THE GOSPEL OF JOHN

NEW COMMANDMENT–JOHN 13:34-35; 1 JOHN 2:8-10

Art Davison THE GOSPEL OF JOHN 0 Comment
NEW COMMANDMENT
JOHN 13:34-35; 1 JOHN 2:8-10
Introduction:
The Lord knew that the only way these disciples would be able to continue in unity was through the bond of His love, John 17:21, “That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.” So the Lord gave them a “new commandment” in v. 34, “A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.”
I. “THIS IS MY COMMANDMENT”
John 15:12, 17, “This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you.”
A. This is the commandment of JESUS CHRIST, vs. 17, 34, “These things I command you, that ye love one another. 34A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.”
B. This commandment comes DIRECT from the THRONE OF GOD.
C. This is a commandment, NOT A REQUEST, John 13:34, “A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.”
1. WHY are we commanded to love? John 13:35, “By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.”
2. Without love we are,..
a. As sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal, 1 Corinthians 13:1, “Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.”
b. We are nothing, 1 Corinthians 13:2, “And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.”
II. THIS IS A NEW COMMANDMENT
1 John 2:8-10, “Again, a new commandment I write unto you, which thing is true in him and in you: because the darkness is past, and the true light now shineth. 9He that saith he is in the light, and hateth his brother, is in darkness even until now. 10He that loveth his brother abideth in the light, and there is none occasion of stumbling in him.”
A. Now you walk in the true light, 1 John 1:7, “But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.”
1. If we walk in the light, we are TO WALK IN LOVE, Ephesians 5:2, “And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour.”
2. Followers of God walk in love, Ephesians 5:1-2, “Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children; 2And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour.”
B. We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren, 1 John 3:14, “We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death.”
1. Evidence of salvation, “because we love the brethren.”
2. Evidence of a lack of salvation, “He that loveth not his brother abideth in death.”
C. This is HIS commandment, 1 John 3:23, “And this is his commandment, That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment.”
D. We are to ABOUND in love one toward another, 2 Thessalonians 1:3, “We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is meet, because that your faith groweth exceedingly, and the charity of every one of you all toward each other aboundeth;”
1. Increase in love, 1 Thessalonians 3:12, “And the Lord make you to increase and abound in love one toward another, and toward all men, even as we do toward you:”
2. Increase more and more, 1 Thessalonians 4:9-10, “But as touching brotherly love ye need not that I write unto you: for ye yourselves are taught of God to love one another. 10And indeed ye do it toward all the brethren which are in all Macedonia: but we beseech you, brethren, that ye increase more and more;”
III. THIS IS A COMMANDMENT TO LOVE ALL OF THE SAINTS OF GOD
Colossians 1:3-4, “We give thanks to God and the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you, 4Since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus, and of the love which ye have to all the saints,”
A. In bearing each other’s burdens, Galatians 6:2-4, “Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ. 3For if a man think himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself. 4But let every man prove his own work, and then shall he have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another.”
B. Do good to those of the household of faith, Galatians 6:10, “As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.”
C. Show kindness to the brethren, Colossians 3:12-13, “Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering; 13Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.”
CONCLUSION:
The Lord commanded us to love one another as He loved us. That was a sacrificial love. He gave His all to redeem us from sin. Therefore, what is it if we give our all in loving one another in order to glorify our Saviour?

I AM THE BREAD OF LIFE–THE “I AM” SERIES- -JOHN 6:35

Art Davison THE GOSPEL OF JOHN 0 Comment
THE “I AM” SERIES 

I AM THE BREAD OF LIFE

JOHN 6:35
Introduction:
Jesus had fed the multitudes with barley bread, the coarsest and least valuable form of bread. Its nutritional value was of little worth and inadequate, but the men were satisfied. It is amazing to me how men are satisfied with such low quality when they could have the best. Jesus is the Bread of Life, but men continue to want the Barley loaves.
I. “I AM THE BREAD OF LIFE.” v. 35, 48
A. Israel was given Manna in the wilderness, Exodus 16:15, “And when the children of Israel saw it, they said one to another, It is manna: for they wist not what it was. And Moses said unto them, This is the bread which the LORD hath given you to eat.”
B. They called it “manna” or “What is it?”
1. Man continues in his ignorance not recognizing God’s blessings in his life.
2. He continues to refuse to admit that God is still to One that gives us all that we have.
C. They refuse to admit that Jesus is “THE BREAD OF LIFE.”
1. Israel ate manna in the wilderness and they are dead, John 6:49, “Your fathers did eat manna in the wilderness, and are dead.”
2. Those that partake of the Bread of Life will live forever, v. 47, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life.”
II. “I AM THE LIVING BREAD THAT CAME DOWN FROM HEAVEN.” v. 51.
A. The Jews recognized Jesus as a mere man, v. 42, “And they said, Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? how is it then that he saith, I came down from heaven?”
B. They never recognized Jesus as the Son of God of in flesh, John 1:1-3, 14, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2The same was in the beginning with God. 3All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. 14And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.”
1. The Jews rejected Him, John 1:11, “He came unto his own, and his own received him not.”
2. But those that received Him became sons of God, John 1:12-13, “But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: 13Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.”
III. “I AM THE LIVING BREAD…” v. 51
A. If you eat this bread, you will live forever, v. 51, “I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.”
1. Matthew Henry said, “To live for ever is not to be for ever (the damned in hell shall be for ever, the soul of man was made for an endless state), but to be happy for ever.”
2. The Son of Man will welcome all of those who come to Him, v. 37, “All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.” Matthew 11:28, “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”
B. You have to identify with Jesus Christ for your sins to be forgiven, vs. 53-54, “Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you. 54Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day.”
1. In the OT the sinner had to identify himself with his SIN offering, Leviticus 1:4, “And he shall put his hand upon the head of the burnt offering; and it shall be accepted for him to make atonement for him.”
2. In our time the Ultimate Sacrifice was Jesus Christ, but we still have to identify ourselves with Him by trusting Him as our Savior, Romans 10:9-10, “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. 10For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.”
CONCLUSION:
Jesus said, “I am the bread of life.” He invites you to come and partake of the bread that gives eternal life. Would you trust him as your Savior today?
Matthew 11:28, “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”

