The Word of God reads us follows. 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. May the Lord add a blessing to the reading and the hearing of his word. Well, amen, amen. We do thank the Lord this morning that he has been gracious enough, that he has granted us his favor that he indeed hears and answers our prayers. The Lord has been good to us. And for this we can say thank you, and we can sing. Thank you, Lord. Amen. Once again, the Lord has graciously given us another opportunity, another Lord's day, in which we can gather together. And as a congregation, give thanks, as a congregation, encourage each other's hearts, once again, on this side to remind each other that the Lord is good, that he has been good, and he continues to be so. If you are visiting here with us this morning, let me say welcome to you. So glad that the Lord would bring you the fellowship here at East Point Church. It is our desire and it will be our pleasure to serve you in any way that we possibly can. So please, if you have any questions or need anything that we could do for you, please do not hesitate to ask. It would be our pleasure and our privilege to serve you in any way that we possibly can. And we extend that also to those who are listening by way of our online live stream. So glad that you would log in. And thank you. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to ask. We are here to serve in any way that we possibly can. We are beginning a new series this morning. And we just wrapped up a series from Psalm 23, and as is our practice here at East Point Church, we go from Old Testament to New Testament, from New Testament to Old Testament. And now we are back in the New Testament, amen. Amen. So that we would give attention to the whole council of God. This morning we began the eighth series which promises to be a lengthy one on the gospel of John. Amen. I don't promise that it will be a lengthy one. John promises that it would be a lengthy one. And so let's buckle down for a little bit and dig in even this morning. This morning I want to do as we usually do when we begin our series, a little overview of the gospel of John. We want to do kind of a survey of the book and pick out some of the major themes that we will be returning to again and again. And so I apologize already if we go a little long this morning as we have quite a bit to cover. But it's all right. It's okay. God has you here anyway. Amen. Amen. Well, let's pray and ask the Lord to bless us as we meditate upon his most precious and inspired words this morning. Heavenly Father, Lord, we thank you that you hear our prayers. We thank you that you know just how much we can bear because you come and you bear our heavy loads for us. You bear them with us. You take our yoke upon you and you give us yours because yours is easy and yours is light. We thank you, Lord Jesus, for all that you are and all that you do. Be with us now by your spirit. Grant us your anointing that our minds and our hearts and even our eyes would see Jesus and all the glory and all the honor and all the majesty that he so rightly deserves. Grant us this privilege this morning. We pray in Jesus name. Amen. The question is asked in the Bible what must I do to be saved? Now this is arguably I would I would say at the single most important question in the Bible which is filled with poignant and important and significant questions. You find them all throughout the scriptures when Adam and Eve rebelled and 8th of the forbidden fruit and consequence to that they thought it was best to try to hide from God. The Bible says in Genesis chapter 3 and verse 9 that God acts. Adam, where are you? After Cain killed his brother Abel and planned the first episode of how to get away with murder God confronted him about the whereabouts of his brother. And Cain replied in Genesis 4 and 9 Am I my brother's keeper? Interesting question is it not. The psalmist and contemplating the gracious omniscience and omnipresence of God and Psalm 139 and 7 raised the question where can I go from your spirit? Where can I hide from your presence? In response to Jobe's inquisitions and implied accusations God shut the mouth of Job with just one simple question in Job 38 and 4. Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth? From Paul in complete confidence in the sustaining and the satisfying and securing power of God acts the rhetorical question in Romans 8 and 31 if God is for us who could be against us? And Jesus himself raised the stakes on this life and cut to the heart of everyone who has ever dared to consider what it means to be a Christian when he acts in Mark chapter 8 and 36 what shall it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses his soul? These are profound questions. Beloved them. There are many more in Scripture and most of them challenge who we are. They challenge how we are living our lives. That's what the right question sends to do. Don't they? And yet as profound and significant as these questions are, I would suggest to you that the single most important question was not asked by Abraham or Moses. It was not asked by Paul or even Jesus. It was posed by a lonely and a lonely and a scared prison