Grace Presbyterian Church

The questions of ultimate authority and man's purpose for existence are declared by God in these opening verses of the Bible. The Creator has rights over His creation. We testify to this in our copyright and patent laws. Therefore God has rights over His creation, hence He is the final authority for everything. How does man fit in-- Genesis tells us very clearly- man was made by God for God. There could be no higher purpose. God's goodness and His love for men is clearly demonstrated in the step by step care He takes preparing a world for Adam. This is analogour to Jesus teaching His disciples in John 14, that He was going away to prepare a place for them and would come back to take them there.

The questions of ultimate authority and man's purpose for existence are declared by God in these opening verses of the Bible. The Creator has rights over His creation. We testify to this in our copyright and patent laws. Therefore God has rights over His creation, hence He is the final authority for everything. How does man fit in- Genesis tells us very clearly- man was made by God for God. There could be no higher purpose. God's goodness and His love for men is clearly demonstrated in the step by step care He takes preparing a world for Adam. This is analogour to Jesus teaching His disciples in John 14, that He was going away to prepare a place for them and would come back to take them there.

In summary, let me say it another way. Consider Job. He wanted to teach God a thing or three, Job 33-8-12. But then God gave him a lesson on creation and providence, Job 38-1-18. Then Job shut his mouth and was ready to listen to God's words, Job 42-1-6. This is the precise purpose of the Holy Spirit in Genesis One. To stop your mouth and mine. To get us by the heart and by the ear so that we will shut up and listen to God's Word, Isaiah 66-2.-For My hand made all these things, Thus all these things came into being,- declares the LORD. -But to this one I will look, To him who is humble and contrite of spirit, and who trembles at My word.-

In summary, let me say it another way. Consider Job. He wanted to teach God a thing or three, Job 33-8-12. But then God gave him a lesson on creation and providence, Job 38-1-18. Then Job shut his mouth and was ready to listen to God's words, Job 42-1-6. This is the precise purpose of the Holy Spirit in Genesis One. To stop your mouth and mine. To get us by the heart and by the ear so that we will shut up and listen to God's Word, Isaiah 66-2.-For My hand made all these things, Thus all these things came into being,- declares the LORD. -But to this one I will look, To him who is humble and contrite of spirit, and who trembles at My word.-

With this third sign recorded by John, Jesus -signs- that He is God. The Jewish teachers understood His claim and rejected Him. Jesus also confronted the teachers with their lack of understanding the Law of God. When accused of working on the Sabbath in violation of the Fourth Commandment He replied His Father is working.

With this third sign recorded by John, Jesus -signs- that He is God. The Jewish teachers understood His claim and rejected Him. Jesus also confronted the teachers with their lack of understanding the Law of God. When accused of working on the Sabbath in violation of the Fourth Commandment He replied His Father is working.

There are many today who claim that Jesus never considered Himself to be God. They are wrong. The passage before us this morning contains two of the great declarations of Jesus that He is equal to the Father. The leading theologians and scholars of Jesus' day clearly understood that Jesus taught He was God.

There are many today who claim that Jesus never considered Himself to be God. They are wrong. The passage before us this morning contains two of the great declarations of Jesus that He is equal to the Father. The leading theologians and scholars of Jesus' day clearly understood that Jesus taught He was God.

That the Triune God created all that has come into existence has been the uniform confession of God's people through all time. It is the fundamental assertion of the Bible upon which all else rests. Matter abundantly declares, through entropy, that it's existence is dependent. It's cause is not to be found within itself. No wonder then, that this foundational doctrine is the focus of attack by unbelief. If Genesis 1-3 is denied then man himself is rendered meaningless and will be viewed as an human resource merely to be controlled by a self-proclaimed elite for whatever seems good to them.

That the Triune God created all that has come into existence has been the uniform confession of God's people through all time. It is the fundamental assertion of the Bible upon which all else rests. Matter abundantly declares, through entropy, that it's existence is dependent. It's cause is not to be found within itself. No wonder then, that this foundational doctrine is the focus of attack by unbelief. If Genesis 1-3 is denied then man himself is rendered meaningless and will be viewed as an human resource merely to be controlled by a self-proclaimed elite for whatever seems good to them.

