Knowing, Receiving, and Believing in Christ
Summary
In the opening chapter of the Gospel of John, we encounter three pivotal words: "know," "receive," and "believe." These words encapsulate the essence of our relationship with Jesus Christ. The Gospel of John was written not merely as a theological treatise but as a pastoral guide to lead believers into a deeper, more assured Christian life. The primary aim is to foster a full assurance of faith, hope, and salvation, which is often lacking in the modern church. This lack of assurance is a significant reason why the church struggles to attract the masses; we fail to convey the joy and peace that should characterize the Christian life.
The Gospel was initially preached orally, and the New Testament scriptures emerged to address specific challenges in the early church, such as false teachings and heresies. The Gospels were written primarily for believers to confirm their faith and to ensure their joy is complete. John, in particular, emphasizes the importance of assurance and certainty in the Christian life. This assurance is not just intellectual but deeply experiential, rooted in a profound relationship with Jesus Christ.
The Christian life begins with a clear understanding of our relationship with Jesus. This involves recognizing Him for who He truly is—the Son of God—and acknowledging His work in our lives. Many people, even within the church, may not truly know Him, as they fail to recognize His divine nature and the significance of His incarnation. To know Jesus is to have Him as the central focus of our lives, influencing every aspect of our being.
Receiving Jesus goes beyond mere recognition; it involves welcoming Him into our lives with joy and acceptance. This means embracing all that He is and all that He teaches, even when it challenges our preconceived notions or offends our sensibilities. True reception of Christ involves acknowledging our need for Him and accepting His work on the cross as the only means of salvation.
Believing in Jesus' name signifies a complete trust and reliance on Him for everything. It means resting in His finished work on the cross, acknowledging our inability to save ourselves, and trusting in His power and grace. This belief is not passive but active, transforming our lives and giving us the assurance of eternal life.
Key Takeaways:
- The Importance of Assurance: Assurance in the Christian life is not just about intellectual understanding but involves a deep, experiential relationship with Jesus Christ. This assurance is crucial for living a joyful and effective Christian life. [05:22]
- Recognizing Jesus: To truly know Jesus is to recognize Him as the Son of God and to have Him as the central focus of our lives. This recognition is foundational to our faith and influences every aspect of our being. [24:37]
- Receiving Jesus: Receiving Jesus involves welcoming Him into our lives with joy and acceptance, embracing all that He is and teaches. It requires acknowledging our need for Him and accepting His work on the cross as the only means of salvation. [31:40]
- Believing in His Name: Believing in Jesus' name means trusting in His power and grace, resting in His finished work on the cross, and acknowledging our inability to save ourselves. This belief transforms our lives and gives us the assurance of eternal life. [42:39]
- The Centrality of Christ: Our relationship with Jesus is central to our faith. All blessings from God come through Him, and our assurance and confidence are based on our relationship with Him. This relationship is the foundation upon which we build our Christian life. [23:37]
Youtube Chapters:
- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:15] - Introduction to Key Verses
- [01:17] - Purpose of John's Gospel
- [02:28] - The Pastoral Aim of Scripture
- [03:47] - The Role of the New Testament
- [05:22] - The Need for Assurance
- [06:36] - The Church's Failure to Attract
- [08:16] - Understanding Darkness and Evil
- [09:30] - The Law and Salvation
- [11:01] - Depth of Sin and Joy in Salvation
- [12:29] - God's Plan and Purpose
- [13:42] - Relationship with Jesus
- [15:08] - Starting at the Beginning
- [17:37] - Examining Our Faith
- [21:37] - Jesus Divides Humanity
- [24:21] - Knowing Jesus
- [31:24] - Receiving Jesus
- [40:28] - Believing in His Name
- [48:35] - Conclusion and Reflection
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide
Bible Reading:
1. John 1:10-12
2. John 20:30-31
3. 1 John 5:13
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Observation Questions:
1. What are the three key words mentioned in John 1:10-12 that describe our relationship with Jesus? How are these words emphasized in the sermon? [00:55]
2. According to John 20:30-31, what is the primary purpose of the Gospel of John? How does this purpose relate to the sermon’s message about assurance? [01:53]
