Trinity and Salvation According to John.

John was an average guy. He was a first century fisherman, working the family trade with his brother. But that all changed when he met Jesus.

John left his fishing trade to become one of Jesus’ disciples.

Years later, God called John to write an account of what took place, as he travelled with Jesus, learning from Him and serving people. This account titled, The Gospel According to John. It begins with a poetic, creative description of Jesus.

In The Beginning

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. 4 In him was life, and the life was the light of men. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. (Jn. 1:1-5)

A few verses down, John expands on his initial word-picture of light.

The True Light

9 The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world. 10 He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. 11 He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. 12 But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, 13 who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God. 14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. (Jn. 1:9-14)

In this poetic description of Jesus, John gives witness to Jesus as a foundational component of the Trinity and the key to unlocking eternal salvation.

John leads us down a road where we’re faced with a critical question:

Is Jesus God?

The ancient writings of Moses, the Jewish Pentateuch, (first 5 books of the Old Testament) begin with the words, “In the beginning…” John repeating this phrase grabs the attention of the reader, but the implications are more shocking…

…that in the beginning, Jesus was there. Father, Son and Spirit; the Trinity was in the beginning.

Trinity: “…the doctrine of the unity of God as subsisting in three distinct Persons…the Father is a distinct divine Person, distinct from the Son and the Holy Spirit…Jesus Christ was truly God, and yet was a Person distinct from the Father and the Holy Spirit…the Holy Spirit is also a distinct divine Person.” (Easton’s Bible Dictionary)

The Historical Record

Jesus and specifically, the Crucifixion are typically the easy part to accept. The record of history and even the separation of time (BC and AD) point to this event.

The Resurrection is the difficulty for most. Even though the historical record gives evidence to this fact. A couple of examples:

• Jesus’ body was never found by the authorities or many skeptics who searched for it.
• Hundreds of witnesses claim to have seen Jesus, spoke with Jesus and even touched Jesus after his crucifixion and burial.

The Resurrection

What if the Resurrection is part of the true historical record? What if the Resurrection is truth? What if Jesus really rose from the dead? What implications does that have for humanity?

If the Resurrection is truth, it begins a series of events in our hearts and minds that few can come back from. If the Resurrection is truth, than the Biblical accounts are truth.

If the Resurrection is truth, then John’s words are truth!

Is John Telling the Truth?

If John;s words are truth, then what he wrote in verse 12 is also truth. That, “…to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God…”

If John writes the truth and Jesus truly is God, then the truth is that Jesus is the only way to God. Jesus is the only way to become a child of God.

Join the Conversation, Leave Your Thoughts

Do you believe Jesus is God? If so, what proof do you have? What convinces you?