This post is primarily for Theists. This is for those who also look upon the Bible as an earlier revelation or alternate revelation or one of the many revelations. This blog is for those who treat Jesus Christ as a prophet, as a religious man and a saint. This is also for the weak and gullible Christians who are confused between multiple so-called Holy books. This study will be exclusively presented from the Book of John, the revelations of God to John, the prophet and apostle of Jesus Christ. Hence to comment, to review and to take the value as presented in this study you need to primarily be a theist and following one of the Abrahamic religions. This can be understood and referenced best by the followers of these religions.
Succession Theory is the concept of introducing a later Prophet, a later ideology and a later revelation that is deemed superior to the pre-existing revelation; the tenants of the earlier revelation with its native authenticity is questioned and deemed corrupted. Thus paving way for the newer revelation; however this newer revelation cannot stand on its own but needs the earlier revelation for a hold and anchorage. This helps project an alternate route and the packaging of this new extracted and uninspired [mostly] ideology as an immediate elevation of the current course of faith.
We here will look at such an attempt by alternate ideology proponents over the revelation as in the Book of John where the verses are plagiarized to shape entry of an oncoming entity, man. What is the Holy Spirit that is written in the Bible? Does the verse in John 16: 12 – 15 refer to a prophet who will come after Jesus Christ?
This is an important question; this question often is the precursor to lead an individual to extra Biblical resources and alternate ideologies that did not stem from this original root. This question on Holy Spirit as man has haunted the minds of so many in few other later religions. There are ever so many proponents of alternate faiths that propagate this as the gospel truth. That in specific verses within the Bible we see cited that a prophet, a man will come and provide revelations that will be a final revelation. The claim is made that this man was to come after Jesus Christ. Verses are cited and books are called upon to validate the much-needed reference; as the later prophets to Jesus Christ needed the words of Jesus Christ and the verses in the Bible to attain authenticity. The only reason is that old testament revelations and the new testament revelations were given and were already fully satisfying; any add-on package of words need to carry some reference and continuation from the pre-existing revelation.
The verse that is quoted from the Book of John, Chapter 16, Verses 12 – 15.
12 I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now.
13 Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.
Lets take the honest approach of asking the Bible and exploring the facts; there cannot be any human theories or emotional interference when someone is researching on this subject. We will look at the Biblical verses and see what light this will be shedding upon this. According to the Word of God, Satan brings in deviations, deceptions, degradation, destruction, devastation, decomposition to the human thinking ability by introducing strange doctrines and ideologies of confusion and hate that envelops the subject person and insulates him from not understanding the only revelation. Moses followed this same Biblical revelations, laws, doctrines, so did prophets Abraham, Issac, Jacob, Elisha, Elijah, Zechariah, Zephaniah and many more. They themselves revealed that God would enter creation in their revelations as revealed to them by God. Bible does not need other books to be explained; since Bible is the perfect and only revelation of God, citing any other religious books becomes a sin for a follower of Jesus Christ. The important few Biblical verses that hold the attention are those in the Book of John. We will dwell into this and study the words and as you will understand.
First; quoting Book of John and denying the deity and God hood of Jesus Christ will be a bad idea from an opposing ideology perspective, the same Book of John explains clearly how rejecting Jesus Christ; you reject God himself. To review this further; we will be looking at two segments; Part One will list down the verses from the John that reveals the divinity of Jesus Christ and the results of rejecting him as he says who he is; Part Two will list down the verses where the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of Truth is revealed to humanity as it is and the results of presenting an alternate view; thus in effect rejecting the Holy Spirit. From the revelations to the Prophets and to the Apostles; as revealed by God Almighty.
Introducing John. As you know John can be called as the emphatic and explicit eyewitness authority; he recorded the life and words of Jesus Christ and was a beloved of Jesus Christ.
Part One: Rejecting Jesus Christ.
A quick and basic study of the revelation to John with internal citations.
John in its first Chapter John 1 states the following while introducing Jesus Christ.
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
2 The same was in the beginning with God.
3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.
The above three verses provide the absolute introduction for Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ was the Word, and in the beginning was Jesus Christ, Jesus Christ was with God and Jesus Christ was God. The third verse gives root to the idea that everything is made by Jesus and without Jesus was not anything made that was made. Don not be taken aback that I am replacing the word “Word” for “Jesus Christ”. Read the immediate set of words that follow.