guard in the city of Philippine. In Acts chapter 16 and verse 30 where with fear and trembling this guard acts Paul and Silas. Sir, what must I do to be saved? That is the question, isn't it? This is the question that must be asked. This is the question that must be answered. To know the answer to this question and therefore to be able to give it at the appointed time is the difference between bondage and freedom? Is the difference between life and death? Is the difference between heaven and hell? This is the central question. There ought to be the chief concern of every man and what must I do to be saved? Thankfully, the gospel of John was written to answer this question. What must I do to be saved? Well, Paul and Silas didn't hesitate in answering the question. Did they, in Acts chapter 16 and verse 31, they said clearly and without horns, believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved. Now, after they told him the answer, what do you envision the next question probably was? Right. I don't know what been for me. Who is Jesus? That's where John comes in. That's where John comes in. The gospel of John plainly says as has already been read in our hearing. Jesus performed many other signs in the presence of his disciples which are not recorded in this book. But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah. That's who he is. That you might believe that he is the Son of God and that believing you may have life in his. This is the reason the gospel of John comes to us and this beloved, this, this here is what by the grace of God we will seek to discover more and more and more and more in the weeks and the months to come. Who Jesus? The Bible gives us four books of what we refer to as the gospels, right? Or the good news of the life and teachings of Jesus Christ. Each gospel, Matthew, Mark and Luke and John each gospel, while displaying a unity of revelation contributes, contributes something you unique to our understanding of who Jesus is. Matthew's focus is on Jesus as the king of the Jews. Mark's focus is on Jesus as the servant of the Lord. Luke's focus is on Jesus as the Son of man. John, unique contribution and focus as he said already is upon Jesus the Son of God. Son of God. And then for John, more than any of the other gospel accounts reveals to us the uniqueness of Jesus and reminding us again and again of his eternal divine nature. John reminds us that he is God. Jesus, the eternal Son of God. Well, we'll find that you study through the gospel of John is that the language of the gospel of John is simple, simple, simple language. It's not very deep. John does not write with the long words or eloquence or complexity of language that you find in Dr. Luke. He doesn't write with the strong and lengthy theological arguments of the Apostle Paul. But John was a simple man. He was a fisherman by trade. And every day God and every day guy who was called of Jesus to be an apostle. And therefore like his life when John writes, he keeps it simple. And yet simple does not mean simplistic, beloved. Although he is simple, John's gospel is waiting. Though the language is easy, what he records is deep. No other gospel or even I would suggest to you no other book of the Bible gives us a deeper dive, a deeper look into the heart and soul of Jesus than does John. No other book reveals our Savior's passions and his life of prayer. Like does the gospel of John. It is John who gives us some of the most well-known and beloved words and moments in Jesus' life. Doesn't it? It is John who in which we find that most familiar verse of scripture in John chapter 3 and verse 16 for God so loved the world. It gave his only son and whoever believes in him should not perish but have everlasting life. This is John. It is John that we hear the comfort team and the reassuring words of Jesus and John 14 verses 1 through 2. Where Jesus said, do not let your heart be troubled. You believe in God? Believe also in me and my father's house are many rooms. And if it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And where I am? You may be also. This we find in John. It is John that we learn of the deep affection that Jesus has for his beloved and when he gets to the tomb of Lazarus, the Bible says in the shortest verse in the Bible, John 1135, remarkably, simply Jesus went, Jesus. And it is John that we hear our Lord's final and most important words before his death on the cross in John 19 and 30 where Jesus says it is finished is many of us no doubt this morning if I was to take a survey. Many of us have found the gospel of John to be particularly encouraging and particularly helpful doing our own Christian growth. How many, how many young new Christians have found John to be the launching pad for their Christian life? How many of us this morning have been introduced to Jesus Christ through the gospel of John? How many of us have been moved to trust and rejoice in Jesus because of the gospel of John? Well, that should be appropriate for love it. That is rightly so because this is the reason why it was written. It was written that we might know him. It was written that we might rejoice in knowing him. It is written so that we would believe