The world’s most translated book is the Bible. The full Bible into 636 languages and the NT is available in 1333 languages. One book in the Bible (Gospel of John) has been translated into more than 3000 languages.

 

Introduction

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1. The most evangelistic book in the Bible – the first book of the Bible we encourage non-Christians to read, the best gospel tool, the message of the book directly leading people to faith in Christ. Recommend to new believers as a training manual (Personal testimony).The message is loud and clear – Jesus of Nazareth is claiming to be God. Who is Jesus of Nazareth?

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2. Stated purpose of the book – 20:31. Purpose is precise, and the message is precise, and direct. The only Gospel that gives a precise statement regarding the author’s purpose. Find Him, know Him, receive Him, follow Him, have fellowship with Him.

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20:30-31: Uniquely different from the synoptic Gospels. Selected his content for evangelism. He chose the materials to supplement his theological and literary intent. Over 90% of the material in John is unique to John and not found in the Synoptic Gospels (parallel material).

Calling people to faith – Gospel of belief (“That You Might Believe”) – written for everyday men and women (deceptively simple, but highly theological at the same time).

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Believe – Believe in Jesus Christ the Person. 98 times in the Gospel of John. The Noun form does not appear at all (adjective believing twice). Faith is action; a relationship. Not writing to inform, not asking us to venerate, honor or admire. Accept what He says as truth, His identity as God-Man Savior and the only giver of eternal life. Something to act upon. “To trust,” “rely upon,” entrust, commit, “have confidence in.” Numerous synonyms - “receive,”, “come to,” “obey,” “know” etc. Decisively believe, continue to believe, hold to the faith. Not the popular easy believism, but genuine true faith that continues and evidenced in life.

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Titles: Who is Jesus? Jesus – humanity; the Christ – Messiah – royalty; Son of God – Deity – God-Man Redeemer King. The most extensive testimony that Jesus is the divine Son of God, prophesied Messiah and the Savior of mankind. Hence the most important book in the Bible.

The eternal Word (1:1); The Lamb of God (1:29); Messiah (1:41), The King of Israel (1:49); Son of Man (3:13-14); Savior of the world (4:42; Lord and God (20:28).

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3. The most well-known verse in the Bible – John 3:16.  Gospel in a nutshell – The miniature Bible:

a. God of love. 

b. God who loves all people (the world of humanity). God prepared salvation for all people.

c. God of agape love - not sentimentality, but sacrificial, acting, giving love – giving of Christ to die for sins.

d. God of Revelation - climaxed in His Son – “only begotten” (not in reference to birth but to a unique relationship – unique son, one-of a kind, others can never have that relationship (NIV, NET, HCSB – “one and only”). Isaac is Abraham’s only-begotten son, though he was neither Abraham’s only nor first born son.

e. Salvation is by faith and not by works – “believes.” “Believes in” (“believes into,” 35 uses of this phrase) – a special Johannine construction – genuine faith and commitment (1:12; 3:16, 18, 36; 6:40; 11.25). The object of faith.

f. Salvation is available to all – the world is savable. Whoever, all who, everyone who believes. Savior of the world (4:42; 1 Jn.4:14)

g. Salvation in Christ is deliverance from destruction and entrance into eternal life (17 times in John). Life of the age to come, resurrection life because of our union with the one who is risen, the life only God can give, the very life of God which resides in the eternal word (1:4: “in Him was life”). Sure promise of security and eternal salvation (“have” – present, right now). See 5:24. God-sized promise.

 

The Crisis of Faith/Encounter of Faith (“That you might believe”)

 

6 Examples of people who responded with Belief, complete trust:

 

1. John the Baptizer – 1:33-34.

2. Nathanael – 1:46-49.

3. Peter – 6:66-69.

4. Martha – 11:24-27.

5. Thomas – 20:27-29.

6. John the apostle (the author) – 20:30-31.

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Why Four Gospels?

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Only One Gospel from four different vantage points. One biography from four writers, each providing his own unique perspective.

 

• Matthew – Jesus is the King of the Jews. Regal rights of Jesus as the Messiah and the King of Israel. The Messiah has come.

• Mark – The obedient servant of God. Jesus came to seek, serve and save.

• Luke – Jesus is the Perfect Man. He came to redeem all of humanity.

• John – Jesus is the Son of God. Behold your God.

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• Matthew – “This is the Messiah, the King; worship Him.”

• Mark – “This is the servant who served humanity; follow Him.”

• Luke – “This is the only Man among men without sin; emulate Him.”

• John – “This is God in human flesh; believe in Him.”

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Author:

 

The last Gospel to be written, the author (John, son of Zebedee), one of the first disciples, an eye-witness to the events he describes – Saw the glory of Jesus (1:14); was at the crucifixion (19:33-35); knew the number and size of the water-pots used in Cana (2:6); knew the distance from the shore to the boat (21:8); knew the number of fish caught (21:11). He identifies himself with the disciple “whom Jesus loved” on five occasions (13:23; 19:26; 20:2; 21:7, 20) - the anonymous author.