Title Predestination/John 3:19-21
Subject: Predestination/John 3:19-21
Last time I thought about why unbelief is a sin. In this time, we are going to think about “predestination” through the explanations in verses 19 to 21.
Understanding Verse 1.3:19
1) And this is the condemnation, that light has come into the world,
Jesus Christ is introducing himself as the light, and he is saying that although Jesus, the light, has come into the world, there are those who do not receive it.
2) People loved darkness rather than light because their deeds were evil.
What is evil in "one's deeds are evil"?
(Romans 1:29) Full of all unrighteousness, wickedness, greed, and malice; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, and malice.
You are a warlord
(Romans 1:30) A slanderer, a hater of God, a reproacher, a proud man, a boaster,
Those who plan evil, those who disobey their parents
(Romans 1:31) The foolish, the treacherous, the heartless, the merciless.
(Romans 1:32) Even though they know the decree of God that those who practice such things are worthy of death.
Not only do they do it, but they also approve of those who do it.
(Galatians 5:19) The works of the flesh are conspicuous: fornication, uncleanness, sensuality,
(Galatians 5:20) Idolatry, witchcraft, enmity, strife, envy, anger, strife, division,
Heresy (Galatians 5:21), envy, drunkenness, debauchery, and the like...
It is said that those who are in such sins love darkness more than light.
"Darkness" means moral darkness, intellectual darkness, sin, like "evil". It refers to ignorance, superstition, and unbelief.
But they write that they "love more" darkness. The word "I love you" in the phrase "I love darkness more" means that I am actively seduced by evil. In other words, we must turn away from the works of darkness and sin, but we cannot escape the temptation even though we know it is wrong.
Today, drugs, drug addiction, alcoholism, sexual depravity, excessive waste, etc.
These people need to turn around. I hope that we too, if there is something that we have not thrown away from the bad things we have, we hope that we will boldly throw it away.
Understanding verse 2.3:20
1) Everyone who does evil hates the light and does not come to the light; will his deeds be exposed?
Ham
He also said that those who do evil do not come to the light because they fear their deeds and sins will be exposed.
In Korea, we are implementing the "Public Official Property Registration" with the aim of clearing the public service society, and when we first implemented it, we saw a lot of very absurd things. It is because people who were famous for their integrity and innocence, who have amassed an unimaginable wealth, have been revealed under 100 days.
Also, when the [real-name financial system] is implemented to clean up the country today, how wonderful things will be revealed? Wasn't a really astronomical amount of black money revealed under 100 days?
Now, even in Korea, when appointing a high-ranking public official, there are stories that the person should be appointed after observing the person's all qualities and life's journey through [hearing]. What are your reasons for doing so?
The idea is to closely observe whether there is an act of darkness or not.
In the book of Amos
(Amos 2:7) ... A rich man went to a young woman and profaned my holy name.
word comes out. One of the hallmarks of the fallen generation is that they commit sins in the dark, thinking that they will not be revealed. It will appear as if you are trying to cover the sun with your palm. May we not commit the foolishness of covering the sun with our palms.
Understanding 3.3:21
1) Those who pursue the truth come to the light.
Those who follow the truth are those who follow Jesus Christ, who is the way, the truth, and the life. That is why, as the apostle Paul said, he did not call himself a doer of the truth, but a follower of the truth.
(1 Corinthians 11:1) Be imitators of me, just as I am imitators of Christ.
to make it happen
Also, we do not make or create the truth ourselves, but we must follow the truth of Jesus Christ. Because of this, the Lord did not say to walk the truth, but to follow the truth.
It is said that such a person comes with the light.
2) To show that the deeds were done in God.
It is not that we boast of ourselves by showing our deeds, but that, like the apostle Paul, after being transformed, he testified of his life to many people and, as a holy example, appeared to others in the form of his new person.
So Paul
(Philippians 3:17) Brothers and sisters, imitate me together,
see those
(1 Timothy 4:15) Be wholehearted in all these things, that your progress may be made visible to all.
that was said.
I hope that we too, by doing something that will show that our actions have been done in God, will become a faith that can tell other believers to “imitate me.”
4. There is predestination.
The text shows that some people love the darkness and do not come to the light in doing evil, and go to hell, while others follow the truth and come out into the light.
What made people so different?
The text clearly shows those who themselves love evil more, those who run into darkness. This is the beauty of the theory of predestination, and the deep meaning of the Bible.
In the days of Moses, Pharaoh's heart was hardened and he hated letting God's people go, and he hardened his heart even in the midst of disaster. However, if you look in the middle of those words, you will find these words:
(Exodus 7:3) I hardened Pharaoh's heart...
(Ex 9:12) But the LORD hardened Pharaoh's heart,
(Ex 10:20) But the LORD hardened Pharaoh's heart,
(Ex 10:27) The LORD hardened Pharaoh's heart,
(Exodus 11:10) The LORD hardened Pharaoh's heart,
(Exodus 14:4) I hardened Pharaoh's heart,
It is that God hardens Pharaoh's heart. But Pharaoh knows that he hardened his heart and that God made me do this, and that the actor did not follow the script. Therefore, they are responsible for their own actions.
Conversely, those who are saved do not have any merit, but because God loves them, so even if they fall and fall, God will raise them up and turn them around.
(Romans 3:23) For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.
(Romans 3:24) Being justified freely by the grace of God through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus.
*** conclusion ***
1. Do not love evil
2. Let's go out into the light. Let us set an example for others by demonstrating our progress in faith.
3. Thank you for loving me and predestined to save me.