How to Use This Commentary And Sample lessons

The study of God’s Word is the most useful activity you can undertake in your life because “everything pertaining to life and godliness” has been revealed through it. (2 Peter 1:3)

So how can you make the most out of using The Grandpa Harp Commentary in your pursuit of God’s revelations? Let me make some suggestions.

[1] Daily Bible Reading - The Grandpa Harp Commentary was designed to be read alongside your Bible in the order that it (the Commentary) was written. This will give you a sense of the history of Jesus’ ministry, followed by the foundational truths communicated by the apostles. If you plan and follow a daily reading schedule, beginning with Volume 1, continuing through Volumes 2-4, you will develop a solid understanding of His Word.

[2] Book Studies - If you desire to study a particular book of the Bible, you may simply go to that book within the Commentary using the Table of Contents. Except for the Book of Acts, all books are covered in a verse-by-verse format, suitable for a small group study, family devotions, or personal growth.

[3] Word Studies - If you are looking for a particular word or topic, both the PDF and Kindle versions of the Commentary are searchable. For example, if you wanted to find lessons that included the word “atonement” or “sacrifice”, the search feature would be helpful to you.

[4] Topical Studies and Applications - Topical studies are studies relating to a particular topic or question about applications of biblical principles. I may have touched on them briefly, but perhaps you want to go into more detail. What is the best way to find those kinds of answers? That’s easy.

 My favorite resource for Bible questions and applications is GotQuestions.org. This is an outstanding ministry with roughly 8,200 articles on their website. Chances are, they have already answered your questions with concise and biblically based research. I used them extensively in the preparation of The Grandpa Harp Commentary, and I personally support their work with a monthly donation. I suggest that you do the same. Check them out 

Stephen could have been more “politically correct” in his presentation to the Council, doing his best to educate without offending. After all, isn’t that how Jesus dealt with the hypocritical religious leaders? You know it isn’t. As I noted before, Jesus referred to the religious elite as a “brood of vipers” and “sons of hell”. He used them as examples of “what not to be” in many parables.

The term “stiffed-necked” is another Old Testament term meaning stubborn and resistant to God. The sign of the Abrahamic covenant was circumcision. Referring to them as having “uncircumcised hearts and ears” indicated that their hearts and ears were far from God’s teaching. Then Stephen heaps on the insults by accusing them of actually resisting the Holy Spirit. For men who considered themselves to be infinitely more religious than the common man and pleasing to God in every way, these were the most enraging statements that Stephen could have made.

Added to these insults, Stephen reminds them that their forefathers were responsible for murdering the prophets who had prophesied about the coming Messiah. Jesus had accused them of the same thing. (Matthew 23:34-36) And of course, they had been directly responsible for Jesus’ death. Although this was all true, they certainly didn’t need to hear it from Stephen. Being “cut to the quick” is a term used to indicate that they were deeply angered.

The trial was over. This was no longer a jury. This was now an angry mob. Stephen did not improve the situation by claiming to see Jesus standing at the right hand of God, especially considering that he had just accused them of knowing nothing of God. They drove him out of the city, tied his hands behind his back, and began hurling stones at him until he was dead.

Stephen was the perfect example of being like Jesus Christ. He didn’t curse these men or beg for mercy. In a way that reminds us of Jesus’ on the cross (Luke 23:46) Stephen asks Jesus to receive his spirit. And as Jesus did on the cross (Luke 23:34) Stephen asked that this sin not be held against them.

Luke mentions that a young man named Saul was present during the stoning. In fact, he was in “hearty agreement” with it (Acts 8:1). In his mind, these people were all blasphemers of God, and he was planning to do all he could to destroy this dangerous movement. Of course, God had other plans. Great plans. 

Paul will be employing a writing technique that he often uses in his letters. It’s a one-to-one comparison, or a one-versus-one contrast, to help clarify or make a point. Look back to the beginning of Chapter 4 and you’ll see “craftiness and truth”, “blindness and sight”, “not ourselves, but Christ Jesus”, and of course, “light and darkness”.

When you read these “compare and contrast” pairs, consider how you are to react to them. Comparing the Believer’s actions to the actions of Christ encourages and instructs them to imitate their Lord. Contrasting what the world does to what God has ordained, helps the Believer set themselves apart from the natural practices or responses of unbelievers.

Verse 7 is one of these contrasts. The treasure of God, the awesome power of God to save us, is being held in earthen vessels. What a contrast. I mentioned the contrast of a plain vessel with a brilliant light shing out of it to my sister Linda, and she created the drawing on the previous page. There’s no doubt that the brilliant light inside comes from something more perfect than that broken and fragile pottery. That’s what the Christian is allowed to have; the surpassing greatness of the power of God, through the Holy Spirit living within them.

