DRAWING NEAR
December 5
God's Final Revelation
"God, after He spoke long ago to the fathers in the prophets in
many portions and in many ways, in these last days has spoken to
us in His Son" (Heb. 1:1-2).
Jesus not only brought but in fact was God's full and final
revelation.
A Samaritan woman declared, "I know that Messiah is coming (He who is
called Christ); when that One comes, He will declare all things to
us" (John 4:25). The expectation of that day, even among the
Samaritans, was that Messiah would unfold the full and final
revelation of God. The Holy Spirit, through the writer of Hebrews,
affirms that to be true: "God . . . in these last days has spoken to
us in His Son" (Heb. 1:1-2).
The Old Testament had given divine revelation in bits and pieces.
Every piece was true, yet incomplete. But When Jesus came, the whole
picture became clear, and though rejected by His own people, He was,
in fact, the fulfillment of the messianic hope they had cherished for
so many centuries.
The Old Testament age of promise ended when Jesus arrived. He is
God's final word: "As many as may be the promises of God, in Him they
are yes; wherefore also by Him is our Amen to the glory of God
through us" (2 Cor. 1:20).
God fully expressed Himself in His Son. That's why John said, "The
Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, glory
as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth. . .
No man has seen God at any time; the only begotten God, who is in the
bosom of the Father, He has explained Him" (John 1:14, 18). Paul
added that in Christ "all the fulness of Deity dwells in bodily form"
(Col. 2:9).
The practical implications of that truth are staggering. Since Christ
is the fullness of divine revelation, you need nothing more. In Him
you have been made complete (Col. 2:10), and have been granted
everything pertaining to life and godliness (2 Pet. 1:3). His Word is
sufficient, needing no additions or amendments.
Suggestion for Prayer:
Ask God to teach you how to rely more fully on your resources in
Christ.
For Further Study:
Read John 1:1-18 as a reminder of the fullness of God's revelation in
His Son.
Drawing Near, Copyright 1993 John F. MacArthur, Jr.
All rights reserved. Used by permission.
http://www.gty.org
~~~
Colossians 2:9-10 (NKJV)
9 For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily;
10 and you are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality
and power.
2 Peter 1:3
3 as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to
life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by
glory and virtue
John 1:1-18
John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God,
and the Word was God.
2 He was in the beginning with God.
3 All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made
that was made.
4 In Him was life, and the life was the light of men.
5 And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not
comprehend it.
6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John.
7 This man came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that
all through him might believe.
8 He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light.
9 That was the true Light which gives light to every man coming into
the world.
10 He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the
world did not know Him.
11 He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him.
12 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become
children of God, to those who believe in His name:
13 who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of
the will of man, but of God.
14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His
glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace
and truth.
15 John bore witness of Him and cried out, saying, "This was He of
whom I said, 'He who comes after me is preferred before me, for He
was before me.'"
16 And of His fullness we have all received, and grace for grace.
17 For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came
through Jesus Christ.
18 No one has seen God at any time. The only begotten Son, who is in
the bosom of the Father, He has declared Him.
These devotions are posted with permission from John MacArthur's
first (1993) devotional work, _Drawing Near_, and they are also sent
out daily for free to several folks via e-mail.
In addition, John's second (1997) devotional, _Strength for Today_,
is also available free via e-mail only. _Strength for Today_ follows
the same format as what you have seen here from _Drawing Near_, but
with different monthly themes.
If you would like to receive daily devotions via e-mail from either
of these series, just let me know (via e-mail), and I will gladly add
you to the list(s) of your choice.
You can hear John MacArthur daily via the Internet by visiting:
http://www.oneplace.com/ministries/Grace_to_You/
and
http://www.gty.org.uk/
You may email John MacArthur in care of Grace to You at:
letters@gty.org
NOTE for those of you reading via newsgroups: If you wish to reach
me, please contact me via e-mail for quickest results.
In Christ,
Peter
Peter G. Chase :: Columbus, Ohio, USA
pchase@wowway.com
STOP! Who do you think Jesus is?
http://www.gty.org/Gospel
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There is a living God. He has spoken in His word. He means just what he says, and will do all that He has promised. - Hudson Taylor
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