B (6:09)

Yeah, John 20:31 is. But these things are written that. Or 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.

C (6:17)

Now, where is the cross of Christ mentioned there?

B (6:20)

It's not mentioned by name in that verse, but all the things in this book were written. And then I think it's the same in John chapter three.

C (6:28)

But if you read the preceding verse, it's talking about signs that Jesus did. Right? Many other signs Jesus did than those who are written in this book. But these are written. These signs are written that you may believe. It's seven signs leading up to the greatest sign, which is Jesus, death and resurrection. So, yes, we don't deny the necessity of telling people who Jesus is. When this controversy broke out, people were saying that Hodges was saying you could believe in a frog named Jesus and have eternal life, or you could believe your gardener Jesus gave you eternal life or something like that. That's ridiculous. It has to be the Jesus of scripture. It has to be the person who made this statement. And Hodges wasn't trying to deny that with his deserted island illustration.

A (7:20)

We will rejoin in just a moment. But years ago, Zane Hodges wrote the Gospel Under Siege. Sadly, this is still true. And GES president Bob Wilkin has recently written its sequel. Bob's new book, the Gospel is Still Under Siege, is a book about theological clarity on the biblical teaching about eternal salvation. It is available now. Secure yours today at the Grace Evangelical Society's bookstore. Find it@faithalone.org store. That's faithalone.org store. Now back to today's content in John.

C (7:56)

20:31, what the bullseye is? Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God. Right. And that by believing that, you have life in his name. Who? Well, he explains that in John 11, 25, 27. So why don't we look there? This is Jesus talking to Martha, and it's one of the great I am statements.

B (8:15)

Jesus said to her, I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?

C (8:25)

And then her answer, yes, Lord, I believe.

B (8:28)

That you are the Christ, the Son of God, who has come into the world.

C (8:31)

Okay, did he say anything about himself being the Christ, the Son of God who has come into the world?

B (8:36)

He did not.

C (8:36)

And what did he ask her?

B (8:38)

He asked her, do you believe this?

C (8:40)

And what's the this?

B (8:41)

That I am the resurrection of the life. He who believes in me, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever believes in me shall never die.

C (8:47)

And I've asked people at churches all over the country, what kind of living is he talking about there? He who believes in me, though he may die physically, yet he shall live physically, because Jesus is going to raise him from the dead. This is the promise of glorification. And then he says, as the life, verse 26a, he who lives and believes in me shall never die. Because Jesus is everlasting life. The life he gives to people will never die. They're secure forever. And when he asks her, do you believe this? He isn't asking her, do you believe I'm going to die on the cross for your sins? Do you believe I'm God in the flesh? Do you believe I'm going to rise from the dead on the third day? He's not asking her any of that. He's asking, do you believe that I guarantee resurrection and everlasting life to those who believe in me? It's really quite simple. And so in answer to Eric's question about how much does a person need to understand about Jesus in order to be born again? Well, they need to believe what Jesus told the woman at the well. You need to know the gift of God, which he explains in verse 14 of John 4, is everlasting life. And you need to know who it is who says to you, give me a drink, and he will give you that living water. And he goes on to explain in verses 25 and 26 that he is the Messiah. She says, we know Messiah is coming. He reveal all things to us. He said, I who speak to you am he. So we need to believe in the Johannine sense that Jesus is the Messiah, the Christ, the one who guarantees everlasting life to the believer.

B (10:30)

But in the short time I've been working at ges, I've noticed that's a very common point of contention for people with ges, the crossless Gospel, and accusations like that. But the reason we're so particular on it is not because we want to evangelize without mentioning the cross or the tomb or the resurrection or the rest of scripture, and it's because other people are evangelizing without mentioning eternal life or belief in the Messiah. They are saying there's this cross and some guy died on it. And as long as you know he died on it, then your sins are forgiven. And I would say, what does that cross mean? Who is that guy? And what does having your sins forgiven do to a dead person?

C (11:10)

Right.

B (11:11)

So what we're saying is you use the term bullseye. That's honing on the bullseye. But that doesn't mean the rest of the. The target, I guess, in that illustration would be. It's still all on target. But the bullseye is here's the moment someone you know, there's a lot of lead up when you're evangelizing. And then boom, in a second they receive everlasting life because they've been convinced they believe. And then after that, it's their walk with the Lord, hopefully walking in the light. But that's why it's so important to hone in on this. But not because we're trying to exclude the Gospel in the wide sense, but. But we need to hone in on the important part.

C (11:47)

Yeah. Is it possible for a person to believe in the Lord Jesus Christ for everlasting life and yet not have a doctorate in New Testament studies?

B (11:58)

I really hope so.

C (11:59)

I hope so or there wouldn't be many people. Because most of the people who have doctorates in New Testament studies either never or no longer believe that simply by faith in Jesus they have everlasting life. Because that's not what taught in most Bible colleges and seminaries that offer doctorates. A child can believe in Jesus. We really get off into the weeds if we start trying to tell people, you need to believe these seven facts about Jesus before you can believe John 3:16. Nowhere did he say, you need to believe all these facts about me. The facts you need to believe are he guarantees everlasting life to those who believe in him. That's it. It's simple. And in the meantime, let's keep grace in focus.

A (12:45)

Read many from our library of thousands of free magazine and journal articles online@faithalone.org resources. That's faithalone.org did you miss an episode of Grace in Focus that you really wanted to hear? Just come to faithalone.org and that's faithalone.org we have all our past episodes right there on the site. Our team is really great about answering questions, comments, and feedback. If you've got some, we hope to hear from you. Let me give you our email address so you can do just that. It's radioaithalone.org that's radioaithalone.org Friend, we are so thankful for you joining us Monday through Friday right here for Grace in Focus. Now. We wish you a great weekend, hope you'll join us again on Monday. And in the meantime, let's keep Grace in focus. The proceeding has been a listener supported ministry from the Grace Evangelical Society.