Posts that reference the Gospel of John

Love That Transforms

“And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us. You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:5-8

In our exploration of love this month, we’ve seen that love is supreme among virtues and that true love is giving in nature. Today, we turn to another essential quality of divine love: its transformative power. In Romans 5:5-8, Paul reveals that God’s love doesn’t just change our status; it changes our hearts. It doesn’t merely affect our position before God; it transforms our disposition toward others.

The passage begins with a remarkable statement: “God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit.” This isn’t describing God’s love as an external reality we observe or a theological concept we affirm. Rather, it’s an internal experience—God’s love literally “poured out” within us. The Greek word Paul uses (ekkechutai) conveys abundance, suggesting not a trickle but a flood of divine love filling our inner being.

What makes this internal transformation possible?

Paul immediately connects it to the Holy Spirit “who has been given to us.” The indwelling Spirit becomes the conduit through which God’s love flows into our hearts. This reveals something profound about Christian transformation: it’s not primarily about behavior modification or moral effort but about a supernatural infusion of God’s own love into our being.

Paul then contrasts this transformative love with human love. Human love is typically conditional and limited—”Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die.” Even at its best, human love tends to be selective, based on the worthiness of its object. But God’s love operates on an entirely different principle: “While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” God’s love reaches us not when we become lovable but when we’re at our most unlovable.

This contrast highlights the transformative nature of divine love. When God’s love is poured into our hearts, it gradually reshapes our capacity to love others. We begin to love not just those who are lovable or deserving but even the difficult, the ungrateful, and the hostile—just as God loved us when we were His enemies. Our love becomes less conditional and more sacrificial, less selective and more inclusive, less self-serving and more self-giving.

How do we experience and express this transformative love in our daily lives?

Recognize love as a fruit, not a work. Galatians 5:22 lists love as the first “fruit of the Spirit,” not a “work of the flesh.” This means that love flows from our connection to the Spirit, not from our own efforts. Focus first on abiding in Christ (John 15:5) rather than striving to love better through willpower alone.
Create space for transformation. The pouring out of God’s love happens most powerfully in moments of receptivity and openness. Develop regular practices of silence, prayer, and Scripture meditation that position you to receive God’s love more deeply.
Identify love blockers. What hinders the flow of God’s love in your life? Common blockers include unforgiveness, bitterness, fear, self-protection, and pride. Ask God to reveal specific barriers in your heart and to help you remove them.
Practice love beyond boundaries. Challenge yourself to express love to someone outside your normal circle of care—perhaps someone difficult, different, or distant from you. This stretches your capacity to love as God loves.
Trace love to its source. When you find yourself struggling to love others, return to the foundation: “We love because he first loved us” (1 John 4:19). Spend time meditating on specific ways God has demonstrated His love for you, allowing that awareness to renew your capacity to love others.

The transformation of our hearts through God’s love isn’t instantaneous but progressive. Like a garden that gradually takes on the shape intended by the gardener, our capacity to love grows as we remain connected to the source of love. There will be seasons of rapid growth and seasons that feel dormant, but the trajectory remains—we are becoming more loving because Love Himself dwells within us.

As we continue our exploration of love this month, we’re discovering that biblical love is not just a command to obey but a reality to experience and express. Next week, we’ll examine “Love That Endures” through Romans 8:38-39, exploring how God’s unbreakable love provides the pattern and power for building relationships that withstand life’s challenges.

The Greatest of These

By Paula Wiseman

And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love. 1 Corinthians 13:13

In a chapter often reserved for wedding ceremonies, the Apostle Paul makes one of the most profound theological statements in Scripture: “the greatest of these is love.” After describing love’s patient, kind, and enduring nature, after declaring that love “never fails,” Paul concludes by elevating love above even faith and hope—the other pillars of Christian experience. This declaration invites us to consider: why is love supreme?

The context of Paul’s statement is significant. The Corinthian church was spiritually gifted but relationally divided. They valued impressive spiritual manifestations but neglected the foundational virtue that should govern all others. Paul’s message was corrective: without love, even the most impressive spiritual gifts amount to nothing. Faith can move mountains, hope can sustain through trials, but love transforms the heart from which all actions flow.

What makes love “the greatest”?

First, love most clearly reflects God’s essential nature. John tells us plainly that “God is love” (1 John 4:8). Not that God has love or shows love, but that love defines His very being. When we love, we don’t just obey God; we reflect His character. Faith connects us to God, hope anticipates God’s promises, but love embodies God’s nature.

