"But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name." John 20:31
Key word - Believe
Why do we need to believe? So that we may have LIFE in his name.
Not any life, an abundant life that begins the minute we believe.
What does it mean to believe?
Here is the definition from Noah Webster's 1828 edition of the dictionary.
Belief: n. 1. A persuasion of the truth, or an asent of mind to the truth of a declaration, proposition or alledged fact, on the ground of evidence, distinct from personal knowledge; as the belief of the gospel; belief of a witness. Belief is opposed to knowledge and science.
Believe: v.t. to credit upon the authority or testimony of another; (the testimony of John , authority given to him by Jesus Himself. It is the same authority given to us when we choose to believe!) to be persuaded of the truth of something upon the declaration of another, or upon evidence furnished by reasons, arguments and deductions of the mind, or by other circumstances, than personal knowledge. When we believe upon the authority of another, we always put confidence in his veracity. When we believe upon the authority of reasoning, arguments, or a concurrence of facts and circumstances, we rest our conclusion upon their strength or probability, their agreement with our own experience. 2. To expect or hope with confidence; to trust.
Believe: v. i. To have a firm persuasion of any thing. In some cases, to have full persuasion, approaching to certainty; in others, more doubt is implied. (This is see in the Gospel of John, many do believe, but those who should believe, those who knew the scripture, chose to doubt) It is often followed by in or on, especially in the scriptures. To believe in, is to hold as the object of faith. To believe on, is to trust, to place full confidence in, to rest upon with faith. But there is no ground for distinction.
It is more than personal knowledge. It is a conviction with in your heart. Because of the Bible, because of Jesus' veracity, because of the testimony of so many lives changed by Jesus recorded in this book, I BELIEVE, I am firmly persuaded, I am CERTAIN, with out doubt, that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and I can rest, I can trust, I can hope with confidence upon His strength, His rightness, His holiness, His perfectness, His ability, ....not my own!!! And by BELIEVING I may have LIFE in His name. Not just any kind of life, an abundant life. Abundant life does not begin when my earthly life ends, abundant life begins the moment I believe!
What kind of "life" is meant as John uses this word in 4:14? (Lesson 1 Question 5a.)
Definition of Life:
Lecture 1
Life: n. 1. In a general sense, the state of an organized being, in which its natural functions and motions are performed, or in which its organs are capable of performing their functions. A tree is not destitute of life in the winter, when the functions of its organs are suspended. They are not strictly dead, till the functions of their organs are incapable of being renewed. 2. In man, that state of being in which the soul and body are united. 5. The manner of living; conduct; deportment, in regard to morals. 6. Condition; course of living, in regard to happiness and misery. 7. Blood, the supposed vehicle of animation. 10. Spirit; animation; briskness; vivacity; resolution 12. Exact resemblance 13. General state of man 18. In scripture, nourishment; support of life 20. The enjoyments or blessings of the present life 22. Eternal happiness in heaven 23. restoration to life 25. A quickening, animating and strengthening principle, in a moral sense.
Life has many definitions, but how is John using it in his gospel? A few things jumped out as I read through the definitions. Of course LIFE means ETERNAL LIFE, life after this life in heaven with Him. But this year I have come to realize, understand that LIFE also means NOW, here in the present life, the life I will live until I go to be with Him. I do eagerly anticipate LIFE with Him when this life is over. That is what my hope is built upon. That is how I get through this present life. But I have not thought about how believing in His name gives me LIFE in the present. Because I believe, there are many things I enjoy, many blessings in this present life. Enjoyments and blessings that I recognize are from God. Things for which I can praise and thank him. I am enabled to see His glory here on earth. Seeing His glory, His goodness, His blessings here in this life makes me anticipate the things in the life to come even more. Something else in the definition of life stood out to me, EXACT RESEMBLANCE. When we choose to believe, He transforms our life, my life, into His exact resemblance. We come to look like Him, reflect His light, His love, His glory. It does not happen overnight, it is a slow transformation. It is not fully completed until we with Him in heaven. But from the moment we believe until we are united with Him again, the transformation is taking place that transforms our life to be the exact representation of Him. That is an overwhelming thought. It is a humbling thought. I am so unworthy of such transformation, yet that is the life that He promises! He is transforming ME into His image. My past does not matter. I am forgiven. I am wash clean, forever white! I get to put on Christ's righteousness. I get ABUNDANT LIFE, here, now, forever!!!! The last thing that stood out in the definition was nourishment, support of life. When I am struggling, when I, in my humanness, fail, fall short it is because I am relying on my own strength, power, will. But when I believe I no longer have to rely on myself. My nourishment comes from the streams of living water flowing in those who believe, me!