in him. It was written so that we might trust in him. It was written so that we might know the joy of knowing Jesus. For the rest of our time this morning, that's what I want to do unpack for us. Who wrote it because that is significant? You'll see. Who wrote it? How he wrote it? And why he wrote it? Who wrote it? How he wrote it? And why he wrote it? Well, who wrote it? Obviously, right? John. John. Under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, we see that the gospel is named after John. There should be enough John doesn't name himself. As Paul does in many of his letters or as Peter does in his correspondence, John doesn't name himself in the gospel of John as the writer. But this is not unusual. None of the gospels do. None of the gospel writers put their name on their writings and mention themselves directly. But I want to suggest to you this morning that there is significant and substantial and satisfactory evidence for the authorship of the gospel of John being by the disciple, the apostle, John himself. A couple of things. First of all, whoever wrote this, the author was an eyewitness of the accounts. The author was an eyewitness of these accounts. The writer of the fourth gospel is someone who was present. He was there. He talks about the things he saw. And John, chapter 1 and verse 14, the Bible says, the word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory. I didn't hear about the glory of Christ. The writer says, I saw it. John, chapter 21 and verse 24, the writer says, this is the disciple who testifies to these things and who wrote them down. We know that his testimony is true. Notice he calls himself a disciple and thus verifies the fact that this is an eyewitness account. The one who wrote this was a disciple. He was there. And therefore given validity to the testimony of his eyewitness account. Notice what it says to John, chapter 19 and verse 35. The man who saw it has given testimony and his testimony is true. He knows that he tells the truth and he testifies so that you also may believe. Again, beloved, his record of these events is first hand. His record of these events is primary source. The writer of this gospel is not telling you what he heard. That's what Luke did. John says, I'm telling you what I know. The writer of the fourth gospel says, over and over again, I was there. Or as John would say, I was in the room where it happened. I was in the room where it happened. In fact, I want to suggest to you this morning that the only ones who were always in the room where it happened were Peter, James and John. Always in the room where it happened. They were the members of the inner circle who if anybody went with Jesus, if anybody was present with Jesus, it was Peter, James and John. Well, we know that the writer of the fourth gospel can't be Peter because the writer mentions Peter apart from himself. And we know that it can't be James because James died too early and early on was murdered in the church. That leaves us John. Has to be John. And we know this because John was present at the most significant events. John was privy to the most intimate conversation as the writer said, I was there. I was there when he turned water in the wine. I was there when he walked upon the raging sea. I was there on the Mount of Transfiguration when we beheld his glory. I was there when Lazarus came alive and came walking three after three days in the tomb. I was there at the last supper when Jesus said to Judas, what you do, you do quickly. And he says, I was there on Calvary's Hill when they placed the cross in the ground. And I was there when from his brow the blood came streaming down. John says, I'm not telling you what I heard. I'm telling you what I know. Doesn't that make all the difference? That makes all the difference. We all give testimony. We all give testimony to what we read. We all give testimony to what we hear. We all give testimony to what we're taught. But the real difference is made is when we give testimony to what we know. When you tell somebody about Jesus, it is great to tell them what you read. It is awesome to tell them about what you heard. But the real difference comes when you tell them what you know about how good the Lord has been to you. That you have seen his hand upon your life that you have experienced his greats and his mercy and his goodness. And you can look them in the face and say, I'm not telling you what I heard. I'm telling you what I know. John says, I was there when he was not only there, present, the beloved. He was there, loved, proven over again. The writer of this gospel refers to himself as the disciple whom Jesus loved. The author refers to himself over and over again as the beloved disciple. In fact, this is the favorite way that he refers to himself. Rather than call his own name, he refers to himself as the disciple whom Jesus loved. And this beloved assures us that the one who wrote this gospel wasn't just there, but he was close to Jesus. He felt intimacy with Jesus. And so five times, five times no less. He calls himself the most beloved of the disciples. In John chapter 13 and verse 23, speaking of the time that they are there in the upper room, he