I N D E X
3
JOHN AND THE MYSTERY
or
THE RELATIVE CALLINGS OF JOHN'S GOSPEL AND THE EPISTLE TO THE EPHESIANS.
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The following extracts from a criticism will be sufficient to indicate the serious nature of the charges made,
and the call, not for any foolish self-justification before men, or for merely attempting to score off an opponent, but
that the high calling of the Church of the Mystery shall not be confused with other callings however attractive they
may appear.
Referring to Ephesians 2:4-6, our critic asks :
`Who is C.H.W. to say that certain Christians are not members of the Body of Christ on the basis of what he sees
in the world about him? He is thus building on observation and experience, not Scripture'.
`To rule certain Christians out of the Body of Christ on the basis of our evaluation of them is nothing less than
popery'.
`C.H.W.'s theory requires that a believer must have more knowledge to have a certain position in Christ. This is a
form of gnosticism'.
`C.H.W. has no right to "break up" Ephesians 2:4-6. This passage with John 20:31 completely destroys his
theory'.
Finally, referring to John 20:30,31, our critic says :
`These two verses cancel out all the reasoning C.H.W. has employed to build a case for a so-called "John group"
of Christians today'.
While we can read all these charges without feeling greatly moved, so far as anything personal is concerned, we
have a keen sense of responsibility to our many readers, and therefore, for the Truth's sake, this series of criticism
cannot be treated with reticence. We therefore turn our attention to the testimony of Scripture, to discover what
place John's Gospel occupies in the Redemptive Scheme and to abide by what shall be found written.
We have been referred to John 20:30,31, and in some way, not explained, our teaching on John 20:30,31 is
supposed to have `broken up' Ephesians 2:4-6. Let us see these two passages before we go further.
`And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of His disciples, which are not written in this book. But
these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have
life through His name'.
`But God, Who is rich in mercy, for His great love wherewith He loved us, even when we were dead in sins, hath
quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) and hath raised us up together, and made us sit
together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus'.
The `signs' upon which John bases his ministry are eight in number, and are grouped as follows:
The Eight Signs.
A
2:1-11
THE MARRIAGE. The third day. No wine.
B
4:46-54
THE RULER'S SON.  After two days. At the point of death.
C
5:1-16
THE IMPOTENT MAN. Pool of Bethesda. 38 years. Sabbath.Sin.
D
6:1-14
FEEDING FIVE THOUSAND. Many went back (6:66).
D
6:15-21
WALKING ON THE SEA.
Many of the people believed (7:31).
C
9:1-14
THE MAN BORN BLIND.
Pool of Siloam. From birth. Sabbath.
Sin.
B
11:1-44
THE SISTER'S BROTHER.  Two days. Lazarus is dead.