Repentance and Salvation: The Testimony of John the Baptist

 

Summary

In the Gospel of John, chapter 5, verses 31-35, Jesus addresses the Jews who doubted His divine authority, particularly because He healed on the Sabbath. They saw this as a violation of God's law, but Jesus clarifies that His will is aligned with God's will. He emphasizes that His testimony is not self-derived but is supported by God Himself. Jesus points to John the Baptist as a witness to His divine mission, highlighting that John's testimony was not for Jesus' benefit but for the salvation of those who heard it.

John the Baptist's role was crucial as a forerunner to Christ, preparing the way through a ministry of repentance. His message was clear: repentance is essential for salvation. John declared that he was not the Messiah but pointed to Jesus as the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. This declaration encapsulates the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies and the promise of salvation through Jesus Christ.

The sermon underscores the necessity of repentance as a precursor to accepting Christ. It is through acknowledging our sinfulness and turning away from it that we can truly embrace the salvation offered by Jesus. John the Baptist's message remains relevant, urging us to prepare our hearts for Christ by laying aside our pride and self-reliance.

Jesus' role as the Lamb of God signifies His sacrificial death, which fulfills the Old Testament sacrificial system and prophecies. His death on the cross was the ultimate act of taking away the sins of the world, offering forgiveness and reconciliation with God. This salvation is not something we can achieve through our efforts but is a gift from God, made possible through Jesus' sacrifice.

Key Takeaways:

- Unity of Will: Jesus emphasizes that His will is perfectly aligned with God's will, challenging the Jews' perception of His actions as contrary to God's law. This unity underscores the divine nature of Jesus and His mission on earth. [02:08]

- John the Baptist's Testimony: John the Baptist's role was to prepare the way for Christ through a message of repentance. His testimony about Jesus as the Lamb of God is a pivotal declaration of Jesus' mission to take away the sins of the world. [05:17]

- Necessity of Repentance: True repentance involves a deep acknowledgment of our sinfulness and a turning away from it. It is the essential first step in preparing our hearts to receive Christ and His salvation. [11:00]

- Fulfillment of Prophecy: Jesus as the Lamb of God fulfills the Old Testament prophecies and sacrificial system. His sacrificial death is the means by which our sins are taken away, offering us forgiveness and reconciliation with God. [23:51]

- Gift of Salvation: Salvation is not something we can earn through our efforts; it is a gift from God, made possible through Jesus' sacrifice. Our role is to believe in the testimony of John the Baptist and accept Jesus as our Savior. [39:28]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:14] - Introduction to John 5:31-35
- [01:12] - Jesus' Unity with God's Will
- [02:08] - Jesus' Divine Authority
- [03:01] - Witness of God and John the Baptist
- [04:10] - John's Testimony and Its Significance
- [05:17] - The Role of John the Baptist
- [06:46] - The Meaning of Salvation
- [09:27] - Preparation for Christ's Ministry
- [11:00] - The Importance of Repentance
- [12:53] - Self-Examination and Repentance
- [17:19] - Radical Repentance
- [23:51] - Jesus as the Fulfillment of Prophecy
- [39:28] - The Gift of Salvation
- [51:32] - Assurance of Forgiveness

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
- John 5:31-35
- John 1:19-34
- Isaiah 53

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Observation Questions:

1. What claim does Jesus make about His relationship with God in John 5:31-35, and how does this challenge the perception of the Jews? [02:08]

2. How does John the Baptist describe his role in relation to Jesus, according to the sermon? [08:39]

3. What is the significance of John the Baptist referring to Jesus as the "Lamb of God"? [23:51]

4. How does the sermon describe the necessity of repentance in the context of John the Baptist's ministry? [11:00]

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Interpretation Questions:

1. What does it mean for Jesus' will to be perfectly aligned with God's will, and how does this reflect on His divine authority? [02:08]

2. In what ways does John the Baptist's testimony serve as a preparation for receiving Christ, according to the sermon? [09:27]

3. How does the sermon explain the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies through Jesus' role as the Lamb of God? [23:51]