Lecture 1All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.
2 Timothy 3:15-17
Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet's own interpretation. For prophecy never had its origin in the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.
2 Peter 1:20-21
God's Word is trustworthy and without error.
But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.
John 14:26
I can trust the Scriptures. It is the Holy Spirit that guides me to knowledge and understanding.
The Scriptures through the Holy Spirit transforms my life.
But in order to learn more, I must ACT on that which He has already taught me!
Principles:
The Bible is the way to know Jesus Christ and have a relationship with Him
Spending time with Jesus results in intimace with Him and a transformed life
Notes - Lesson 1
Introduction to the Gospel of John
- John so precious to Christians because John reveals the person of Jesus so intimately and completely.
- John is a scholar's book, his underlying Christian philosophy and his mature insight delve into such mysteries as the interrelationship of the three persons of the triune God. Although simply expressed, these insights are so profound that the reader is made to stand in awe as on the edge of a boundless sea. (Looking back I do stand in AWE!)
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. John 1:1
The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. John 1:14
Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. John 14:9
For you granted him authority over all people that he might give eternal life to all those you have given him. Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent. John 17:2-3
- If you want to understand the true meaning of life, if you seek to have eternal life, if you long to know God, you will FIND ALL THESE desires fulfilled in the person of Jesus Christ as He is revealed in the Gospel of John.
- If as a Christian you CRAVE the more "abundant life" that springs from within and flows forth in rivers of living water to those who touch you ( the fullness of the Holy Spirit promised in 7:38-39), you must recieve the the words of the book of John.
Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him. John 7:38
- John wrote this book so that I may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing I may have life in his name. (John 20:31)
- John called himself "the disciple whom Jesus loved," not from pride but from humility because Jesus loved all His disciples. This deep satisfaction in the love of Jesus became the core of John the disciple's existence.
John
- Jew
- from northern province of Galilee
- region noted for liveliness, industry, independence and warlikeness
- Comparing with Judea (southern province), Galilee much more free of prejudice.
- Receptive to new ideas, more open to immediate realization of truth when they met it
- Judea more oppressed by strict religious authority of Jerusalem based teachers of law and Pharisees
- Brother James, father Zebedee, mother Salome
- Fisherman
- Salome, a woman of spiritual earnestness
- somewhat affluent (mk 1:20 - hired men; mt 27:55, mk 15:40-41 and lk 8:3 infer of resources used to minister to Lord; owned a house to which he took Jesus' mother)
- had connection with wealthy and infulential high priest
- John's life characterized by a quiet responsiveness to the truth, opening his heart to the Lord as a flower to the sun
- John did not have Peter's particular gifts. His talents and his mission were of a different and more inward nature.
- John rarely spoke unless he had to
- extremely reserved, quiet and lived mostly within himself
- kept himself in the background, observing, contemplating, drinking in the love and the light expressed in the life of his Master and responding to Him - with a profound, understanding love.
- passionate and violent temper that would burst out in explosions of sudden anger to everyone's amazement - Sons of Thunder
- disguised own name not to glorify himself but to exalt the tenderness of Him who had deigned to stoop so low
- John knew himself (as a believer saved by grace) as the object of the most amazing love
- Everyone who loves the Lord's truth will receive it, for to the person who sincerely loves truht there will be an intuitive recognition that this is true, even before this truth is proved.
- John more than anyone else points on the one hand to the most intimate life with the person of the Lord Jesus, OPEN TO EVERY BELIEVER
Matthew presents Christ as the Lion of Judah - the King. Special emphasis given to Christ's person in view of past prophecies
Mark presents Christ as the Ox - the burden bearer, God's Servent, who came not to be served but to serve. Primarily a Gospef of movement, of present action, of anecdotes.
Luke presents Him as God's ideal Son of Man becoming man in order to save man. Links events with the names of governors, places and times when he rpesents Jesus the Son of Man in history.
John presents Him as the Eagle from Heaven, unique Son of God. Emphasizes the deity of Christ.
Prayer Request: to seek to find the heart of Jesus
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