Yesterday’s Bible study looked at John 17;1-5, where Jesus defines eternal life as knowing the true God and Jesus Christ, whom He sent.
We can have many strange ideas about God, so it’s important that we know the true God as revealed in the Bible. The true God is…
• omniscient (Ps 139)
• omnipotent (Jer 32:17, 27)
• omnipresent (Ps 139)
• eternal/ everlasting (Deut 31:27, Ps 90:2)
• immutable (‘I, the Lord, do not change’ Mal 3:6)
• incomparable (2 Sam 7:22)
• righteous (Ps 9:8, Gen 18:25)
• self-existent, with no beginning or end (Rev 22:13, ‘For as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son also to have life in himself.’ John 5:26)
• holy (Isaiah 6:3)
• loving/ love (1 John 4:8)
• just (Deut 32:4)
• merciful (Dan 9:9)
• forgiving (Num 14:18)
• faithful (Heb 3:6, Heb 10:23)
• good (Ps 119:68)
• compassionate (Ps 103:8)
• gracious (Neh 9:17)
• slow to anger (Ps 86:15)
• light (meaning that He is self-revealing in information of Himself (Isaiah 60:19; James 1:17))
• the creator and maker of everything (Gen 1-3, John 1:1-3, Ps 24:1)
• sovereign, in control, ruler (Ps 93:1)
We also discussed the Father-Son relationship which Jesus used to describe His relationship with God and spoke about the importance of unity, submission and relationship and how this must be reflected in our own lives. We also looked at the ‘I am’ statements in John’s Gospel which help us to see who Jesus is and what He is like:
1. I am the bread of life (John 6:35): Jesus states that He is the true spiritual nourishment for humanity. We have to feed on Him if we are to grow and be strong.
2. I am the light of the world (John 8:12): Jesus offers guidance and truth to a world lost in spiritual darkness. The theme of light and darkness is predominant in John’s gospel and letters. Light is an attribute of God, so it is no surprise that Jesus uses this metaphor too.
3. I am the door of the sheep (John 10:7): Jesus acts as the exclusive protective gateway to salvation. He is the only way we can be saved. Salvation comes through no other name. We cannot save ourselves.
4. I am the good shepherd (John 10:11): Jesus demonstrates sacrificial love and care for His followers. God is frequently described as a shepherd in the Old Testament (e.g. Psalm 23), and Jesus reinforces this truth here.
5. I am the resurrection and the life (John 11:25): Jesus provides the absolute assurance of eternal life. He shows us that God is in control of life and death and that death cannot be the end if we will trust in Him.
6. I am the way, the truth, and the life (John 14:6): Jesus declares Himself as the only path to God the Father.
7. I am the true vine (John 15:1): Jesus shows that believers must stay connected to Him for spiritual fruit and growth
May we grow in the grace and knowledge of God and our Saviour.