The Holy Spirit in John's Gospel

Trying to get my head around the Holy Spirit in John Gospel (for NT2 essay). As a result I've been reading the work of Carson and Kostenberger (Baker Exegetical) in their Commentaries (Carson generally is better, better at answering my questions I think), as well as a new book by Kostenberger and Swain in the NSBT series (Father, Son and Holy Spirit in John)...Basically really helpful stuff, but there is one point where I think I disagree with Carson and Kostenberger though (but not sure if my argument is sound). This is on the reference in John 3:5-8. Is it a reference to the person of the Holy spirit (ie born of water and the Spirit, so NIV, TNIV, ESV and other trans), or is it just a reference to spiritual renewal? While I get the fact that grammatically v5 'water and Spirit' are governed by the preposition ek, I think the reference is a reference to the person of the Holy Spirit because of the strong allusion to Ezekiel 36:26-27 where Yahweh promises cleansing and renewal by water (yes), and promises to place HIS SPIRIT in Israel. Also v 8 does appear to be a reference to the person of the Spirit (by analogy with wind). With that background is it not possible to John 3:5-8 as a reference to the person of the Spirit? Just getting my thoughts down.

Why did Jesus come?

I've been studying for my new testament exam which is tomorrow, and I guess I was hit again as to why Jesus came into this world. He, the one that was from eternity past, came into our world for a purpose:

9 The true light, who gives light to everyone, was coming into the world. 10 He was in the world, and the world was created through Him, yet the world did not recognize Him.11 He came to His own, and His own people did not receive Him.12 But to all who did receive Him, He gave them the right to be children of God, to those who believe in His name,13 who were born, not of blood, or of the will of the flesh, or of the will of man, but of God.
(John 1:9-13 HCSB).

That's just excellent. He came so we can become children of God. Where do you stand with this Jesus?

A great quote!

Just after community chapel today (By the way, a really encouraging sermon by Phillip Jensen on Hosea 11), at morning tea, some friends and I were chatting (As you do), and we got talking about the current term, which some have affectionately called "the new term of death". At this point my friend Stephen McGuiness came out with this great line:

"I didn't realized it was the term of death, until I died!"

It has us in stitches...thanks Stephen.

P.S. While this term has been hard, I have to say the work is so worth it!

'Come to me all who are weary' Matthew 11:28-30

It's funny how more and more reflection and mediation on a passage of the Bible, makes me more excited about preaching a passage at church. I'm working on a sermon in Matthew' gospel which i have been really struggling to think through for church (maybe a symptom of continuing illness, or I may be just slow! – Oh, and by the way, I'm feeling much better now!!). As I've continues to pray about and meditate upon this portion of Scripture, I'm becoming more and more pumped about this passage. In my preparation I found a really helpful quote from J.C. Ryle (a former Bishop of Liverpool who has been with Jesus for some time now). This part of scripture is really a gracious invitation from King Jesus.

²⁸ "Come to Me, all of you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. ²⁹ All of you, take up My yoke and learn from Me, because I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for yourselves. ³⁰ For My yoke is easy and My burden is light." (Matthew 11:28-30 HCSB)

And Ryle comments:

• "We should mark, lastly, the encouraging account that Jesus gives of His service. He says, "My yoke is easy, and my burden is light." No doubt there is a cross to be carried, if we follow Christ; no doubt there are trials to be endured, and battles to be fought: but the comforts of the Gospel far outweigh the cross. Compared to the service of the world and sin, compared to the yoke of Jewish ceremonies, and the bondage of human superstition, Christ's service is in the highest sense easy and light. His yoke is no more a burden than the feathers are to a bird; His commandments are not grievous; His ways are ways of pleasantness, and all His paths are peace. (1John 5:3; Proverbs 3:17.)" – J.C. Ryle, Expository thoughts on the Gospel of Matthew .

All I wanted to say at this point was, 'AMEN Brother!'

Oh, how glorious in this grand invitation of Jesus! Oh, how excellent is the one who calls us, we who are weighed down by the troubles of this life, we who are burdened with guilt, we who suffer, to find our rest in HIM! Finding our rest in Jesus, finding our satisfaction in HIS call to follow him definitely surpasses all that this world can throw up. What an encouragement this has been to me!

some random thoughts

I'm doing a series of short kids talks at church on doctrine. I've been thinking about it, and the 4 doctrines that i'm going to teach are:

• Salvation
• propitiation
• justification
• resurrection

If you had to teach 4 doctrines to kids what would they be?

Coffee doesn't help my fuzzy head!

I have to say this,I hate being sick. It just means that I have the fuzzy head thing non stop! And no, coffee doesn't help at all, although I wish it did.

I'm now on my sixth week of being sick with some viral thing. And I can tell you that it is no fun at all, especially when college just keeps on going. I have a church history assignment that i really haven't been able to get my head around because I'm constantly fuzzy... I don't take in information, and I'm constantly coughing (I won't share the colour of the Flem, 'cause that would be just gross!)

I've been so out of it, that the question of my last entry (Christians and the Law sermon prep), resulted in me preaching while sitting down, due to the fact that if I stood for 20 mins, I would have collapsed...

I'll be glad to be rid of this thing. I might even celebrate with a celebratory dark brew of my own making!

How do Christians fulfill the law?

I'm in the midst of preparing to preach this Sunday at DCAC (my current church). The passage is Exodus 20:12-17. Its all about the way God's redeemed people Israel were to relate to each other as a people. This was how God's treasured possession were to mediate the knowledge of God to the nations around them (Exodus 19:4-6).

But it raises some big questions. How does this apply to the Christian? Jesus says he has fulfilled the law (cf Matt 5:17-21), and It seems that Paul says, the law tells us we are sinful (Romans 3, and 7), and the way we love we fulfills the law (Romans 13).

But the issues I'm currently thinking through are: what does it mean for elderly people who have lost parents to 'honour their parents'. Or what about the issue of murder; how does this command relate with the current controversy of abortion in this country? Can we expect others who are not redeemed to follow these laws?

Just some of the thoughts going on in my head. (And this is not the only thing I'm trying to get my head around - I have a paper on Deuteronomy 30:11-20 due on the Tuesday after I preach!)