November 15, 2020

THE BEGINNING AND END
November 15, 2020
Pastor Jonathan Falwell

Have you ever had to defend a circumstance that you knew had happened because you were there, while others were saying it had not happened?

Open:

In the intervening years between the ascension of Jesus back to heaven, and the writings of the Apostle John, the church had experienced great growth. However, with the passing years, people within the church began to attack the deity of Christ, saying He was a “good man,” but not the Son of God. John had to defend his own testimony, realizing if the believers did not stand up for their faith in Christ, the church might collapse. Today, we are seeing believers waver in their faith as the church is being attacked more than ever before. Let’s examine the reasons we know Jesus is the only begotten Son of the Father.

Key Verse: 1 John 1:1: “We proclaim to you the One who existed from the beginning, whom we have heard and seen. We saw Him with our own eyes and touched Him with our own hands. He is the Word of Life.” (NLT)

Focal Passages: 1 John 1:1-4; Rev. 1:8, 1 John 5:20-21.

Jesus has always been the only Way

  • Read 1 John 1:1a. Where is the first mention of Jesus Christ in Scripture?
  • Read Genesis 1:26. Who was God referring to?
  • Read John 1:1. What did John write about Jesus’ existence? Why was He called the Word?
  • Read John 14:6 and 17:21. What did Jesus say of Himself?
  • Why and Where do people look everywhere else for happiness, rather than Jesus Christ?
  • Why does the church exist? To whom did Jesus give the responsibility to proclaim the one way to heaven?
  • Who prowls the earth as a roaring lion? Why? Why is Jesus the only one who can deliver us from the mouth of the  one who seeks to devour us?

Jesus became like us to save us

  • Read John 1:14, then 11-13. What happened when Jesus came to earth?
  • Read 1 John 1:1b. John wanted to make sure that he was believed; why was his testimony certain? John spoke of seeing and touching Jesus; why was he emphasizing that He was fully man, yet fully God?
  • Read John 1:15. What did John the Baptist (not the apostle) say of Jesus?
  • Read John 12:27. Why did Jesus say that He had come for this hour?
  • Read John 3:36. What will happen to those who reject Jesus as Savior?

Jesus came to give us life

  • Read 1 John 1:2b. How does John reaffirm the statement Jesus made in John 14:6?
  • Read John 3:14-16 and 1 John 5:13. How are we promised eternal life?
  • Read John 5:24. Why did Jesus continue to tell the people how to have eternal life? Can Jesus lie? How do you know?

Jesus came to bring us home

  • Read John 6:67-69. Have you ever been this discouraged? What did you conclude? Read Acts 4:12. Why is this verse so full of hope?
  • Read John 10:28. Do we have to worry that Jesus will somehow let us go?
  • Read John 14:1-3. Do you ever doubt the words of Jesus? What do you do?
  • Read 1 John 5:20-21. What are some of the things that can take first place in our hearts, rather than God? Why do people reject Him?

Close: 

Recently a very moving conversation was had between an older adult and a young person. The subject was the airplanes that flew into the Twin Towers on Sept. 11, 2001. The young person had read there was no evidence of planes uncovered in the debris, while the older person had seen the news channels the morning of the attack and watched in anguish as thousands were killed. Fortunately, this was before fake news was as prevalent as now. The young person listened with complete trust as the truth was told.

It has been only nineteen years since that fateful day. It is easy, then, to see how the deity, birth, death, and resurrection of Christ could be attacked, being two thousand years ago! Especially as the sinfulness of mankind seems to be growing worse and worse. Few want a religion that is based on one way to heaven, rather than a broad, wide way that allows any belief. No wonder John had to be alert to always present the Gospel in a timely manner whenever possible, and with clear truthfulness. As do we!

Faith, the evidence of things not seen, persuades us to believe in Jesus Christ as God’s only begotten Son. He was made flesh, fully God yet fully man, gave Himself willingly to die on a cruel cross for the sins of mankind, was buried, three days later rose again by His own power, and ascended to heaven. Now He waits for the Father to say, “Go, get your children!” May our faith never falter as we wait for the sound of the trumpet!

/by