Did the Beloved Disciple tell the truth?

THE GOSPEL OF JOHN

John is known as the Beloved Disciple, or the disciple that Jesus loved. (Jn 13:23-25, 19:26-27, 20:1-10, chapter 21-three times)

And he who has seen has testified, and his testimony is true; and he knows that he is telling the truth, SO THAT YOU MAY BELIEVE.   John 19:35 NKJV

This is the disciple which testifieth of these things, and wrote these things: and we know that his testimony is true.  John 21:24 KJV

THE TESTIMONY IN THE GOSPEL OF JOHN IS TRUE!

We need to look at the entire book of John to see the story of the Christ.  What He came to do (The Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world).  And who He is (the Christ) is revealed throughout the book.  He is Prophet, Priest and King, as well as the great I AM. (Please consider seeing all the Great I Am statements here). He was made known as the Creator, as the Son of God, as the Son of David, the King of Israel and also as the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world (seen just in the first chapter of John). 

His purpose was made known in the book, although they didn’t necessarily see it right away. The whole story of the gospel is in the entire book of John, contrary to what some people say. Read through the whole book, see if you don’t see Jesus identified as God come down as man. He proved Himself fulfilling Scriptures which foretold of the Anointed one. All the prophecies were fulfilled in Him, because Jesus was the promised Messiah. John tells that He came to die on the cross for our sins, and that He rose again from the dead, and that He was seen by many (same as 1 Cor 15:3-4). He foretold He would ascend again to the Father and when He did, they would be given the Comforter (John 14:16; John 7:37-39). Tell me which part of the gospel is missing from the book of John?

Who Jesus is and What He would do for us is clearly shown in this gospel.

WHO/WHAT IS THE BOOK OF JOHN ABOUT?

WHY DID JOHN SAY HE WROTE THIS BOOK?

►The Purpose of the Gospel of John being written.

But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name. John 20:31

John was written somewhere around 85-90 AD, some believe as early as 70 A.D., but not likely. Written around the same time as the other books John wrote (1,2,3 John, Revelation). This is not just a pre-cross story, but a complete picture of who Jesus — the Resurrection and the Life.

JOHN WAS WRITTEN THAT WE MIGHT BELIEVE WE HAVE LIFE (eternal) IN JESUS NAME

For the Father Himself loves you, because you have loved Me, and have believed that I came forth from God.  Jn 16:27

But if anyone loves God, this one is known by Him.  I Cor 8:3

The Gospel of John contains the entire gospel declared in 1 Corinthians 15:1-11. From sin to the sinners. His sacrifice for sin, the crucifixion, the resurrection, the Deity of Christ, the witness of men and Scriptures foretold. And what you must do to be saved. It includes what some men were not ‘willing to do’ in order to have life (Jn 5:38-40; Jn 14:6; Jn 6:35).

Yes the Gospel of John is Evangelical in its purpose

John is the only book in the Bible that claims it was written for the express purpose of bringing people to eternal salvation. Its purpose statement in John 20:30-31 says,

Therefore, it’s good to begin with John, to understand how to be saved and examine it closely to discover the condition for salvation.

How the condition is presented

1. The purpose statement itself says if we believe we have eternal life.
2. The verb believe is used 98 times in John as the condition for salvation. This compares to only 34 times in the other Gospels and 116 times in the rest of the New Testament.
3. The consistent result of believing is salvation. When one believes, one can know that he/ she has eternal life as a present possession (John 5:24; 9:38).
4. The figures of speech used to picture belief in John (receive, look, hear, enter, feed, come) denote receptivity, agreement, or trust. All are essentially simple or passive activities. None communicates the idea of merit, work, effort, or achievement.

How the condition is not presented 

1. There are no qualifiers used with believe, such as really believe, truly believe, or genuinely believe. There is only one kind of belief.
2. There are no other conditions mentioned in the book of John, such as repenting from sin, surrender, commitment, or obedience.

LEARN THE CORRECT DEFINITION OF REPENT,
(That is, if you use the word repent in your gospel presentation)

We are saved when we simply believe (trust in, accept as true for myself) that Jesus is God’s Son, the Savior from our sins.  Salvation is absolutely free and apart from any condition of merit to earn it.

END: Charlie Bing, Grace Notes – see article – Link Here

Jesus, The Word

From the beginning of the Gospel of John, John testifies of WHO Jesus is. Jesus is the Greek translation of the Hebrew words “Jehovah Yasha” and means “the eternal, self-existent God who saves and keeps.”¹

Again, in just the first chapter, the testimony is Jesus seen from the beginning. Who He is (God our Savior), why He came (to give Himself as a sacrificial Lamb, to take way our sin). The Scriptures that prophesied of His forerunner (John), What He did for us. He had witness by man and Scripture. And we see sin, death, and the way to eternal life. God’s provision of sacrifice, and our adoptions as sons.