4. Why is repentance described as an essential first step in the process of salvation, and how does this relate to the message of John the Baptist? [11:00]

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Application Questions:

1. Reflect on a time when you struggled to align your will with God's will. What steps can you take to better align your actions with God's purpose in your life? [02:08]

2. John the Baptist's message was one of repentance. How can you incorporate a practice of regular self-examination and repentance in your spiritual life? [12:53]

3. Consider the role of pride and self-reliance in your life. How can you lay these aside to prepare your heart for Christ's work in you? [11:00]

4. The sermon emphasizes the gift of salvation as something we cannot earn. How does this understanding impact your view of grace and your relationship with God? [39:28]

5. Identify an area in your life where you need to acknowledge your sinfulness and turn away from it. What practical steps can you take this week to address this? [15:07]

6. How can you actively share the message of Jesus as the Lamb of God with someone in your life who may not know Him? [23:51]

7. Reflect on the assurance of forgiveness offered through Jesus' sacrifice. How can this assurance change the way you approach God in prayer and worship? [51:32]

Devotional

Day 1: Unity of Divine Will
Jesus' actions, including healing on the Sabbath, were questioned by the Jews as they perceived them to be in violation of God's law. However, Jesus clarifies that His will is perfectly aligned with God's will, emphasizing His divine authority. This unity of will is a testament to His divine nature and mission on earth. Jesus' actions were not independent but were a reflection of God's purpose and plan. This challenges us to consider how our own actions align with God's will and to seek a deeper understanding of His purpose for our lives. [02:08]

John 5:19-20 (ESV): "So Jesus said to them, 'Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of his own accord, but only what he sees the Father doing. For whatever the Father does, that the Son does likewise. For the Father loves the Son and shows him all that he himself is doing. And greater works than these will he show him, so that you may marvel.'"

Reflection: In what ways can you align your daily decisions and actions more closely with God's will today?


Day 2: The Role of John the Baptist
John the Baptist played a crucial role as a forerunner to Christ, preparing the way through a ministry of repentance. His testimony about Jesus as the Lamb of God was not for Jesus' benefit but for the salvation of those who heard it. John declared that he was not the Messiah but pointed to Jesus, fulfilling Old Testament prophecies and highlighting the promise of salvation through Christ. This reminds us of the importance of bearing witness to Christ in our own lives and pointing others to Him. [05:17]

Isaiah 40:3-5 (ESV): "A voice cries: 'In the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord; make straight in the desert a highway for our God. Every valley shall be lifted up, and every mountain and hill be made low; the uneven ground shall become level, and the rough places a plain. And the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together, for the mouth of the Lord has spoken.'"

Reflection: How can you be a witness to Christ in your community, pointing others to His love and salvation?


Day 3: Necessity of Repentance
Repentance is essential for salvation, as it involves a deep acknowledgment of our sinfulness and a turning away from it. John the Baptist's message of repentance remains relevant, urging us to prepare our hearts for Christ by laying aside our pride and self-reliance. True repentance is the first step in embracing the salvation offered by Jesus, allowing us to receive His grace and forgiveness. This calls us to examine our hearts and lives, seeking to turn away from sin and towards God. [11:00]

Acts 3:19-20 (ESV): "Repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out, that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that he may send the Christ appointed for you, Jesus."

Reflection: What specific sin or area of pride do you need to repent of today to prepare your heart for Christ's work in your life?


Day 4: Fulfillment of Prophecy
Jesus as the Lamb of God signifies His sacrificial death, fulfilling the Old Testament sacrificial system and prophecies. His death on the cross was the ultimate act of taking away the sins of the world, offering forgiveness and reconciliation with God. This fulfillment of prophecy underscores the divine plan of salvation and the depth of God's love for humanity. It invites us to reflect on the significance of Jesus' sacrifice and the hope it brings to our lives. [23:51]

Isaiah 53:4-6 (ESV): "Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all."

Reflection: How does understanding Jesus as the fulfillment of prophecy deepen your appreciation for His sacrifice and love for you?


