Blessed Assurance

Recap

The book of John written by the same name between 80-90 AD

How 90% of John’s gospel was original text not found in the other 3 synoptic gospels

How John illustrated 7 separate occasions where Christ identified himself as the “I Am”

the bread of life (6:35), the light of the world (8:12), the door (10:7), the good shepherd (10:11, 14), the resurrection and the life (11:25), the way the truth and the life (14:6) and the true vine (15:1)

Background

Our journey of faith can sometimes be clouded by doubts and uncertainties. However, the Bible is filled with assurances of God’s promise of salvation to those who believe. This study will explore key Scriptures that affirm this truth.

Staying in the book of John, we are diving into the second division of the book where John focuses on the divinity of Jesus and references seven miracles that point in this direction, that start with Cana and ends with the resurrection of Lazarus.

They are:

1. Turning water into Wine

2. He heals an Nobleman's/ official’s son

3. Healing the man at the sheep-gate pool

4. Walking on water

5. Feeding the 5000

6. Healing the blind man

7. Raising Lazarus from the dead

Contrat vs Covenant

Contract:

1. Context: Primarily used in legal and commercial domains.

2. Nature: A formal and typically written agreement between parties with specific terms and conditions.

3. Parties Involved: Individuals, organizations, or businesses.

4. Enforcement: Legally binding and enforceable in a court of law.

5. Examples: Employment contracts, sale agreements, service contracts.

Covenant:

1. Context: Often used in legal, religious, and historical contexts.

2. Nature: Implies a solemn, binding agreement, with moral or ethical dimensions.

3. Parties Involved: Individuals, groups, or entities can be involved. In religious contexts, it often involves a sacred agreement between God and people.

4. Enforcement: While covenants can be legally enforced, they carry a sense of promise that goes beyond legal obligations.

5. Examples: Biblical covenants (e.g., the covenant between God and Abraham).

God’s Plan for Salvation

John 3:1–3 “Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. This man came to Jesus by night and said to him, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God, for no one can do these signs that you do unless God is with him.” Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.”

John 3:4–8 “Nicodemus said to him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?” Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.”

John 3:9–15 “Nicodemus said to him, “How can these things be?” Jesus answered him, “Are you the teacher of Israel and yet you do not understand these things? Truly, truly, I say to you, we speak of what we know, and bear witness to what we have seen, but you do not receive our testimony. If I have told you earthly things and you do not believe, how can you believe if I tell you heavenly things? No one has ascended into heaven except he who descended from heaven, the Son of Man. And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.”

John 3:16–18 ““For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.”

Assurance is our reaction to the gift of salvation and our reflection on our trust in Christ.

Sinclair Buchanan Ferguson