In 1897 R. L. Dabney, a Presbyterian theologian, wrote, -... You may deem it a strange prophecy, but I predict that the time will come in this once free America when the battle for religious liberty will have to be fought over again, and will probably be lost, because the people are already ignorant of its true basis and conditions.- Jesus said that the Truth will set you free. Today truth has fallen and the Lie prevails, so we see slavery and death in our nation.

In 1897 R. L. Dabney, a Presbyterian theologian, wrote, -... You may deem it a strange prophecy, but I predict that the time will come in this once free America when the battle for religious liberty will have to be fought over again, and will probably be lost, because the people are already ignorant of its true basis and conditions.- Jesus said that the Truth will set you free. Today truth has fallen and the Lie prevails, so we see slavery and death in our nation.

The heart of the gospel is the work of Jesus Christ on the cross. The ground of your hope is Christ crucified. Your assurance and your exultation in God is absolutely dependent upon the work of Christ on the cross. It is essential that the cross work of Jesus not be vacated of its Biblical meaning-

The heart of the gospel is the work of Jesus Christ on the cross. The ground of your hope is Christ crucified. Your assurance and your exultation in God is absolutely dependent upon the work of Christ on the cross. It is essential that the cross work of Jesus not be vacated of its Biblical meaning-

We live in an age marked by the short term. History is ignored, the future trivialized. The present is the only concern so our culture is given to fads, to instability and to imbalance. The Church has been influenced by this same deformity. This imbalance and loss of perspective is seen in the absolutizing of God's love. God's love has been torn from its context in God's holiness, justice and power. It is an abstraction without any real effectiveness. It is a lie which is damning many misled people. John, -Apostle of Love-, speaks to us of the wrath of God. Is it real--

We live in an age marked by the short term. History is ignored, the future trivialized. The present is the only concern so our culture is given to fads, to instability and to imbalance. The Church has been influenced by this same deformity. This imbalance and loss of perspective is seen in the absolutizing of God's love. God's love has been torn from its context in God's holiness, justice and power. It is an abstraction without any real effectiveness. It is a lie which is damning many misled people. John, -Apostle of Love-, speaks to us of the wrath of God. Is it real-

Among many folks today an externally stimulated artificial happiness is substituted for joy. This is a cheap and temporary counterfeit. James I. Packer defines joy as, -...a happiness of heart, linked with good feelings of one sort or another.- John teaches you that real, lasting joy is only to be found in Jesus Christ.

Among many folks today an externally stimulated artificial happiness is substituted for joy. This is a cheap and temporary counterfeit. James I. Packer defines joy as, -...a happiness of heart, linked with good feelings of one sort or another.- John teaches you that real, lasting joy is only to be found in Jesus Christ.

Men love the darkness and hate the light, v 19-20. This is what Isaiah wrote in Isaiah 5-20-23- 8-19-20- 50-11. Why do they love the darkness-- Because their deeds are evil, v19. Why do they hate the light-- Because it would expose their deeds as evil, v20. John teaches us why the immoral elite in our country want the Bible out of sight and out of hearing. You need to pray that the Holy Spirit would turn many to the light. Unless He does they will never turn.

Men love the darkness and hate the light, v 19-20. This is what Isaiah wrote in Isaiah 5-20-23- 8-19-20- 50-11. Why do they love the darkness- Because their deeds are evil, v19. Why do they hate the light- Because it would expose their deeds as evil, v20. John teaches us why the immoral elite in our country want the Bible out of sight and out of hearing. You need to pray that the Holy Spirit would turn many to the light. Unless He does they will never turn.

Verse sixteen is the favorite verse of many Christians, and rightly so. John, in full consistency with his announced purpose in writing his account of the Gospel, is declaring that Jesus is not a tribal Redeemer, but a worldwide Redeemer. As John will go on to demonstrate, Jesus is the Savior for elite Jews, example being Nicodemus, He is also the Savior for Samaritans, example being the prostitute at the well.

Verse sixteen is the favorite verse of many Christians, and rightly so. John, in full consistency with his announced purpose in writing his account of the Gospel, is declaring that Jesus is not a tribal Redeemer, but a worldwide Redeemer. As John will go on to demonstrate, Jesus is the Savior for elite Jews, example being Nicodemus, He is also the Savior for Samaritans, example being the prostitute at the well.

