Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
August 7, 2022: SOAP #4630: Zephaniah 1-3; John 9

SCRIPTURE: John (NIV) 9:39 Jesus said, “For judgment I have come into this world, so that the blind will see and those who see will become blind.” 40 Some Pharisees who were with him heard him say this and asked, “What? Are we blind too?” 41 Jesus said, “If you were blind, you would not be guilty of sin; but now that you claim you can see, your guilt remains.
John (NIV) 5:22 Moreover, the Father judges no-one, but has entrusted all judgment to the Son,…27  And he has given him authority to judge because he is the Son of Man. …
John (NIV) 12:47 “As for the person who hears my words but does not keep them, I do not judge him. For I did not come to judge the world, but to save it.

OBSERVATION:  In reading the portion in John 9, the verses in John 5 and 12 came to mind.  There seems to be a conflict.  I asked the Lord to help me understand.  Because Jesus completely fulfilled the law without any sin and then died for our sins, to Jesus the Father has assigned all judgment.  But while on earth, Jesus did not come to be our judge; He came to save the world. 

In John 9 Jesus is saying “For judgment I have come into this world…”  From the context, I hear Jesus saying, “To help you make good judgment I have come into the world.”  Following Jesus’ teaching gives us the ability to make good judgments.  If we claim to be wise enough and not need Jesus’ teaching, and receive what He offers, our “guilt remains.”

APPLICATION: Through a personal relationship with Jesus as my Savior and Lord; through the presence of the Holy Spirit in my life; and through growing in my knowledge of the Bible, I grow in my ability to make good judgments.  Making good judgments is one way of honoring and pleasing my Lord.  It is why He came. 

PRAYER:  Lord, it is my goal to honor you.  Holy Spirit help me make good judgments in who I listen to, what I believe, and what I do.  Help me understand the scriptures and apply them to my life. Amen

Pastor Leon
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