In Brad Hardman's sermon titled "These Are Written," based on John 20:30-31, he emphasizes the importance of Scripture as a means to instill faith in Jesus Christ as the Son of God. Hardman argues that the signs and miracles recorded in the Gospels serve the specific purpose of fostering belief in Christ, whom believers trust for eternal life. He supports this claim through various Scriptural references, including John 1:11-12, which proclaims the gift of being born of God through belief in Christ, and 1 John 5:11-13, which states that life is found in the Son. The practical significance of this message is grounded in the Reformed doctrine of Sola Fide, stressing that assurance and salvation depend solely on faith in Christ, not on personal merit or the strength of one’s belief.
Key Quotes
“Those that believe were given power to become the sons of God.”
“The one intent of scripture is that you may believe on Jesus Christ.”
“To them that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.”
“Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and that believing you might have life through his name.”
The Bible emphasizes the necessity of believing that Jesus is the Christ, which brings eternal life.
Scripture teaches that believing in Jesus Christ is paramount to receiving eternal life. John 20:31 states that the signs recorded were written so that we might believe Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that in believing, we have life through His name. Furthermore, 1 John 5:1 affirms that whosoever believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, thus emphasizing that faith in Christ is not merely an intellectual agreement but a transformative belief that signifies a spiritual rebirth.
John 20:31, 1 John 5:1
Believing in Christ is crucial because He is the only source of salvation, and without faith in Him, one cannot have eternal life.
Believing in Christ is fundamentally important for salvation as it is through faith that we are justified before God. Acts 4:12 proclaims that there is no other name under heaven given among men whereby we must be saved, highlighting that Jesus is the sole means through which we obtain salvation. Moreover, John 14:6 expresses that Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life, reinforcing that access to the Father and eternal life are through Him alone. Thus, faith in Jesus is not an optional path but the exclusive route to salvation.
Acts 4:12, John 14:6
We know Jesus is the Son of God through the fulfillment of prophecies and the testimony of Scripture.
The recognition of Jesus as the Son of God is deeply rooted in Scripture and fulfilled prophecy. In Matthew 16:16, Simon Peter declares Jesus as 'the Christ, the Son of the living God,' a confession that brings divine affirmation from Jesus Himself. This acknowledgment is supported by Old Testament prophecies and New Testament accounts that frame Jesus not only as a historical figure but as the fulfillment of God's promise. John 1:12 also states that those who believe in His name are granted power to become children of God, reinforcing the relationship between belief in Christ and the affirmation of His divine sonship.
Matthew 16:16, John 1:12
Faith in Jesus is emphasized as it is the means by which we receive God's grace and assurance of salvation.
The Bible places tremendous emphasis on faith in Jesus because it is through faith that we connect with the grace of God and receive assurance of salvation. Romans 10:17 states that faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God, demonstrating that the proclaimed truth about Jesus directly engenders belief and reliance on Him. Additionally, 1 John 5:13 illustrates that the purpose of the writings in Scripture is so that those who believe in the name of the Son of God may know that they have eternal life, indicating the connection between faith, the knowledge of salvation, and the grace of God. This assurance empowers believers to navigate life's challenges with confidence in Christ's redemptive power.
Romans 10:17, 1 John 5:13
'Life through His name' signifies the eternal life and salvation that are received through faith in Jesus Christ.
'Life through His name' encapsulates the profound theological truth that eternal life is a gift received by faith in Jesus Christ. The phrase implies a relationship wherein believing in His name means trusting in His nature, character, and redemptive work. In John 20:31, the purpose of writing about Jesus is to affirm that belief in Him leads to spiritual resurrection and eternal life. Moreover, as stated in John 5:11-12, the record that God has given us is that eternal life is in His Son, and he who has the Son has life. Hence, this concept illustrates the concept of trust and reliance on Jesus as the source of life itself.
John 20:31, John 5:11-12
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