peace to live by

God is the God of the Whole World (TMF:2965)

Friday, September 18, 2026
Peace to Live By: God is the God of the Whole World (TMF:2965) - Daniel Litton
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       That not only includes God the Father and God the Holy Spirit, who was introduced in Genesis 1:2, but also God the Son. Anyhow, the fact that all things were made through Jesus denotes that he is God of the whole world. It's not argued that there are multiple Gods with borders and boundaries to their reign, or as if it depends on a person identifies, that is, what religion they are or whatnot. Rather, John interweaves the foundation that Jesus, in creating all things, shows that he is the true God. Everything that is has its root, its source, its potentiality, back to him. Paul even noted in Colossians, that “in him all things hold together” (1:17, ESV). Remember that? So not only has God the Son created everything, but even to this day he sustains the created order. It doesn't mean that what is seen with our eyes now is perfect. We are aware that it's not because of sin. Nonetheless, the Son keeps the earth moving around its path.

The Title of Word for Jesus, Part 3 (TMF:2964)

Thursday, September 17, 2026
Peace to Live By: The Title of Word for Jesus, Part 3 (TMF:2964) - Daniel Litton
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       We could also say, and as some theologians have noted, the use of “Word” here would also be noteworthy for Gentile peoples. Since in the Roman world, or Greek world, there was a great emphasis on the intellect, and trying to understand God from that point of view, the Word spoken of in the text would be like the answer to the “unknown” God that those individuals where really looking for. Or, we might say, the real God. This God, whom John is speaking of, is the God of which both Aristotle and Plato were looking for. In keeping Genesis in the forefront of his listeners' minds, he continues by speaking of the creation of the world. Jesus Christ, as the Word, is said to of helped create everything that is in our universe. John is pointing out that Jesus was included in the phrase, in Genesis 1:26: ““Let us make man in our image, after our likeness.” “Let us,” the verse says. “Let us… in our.”

The Title of Word for Jesus, Part 2 (TMF:2963)

Wednesday, September 16, 2026
Peace to Live By: The Title of Word for Jesus, Part 2 (TMF:2963) - Daniel Litton
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       Why did John use the title “Word” to describe Jesus Christ? Knowing that John himself was Jewish, and that a lot of those listening to this book are going to be Jewish, this then would tie in to what took place in the Old Testament. To understand this, we can think of the first word from God given in his covenant with Abraham in Genesis 15. That’s where God started speaking specifically to his chosen group of people. Then, of course, going down the line we end up with all the words that God gave to Moses, which are recognized as the Jewish Law. Therefore, the point is being made that this word from God has actualized as living. It has become alive. True to his word, God accomplished what he said he was going to do. The Messiah arrived on the scene, as he's about to tell us, on the earth itself. We could also say, and as some theologians have noted, the use of “Word” here would also be noteworthy for Gentile peoples.

The Title of Word for Jesus, Part 1 (TMF:2962)

Tuesday, September 15, 2026
Peace to Live By: The Title of Word for Jesus, Part 1 (TMF:2962) - Daniel Litton
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       We can presume that the title "Word" signifies Jesus because it's what the end of verse 1 relays to us. It says, "the Word was God." That's the starting point of the whole thing. Jesus Christ has had his journey to the earth taking on human flesh. This is made straight from the start. It is even re-emphasized in verse 2: “He was in the beginning with God.” It’s as if he’s trying to say, “There is no question about it.” Certainly, by the time when John is writing his Gospel here, by the end of the first century, false teachers with their heresies had already been infiltrating the church. This fact was brought up in the study of Colossians. Bringing it to mind, we recall it was those pre-Gnostic people who tried to say that Jesus Christ had not really come in human flesh, but rather that he was simply a spirit. A spirit being; no flesh. To them, all physical materials were evil, and God himself surely would not inhabit a physical, human body. But John begins straightaway refuting that notion.

The Whole Purpose of John's Account (TMF:2961)

Monday, September 14, 2026
Peace to Live By: The Whole Purpose of John's Account (TMF:2961) - Daniel Litton
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       Let us not forget in finishing this discussion that the whole purpose of John in his account is really to present the character of the Lord Jesus Christ. This contrasts with Matthew, Mark, and Luke, who rather seem to show what he actually did. The desire of John is that his audience understand Jesus as truly the Son of God, and that by believing in him, individuals may gain new life. With all of this being laid out, it's time to set our gaze ahead toward the text. Let's take the plunge. Starting off... John 1:1: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made” (ESV). In the familiar way as The Book of Genesis sets forth, John starts the text with the phrase, “In the beginning.” “In the beginning.” He says, “In the beginning was the Word.” This makes plain to us, vividly, that Jesus Christ was in the beginning of our world with God.

