Understanding Scripture: The Path to Salvation

 

Summary

In the Gospel of John, chapter 5, verses 45-47, Jesus delivers a profound message to the Jews, emphasizing the importance of belief and the consequences of unbelief. Jesus warns them that it is not He who will accuse them before the Father, but Moses, in whom they trust, because Moses wrote of Him. This passage highlights the critical nature of understanding and accepting the authority of the Scriptures, both the Old and New Testaments, as they testify about Jesus Christ.

Jesus had been speaking to the Jews in Jerusalem, who were offended by His healing on the Sabbath. Despite their accusations of blasphemy and law-breaking, Jesus persisted in revealing the truth to them, claiming equality with God and offering them eternal life. He presented evidence through the testimony of John the Baptist, miracles, God's voice, and the Scriptures, yet they remained in unbelief. Jesus' warning serves as a manifestation of His love, urging them to recognize their perilous position and the inevitability of condemnation if they continue to reject Him.

The sermon underscores the necessity of accepting the Bible's supreme authority. Jesus points out that the Jews' failure to believe in Him stems from their misunderstanding of the Scriptures. The Bible, both Old and New Testaments, is the authoritative source of truth about God, humanity, and salvation. It reveals the unity of its message, centered on Jesus Christ, who fulfills the prophecies and promises of the Old Testament.

The message of the Bible is clear: humanity is morally responsible and accountable to God. Death is not the end, and there will be a day of judgment where everyone must give an account of their lives. The Bible also reveals the reality of sin and condemnation, emphasizing the need for salvation. Jesus Christ is the Savior, the fulfillment of the Scriptures, who came not to condemn but to save. Through His sacrificial death, He offers forgiveness, reconciliation, and eternal life to all who believe in Him.

Key Takeaways:

- The authority of the Bible is paramount for understanding the truth about God and salvation. Jesus emphasizes the importance of believing both the Old and New Testaments, as they testify about Him. The Scriptures are the foundation for knowing God and His plan for humanity. [13:20]

- Humanity is morally responsible and accountable to God. The Bible teaches that we are made in God's image and will face judgment for our actions. This accountability underscores the need for salvation through Jesus Christ. [32:33]

- Death is not the end; there is life beyond the grave. The Bible assures us of an afterlife and a day of judgment, challenging the belief that death is the final chapter. This truth calls for a life lived in light of eternity. [34:24]

- Sin and condemnation are realities that necessitate salvation. The Bible reveals humanity's fallen state and the impossibility of self-salvation. Jesus Christ is the only way to be reconciled to God and escape condemnation. [39:15]

- Jesus Christ is the center of the Bible's message and the fulfillment of its promises. He came to save, not to condemn, offering forgiveness and eternal life through His sacrificial death. Belief in Him is the path to salvation. [45:25]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:12] - Introduction to John 5:45-47
- [01:12] - Jesus' Warning to the Jews
- [02:40] - Jesus' Concern for Salvation
- [03:34] - Evidence of Jesus' Divinity
- [04:50] - The Jews' Unbelief
- [06:03] - The Necessity of Warning
- [07:36] - The Inevitability of Judgment
- [09:05] - The Dual Nature of Preaching
- [10:53] - The Authority of the Bible
- [13:20] - The Unity of the Scriptures
- [17:20] - The Bible as the Source of Truth
- [22:18] - The Importance of Submission to Scripture
- [27:18] - Misinterpretation of the Scriptures
- [31:27] - The Message of Judgment
- [38:21] - Sin and Condemnation
- [45:25] - Jesus as the Fulfillment of Scripture

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
- John 5:45-47

Observation Questions:
1. What does Jesus mean when He says that Moses will accuse the Jews, not Him? How does this relate to their trust in Moses? [00:38]
2. How does Jesus present evidence of His divinity to the Jews, and what are the different forms of testimony He mentions? [04:11]
3. What reasons does Jesus give for the Jews' unbelief despite the evidence presented to them? [05:04]
4. How does Jesus describe the consequences of unbelief in His message to the Jews? [08:02]