Second, love alone will continue unchanged into eternity. Paul notes that prophecies will cease, tongues will be stilled, and knowledge will pass away. Even faith and hope will be transformed in heaven—faith becoming sight, hope becoming realization. But love continues forever because it belongs to both our earthly journey and our eternal destination. Love is not just a means to heaven; it is the atmosphere of heaven itself.

Third, love fulfills all other commands. When asked about the greatest commandment, Jesus responded with two love commands: love God and love your neighbor (Matthew 22:37-40). He then added, “All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” Paul echoes this in Romans 13:10: “Love is the fulfillment of the law.” Love isn’t one virtue among many; it’s the virtue that properly orients all others.

How do we make love supreme in our daily lives?

Here are some practical steps:

Practice love as a discipline. Love isn’t just an emotion but an action and choice. Each day, intentionally choose one person to show Christ-like love to through specific actions. This might mean patience with a difficult colleague, forgiveness toward someone who has hurt you, or sacrificial service to a family member.
Filter decisions through love. When facing choices, ask: “What would love do in this situation?” This doesn’t mean avoiding difficult truths or necessary confrontations—remember that love “rejoices with the truth” and sometimes must be firm. But it does mean ensuring that your motivations and methods reflect Christ’s love.
Study love in action. Spend time meditating on how Jesus demonstrated love in various situations—with the marginalized, with His enemies, with His disciples. Notice how His love was both tender and tough, both gracious and truthful. Let His example shape your understanding of what love looks like in practice.
Pray for love’s increase. Recognize that true love exceeds our natural capacity. Ask God daily to pour His love into your heart through the Holy Spirit (Romans 5:5). Acknowledge your limitations and dependence on Him for the ability to love as He loves.

As we begin this month focused on love, let’s remember that we’re not just exploring a virtue but the very heart of God. In a culture that often reduces love to sentiment or passion, we’re called to embody a love that is patient and kind, that does not envy or boast, that is not proud or self-seeking. This love—divine love expressed through human hearts—truly is the greatest of all virtues.

Next week, we’ll explore “Love That Gives” through the lens of John 3:16, examining how God’s sacrificial love becomes the pattern for our own giving love.

STT: Building Your Personal Bible Study Toolkit

By Paula Wiseman

STT: Building Personal Bible Study Toolkit title graphic with hand tools

Study Tip: Building Your Personal Bible Study Toolkit

When Jesus taught His disciples, He didn’t just give them answers—He equipped them with questions and methods to discover truth for themselves. “Search the Scriptures,” He said, “for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of Me” (John 5:39).

Effective Bible study isn’t about having someone else explain everything to you—it’s about developing skills to discover God’s truth for yourself. Here are some foundational techniques to include in your personal study toolkit. Today we’ll do an overview, then in the coming weeks, we’ll do a deeper dive into some different ways and approaches to incorporate into your Bible study.

1. The Question Method

Begin by asking basic questions of any passage:

Who wrote this and to whom?
What is the main point being made?
When and where did this take place?
Why was this written?
How does this apply to my life?

These simple questions open doors to deeper understanding without requiring advanced training.

2. The Word Study Approach

Choose a significant word in a passage and explore it:

Look up its original meaning (using a concordance or Bible dictionary)
Find other places it appears in Scripture
Notice how the meaning develops across different contexts

For example, tracing the word “love” through 1 Corinthians 13 reveals layers of meaning beyond our English understanding.

3. The Context Connection

Never read verses in isolation. Always:

Read the paragraphs before and after your passage
Consider the chapter’s overall message
Understand the book’s purpose and audience
Connect to the broader biblical narrative

Remember that Philippians 4:13 (“I can do all things…”) makes more sense when you see Paul was talking about contentment in various circumstances, not superhuman abilities.

4. The Personal Application

After understanding what the text meant to its original audience, ask:

What principle is illustrated here?
How does this reveal God’s character?
What might God be saying to me through this passage?
What specific action should I take in response?

For your first study session: Choose a shorter book like Philippians or James. Read it completely through in one sitting. Then go back and apply these four methods to one chapter. Notice how your understanding deepens with each approach.

What passage might you start with to practice these techniques?

STT: Objects as Types

By Paula Wiseman

Study Tip Tuesday Objects as Types title graphic

“For the law has but a shadow of the good things to come instead of the true form of these realities.” – Hebrews 10:1a

In our exploration of biblical typology, we’ve examined how both people and events foreshadowed Christ. Today, we’ll complete our series by looking at how Old Testament institutions and objects served as types of Christ. These divinely designed elements of Israel’s worship and daily life provided tangible pictures of spiritual realities that would be fulfilled in Jesus.

