Jesus wants you to know Him John 1:14-18

John 20:31 “but these have been written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name.”

John 1:14–18 “And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth. John testified about Him and cried out, saying, “This was He of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me has a higher rank than I, for He existed before me.’ ” For of His fullness we have all received, and grace upon grace. For the Law was given through Moses; grace and truth were realized through Jesus Christ. No one has seen God at any time; the only begotten God who is in the bosom of the Father, He has explained Him.”

Josh was born on August 17, 1939, in Union City, Michigan. He grew up in a dysfunctional family, experiencing significant hardships, including an abusive alcoholic father and being sexually abused by a farmhand. These traumatic experiences left him deeply skeptical and hostile towards the idea of a loving God. As a young adult, Josh attended Kellogg College in Michigan, where he became increasingly critical of Christianity. He encountered a group of Christian students who challenged his skepticism and encouraged him to examine the evidence for the Christian faith. Determined to disprove Christianity, Josh embarked on an extensive investigation. He traveled across the United States and Europe, studying ancient manuscripts and historical evidence. His goal was to refute the core claims of Christianity, particularly the resurrection of Jesus Christ. To his surprise, Josh found that the evidence he uncovered did not support his skepticism. Instead, he was confronted with compelling historical and logical evidence for the reliability of the New Testament and the resurrection of Jesus. Faced with the overwhelming evidence, Josh realized that his objections to Christianity were unfounded. In 1960, after months of research and internal struggle, he accepted Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior. Following his conversion, Josh dedicated his life to sharing the evidence that had convinced him. He pursued theological studies at Wheaton College and Talbot Theological Seminary. Over the years, he authored numerous books, including the influential "Evidence That Demands a Verdict," which presents the historical evidence for the Christian faith.Josh McDowell became a well-known Christian apologist, speaker, and evangelist. He has spoken to millions of people worldwide, defending the Christian faith and encouraging others to investigate the evidence for themselves. Josh McDowell's story is a powerful testimony to the transformative power of truth and faith. His journey from skepticism to belief has inspired countless individuals to explore the evidence for Christianity and consider its claims with an open mind. His work continues to impact lives, providing intellectual and spiritual support to those seeking answers about the Christian faith.

· C.S. Lewis: - "I believe in Christianity as I believe that the sun has risen: not only because I see it, but because by it I see everything else."

· Timothy Keller:- "The gospel is this: We are more sinful and flawed in ourselves than we ever dared believe, yet at the very same time we are more loved and accepted in Jesus Christ than we ever dared hope."

· Martin Luther: - "Here I stand; I can do no other. God help me. Amen."

I. Jesus has made himself know by coming down from heaven as a man and living among us. VS 14

A. Logos – The word became Flesh-This is the incarnation of Christ.

Jesus came with a Physical Body: Colossians 2:9 “For in Him all the fullness of Deity dwells in bodily form,”

Jesus came as both God and Man: Hebrews 1:3 “And He is the radiance of His glory and the exact representation of His nature, and upholds all things by the word of His power. When He had made purification of sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,”

Jesus limited Himself as a man: Philippians 2:6–8 “who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.”

B. Tabernacled – He made His dwelling among us

· Greek word "σκηνόω" (skenoo), meaning "to tabernacle" or "to pitch a tent," indicating that Jesus "tabernacled" among us, echoing the Old Testament imagery of God dwelling in the Tabernacle.

· God commanded Moses to build the Tabernacle so that He could dwell among the Israelites. The Tabernacle was a portable sanctuary that represented God's presence with His people during their journey in the wilderness.

Exodus 25:8 ““Let them construct a sanctuary for Me, that I may dwell among them.”

Exodus 29:44–46 ““I will consecrate the tent of meeting and the altar; I will also consecrate Aaron and his sons to minister as priests to Me. “I will dwell among the sons of Israel and will be their God. “They shall know that I am the Lord their God who brought them out of the land of Egypt, that I might dwell among them; I am the Lord their God.”

C. Glory – We beheld His glory.

1. The Shekinah glory refers to the visible manifestation of God's presence. In the Old Testament, God's glory filled the Tabernacle and later the Temple, signifying His dwelling among His people.

1 Kings 8:10–11 “It happened that when the priests came from the holy place, the cloud filled the house of the Lord, so that the priests could not stand to minister because of the cloud, for the glory of the Lord filled the house of the Lord.”

II. Jesus has made himself known through the witness of His followers. VS 15-16

Questions: Do you know all the witnesses that were involved in Bringing you to Faith in Christ?

Statistics and Surveys

LifeWay Research (2016):

A survey conducted by LifeWay Research found that 67% of Americans say a personal invitation from a family member would be effective in getting them to visit a church. Additionally, 63% say a personal invitation from a friend or neighbor would be effective.

The American Sociological Association:

Research by the American Sociological Association found that personal invitations are among the most effective means of church growth. They indicate that people are much more likely to visit a church when personally invited by someone they know.

Barna Group (2004):

A Barna Group study found that nearly 25% of adults said they would be very likely to attend church if a friend or neighbor invited them.

Reasons for Effectiveness

Trust and Relationships: People are more likely to respond positively to an invitation from someone they trust and have a relationship with, making personal invitations highly effective.

Relational Evangelism: Personal invitations are a key aspect of relational evangelism, where the focus is on building relationships and sharing faith in a natural and personal way.

Social Proof: Seeing someone they know and trust involved in church can provide social proof that attending church is a positive and beneficial activity.

A. Our witness for Christ should reflect His greatness.

Woman at the Well: John 4:28–30 “So the woman left her waterpot, and went into the city and said to the men, “Come, see a man who told me all the things that I have done; this is not the Christ, is it?” They went out of the city, and were coming to Him.”

B. Our witness for Christ is our testimony.

Psalm 107:2“Let the redeemed of the Lord say so, Whom He has redeemed from the hand of the adversary”

C. Our witness for Christ should be demonstrated by the new life we have in Him.

III. Jesus has made himself know to us through an offer of Grace. VS 17-18

When Billy Graham was driving through a small southern town, he was stopped by a policeman and charged with speeding. Graham admitted his quilt, but was told by the officer that he would have to appear in court. The judge asked, "Guilty, or not guilty?" When Graham pleaded guilty, the judge replied, "That'll be ten dollars -- a dollar for every mile you went over the limit." Suddenly the judge recognized the famous minister. "You have violated the law," he said. "The fine must be paid--but I am going to pay it for you." He took a ten dollar bill from his own wallet, attached it to the ticket, and then took Graham out and bought him a steak dinner! "That," said Billy Graham, "is how God treats repentant sinners!"

A. The pardon of Grace VS 17

Law - The Law was given to set a standard of righteousness, to reveal sin, and to guide the moral and religious life of the people.

Galatians 3:24–25 “Therefore the Law has become our tutor to lead us to Christ, so that we may be justified by faith. But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor.”

Grace refers to the unmerited favor and love of God toward us.

Ephesians 2:8–9 “For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.”

B. The Fullness of His Love VS 18

Conclusion:

H.G. Wells was never particularly religious, but after he had studied the history of the human race and had observed human life, he came to an interesting conclusion: "Religion is the first thing and the last thing, and until a man has found God and been found by God, he begins at no beginning, he works to no end. He may have his friendships, his partial loyalties, his scraps of honor. But all these things fall into place and life falls into place only with God."