Christ at the Center
January 9, 2022Jesus at the Center
John 5:30-47
John 5 is concerned with the question: How can one know God?
Two aspects:
a. The by which we come to know God
b. How that means is
Acts 4:12
How do we know that Jesus is the means by which we obtain eternal life?
A Christian bears the name of and this shapes the way they live.
Who is it that bears witness to Christ?
Illustration: Publishers Clearing House — the winning message must be verified
God verifies Jesus through the witness of:
A. John the Baptist
John 5:33-35
John bore witness to one that would come after him and be greater — who would save the world from their sins
B. Miracles or Signs
Jesus calls these signs his in verse 36
A Sign is a symbol pointing to something else
The signs of Jesus showed Jesus to be the giver of authorized by God the Father
John 10:10
Does God heal today?
Does God give the gift of healing today?
C. The Scriptures
This is the most important of the three witnesses that we have mentioned because it is here that Jesus dwells.
John 5:37
The religious leaders (and many people) believed that eternal life was found in the themselves
They misunderstood the for the actual thing
John 5:40 — REFUSE — absolute negative
What is the purpose of the Scriptures?
The primary purpose of the Scriptures is to point men and women to Christ who is the giver of life
The Law of God functions as a:
a. Mirror (for the lost)
b. Curb (for all)
c. Guide (for believers)
Illustration: Picnic grounds (it would be foolish to stop short of the picnic grounds thinking the signpost is the picnic area).
John the Baptist — the Prophetic word
Signs — the Acted Word
Scriptures — the Written Word
When you come to Scripture do you approach it as the written word — meaning that its primary purpose is to bear witness to Christ?
How might this impact your devotional life?