3. In 1 John 5:13, what does John say is the reason for writing to believers? How does this connect to the theme of assurance discussed in the sermon? [05:02]
4. How does the sermon describe the initial reception of Jesus by the world and His own people, as mentioned in John 1:10-11? [24:37]
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Interpretation Questions:
1. How does the sermon explain the significance of "knowing" Jesus in the context of John 1:10-12? What does it mean to truly recognize Him? [24:37]
2. What does the sermon suggest is the difference between merely recognizing Jesus and truly receiving Him? How does this relate to the concept of welcoming Him into our lives? [31:40]
3. How does the sermon interpret the act of "believing in His name" as described in John 1:12? What does this belief entail according to the sermon? [40:28]
4. The sermon mentions the importance of assurance in the Christian life. How does this assurance impact a believer's joy and effectiveness, according to the sermon? [05:22]
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Application Questions:
1. Reflect on your personal relationship with Jesus. Do you feel you truly "know" Him as described in the sermon? What steps can you take to deepen this knowledge? [24:37]
2. The sermon emphasizes the importance of receiving Jesus with joy and acceptance. Are there areas in your life where you struggle to fully welcome Him? How can you address these challenges? [31:40]
3. Consider the concept of believing in Jesus' name. How does this belief manifest in your daily life? Are there areas where you need to rely more on His power and grace? [40:28]
4. The sermon discusses the lack of assurance as a reason for the church's struggle to attract others. How can you personally convey the joy and peace of the Christian life to those around you? [06:06]
5. Reflect on the idea of assurance in your faith. Do you feel confident in your salvation and relationship with Jesus? What practices or habits can help strengthen this assurance? [05:22]
6. The sermon highlights the centrality of Christ in our faith. How can you make Jesus the central focus of your life, influencing every aspect of your being? [23:37]
7. Think about a time when you felt uncertain in your faith. How did you address this uncertainty, and what can you learn from that experience to help others who may be struggling? [07:36]
Devotional
Day 1: Assurance in the Christian Life
Assurance in the Christian life is not merely an intellectual exercise but a deeply experiential journey rooted in a profound relationship with Jesus Christ. This assurance is crucial for living a joyful and effective Christian life, as it provides the foundation for faith, hope, and salvation. Many believers struggle with a lack of assurance, which can hinder their spiritual growth and the church's ability to attract others. By fostering a full assurance of faith, believers can experience the joy and peace that should characterize the Christian life. [05:22]
"For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Romans 8:38-39, ESV)
Reflection: What specific doubts or fears are preventing you from experiencing full assurance in your faith? How can you bring these to God in prayer today, asking for His peace and assurance?
Day 2: Recognizing Jesus
To truly know Jesus is to recognize Him as the Son of God and to have Him as the central focus of our lives. This recognition is foundational to our faith and influences every aspect of our being. Many people, even within the church, may not truly know Him, as they fail to recognize His divine nature and the significance of His incarnation. By acknowledging Jesus for who He truly is, believers can deepen their relationship with Him and experience the transformative power of His presence in their lives. [24:37]
"And this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent." (John 17:3, ESV)
Reflection: In what ways can you make Jesus the central focus of your life today? How might this change your perspective and actions in your daily routine?
Day 3: Receiving Jesus
Receiving Jesus involves welcoming Him into our lives with joy and acceptance, embracing all that He is and teaches. This means acknowledging our need for Him and accepting His work on the cross as the only means of salvation. True reception of Christ challenges our preconceived notions and requires us to embrace His teachings, even when they offend our sensibilities. By fully receiving Jesus, believers can experience the fullness of His grace and the transformative power of His love. [31:40]
"But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God." (John 1:12-13, ESV)
Reflection: What preconceived notions or beliefs might be hindering you from fully receiving Jesus into your life? How can you open your heart to embrace His teachings more fully today?