This sustained Paul through his trials, and he was reminding the Corinthians that it would sustain them. Paul was afflicted in every way, both physically and spiritually. You may have been through something that has afflicted you, but I’m guessing that Paul had seen worse. And yet, what does he say? He was not crushed, because of the power of God within him.

Every Believer today has the sustaining power of God within them. A treasure in a fragile earthen vessel. Don’t despair when you are confused and perplexed. God is sovereignly controlling the situation. He doesn’t forsake you, even though you may be going through persecutions. You may be struck down, but you will never be destroyed, because you belong to Him, and He has a new body and a new home prepared for you.

These encouraging truths apply only to the Believer. If you are without Christ, you will be powerless, crushed, in despair, and forsaken by the world. The truth is, your fragile “earthen vessel” will be destroyed by it someday. The contrasts couldn’t be greater. 

Yesterday, I asked you to consider Paul’s statement in verse 21, “those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God”. Was Paul making behavior (works) a requirement of salvation? Did you figure it out?

We should know by now that we cannot be justified by our works, no matter how hard we try. So, works cannot be the cause of salvation. But, the person who has repented of their sins, professed a faith in Jesus Christ, and called upon Him to take their away their sins, will NOT continue in their sins of the past. Good works or fruits aren’t the cause of salvation, but the evidence of it.

Paul is simply making the point that if you are living according to the flesh and performing the types of deeds he’s listed, you will not inherit the kingdom of God, even if you have claimed to have a saving faith in Christ. There’s simply no evidence of the Holy Spirit in your life. It doesn’t mean that Christians won’t be tempted and fail sometimes, but habitual sinning is a “dead” giveaway.

There’s a list of what a Spirit-led person’s life looks like in verses 22-23. A quick reading of these behaviors should remind us of the life of Jesus Christ. Those who belong to Him will strive to live like Him and their lives will show evidence that they are new spiritual creatures. Paul says the desires of the flesh will be crucified. He’s not saying that every desire to sin dies for the Christian. Paul struggled with these problems himself (Romans 7:14-25), and concludes that true freedom from sin is only through Christ.

Paul challenges all people who claim to live by the Spirit to walk by the Spirit. Today, we would say that the Christian should “walk the talk”. To the extent that the Believer manages to imitate the Lord Jesus, they must give all glory to God for making it possible, never boasting in their improved behavior. Humility.

I just included “humility” as a fruit of the Spirit. Am I adding to God’s Word? Of course not. Paul’s list is partial. Anytime that we can imitate the Lord Jesus in any of His perfect attributes, it’s only by the power of His Holy Spirit.

Ask yourself, “Does my life have any of the evidence of the Holy Spirit; love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control?” “Have I crucified the flesh and its desires?” “Am I walking in the power of the Holy Spirit?” “Do I belong to Christ Jesus?” (see 2 Corinthians 13:5)

In the closing lines of yesterday’s lesson I wrote, “God has even used the fall of mankind (through Adam) to demonstrate His mercy. Even the mystery of the Fall is revealed to be for the praise and glory of God. It’s never about us. It’s always about Him. Amen.” 

You may have read over that paragraph and nodded in agreement. “Yeah, yeah, I know it’s about God. I get it.” I must respectfully wonder if you really do. I suspect that, like me, you may be a little too full of yourself, or as Paul wrote, “wise in your own understanding”.

Has there been anything that you have read or learned about in Romans thus far, or in any of the lessons we’ve studied, that just didn’t seem right? Maybe something didn’t seem fair, or line up with the things you may believe about Him? If so, this doxology of praise to God may be just what you need.

These passages don’t refer only to the mystery in Chapter 11. This is Paul’s “summary” of everything he’s written to the Romans so far. And these passages should be the “filter” used for any commentary (including mine), or thought about God that ever enters your mind. We should all memorize and cherish it.

The scope of God’s wisdom and knowledge is beyond our comprehension. He is the perfect judge in every aspect of creation. We can never consider for even a moment that our opinions regarding His judgments are worth anything to Him.

I love the quotes from Isaiah 40:13, Job 35:7 and Job 41:11. What benefit could God possibly get from one of us in His plans? What have we ever given to Him that He needs? He created everything that exists by His spoken word, and He sovereignly controls every molecule. Read all of Isaiah 40 sometime.

Yes, God loves His children, so much so that He gave His Son as the perfect payment for their sins. But we must never consider ourselves to be so “important” as to understand more about Him than has been revealed, and certainly never question His providential and sovereign plans or actions.

