The Authority of Jesus Christ

OVERFLOWING GRACE GOD’S LOVING FAVOR IN MY INADEQUACY RESULTING IN OVERFLOWING BENEFITS. JOHN 1:1-5 AS GOD AND CREATOR, HOPE IS FOUND IN JESUS. JOHN 1:6-18 JESUS IS THE SOURCE OF GRACE AND TRUTH, AND MAN MUST CHOOSE IF HE WILL BELIEVE IN THIS JESUS. JOHN 1:19-2:11 (DISCIPLES FOLLOWING JESUS AND MIRACLE OF CANA) THE REALITY OF JESUS (AS REVEALED BY THE MANY WITNESSES) SHOULD LEAD YOU TO BELIEF. JOHN 2:12-25 (CLEANSING THE TEMPLE) MAN MUST BE WILLING TO ACCEPT WHAT IS TRUE ABOUT JESUS. JOHN 3:1-21 (NICODEMUS) BELIEVE IN JESUS BECAUSE THE CONSEQUENCES HAVE ETERNAL IMPACT! JOHN 3:22-36 (TESTIMONY OF JOHN THE BAPTIST) EXALT JESUS THAT OTHERS MAY BELIEVE HE IS TRUTH. JOHN 4:1-42 (WOMAN AT THE WELL) ALLOW GOD TO USE YOUR TESTIMONY TO POINT OTHERS TO CHRIST! JOHN 4:43-54 (HEALING ROYAL OFFICIAL’S SON) GENUINE BELIEF GOES BEYOND CURIOSITY TO ACCEPTING THE REALITY THAT JESUS IS THE SAVIOR OF THE WORLD. The Authority of Jesus Christ JOHN 5:1-47 THE AUTHORITY OF JESUS CHRIST • Illustration: As God, Jesus has the authority to define what is appropriate on the Sabbath. 1-18 THE AUTHORITY OF JESUS CHRIST Truth 1: Jesus as God has authority to give eternal life and eternal judgment. 19-23 Truth 2: He who believes Truth 1 (God sent Jesus to enable eternal life and to judge man) will have eternal life rather than eternal judgment. 24 Truth 3: The urgency of belief is the present reality of Jesus as life giver and judge. 25-27 THE AUTHORITY OF JESUS CHRIST • Warning: Don’t doubt the reality of the resurrection to judgement. 28-29 • Rejection of Witnesses: You are rejecting the witnesses that reveal the truth about Jesus. 3037 • Failure to Believe: Man’s self-righteousness leads them to rejecting the truth of Jesus and not believing. 41-47 REJECTING THE AUTHORITY OF JESUS CHRIST RESULTS IN YOUR ETERNAL CONDEMNATION. APPLICATION 1. We need to evaluate who and what are we believing or placing our trust. Is it ourselves, man’s approval, our own efforts, false belief about Scripture, or Jesus Christ. 2. Simply believing in Jesus as a good person is insufficient for salvation. APPLICATION 3. As believers, we must not forget the urgency of the gospel. Eternity is forever—Physical death is for sure—Jesus’ judgment is just. APPLICATION 4. Not believing accurately about the Scripture leads to doctrinal error that impacts eternity. As conservatives, we must be careful that we do not fall into legalism (adding to the gospel) where we are actually seeking man’s approval over God’s righteousness. We must not be more concerned about external conformity than spiritual transformation. APPLICATION 5. Logical progression application: As believers, we accept the authority of Jesus Christ for our salvation, and we must also extend the authority of Jesus Christ to our everyday choices. REJECTING THE AUTHORITY OF JESUS CHRIST RESULTS IN YOUR ETERNAL CONDEMNATION. YIELD TO THE AUTHORITY OF JESUS CHRIST!