Interpretation Questions:
1. Why does Jesus emphasize the authority of the Scriptures, both the Old and New Testaments, in understanding His identity and mission? [13:20]
2. How does the sermon explain the relationship between belief in Moses' writings and belief in Jesus' words? What does this imply about the unity of the Bible's message? [14:13]
3. In what ways does the sermon suggest that the Jews misunderstood the Scriptures, and how does this misunderstanding affect their belief in Jesus? [28:18]
4. How does the sermon describe the role of Jesus as the fulfillment of the Scriptures and the center of the Bible's message? [44:11]

Application Questions:
1. Reflect on your own understanding of the Bible. Do you accept its authority in your life, and how does this influence your daily decisions and beliefs? [13:20]
2. Consider a time when you struggled with unbelief or doubt. How did you address it, and what role did Scripture play in overcoming it? [05:04]
3. How can you ensure that you are interpreting the Bible correctly and not misrepresenting its message, as the Jews did in the sermon? [28:18]
4. Jesus offers eternal life to those who believe in Him. How does this promise impact your perspective on life and death? [03:34]
5. The sermon emphasizes the inevitability of judgment and accountability to God. How does this truth affect the way you live your life and interact with others? [36:08]
6. Jesus came to save, not to condemn. How can you share this message of hope and salvation with someone in your life who may not yet believe? [46:10]
7. Reflect on the unity of the Bible's message centered on Jesus Christ. How does this understanding deepen your relationship with Him and your commitment to following His teachings? [44:11]

Devotional

Day 1: The Bible as the Foundation of Truth
The authority of the Bible is paramount for understanding the truth about God and salvation. Jesus emphasizes the importance of believing both the Old and New Testaments, as they testify about Him. The Scriptures are the foundation for knowing God and His plan for humanity. The Jews in Jesus' time struggled with this concept, as they failed to recognize Him as the fulfillment of the Scriptures they revered. This misunderstanding led to their unbelief and rejection of Jesus, despite the evidence He provided through His teachings, miracles, and the testimony of others. The Bible's unified message centers on Jesus Christ, who fulfills the prophecies and promises of the Old Testament, offering salvation to all who believe. [13:20]

"For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope." (Romans 15:4, ESV)

Reflection: How can you prioritize reading and understanding both the Old and New Testaments to deepen your relationship with God today?


Day 2: Accountability Before God
Humanity is morally responsible and accountable to God. The Bible teaches that we are made in God's image and will face judgment for our actions. This accountability underscores the need for salvation through Jesus Christ. The Jews in Jesus' time were reminded of their accountability through the Scriptures, yet they failed to see how their actions and beliefs were leading them away from God. Jesus' warning to them was an act of love, urging them to recognize their need for salvation and the consequences of their unbelief. Understanding our accountability to God should lead us to live lives that reflect His love and truth. [32:33]

"For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil." (2 Corinthians 5:10, ESV)

Reflection: In what ways can you live more intentionally today, knowing that you are accountable to God for your actions?


Day 3: Life Beyond the Grave
Death is not the end; there is life beyond the grave. The Bible assures us of an afterlife and a day of judgment, challenging the belief that death is the final chapter. This truth calls for a life lived in light of eternity. Jesus' message to the Jews emphasized the reality of eternal life and the importance of believing in Him to attain it. Despite their resistance, Jesus continued to offer them the hope of eternal life through His teachings and actions. As believers, we are called to live with an eternal perspective, knowing that our choices and beliefs have lasting consequences beyond this life. [34:24]

"But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself." (Philippians 3:20-21, ESV)

Reflection: How does the assurance of eternal life influence your daily decisions and interactions with others today?


Day 4: The Reality of Sin and Need for Salvation
Sin and condemnation are realities that necessitate salvation. The Bible reveals humanity's fallen state and the impossibility of self-salvation. Jesus Christ is the only way to be reconciled to God and escape condemnation. The Jews' failure to recognize their sinful state and need for a Savior led to their rejection of Jesus, despite His clear message of salvation. Understanding the gravity of sin and the gift of salvation through Jesus should lead us to a life of gratitude and obedience to God. [39:15]

"For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus." (Romans 3:23-24, ESV)

Reflection: What is one area of your life where you need to acknowledge your sin and seek God's forgiveness today?


