Dr. Ronnie Wolfe
The Samaritans
worshiped God in their own way, but they did not know whom they
worshiped. They were worshiping as only Gentiles would worship. The
Samaritans were mixed-blooded, partly Jew and partly Gentile; but they
did not worship as did the Jews in the Jewish way, keeping the
ordinances that were types of the coming of the Messiah, though they
knew of the Messiah's coming.
As a matter of fact, even the Jews
did not know what they worshiped. Many recognized Jesus as the Messiah,
but most of them rejected Jesus as the coming Messiah, hated him, and
eventually crucified him.
When Jesus said here "We know what we
worship," he was speaking of those who worshiped God Jehovah and knew
Jesus as the coming Messiah, followed him and were his disciples.
God
has chosen the Jewish nation to bring light to the Gentiles, so
salvation was of the Jews. Jesus came as a result of the promise and
covenant given to and through the Jewish people. Jesus was a Jew, and his
message was a Jewish message; but Jesus' purpose was to eventually put
out the Gospel to all people in the world.
Remember that, when Jesus sent out his disciples the first time for a witness, he said in Matt. 10:6 But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. Again in Matt. 15:24 he said, But he answered and said, I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel.
Later Jesus said in Mt 24:14 And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.
Monday, December 14, 2015
Monday, December 7, 2015
John 4:5-21
Dr. Ronnie Wolfe
SEVEN IMPORTANT EXPRESSIONS IN THE
STORY OF OF THE WOMAN AT THE WELL
To
preach through this story would take many hours of study and preaching,
but now I would like to bring out some expressions that caught my
attention as I was reading this today. They tell much about the story.1. Then cometh he to the city, Verse 5
Notice that the woman did not come seeking Christ, but Jesus came to the city seeking the woman at the well. It was not by chance that he came at the time of day when women come to the well. God's providence is amazing!
2. There cometh a woman, Verse 7
The woman did not arbitrarily come to the well, but she was drawn there by circumstances, and Jesus took advantage of the opportunity to speak to her about spiritual things, as he "must needs go through Samaria" (See verse 4).
3. How is it that thou . . . askest drink of me? Verse 9
Why would Jesus choose to bring the Gospel to anyone, but especially to a woman with which the Jews had no dealings? This is the heart of Jesus. The Gospel message is to all people, and that is why he asked water from the woman at the well.
4. If thou knewest, Verse 10
She did not that Jesus was the Son of God and the Savior who would save his people from their sins. If she had known that, she would have asked him for spiritual water, which could give her eternal life, but she did not know; therefore, she did not ask.
People do not know, so they do not ask. The Gospel must introduce and describe the Savior to the world; he can be known no other way.
5. But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him, Verse 14
The water is not in the well but in Jesus himself. Only he can give the water that is a fountain springing up into everlasting life, and whosoever drinks of the water of Christ shall live forever.
6. I perceive that thou art a prophet, Verse 19
Nicodemas knew that Jesus was a man come from God, and now that Jesus had spoken to this woman, she conceived, or understood, that he was a prophet. He spoke as a prophet.
7. Woman, believe me, Verse 21
The final thrust of the discussion with this woman was the essence of salvation through the Gospel--believe me. Hebrews 11:6 says, But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
Saturday, December 5, 2015
John 4:1-6
Dr. Ronnie Wolfe
Jesus, while in Judea, had heard that the Pharisees rumored that Jesus was baptizing more people than John, no doubt trying to discourage John from his work of baptizing, which job was given to him by God. So Jesus then removed to Galilee, leaving John to do his work in Judea.
On his way to Galilee Jesus "must needs" go through Samaria, a city with no good relationships with the Jews. There are varying views as to why Jesus "must needs" go through Samaria, but I believe we all understand that it was so that he could "work the works" of his Father, for the day will come when he cannot work, and he fulfilled all the Father's will while he was here on earth (John 9:4; 4:34). One meaning of the Greek word translated "must needs" is "to do that which is right." If for no other reason, Jesus went through Samaria, because it was the right thing to do.
When Jesus came to the city of Sychar, he came to the place where Jacob's well was. This well becomes very important in the story of Jesus' conversation with a woman who came to this well.
But before we consider that conversation, let us think of the humanity of Jesus as we see his weariness from the journey to Samaria. He was wearied because of his flesh, having been made in the likeness of sinful flesh (Rom 8:3), with all of the fleshly susceptibilities of the human body. He was not "sinful flesh," but he was made like unto sinful flesh.
As we go through this story later, we will find that Jesus was made, no only in the likeness of sinful flesh, but was "made sin" for us, who knew no sin (2 Cor. 5:21) that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.
Both human and divine, both sin and sinless. This is the great mystery of the incarnation! He must be divine to obey God's law perfectly; he must be human to be made sin for us, dying on a cursed tree that we might by grace through faith in him have eternal life.
