Ep 315 – John Introduction

Today, we begin a new study in the gospel of John. One of the things that sets the gospel of John apart from the other three gospels is its emphasis on Jesus' deity. He gives the purpose statement behind his gospel in the last two verses of the final chapter: "Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name." He wanted his readers to believe in the deity of Jesus. He was the God/Man, God incarnate. He was not just another rabbi, teacher, moralist, or martyr. Jesus was God in human flesh, who was sent on a mission by His Father to redeem man from the condemnation of sin and the penalty of death. He was the long-awaited Messiah, the Christ, who came to pay the penalty for man's sin and offer His life as a substitutionary atonement for all those who believed. Belief will be a key word throughout the gospel, with the more traditional Greek word for faith, pistis, never used once. As we work our way through this phenomenal book, be sure to read along each day so that you get the full flavor of the text we will be covering. This podcast is meant to compensate your reading of God's Word, not replace it. So, get out your Bible and let's get started with the Gospel of John.