The One Year New Testament

August 19

John 5:30-47

John 5:30-47

30 “I can do nothing on my own. As I hear, I judge, and my judgment is just, because I seek not my own will but the will of him who sent me. 31 If I alone bear witness about myself, my testimony is not deemed true. 32 There is another who bears witness about me, and I know that the testimony that he bears about me is true. 33 You sent to John, and he has borne witness to the truth. 34 Not that the testimony that I receive is from man, but I say these things so that you may be saved. 35 He was a burning and shining lamp, and you were willing to rejoice for a while in his light. 36 But the testimony that I have is greater than that of John. For the works that the Father has given me to accomplish, the very works that I am doing, bear witness about me that the Father has sent me. 37 And the Father who sent me has himself borne witness about me. His voice you have never heard, his form you have never seen, 38 and you do not have his word abiding in you, for you do not believe the one whom he has sent. 39 You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness about me, 40 yet you refuse to come to me that you may have life. 41 I do not receive glory from people. 42 But I know that you do not have the love of God within you. 43 I have come in my Father's name, and you do not receive me. If another comes in his own name, you will receive him. 44 How can you believe, when you receive glory from one another and do not seek the glory that comes from the only God? 45 Do not think that I will accuse you to the Father. There is one who accuses you: Moses, on whom you have set your hope. 46 For if you believed Moses, you would believe me; for he wrote of me. 47 But if you do not believe his writings, how will you believe my words?”

Reflection

According to Jesus, the only way we can obtain life from the Scriptures is to see Jesus in the Scriptures, since all the Scriptures bear witness to him (John 5:30–47; cf. Luke 24:27, 44–47). The entire Bible, Genesis to Revelation, is ultimately about Jesus. Throughout Scripture, God is pointing to the grace that is ultimately found in Christ (John 5:39–40). Therefore, the Bible is not fundamentally about what we do for God but what God does for us.

Tragically, the Jews preferred receiving glory from one another rather than seeking the glory of God (v. 44). Few sins are as insidious and destructive as living for the approval of people (Prov. 29:25). In the gospel of grace, we are liberated from the need to be approved by people because in Jesus we have been approved by the only One whose approval matters and the only One whose approval truly satisfies.

Hebrews 1:1-4

Hebrews 1:1-4

Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, having become as much superior to angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs.

Reflection

The Son of God is the beginning and the end of all things: God’s agent in creation and his heir (Heb. 1:2). He is almighty God; he shares the divine glory and is the “exact imprint of [God’s] nature” (v. 3). He also performs works that only God performs, such as creating the universe (v. 10) and upholding it “by the word of his power” (v. 3).

All this introduces the main message of Hebrews—that Jesus has made “purification for sins” and has sat down at God’s right hand (v. 3). His sitting indicates that Jesus has finished his work. There is no other sacrifice for sin besides Jesus’ offering of himself to God on the cross. And because he sits at God’s right hand —the place of greatest honor and authority in the universe— it is evident that his work is perfect. It cannot be improved upon. And because his work is finished and perfect, it is sufficient to forgive our sins. Even the worst of sinners can find forgiveness if they sincerely repent and believe in Jesus as their substitute. There is no need to beat ourselves up or try to work our way into God’s favor. The only antidote to the poison of sin is the sacrifice of Christ. We dishonor him and his death if we act otherwise. Let us sincerely confess our sins and receive the forgiveness and cleansing that God offers us (1 John 1:9) based on the unique accomplishment of God’s Son, our Savior.

Psalm 119:41

Psalm 119:41

41 Let your steadfast love come to me, O Lord,
your salvation according to your promise;

Thoughts For Prayer

The sacrifice of Jesus is perfect, able to cleanse us even on our worst days. Do not put your hope in your performance —put your hope in Christ and tell God once again that your faith is in him alone.

Missions Prayer Requests More

  • April 26, 2024

    Supported Workers: Jon (& Ruthie), Matt (& Laura) Pheneger, Goran (& Beth) Tomic

    Country: United States of America

    Ambassadors Football has 24 youth teams locally for children ages 8-18. In February, they had a retreat for the high school players in the club, and the students spent the weekend learning about God. Students from all sorts of backgrounds were exposed to the gospel and given a chance to ask questions and discuss who God is. Several students who come from refugee families in Akron attended, and one young man from Afghanistan said it was the best weekend of his life. Please pray for these students as they continue to think about what was shared at the retreat and during their weekly devotional times at the club.

    Albania (Europe). Population: 2,826,020 Believers: 0.5%. Thank God for his work in this land! For a long time, it was closed to the gospel, but evangelicals grew from nearly zero to several thousand in just a few years. The Church has indigenous leadership, nationwide networks, a vision for discipleship and evangelism, and it sends out workers to other lands! And all this came about during a politically and economically unstable time. Many believe that years of devoted prayer for Albania opened the way for ministry here. From Operation World DVD-ROM 2010 and www.operationworld.org