“He who believes in him is not judged; he who does not believe has been judged already because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten son of God.”—John 3:18
“You do not have his word abiding in you, for you do not believe him whom he sent.”—John 5:38
“But because I speak the truth, you do not believe me.”—John 8:45
Why lay all this out?
- Because the author of John in these first five verses was establishing that:
-Jesus Christ is ______________.
-Jesus was God before the _________________ of the world.
-Jesus is the creator.
-Jesus entered into his _____________________.
The ___________________ testimony (V 6 – 8)
The _________________ of unbelievers (V 9 – 11)
The response of believers (V 12 – 13)
The believable testimony (V 6 – 8)
- John the Baptist was uniquely sent from God to be the one who _________________ to the word that was God.
- Mark 1:5 “All the country of Judea was going out to him, and all the people of Jerusalem; and they were being baptized by him in the Jordan River, confessing their sins.”
- John’s mission was not to exalt himself, but to be “a ________________” about the Messiah, “to testify about the light.”
- “He must increase, but I must decrease” (John 3:30).
The response of unbelievers (V 9 – 11)
- It’s only ________________ people who can’t see the light.
- Romans 1:18 – 21
- John 3:19 – 20 “And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and the world loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil. For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works of be exposed.”
- Those who are lost refuse to come to the light of Jesus Christ because they love their sin and they do not want it ______________________.
The response of believers (V 12 – 13)
- “But to all who did receive him.” There’s a dramatic shift here.
- The world’s hatred of God and rejection of Christ can no way overrule or _________________________ God’s plan.
- The deity of Christ cannot be separated from the humanity of Christ.
- Who was it that the received Jesus as Lord? Not everybody. Only a few.
- The idea that salvation is from ___________________, by________________, and for ______________________, is exceptionally articulated and so clearly articulated here in verse 13.
- The believable testimony (V 6 – 8)
- The response of unbelievers (V 9 – 11)
- The response of believers (V 12 – 13)
Discussion questions for you to use for family worship and for small groups.
1. In the first few verses John refers to Jesus as “the word” and “the light.” Why is it the John describes Jesus this way?
2. What does John 1:12 teach concerning what sinners must do to be saved?
3. How does John the Baptist serve as an example for us as Christians when it comes to pointing to the light?
4. The fact that Jesus is termed “the light” in John 1:7 should teach us what?
5. At the end of John 1:13 it says “who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flash nor of the will of man, but of God.” What does that mean concerning how salvation occurs?
6. When you think about the distinct difference between the believers and the unbelievers that the apostle John describes in the section we examined today (John 1:6 – 13), what is it that differentiates them from one another?
7. There is certainly an evangelistic thrust to these verses today. How would you say that these verses encourage evangelism?
8. What specifically challenges you about what you learned from the text today?
9. What specifically encourages you about the text the was taught on today?