JESUS ESTABLISHES HIS IDENTITY–THE “I AM” SERIES- – JOHN 8:48-59

Art Davison THE GOSPEL OF JOHN 0 Comment
THE “I AM” SERIES
JESUS ESTABLISHES HIS IDENTITY
JOHN 8:48-59
Introduction:
This message begins a series of sermons on the “I AM”. In this message the identity of the Lord Jesus is established beyond any doubt. If you do not know Jesus as your Savior, you would do well to listen to this message.
I. GOD IS THE FATHER OF JESUS.
A. Jesus is EQUAL with the Father, Philippians 2:6, “Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:”
B. He is MASTER and LORD, John 13:13, “Ye call me Master and Lord: and ye say well; for so I am.”
1. Master, or Teacher, John 11:28, “And when she had so said, she went her way, and called Mary her sister secretly, saying, The Master is come, and calleth for thee.”
2. LORD, the word implies OWNERSHIP, John 5:23, “That all men should honour the Son, even as they honour the Father. He that honoureth not the Son honoureth not the Father which hath sent him.”
C. He is the Creator, John 1:1-3, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2The same was in the beginning with God. 3All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.”
D. He is the CAPITAIN of the Lord’s host, Joshua 5:13-15, “And it came to pass, when Joshua was by Jericho, that he lifted up his eyes and looked, and, behold, there stood a man over against him with his sword drawn in his hand: and Joshua went unto him, and said unto him, Art thou for us, or for our adversaries? 14And he said, Nay; but as captain of the host of the LORD am I now come. And Joshua fell on his face to the earth, and did worship, and said unto him, What saith my lord unto his servant?”
II. GOD’S POWER REST UPON JESUS.
A. If any man keep my Word, v. 51, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, If a man keep my saying, he shall never see death.”
1. He shall never see death, John 5:24, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.” John 11:26, “And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?”
2. He is not condemned, John 5:24; 3:18, “He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.”
3. He has a home in Heaven, John 14:2-3, “In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.”
B. Jesus’ power was because He HONORED the Father, John 15:41, “I receive not honour from men. v. 50, “And I seek not mine own glory: there is one that seeketh and judgeth.” John 7:18, “He that speaketh of himself seeketh his own glory: but he that seeketh his glory that sent him, the same is true, and no unrighteousness is in him.”
III. GOD’S FAVOR REST UPON JESUS.
A. Abraham rejoiced in Jesus, v. 56, “Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw it, and was glad.”
1. To see His day,
2. And he saw it and was glad.
B. Abraham left a heritage, Galatians 3:7-8, “Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham. 8And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed.”
1. By faith in Christ we are the children of Abraham.
2. God has blessed all nations through him.
C. Before Abraham, I AM, v. 58, “Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am.”
Proverbs 8:22-30.
CONCLUSION:

Who are we to overrule the great “I AM”? He is our SAVIOR! He is our LIFE! Why should we take Him for granted?

He is our LORD, that is, He is our MASTER OR OWNER. He has REDEEMED us, 1 Corinthians 6:20, “For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.” 1 Corinthians 7:23, “Ye are bought with a price; be not ye the servants of men.”

