REMARKS ON JOHN'S GOSPEL
REMARKS ON JOHN’S GOSPEL
In John 4, John 5, John 6, John 7 we have the grace of God which in a fourfold way turns you into a new being; new mind, new [p. 193] powers and new enjoyments: I am not an improved man but I have a new state. Instead of craving I am satisfied, chapter 4. Instead of impotence, I am in power, chapter 5. Instead of labouring for the meat that perisheth, I am living by Christ, chapter 6; and instead of wanting or seeking anything here, I am a giver of living water, chapter 7. It seems transcendently great — the portion outside of the earth, and outside of man. Chapters 4 and 5 relate to yourself. Chapters 6 and 7 relate to your journey through this world. Chapter 4 the heart satisfied. Chapter 5 out of death, never to come into judgment. Now your own state is complete; but how do you journey through this world? Here is the test. If you would enjoy the out-of-the-world condition of things which belongs to you, you must not only have eaten of His flesh and blood, but you must eat of it — you must bear about in your body the dying of Jesus. You must so appropriate Christ’s death, that there would be an end to everything that would minister to the flesh, and then you would be alive unto God in Jesus Christ. And furthermore, the brightest surroundings here would be eclipsed. You would have a portion infinitely superior. Out of your belly would flow rivers of living water.
I am glad that you are interested in John 13 and 14. There is much in those chapters not yet known.
I feel that the great thing there is the new place into which Christ has entered. If you love Him, that is, if so you love Him, that nothing can satisfy you but His company, you have then I judge “first love”. This love I have when I know His love for me, that His desire is towards me.
It is very sad the way some read scripture. They read that Christ may dwell in your heart by faith, and they do not seem to care whether they know it or not. The scripture tells me the thing, the Spirit leads me into it. The scripture says, as it were, “be ye warmed and filled”, but the Spirit then gives to the awakened conscience the things that are needful. The scripture tells me what God gives, but the scripture has to be mixed with faith. I [p. 194] hope you understand me. You see from scripture that Peter walked upon the water, but you have to learn what walking on the water means. Scripture cannot do that for you. The Spirit leads you into it by faith.