On John and the Reason for His Gospel

John 19:35

"He who saw it has borne witness- his testimony is true, and he knows that he is telling the truth that you also may believe."


John 20:30-31

"Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; 31 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."


John 21:24

"This is the disciple who is bearing witness about these things, and who has written about these things, and we know that his testimony is true."


So John wrote this gospel to bear witness about what the Christ did for the expressed purpose of causing belief in you, reader. The implication is that you, prior to belief, have no life and are dead in sin. Therefore, having heard the testimony of John you are to have the eyes of your heart opened to the glorious, wonderful truth that is Jesus Christ, the Son of God and His ministry for you and believes in His name.


So what's belief then?

Belief is the truth of God is presented to you and taking up root in your heart by the Holy Spirit to regenerate/make you alive to God (literally: re-birth John 3:1-18) you into eternal life. One being made alive/raised up does not simply roll back over and go to sleep. By no means! They get up and rejoice and ran after the one who has granted them such a sweet, unmerited gift of life eternal!


The testimony of the witness of the love and grace of God in the Gospel of Jesus Christ produces in the hearer the seeds of eternal life. Whether those seeds are to fall on the fertile or desolate ground is up to God; not us. God raised up Jesus Christ at the proper time; He will raise up the heathen at the proper time should He so chose to do so according to the pleasure of His goodwill.


We are to trust in God when, and if, He chooses to do so. Our job is to love and obey Him in His commands; His job is to save/regenerate the lost; it is only God who can raise them up anyhow. Let us not be prideful enough to think that our intellect, our theology, our arguments could raise anyone up; for we are not God. In the meantime let us be humble in our submission to God and His will; loving toward the heathen and joyful in hope that while there is still breathe in the heathen's lungs there is hope for their salvation yet.