Lesson 6 · August 8, 1896

Wondrous Love! Increasing and Decreasing; Life through Believing

(Chapter 3, .)

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 has the Father done for the Son?
21.Of 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 (), 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" (), He loved "me" (). "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 (), its Light (), and its Love.

2. Christ's works were all wrought "in God" (), that they might be wrought "in us" () by His power (), both in willing and in doing ().

3. The present possession of eternal life through faith is the lesson of . This life is in the Son (), and when we receive Christ by believing on Him (), it takes possession of us through the Spirit (), to be the power () that worketh in us mightily (). 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 (, last clause), dwells in our hearts by faith (). "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: Loved, 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 ?

7. How much is included in the "all things" of ? See ; ; ; , etc.

8. The believer hath life, the unbeliever (he that obeyeth not, R. V.) shall not see life. What force in the change of the tense!

Bible texts in this lesson

John 3:16-36 · 2 Corinthians 9:15 · Ephesians 5:25 · Galatians 2:20 · John 1:4 · John 1:9 · John 14:10 · John 14:11 · Isaiah 26:12 · Ephesians 3:20 · Philippians 2:12 · Philippians 2:13 · John 3:36 · 1 John 5:11 · 1 John 5:12 · John 1:12 · Romans 8:2 · Acts 1:8 · Colossians 1:29 · 1 John 5:20 · Ephesians 3:17 · John 3:31 · John 3:35 · Matthew 28:18 · John 17:2 · 1 Corinthians 8:6 · Ephesians 1:10

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