Dr. Andy Woods

Dr. Andy Woods

www.spiritandtruth.org

The Book of John

What do we know about the author?•Eyewitness testimony - 1:14; 19:35; 21:24To whom was it written?•The Gentile unbeliever - 20:30-31Why was it written? •Evangelism - 20:30-31

The word ‘believe’ is used 100 times

Believe - pisteuo (πιστεύω, 4100), “to believe,” also “to be persuaded of,” and hence, “to place confidence in, to trust,” signifies, in this sense of the word, reliance upon, not mere credence.

Vine’s Complete Expository Dictionary

To Believe is synonymous to changing ones mind (or to repent) about who Christ is.Acts 17:30; 20:21; 26:20; Rom 2:4; 2 Tim 2:25; 2 Pet 3:9

Lewis Sperry Chafer, Systematic Theology v7

The word ‘repentance’ is not used

Similarly, the Gospel by John, which was written that men might believe and believing have life through Christ’s name (John 20:31), does not once use the word repentance.

Repentance ...cannot be added to believing as a condition of salvation, because upwards of 150 passages of Scripture condition salvation upon believing only. John 3:16; Acts 16:31

Lewis Sperry Chafer, Systematic Theology v7

John’s Purpose Statement – 20:30-31

John’s purpose is crystal clear: to set forth Christ in His deity in order to spark believing faith in his readers. John’s gospel ...revolves around seven miracles and seven “I am” statements of Christ.

John selected these miracles (which he calls signs) with the apologetic purpose of creating intellectual (“that you may believe”) and spiritual (“that believing you may have life”) conviction about the Son of God.

Wilkinson & Boa, Talk Thru The Bible

A “sign” is a miracle with great meaning.

Sign - sēmeion - σημεῖον, ου n: an event which is regarded as having some special meaning—‘sign.’...For the Gospel of John, however, a σημεῖον is not simply a miraculous event but something which points to a reality with even greater significance. A strictly literal translation of σημεῖον as ‘sign’ might mean nothing more than a road sign or a sign on a building, and therefore in some languages σημεῖον in a context such as this may be rendered as ‘a miracle with great meaning.’

Louw-Nida

Jesus’ signs lead to true faith

Beginning with the changing of water into wine (2:1–11), Jesus’ signs are intended to lead those who see them to faith (v 23). ...John’s purpose in writing his Gospel is to present the signs of Jesus so that those who come to faith may do so through seeing these signs (20:30). The signs in the Gospel are expressly chosen because they lend themselves to the development of true faith.

Baker Encyclopedia of the Bible

The signs in John’s Gospel

The first three signs show how salvation comes to the sinner:1. Water into wine (2:1–11)—salvation is by the Word2. Healing the nobleman’s son (4:46–54)—salvation is by faith3. Healing the paralytic (5:1–9)—salvation is by grace

The last four signs show the results of salvation in the believer:4. Feeding the 5,000 (6:1–14)—salvation brings satisfaction5. Stilling the storm (6:16–21)—salvation brings peace6. Healing the blind man (9:1–7)—salvation brings light7. Raising of Lazarus (11:38–45)—salvation brings life

Wiersbe’s Expository Outlines on the New Testament

The First Sign - Outline

•Occasion v1-2•Concern v3-4•Orders v5-7•Obedience v7-8 •Blessing v9-10•Believe v11

Chronology of Events

• Day 1 - 1:19–28John the Baptist questioned by priests

• Day 2 - 1:29–34 “The next day”John the Baptist bore witness of Christ

• Day 3 - 1:35–42 “Again, the next day”Discipleship of Andrew and Simon

• Day 4 - 1:43–51 “The following day”Discipleship of Philip and Nathanael

• Day 7 - 2:1-11 “On the third day”1st sign at wedding in Cana of Galilee

Storage Jar from Cana - Baker Encyclopedia of the Bible

Our role in God’s Blessings

The water turned into wine because the servants cooperated with Jesus and obeyed His commands. Several of the signs in John’s Gospel involve the cooperation of man and God: the feeding of the 5,000 (John 6), the healing of the man born blind (John 9), and the raising of Lazarus (John 11). Whether we pass out bread, wash away mud, or roll away the stone, we are assisting Him in performing a miracle.

Warren Wiersbe, The Bible Exposition Commentary

Conclusion: Roadmap to Blessing

●Turn to Christ first in times of trial.●Advise others to do the same.●Humility and obedience go hand and hand.●Eternal life is the greatest blessing of all.

Dr. Andy Woods

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