This famous verse 16 most likely was not spoken by Jesus to Nicodemus but written by John to us for he will speak of the hatred of the world against Jesus culminating in His crucifixion. This was not yet expressed at the time Nicodemus came to talk with Jesus. It is crucial we understand John's use of the word, -world-.

This famous verse 16 most likely was not spoken by Jesus to Nicodemus but written by John to us for he will speak of the hatred of the world against Jesus culminating in His crucifixion. This was not yet expressed at the time Nicodemus came to talk with Jesus. It is crucial we understand John's use of the word, -world-.

-Is not it nonsense to command a dead man to live--- If the sinner is unable to respond to the gospel then it is foolish to preach the gospel- Further, how can the sinner be condemned for his unbelief when he is unable to believe-- Is not God then responsible for all the unbelief in the world-- Such are the rationalist complaints. But consider what Jesus teaches Nicodemus about the necessity of the Holy Spirit's work on the unbeliever.

-Is not it nonsense to command a dead man to live-- If the sinner is unable to respond to the gospel then it is foolish to preach the gospel- Further, how can the sinner be condemned for his unbelief when he is unable to believe- Is not God then responsible for all the unbelief in the world- Such are the rationalist complaints. But consider what Jesus teaches Nicodemus about the necessity of the Holy Spirit's work on the unbeliever.

How does a dead man come to life-- Since God saves sinners through Jesus Christ how does the sinner come to have a vital interest in Jesus-- Who does the work of -birthing from above--- How is this work normally done-- These are the questions Jesus addresses with Nicodemus.

How does a dead man come to life- Since God saves sinners through Jesus Christ how does the sinner come to have a vital interest in Jesus- Who does the work of -birthing from above-- How is this work normally done- These are the questions Jesus addresses with Nicodemus.

Biblical Christianity is pure supernaturalism. It is the work of God saving sinners. Because it is God's work there is assurance of salvation as His work never fails. Nicodemus came to Jesus confident that he was okay with God on the basis of his genes, his works, and what the OT Church had done to him in circumcision. Jesus will have none of this deceptive assurance but declares to him that he will not see the kingdom of God unless God -borns him again-.

Biblical Christianity is pure supernaturalism. It is the work of God saving sinners. Because it is God's work there is assurance of salvation as His work never fails. Nicodemus came to Jesus confident that he was okay with God on the basis of his genes, his works, and what the OT Church had done to him in circumcision. Jesus will have none of this deceptive assurance but declares to him that he will not see the kingdom of God unless God -borns him again-.

In the four days which John the Apostle records in this first chapter you see the growth of the distinctly Christian Church. Here you see how God grows His Church, the method and the messengers of which He approves. Our text is full of hope and encouragement.

In the four days which John the Apostle records in this first chapter you see the growth of the distinctly Christian Church. Here you see how God grows His Church, the method and the messengers of which He approves. Our text is full of hope and encouragement.

Materialists strenuously oppose the resurrection for it is the vital contradiction to their worldview. All of Man's Utopian schemes are stricken through the heart by the bodily resurrection. The flight from reason and responsibility is stopped dead in its tracks by Jesus rising from the tomb alive. But every Christian cherishes the resurrection because it is our hope, without it we are lost in darkness.

Materialists strenuously oppose the resurrection for it is the vital contradiction to their worldview. All of Man's Utopian schemes are stricken through the heart by the bodily resurrection. The flight from reason and responsibility is stopped dead in its tracks by Jesus rising from the tomb alive. But every Christian cherishes the resurrection because it is our hope, without it we are lost in darkness.

Jesus at the wedding feast is one of the most endearing of all the recorded miracles of Jesus. Here is a Friend that has no equal. Jesus is not blind fate nor chance, neither is He an uncaring impersonal Nature goddess. He is an understanding and compassionate God who loves people.

Jesus at the wedding feast is one of the most endearing of all the recorded miracles of Jesus. Here is a Friend that has no equal. Jesus is not blind fate nor chance, neither is He an uncaring impersonal Nature goddess. He is an understanding and compassionate God who loves people.