I AM THE WAY–I AM SERIES- – JOHN 14:1-6

Art Davison THE GOSPEL OF JOHN 0 Comment
I AM THE WAY
JOHN 14:1-6

Key verse: v. 6, “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”

Introduction:
This is one of the messages in the “I AM” series. In this verse He declares three things about Himself: First, “I am the way.” Secondly, “I am the truth” and thirdly, “I am the life.” Jesus is all of these things and more.
In this message we will deal with the phrase “I am the way.” He refers to the way to Heaven for He concludes saying, “no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” Consider the following.
I. JESUS IS THE WAY
A. Before Abraham, I AM, John 8:58, “Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am.
1. This establishes who Jesus is, Matthew 16:15-16, “He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? 16And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.”
2. He is the great I AM, Exodus 3:13-14, “And Moses said unto God, Behold, when I come unto the children of Israel, and shall say unto them, The God of your fathers hath sent me unto you; and they shall say to me, What is his name? what shall I say unto them? 14And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you.”
B. “I am the light of the world,” John 9:5, “As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.”
1. He is the Light of Life, John 8:12, “Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.” John 12:46, “I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on me should not abide in darkness.”
2. He is the light of men, John 1:4, “In him was life; and the life was the light of men.”
3. He is the True Light, John 1:9, “That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world.”
II. JESUS IS THE DOOR, John 10:7-9
A. Entering by faith, man shall be saved, v. 9, “Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep.”
B. All that came before were “thieves and robbers,” v. 8, “All that ever came before me are thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not hear them.”
C. All who have come since were LIARS, Matthew 24:4-5, “And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you. 5 For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.”
III. THE CHURCH IS THE REFLECTED LIGHT OF CHRIST, BUT NOT THE WAY, Matthew 5:14-16
A. God’s people REFLECT the Light of Christ, Matthew 5:14, “Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.”
B. Their light is to show the WAY to others,
Matthew 5:16, “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.”
1. To Preach the Word of God,
a. Jesus is the Word, John 1:1-3, 14, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2The same was in the beginning with God. 3All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. 14And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.”
b. Preach the Word, 2 Timothy 4:1-2, “I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom; 2Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.”
2. The Great Commission was given “to make disciples,” Matthew 28:19-20, “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: 20Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
C. We must let our light shine,
1. We must be like a city on a hill, Matthew 5:14, “Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.”

I AM THE WAY, THE TRUTH, AND THE LIFE–I AM” SERIES- – JOHN 14:6

Art Davison THE GOSPEL OF JOHN 0 Comment
I AM” SERIES
I AM THE WAY, THE TRUTH, AND THE LIFE
John 14:1-6; key verse: v. 6, “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
Introduction:
Here is some good news, news that will ease your troubled heart, v. 1, Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.” News that will cause you to rejoice and be glad, Psalm 40:16a, “Let all those that seek thee rejoice and be glad in thee:”
Jesus has declare that He is everything that we need, 2 Corinthians 9:8, “And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work:”
I.    I AM THE WAY
A. The Church is not the way, but rather the one who has the mission of carrying the message of “the way” to the world, Matthew 28:19-20, “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: 20Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.”
1. To make disciples… that is, preach the gospel to every creature.
2. To baptize those disciples… after salvation.
3. To teach those disciples all things regarding the Scriptures.
B. Jesus is “the way”,
1. He is the entrance to heaven, not Saint Peter, John 10:9-10, “I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture. 10The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.”
a. Jesus is the entrance by which one enters into eternal life,
b. Jesus came that we “might have life,” v. 10, “I am come that they might have life.”
c. This is an abundant life, v. 10, “and that they might have it more abundantly.”
d. In this abundance there is peace.
2. Jesus is “the way of holiness,” Isaiah 35:8, “And an highway shall be there, and a way, and it shall be called The way of holiness; the unclean shall not pass over it; but it shall be for those: the wayfaring men, though fools, shall not err therein.”
a. God expects His people to be holy, 1 Peter 1:15-16, “But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; 16Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.”
b. The believer was created in true holiness, Ephesians 4:24, “And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.”
II. I AM THE TRUTH
A. Jesus is full of truth, John 1:14, 17, “And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth. 17For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.”
B. The truth bring freedom, John 8:32, “And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”
1. Free from the penalty of sin, Romans 6:23, “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”
2. Free from the guilt of sin, Psalm 34:22, “The LORD redeemeth the soul of his servants: and none of them that trust in him shall be desolate. [guilty]
III. I AM THE LIFE
A. There is life in Jesus, John 5:21, “For as the Father raiseth up the dead, and quickeneth them; even so the Son quickeneth whom he will.”
B. This life is ETERNAL, John 10:28, “And I give unto them eternal life; c, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.”
1. This is security, “and they shall never perish.”
2. Even if he dies he is still safe in Jesus Christ, John 11:25, “Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: 26And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?”
IV. NO MAN COMETH UNTO THE FATHER BUT BY ME
A. This statement nullifies all other ideas about the WAY OF SALVATION! Acts 4:12, “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.”
B. Jesus is “the way, the truth, and the life, no man cometh unto the Father, but by me”
CONCLUSION:
There is no other way to heaven except by Jesus Christ. Many have tried religion, good works, philosophy, etc., all of which are failures.
Only Jesus Christ can save a soul from Hell. He says, “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” Matthew 11:28.