Not The Light (John 1:6-8, John 1:19-28, Malachi 3:1-6)
Rev. William L. Barron, November 28, 2021Part of the Morning Worship at North Greenville Church series, preached at a Sunday Morning service
The Christian faith is grounded in facts and history. John wrote his gospel for the purpose of bringing people to trust and faith in Jesus Christ as the Messiah, the savior. He spoke of the light as pointing to Jesus. His application for us was for us to light ourselves on fire for Jesus. It should be our passion for others to see Him living in us. We are to bear witness to the light. How do we bear witness? We should tell what He has done and what we have seen. We must agree that the greatest need in the world is salvation from sin, and that God has provided that for us. The people asked John the Baptist what kind of baptism he was preaching. They asked him who he was--Elijah? A prophet? John answered that he was none of these. His mission was to bear witness to the light, bringing one message for all--repentance. We then see that Jesus believed in baptism as a picture of purification for not only Jews, but also for gentiles. Malachi prophesied that the voice in the wilderness would come. That voice proclaims the coming of the Word (salvation), and Jesus is the Word. John was only the voice proclaiming the coming of the Word. We are also to bear witness to the coming of the Word. Richard Phillips makes three points about bearing witness: (1) It is about Jesus, not us. (2) Our witness and our lives must be in alignment. (3) The goal is that people might believe. Those to whom we witness should be the focus of our prayers, that the Holy Spirit would work in them.
| Earlier: | Same day: | Later: |
|---|---|---|
| « Where Is Your Joy? | None | 'I Am The Light' » |
John 1:6–8 (Listen)
6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. 7 He came as a witness, to bear witness about the light, that all might believe through him. 8 He was not the light, but came to bear witness about the light.
(ESV)
John 1:19–28 (Listen)
19 And this is the testimony of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, “Who are you?” 20 He confessed, and did not deny, but confessed, “I am not the Christ.” 21 And they asked him, “What then? Are you Elijah?” He said, “I am not.” “Are you the Prophet?” And he answered, “No.” 22 So they said to him, “Who are you? We need to give an answer to those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?” 23 He said, “I am the voice of one crying out in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way of the Lord,’ as the prophet Isaiah said.”
24 (Now they had been sent from the Pharisees.) 25 They asked him, “Then why are you baptizing, if you are neither the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?” 26 John answered them, “I baptize with water, but among you stands one you do not know, 27 even he who comes after me, the strap of whose sandal I am not worthy to untie.” 28 These things took place in Bethany across the Jordan, where John was baptizing.
(ESV)
Malachi 3:1–6 (Listen)
3:1 “Behold, I send my messenger, and he will prepare the way before me. And the Lord whom you seek will suddenly come to his temple; and the messenger of the covenant in whom you delight, behold, he is coming, says the LORD of hosts. 2 But who can endure the day of his coming, and who can stand when he appears? For he is like a refiner’s fire and like fullers’ soap. 3 He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver, and he will purify the sons of Levi and refine them like gold and silver, and they will bring offerings in righteousness to the LORD. 4 Then the offering of Judah and Jerusalem will be pleasing to the LORD as in the days of old and as in former years.
5 “Then I will draw near to you for judgment. I will be a swift witness against the sorcerers, against the adulterers, against those who swear falsely, against those who oppress the hired worker in his wages, the widow and the fatherless, against those who thrust aside the sojourner, and do not fear me, says the LORD of hosts.
6 “For I the LORD do not change; therefore you, O children of Jacob, are not consumed.
(ESV)