Jesus, while in Judea, had heard that the Pharisees rumored that Jesus was baptizing more people than John, no doubt trying to discourage John from his work of baptizing, which job was given to him by God. So Jesus then removed to Galilee, leaving John to do his work in Judea.
On his way to Galilee Jesus "must needs" go through Samaria, a city with no good relationships with the Jews. There are varying views as to why Jesus "must needs" go through Samaria, but I believe we all understand that it was so that he could "work the works" of his Father, for the day will come when he cannot work, and he fulfilled all the Father's will while he was here on earth (John 9:4; 4:34). One meaning of the Greek word translated "must needs" is "to do that which is right." If for no other reason, Jesus went through Samaria, because it was the right thing to do.
When Jesus came to the city of Sychar, he came to the place where Jacob's well was. This well becomes very important in the story of Jesus' conversation with a woman who came to this well.
But before we consider that conversation, let us think of the humanity of Jesus as we see his weariness from the journey to Samaria. He was wearied because of his flesh, having been made in the likeness of sinful flesh (Rom 8:3), with all of the fleshly susceptibilities of the human body. He was not "sinful flesh," but he was made like unto sinful flesh.
As we go through this story later, we will find that Jesus was made, no only in the likeness of sinful flesh, but was "made sin" for us, who knew no sin (2 Cor. 5:21) that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.
Both human and divine, both sin and sinless. This is the great mystery of the incarnation! He must be divine to obey God's law perfectly; he must be human to be made sin for us, dying on a cursed tree that we might by grace through faith in him have eternal life.
Tuesday, December 1, 2015
John 3:36
Dr. Ronnie Wolfe
This is one of the greatest verses in the Bible, if there is such a thing--they are all God's word. The statements made in this verse are in negative correlation, which means that one statement is positive and one is negative, together making a full statement of the condition of man whether saved or lost.
The First Statement - Positive
He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life. This statement is simple and straightforward. The person who is believing (believeth) on the Son (believing, a gift from God, Eph. 2:8-9) hath (has) everlasting life.
By the grace of God a person must believe on the Son, Jesus Christ, as the object of his faith. He must have a complete surrender to and a commitment to the Son, depending upon His character and His work done in his righteous life and his ignominious death as our substitute, suffering in our place, the just for the unjust (1 Peter 3:18), that he might bring us to God. This is eternal life, and every true believer in Jesus Christ has everlasting life (Rom. 8:1). This life, then, never ends but is eternal in its nature, because it is dependent upon the eternal life of its object, Jesus Christ, who said, "before Abraham was I am" (John 8:58), and he was "before all things" (Col. 1:17).
The Second Statement - Negative
. . . and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him. The man who is lost in his sins, and never comes to know that he has broken God's law, does not believe on the Son, so he shall not see life, for Christ is the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father but by me. (John 14:6).
A lost person cannot see life, because he is in darkness (See Matt. 4:16). Not only so, but he is blinded (John 12:40; 2 Cor. 4:4; 1 John 2:11).
Through God's grace, faith opens the minds of the spiritually blind and allows them to see the kingdom of God (John 3:3) and to enter into the straight gate (Matt. 7:13) to serve the living God (Heb. 9:14). This is what believing is all about.
This is one of the greatest verses in the Bible, if there is such a thing--they are all God's word. The statements made in this verse are in negative correlation, which means that one statement is positive and one is negative, together making a full statement of the condition of man whether saved or lost.
The First Statement - Positive
He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life. This statement is simple and straightforward. The person who is believing (believeth) on the Son (believing, a gift from God, Eph. 2:8-9) hath (has) everlasting life.
By the grace of God a person must believe on the Son, Jesus Christ, as the object of his faith. He must have a complete surrender to and a commitment to the Son, depending upon His character and His work done in his righteous life and his ignominious death as our substitute, suffering in our place, the just for the unjust (1 Peter 3:18), that he might bring us to God. This is eternal life, and every true believer in Jesus Christ has everlasting life (Rom. 8:1). This life, then, never ends but is eternal in its nature, because it is dependent upon the eternal life of its object, Jesus Christ, who said, "before Abraham was I am" (John 8:58), and he was "before all things" (Col. 1:17).
The Second Statement - Negative
. . . and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him. The man who is lost in his sins, and never comes to know that he has broken God's law, does not believe on the Son, so he shall not see life, for Christ is the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father but by me. (John 14:6).
A lost person cannot see life, because he is in darkness (See Matt. 4:16). Not only so, but he is blinded (John 12:40; 2 Cor. 4:4; 1 John 2:11).
Through God's grace, faith opens the minds of the spiritually blind and allows them to see the kingdom of God (John 3:3) and to enter into the straight gate (Matt. 7:13) to serve the living God (Heb. 9:14). This is what believing is all about.
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