Jesus: The Divine Savior and Our Call to Believe

 

Summary

In the passage from John 5:31-35, Jesus emphasizes that His mission is not to seek validation from human testimony but to offer salvation. This chapter of John's Gospel is pivotal as it highlights Jesus' divine authority and His unity with God the Father. Jesus heals a man at the pool of Bethesda, which stirs controversy among the Pharisees because it occurs on the Sabbath. Jesus uses this opportunity to assert that His actions are in complete alignment with God's will, thus claiming equality with God. Despite the Pharisees' hostility, Jesus continues to speak to them out of love and a desire for their salvation.

The essence of salvation, as explained, is the deliverance from the guilt, power, and pollution of sin. Every human is born into sin, guilty before God, and under His wrath. The Gospel of Jesus Christ offers a way out of this predicament. Jesus, the Son of God, came to save humanity by bearing the penalty of sin and offering new life. The testimony of John the Baptist is presented as a witness to Jesus' divine mission. John the Baptist, a revered prophet, clearly states that he is not the Christ but points to Jesus as the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.

The sermon challenges listeners to consider their own standing before God. It asks whether they have accepted Jesus as their Savior and whether they are saved from the guilt of their sins. The call is to believe in Jesus, the Son of God, who alone can save and offer eternal life. The message is clear: salvation is found in recognizing Jesus' divine identity and mission, and in responding to His call to believe and be saved.

Key Takeaways:

- Jesus' mission is to offer salvation, not to seek human validation. His actions and words are in perfect alignment with God's will, demonstrating His divine authority and unity with the Father. This underscores the importance of recognizing Jesus' divine identity as the foundation for salvation. [05:15]

- Salvation involves deliverance from the guilt, power, and pollution of sin. Every person is born into sin and stands guilty before God. The Gospel offers a way out through Jesus Christ, who bore the penalty of sin and offers new life. This highlights the transformative power of accepting Jesus' sacrifice. [15:27]

- John the Baptist's testimony serves as a powerful witness to Jesus' divine mission. John, a revered prophet, points to Jesus as the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. This emphasizes the importance of recognizing and accepting the testimony of those who point to Jesus' true identity. [27:33]

- The sermon challenges listeners to examine their own standing before God. It asks whether they have accepted Jesus as their Savior and are saved from the guilt of their sins. This personal reflection is crucial for understanding one's relationship with God and the need for salvation. [23:27]

- Believing in Jesus as the Son of God is essential for salvation. The message is clear: salvation is found in recognizing Jesus' divine identity and mission, and in responding to His call to believe and be saved. This belief leads to the assurance of forgiveness and eternal life. [47:54]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:11] - Introduction to John 5:31-35
- [01:16] - Jesus' Mission and Divine Authority
- [02:31] - Healing at the Pool of Bethesda
- [03:52] - Jesus' Unity with God
- [05:15] - Jesus' Love and Patience
- [06:22] - The Meaning of Salvation
- [09:01] - Humanity's Sinful Nature
- [12:22] - The Wrath of God
- [15:27] - Deliverance from Sin
- [19:20] - Jesus as the Only Savior
- [22:25] - The Testimony of John the Baptist
- [27:33] - John's Witness to Jesus
- [33:06] - Jesus as the Son of God
- [42:27] - The Call to Believe and Be Saved

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
- John 5:31-35

Observation Questions:
1. What does Jesus mean when He says, "I receive not testimony from men"? How does this relate to His mission? [01:16]
2. How does Jesus' healing of the man at the pool of Bethesda demonstrate His unity with God the Father? [03:21]
3. What role does John the Baptist play in bearing witness to Jesus' divine mission? [21:15]

Interpretation Questions:
1. Why is it significant that Jesus emphasizes His unity with God the Father in response to the Pharisees' accusations? How does this claim affect His authority? [04:07]
2. In what ways does the testimony of John the Baptist serve as a powerful witness to Jesus' identity as the Son of God? [27:33]
3. How does the concept of salvation as deliverance from the guilt, power, and pollution of sin challenge or affirm your understanding of what it means to be saved? [15:27]

Application Questions:
1. Reflect on your own life: Have you accepted Jesus as your Savior? If not, what is holding you back from making that decision? [23:27]
2. How can you actively recognize and respond to Jesus' divine identity and mission in your daily life? What changes might this require in your actions or beliefs? [47:54]
3. Consider the role of testimony in your faith journey. How can you be a witness to others about Jesus' identity and mission, similar to John the Baptist? [27:33]
4. In what ways do you experience the power and pollution of sin in your life? What steps can you take to seek deliverance through Jesus? [15:27]
5. How does understanding Jesus' love and patience towards the Pharisees inspire you to show love and patience to those who may oppose or misunderstand your faith? [05:15]
6. What practical steps can you take this week to deepen your relationship with God and ensure you are living in alignment with His will? [04:07]
7. Identify one area in your life where you feel guilty or burdened by sin. How can you bring this to Jesus for forgiveness and healing? [18:46]

Devotional

Day 1: Jesus' Mission: Salvation, Not Validation
Jesus' mission was not to seek validation from human testimony but to offer salvation. In John 5:31-35, Jesus emphasizes His divine authority and unity with God the Father. His actions, such as healing the man at the pool of Bethesda on the Sabbath, demonstrate His alignment with God's will, even in the face of controversy from the Pharisees. Jesus' focus was on offering salvation and speaking out of love, even to those who were hostile towards Him. This underscores the importance of recognizing Jesus' divine identity as the foundation for salvation. [05:15]

John 10:37-38 (ESV): "If I am not doing the works of my Father, then do not believe me; but if I do them, even though you do not believe me, believe the works, that you may know and understand that the Father is in me and I am in the Father."

