The Source of Life
Sunday - November 24, 2024
In Him Was Life, I am ... the LIFE
John 1:1, 4, 12-13, 29; 3:15-16, 36; 4:14; 4:36; 5:21; 6:27; 6:40, 47, 54, 68, 40; 10:10, 27-28; 12:27; 14:19.
Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. ’” (John 14:6)
Purpose: To establish Jesus as the divine Source of all life, emphasizing His role as Creator, Redeemer, and Sustainer.
Christ as the Source of Life: In her writings, EGWhite frequently reflects on John 1:4, where life in Christ is described as "the light of men." She asserts that this life is not derived from any external source but is inherent in Him as the Creator and sustainer of all existence. This self-existent life is offered to humanity through faith in Him (John 3:15-16) - The Desire of Ages pages, 19-26 {1}
1. God is the source of all life. Psalm 36:9; Jeremiah 2:13; Job 12:9, 10; Psalm 66:8, 9; John 5:26; Acts 17:24, 25, 28.
2. Life from God was imparted to man in the original creation. Genesis 2:7.
3. This life was forfeited through sin. Genesis 2:17; 6; Romans 5:12, 15.
4. The Son of God has life in himself, and he came to bring life to the human family. John 5:25; 14:6; Colossians 3:4; John 10:10, 27, 28; 5:21; 6:33, 48; Romans 6:23; John 17:2; 1:4; 1 John 1:1-3.
5. This life is received by receiving the Son of God. 2 Timothy 1:1; 1 John 5:11-13; John 3:15, John 3:36; John 20:30, 31; John 6:53-57; 1 Timothy 1:16; John 6:40; 4:14; 3:16.
6. Those who reject Christ choose death. Proverbs 8:36.
7. Every sinner who turns to Christ is saved from death. James 5:19, 20. {2}
Christ the Source of Every Right Impulse
Christ as the Giver of Life
Jesus is described as having life in Himself and offering it to humanity. By receiving Christ, individuals gain eternal life. This life comes not from human effort but through divine connection with Christ, who is the "bread of life" and the source of spiritual nourishment.
Christ Revealed by God the Father
“God reveals Christ to the sinner, and when he sees the purity of the Son of God, he is not ignorant of the character of sin. By faith in the work and power of Christ, enmity against sin and Satan is created in his heart. Those whom God pardons are first made penitent.”-The Review and Herald, April 1, 1890. COR 112.1
Christ Draws the Sinner to Himself
“Christ draws the sinner by the exhibition of His love upon the cross, and this softens the heart, impresses the mind, and inspires contrition and repentance in the soul.”-The Review and Herald, April 1, 1890. COR 112.2
“Christ is constantly drawing men to Himself, while Satan is as diligently seeking by every imaginable device, to draw men away from their Redeemer.”-The Review and Herald, April 1, 1890 COR 112.3
“As Christ draws them to look upon His cross, to behold Him whom their sins have pierced, the commandment comes home to the conscience. The wickedness of their life, the deep-seated sin of the soul, is revealed to them. They begin to comprehend something of the righteousness of Christ, and exclaim, ‘What is sin, that it should require such a sacrifice for the redemption of its victim? Was all this love, all this suffering, all this humiliation, demanded, that we might not perish, but have everlasting life?’”-Steps to Christ, 31. COR 112.4
Christ Gives Repentance
“Repentance is as much the gift of Christ as is forgiveness, and it cannot be found in the heart where Jesus has not been at work. We can no more repent without the Spirit of Christ to awaken the conscience, than we can be pardoned without Christ.”-The Review and Herald, April 1, 1890. COR 112.5
Christ the Source of Power
“Christ is the source of every right impulse. He is the only one who can arouse in the natural heart enmity against sin. He is the source of our power if we would be saved. No soul can repent without the grace of Christ.”-The Review and Herald, April 1, 1890 COR 113.1
Christ the Embodiment of Righteousness
“The righteousness of God is embodied in Christ. We receive righteousness by receiving Him.”-Thoughts From the Mount of Blessing, 34. {3}
Life Through the Cross
White underscores that Christ's sacrifice on the cross is central to receiving life. By His death, believers are brought from spiritual death to a new life. This "resurrection life" begins with trust in Christ and manifests in transformation and empowerment to overcome sin. “His
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Union with Christ
She illustrates that just as branches draw life from the vine, believers must draw their spiritual life from Christ. This connection enables them to live according to His example, showcasing His character to the world.
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Christ and Obedience
Through His divinity and humanity, Christ bridges the gap between God and man. His life demonstrates that obedience to God’s law is possible, and He imparts the power to do so. This union with Him is essential for a victorious Christian life.
Eternal Life and Belief in Christ: White also emphasizes that eternal life is a gift granted to those who believe in Jesus. This is portrayed in her reflections on verses such as John 6:40, which affirm that belief in Christ leads to resurrection and everlasting life. She explains that this promise of life is central to the gospel message.
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The Lamb of God: In The Desire of Ages, White connects John the Baptist’s proclamation in John 1:29, “Behold the Lamb of God,” with Christ’s mission to take away the sins of the world. She notes the profound implications of Jesus as the Lamb, both as a sacrifice for sin and as the giver of spiritual life.
Christ’s Life-Giving Presence: White underscores that Christ’s presence brings spiritual vitality, as in John 10:10, where He declares that He came to give life abundantly. His life on Earth modeled selfless service and a deep connection to God, offering a blueprint for true, abundant living.
“Jesus is going from door to door, standing in front of every soul-temple, proclaiming, ‘I stand at the door, and knock.’ As a heavenly Merchantman, He opens His treasures, and cries, ‘Buy of Me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear.’ The gold that He offers is without alloy, more precious than that of Ophir; for it is faith and love. The white raiment He invites the soul to wear is His own robe of righteousness; and the oil for anointing is the oil of His grace, which will give spiritual eyesight to the soul in blindness and darkness, that he may distinguish between the workings of the Spirit of God and the spirit of the enemy. Open your doors, says the great Merchantman, the possessor of spiritual riches, and transact your business with Me. It is I, your Redeemer, who counsels you to buy of Me.”-The Review and Herald, August 7, 1894.
Consider the Following
❖ “I am… the life.”
— Jesus has a characteristic that distinguishes him from all created beings: he has life in himself (John 5:26).
Thanks to this quality, he was able to give up his life and take it up again (John 10:17-18).
— What motivated Jesus to come to Earth to give his life?
(1) Revealing the Father to us (John 14:8-9). We had forgotten what God is like
(2) Give us abundant life (John 10:10). In Jesus we can truly enjoy life here and now.
(3) Taking our place (Is. 53:5). He suffered the punishment that we should suffer.
(4) Dying to give us salvation (Acts 4:12). Only in Jesus can we obtain salvation
(5) Take away the sin of the world (John 1:29). Not only does it erase our sin, but it will finally remove it.
(6) Resurrect us on the “last day” (John 5:28-29; 6:54). When Jesus comes, we will be resurrected by Him
(7) Give us eternal life (John 3:14-15). Finally, He will give eternal life to all of us who have believed in Him.
