by Matthew Borgstrom | Sep 16, 2022 | Uncategorized
In contrast to the highly unlikely possibility in John 7:26, these people continue their rationalization in v.27, which exposes a major problem in their minds with Jesus’ claims to be the Christ—We know where he is from (Nazareth of Galilee), but everyone knows that...
by Matthew Borgstrom | Sep 10, 2022 | Uncategorized
Similar language to John 7:13 occurs in ch.12, except, by this point, some of the leaders have become convinced of Jesus’ identity. Here is v.42 Nevertheless many even of the rulers believed in Him, but because of the Pharisees they were not confessing Him, for fear...
by Matthew Borgstrom | Sep 2, 2022 | Uncategorized
Jesus teaches in John 7:7 that the world hates him because he does not conform to the value system of the world, but instead testifies against it, calling it evil. This was already taught earlier in John 3:19 This is the judgment, that the Light has come into the...
by Matthew Borgstrom | Aug 19, 2022 | Uncategorized
Notice in v.70 how Jesus responds to Peter’s statement from v.69. He does not deny anything Peter said since all of it is 100% true, but he does seek to ground it in his own sovereign work—Is it not the case that I myself chose you, the 12? Jesus’ point here can be...
by Matthew Borgstrom | Aug 13, 2022 | Uncategorized
In John 6:63, Jesus is referring to two completely different realms—one is earthly and natural and universally accessed; the other is heavenly and spiritual and those who obtain it must be granted access (v.65). Therefore, spiritual change and insight into the truth...
by Matthew Borgstrom | Jul 28, 2022 | Uncategorized
It’s helpful to point out that in beginning in v.54 through v.58 of John 6, the verb tense of eat and drink is in the present, which means Christ is teaching the importance of a continuous, ongoing action. This is also put forth in v.56 with the outcome of this...
by Matthew Borgstrom | Jul 22, 2022 | Uncategorized
A proper understanding of John 6:36-40 should lead us to consider the following questions: Are you amazed by God’s enabling work in your salvation taught by Christ? Does this text help you refuse to place your confidence for persevering in the faith in yourself...
by Matthew Borgstrom | Jul 15, 2022 | Uncategorized
In John 6:35, Jesus is teaching that upon coming to him, the bread of life, in faith, one will never have to search anywhere else again for sustenance. This is clearly not referring to physical hunger and thirst, and to miss the spiritual emphasis of these words is to...
by Matthew Borgstrom | Jul 1, 2022 | Uncategorized
The crowd’s misguided seeking of Jesus in John 6:26 illustrates a massive problem in the human heart, in that we often aren’t even thinking about what we need to learn from Jesus, but are merely satisfied being full and happy and healthy in this life, which we...
by Matthew Borgstrom | Jun 24, 2022 | Uncategorized
In John 6:16-21, the main theme switches from Christ’s sufficiency to provide all that we need, to trusting that he is sufficient to accomplish his promises according to his perfect plan. Nevertheless, we can become frightened to the point of losing our bearings due...
by Matthew Borgstrom | Jun 17, 2022 | Uncategorized
In John 6:6, the reader is informed that Jesus’ question to Philip in v.5 is designed to give Philip an opportunity to express his faith in the One he has chosen to follow. Now this word for test has a wide scope of meaning in the NT and is even translated tempt...
by Matthew Borgstrom | Jun 10, 2022 | Uncategorized
It is a wonder that God’s salvation in Christ is not ONLY tied to the eternal and complete redemption of souls, but also the specific road Christ traveled down in the purchasing of those souls. Namely, it was a road consisting of betrayal, rejection and suffering. ...
by Matthew Borgstrom | Jun 3, 2022 | Uncategorized
In light of the fact that John 5:42 is a contrast to v.41, what is the relationship between seeking glory from man and what we love? It’s because seeking recognition from people indicates that we love what we get from people more than we love God. In other words, the...
by Matthew Borgstrom | May 27, 2022 | Uncategorized
According to John 5:35, John the Baptist certainly stirred up excitement and expectation for the arrival of the Messiah, but once Jesus began to make public appearances that involved correction of false beliefs and practices, along with placing himself at the center...
by Matthew Borgstrom | May 21, 2022 | Uncategorized
So what are believers to take away from this teaching in John 5:28-29, that Christ will assess the works of everyone in the end? For one, we are to live in the sight of God as those who will give an account. Listen to this description in Heb. 4:12 For the word of...