Day 5: The Gift of Salvation
Salvation is not something we can earn through our efforts; it is a gift from God, made possible through Jesus' sacrifice. Our role is to believe in the testimony of John the Baptist and accept Jesus as our Savior. This gift of salvation offers us forgiveness and reconciliation with God, inviting us to live in the freedom and hope that comes from knowing Christ. It challenges us to trust in God's grace and to share the message of salvation with others. [39:28]

Ephesians 2:8-9 (ESV): "For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast."

Reflection: In what ways can you embrace the gift of salvation more fully in your life, and how can you share this gift with someone else today?

Quotes


Our Lord here is addressing these Jews which not only did not believe in him but who regarded him as one who was opposing the will of God and breaking God's holy commandment. They thought that about our Lord because he had healed men on the Sabbath day and that to them was sin and inexcusable sin and was indicative as I say of the fact as they saw it that he was opposed to en crossing the will of God. [00:01:21]

He says God himself has borne witness to me that I am his son. How has God borne that witness? He says that God has done so in a number of different ways. He takes up the first and hears the first: you yourselves sent unto John, John the Baptist, and he bear witness unto the truth. But I receive not testimony from men, but these things I say that ye might be saved. [00:03:46]

John said that far from being the Messiah himself, he is merely a kind of prologue. He is merely the man who is exercising a Ministry that is going to prepare the way for the Messiah. Avoid place of one crying in the wilderness, prepare ye the way of the Lord, make straight in the highway High, make straight in the wilderness a highway for our God. [00:08:41]

No man will ever Truly Come to Christ unless he has first believed the ministry of John the Baptist. It is only only those who have repented who can find Salvation. Repentance is essential. It is always the first thing in the scripture. The Apostle Paul puts it in his way you remember in saying farewell to the Elders of the church at Ephesus. [00:10:51]

Repentance means that a man truly faces himself and his sin and gives up every Endeavor and attempt to defend himself or to explain himself away. He realizes that he has no claim upon God's love whatsoever. He never therefore grumbles nor complains. He sees himself as such a miserable wretch that he knows he deserves nothing but hell. [00:15:08]

John by saying, Behold the Lamb of God that taketh away the sins of the world, is saying that the Lord Jesus Christ is the Fulfillment of all the Old Testament promises with regard to Salvation. Now that's why his phrase is such a striking one. John was addressing Jews. They had their Old Testament scriptures. [00:24:00]

The Passover Lamb is a type pointing to the Christ, the Messiah who is to come, so that every year as it came round and they observed the Feast of the Passover, they said to themselves, we're not only looking back, we're looking forward. God did that to our forefathers. God is yet going to do it, and they looked for him and they waited for the coming of the Messiah. [00:30:05]

Behold the Lamb of God that taketh away the sins of the world. Here is the central bit of testimony that John the Baptist bore to him. It's amazing, it's astounding, nothing more perfect was ever said. It's all there, and John said it. John the Baptist said it. That's why our Lord says I'm telling you these things in order that you may be saved. [00:23:12]

He does not save by simply telling us that God forgives. How do you know that, says someone? I know it like this, that the Old Testaments Old Testament prophets had said that abundantly and beautifully. You've got it in the Book of Psalms: as far as the East is from the West, so far have he put our transgressions from us. [00:36:34]

He takes our sins and he takes them away. Behold the Lamb of God that taketh away the sins of the world. He Bears them away. How does he do it? The story is that in all its fullness in the pages of the four gospels. I'll tell you how he takes our sins away. He first of all came into the world. [00:39:35]

God takes your sins and mine. He took them and put them onto the head of Christ. He put them on him, imputed them to him, and then he punished them in him, God's lamb. He smote him. Read Isaiah 53 when you go home again tonight and see its fulfillment in the cross on Calvary's hell. That's what's happening there. [00:48:10]

What do you and I need to know in order to be saved? Just that, just that, that we can never save ourselves. You can be as good as you like, your filthy rags in the sight of God. You can put your back into it, you can follow the example of all the Hermits and the anchorites and the monks. [00:49:38]

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Transcript
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