Jesus isnt praying for people to know about god, but to know god in a. The gospel of john, from which all the following verses come, was given to present christ and this eternal state. The gospel of john is the fourth of the canonical gospels. The gospel of john reveals that jesus is god in human form. John presents eternal life as something given and for a believer, already acquired. We are invited to enter into a personal relationship with jesus christ, whom we can trust implicitly because he is the son of god. It is in fact one of the main implications of the gospel itself.
Carson puts it the gospel according to john eerdmansapollos, p. Find biblical answers to common questions about heaven and eternity, such as how to gain eternal life, can you earn eternal life and more. As an eyewitness to the love and power displayed in the miracles of jesus, john gives us an upclose and personal look at christs identity. How is the gospel of john distinctive in its understanding of eternal life. An classic painting of john the apostle when he was young. Eternal life is a term that christians leisurely toss around like a frisbee at the church picnic. Just as moses in the book of exodus prescribed the sacrificial lamb must be eaten for the firstborn son to have life at the passover, so we must partake of jesus, the lamb of god, at the eucharistic sacrifice to have eternal life. John wants his readers to believe that jesus is the christ and thus have eternal life 20. Eternal life in the gospel of john is used not only in a quantitative sense describing duration, but also in a qualitative sense where gods people enjoy a life of a different and higher character.
This gift is in contrast to the death that is the natural result of sin. When the bible speaks of eternal life, it refers to a gift of god that comes only through jesus christ our lord romans 6. John s gospel positions eternal life around the person of jesus, the christ. The bible inextricably links eternal life with the person of jesus christ. Second, jesus affirms that accepting these commandments is a pathway to eternal life.
And according to the gospel of john, we can enter right now in the enjoyment of that life. Johns gospel quotes jesus explicitly saying this is eternal life, that they may know you, the only true god, and jesus christ whom you have sent. Extract johns gospel in eternal life philosophical investigations. Unlike luke, john does not aim to chronicle the whole life of christin fact, john doesnt think the world. The gospel of john is a unique perspective of the life of jesus christ. Series vodlife of jesus the gospel of john and truly jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book. These things have i written unto you that believe on the name of the son of god. John 4 niv jesus talks with a samaritan woman bible. Full length feature film produced in 2003 portraying the life of jesus christ as written by his disciple john.
First, the obeying of commandments, in marks gospel, is one of the paths to eternal life. Jesus was sent by the father to give eternal life to believers. The gospel of john was written to prove that jesus christ is the son of god. He shows us that jesus, though fully god, came in the flesh to distinctly and accurately reveal god, and that christ is the source of eternal life to all who believe in him. For god so loved the world that he gave his only son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but have eternal life john 3. All ideas of god which deviate from or fall short of the father revealed to us by christ, are not the veritable god, and the knowledge of them. The very purpose of johns gospel was that you may believe that jesus is the christ, the son of god, and that by believing you may have life in his name jn 20. It is life of critical soteriological importance because it endures despite the reality of physical death. Mar 14, 2020 there are four versions of the life of jesus in the new testament but, lets face it, everyone has a favorite. The focus of eternal life is not on our future, but on our current standing in christ. General introduction to the johannine literature prologue to the gospel of eternal life the gospel of eternal life epilogue to the gospel of eternal life. There are four versions of the life of jesus in the new testament but, lets face it, everyone has a favorite. Jesus states that he brings life to its full john 10.
The gospel of john is the gospel of eternal life, and this is the life jesus came to give p. For god so loved the world, that he gave his only son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. He that believeth on the son of god, hath the witness in himself. This is not eternal life as the author of the gospel of john proclaims it. It presents, better than any other book in the bible, the single condition for receiving eternal life. For most people, that preferred version is the gospel of john. The life eternal, of which jesus has just spoken, is this cf.
Aug 07, 2018 if youve ever studied the book of john, you might assume its all about eternal life. Everlasting life has a beginning but no end, while eternal life has no beginning and no end. They are signs that inspire us to trust and believe in him. Jul 15, 2018 johns gospel quotes jesus explicitly saying this is eternal life, that they may know you, the only true god, and jesus christ whom you have sent. Johns gospel in eternal life philosophical investigations. The very purpose of johns gospel was that you may believe that jesus is the christ, the son. Life is translated from three greek wordsone more than any. What follows is every occurrence of life in the gospel of john. Jan 02, 2020 we find similar presenttense constructions in john 5.
This purpose was one that john had in common with the men who wrote the synoptic gospels, but his method for achieving it distinguishes his gospel from the earlier ones. The word life appears 42 times in the esv translation of the gospel of john. This is the glorious news of what god in christ has accomplished for his people. Everyones favorite gospel, the gospel of john, is a forgery. Not only is jesus the messiah, but hes also the son of god who gives eternal life to everyone. This book was written by a disciple whom jesus lovedthe church traditionally attributes it to john john is the fourth and last gospel an account of jesus life and ministry in the new testament. The term eternal does not have of itself a qualitative significance. Use our bible verses by topic page to quickly find scriptures about. The gospel is the lifechanging power of god that brings salvation and eternal life to all who believe. Jan 18, 2019 through this gospel we witness the everlasting power and nature of the creator god, offering eternal life to us through his son, jesus christ. Therefore, much of johns material directly states who jesus is, not just what he does or says. The living water cannot just be eternal life because eternal life is mentioned as the result of drinking the water.