Day 4: Believing in His Name
Believing in Jesus' name means trusting in His power and grace, resting in His finished work on the cross, and acknowledging our inability to save ourselves. This belief is not passive but active, transforming our lives and giving us the assurance of eternal life. By placing complete trust and reliance on Jesus, believers can experience the peace and confidence that comes from knowing their salvation is secure in Him. [42:39]
"For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith." (1 John 5:4, ESV)
Reflection: What is one area of your life where you struggle to fully trust in Jesus' power and grace? How can you actively choose to rely on Him in this area today?
Day 5: The Centrality of Christ
Our relationship with Jesus is central to our faith. All blessings from God come through Him, and our assurance and confidence are based on our relationship with Him. This relationship is the foundation upon which we build our Christian life, influencing every aspect of our being. By keeping Christ at the center, believers can experience the fullness of God's blessings and the transformative power of His love. [23:37]
"For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross." (Colossians 1:19-20, ESV)
Reflection: How can you ensure that your relationship with Jesus remains central in your life? What practical steps can you take today to deepen your connection with Him?
Quotes
The Gospel was preached orally, and the New Testament scriptures emerged to address specific challenges in the early church, such as false teachings and heresies. The Gospels were written primarily for believers to confirm their faith and to ensure their joy is complete. John, in particular, emphasizes the importance of assurance and certainty in the Christian life. [00:03:08]
The Christian life begins with a clear understanding of our relationship with Jesus. This involves recognizing Him for who He truly is—the Son of God—and acknowledging His work in our lives. Many people, even within the church, may not truly know Him, as they fail to recognize His divine nature and the significance of His incarnation. [00:13:42]
Receiving Jesus goes beyond mere recognition; it involves welcoming Him into our lives with joy and acceptance. This means embracing all that He is and all that He teaches, even when it challenges our preconceived notions or offends our sensibilities. True reception of Christ involves acknowledging our need for Him and accepting His work on the cross as the only means of salvation. [00:31:24]
Believing in Jesus' name signifies a complete trust and reliance on Him for everything. It means resting in His finished work on the cross, acknowledging our inability to save ourselves, and trusting in His power and grace. This belief is not passive but active, transforming our lives and giving us the assurance of eternal life. [00:40:28]
The Christian should have a much greater Assurance than any Jew could possibly have had in the Old Testament dispensation. They had Assurance; they knew Abraham believed God in spite of everything. He hoped against hope. That was Assurance. He believed the word of God. He didn't stagger in unbelief. [00:14:09]
The first step in this Christian Assurance is therefore to make absolutely certain of our relationship to the Lord Jesus Christ. Now I say I'm anxious to put this in a pastoral manner. People have often come to me throughout the years of this whole question of happiness and Assurance in the Christian Life. [00:15:08]
There is a terrible danger of our assuming that we are Christian when perhaps we may not even be Christian at all. And of course, if we are not right on the foundation, you can't have a right superstructure. And it's no use spending your time on the superstructure if there is no true foundation. [00:16:36]
The Christian has got to start with a realization that he has set in a world of Darkness. As Paul puts it so perfectly at the end of the epistle to the Ephesians, that we wrestle not against flesh and blood but against principalities and against Powers against the rulers of the darkness of this world. [00:09:30]
The world looks upon the church as a gathering of miserable people and it claims that it has life and enjoyment and happiness outside and that the main effect of being religious is to make us miserable. Well now of course this is appalling. It is extremely sinful. There is nothing to be said for it. [00:07:00]
The only man who receives Christ is the man who sees his need of him. Any man who's ever seen his need always receives him. A man who realizes his own weakness, his own impotence, his own sinful state, he takes him as he is. He says he's just what I want. Someone must die for me. [00:39:38]
To believe on the Lord Jesus Christ in other words means this: that a man sees and knows why he ever did come into the world, why God ever sent him. It is to see that man is utterly and hopelessly condemned as he is, lost under the Lord and its bitter condemnation. [00:44:14]
The Apostle presses this upon the consideration of the Romans, you remember, in chapter 8 when he puts it like this: but if the spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also Quicken your mortal bodies by his spirit that dwelleth in you. [00:47:09]
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