As Christians, we must strive for an honest understanding of who Jesus is, take decisive action in response to His call, and deliberately share the Gospel with others, as modeled by the early disciples.
Good morning, brothers and sisters! It's a joy to be with you all today as we dive into God's Word together. Today, we'll be exploring a passage that illustrates three key elements of our Christian walk: honest understanding, decisive action, and deliberate sharing of the Gospel.
As David Platt once wrote, "The road that leads to heaven is risky, lonely, and costly in this world, and few are willing to pay the price. Following Jesus involves losing your life-and finding new life in him." We're going to see how these principles play out in the lives of the early disciples and how they apply to our lives today.
Please open your Bibles or Bible apps to John 1:35-42. I'll read the passage for us:
"The next day John was there again with two of his disciples. When he saw Jesus passing by, he said, 'Look, the Lamb of God!' When the two disciples heard him say this, they followed Jesus. Turning around, Jesus saw them following and asked, 'What do you want?' They said, 'Rabbi' (which means 'Teacher'), 'where are you staying?' 'Come,' he replied, 'and you will see.' So they went and saw where he was staying, and they spent that day with him. It was about four in the afternoon. Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, was one of the two who heard what John had said and who had followed Jesus. The first thing Andrew did was to find his brother Simon and tell him, 'We have found the Messiah' (that is, the Christ). And he brought him to Jesus. Jesus looked at him and said, 'You are Simon son of John. You will be called Cephas' (which, when translated, is Peter)."
Honest understanding is the foundation upon which our faith is built and the starting point from which we grow in our relationship with Jesus. In the passage we just read, we see the early disciples seeking an honest understanding of who Jesus is and what He came to do. They were not content with merely hearing about Jesus from others; they wanted to know Him personally and intimately. This desire for an honest understanding of Jesus led them to follow Him, ask questions, and spend time in His presence.
In our own lives: Honest understanding begins with acknowledging our need for Jesus and recognizing that we cannot rely on our own wisdom, strength, or abilities to navigate the complexities of life. We must be willing to admit that we are sinners in need of a Savior and that only through Jesus can we find forgiveness, redemption, and eternal life. This humble posture of honest understanding opens our hearts and minds to receive the truth of the Gospel and allows the Holy Spirit to work in us, transforming us into the image of Christ.
A willingness to wrestle: With difficult questions and confront the doubts and fears that may arise in our faith journey. Like the early disciples, we must be willing to ask questions and seek answers, trusting that God is big enough to handle our doubts and loving enough to reveal Himself to us in the midst of our struggles. As we engage with Scripture, pray, and seek the counsel of wise believers, we will grow in our honest understanding of who God is, who we are in relation to Him, and how He calls us to live.
Approach the Bible with an open heart and a teachable spirit: We must be willing to let go of our preconceived ideas and cultural biases, allowing the Holy Spirit to guide us into all truth as we study God's Word. This means that we may need to reevaluate some of our beliefs and practices in light of Scripture, even if doing so is uncomfortable or challenging. As we submit ourselves to the authority of God's Word and allow it to shape our thoughts, attitudes, and actions, we will grow in our honest understanding of the Gospel and its implications for our lives.
Our faith is not meant to be static or stagnant: Instead, we are called to be lifelong learners, continually growing in our knowledge of God and His Word. This means that we should never be content with a superficial understanding of the Bible or a shallow relationship with Jesus. Rather, we should be constantly seeking to deepen our understanding of the Gospel, allowing it to permeate every area of our lives and transform us from the inside out.
Aware of our own shortcomings and the areas in which we need to grow: This self-awareness is essential for spiritual growth, as it allows us to recognize our need for God's grace and empowers us to pursue holiness and Christlikeness. As we confess our sins, repent of our wrongdoings, and seek God's forgiveness, we will experience the freedom and joy that come from living in the light of His truth.
Our relationships with others: As we grow in our understanding of the Gospel, we will become more compassionate, empathetic, and understanding toward those around us. We will be better equipped to share the hope of the Gospel with others, as we will be able to speak from a place of genuine understanding and personal experience. Moreover, our honest understanding of the Gospel will enable us to engage in meaningful conversations with people of different faiths and worldviews, as we will be able to articulate the truth of the Gospel with clarity, conviction, and grace.
Effective ministry and service within the body of Christ: As we grow in our understanding of the Gospel, we will be better equipped to discern God's will for our lives and to serve others in ways that are consistent with His purposes and plans. We will also be more attuned to the needs of those around us, as our honest understanding of the Gospel will enable us to see others through the eyes of Christ and respond to their needs with compassion and love.
When John the Baptist points out Jesus as the Lamb of God, the two disciples immediately leave John and follow Jesus ... View this full PRO sermon free with PRO
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