Day 5: Jesus as the Fulfillment of Scripture
Jesus Christ is the center of the Bible's message and the fulfillment of its promises. He came to save, not to condemn, offering forgiveness and eternal life through His sacrificial death. Belief in Him is the path to salvation. The Jews' misunderstanding of the Scriptures led them to miss the fulfillment of God's promises in Jesus. Recognizing Jesus as the fulfillment of Scripture should deepen our faith and commitment to Him, as we understand the depth of God's love and plan for our salvation. [45:25]

"And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself." (Luke 24:27, ESV)

Reflection: How can you actively seek to see Jesus as the fulfillment of God's promises in your life today?

Quotes


He leaves them with a word of warning now there was nothing else that he could do there was nothing else to say he had gone out of his way in order to make the truth plain and clear to them he has told them specifically that he is speaking to them at all in order that they might be saved. [00:02:20]

He has put the truth very plainly he has made explicit statements with regard to himself and who he here he hasn't hesitated to claim that he's equal with God the Father and that the father has given him the power to give life and even the power of judgment nothing could be plainer. [00:03:10]

He shown them I was alive and they are they as viewers especially were familiar with the scriptures and as I kept on reminding him he produces his wonderful evidence the evidence the testimony of John the Baptist the testimony of miracles the testimony of God's own voice heard from heaven the testimony of all the Old Testament Scriptures. [00:03:58]

There is some natural dislike in the human heart of words of warning and yet it's very foolish isn't it people say I'll tell us about the love of God but don't warn us don't threaten us with my dear friend if you don't listen to the positive statements the love of God is so great that he would warn you in order that you might see your position. [00:06:10]

He shows them the inevitability of it and he at the same time shows them the way in which this accusation and condemnation will be brought to pass and as I say his only reason for doing this is that he would have them see the perilous position in which they are they didn't realize that our Lord is trying to get these people to see that if they don't believe in him they are refusing and rejecting the last hope of salvation. [00:08:23]

We must start by realizing and accepting the supreme authority of this book which we call the Bible now I say that if you want to be helped if you want to know this gospel if you want to believe in the Lord Jesus Christ here's a starting point you must believe and accept the authority of this book. [00:13:12]

Our Lord is here teaching that there is no authoritative statement on these matters apart from this we've got it in the words of the Apostle Paul haven't we and they explain why our Lord doesn't refer to the Greek philosophers you know don't you that Plato and Socrates and Aristotle have lived before Christ ever came into this world. [00:15:33]

I assert to you again my friend that as long as you trust your own little mind and reason and your own speculation and your own philosophies you'll remain exactly as you are now you'll remain in the dark because God can never be found by men Hahnemann by searching find out God will try it and you'll find he can't even these mightiest philosophers couldn't. [00:19:07]

The first great message of the Bible is the message about judgment think not that I will accuse you to the Father there is one that relativism even Moses what's he talking about well he's introducing here I say this tremendous teaching of the Bible concerning judgment what does it mean well let me repeat it to you as quietly in the solemnly as I can it means that man is a model and a responsible being. [00:31:51]

Death is not the end that man is not a mere animal that man goes on living beyond death read your Old Testament read your New Testament listen to the words of Christ that is what he tells you thus there were to dust returnest was not spoken of the soul f is not the end my friend had you realized that that's the message of this book. [00:34:42]

The Bible tells us that a great calamity has happened in the history of the story of mankind it calls it the fall of men that men sinned and rebelled against God and thus has brought himself under condemnation and under the wrath of God now people in their folly say they don't like this and because they don't like it they don't believe it is I believe in a positive gospel of salvation. [00:39:37]

He came to save because none other good but he can and he did and how did he do it Oh his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree that we being dead to sins should live unto righteousness he didn't save by preaching the sermon on the mount alone and no man saves himself by trying to practice the Christian ethic it is Christ themselves and he alone and he saves by bearing our sins in his own body on the tree. [00:47:53]

Chatbot

  • I'm an AI bot trained specifically on the sermon from May 24, 2017. Do you have any questions about it?

Transcript
What was the most surprising thing in this sermon?
Were there any personal stories shared?