In that spirit of “understanding”, let’s just close the lesson with a re-reading of verse 36, “For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever. Amen.” Tomorrow, we’ll look at our proper response. 

We have come to the last of the “Four Great Therefores” of Romans, and what a wonderful passage it is. I’ll admit that I don’t memorize as much of scripture as I should, but these verses have always been on my list.

These thoughts naturally flow from the great truths in Romans 11:33-36. And as we learned yesterday, the end of Chapter 11 is a grand summary of all Paul had written thus far, so this call to Christian service is based on both who God is (worship), and what He has done (thanksgiving) for every Believer.

This isn’t a command, but a plea to consider God’s majesty and benevolence. Paul reminds the Believers (brethren) that even their response is by the mercies of God. Make sure you get this. Even your response to God has been enabled by Him. Remember brethren, you were once a helpless enemy.

When Paul wrote this letter, the Jewish sacrifices were still being performed in the Jerusalem Temple. This represented the old “spiritual service of worship” as translated in the NASB. The phrase “true and proper worship” in the NIV also comes close to communicating Paul’s idea. 

Paul isn’t calling for service, as in “works”, but a spiritual service, as in the familiar temple services. Instead of dead animals, every Believer was to offer themselves; living, holy, and acceptable sacrifices to God.

This new way of worship was the natural response for someone who understood the glory of God and the reconciliation to Him through Christ. One author wrote, “If the Son of God has died for me, the least I can do is live for Him”.

Paul would later write to the church in Ephesus, “I implore you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called”. (Ephesians 4:1)

As an apostle of Jesus Christ, Paul could have commanded every professing man, woman, and child to act like living sacrifices. Instead, he used words like “urge” and “implore”. You see, you can’t order someone to worship God or to praise Him in thanksgiving. These come from the heart - the changed heart.

If you claim to be a Christian, a trusting follower of Jesus Christ, you should have a burning desire to please God in this way. Your service of worship isn’t just on Sunday morning, it’s your entire life. Consider these things. 

It’s Commander Lysias’ job to keep the peace in Jerusalem. In order to do that, he must determine what’s causing the uproar among the Jews. What better way than to get Paul in front of them for a hearing of the charges. The Council which Luke refers to is the seventy-member Sanhedrin council of the Jews.

It’s important to remember that Paul probably knew many of these men, their histories, their personalities, and their biases. He had either been a member of the Council himself years before, or had been closely associated with them. In Acts 22:5, he commented that he had received letters from some of these men when he was on his rampage against the Way, just before his conversion.

This wasn’t a typical Council meeting. They had been summoned by Lysias, who most likely had little patience for them himself. They had also lost a certain amount of control by being disorganized and still operating in anger. It reminds me of a parent who gets frustrated with bickering children, takes both parties and “sits them down” with each other to clear the air. Except in this case, it’s over seventy personalities involved. Nevertheless, everyone knows who’s in charge here; it’s Lysias. Let the fireworks begin.

The Council members are accustomed to being in charge, sitting in splendor in their seats of power, determining who will speak and when.  The first thing that Paul does to annoy them is to begin speaking without an invitation. Luke also records Paul’s “body language”. He stares at them intently. He is absolutely fearless. They are not used to such disrespect.

Paul addresses them as “brethren”, or brothers. In their mind, he is no brother of theirs. He may have been born a Jew, but as far as they were concerned, he had forfeited that relationship when he became a Christian. After all of his training under Gamaliel, he should have known better. He was worse than a gentile because he had turned from God to the Way. (Their view, not mine)

Paul gets right to the point. He has been faithful to God for his entire life. He would be the first to admit that he was not pleasing God in those early days of the church, but his eyes have been opened since then. He was unashamed of his behavior and teaching. In making this statement, he was informing them that they should be ashamed of theirs. This infuriated the high priest, who ordered that Paul be struck on the mouth. We’ll pick up the story there tomorrow. 

I love the way that Luke sets the stage for the story. Picture the palace courtroom. I see a great throne or elevated stage. Festus stands there directing the commanders of the Roman army. Prominent men of the city have been invited to attend. Then, at just the right moment, Agrippa and Bernice enter “amid great pomp”. Local dignitaries have gathered to welcome visiting royalty, to see and be seen together. Think of the State of the Union combined with the Academy Awards. Very impressive indeed. (Sarcasm intended)

You should notice that Paul’s accusers are not invited to this meeting. Festus had heard enough from them to know that their charges were phony, and that their presence at this meeting would only diminish its “importance”.

By Festus’ own admission, the purpose of the gathering was to hear Paul and try to figure out what the charges against him were, and how to communicate that to Rome without looking like fools. Festus was correct about one thing. It was absurd to send Paul to Nero with nothing but charges of preaching about “a dead man, Jesus, whom Paul asserted to be alive”. Perhaps if Festus, Agrippa, Bernice, and all of the prominent people of the city could put their heads together, they could come up with something. 

