THE TESTIMONY OF THE WORD
KEY VERSE: JOHN 1: 12
FOCAL POINT: ASSURANCE OF SALVATION BY THE WORD OF GOD
INTRODUCTION:
CHRISTIANS CAN ABSOLUTELY BE ASSURED OF THEIR SALVATION. THIS ASSURANCE LEAVES NO ROOM FOR GUESSWORK. THIS STUDY ADDRESSES THE REALITY OF A BELIEVER’S SALVATION, BASED UPON THE TESTIMONY OF THE WORD OF GOD.
EXPOSITION ON JOHN 1: 12:
JOHN 1: 12 “BUT AS MANY AS RECEIVED HIM (CHRIST), TO THEM HE GAVE THE RIGHT TO BECOME CHILDREN OF GOD, TO THOSE WHO BELIEVE IN HIS NAME.” (NKJV) THIS IS A CLEAR, DIRECT STATEMENT THAT SALVATION THROUGH CHRIST ALONE MAKES YOU A CHILD OF GOD.
WORD MEANING OF BELIEVE: TO TRUST IN JESUS OR GOD AS ABLE TO AIDE THEM IN OBTAINING OR IN DOING SOMETHING: SAVING FAITH
THE TERM “CHILDREN OF GOD RELATES TO THE OLD TESTAMENT CHARACTERIZING OF ISRAEL AS GOD’S CHILDREN (DEUTERONOMY 14:1 AND EXODUS 4: 22). READ JOHN 1: 13 .THIS VERSE DESCRIBES TRUE CHILDREN OF GOD BY FAITH IN CHRIST THE MESSIAH. THIS DESCRIBES A SPIRITUAL BIRTHING OPPOSED TO THE PHYSICAL BIRTH OR ETHNIC BACKGROUND.
IN RECEIVING YOU MUST EMBRACE AND RECEIVE HIM UNTO YOURSELF. ACCEPTANCE IS THE EXALT OPPOSITE OF REJECTION. RECEIVING AND ACCEPTANCE INVOLVES MORE THAN AN INTELLECTUAL HEAD KNOWLEDGE.
ALL BELIEVERS ARE REBORN SPIRITUALLY UPON THEIR ACCEPTANCE OF CHRIST ALONE AS THEIR LORD AND MASTER. UPON CONVERSION, THEY RECEIVE A NEW LIFE. THIS NEW LIFE, BORN AGAIN EXPERIENCE, CHANGES THE CONVERT FROM THE INSIDE OUT.
1 JOHN 4: 7 “BELOVED LET US LOVE ONE ANOTHER, FOR LOVE IS OF GOD, AND EVERYONE WHO LOVES IS BORN OF GOD AND KNOWS GOD.” (NKJV)
APPLICATION: CHRIST SAVED YOU WHOLLY AND ETERNALLY OR THE WORD IS FALSE.
REF: EXCERPTS ON THE TESTIMONY OF THE BIBLE BY G. CHRISTIAN WEISS, DR. CONSTABLE’S NOTES ON JOHN, LIFE APPLICATION STUDY BIBLE, HOLMAN CSB, DAVID GUZIK’S COMMENTARY ON JOHN, THOMPSON CHAIN REFERENCE BIBLE, BLUELETTERBIBLE.COM
