On Tuesday, June 13th, 2.22 began a summer series on "The 'I Am's' of Christ" from the gospel of John. The statements, and their respective chapters are as follows:
The Bread of Life - John 6
The Light of the World - John 8
The Sheep Gate - John 10
The Good Shepherd - John 10
The Resurrection and the Life - John 11
The Way, the Truth, and the Life - John 14
The True Vine - John 15
Before Abraham was, I AM - John 8
Throughout the summer, Lord willing, Pastor Jeff and several of our undershepherds will be covering each of these statements. You won't want to miss any of it!
Aaron began the series with an introduction and brief overview of the "I Am" statements. Practical, penetrating questions were asked regarding our love for and knowledge of Christ. It was suggested that the reason we don't love Christ as we ought is because we don't know Him as we ought. Christ's purpose in being known is so that He may display the glories of His Father. To know Christ is to know the Father (John 8:19). And what better place to get to know Christ - to see the glories of the Father - than in the gospels; particularly, John's gospel account.
Aaron read several excerpts from John Owen's classic work, "The Glory of Christ". He was reading the abridged, slightly modernized Puritan Paperback version. You can read the original work, online for free here. Also helpful resource might be R.C. Sproul's cd sermon series on the "I AM's" of Christ.
Other resources mentioned by Aaron were James White's paper on the "ego eimi", as well as the hymn "More Love to Thee" by Elizabeth Prentiss, and this lesser known hymn, "Do not I love Thee, O my Lord?" by Philip Doddridge.
Do not I love Thee, O my Lord?
Aaron began the series with an introduction and brief overview of the "I Am" statements. Practical, penetrating questions were asked regarding our love for and knowledge of Christ. It was suggested that the reason we don't love Christ as we ought is because we don't know Him as we ought. Christ's purpose in being known is so that He may display the glories of His Father. To know Christ is to know the Father (John 8:19). And what better place to get to know Christ - to see the glories of the Father - than in the gospels; particularly, John's gospel account.
Aaron read several excerpts from John Owen's classic work, "The Glory of Christ". He was reading the abridged, slightly modernized Puritan Paperback version. You can read the original work, online for free here. Also helpful resource might be R.C. Sproul's cd sermon series on the "I AM's" of Christ.
Other resources mentioned by Aaron were James White's paper on the "ego eimi", as well as the hymn "More Love to Thee" by Elizabeth Prentiss, and this lesser known hymn, "Do not I love Thee, O my Lord?" by Philip Doddridge.
Do not I love Thee, O my Lord?
Behold my heart and see;
And turn each cursèd idol out,
That dares to rival Thee.
Do not I love Thee, O my Lord?
Then let me nothing love;
Dead be my heart to every joy,
When Jesus cannot move.
Is not Thy Name melodious still
To mine attentive ear?
Doth not each pulse with pleasure bound
My Savior’s voice to hear?
Hast Thou a lamb in all Thy flock
I would disdain to feed?
Hast Thou a foe, before whose face
I fear Thy cause to plead?
Would not mine ardent spirit vie
With angels round the throne,
To execute Thy sacred will,
And make Thy glory known?
Would not my heart pour forth its blood
In honor of Thy Name?
And challenge the cold hand of death
To damp th’immortal flame?
Thou know’st I love Thee, dearest Lord,
But O, I long to soar
Far from the sphere of mortal joys,
And learn to love Thee more!
And turn each cursèd idol out,
That dares to rival Thee.
Do not I love Thee, O my Lord?
Then let me nothing love;
Dead be my heart to every joy,
When Jesus cannot move.
Is not Thy Name melodious still
To mine attentive ear?
Doth not each pulse with pleasure bound
My Savior’s voice to hear?
Hast Thou a lamb in all Thy flock
I would disdain to feed?
Hast Thou a foe, before whose face
I fear Thy cause to plead?
Would not mine ardent spirit vie
With angels round the throne,
To execute Thy sacred will,
And make Thy glory known?
Would not my heart pour forth its blood
In honor of Thy Name?
And challenge the cold hand of death
To damp th’immortal flame?
Thou know’st I love Thee, dearest Lord,
But O, I long to soar
Far from the sphere of mortal joys,
And learn to love Thee more!
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