says, one of them, the disciple whom Jesus loved, was reclining next to him. In John 19 and in 26, they're at the cross. Jesus is on the cross. One of the last words of Jesus, the Bible said that when Jesus saw his mother end the disciple whom he loved, standing near by, he said to his mother, woman, behold your son. In John chapter 20, in verse 2, after Mary had gone, seen the empty tomb, the Bible says she went running and she went to find Simon and who else? The other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved, Simon, Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved. Love is the only one who's hanging out with Peter like that. John chapter 21, after Jesus had been resurrected into the disciples, go out fishing and they're fishing once again. The Bible says in 21 and verse 7, Jesus comes and he appears to them on the shore. And that disciple whom Jesus loved, therefore said to Peter, Peter, look, it is the Lord, the disciple, 21. Verse 20, as the gospel is coming to an end. Jesus is meeting with Peter and one other disciple. As probably was his practice, Peter turned and saw the disciple whom Jesus loved, following him. And one who also leaned back against him doing the supper and said, Lord, who is it that is going to betray you? This is the one, beloved, who appeared closest to the Lord. This is the one who would see that next to him at the last supper. This is the one whom Jesus gave the responsibility of caring and looking after his mother. This is the one who seemed to know the heart of the Lord and spoke most deeply about the affections of Jesus. This is the one who spoke most clearly about the love of God. John chapter 3 and verse 16 that God so loved the world because he knew himself to be beloved. This is the one who records for us in John chapter 15 and verse 13 that there is no greater love than the love of one who lays down his life for another. And this is the one. This is John, beloved, who will later describe love in the greatest terms possible in 1 John chapter 4 and verse 10. This is love, he says, not that we love God, but that he loved us and sent his son as a toning sacrifice for our sin. This is John. You know, is it no wonder that the gospel of John has been called the gospel of love? When did we find the expressions of God's love for us and the commands for us to love one another? It was for her who says, I want to know what love is. Well, well, all you have to do is read the eyewitness account found in the gospel of John. It was Tina Turner who said, what's love got to do with it? Well, according to the beloved apostle John and his gospel, love has everything to do with it. The evidence is clear. I think, beloved, and this beloved apostle, this eyewitness of these accounts, it's none other than the disciple John himself, the beloved apostle, the lover of Jesus, the one whom Jesus loved. That you wrote it. Well, next question, we need to answer is, how did he write it? How did he write it? I want to suggest to you this morning, as we continue in this study, we're going to find that John had a method in communicating the message of the Father's love to us and Jesus Christ. Again, each of the gospel has a message in their method, right? Matthew uses, Matthew speaks of Jesus as the king of the Jews, and in doing so, Jesus uses more Old Testament references than any of the other gospels. Mark is presenting Jesus as the servant of the Lord, the one who comes to destroy the works of the enemy, and therefore it's full of action and encounters with, of Jesus with the enemy forces. Luke presents the humanity of Christ and has longer narratives and interactions of Jesus with people particularly Gentiles and sinners. But John comes to present to us the Son of God, God himself, the divine nature of Christ as the eternal Son of God. And he does this, but I have in some remarkable ways, he does this by using the number of seven, the number of perfection. The number seven, over and over again, we ought to come to this in the gospel of John. He records for us seven signs that Jesus did. He records for us seven signs, the water and the wine, and chapter two, the healing of the official Son, and chapter four, the healing of the layman, and chapter five, the feeding of the five thousand and chapter six, talking on the water and chapter six, the healing of the blind men and chapter nine, the raising of Lazarus from the dead in chapter 11. Now it's only seven signs that John used this, but he reminds us, doesn't it, doesn't he? In John chapter 20 and verse 30, he reminds us that these were not the only signs that Jesus did. But these signs have been chosen for a purpose. These signs were chosen so that you and I might know who this is and knowing, believe, and trust and be saved. It's a method in his message. It's a purpose in what he proclaims. Seven signs. For these signs point to salvation. These signs point to Jesus as the God who saves. These signs work in conjunction with the seven saints of Jesus. The seven I am saints of Jesus. Not only does John use seven signs, but he also uses the seven I am saints. This is where we find them. I love it. And these seven give further evidence and indication