by Matthew Borgstrom | May 13, 2022 | Uncategorized
If life comes through hearing Christ’s word (John 5:25), not only at the point of conversion, but also throughout our lives in sanctification, how well do you listen? Do you take heed to the word, whether it is being taught in a corporate setting or a bible...
by Matthew Borgstrom | May 7, 2022 | Uncategorized
In light of the Son’s identical divine work as the Father, as put forth in John 5:19-23, how certain are Christ’s works in our redemption and how trustworthy is his wisdom in his teachings! It’s no wonder the Apostle Paul declares in Col. 2 that all the...
by Matthew Borgstrom | May 1, 2022 | Uncategorized
The portrait of Christ put forth in the Gospel of John does not allow for any middle ground with Jesus—either he is all that he said he is or he is nothing that he said he is, including the Savior of the world. We don’t get to choose what version of Christ we want to...
by Matthew Borgstrom | Apr 22, 2022 | Uncategorized
When the end of the age comes, how exactly will Christians and churches, and namely leaders of those churches, be assessed by the Lord Jesus Christ in terms of their faithfulness? A clear answer is that Christ’s assessment of our lives will be based on faithfulness to...
by Matthew Borgstrom | Apr 15, 2022 | Uncategorized
In Mark 4:35-41, Jesus is not rebuking the disciples for being human, rather he’s rebuking them for what they conclude about their situation—“We are experiencing the consequences of this storm; therefore, Jesus must not be able to defeat it or he doesn’t care about...
by Matthew Borgstrom | Apr 8, 2022 | Uncategorized
When true faith is present, demands will not be made of Christ, even if those demands are made under the guise of extraordinary faith—“We’re just trusting in the Lord for this to happen…” That sounds good, but what exactly are you trusting in? What specific promise or...
by Matthew Borgstrom | Apr 1, 2022 | Uncategorized
As we look at John 4:38, we find a crucial teaching to remain humble in our disciple making efforts, whether that’s evangelizing the lost or helping fellow believers become more Christlike. In the lives of those we know, others have probably gone before us in planting...
by Matthew Borgstrom | Mar 25, 2022 | Uncategorized
As has been revealed beginning in John 3, to be transformed from a worshipper of self into a worshipper of God takes an act of supernatural grace. To be a worshipper of God is not the natural default outcome of anyone’s life. And to be ever more humbled, consider how...
by Matthew Borgstrom | Mar 25, 2022 | Uncategorized
By the conclusion of John 4:18, Jesus has made it apparent that by not seeking the living water that only God can supply, the Samaritan woman has sought after vastly deficient sources to quench her thirst in life. That being said, we might be tempted to condemn this...
by Matthew Borgstrom | Mar 11, 2022 | Uncategorized
John wraps up this remarkable third chapter of his gospel by highlighting the superiority of the Son’s testimony and the consequences of receiving or rejecting that testimony. This means that no one can ever say that Jesus is merely a good option in which to place...
by Matthew Borgstrom | Mar 4, 2022 | Uncategorized
The beginning of Eph. 5 begins with a lofty call to imitate God. However, as soon as we hear this call to imitate God, how does our flesh want to strongly object?—“But we aren’t God, we are sinful, weak humans. Therefore, that’s an unfair standard to place upon us.”...
by Matthew Borgstrom | Feb 25, 2022 | Uncategorized
In light of what the Apostle Paul commands in Eph. 4:32, here are some questions to see where we are at with regards to exemplifying compassion: Generally speaking, are you able to enter in to another person’s plight even if their circumstances are the direct result...
by Matthew Borgstrom | Feb 17, 2022 | Uncategorized
The parable in Luke 7:41-42 encapsulates a principle even understood in the world, which is the greater the mercy shown, the greater the love should be given to the one showing mercy. Therefore, virtually every human being could come up with the right answer to...
by Matthew Borgstrom | Feb 11, 2022 | Uncategorized
Up to this point in the Gospel of John, John the Baptist has consistently been pointing others to the Messiah, the Lamb of God–Jesus Christ. However, what sticks out in John 3:27-30 is that John is not only one who understands it’s his entire purpose in life to...
by Matthew Borgstrom | Feb 3, 2022 | Uncategorized
John 3:19-20 contains another antithetical teaching from John, in that if someone loves the darkness, the one will, by default, hate the Light. There is no mixing of the two; in order to have one, the other has to be eliminated. And it follows that whatever one hates,...
