II. Trust God's Son (vs.
9b-12)
So first we trust the Scriptures
(See Part
1). Next we trust the
Son these Scriptures reveal.
Verse 9 continues, "It
is the testimony of God,
which he has given about
his Son." Trust
God's word, and trust God's
Son.
A.
Historians say you can.
"Ancient
Roman and Jewish scholars
such as Thallus the Samaritan,
Pliny the Younger, Seutonius,
Mara bar Serapion, Tacitus,
and Flavius Josephus tell
us that Jesus lived, died
at the hands of Pontius
Pilate, was believed by
the first Christians to
be raised, and was worshiped
as God. Historians say you
can trust in God's Son.
B.
Former skeptics say you
can.
"C.
S. Lewis, the brilliant
atheistic literature professor
who became the most important
popular Christian writer
of the twentieth century;
"Cyril
Joad, the atheistic philosopher,
converted by the truth of
the Christian faith;
"Sir
William Ramsey, the brilliant
archaeologist, converted
by examining the historical
truth of Scripture;
"Josh
McDowell, an intellectual
skeptic who was changed
by the truth of Jesus and
now convinces crowds around
the world. Former skeptics
say you can trust in God's
Son.
C.
You can experience him for
yourself, right now.
Verse
11 promises that you can
have "eternal life"
by meeting Jesus. John 3:36
makes the same claim: "Whoever
believes in the Son has
eternal life."
Whoever=anyone, no matter
who you are, what you've
done, or where you've been.
Anyone.
And
verse 13 promises that you
can know that you have this
life. If we were to translate
the Greek literally, it
would read, "We
can actually and with full
assurance know intellectually
and personally that we have
eternal life."
This
phrase does not mean that
we gradually grow into assurance,
but that we can possess
here and now a present certainty
of the life we have already
received in Jesus. You don't
need to wonder if Jesus
is real and your salvation
secure -- you can ask Him
for yourself, and meet with
Him personally, right now.
Need help doing so? Please
let me know; I would be
honored to help you.
Next
time we'll cosider the relationship
of faith to doubts.