Reflection: In what ways are you seeking validation from others rather than focusing on your mission to share the love and salvation of Jesus? How can you realign your actions with God's will today?


Day 2: The Transformative Power of Salvation
Salvation involves deliverance from the guilt, power, and pollution of sin. Every person is born into sin and stands guilty before God. The Gospel offers a way out through Jesus Christ, who bore the penalty of sin and offers new life. This highlights the transformative power of accepting Jesus' sacrifice. By believing in Jesus, individuals are freed from the bondage of sin and are given the opportunity to live a new life in Christ. This transformation is not just a one-time event but a continual process of becoming more like Christ. [15:27]

Titus 3:4-6 (ESV): "But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior."

Reflection: What specific area of your life do you need to surrender to Jesus to experience His transformative power? How can you take a step towards that transformation today?


Day 3: The Witness of John the Baptist
John the Baptist's testimony serves as a powerful witness to Jesus' divine mission. John, a revered prophet, points to Jesus as the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. This emphasizes the importance of recognizing and accepting the testimony of those who point to Jesus' true identity. John's role was to prepare the way for Jesus and to direct people to Him. His testimony is a reminder of the importance of bearing witness to the truth of who Jesus is and what He has done. [27:33]

John 1:29-30 (ESV): "The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, 'Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! This is he of whom I said, ‘After me comes a man who ranks before me, because he was before me.’"

Reflection: Who in your life has been a witness to Jesus' identity and mission? How can you be a witness to others about who Jesus is?


Day 4: Examining Your Standing Before God
The sermon challenges listeners to examine their own standing before God. It asks whether they have accepted Jesus as their Savior and are saved from the guilt of their sins. This personal reflection is crucial for understanding one's relationship with God and the need for salvation. It is an invitation to consider whether you have truly embraced the gift of salvation and are living in the freedom it brings. This reflection is not meant to induce guilt but to encourage a deeper relationship with God. [23:27]

2 Corinthians 13:5 (ESV): "Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Or do you not realize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you fail to meet the test!"

Reflection: Take a moment to reflect on your relationship with God. Have you accepted Jesus as your Savior, and are you living in the freedom of His salvation? What steps can you take to deepen your relationship with Him today?


Day 5: Believing in Jesus for Salvation
Believing in Jesus as the Son of God is essential for salvation. The message is clear: salvation is found in recognizing Jesus' divine identity and mission, and in responding to His call to believe and be saved. This belief leads to the assurance of forgiveness and eternal life. It is not just an intellectual acknowledgment but a heartfelt trust in Jesus as Lord and Savior. This belief transforms lives and offers hope for eternity. [47:54]

Romans 10:9-10 (ESV): "Because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved."

Reflection: Do you truly believe in Jesus as the Son of God and your Savior? How does this belief impact your daily life and decisions? What can you do today to strengthen your faith in Him?

Quotes


I receive no testimony from men but these things I say that ye might be saved. He was a burning and a Shining Light and ye were willing for a season to rejoice in his light. [00:46:36]

He meets their attack and their criticism quite openly and makes it quite plain and clear to them that not only is he not breaking the Sabbath and thereby going contrary to God's will but that in healing this man he was doing the will of God. [00:37:52]

He says this that I've done to this men who surprised you he said you wait a bit I'm going to do something that will rarely cause you to Marvel and be astonished. I've got power he says God has given me power to give life to people New Life spiritual life. [00:47:59]

It's here we see his amazing love his wonderful patience here are these Jews these Pharisees these religious authorities showing their bitterness and their antagonism to him trying to trip him and to trap him but still he goes on talking to them. [00:55:15]

Everybody born into this world is guilty in the sight of God if you like it in other language it it we had it there at the end of that third chapter which we read at the beginning this is how it's put it says he that believeth on the son ha everlasting life. [01:33:04]

We all of us by Nature are sinful and therefore guilty before God this is a great Doctrine I haven't time to go into it thoroughly this evening and perhaps this isn't the occasion for doing so but according to the Bible we are all sinful we are all sinners. [01:47:12]

We need to be saved from that we somehow need to be saved from this condemnation of God's holiness and righteousness we need to be saved from this penalty that is pronounced upon sin it's there and we can't escape it if we know our scriptures at all. [02:01:36]

We need to be saved from the power of sin because we are under its power by nature and surely nobody wants to dispute that isn't the moral fight the greatest fight of all isn't temptation strong and powerful and mighty don't we all go down and fail. [02:16:26]

The trouble with us as we all know if we know ourselves at all is not that we are perfect and righteous but that evil is around us and gets us down we often sin when we are alone and when the world isn't with us as it were our very imaginations are evil. [02:31:02]

I am trying to put this before you that I may do as the mouthpiece of the Lord Jesus Christ what he said himself he was doing when he says now what about the witness of John it is that you may be saved here is the momentous thing that faces us. [02:48:48]

The claim of this person Jesus Jus of Nazareth is that he alone can save he said it to these Jews they didn't believe him why didn't they believe him they didn't believe him because they didn't realize who he was that's the trouble they regarded him as just a carpenter. [02:55:34]

Behold the Lamb of God that taketh away the sins of the world behold the sin Bearer behold one who's come to take your guilt upon him and to Bear your punish M and set you free Behold the Lamb of God God's lamb to take away the sin of the world. [03:40:52]

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