and the uniqueness of the divine nature that is Jesus Christ. Where Jesus, like Jehovah in the Old Testament, Jesus says, I am. I am. And seven times, John, records this for us. In chapter six, Jesus said, I am the bread of life. In chapter eight, Jesus said, I am the light of the world. In chapter 10, Jesus said, I am the door. In chapter 10, he goes on to say, that I am the good shepherd. In chapter 11, he says, I am the way the truth and the light. In chapter 15, he says, I am the true vine. Reminensive of God, there on Mount, on the mountain where he meets Moses and tells Moses, I am that I am. Jesus comes and walks. The rolls of Palestine. And when he opens his mouth, he proclaims, I am that I am. That's why we sing, Mary, did you know? That's your baby boy. It's Lord of all creation. Mary, did you know that your baby boy would heal the nations? Did you know that your baby boy was heaven's perfect lamb and the sleepy child that you're holding is the great I am. Mary, did you know? Well, we know, because John tells us, John testifies to the fact that Mary's child is the great. The writing, he's going to bring out over and over again, the glory and the majesty of Christ as the one who came down, full of glory and truth, grace and healing, salvation for all who believe. This is how he wrote it. We know who wrote it. The last question we want to ask this morning, is why you wrote? Why was John inspired to pin this account of Jesus' life? Why did the Spirit lead John to write the gospel of John? Who did he have in mind? Well, beloved, first of all, it's always good to remember that first of all, like all things, John wrote for the glory of Christ. He wrote for the glory and the majesty of Christ. He wrote to make much of Jesus this gospel is proof that Jesus is who Jesus said he is. This gospel is proof that Jesus is the son of God with power over life and death. This gospel is proof that Jesus is the Word of God made fresh. That Jesus is the one in whom and through whom and for whom and by whom we now worship. This gospel is proof that Jesus is the focus of our worship. This gospel is proof that Jesus is the center of our joy. He was the center of the tabernacle in the wilderness. This is what this gospel will remind us. He was the center of the temple in Jerusalem. This is what this gospel will remind us. He is at the center of the church now. This is what this gospel will remind us and he will forever be at the center of the works of the saints and the angels for all eternity. This is what this gospel will remind us. Revelation chapter 1 and verse 18. He is the one who was who is and who forever shall be at the center of all things. This is what John reminds us. Jesus is all in all. Jesus is everything. Jesus is the center of our joy. He wrote for the glory and the majesty of Christ. Secondly, he wrote for the good of his brothers and sisters. He wrote for the glory of Christ. He wrote for our good. Is that what he says? Verse 31, chapter 20. That we would believe and by believing had eternal life through Jesus. This is the point I love it. That we will see over and over again. What must I do to be saved? Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and John declares who the Lord Jesus Christ is. He is the Word of God who took on flesh and dwelt among us. He is the Lamb of God who comes to take away our sin. He is the light of men who overcome the darkness of this world. He is the bread of life who satisfies our deepest hunger. He is the living water who quenches our every thirst. He is the truth and the only way to God. He is the resurrection and the life through him he who was dead is now alive forever more. But love it. He is the reason for the season. He is the pep in your step so that you might believe and believe have eternal life in him. The only question left. Do you want to know him? If you want to know him, he's here to support you. Revealing himself as a Lord who has come to save. And all those who call upon the name of Jesus this morning can and will be saved. The Bible says, clearly, the Lord, God's so loved one. And he gave his only son that whoever believes in him will not perish. But I have everlasting life. That life is available this morning for all those who would believe. Would you believe? Are you trusting in the Lord Jesus Christ as your Savior? Do you know him? He has revealed himself. He delights. He's here to save all those who come unto him. No one who calls upon the name of Jesus will be turned away. All those who come unto him will be saved. You need to come unto Jesus this morning, right where you are, right now. I want to pray for us this morning. I want to pray, indeed, as we continue to study this beloved gospel that we would know what it means to know Jesus. That we would know what it means to trust Jesus. Believe Jesus. That we would know what it means to be saved. There's anyone here this morning who stands in the need of believing and trusting in knowing Jesus. I want to pray for you this morning. The Lord says, come, come, come. Just come. He's willing. He's able to forgive and to save all those who come unto him through Jesus Christ. Come this morning. Let's pray. Heavenly Father.