Life in the gospel of john eternal life is the focus. The manna, thought to have been hidden by jeremiah 2 mc 2. It gives a highly schematic account of the ministry of jesus, with seven signs culminating in the raising of lazarus foreshadowing the resurrection of jesus and seven i am discourses culminating in thomass proclamation of the risen jesus as my lord and my god. Eternal life foundation truths of the gospel john ritchie. First, the book clearly establishes that jesus christ is the jewish messiah that was prophesied in the old testament of the bible. And this is eternal life, that they may know thee, the only true god, and jesus christ whom thou hast sent. And this is eternal life, that they may know you, the only true god, and jesus christ whom you have sent.
It is unique in its nature, in both quantity and quality, and it comes by knowing god through his son, jesus christ. And the term eternal life itself occurs seventeen times in the gospel of john. But what if john has something differentand much more jewishin mind. Many of us go straight to its most famous verse, john 3. The core truth is encapsulated in johns summary of the gospel. John 4 niv jesus talks with a samaritan woman bible gateway. In him was life zoe, and the life zoe was the light of men. John uses life language far more abundantly than the other gospels. This morning in our study were looking at matthew chapter 19 again, and we come in our ongoing study of this great gospel to verses 16 through 22. All ideas of god which deviate from or fall short of the father revealed to us by christ, are not the veritable god, and the knowledge of them is not life eternal. This interpretation here in john 4 is supported by the way jesus uses the same metaphor in john 7 where drinking the water is equated to believing in jesus.
John paul heil is professor of new testament at the catholic university of america. A biblical history the gospel of john is one of four gospels in the holy bible and is the fourth book in chronological order presented in the new testament. John focuses on the deity of christ more so than the other four. But what if john has something differentand much more. The term eternal life is a central theme found in the gospel of john. Eternal life in johns gospel is clearly christocentric. Mary coloe, associate professor, yarra theological union, melbourne wipf and stock publishers about the author. Everlasting life in the bible refers to life that begins at salvation and lasts forever in heaven with god. The very purpose of john s gospel was that you may believe that jesus is the christ, the son of god, and that by believing you may have life in his name jn 20. The gift of eternal life comes to those who believe in jesus christ, who is himself the resurrection and the life john 11. And ye will not come to me, that ye might have life. In the johannine view christ can reveal life to humans because he is life himself. If john knew marks story, he would have at least two problems.
If you would have eternal life, something must change. Eternal life in the gospel of john the bibles in my blood. Christians we have passed from death to life notice the past tense. Life of jesus gospel of john from jesus film project. Jesus becomes human as the incarnation of the creator god of israel, to share his love and the gift of eternal life with the world. Christians have everlasting life, which lasts for the rest of eternity.
Thus this act of the father granting life to the son must, as d. But what if john has something differentand much more robustin mind. You search the scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life. Eternal life is an important concept for john, but it is certainly something more than longevity. This idea is addressed in our forthcoming course, themes in the gospel of john. Mar 19, 20 it is in fact one of the main implications of the gospel itself. The gospel begins with john the baptist calling jesus the lamb of god 1.
But the gospel of john is also great for discipleship. The gospel of john shows that eternal life is given to anyone who simply and only believes in jesus for it john 3. This life is life in its fullness and completeness. By graham grove, march 2007, original article eternal life is a central theme of the gospel of john. Jan 02, 2018 john highlights the gospel the good news that jesus offers us eternal life here and now. Oct 27, 2018 the miracles recorded in johns gospel are written that the reader would believe in jesus and find life in his name jn 20. It varies from the other three gospels of matthew, mark and luke also known as the synoptic gospels, by focusing more on spiritual.
We get at johns understanding in the prayer that jesus prays on behalf of his disciples at the end of the last supper. For god so loved the world that he gave his one and only son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. Thus, unlike the synoptics, in the gospel of john eternal life is not only futuristic, but also pertains to the present. Jan 27, 2017 this interpretation here in john 4 is supported by the way jesus uses the same metaphor in john 7 where drinking the water is equated to believing in jesus. Many other signs therefore jesus also performed in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book, john wrote.
In which ways does the gospel of john explain about. Worship for divine life eternal adds a neglected approach to johannine studies and will be valuable for scholars and pastors. If youve ever studied the book of john, you might assume its all about eternal life. The 3 apostles as well as the apostle paul speaks of eternal life as something promised to come. The eight miracles recorded by john reveal his divine power and love. Everlasting life involves but does not equal everlasting existence, which takes place also in hell. There is an undeniable connection between jesus and eternal life. The gospel of john has many touches that appear to reflect the recollections of an eyewitness such as the house at bethany being filled with the fragrance of the broken perfume jar see 12. John 4 new international version niv jesus talks with a samaritan woman. In which ways does the gospel of john explain about eternal.
Early writers such as irenaeus and tertullian say that john wrote this gospel, and all other evidence agrees see introduction to 1 john. Jesus has come to give us lifeabundant life john 10. Bible verses and scriptures about eternal life read bible scriptures relating to eternal life through the salvation of jesus christ. What the book of john says about eternal life ccw christian. The purpose of this gospel, as stated by john himself, is to show that jesus of nazareth was christ, the son of god, and that believers in him might have eternal life. See photocopy of original oberlin evangelist jan 1, 1839. John is the gospel of belief, and was written to show the world that jesus was the christ, the son of god. These things i have written to you who believe in the name of the son of god, so that you may know that you have eternal life. Throughout the gospel of john, we see that jesus is god and the reality toward which all of israels history points. John s gospel quotes jesus explicitly saying this is eternal life, that they may know you, the only true god, and jesus christ whom you have sent. Everyones favorite gospel, the gospel of john, is a. This life is both a present reality as well as a future hope. Johns gospel positions eternal life around the person of jesus, the christ. So jesus is the living water, and what he offers is himself.
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