Jesus is the Word, and the Word was with and IS God. (1:1-2)

He is the Creator come in the flesh. (1:3, 10-11, 14-15)

In Him is Life, (He is the Savior) (1:4)

He is the True light, the Light of men. (1:4, 6-9)

Then Jesus said to them, “A little while longer the light is with you. Walk while you have the light, lest darkness overtake you; he who walks in darkness does not know where he is going.  While you have the light, believe in the light, that you may become sons of light.”   Jn 12:35-36a

He is the Only Begotten Son (1:14, 18)

Revealed His Glory. (1:14)

He is full of Grace and Truth. (1:14)

He is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. (1:29,36)

He who Baptizes with the Holy Spirit. (1:33)

The Son of God (1:34, 49)

The Messiah, Revealed to Israel (1:41, 31)

The King of Israel (1:49)

The Old Testament declares that only God is Savior. So does the very first chapter of John testify. Jesus is God come in the flesh, He is the Sacrifice that Abraham believed God would provide(Gen 22). As the Lamb of God, He is the Reconciliation, (Strongs G2643, not just atonement), He is the Prophet Moses (vs 45) spoke of in Deut 18:18-19, He is the fulfillment of all the Prophets spoke (vs. 45), He is the Savior, Jesus is the LORD (kyrios, Strongs G2962, Title: “God, the Messiah”.)

I, Even I, am the LORD, And besides Me there is no Saviour. Is 44:6

John also testifies of beholding the glory of Jesus — only God is worthy of any glory.

I am the Lord, that is My name; And My glory I will not give to another, Nor My praise to carved images. Isaiah 42:8

 Some of my favorite passages JESUS spoke.

Did Jesus leave something out? Or did John? Or did He tell the truth?

►THE WORK OF GOD

Then they said to Him, “What shall we do, that we may work the works of God?” Jesus answered and said to them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He sent.” John 6:28-29

►JESUS PRAYED FOR HIS DISCIPLES WHO BELIEVED

For I have given to them the words which You have given Me; and they have received them, and have known surely that I came forth from You; and they have believed that You sent Me.  John 17:8

►JESUS PRAYED FOR THOSE WHO WOULD BELIEVE

I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me.  John 17:20-21

►BELIEVE

Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me has everlasting life. John 6:47

But Simon Peter answered Him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. Also we have come to believe and know that You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”  John 6:68-69

But whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst. But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life. John 4:14

He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.” John 7:38

I am the bread of life ². He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst. John 6:35

For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. John 3:16

But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name. John 1:12

“Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.  John 14:1-3

►Did John represent Jesus only partially when Jesus said what people must do?

►Does John tell us everything we need to know to have life in His name?

►To become a child of God? How we will have the Holy Spirit?

►How we can acquire everlasting life?

YES!

He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. John 3:18

He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him. John 3:36

Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life. John 5:24 

►THE WILL OF FATHER

This is the will of the Father who sent Me, that of all He has given Me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up at the last day. And this is the will of Him who sent Me, that everyone who sees the Son andbelieves in Him may have everlasting life; and I will raise him up at the last day. John 6:39-40

►THE BLIND MAN

One thing I know: that though I was blind, now I see. John 9:25b

Jesus heard that they had cast him out; and when He had found him, He said to him, “Do you believe in the Son of God?” He answered and said, “Who is He, Lord, that I may believe in Him?” And Jesus said to him, “You have both seen Him and it is He who is talking with you.” Then he said, “Lord, I believe!” And he worshiped Him. Jn 9:35-38

QUESTION: Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?”  RESPONSE: She said to Him, “Yes, Lord, I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who is come into the world”  Jn 11:25-27

WHAT IS OBEYING THE GOSPEL?

But although He had done so many signs before them, they did not believe in Him, that the word of Isaiah the prophet might be fulfilled, which he spoke: “Lord, who has believed our report? And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?”  Therefore they could not believe, because Isaiah said again: “He has blinded their eyes and hardened their hearts, Lest they should see with their eyes, Lest they should understand with their hearts and turn, So that I should heal them.” John 12:37-40 

How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace, Who bring glad tidings of good things!” But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed our report?”  So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. Romans 10:14-17³

Therefore I said to you that you will die in your sins; for if you do not believe that I am He, you will die in your sins.” John 8:24

And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: of sin, because they do not believe in Me; of righteousness, because I go to My Father and you see Me no more; of judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged.  John 16:8-11

Then Jesus cried out and said, “He who believes in Me, believes not in Me but in Him who sent Me.  And he who sees Me sees Him who sent Me.  I have come as a light into the world, that whoever believes in Me should not abide in darkness.  And if anyone hears My words and does not believe, I do not judge him; for I did not come to judge the world but to save the world.  He who rejects Me, and does not receive My words, has that which judges him—the word that I have spoken will judge him in the last day.  Jn 12:44-48

FOOTNOTES:

1. http://expreacherman.com/share-your-faith/

2. One of the Seven “I am” statement in John.

3. Isaiah 53, Isaiah 6:9-10

4. http://www.gracelife.org/resources/gracenotes.asp?id=1