00:27:13.13
our own faith,
our own walk with Him,
00:27:13.16\00:27:15.93
and that life
that He wants to give
00:27:15.96\00:27:17.93
should be reflected in
the lives that we live.
00:27:17.97\00:27:21.84
And when that happens, other
people are going to be drawn
00:27:21.87\00:27:25.04
to get to know, to want
to know the Savior as well.
00:27:25.07\00:27:28.44
And so, my prayer is that
God is going to touch your life
00:27:28.48\00:27:32.45
and that you will be a powerful
witness to others of the life
00:27:32.48\00:27:36.12
that Jesus has given to you.
00:27:36.15\00:27:38.79
We're going to continue
studying the book of John
00:27:38.82\00:27:40.96
when we come
back again next week.
00:27:40.99\00:27:42.96
We are rapidly
approaching our 13th lesson.
00:27:42.99\00:27:45.29
We're not there yet--
next week, lesson number 10.
00:27:45.33\00:27:48.56
If you happen to have missed
any, you can go back and check
00:27:48.60\00:27:51.07
the archived ones,
but between now and then,
00:27:51.10\00:27:53.94
get prepared for next week.
00:27:53.97\00:27:55.27
It's a brand new lesson
here on "Sabbath School,"
00:27:55.30\00:27:57.41
brought to you by It Is Written.
00:27:57.44\00:27:59.41
¤¤¤
00:27:59.44\00:28:03.45
¤¤¤
00:28:23.97\00:28:26.94
[Captions provided by Aberdeen
Captioning www.abercap.com]
00:28:26.97\00:28:29.97