Rev. David V. Dissen
People often write articles, journals, books etc. for a certain reason. For some, it is to record their own legacy or that of someone else. There are those who write as a form of self-expression. Others write because it serves as good therapy for them. Others write to relate human interest stories that capture and engage the mind of the reader. Still others write to change the thinking of people on important issues etc..
John states ever so clearly in the above verse that his Gospel is written “that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name.”
The GOSPEL ACCORDING TO JOHN is unique from all other books, along with ALL THE BOOKS OF THE SACRED SCRIPTURES contained in THE HOLY BIBLE. Why? It is because we read in 2 Peter 1:21 that the writings of the Sacred Scriptures “came not by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.”
The BIBLE IS NOT THE WORD OF MAN. The BIBLE IS THE WORD OF GOD! These holy men of God were believers in the True God. They were God’s chosen instruments for writing GOD’S words. It was THE HOLY SPIRIT Who moved them to think and write what they wrote. As the wind moves a sail boat by swelling its sails, so these men were impelled or moved by GOD Himself to write the very words that they wrote. Paul underscores the “verbal, that is, the ‘word’ inspiration” of the Bible when he writes in 1 Cor. 2:14 “We also speak not in words which man’s wisdom teaches but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual.” You and I can trust God’s Word 100%! “God is not a man, that He should lie.” Numbers 23:19. Every word of the Bible is Spirit-breathed, Spirit-guided, Spirit-sealed and totally trustworthy.
John tells us that he has written His Gospel so that we “may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing we might have life in His name.”
LIFE AND DEATH ISSUES have been a topic of discussion by thousands of people since the recent death of Pope Francis. You and I who are still physically alive know from experience how true the words of Ecclesiastes 9:5 are “The living know that they will die.” Some people do their best to deny this truth. They may refuse to read obituaries. They may avoid going to funerals. They may bury their head in the sand. They may falsely think that death comes to others but not to them. But the undeniable truth of the Bible is “the wages of sin is death” Romans 6:23. Romans 3:23 states without exception “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” That means I am a sinner. That means you are a sinner. Therefore, we all will die. “It is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment.” Hebrews 9:27.
While you and I will one day die, John comforts us with the Spirit-breathed words that his Gospel is written so that WE may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing we may have life in His name.
JESUS ALONE IS THE ONLY ONE who saves us from our sins. The name “Jesus” means “Jehovah is Savior” Matt. 1:21. The name CHRIST means ANOINTED ONE. 1 Tim. 1:15 reads that “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners.” Yes, Jesus CHRIST is THE ONE ANOINTED BY GOD to carry out His plan of salvation for all sinners. Jesus is our only Savior. “Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is none other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” Acts 4:12. Jesus’ name is “far above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come” (Ephesians 1:21) because salvation comes to us sinners only in the name of Jesus.
Jesus Christ saved us from the curse and punishment of all our sins for eternal life in heaven. He did this by living for us the holy life that we can never live for Jesus is “holy, harmless, separate from sinners.” Hebrews 9:26. Jesus offered His sinless life into death on the cross once and for all as the full payment for all our sins. Jesus does not need daily as the Old Testament high priests “to offer up sacrifices, first for His own sins and then for the people’s, for this He did once for all when He offered up Himself.” Hebrews 9:27. Then Jesus rose from the dead on the 3rd day to assure us that God now declares all believers in Him to justified or declared “not guilty” because of Christ’s perfect sacrifice for all our sins. “He was raised because of our justification.” Romans 4:25.
May the Holy Spirit, through the written Word of God, lead all of us to believe in our heart and to confess with our mouth the saving truth of 1 John 5:11-12 “that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life.” Just think of this amazing truth! “Jesus Christ, … has abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the Gospel.” 2 Tim. 1:10. “The gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” Rom. 6:23.
What John has written by inspiration of the Holy Spirit is written to lead us to believe and to hold fast to the belief that “Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name.” Jesus has redeemed us from all our sins. Jesus has conquered death and the grave for us. This is written in Holy Scripture for our daily comfort. Today numerous fears may creep into our lives such as the fear of going to hell for our sins or the fear of death. It may be the fear of failing health, the fear of upcoming surgery, the fear of being laid off because of downsizing or the fear of a future nuclear war. Whatever fears we face, remember that the victory that overcomes all that life in this sin-fallen world can throw at you or me belongs to everyone who is born of God and believes that Jesus is the Son of God. 1 John 4:4-5.
“How precious is the Book Divine,
By inspiration given!
Bright as a lamp its doctrines shine
To guide our souls to heaven.
It shows to man his wand’ring ways
And where his feet have trod,
And brings to view the matchless grace
Of a forgiving God.
It sweetly cheers our drooping hearts
In this dark vale of tears.
Life, light and joy it still imparts
And quells our rising fears.
This lamp through all the tedious night
Of life shall guide our way
Till we behold the clearer light
Of an eternal day.”
TLH #285, stanzas 1,3,5 and 6
Rev. David V. Dissen, Retired.
Cape Girardeau, MO
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