At the command of Festus, Paul is ushered into the room. Although he certainly looked like someone who would have been impressed with such a display, Paul had been in the presence of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. He knew what true power looked like. For example, see 2 Corinthians 12:1-6.

I can only imagine (because Luke doesn’t write it) that Paul walked into the room and had just the hint of a smirk on his face. Jesus had stood by Paul’s side over two years ago, promising that he would go to Rome. Paul could still remember the splendor of that moment. He saw this gathering for what it was, mere men and women pretending to be powerful and important.

There is an important reminder for Christians here. Regardless of the circumstances, Believers can be confident that the sovereign hand of God is directing all things for good, and that they can face whatever trials may come their way, because they are among God’s elect. (Romans 8:28-37)

Christian, stand strong, for you will overwhelmingly conquer all through Him.

The chapter begins with a “Therefore” and you already know what it’s there for. It invites us to look back, then take action based upon what’s been discussed.

In three chapters, Paul had written about the Christian being blessed with every spiritual blessing, chosen, and called by God, redeemed by grace, adopted as His children, sealed by the Holy Spirit, dead in the flesh, and made alive in Christ, the workmanship of God, brought into the mysterious family of promise, strengthened by His power, indwelt by the Holy Spirit, filled with God’s fullness, and rooted in love.

Can you read a list like that (recognizing that it’s only a partial list) and not shout out praises to God? Does it stir your heart, and motivate you to worship? If not, then I question your heart and your salvation, because you have no real appreciation for the Lord Jesus Christ. But, if you are in true awe of God’s grace in your life, then Paul has something to say to you. His “Therefore...”

Therefore, this is the practical application of the truths presented. Therefore, after all that has been given you by grace, if you are a new creation in Christ, your life will show it. Therefore Christian, this is how you are to live.

I love the idea of walking in a manner worthy of your calling. Think about that. If you are a Christian, you have been called out of darkness into light. You have been filled with God’s Holy Spirit. You went from nothing, to enjoying the fullness of God. Paul gives five examples of life changes that should be obvious.

As you read these, consider how they primarily apply to life within the church, but they’re certainly not limited to that realm. Your conversion should be a light in the darkness for all, not “hidden under a basket”. (Matthew 5:14-15)

Humility – Jesus called it being “poor in spirit” (Matthew 5:3). It’s the opposite of arrogance, thinking more highly of yourself than others. 

Gentleness– The idea of accepting the dealings of God and man without “pushing back”, being self-controlled. 

Longsuffering– A long-term type of patience, even under long periods of provocations. 

Tolerance in love – Making allowances for others, driven by love for them. 

Preserving Unity – Doing whatever is required to keep unity in the body of Christ, the church that Jesus loves and died for.

So Believer, are you walking the walk, or just talking the talk? Think about it.

The levels of concern people have about dying ranges from apathy to a disorder known as thanatophobia, anxiety about dying. Neither extreme is biblical.

Paul puts the issue into the proper perspective for every Christian. There is no place for either apathy or anxiety. The death of the physical body for the Christian is a most wonderful event, because it leads to Jesus Christ.

Paul saw the entire chain of salvation as an already finished work. As he taught in Romans 8:29-31, “For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son... and these whom He predestined,  He also called; and these whom He called, He also justified; and these whom He justified, He also glorified.” The point is - final glorification is assured for those who have been called. It’s a done deal. It’s going to happen. 

In 1 Corinthians 13:12, Paul also wrote, “For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face; now I know in part, but then I will know fully just as I also have been fully known.” When that glorification occurs, Christians will see the Lord Jesus face to face. Is it any wonder that he saw that moment as gain?

I’ve cautioned you before, don’t get caught in the “Well, if I were Paul” trap. It’s certainly true that Paul had experienced things that none of us will ever see, but God’s promises are just as true for every Christian.

I’ve had some discussions about this with a couple of my brothers in Christ. We agree that every Believer may not be at the same “comfort level” on this topic. For example, a younger Christian with a young family certainly has a strong desire to fulfill those obligations. A new Believer can’t be expected to grasp this “dying is gain” concept right away.

This in January 2020. I’m roughly at the two-thirds century mark, a few years older than Paul was when he wrote this letter. I get it. I dearly love Eva and my family, and I love studying the Word, and teaching. I enjoy the blessings that God has provided me. But nothing here on earth compares to the reality of seeing God face to face, fully knowing Him and the Lord Jesus. If, in the providence of God, He took me home today, I would rejoice in the gain.

