Our Right
John 1:9-13
Pastor Jerry Koller

• Word
• Life
• Light

The Apostle John uses the term “light” more than any other New Testament author. Symbolically, Light is the primary biblical image for God’s self-disclosure.

The Light illuminates the minds and hearts of men so that they may become children of God.
• The light enlightens man.
• It illuminates man’s heart and minds so that it becomes free from confusion, so that it can clearly understand spiritual things, especially those things that pertain to salvation and spiritual life.

• The verb “coming” reflects movement which is understandable.
• It reflects the movement of God toward humanity.
• “Enlighten” also means to illuminate.

The phrase “to light” means to enlighten or to illuminate.

“His own” can mean His fellow countrymen; Israel; the Jews.

• “Gave” has to do with giving, granting, bestowing, delivering, or committing something or someone to another.
• “the right” means physical and mental power; the ability or strength with which one is given. It carries with it the idea of authority, official permission or approval.

Children = part of God’s family.
• By birth (rebirth) - In a spiritual sense, those who are in Christ are begotten of God. It is He who gives them spiritual life. Because of Him, they are born again, rebirthed.
• By adoption - He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will, (Eph. 1:5)
• “Adoption as sons” is a term taken from Greco-Roman law where it refers to the adoption as sons of those who were not sons by birth.
• Through adoption, God takes us into His own family, to Himself, and He gives us the status and privileges that comes with being daughters and sons.

That was one of the points Jesus made with Nicodemus. Physical birth cannot give someone access to the kingdom of God. Physical birth does not give someone the right to become a child of God.

Jesus is the Word. He came in the name of the Lord. In Him was life, and the Life is the Light of men. Do you know Him? Have you received Him?

Scripture says that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will receive salvation. You will be given the right to be called children of God.

If you are a child of God, may your heart cry out Hosanna! For Hosanna is an expression of joy, praise, and adoration for we are both privileged and blessed.

mission café
Sundays | 9:00-10:15am | Mission Cafe

worship
Sundays | 10:30am | Sanctuary
• If you're unable to join us in-person, you can watch live on Facebook or view later in the week on Facebook or YouTube or listen to an audio only version on Archive.

children’s worship
Sundays | 10:30am | Children’s Worship Room
• Ages 5 years old through 5th grade
• Does not meet on the first Sunday of each month.
• Contact Alyssa Newell for questions or more information.

men’s bible study
Tuesdays | 7:00-8:30pm | Mission Café
• Contact Paul Fitton or Larry Dobberstein for questions or more information.

church office open
Wednesdays | 11:00am-4:00pm

theology class
Wednesdays | 7:00-8:00pm | Main Foyer
• Closed course.

bible study
Thursdays | 9:30-11:30am | Online
• New study starting soon; open to new participants at any time.
• Contact Tina Wilburn for questions or more information.

women’s craft group
Thursdays | 6:30pm | Craft Room
• Contact Tracy Marshall for questions or more information.

coming soon
• Easter Celebration: 4/5 | Breakfast @ 9:15 | Worship @ 10:30am
• Prayer Initiative Meal & Reveal: 4/11 | 6:00pm | Upstairs

• Miriam Bryant has been sick with a very bad cold for several days.
• Vince Bryant (Miriam's son) is continuing to lose his vision and is unable to drive. He is consulting a doctor to see if he can have a cornea transplant.
• Carly Mollitor (daughter of Kim Collins’ friend) has been deployed on a Navy ship to the Middle East/Iran.
• Chet & Renee Goff and their family upon the loss of Renee's grandmother, Freda Menear, on 3/9.
• Maria Saldana (director of So. Haven Childcare) is recovering from surgery.
• Debbie Foskett (Bill Foskett's mother) is recovering from surgery.
• Bobby Jo Williams is asking for prayers for her uncle Jack.
• Bruce Ferguson has been diagnosed with prostate cancer. Please pray that upcoming procedure to prevent a urine blockage is successful so he can begin radiation in 8-12 weeks.
• John Seitz has been diagnosed with prostate cancer and is scheduled for surgery on 5/11.
• Check out our monthly prayer card on-line at southhavenfbc.com under “Weekly Bulletins” for a list of those with on-going needs.

First Baptist Church
1635 76th Street
South Haven, MI 49090
269-637-1291
southhavenfbc@gmail.com