Savior of the World
July 4, 2021 / Bethel ChurchSavior of the World
John 4:39-45
Application: The disciples went into the town and brought back food with them — the unnamed woman went to the town and brought people to Jesus. The Harvest was ready.
Pragmatism: What is good and right is determined by
The doctrine of Sola Scriptura stands in to pragmatism
Jesus didn’t give the woman at the well (or us for that matter) a sure-fire method of evangelism — if we are to learn something here about evangelism: it is that we need to have with others about who is.
Notice the focus in these verses on John 4:39, 41, 42
Notice that this isn’t a generalized belief — but this belief or faith has an –> Jesus, who is the savior of the
The Savior of the World
In Jesus’ day, people want a savior of the world — they wanted a savior of Israel or Samaria
Perhaps we have the tendency to see Jesus (the Messiah) through an lens
Christian Nationalism:
Matthew McCullough — Christian nationalism is “an understanding of American identity and significance held by Christians wherein the nation is a central actor in the world-historical purposes of the Christian God.”
Liberation Theology:
John Frame – Liberation Theology is “a combination of Marxist philosophy with certain biblical motifs. It argues that we should reconstruct the whole of Christian theology by seeing it through the ‘axis of the oppressor and the oppressed.’”
The confession of these new Samaritan believers stands in with both Christian nationalism and liberation theology in that Jesus is the savior of the world.
The word WORLD:
There are 78 occurrences of the word WORLD in the gospel of and is somewhat of a theme
John 1:10
In the later chapters of John the word, WORLD carries that idea of the human race in to God
John 13:1
John 17:9
In the earlier chapters of John we see Jesus’ actions toward the human race more generally:
Look at how the word WORLD has been used so far…
John 1:9 – “The True light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world”
The light of Jesus is — not a special group of worthy (or unworthy) people
John 1:29 – “The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, ‘Behold, he Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!”
Atonement: Limited yet Universal
Jesus’ death on the cross its purpose
Jesus isn’t a savior — He is a real savior!
John 3:16 – “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.”
How can a sinful person know the love of God? They must look to the of Christ
Romans 5:8