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by Sandy Shaw
We have been looking at why there are four Gospels and what were the main reasons for John writing his account of the life and ministry of Jesus Christ, because it is so very different from the other three.
John 1 verse 1. John wants us to believe and to believe correctly, and to believe what is right, and to believe what is worth believing. We cannot afford to base our life’s work on something that is untrue, or on a myth, or a legend, or rumour or hoax, and having been a disciple of Jesus Christ, and a preacher and teacher for some 60 years, John saw some funny teachings creeping into the Church of Jesus Christ.
This is a book which is highly relevant when peculiar teachings are even finding their way into the Church of Jesus Christ. Do note that I am not speaking about denominations here, but the Church of Jesus Christ. There is a difference!
John writes His Gospel so that we might believe and have life, and so that we can be drawn closer to Jesus down through the ages, and so that we may know without any doubt Who Jesus Christ was and Who Jesus Christ is. He is the Son of God, God the Son, the Saviour, the Lord, the King of Kings – God and Man.
What we believe influences how we behave. Our creed affects our conduct. Our faith determines how we live and what we say and how we act and react. Our doctrine determines our deeds.
If the belief, if the faith, if our creed is suspect, then everything else is open to question too. Hence, the sad mess the Church of Jesus Christ is in today in so many places. It is because we have permitted doubt to take over. We have allowed doubt to creep in – doubt about God’s word and its authenticity and authority, and this has opened a door and permitted a moral mess to develop.
A flabby faith results in a flabby church, until for many people church becomes something they are connected with, but they are not sure why, and they go only if there is nothing better, or nothing else to do, and nowhere else to go.
The tragic truth is, that is NOT the church of Jesus Christ, and this type of thinking will do no-one any good once this life is over.
What we believe and why we believe it is vital. John realised that, and so he writes, and this is one reason why we have turned to the Gospel of John.
Jesus Christ was God, and Jesus Christ was Man. Jesus Christ was Divine and Human. It is Charles Wesley who expresses all this so wonderfully well and with accuracy.
The angels are worshipping the new born King, who is the Son of God.
He Who is born of a Virgin is Christ the everlasting Lord. God is clothed in flesh. This is God, and He is pleased to come among us as a Man.
If only those who sing that only around December time of year could see and experience its light and truth, and its reality and power.
He is the Prince of Peace who comes with Light and Life and Healing, and He comes to save and He comes in Love that we might be born again.
Read the first Chapter of John again, and read slowly and prayerfully these great words of Charles Wesley, “Hark, the herald angels sing”.
We are just beginning to lay a foundation for what this mature man is about to write to rescue the Church from confusion and deception and compromise.
Alexander 'Sandy' Shaw is pastor of Nairn Christian Fellowship in Nairn, Scotland. Nairn is 17 miles east of Inverness - on the Moray Firth Coast - not far from the Loch Ness Monster!
Gifted as a Biblical teacher, Sandy is firmly committed to making sure that his teachings are firmly grounded in the Word.
Sandy has a weekly radio talk which can be heard via the Internet on Saturday at 11:40am, New Orleans time, at wsho.com.
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