The Purpose of Institutional Types

God established Israel’s religious institutions and sacred objects as teaching tools—physical representations of spiritual truths that would find their fulfillment in Christ. As Hebrews 8:5 explains, the priests served “a copy and shadow of the heavenly things.”

Five Significant Institutions and Objects as Types of Christ

1. The Tabernacle/Temple – God’s Dwelling Place

The sacred sanctuary where God dwelt among His people foreshadowed Christ.

Typological Elements:

God’s presence dwelling among His people
The single entrance (John 10:9)
The bronze altar for sacrifice
The veil separating the Holy of Holies

The Greater Reality in Christ:
“The Word became flesh and dwelt [literally ‘tabernacled’] among us” (John 1:14). The tabernacle provided limited access to God’s presence; in Christ, God came to dwell directly among us.

2. The Sacrificial System – Atonement for Sin

The elaborate system of offerings pointed to Christ’s perfect sacrifice.

Typological Elements:

Unblemished animals required
Blood shed for atonement
Different offerings for various needs
Repeated sacrifices showing their insufficiency

The Greater Reality in Christ:
“We have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all” (Hebrews 10:10). Animal sacrifices needed constant repetition; Christ’s sacrifice was once for all.

3. The Priesthood – Mediation Between God and Man

The Levitical priesthood foreshadowed Christ’s perfect mediation.

Typological Elements:

Chosen by God to represent the people
Offered sacrifices for sins
Interceded on behalf of the people
Wore special garments signifying holiness

The Greater Reality in Christ:
“We have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God” (Hebrews 4:14). The Levitical priests were sinful men who died; Christ is the sinless, eternal High Priest.

4. The Ark of the Covenant – God’s Throne of Mercy

This sacred chest represented God’s presence and mercy.

Typological Elements:

Contained the law, manna, and Aaron’s rod
Covered by the mercy seat where blood was applied
Represented God’s throne among His people
Led the people through the wilderness

The Greater Reality in Christ:
Jesus perfectly embodied God’s law, provided heavenly bread, and demonstrated divine authority. Through Him, we find mercy at God’s throne: “Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace” (Hebrews 4:16).

5. The Passover – Salvation Through Sacrifice

This annual feast commemorated Israel’s deliverance from Egypt.

Typological Elements:

Unblemished lamb selected
Blood applied for protection
Flesh eaten in a covenant meal
Celebrated as a memorial

The Greater Reality in Christ:
“Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed” (1 Corinthians 5:7). The Passover lamb saved from physical death in Egypt; Christ saves from eternal death.

When studying Old Testament institutions and objects:

Consider their purpose – What spiritual reality did this institution or object represent?
Look for New Testament fulfillment – How does the New Testament connect this to Christ?
Note the limitations – How does Christ perfect and complete what was only partially represented?
Apply the spiritual principle – What does this teach us about our relationship with God through Christ?

These divinely designed institutions weren’t merely religious rituals but prophetic pictures pointing to Christ. Understanding them enriches our appreciation of what we have in Jesus.

Which of these institutional types helps you understand an aspect of Christ’s work more clearly? How does seeing Christ as the fulfillment of these sacred institutions deepen your worship?

STT: Events as Types

By Paula Wiseman

Study tip Tuesday Events as Types title graphic

“Now these things happened to them as an example, but they were written down for our instruction, on whom the end of the ages has come.” – 1 Corinthians 10:11

Last week, we explored how people in the Old Testament foreshadowed Christ. This week, we’ll examine how specific events and historical moments also served as “types” pointing to Christ’s redemptive work. These divinely orchestrated events created patterns that would find their ultimate fulfillment in Jesus.

What Makes an Event Typological?

When we identify an event as a type of Christ, we’re recognizing God’s intentional pattern-making throughout redemptive history. These events weren’t merely historical occurrences but divine object lessons preparing God’s people to understand Christ’s work when He came.

Five Significant Events as Types of Christ

1. The Exodus – Redemption from Bondage

The deliverance of Israel from Egyptian slavery foreshadowed Christ’s greater redemption.

Typological Elements:

Bondage in Egypt parallels slavery to sin
The Passover lamb’s blood provided protection
Passing through the Red Sea resembles baptism (1 Corinthians 10:1-2)
Journey to the Promised Land mirrors the Christian journey

The Greater Reality in Christ:
“For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed” (1 Corinthians 5:7). The Exodus provided physical deliverance for one nation; Christ provides spiritual deliverance for people from all nations.

2. The Bronze Serpent – Healing Through Faith

When poisonous serpents bit the Israelites in the wilderness, God provided a surprising remedy.

