16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only-begotten Son, that whosoever believeth on him should not perish, 17 but have eternal life. For God sent not the Son into the world to judge the world; but that the world should be saved through him. He that believeth on him is not judged; he that believeth not hath been judged already, 18 because he hath not believed on the name of the only-begotten Son of God. And this is the judgment, that the light is come into the world, and men loved the darkness 19 rather than the light; for their works were evil. For every one 20 that doeth ill hateth the light, and cometh not to the light, lest his works should be reproved. But he that doeth the truth cometh to the light, that his works may be made manifest, that they have been wrought in God.
22 “After these things came Jesus and his disciples into the land of Judea; and there he tarried with them, and baptized. 23 And John also was baptizing in Ænon near to Salim, because there was much water there; and they 24 came, and were baptized. For John was not yet cast into 25 prison. There arose therefore a questioning on the part of 26 John’s disciples with a Jew about purifying. And they came unto John, and said to him, Rabbi, he that was with thee beyond Jordan, to whom thou hast borne witness, behold, the same baptizeth, and all men come to him. 27 John answered and said, A man can receive nothing, except it 28 have been given him from heaven. Ye yourselves bear me witness, that I said, I am not the Christ, but, that I am sent before him. He that hath the bride is the bridegroom; but the friend of the bridegroom, which standeth and heareth him, rejoiceth greatly because of the bridegroom’s voice; this my joy therefore is fulfilled. He must increase, but I must decrease.
31 “He that cometh from above is above all: he that is of the earth is of the earth, and of the earth he speaketh; he that 32 cometh from heaven is above all. What he hath seen and heard, of that he beareth witness; and no man receiveth 33 his witness. He that hath received his witness hath set his seal to this, that God is true. 34 For he whom God hath sent speaketh the words of God; for he giveth not the Spirit by measure. 35 The Father loveth the Son, and hath given all things into his hand. 36 He that believeth on the Son hath eternal life; but he that obeyeth not the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abideth on him.”
QUESTIONS.
1. How did God’s love for the world show itself? What was the purpose of this gift?
2. Did Christ come to judge? What was his work?
3. Who is not judged? Who is already judged? Why?
4. What is the basis of this judgment?
5. Who hates the light? Why does he not come to the light?
6. Who comes to the light? For what purpose?
7. Where did Jesus and his disciples now go? What was done there?
8. Where was John the Baptist? Why did he choose this place?
9. What event had not yet taken place?
10. What inquiry arose? Between whom?
11. What report was brought to John concerning Christ’s ministry?
12. To what source did John attribute every man’s ability and mission?
13. What statement of his did he call to their minds?
14. Under what figure did he speak of his relation to Christ and his work?
15. What was to be the relative importance of their positions?
16. Who is over all? Of what does he that is of the earth speak?
17. Of what does He that is from heaven speak?
18. What does he do who has received His testimony?
19. What does the One from heaven speak? What makes this possible?
20. What hath the Father done for the Son?
21. What is the believer on the Son in possession? What awaits the unbeliever?
NOTES.
1. THE first verse of this lesson contains the whole Gospel,—the love of God, the unspeakable gift (2 Cor. 9:15), as the summary of God’s work for the world; faith as the means of apprehending God’s gift, and eternal life as the result, on man’s part. He loved “the world,” he loved “the church” (Eph. 5:25), he loved “me” (Gal. 2:20). “In order to save the sinner, the Creator sacrificed himself. The Father suffered in his Son. The measure of God’s love is Christ. The Saviour’s sacrifice was not to create in God a love that had not before existed; it was but the expression of a love which had not been appreciated or understood.” “O, what a God have we! What a Benefactor! What claims has he upon our love! Having collected all the riches of the universe, and laid open all the resources of infinite power, he gave all the heavenly treasure into the hands of Christ, and said: ‘All these are for man. Use them to convince him that there is no love greater than mine in earth or heaven. His greatest happiness consists in loving me and giving his heart to me, who hath loved him with an infinite love.’” This verse completes the threefold purpose of God in giving his Son to the world,—that he might be its Life (chapter 1:4), its Light (chapter 1:9), and its Love.
2. CHRIST’S works were all wrought “in God” (chapter 14:10, 11), that they might be wrought “in us” (Isa. 26:12) by his power (Eph. 3:20), both in willing and in doing (Phil. 2:12, 13).
3. THE present possession of eternal life through faith is the lesson of verse 36. This life is in the Son (1 John 5:11, 12), and when we receive Christ by believing on him (chapter 1:12), it takes possession of us through the Spirit (Rom. 8:2), to be the power (Acts 1:8) that worketh in us mightily (Col. 1:29). This is not to say that we are immortal, or that we are made immortal before the coming of Christ. That which we obtain by faith we must hold by faith. Christ, who is the Eternal Life (1 John 5:20, last clause), dwells in our hearts by faith (Eph. 3:17). “God is the fountain of life, and we can have life only as we are in communion with him. Separated from God, existence may be ours for a little time, but we do not possess life. . . . Only through the surrender of our will to God is it possible for him to impart his life to us. . . . It will require a sacrifice to give yourself to God; but it is a sacrifice of the lower for the higher, the earthly for the spiritual, the perishable for the eternal.”
Suggestions for Further Study.
1. Observe the many new ideas and words brought out in this lesson: Love, everlasting life, condemnation (judgment, R. V.), purifying, bride, bridegroom, friend of the bridegroom, joy, seal, wrath of God. Study them.
2. How much is included in the experience of believing on Christ?
3. The word “sent” occurs over forty times in this Gospel as applied to Christ and his work. Why is this idea emphasized so much?
4. In what way is the perpetuity of God’s law taught in the sixteenth verse?
5. Observe that darkness and evil go together, and light and truth.
6. How much is included in the “above all” of verse 31?
