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John 20:31 - The Power of Gods Word and Eternal Life.

John 20:31: The Power of Gods Word and Eternal Life.

John 20:31 (NLT) But these are written so that you may continue 
to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by 
believing in him you will have life by the power of his name.  

John 20:31 (AMP) But these are written (recorded) in order that 
you may believe that Jesus is the Christ (the Anointed One), the Son 
of God, and that through believing and cleaving to and trusting and 
relying upon Him you may have life through (in) His name [through Who He 
is].  

John 20:31 (CWR) The things they did record are written so you 
can build your faith on the fact that Jesus Christ is the Messiah, 
the Son of the living God.  Believing this, you can have eternal 
life because of what He has done for you. 

John 20:31 (MSG) These are written down so you will believe that 
Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and in the act of believing, 
have real and eternal life in the way he personally revealed it.  

COMMENTARY PEARL

Life-Changing Scriptures
   God gave us His Word not merely for our information, but 
rather for our transformation. Our faith in both the written Word of 
Scripture and the living Word of Jesus opens our hearts to the work of the 
Holy Spirit to teach us as well as transform us. Are you making time 
for the life-giving Word of God?  
   God gave us His Word to help us believe as well as to enable 
us - by the power of His Spirit - to become the Christlike people 
He wants us to be. As you respond positively to Scripture's truth, 
the Spirit uses that truth to make you more like Christ. Has God's 
Word been changing you? 
   One more question. If you are spending time studying 
Scripture, memorizing passages, and meditating on God's truth, what is your 
motive? Is it a duty? a ritual? an obligation? Or is it an act of love? 
Consider the most fundamental question. Christ ever asks any one of us: 
"Do you love Me?" Everything in our relationship with Him stems from 
our honest answer to this one question. Think of that question the 
next time you open your Bible. [Being Still With God Every Day by 
Henry Blackaby] 

WORD STUDY

Life (Gk. zoe) This word in classical Greek was used for life in 
general. There are a few examples of this meaning in the New Testament 
(see Acts 17:25; James 4:14: Rev. 16:3), but in most instances the 
word is used to designate divine, eternal life, the life of God (Eph. 
4:18). This life resided in Christ, and He has made it available to all 
who believe in him. Human beings are born with the natural life, 
called psuche in Greek, which can be translated soul, 
personality, or life. Eternal life can be received only by believing in 
the one who is Himself life, Jesus Christ. [Nelson SB] 

What does it mean to "believe in Jesus"?
   "Believing" occupies a central place in John's Gospel. John 
does not use the noun "faith" that appears frequently elsewhere in 
the New Testament. John prefers the verb "believe" to underscore 
that faith is not static, like a doctrine or a dogma, but dynamic, 
requiring action. Believing in Jesus is what all true disciples do.  
   In the Gospel of John, the verb translated "believe" is often 
followed by the Greek word meaning "into." No parallel exists for this in 
ancient Greek usage. For John, faith is not a status but an investment 
in the person of Jesus. Believing means accepting who Jesus is and 
what he claims to be. Believing constitutes a commitment to let his 
call on our lives change the way we live. Believing is the work God 
wants from us (John 6:29) as we abide in Jesus' word, as we love him, 
and as we obey his commands (John 8:31; 15:1-17; see 1 John 5:10. 
[One Year NLT SB] 

COMMENTARY

Johns purpose statement and conclusion of the Gospel proper 
rehearse the major themes of the Gospel: Jesus identity as the Christ 
and Son of God (see 1:41, 34), his selected messianic signs 
(see notes on 1:19"12:50; 2:11), the importance of believing in 
Jesus, and the gift of eternal life (see 1:12; 3:16; 17:3). [ESV SB 
2008]  

John states the purpose of his book. His purpose was to convince 
his readers that Jesus is the Christ, the Messiah who fulfilled 
God's promises to Israel. Jesus is the Son of God, God in the flesh. 
By believing these things, a person obtains eternal life (1:12). 
[Nelson SB] 

John's Gospel, indeed all Scripture, is written that persons may 
believe Jesus is the Savior of the world and receive His love gift of 
eternal life. John wrote his Gospel to lead people to faith in Christ 
and thus to full, meaningful life. Evangelists today follow the 
Fourth Evangelist and seek to bring people to confess Jesus as God's 
promised Christ or Messiah, the very son of God in whose name is life. 
[Disciple SB] 

Here John states that his specific purpose in writing was to win 
people to Christ. It is very significant that the divinely inspired 
method of doing this (as well as serving as an authoritative guide for 
methods of evangelism today) began with a strong affirmation of the 
special creation of all things by Christ, followed by a strong 
presentation of the program of redemption. In addition to the evidences 
provided by the miracles performed by Christ, John stresses the evidences 
of His resurrection and victory over death"especially the 
evidence of the empty tomb (John 20:8) and the post-resurrection 
appearances (John 20:20, etc.). Finally, the written Word itself gives 
abundant evidence of inspiration, and thus itself is a strong evidence 
(John 20:31). [Defenders SB] 