When Jesus cleansed the temple at the beginning of His public ministry -and again at the end-, He demonstrated that His concern was for the glory of God. The worship of God is something about which God is very jealous. Do we prepare our hearts to worship God when we enter His house--

When Jesus cleansed the temple at the beginning of His public ministry -and again at the end-, He demonstrated that His concern was for the glory of God. The worship of God is something about which God is very jealous. Do we prepare our hearts to worship God when we enter His house-

Strange to read John telling us that many believed in Jesus but Jesus did not entrust Himself to them. Here we come face to face with the truth that their is a kind of faith that does not result in salvation. John is very careful to show this because he wants you to savingly believe in Jesus. It is a matter of the heart the Apostle Paul tells us in Romans 10-9-10, What is the heart-- In three famous Old Testament texts the Holy Spirit tells us. Solomon prayed for an understanding heart -intellect or mind-, Hannah had a sad heart -affections-, and Deborah sings about Issachar's resolute heart -will-. The faith that saves must be of all three faculties of the human heart.

Strange to read John telling us that many believed in Jesus but Jesus did not entrust Himself to them. Here we come face to face with the truth that their is a kind of faith that does not result in salvation. John is very careful to show this because he wants you to savingly believe in Jesus. It is a matter of the heart the Apostle Paul tells us in Romans 10-9-10, What is the heart- In three famous Old Testament texts the Holy Spirit tells us. Solomon prayed for an understanding heart -intellect or mind-, Hannah had a sad heart -affections-, and Deborah sings about Issachar's resolute heart -will-. The faith that saves must be of all three faculties of the human heart.

At the conclusion of John 2 we come across the strange statement that many were believing in Jesus but Jesus was not entrusting Himself to them. What can this be-- John wants you to believe saving in Jesus but he well knows there is a sort of belief that is not saving, just like James writes of the demons believe. What then is saving belief-- You must know the answer the Holy Spirit gives in the Bible.

At the conclusion of John 2 we come across the strange statement that many were believing in Jesus but Jesus was not entrusting Himself to them. What can this be- John wants you to believe saving in Jesus but he well knows there is a sort of belief that is not saving, just like James writes of the demons believe. What then is saving belief- You must know the answer the Holy Spirit gives in the Bible.

What are the consequences of the truths of the gospel-- If Jesus is the propitiatory sacrifice, the sacrifice which satisfies God's wrath against the sinner, then what conclusions ought we to draw-- This is precisely what Paul answers in the end of Romans Chapter Three. This is the same truth which John declares when he identifies Jesus as the Lamb of God, in John 1-29.

What are the consequences of the truths of the gospel- If Jesus is the propitiatory sacrifice, the sacrifice which satisfies God's wrath against the sinner, then what conclusions ought we to draw- This is precisely what Paul answers in the end of Romans Chapter Three. This is the same truth which John declares when he identifies Jesus as the Lamb of God, in John 1-29.

The great John the Baptist directs people to Jesus as he answers the question, -How may a sinner have his sin taken away--- Only through faith in Jesus will anyone be righteous in God's sight.

The great John the Baptist directs people to Jesus as he answers the question, -How may a sinner have his sin taken away-- Only through faith in Jesus will anyone be righteous in God's sight.

Part 2 of 2 respecting the foundation of the American War of Independence from England in 1776. The English tyrannical monarchs hated Presbyterianism because it is the foundation of liberty in its representative republican government.

Part 2 of 2 respecting the foundation of the American War of Independence from England in 1776. The English tyrannical monarchs hated Presbyterianism because it is the foundation of liberty in its representative republican government.

Can it be right when celebrating what was once referred to as, -the experiment of a representative republic,- that we should pay so little attention to what played so large a part in its very conception and birthing-- I speak particularly of the Christian religion, but even more particularly of Presbyterianism. The War of Independence of the colonies from the British Empire was nicknamed, -The Presbyterian Rebellion-. And it is an apt nickname founded upon truth.

Can it be right when celebrating what was once referred to as, -the experiment of a representative republic,- that we should pay so little attention to what played so large a part in its very conception and birthing- I speak particularly of the Christian religion, but even more particularly of Presbyterianism. The War of Independence of the colonies from the British Empire was nicknamed, -The Presbyterian Rebellion-. And it is an apt nickname founded upon truth.