The Book of John (Page 2)

The Book of John (Page 2)

As we read through John, look for evidence that Jesus is the Divine Savior. John’s Gospel is very helpful for strengthening your faith against religions and cults who deny the Trinity or the deity of Christ. In evangelism, tell others to read the Gospel of John first. The Gospel of John was written to foster saving faith in Jesus Christ.

The Humility of Christ (John 18:12-27)

Jesus now goes to trial. In this passage we see a stark contrast between Jesus and sinful men. Willingness to discuss vs. shutting down the conversation Jesus would like nothing more than an open discussion on the truth of Scripture. He has nothing to hide. In contrast, Peter tries every way in the world to avoid scrutiny by changing locations or cursing. The Pharisees do not even want to acknowledge what Jesus has already said publically. They strike Him and…

Fighting Against Grace (John 18:1-11)

In this passage Jesus is betrayed by Judas and arrested. Substitutionary Atonement Here we see Jesus insisting that the disciples go free. He does this by willingly offering Himself. He offers no resistance; He only insists that the disciples go free. Jesus is not going to lose a single one of His sheep. As the Shepherd He gives Himself to the wolves so that His sheep may live. Jesus is the perfect substitute. He dies our death so that we…

God’s Love for His Church (John 17:20-26)

In this passage, Jesus shows us what true Christianity truly is. He also shows us how the Spirit draws men to faith. God’s love for the Church Before we were ever born God loved us and sent His Son. Before we could ever even rebel against Him, Jesus loved us and prayed for us. Everything we have in Christ is because of God and His love for His people. The Church’s unity Just as the Trinity is three distinct beings…

When ‘Godliness’ is Ungodly (John 17:14-19)

Over the last few decades there has been a debate within the church in America. How much do you separate yourself from the world? This has been over music, dress, alcohol, etc. From the debate has emerged two sides. One side seeks to move away from anything and anyone they perceive to be “worldly.” They emphasize physical separation from the world in order to be “holy.” The other side emphasizes reaching people by living like them. They would say that…

Preservation of the Saints (John 17:11-13)

Can believers fall away from the faith? There are three main views on salvation and eternal security today. One view is that because believers choose God they can then turn around and reject Him. If we are saved by our decision for Christ, we have to power to decide to leave Him. The second view is that when we make our decision for Christ our eternal destiny is fixed no matter what we choose to do afterwards. We can live…

God’s Glory in Saving His People (John 17:6-10)

Three evidences of true conversion Jesus speaks of how the disciples were given to Him of the Father. He gives three indications of how He knows they are saved: They have come out of the world They have received the Word of God They believe that He has been sent from the Father We can know that we are part of the people of God and have a full assurance of our salvation. Jesus here lays the foundation of that…

Do You Know God? (John 17:1-5)

Jesus now goes aside to pray concerning His upcoming death and for His disciples. This is commonly called the “High Priestly Prayer.” In the opening verses He deals with one of the most important questions, “What is eternal life?” Eternal life is given to the elect Jesus is clear: He alone has all the power, including the power of salvation. Eternal life is something that Jesus gives; it is not something that we attain, earn, or merit. It is entirely…

Do You Believe? (John 16:30-33)

After Jesus explains His coming death and resurrection, the disciples all proclaim their faith in Him. Do you believe? Jesus’ immediate reaction was to question their faith. Talk is cheap. We can easily deceive ourselves into believing that we have a strong faith in Jesus Christ. The disciples are going to be running from Jesus and abandoning Him in just a few short moments. Jesus maintained His relationship with the Father Jesus was not concerned with His disciples abandoning Him…

Permanent Joy (John 16:16-30)

The disciples are confused because Jesus keeps telling them that in a little while they will not see Him and then in a little while they will see Him again. Jesus explains that this is about His upcoming death and resurrection. The disciples will experience sorrow Jesus is very clear that the disciples will experience immense pain, suffering, sorrow, and loss by watching Him die. To add to this pain, the world will rejoice at the crucifixion of Jesus. As…

The Holy Spirit Glorifies Jesus (John 16:12-15)

Jesus continues discussing the work of the Holy Spirit The Holy Spirit guides us into all truth There are many things that we are unable to understand until we have walked with the Lord for many years. There are some things that are meat, and we cannot receive them until we have matured. The Holy Spirit will guide us into all truth. This process is gradual but sure. He will help us to discern truth from error and to understand…

The Work of the Spirit (John 16:4b-11)

Jesus has been talking with the disciples about the persecution they will receive for following Him and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. Jesus leaving the disciples was for the benefit of the world Jesus’ physical body could only be in one place at one time. However, the Spirit indwells every believer across the globe. This means that the body of Christ is now able to be around the entire world at the same time. As Jesus said, “Where two…

Persecution is Expected (John 16:1-4)

Jesus has been talking with the disciples about the persecution they will receive for following Him. Persecution should not offend us When people mock us, lie about us, or dismiss us it is very easy to be offended, annoyed, or resentful. Jesus is telling us that we will face persecution so that when it comes we react in the right way. He does not want us to be offended or surprised when we are persecuted. Persecution will likely arise from…