However, if in the providence of God, I learned today that I had only six weeks to live, I’m not sure how I would react. We’ll pick that up tomorrow.

I made this comment in yesterday’s lesson, “If, in the providence of God, He took me home today, I would rejoice in the gain.” I have absolutely no doubt in the veracity of that statement because I’m positive that once I was in the presence of God, all concerns would be satisfied.

But what of the person whose doctor tells them that they have a month or two to live? I honestly don’t know how I would react to that news. It would be presumptuous of me to declare it now, having never experienced it first-hand.

Even the most mature Christian would be torn between the prospect of seeing Jesus Christ in all of His glory, and the desire to remain behind a little longer. Perhaps the uncertainty of things not yet seen does play a part in it all.

And so, I’ll retract “just a bit” of the statement I made yesterday. Maybe Paul did have an advantage over the rest of us. He had seen and heard Jesus in ways that we never have. The brilliant light of the Lord blinded Him on the road to Damascus. He heard His voice there. (Acts 9:3-6) 

Some years later, he was taken up into what he described as the third heaven and Paradise. While there, in the presence of God, he heard inexpressible words that man isn’t permitted to speak. (2 Corinthians 12:1-5) He knew, as only a few others have known, what waited on “the other side” of this earthly existence.

But that should give great encouragement to every Christian who reads Paul’s words, “To die is gain”. He had been there, and he had done that, if only temporarily. We must draw on his confidence when we are faced with the prospect of our own personal journeys. I hope every Christian reading Paul’s inspired statement will be able to do that when the time comes.

Having seen “both sides”, Paul was able to weigh the two differently than any of us. He wasn’t balancing the known against the unknown. He was considering the work that he still wanted to accomplish for Jesus’ sake. Remember the first part of the statement, “For to me, to live is Christ”? That was his motivation to stay, pressing hard against his desire to be with Jesus.

He repeats his thought here in verse 23, to be with the Lord is “very much better”, a definite gain over present circumstances, even in useful service.

The beauty is, Paul would be happy in either, for the sovereign purposes of God.

Even the most casual reader of the Gospels and Acts knows who Peter is. But it’s been a while since we last heard of him in our studies. Before we read his letters to the churches, we ought to remind ourselves of what an amazing life he led as a disciple, and then as an apostle of Jesus Christ.

Unlike Paul, Peter was not a member of the elite Pharisees. He had no formal training in the Old Testament (Tanakh), and had no opportunity to sit all day and discuss religious issues with the Sanhedrin.  He was a fisherman. His father, John, and his brother Andrew were in the fishing business with him. He knew other men in the fishing trade, among them, the brothers James and John.

He was roughly the same age as Jesus. Growing up, they most likely made pilgrimages to Jerusalem for observances of Jewish holidays, but most of his time was spent in the region of Galilee, fishing.  We know that he had a wife. 

In other words, he was a very ordinary Jewish man, making an ordinary living near the area in which he was born. To look at him, you would never have guessed that he would be one of the most extraordinary men in history.

If you do a word search for “Peter” in the New Testament, you’ll see his name pop up about 160 times. But, he was also known as Simon (Greek), or Simeon (Hebrew). The Aramaic name Jesus gave him would have been Kefa, or as it in transliterated in your Bible, Cephas. You’ll also find the name Simon Barjona, which means, Simon son of John.

Let’s agree that conservatively, he is named or quoted a couple hundred times in the five books of New Testament history, more than any other person beside the Lord Jesus Himself. He was the “leader among leaders” within the twelve disciples. His name always appears first in the lists of disciples, and he almost always spoke first (sometimes before thinking). 

In the sub-group of the twelves, he was among the “inner circle” of Jesus’ closest disciples, which also included the two brothers, James and John.

As the Gospels recount the miracles of Jesus, it’s almost certain that Peter was there to witness every one of them. In 2 Peter 1:16, he writes that they were “eyewitnesses to His majesty”. A very ordinary man, chosen for extraordinary purposes. Tomorrow, we’ll consider some of the events particular to him alone.

This is a benediction, a saying of good news, one hundred percent about God.

“Oh, but wait,” you might protest, “Jude is writing about the Christian, the one who is kept from stumbling and the one who stands in the presence of God’s glory.” While that is certainly true, the emphasis of Jude isn’t on the “you” in verse 24, but the “Who”. As a Christian, all of those things that you do, are only because of Him.

Without the mighty power of God, you would be constantly stumbling. You would have never been able to maintain any semblance of godliness without the Holy Spirit living within you.