4 In him was life; and the life was the light of men.
5 And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.
The verses 4 & 5 explain that in this entity of Jesus Christ was life and the light for men. Only darkness does not understand it; if as a reader you do not accept Jesus Christ as the only revelation and of his divinity; the word of God calls you as Darkness. You need to step into the light to understand it; again Jesus is the light of the world; you cannot do anything without Jesus Christ. If you correlate with what Jesus Christ said in John 14; he says thus.
6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
He further tells his disciples and those gathered that he is the only way; there is no way after him, beside him, around him. He is the Only way. This verse in John 14:6 and John 1:4 is the perfect alignment and a poetic match that underlines the fact that Jesus Christ was there from the beginning and just entered into creation as a divine being; entering creation means he has to enter ‘in the form’ and he chose to be born as a son. There was no need for a father. All the prophets born after creation event had to be fathered; this was the only entity that needed no father. Adam again was the first man from whom sin and death entered; Jesus was the first Word that was made flesh from whom sin and death were defeated and removed from the equation. In fact as he says, the only way.
6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John.
7 The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe.
8 He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light.
9 That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world.
The verses 6 to 9 in the Chapter 1 states that there was a man who was sent from God named John; this refers to John the Baptist. Introducing John the Baptist. John the Baptist is recognized by Jesus Christ as the ‘greatest man ever born’. He provides a direct attestation of John the Baptist, in Mathew 11 Verses 10 & 11.
10 For this is he, of whom it is written, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee.
11 Verily I say unto you, Among them that are born of women there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist: notwithstanding he that is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.
Now lets continue to look at John 1.
10 He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not.
11 He came unto his own, and his own received him not.
12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:
13 Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.
14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.
The above verses stand out as reveled, as stated, as claimed and as the subject stands disposed. The verse 10 attests to Jesus Christ stating “He was in the world, and the world was made by him” and as today we explain to the people who refuse the divinity of Jesus Christ, the revelation tells that “the world knew him not”. The world and the Satan finds ways by introducing new ideologies to deny Jesus Christ and ensure that people cannot accept the fact. In the next verses we read that John the Baptist saying that the laws were given by Moses but grace and truth came from Jesus Christ. Here again we can reference the verse in the Bible where Jesus claimed that he is the Only way the Truth and Life; a prefect alignment again to the verse 17.
15 John bare witness of him, and cried, saying, This was he of whom I spake, He that cometh after me is preferred before me: for he was before me.
16 And of his fulness have all we received, and grace for grace.
17 For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.
The eighteenth verse is in fact again a verse that will rip into false ideologies and alternate religion proponents. Stating that no man hath seen God, no man. But can only see the creator who entered this world as a son of man. This verse indeed destroys all speculations and arguments that deny Jesus Christ his place.
18 No man hath seen God at any time, the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him.
Lets keep reading.
27 He it is, who coming after me is preferred before me, whose shoe’s latchet I am not worthy to unloose.
Here John the Baptist confesses that the coming Jesus Christ is so very worthy of his respect and honor that he is not even worthy to untie his show latchet. Just imagine the best of all the Prophets, the greatest of men born to any woman “John the Baptist” recording those statements.
John the Baptist, when he witnessed Jesus Christ he said…
29 …Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.
This was the reason that Jesus Christ came; to take away the sins of the world. No other prophet can take away anyone’s sin; nor any man. Prophets themselves need to go to Jesus Christ to wash their sin. This power to clean the sins of the people was given to Jesus Christ only; No prophet can claim that he can take the sins; only God can wash anyone’s sin. Now if you reject Jesus Christ there is no way your sins are going to be washed away from you; only he can wash away your sins as he was sinless. There is no parallel in all the universe; he is fully sinless. He himself declares that as recorded in John Chapter 8 Verses 46 Which of you convinceth me of sin?
In the same chapter 8 verse 12 Jesus claims to be the light of world. So if you reject Jesus Christ you reject the only light of the world. How difficult it is to understand that?
12 Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.
In verse 23 he claims that he is not from the earth but from the heavens. He addresses the Jews, the pharisees, the disciples, the romans and calls them that they are from the earth and he “Jesus Christ” is not from this earth but from above. This again correlates with much of everything else in the Bible.
