1. Blessing of reformed stream in Christianity is emphasis on being God- focused, Christ- focus,
theocentric, Christo-centric.
- View reality not with eyes on centered on transitory matters, but rather eyes of the heart, that of
eternal - John didn't see Christ as his cousin, but the lamb of god; we shouldn't see maggots on a leper, but the image of God in our neighbor in need.
2. John the Baptist pivotal function, bridging the old covenant with the new.
- Our salvation, our rebirth, the sacrificial life of the Lamb of God moves from our redemption to our growth in His likeness by denying ourselves and His sanctifying work growing in us.
- In this chapter he moves from see Christ’s role in our salvation to that of our growth in holiness
3. As John asserts, he must decrease his influence and ministry, lessen himself, so that of Christ,
we too must die to ourselves so it is Christ in us that lives.