Unique Characteristics of John's Gospel, Part 3 (TMF:2960)

Friday, September 11, 2026
Peace to Live By: Unique Characteristics of John's Gospel, Part 3 (TMF:2960) - Daniel Litton
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       A second point of note, and this contrasts interestingly with what was just discussed, are some head-scratching absences. As far as the miracles of Jesus are concerned, in this Gospel we are not going to see any casting out of demons. That’s not present for whatever the reason. We also aren’t going to hear any Parables, which are prevalent in Matthew, Mark, and Luke. Finally, we aren’t going to be presented with any of the lengthy end times monologues. So, for those who love this third area, you aren’t going to find it in John. And finally, the third thing. It should also be noted that John, as a writer, is expecting his audience to be already familiar with the other three Gospels. This is yet another reason to show this Gospel was written last. We can understand this by noting John 3:24, for example, where the Apostle assumes that his listeners are going to know that John the Baptist was put in prison. Another example would be John 11:1, where he is assumes his audience already knows of Mary and Martha, Lazarus’ sisters.

Unique Characteristics of John's Gospel, Part 2 (TMF:2959)

Thursday, September 10, 2026
Peace to Live By: Unique Characteristics of John's Gospel, Part 2 (TMF:2958) - Daniel Litton
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       The fact that John saw this with his own eyes, in some manner, could fulfill what we already referred to as pertains to John being alive until Jesus’ second coming. If he’s not still on earth today, he was around, in a sense for it due to the fact he saw the vision of the Revelation. Quickly, and before we hit the water, let's ruminate on three more things. The most interesting, and one fact that is applicable to us, is that John will record famous passages about Jesus' discussion in regard to the Holy Spirit—the Third Person of the Trinity. Indeed, some of the most famous passages regarding him come to us in the form of John's Gospel. Particularly, we note chapters 14 to 16. It is in chapter 14 that we first learn, for instance, that the Holy Spirit is our helper as believers. A second point of note, and this contrasts interestingly with what was just discussed, are some head-scratching absences.

Unique Characteristics of John's Gospel, Part 1 (TMF:2958)

Wednesday, September 09, 2026
Peace to Live By: Unique Characteristics of John's Gospel, Part 1 (TMF:2957) - Daniel Litton
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       In contemplating all of this, and as we are about to dive headfirst into the text, there are some particularly unique features we can note about this account, versus the other somewhat similar accounts. To begin, we note John’s Gospel does not open with a genealogy that traces Jesus’ linage, like Matthew and Luke do. While Matthew traces Jesus’ linage back to Abraham, and Luke to Adam, John, we could say, traces his linage all the back in eternity, since he establishes Jesus as God. Traveling the other way, into the future, John will end his Gospel by focusing on Jesus’ promise to believers that he will truly return one day. Let us not forget John's most famous other writing—that special preview of Christ's return, the fact that Jesus will return, and this account also presents a whole host of other things along with that. This is the text of The Revelation of John. The unique vision of Christ's return.

Why It is Believed John Wrote the Gospel (TMF:2957)

Tuesday, September 08, 2026
Peace to Live By: Why It is Believed John Wrote the Gospel (TMF:2957) - Daniel Litton
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       The fact that John is not named is evidence that he wrote the book. Besides, numerous early church fathers credited John with being the author. So, there really isn’t any creditable or reasonable evidence to show he is not the author. We know that the author was Jewish, as he was looking for the Messiah to come. He is particularly familiar with Jewish geography, and where locations are at in Jerusalem and the surrounding areas. The author is also very familiar with Jewish customs (see 2:1-10, 11:55, & 18:28 for instance). He is familiar with the various Jewish feasts, like the famous Passover. Regardless, John refers to himself in the third person as the author in John 21:24, after mentioning himself in verse 21 as the one whom Jesus loved, of which verse 24 says, “This is the disciple who is bearing witness about these things, and who has written these things, and we know that his testimony is true” (ESV).

A Brief Biography of the Apostle John, Part 5 (TMF:2956)

Monday, September 07, 2026
Peace to Live By: A Brief Biography of the Apostle John, Part 5 (TMF:2956) - Daniel Litton
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       It would be this second Mary, who is named “his mother’s sister” of which we are referring to. Anyway, it is interesting to think about. Perhaps different from Jesus, in a way, was that John was known to be a little bit heated at times. In thinking about John, we probably don’t think of him being like this, but rather we likely see him as a meek and mild man, likely pretty chill and calm, and full of love. But, we understand that Jesus names James and John as “Sons of Thunder” (see Mark 3:17). And, consider this next verse. Luke 9:54: “And when his disciples James and John saw it, they said, “Lord, do you want us to tell fire to come down from heaven and consume them?” Our minds had probably deleted John from that episode. Now, when we read the Gospel of John, we can note that John himself is not mentioned by name. Actually, we will note rather that he refers to himself as ‘The Disciple Whom Jesus Loved.’