Without God’s grace, you would never be able to stand in His presence. I’m not talking about standing before Him with your knees banging together, but blameless, and with great joy. By the grace of God, and through the redemption of Jesus Christ, the great high priest, every Christian will be able to approach His throne with confidence. (Hebrews 4:14-16)

None of this could ever be accomplished through the thousands of false gods created by man over the centuries, but through the “only God and Savior”, by the redemptive power of the blood of Jesus Christ.

Jesus taught that it was easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to be saved. When the disciples heard this, they were very astonished and said, “Then who can be saved?” And looking at them Jesus said to them, “With people this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” (Matthew 19:23-26)

How many more superlatives could be written? We are to try to grasp in our feeble and finite minds that all glory, all majesty, all dominion, and all authority belongs to Him, in eternity past, in the present, and in eternity future. 

The Christian can rest securely in His sovereign power and love. In all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us. Nothing will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8:37-39) 

Christian, turn away from anything that robs the glory due to God, for “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God, the Almighty, who was, and who is, and who is to come.” (Revelation 4:8) Praise Him. Amen and amen.

If I had told you back on the first day of introduction, that we were going to spend a week looking at hermeneutical views and terms of Revelation, your eyes would have rolled back into your head. But I hope you see the value of that exercise. This is no ordinary book. It requires a different approach, and as you know, many different approaches have been taken over the centuries.

If you are a more mature student of the Scriptures, you may have already “locked in” on one of these four views. If that’s the case, I hope that you aren’t one of those people who smugly claim that they know exactly what Revelation is about, down to the last detail. 

Let me say as lovingly as I can, if the apostle John didn’t know, neither do you.

And neither do I. This was one of the most difficult series of lessons I’ve prepared, and I haven’t even gotten into the text. But there are a few things that I do know for sure.

Revelation is “inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.” (2 Timothy 3:16-17) We also know, “Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of the prophecy, and heed the things which are written in it; for the time is near.” (Revelation 1:3)

The visions given to the apostle John were for a variety of purposes, but we can be sure that causing divisions among Christians was not one of them. Every Believer should strive in all things for unity and love among the brethren.

I read this quote, “The key to Bible interpretation, especially for the book of Revelation, is to have a consistent hermeneutic.” I couldn’t agree more, so I settled on a view that is consistent across all four views we’ve learned of - the unfathomable riches of Jesus Christ.  (Ephesians 3:8)

From beginning to end, Revelation portrays Jesus Christ in His glorious power and deity. We will journey through the book with that in mind. I won’t even attempt to explain all the visions and hermeneutical views. It’s not because I don’t care, but because I just don’t know. One thing I do know, “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” (Hebrews 13:8) Let’s proceed with that in mind. May the grace of the Lord Jesus be with us all. Amen.

The writing style of the Revelation is called apocalyptic. Many people see that word and think that it refers exclusively to the “end times” of the earth, but what is really means is God has momentarily peeled back the curtain between heaven and earth, or present and future, to give us deeper understandings. He did this with the Old Testament prophets like Daniel and Isaiah, and He certainly did it with the apostle John. Revelations are “revealings” to us.

The scope of these revealings (my made-up word) in the Book of Revelations is so fantastic that even people who aren’t the least bit familiar with the Bible have heard or read things about it. Can you blame them? Where else can you read about massive environmental destruction, plagues, weird creatures, world-wide military engagements, judgments, and visions of heaven and hell?

If you haven’t trusted in Jesus Christ for your salvation from God’s judgment, you may see all of this as nothing more than myths, opportunities for TV preachers to sell another book, or like the strange theories about visits from ancient aliens. Nothing but pure fantasy.

But, if you are intellectually honest, you must also consider that God has used these revelations to grab your attention. Perhaps He has temporarily opened this window for you to see the gospel from a different perspective.

He has revealed His majesty, and the majesty of Jesus Christ in ways never seen in the rest of Scripture. He has clearly shown you the stark difference between His holiness and your sinfulness. He has shown you the consequences of relying on your self-righteousness to satisfy Him. 

One final time, in 22;17, Jesus invites you to come to Him for salvation. Don’t ignore the invitation.

Christian, these revealings have also been for your benefit. Where else can you find so many majestic descriptions of Jesus Christ, your Lord and Savior? Where else can you get such a vivid glimpse of what being a citizen of heaven will be like? What can this world throw at you that will discourage you?

Revelation brings us full circle from the book of Genesis. God created a perfect world out of chaos, but perfection was contaminated by sin. Revelation shows us that God has gone beyond restoration. He’s created a new heaven and earth to enjoy with Him for eternity, through Jesus Christ the Lamb. Amen! 

Well, here we are! We have studied twenty-six of the New Testament books and have but one to complete. And what a special book it is. On one hand, I can hardly wait, but on the other hand, I’m in no hurry to finish.

