HOW WE SEE

HOW WE SEE

Sunday, December 5, 2014

John [MKJV] 3:1-3 And there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. 2 He came to Jesus by night and said to Him, Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God; for no man can do these miracles which you do unless God is with him. 3 Jesus answered and said to him, Truly, truly, I say to you, Unless a man is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.

1John [MKJV] 1:1-10 That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, concerning the Word of Life, 2 (for the Life was revealed, and we have seen it and bear witness, and show to you the everlasting Life, who was with the Father and was revealed to us), 3 that which we have seen and heard we declare unto you, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ. 4 And we write these things to you so that your joy may be full. 5 And this is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you, that God is light, and in Him is no darkness at all. 6 If we say that we have fellowship with Him and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. 7 But if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin. 8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His Word is not in us.

  When we trust Jesus, placing our life and death in Him, we are born again (Jn.3:3) and become God’s children (Jn.1:12). Prior to our agreeing with God (Eph.2:8-10) we are limited to being His creation and live in condemnation (Jn.3:18). Jesus, John and other apostles explained this quite clearly.

  God’s children see people, the world, life, death in a different light. This very much includes how we see ourselves; no longer seeing ourselves as a basically good person that sometimes does sin; but as sinful in nature (Isa.64:1-6; Rom.3:20-23) and needing God’s imputed righteousness (Rom.4 & Jam.2:23).

  If we say, "We aren't sinful" we are deceiving ourselves, and the truth is not in us. (GW 1Jn.1:8)

EBB4