What Do I have to Believe About Jesus?

HOOK

We've covered the doctrine about salvation in the past few days. John gave us the answers to questions such as "how may I be saved?", "who may be saved?" and "why do I need a Savior?

To be saved— one must be born again— born of water and Spirit

Salvation is by grace through Jesus— and whoever believes shall be saved [this discussion led us to the doctrine of election— that those who are being saved are chosen— pre-destined]— and we will cover this later on

Jesus came not to reject but to reconcile— who?— essentially those who are elected, chosen or pre-destined

That God loves you not for who you are— or what you did— but because of His nature— unconditional love—

And we all need a Savior otherwise we suffer eternal condemnation

But wait— ok! We are convinced by what Johh said about how and who will be saved— about why we need a Savior?— but what about the question..

What Do I Have to Believe About Jesus

Let’s take a look what John wrote about it

BOOK

John 3:19–21 NIV

19 This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. 20 Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that their deeds will be exposed. 21 But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what they have done has been done in the sight of God.

'Ganito ang paghatol ng Diyos: naparito sa sanlibutan ang ilaw, ngunit inibig pa ng mga tao ang dilim kaysa liwanag, sapagkat ang kanilang mga gawain ay masasama. Kinasusuklaman ng mga gumagawa ng masama ang ilaw, ni hindi lumalapit dito upang hindi mahayag ang kanilang mga gawa. Ngunit ang namumuhay ayon sa katotohanan ay lumalapit sa ilaw, upang maihayag na ang mga ginagawa niya ay pagsunod sa Diyos. ' Juan 3:19-21

What Do I Have to Believe About Jesus

LOOK

LIGHT HAS COME INTO THIS WORLD

Previously in Chapter 1— John introduced the theme of light and darkness— Jesus said in chapter 8:12

John 8:12 NIV

12 When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”

John 8:12

These concluding 3 verses of this section expands our understanding of both who are condemned and those who are accepted

EVERYONE WHO DOES EVIL HATES THE LIGHT, AND WILL NOT COME INTO THE LIGHT FOR FEAR THAT THEIR DEEDS WILL BE EXPOSED

They preferred to live without such knowledge of God— the reason was fundamentally moral— they value pride more that their integrity

I’d like you to take note of one thing here— take note of the words “does” [verb] and the word “deed” [noun]

Reason why I want you to take note of this because you will eventually come to the point when you have to reconcile two seemingly conflicting truths— that salvation is by grace [through Jesus] and not by works [deeds]—

Ephesians 2:8–10 NIV

8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—9 not by works, so that no one can boast. 10 For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

If salvation is by grace and not by deeds— why then John said that those who does evil will not come into the light for fear of exposure?— interesting right? we will cover that in the later time of our continuing study

WHOEVER LIVES BY THE TRUTH COMES INTO THE LIGHT

John brought another word here— no longer just the light, but he now also referred to Jesus as the truth— Jesus said in

John 14:6 NIV

6 Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

And also when Jesus comforted the sister of Lazarus when he died he said—

John 11:25 NIV

25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die;

What Do I Have to Believe About Jesus

There are 14 “I Am” statements by Jesus — here are 3 of them that we must believe about Him

TOOK

Jesus is the light of the world

Jesus is the the truth

Jesus is the life