What The Bible Says
Good Samaritan's Penny Pulpit by Pastor Ed Rice
The disciple that Jesus loved wrote five books in our Bible and the letter he aimed at Gentile believers is unprecedented in beauty and power. The Apostle John was commissioned by Christ to “write the things which thou hast seen.” He did so with a very careful consideration of his audience. His gospel was written to all people, his first epistle was written to Gentile believers, his second to Jewish believers (“the elder unto the elect lady and her children,whom I love in the Lord) (Notice that Catholic, Protestant and Reformed theologians suppose that they are the “elect-lady” and consequently they miss the heart of this little epistle, … they generally miss the heart of Scripture altogether with that same self-righteous blunder), and John's third epistle was to a man named Gaius. John's carefulness to identify his audience is only one characteristic that makes him a superb writer. He refers to himself in the third person and glorifies the Lord Jesus Christ with every syllable. John was a disciple before Christ had disciples. Most people miss that John was the “other-disciple” when John the Baptist sent his two loyal disciples off to follow Jesus. (John 1:35-37). The Apostle John was thus the very first of the disciples at Christ's side. It takes a talented writer to capture a good introduction and conclusion, and a superb author to make them a prologue and epilogue. John is thus a superb writer in his own right, and when the Holy Spirit is dictating the very words that he records, well, undertaking the study of John's first epistle will make for an interesting adventure. Reading any of the Apostle John's works is equally so. John begins this epistle with his prologue addressing everything found in the body of the work. Let us begin there.
An Essay for week #8 Feb 25, 2018
Msg in audio at www.GSBaptistChurch.com/audio/gs180225.mp3
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A weekly 300 word essay- The Penny Pulpit
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