Whereas Luke tells his reader in the opening verses of Luke 
(1:1-4) and Acts (1:1-3) what those books are about and why he wrote 
them, John hangs the key to his Gospel at the back door of his 
narrative (John 20:30-31). That was a common practice in ancient writings. 
What we would call a preface was often placed at the end of a book, 
where it summarized the writer's purpose. John's "preface" tells us 
that he wanted his readers to find faith and life from his narrative. 
That's why he included seven sign miracles that show Jesus as the 
authentic, life-giving Son of God. [Word In Life SB] 

John selected only seven of the many miracles Jesus did (35 
specific ones are recorded; see charts) as special signs so that people 
would believe. [Ryrie SB] 

John tells us that his Gospel records only a few of the many 
events in Jesus' life on earth. But the gospel includes everything we 
need to know to believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, 
through whom we receive eternal life. [Life Application SB] 

Jesus performed "signs" to provoke faith. This was not faith in 
a magician but faith in Jesus, the Christ, the Son of God. Many of 
His miracles were not recorded in the Bible, but all were signs to 
produce faith. Those recorded should lead us to faith in Jesus. Have you 
seen the signs, believed in Christ, and received eternal life? Or do 
you read the stories but miss the signs? Are you still spiritually 
blind? [Disciple SB] 

CLOSING THOUGHTS

   It is easy to doubt what we cannot see. That was Thomas's 
problem - he needed evidence to reassure him that Jesus had truly come 
back to life. Often referred to as "Doubting Thomas," this disciple 
did not cling to his disbelief; rather, he was eager to discover the 
truth for himself. 
   It is normal to experience doubt from time to time. However, 
if doubt becomes a way of life and doubters choose to remain 
stubborn in their questions without attempting to find answers, then 
doubt is harmful to faith. But doubt can be productive if handled 
correctly. Questioning leads to a search for answers, and finding the 
answers strengthens one's beliefs. 
   Don't let doubt stop you from moving forward in your walk 
with God. Search out answers - from the Bible, your pastor, Christian 
authors, and through prayer. God is not afraid of your doubts and your 
questions. Questioning and finding answers will allow you to make your 
faith your own. Then, when you are challenged to answer why you 
believe the way you do, you can respond with the assurance of one who 
has a personal understanding of faith in Jesus Christ. [The One Year 
Bible for New Believers re John 20:24, 25] 

We today cannot see Him or feel His wounds, but we have the Word 
of God to assure us (vv. 9, 30-31). When your faith falters, do not 
ask for signs. Open His Word and let Him reassure you. [Chapter by 
Chapter Bible Commentary by Warren Wiersbe] 

If the Word of God did not have Gods stamp of approval, it 
would have fallen into obscurity long ago. But it still rings with the 
power of God to accomplish its purpose, to lead people to life in 
Christ. [Life Principles SB By Charles Stanley] 

Through the Holy Spirit, this book will accomplish in our lives 
everything that could happen were Jesus with us in the flesh. [Andrews SB] 

LINKS WORTH CHECKING OUT

Most Important Decision in Life: 
http://www.youtube.com/embed/WGnEuGwvXqU?rel=0 

A Man without Equal by Bill Bright: 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NiVa7UoruIo [old, but one of the best] 

Importance of Choice: 
http://creationhealth.com/CREATION-Health/Choice [click on video]  

Seeking God Made Real: http://vimeo.com/31489782

Prayer Made Real: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tc8VdMV26VE

Musical Devotional On Christian Living: 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OcotY5K7T0c  

Medical Seminar on Healthful Living by David DeRose, MD, MPH: 
https://www.smartlifestyletv.com/lifestart 

LINKS FOR BIBLE STUDIES 

Lifting Up Jesus Bible Studies: http://www.liftingupjesus.net/

Amazing Facts Bible Studies: 
http://www.amazingfacts.org/bible-study/bible-study-guides.aspx  

Discover Bible Studies: http://studies.itiswritten.com/discover/

Glow Tract Video Bible Studies: http://www.bibleresearch.info/

ABible.com: http://www.aBible.com

LINKS FOR BIBLE PROPHECY SEMINARS

The Last Day of Prophecy by Pastor Doug Batchelor: 
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLmGvdtMCf1aJTiC59-lPtuUMEq_uEn0BK 

Restoring The Power by John Bradshaw: 
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLRogO1SxoZN15Boa7BMon4BouVMdteVaq 

Prophecies Decoded by Pastor Ron Clouzet: 
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL1A435C5373550657  

Last Day Prophecy: His Other Sheep by Pastor Gerald Babanezhad: 
https://vimeo.com/162267518