A NEW WORLD BREAKING IN (3 OF 4)
Scripture: John 1:19-34
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A New World Breaking In (3 of 4)
Series: Advent
Patrick Edwards
John 1:19-34
Introduction: ''There was 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. The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world,'' (John 1:6-9). Last week, Mark's gospel introduced us to John the Baptist who announced the coming fulfillment of an ancient promise. And we discussed then how our understanding of Christ's first coming shapes and impacts our understanding of His second. Specifically, we ended with a renewed emphasis on the importance of our response of faith and repentance in Christ now before He returns.
The Gospel of John, likewise, addresses the person and ministry of John the Baptist toward the beginning of its telling, and, like Mark, there is a feeling a dawn breaking. However, John's imagery of light and darkness carries more of a connotation and truth and falsehood than does Mark. In other words, whether it be here in John's Gospel, in the letters that bear his name, or in his apocalypse, it is the light of truth which produces spiritual life. Accordingly, just as the light is confronted by the darkness, so, too, is truth met by falsehood. And so, part of John the Baptist's ministry, part of his preparation of the way for Jesus, we see, centers on confronting falsehood. Right? In order for the world to rightly apprehend the true light that was coming they had to recognize and repent of the falsehood and darkness of their hearts.
And I want us to consider that reality particularly this morning in light of the advent season. As we've discussed over the last two weeks, advent is a season of the year for self-examination and repentance in light of the imminent return of Jesus Christ. In other words, really, we spend less time thinking about the manger and Bethlehem and the birth of Jesus as we do on His ...
Series: Advent
Patrick Edwards
John 1:19-34
Introduction: ''There was 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. The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world,'' (John 1:6-9). Last week, Mark's gospel introduced us to John the Baptist who announced the coming fulfillment of an ancient promise. And we discussed then how our understanding of Christ's first coming shapes and impacts our understanding of His second. Specifically, we ended with a renewed emphasis on the importance of our response of faith and repentance in Christ now before He returns.
The Gospel of John, likewise, addresses the person and ministry of John the Baptist toward the beginning of its telling, and, like Mark, there is a feeling a dawn breaking. However, John's imagery of light and darkness carries more of a connotation and truth and falsehood than does Mark. In other words, whether it be here in John's Gospel, in the letters that bear his name, or in his apocalypse, it is the light of truth which produces spiritual life. Accordingly, just as the light is confronted by the darkness, so, too, is truth met by falsehood. And so, part of John the Baptist's ministry, part of his preparation of the way for Jesus, we see, centers on confronting falsehood. Right? In order for the world to rightly apprehend the true light that was coming they had to recognize and repent of the falsehood and darkness of their hearts.
And I want us to consider that reality particularly this morning in light of the advent season. As we've discussed over the last two weeks, advent is a season of the year for self-examination and repentance in light of the imminent return of Jesus Christ. In other words, really, we spend less time thinking about the manger and Bethlehem and the birth of Jesus as we do on His ...
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