We’ve all had the experiences of coming to the end of a vacation or adventure with family and friends. I’ve had many wonderful times like that. 

I think of last-night campfires on camping trips when no one wants to leave, just staring at the coals as they burn down. In my riding days, there were the late afternoons, floating through the curves of the Appalachian roads, knowing that tomorrow I would be back at work. 

There have been many final games of cards when good friends came for a visit, or taking just a little longer to finish dinner with friends or family on a cruise. Watching the last sunset over the dunes on the dock at Glen Lake. Lingering and savoring.

John was probably around seventy years old when he wrote his Gospel. He had likely read every other New Testament document when he penned this book. He had no idea at the time that he would be writing 1-3 John and Revelation later. He had to see this book as an effort to tie everything he knew of the Lord into one final document. He was in no hurry. Just like us.

In the opening and closing sections of his gospel, John tries to give us an idea of its breadth and depth. “In the beginning”, he tells us that Jesus was full of the grace and truth of God. In the last sentence, he reminds us that he’d only scratched the surface, “And there are also many other things which Jesus did, which if they were written in detail, I suppose that even the world itself would not contain the books that would be written.”

I’m not on par with the apostle John, but I can identify with him. The purpose of this project was to share my thoughts on God’s Word with our grandchildren. Here I am, at nearly seventy years old, and the years have just flown by. And now, there’s one more book to cover, the Gospel of John. I’m in no hurry.

We’re going to slow it down, lingering with, and savoring John’s unique insights. We’ll spend a little more time in “connecting the dots” of his observations to the rest of Scripture. I’m excited to make the journey with you, because God still has a lot to reveal to us. Let’s enjoy it together.

Nicodemus was in a brief and intense conversation with Jesus. Quite literally, he was standing there talking with God in the flesh. Jesus was lovingly patient with him, while challenging him to think these things through. All Nicodemus could say was, “How can these things be?” 

Perhaps you are at the same point in this study as Nicodemus. You know that you must be born again, and that it’s a spiritual transformation. You should know that there’s no work that you can perform to make it happen. 

You understand that there is something about being born of the water and the Spirit. I’ve made it clear that Jesus could not be referring to water baptism in any form. That teaching may run counter to what you have been taught and/or still believe. Hopefully, your mind is openly asking, “How can these things be?” 

Jesus taught that this spiritual process is similar to the wind. We can’t see it, control it, or even nail down where it has come from, or when it will happen. 

John used a word play here that we wouldn’t naturally see. The Greek word pneuma and the Hebrew word ruach, may both mean “wind” or “spirit”, depending on the context. So, He was teaching that God’s Spirit can be described as someone who cannot be seen, controlled, located, or scheduled. I remind you to think of the sovereignty of God in being born again.

Jesus challenged Nicodemus, “Are you the teacher of Israel and do not understand these things?” Ouch. Yet, you have much more revelation of God at your disposal than Nicodemus ever would.

Certainly, the deep things of God are beyond our full comprehension, but they are not unknowable. God has breathed out His Word through His Spirit. It is His desire to reveal Himself to mankind. (2 Timothy 3:15-17, 2 Peter 1:2-4)

I want you to pay very close attention to what I am telling you here, because being born again boils down to this. If you have sensed the movement of the Holy Spirit in your heart, be it as a gentle summer breeze or a bracing winter wind, God is speaking to you to call upon Jesus Christ as your Savior. 

He is prompting you to humbly repent of the sin that separates you from God, to place those sins at the foot of the cross, to find complete forgiveness in Jesus Christ, and to begin your life as a child of God. 

Call on Him right now!

The few commentators that I consulted on these passages all agree that the woman was only thinking in terms of physical water. After all, she did refer to the bucket and thirsting again. But, I have a slightly different view of the conversation. If I were in her place and someone told me that I needed to know the gift of God and, by the way, that gift was standing right in front of me, I would have shifted my thinking from purely physical to the spiritual side. When she asked Jesus is He was greater than the father Jacob, I think she was doing some exploring to see if Jesus was going to speak more about spiritual things.

And He does. The water he is offering will wipe away thirst and provide eternal life. That is clearly more than a reference to physical water.

I think she is beginning to catch on. Here’s a Jewish man who has demonstrated that there is something different about himself. He told her she was missing out on a gift from God, and that the gift was right in front of her. And He told her He could provide living water, removing thirst and providing eternal life. She just came out and asked Him, “Sir, give me this water, so I will not be thirsty nor come all the way here to draw.”

