TEXT:  John 20:30-31

INTRODUCTION:

A.      THE PURPOSE OF THE GOSPEL: ( John 20:30-31 ).

B.      THIS PURPOSE IS ACCOMPLISHED BY PRESENTING THE EVIDENCE.

C.      A GOOD PART OF THIS EVIDENCE CONSISTS OF THE CLAIMS OF JESUS.

I.      CLAIMS OF JESUS IN REGARD TO HIS RELATION TO GOD.

A.      HE CLAIMED TO HAVE COME FROM GOD( John 3:13;  6:33-35a; 8:42 ).

B.      JESUS CLAIMED TO HAVE KNOWN GOD:

          1.       ginosko - signifies a close, familiar relationship in which there is mutual

                   approval( John 10:15;  17:25 ).

          2.       eido - to know from observation( John 8:55 ).

C.      HE HAS SEEN GOD( John 6:46 ).

D.      HE REVEALS GOD( John 12:44-45;  14:7-9 ).

E.      HE IS EQUAL WITH GOD( John 5:17-18;  5:23-24 --- 9:38;  20:28 ).

F.      HE DOES THE WORKS OF GOD:

          1.       Came in his Father's name( 5:43 ) to do his work( 4:34 ).

                   a.       He gives life( 5:21 ), literally( 5:28-29 ) and spiritually( 5:25-27 ).

                   b.       He judges( 5:21-22;  8:15-16;  12:48;  3:17-18 ).

          2.       The Father works through him( 5:17, 19, 36, 37, 43 ).

G.      HE POSSESSES THE ATTRIBUTES OF GOD:

          1.       Eternity( 8:58;  17:5 ).

          2.       Omnipotence manifested in his miracles and epitomized in the raising of

                   Lazarus( 11:11 ).

          3.       Omniscience demonstrated( 4:16-18, 29 ).

          4.       Omnipresence through the Spirit( 14:16-18; 28 ).

          5.       Humanness( 4:6;  19:28;  5:27 ).

II.     JESUS AND HIS RELATION TO THE MESSIANIC HOPE.

A.      JESUS CLAIMED TO BE THE MESSIAH( John 4:25-26;  8:24;  10:24-25 ).

B.      HE ACKNOWLEDGED HIMSELF TO BE A KING( John 6:15;  18:36-37 ).

C.      HE CLAIMED TO BE THE PROPHET PROMISED BY MOSES

          ( Deut. 18:18-19;  John 12:48-50 ).

D.      HE CONFESSED THAT HE WAS GOD'S SON( John 9:35-37;  3:16 ).

E.      HE REFERS TO HIMSELF AS THE SON OF MAN( John 3:13 ).

          1.       This qualifies him as a judge( John 5:27 ).

          2.       It qualifies him a a mediator( John 16:23-24 ).

          3.       As the Son of man he defeated Satan( Gen. 3:15;  12:31 ).

F.      HE IS THE GOOD SHEPHERD( Ez. 35:17-36;  John 10:1-18 ).

III.    THE CLAIMS OF JESUS IN RELATION TO HUMAN NEEDS.

A.      HE IS OUR SAVIOR - SAVES US FROM SIN AND GIVES US LIFE.

          1.       He is the source of Life( 8:34-36;  5:39-40 ).

          2.       For the believer, this life is eternal( 3:36;  5:24 ).

B.      HE IS THE WATER OF LIFE( 4:10, 13-14 ).

C.      HE IS THE BREAD OF LIFE( 6:33-35 ).

D.      HE IS THE LIGHT( 8:12;  12:35-36 ).

E.      HE IS THE WAY, THE TRUTH, THE LIFE( 14:6 ).

F.      HE IS THE VINE - THE SOURCE OF NOURISHMENT AND MEANS

          THROUGH WHICH FRUIT IS BORNE( 15:1-8 ).

G.      HE IS THE RESURRECTION AND THE LIFE( 11:25-26 ).

          1.       Of his own life he said( 10:18 ).

          2.       Of those who believe on him he said( 6:40 ).

CONCLUSION:

A.      DO YOU BELIEVE THE CLAIMS THAT JESUS MADE FOR HIMSELF?

B.      THEN WHY NOT OBEY HIS COMMAND TO BE BAPTIZED( Mark 16:16 ).