Some more on the first section.
John the Baptist is simply called John in this gospel. This is evidence that John the Apostle is the author, for he saw no need to specify who John (the Baptist) was. In the early church there were some who followed John the Baptist (Acts 18:25, 19:1-7), so John makes it clear that John the Baptist was only pointing to the light.
Jesus was the agent of creation. Despite this, the world did not recognise Jesus. Today, most of the West has rejected Christ. Yet if we do receive Him and believe in Him we are given the power to become children of God. Note the word receive. Jesus offers Himself to the world, we are invited to follow Him. Daily He invites us to choose to follow His ways and His voice. If we receive this invitation then we can live as children of the King. The alternative is to live as slaves of the world. We become children of God by the will of God. It is not dependent upon human power or will, but only God's will. We may wonder how can we possible be children of God, but God is the only one we need to look too. Our circumstance do not come into it, the opinions of others do not come into it. In Christ God has declared beyond doubt that He wants us to be His children. We need only to believe Him.
How do we know God wants us to be His children? Because the Word became flesh, ie became fully human and lived amongst us. If God did not like us or want us or love us He would not have come to live with us. And when He came He did not come in judgement, but full of grace and truth.
The grace He brought replaced the grace that was already there (v16). What this means is that the grace if the gospel replaced the grace of the Law. The Law told men the right way to live, Christ enables us to be the people we are meant to be.
Jesus lived and lives in close relationship with the Father (a point made several times in John's gospel). He is well suited to make the Father known to us. We can trust what Christ says completely, for He knows exactly what He is talking about.
John the Baptist is simply called John in this gospel. This is evidence that John the Apostle is the author, for he saw no need to specify who John (the Baptist) was. In the early church there were some who followed John the Baptist (Acts 18:25, 19:1-7), so John makes it clear that John the Baptist was only pointing to the light.
Jesus was the agent of creation. Despite this, the world did not recognise Jesus. Today, most of the West has rejected Christ. Yet if we do receive Him and believe in Him we are given the power to become children of God. Note the word receive. Jesus offers Himself to the world, we are invited to follow Him. Daily He invites us to choose to follow His ways and His voice. If we receive this invitation then we can live as children of the King. The alternative is to live as slaves of the world. We become children of God by the will of God. It is not dependent upon human power or will, but only God's will. We may wonder how can we possible be children of God, but God is the only one we need to look too. Our circumstance do not come into it, the opinions of others do not come into it. In Christ God has declared beyond doubt that He wants us to be His children. We need only to believe Him.
How do we know God wants us to be His children? Because the Word became flesh, ie became fully human and lived amongst us. If God did not like us or want us or love us He would not have come to live with us. And when He came He did not come in judgement, but full of grace and truth.
The grace He brought replaced the grace that was already there (v16). What this means is that the grace if the gospel replaced the grace of the Law. The Law told men the right way to live, Christ enables us to be the people we are meant to be.
Jesus lived and lives in close relationship with the Father (a point made several times in John's gospel). He is well suited to make the Father known to us. We can trust what Christ says completely, for He knows exactly what He is talking about.
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