23 And he said unto them, Ye are from beneath; I am from above: ye are of this world; I am not of this world.
Finally he also says that if you do not believe him that he was the light, the only way to truth and life, that he is from above, that he is the God who entered as flesh for washing the sins of the world and to provide salvation. You shall die in your sin as you reject the only way for eternity in heaven, the only way for the salvation. Read…
24 I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins.
Now going back to John 1 Verse 30; John the Baptist states that the man who cometh after him is much before him from a time perspective. John was born ahead of Jesus arrival on earth; if John confirms the deity of Jesus as he was before him although he entered world much after Johns birth.
30 This is he of whom I said, After me cometh a man which is preferred before me: for he was before me.
John the Baptist then witness the greatest event that can happen; the property of God to exist in three dimensions as the Father the creator, son the redeemer and the holy spirit the comforter. He baptizes the son, when he heard the voice of God from the heavens and he also sees the spirit of God descend as a dove on Jesus Christ.
32 And John bare record, saying, I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it abode upon him.
33 And I knew him not: but he that sent me to baptize with water, the same said unto me, Upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending, and remaining on him, the same is he which baptizeth with the Holy Ghost.
34 And I saw, and bare record that this is the Son of God.
He then says that he bears witness, he bears confirmation that Jesus Christ is the son of God. The son given to wash the sins of the people, the son with us.
Lets quickly summarize; the revelation was given as prophecies by prophets, as recorded as eye-witness accounts, that Jesus Christ was no man from earth, his goings are from old. Jesus Christ confirms this in Chapter 8 Verse 56 – 57 – 58. He says that Abraham the prophet was rejoiced to see that God will enter his own creation to save humanity; the Jews asked him, How is that you are not even fifty years old that you claim Abraham was happy seeing you?; he replied before Abraham was, he lived, This aligns with the John Chapter 1, the Word was with God, the Word was God.
56 Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw it, and was glad.
57 Then said the Jews unto him, Thou art not yet fifty years old, and hast thou seen Abraham?
58 Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am.
He stakes a claim that no other man could claim unless the earlier facts that he is God and entered his creation as the son to wash the sins of the world as only God can wash the sins and no man can.
Rejecting Jesus Christ?
1. Rejecting Jesus Christ you reject the only Word of God. John 1: 1-3.
2. Rejecting Jesus Christ you reject the Son of God. John 1: 18, 34.
3. Rejecting Jesus Christ you reject God. John 1: 1, 4.
4. Rejecting Jesus you reject his statement that he lived before Abraham. John 1: 56-57-58.
5. Rejecting Jesus Christ you reject the only Truth. John 1: 6.
6. Rejecting Jesus Christ you reject only Light. John 1: 7.
7. Rejecting Jesus Christ you reject Grace and the only hope of Salvation. John 1: 17.
8. Rejecting Jesus Christ you will die in your sins. John 1: 24, 29.
9. Rejecting Jesus Christ you reject your only hope for heaven and eternal life. John 1: 6.
10. Rejecting Jesus Christ you reject your creator. John 1: 3, 10.
11. Rejecting Jesus Christ you reject grace. John 1: 14, 16, 17.
Its high time you take the word of God; the only revelation given to humanity in the form of the Bible and dwell deep into it. You have been reading the verses only from one of the divinely inspired 66 Books in the Bible. There are 65 other books in the Bible and every Book reveals Jesus Christ as the God who became a son of man to save the fallen, to provide grace and to be the Only way to Truth and Life and being the Only Light of the World.
Please explore and review the facts in the Bible and I challenge you to pray to Jesus Christ for a response. You cannot reject the Bible for if you are a follower of a later religion depending upon Prophets Abraham, Moses, Solomon and the many including Jesus Christ you need to spend more time on what their revelation is. This is not a battle of brains, nor a battle of religions or ideologies. This is however a battle between truth and lie; one is true and one is a lie. How will you know if one is the truth and one is a lie if you do not list them on the merit of the claims it encapsulates?
If you are interested in learning more about John Chapter 1 alone or go through a thorough study of the Book of John, I will recommend the following study. The Gospel of John By Chuck Missler.
John Chapter 1.
I also humbly request you to go through a full study of the revelation to John as below. This might be a chance for you to truly analyze from both perspectives; without analyzing both perspectives if you pass a judgement; then it will be partial.
“Rejecting Jesus Christ” is an apt title taking into consideration; if you advocate other revelations and other unattested personalities then Jesus Christ needs to be rejected for what he says; if you accept Jesus Christ then any other revelation or prophet or religion is simply false and needs to be rejected because Jesus Christ is the way truth and life.
Continued in Part Two: Rejecting the Holy Spirit…
αλληλούια 
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