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Sunday School Special : Lesson 68

Text: John 5:31-47
11 July 2021

SUNDAY SCHOOL SPECIAL 11 July 2021

Text: John 5:31-47

Subject: Evangelism

Focus:  Appealing to Witnesses

INTRODUCTION

1. When people find it hard to believe

a) Questions
b) Doubts
c) Resistance

2. The Example of the Lord Jesus

a) He knows how the human heart and mind work
b) It helps when we bring in “witnesses” 

THE IDEA OF HAVING “WITNESSES”

1. When a person testifies of himself

“If I bear witness of Myself, My witness is not true” John 5:31

a) This is called a conditional sentence
b) It does not mean that the witness of the Lord is not true
c) It means that what He says, people will not accept His personal testimony

2. The 1st Witness (John 5:32-35)

a) John the Baptiser as a witness for the Lord Jesus
b) He bore witness for the Lord
i) That the Lord Jesus is mightier (John 1:27)
ii) That He is the Lamb of God (John 1:29)
c) His witness is true (John 5:32)
d) The Lord Jesus does not really need a witness (John 5:34a)
e) He is doing this to help people to believe and be saved (John 5:34)
f) John and his ministry
i) The chief priests sent their men to check (John 1:19-28)
ii) John bore witness of the truth (John 5:33)
iii) “He was the burning and shining lamp” John 5:35a
iv) “You were willing for a time to rejoice in his light” John 5:35b

3. The 2nd Witness (John 5:36)

a) The works of the Lord Jesus bear witness (John 5:36a)
b) Description of His works
i) The Father sent the Lord Jesus to do these works (John 5:36b)
ii) His works bear witness of Him (John 5:36c)
iii) The Father had indeed sent Him (John 5:36d)
c) Important texts
i) Matthew 11:1-6
ii) Matthew 15:29-31

4. The 3rd Witness (John 5:37)

a) God the Father as Witness (John 5:37a)
b) He has testified of the Lord Jesus (John 5:37b)
i) At His Baptism (Matthew 3:13-17; Luke 3:21-22)
ii) In His works (John 5:36)
c) Problem
i) The Jews had never heard God’s voice (John 5:37c)
ii) They have not seen His form (John 5:37d)

5. The 4th Witness (John 5:38-39)

a) The Word as a witness (John 5:39)
b) The Scriptures testify of the Lord Jesus (John 3:39b)
c) But the word did not abide in the scribes (John 3:38a)
d) They do not believe in the Lord Jesus (John 3:38b)

THE PROBLEM OF NOT BELIEVING FURTHER DISCUSSED (John 5:40-47)

1. Unwillingness to come to the Lord Jesus

“But you are not willing to come to Me that you may have life” John 5:40

2. The problem of no love for God

“But I know you, that you do not have the love of God in you” John 5:42

3. The problem of worldliness: “Honour”

a) The problem of “honour”
“I do not receive honour from men” John 5:41
b) “I have come in My Father’s name, and you do not receive Me” John 5:43a
c) “If another comes in his own name, him you will receive” John 4:43b
d) Receiving honour from one another
“How can you believe, who receive honour from one another, and do not seek the honour that comes from the only God?” John 5:44

ACCUSATION

1. Accusation of the Lord Jesus

 The scribes/ Pharisees think that the Lord Jesus was accusing them

“Do not think that I shall accuse you to the Father” John 5:45a

2. Accusation from Moses

“There is one who accuses you – Moses in whom you trust” John 5:45b

3. No real belief in Moses

a) There was a common profession of faith in Moses
b) In reality, they do not believe in His writings
“For if you believed Moses, you would believe Me; for he wrote about Me” John 5:46
“But if you do not believe his writings, how will you believe My words?” John 5:47

THE PROBLEM OF UNBELIEF

1. It runs deep

2. One has to be candid and humble to resolve this problem

3. The hindrance to faith in the Lord Jesus lies within ourselves

THE LORD STANDS FAITHFUL

1. He will receive anyone who turns to Him in faith

2. He will grant salvation to the genuine believer