Typological Elements:

Moses lifted a bronze serpent on a pole
Those who looked at it in faith were healed
The cure required only a believing look

The Greater Reality in Christ:
Jesus explicitly connected this event to Himself: “As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life” (John 3:14-15). The serpent brought physical healing; Christ brings eternal salvation.

3. Crossing the Jordan – Entering God’s Rest

Israel’s entrance into the Promised Land foreshadowed entering God’s spiritual rest.

Typological Elements:

Crossing through parted waters
Transition from wilderness wandering to inheritance
Twelve stones as memorial of God’s faithfulness
Joshua (Hebrew form of “Jesus”) leading the people

The Greater Reality in Christ:
“For if Joshua had given them rest, God would not have spoken of another day later on. So then, there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God” (Hebrews 4:8-9). The Promised Land offered temporary physical rest; Christ offers eternal spiritual rest.

4. Manna in the Wilderness – Bread from Heaven

God’s provision of bread in the desert pointed to Christ as the true bread from heaven.

Typological Elements:

Supernatural origin (“bread from heaven”)
Daily provision for physical needs
Sustained the entire community
Required daily gathering (except Sabbath)

The Greater Reality in Christ:
Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life… I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever” (John 6:48, 51). Manna sustained physical life temporarily; Christ gives eternal life.

5. The Day of Atonement – Complete Forgiveness

The annual ritual for cleansing from sin foreshadowed Christ’s perfect atonement.

Typological Elements:

Sacrifice for the sins of the people
Blood brought into the Most Holy Place
The scapegoat carrying away sins
One day that addressed all sin

The Greater Reality in Christ:
“But when Christ appeared as a high priest… he entered once for all into the holy places, not by means of the blood of goats and calves but by means of his own blood, thus securing an eternal redemption” (Hebrews 9:11-12). The Day of Atonement provided temporary covering; Christ provides permanent forgiveness.

When studying Old Testament events:

Look for New Testament connections – Does any NT passage link this event to Christ?
Identify the redemptive elements – How does this event reveal aspects of salvation?
Note the limitations – How was this event insufficient, requiring a greater fulfillment?
Recognize the pattern – What spiritual principle does this event illustrate?

These historical events weren’t just stories to remember but divinely designed patterns pointing to Christ’s perfect work. They created a spiritual vocabulary that would help God’s people understand the significance of what Jesus would accomplish.

Which of these Old Testament events helps you understand an aspect of Christ’s redemptive work more clearly? How does seeing these connections enhance your appreciation of God’s consistent plan throughout Scripture?

STT: Examples of Types

By Paula Wiseman

Study Tip Tuesday Examples of Types title graphic

Through a rich tapestry of types and shadows—people, events, and institutions that prefigured Christ—God was already telling the story of redemption long before the manger in Bethlehem. These patterns aren’t just literary devices; they’re Spirit-woven previews of the gospel.

Recognizing these Christ-types helps us read the Bible as one unified narrative, where the Old Testament anticipates and the New Testament fulfills.

“And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself.” – Luke 24:27

What Are Types and Shadows?

Remember, a “type” is a person, event, or institution in the Old Testament that prefigures something greater in the New Testament, particularly Christ. The “shadow” points to the “substance” that is Christ.

As Colossians 2:17 says regarding Old Testament practices: “These are a shadow of the things to come, but the substance belongs to Christ.”

Three Key Examples of Christ-Types

1. Moses as a Type of Christ

Moses foreshadowed Christ as:

A deliverer who rescued his people from bondage
A mediator between God and the people
A prophet who spoke God’s words
A lawgiver who established God’s covenant

Jesus is the greater Moses, delivering us from sin’s bondage, mediating a better covenant, and fulfilling the law.

2. The Passover Lamb as a Type of Christ

The Passover lamb pointed to Christ through:

Its unblemished condition
Its sacrificial death
Its blood providing protection
Its flesh providing nourishment

This connection is explicitly confirmed in 1 Corinthians 5:7: “Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed.”

3. The Tabernacle as a Type of Christ

The tabernacle foreshadowed Christ as:

God’s dwelling among His people
The place of sacrifice and atonement
The location where God met with humanity

John 1:14 confirms this connection: “The Word became flesh and dwelt [literally ‘tabernacled’] among us.”

Seeing Christ More Clearly

Typology isn’t just a clever interpretive tool—it’s a testimony to God’s intentionality. From Moses to the lamb to the tabernacle, each type whispers the name of Jesus long before His birth. These shadows stretch across centuries, converging in the radiant substance of Christ.

As we learn to recognize these patterns, we begin to see Scripture not as a collection of disconnected stories, but as one unfolding drama of redemption. The road to Emmaus becomes our road too—where Christ opens our eyes and hearts to the truth that He has been there all along.