I agree with the scholars, that sounds like a request for physical water, but I think she’s trying to understand it more deeply. I think she is a little like our old friend Nicodemus, who asked about returning to the womb to be born again. She is probing Jesus’ thinking, using physical language to get at spiritual truths.

If it’s spiritual truth she was seeking, she is about to get a truck load of it. When Jesus asks her to bring her husband back to the well, she is suddenly thrust back into reality. She has to admit, she has no husband. That was simple enough. But Jesus already knew that, and He told her so. Not only didn’t she have a husband, she was currently living with a man to whom she’s not married, after having five husbands before him.

Maybe her five previous husbands had died or deserted her. It’s not relevant to her sin. As we say in today’s vernacular, “She was living with a guy”. It’s still as much of a sin now as it was then. 

The Light of the world had just shined a brilliant light on her soul, and had exposed her sin. There was no hiding the truth from this Man. What to do?

Picking up the story from yesterday, Jesus was having a conversation with the Samaritan woman, and it had become more and more spiritual in nature. When He exposed the secrets of her life to her, she suddenly realized that He really was more than just a Jewish man, or even a Jewish rabbi. He must be a prophet, because only one sent from God could look into a person’s heart. Her spiritual eyes were opening wider.

It’s human nature to look for an escape from uncomfortable situations, and this one was getting very uncomfortable for her. She was a woman, a Samaritan woman. She was little more than property in her culture. 

She had probably made a mess of the few opportunities she’d been given. She had been married five times and was living in adultery. She was a sinner, and she knew it.

Here is a man who knows way more than she was comfortable in discussing, so she changes the subject. If Jesus was a prophet of God, then He would be interested in talking about godly issues. One of them was where to worship.

The Samaritans did not accept any Old Testament books beyond the Pentateuch of Moses, and so they had chosen a place to worship God consistent with those writings, Mount Gerizim, as prescribed in Deuteronomy 11:29. The Jews took God’s directives on the matter from 2 Chronicles 6:6 and 2 Samuel 7:5-13, identifying Jerusalem as the place of worship.

The woman may have thought that this would be an interesting topic for this prophet of God, and maybe deflect the conversation away from her sins. Notice how Jesus again shifts the conversation from the physical to the spiritual. It’s not about Jerusalem versus Mount Gerizim, it’s about worshipping God in spirit.

Jesus is very blunt here. The Samaritans couldn’t possibly worship God properly because they did not know the truth, which had been revealed in the entire Old Testament. They would not find salvation in their own worship because God had chosen the Jews and revealed Himself through the Jews. And it would be through the Jews that all of mankind would find salvation.

Jesus tells her that the time to worship God in spirit and truth is upon them. The woman knows enough about Jewish worship to know that they were looking for a Messiah to lead them to the Father. She was in for an amazing revelation.

Eternal life is introduced to the prayer in verse 2, with further information in verse 3. Of course, Jesus had been teaching about eternal life all through the book of John. In fact, John recorded the topic a total of seventeen times, more than twice as many as Matthew, Mark, and Luke combined.

Since we’ve already covered the topic fifteen times in the book of John alone, what more could there be to say about it? Hmmm. Let’s look, shall we?

First of all, remember that this description of eternal life was included in the intimate prayer between Jesus and His Father. Needless to say, everything that the Lord spoke was important, but I’m giving some extra attention to this.

To be clear, every person is created with eternal life. We are all spiritual beings, created in the image of God. So, every single person will have eternal life, somewhere. That’s something we’ve discussed before. Perhaps you are in the theological camp of annihilation, or “this life is all there is”. Let me suggest that if Jesus believed in eternal life, you ought to give it serious consideration.

So, the eternal life Jesus is praying about is the eternal life spent with God, which comes from knowing God, the only true God, and the Son of God. This idea of knowing something goes beyond knowing about it, but knowing it intimately. And so, the only way to have eternal life with God is to intimately know Him. How are we to find Him and know Him? Go back to John 14:6. There’s only one way; The Way, The Truth and The Life, Jesus Christ.

Knowing Jesus is knowing the Father. Knowing the Father is through knowing Jesus. You get the point. They are One. They are inseparable. One cannot be known without knowing the other.

Notice here that Jesus doesn’t refer to Himself as the Son of God, the Son of Man, Emmanuel, Prince of Peace, or any other of the 200 known titles used in the Bible. He referred to Himself as Jesus Messiah. The Anointed One of God. This One, sent of God, is the only One who can introduce you to the Father.

Eternal life spent with God the Father, comes only through trusting and knowing Jesus Christ. Have you trusted Him? Do you know Him, or do you just know of Him? When you leave this earth, there will be but two types of conversations; the one in Matthew 25:21, or the one in Matthew 7:23. 

Which will you hear?