These Are Written That Ye Might Believe
These Are Written That Ye Might Believe THESE ARE WRITTEN THAT YE MIGHT BELIEVE
John 20:30-31
HORACE W. BUSBY 1. Introduction
a. Text
b. Bible.
c. Faith
2. God Is
3. God is a Rewarder
4. Jesus the Son of God
5. Conclusion
INTRODUCTION:
In selecting this text, it is understood that the primary meaning of this' immediate verse is that John, the writer, is referring to the life work of Jesus, and that the record given by him is to lead people to believe that “Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God.” But in the general plan of the lessons assigned to the speakers for this week, we have an outline that calls for evidences of divine inspiration of the writers of the Bible, sufficient to beget belief in the hearts of all who will consider it as a whole.
We are not taking the position that the Bible as a book is inspired. But we do aim to teach that the men who wrote the Truth as recorded in the book were men whose minds were prepared by the Spirit of God to speak the Truth accurately. This being true, the nearer the fountain we come, the purer the Truth. The translations of the Bible might err in some minor portion, but the writers themselves made no mistake in revealing the Mind of God.
Therefore, it has always been an important task, to search for the most ancient copies of the Bible, for they are the most valuable.
Then the most important thing, is- to have it faithfully translated into the living language of the people.
Faith:
Faith, must have foundation, there must be something to believe; credible evidence is calculated to produce faith in the intelligent mind, or heart.
The inspired Apostle truly said, “Faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the Word of God.”
The same Spirit, guiding the same mind, said, “Without Faith it is impossible to please God.”
And again, “For whatsoever is not of Faith is sin.” In the Bible, there are three distinct truths that are pres- sented to the honest reader, for his belief. And all the faith that he is called upon to exercise, clusters around these great truths. Paul, mentions two of these in Hebrews 11:6. “For he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.” Then we find that the work of God, is “That ye believe on him whom he hath sent.” John 6:29. And again we read, “If ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins.” John 8:24. And in 1 John 3:23 it is said, “And this is his commandment, that we believe on his Son Jesus Christ.”
Therefore our faith is to be based on these three great foundation stones:
1. God is.
2. He will reward all who seek him.
3. Jesus Christ is the Son of God. This leads us to the subject for this discourse:
“These are written that ye might believe.”
And if we honestly believe these, we can doubt nothing written by the inspired men of God.
GOD IS:
The primary purpose of the Bible is to cause men to believe in God. Its pages reveal God.
Apart from inspired revelation, no people, at any time, have formed any definite idea of the One and only True God.
The “world through its wisdom knew not God” 1 Corinthians 1:21.
The Bible bears internal evidence of truthfulness that no other book bears.
We shall notice a few of these:
Through the writing period of the Bible, which is more than sixteen hundred years, nothing has been written and later found to be false; this can be said of no human production. No work on science can make this claim. This alone is awe inspiring and faith producing to the honest reader.
All modern discoveries, in the ruins of the past, confirm the Bible accounts. The uplifting power of the Bible in the lives of men, where ever it has gone, is one of the strong points in its claim to divine truth. The laws of hygiene, as given by Moses to Israel, are so superior to that age as to be convincing to the student, that a super-human mind guided his hand. On this point, Dr. Bowling, the founder of the school of medicine in Nashville, Tennessee one time said to Brother David Lipscomb, that though he possessed a skeptical mind, the study of the Mosaic laws of hygiene, which are so much superior to all such laws before or since, worked out by the wisdom of men, had forced him to the conclusion that they were God given. The miracles of the Bible constitute an impregnable fort against all manner of attacks from the enemies of Truth. Their main purpose is to produce faith in God. Even the greatest of unbelievers cower before the great miracles mentioned in the Bible. Even Nicodemus, said, “No man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him.” John 3:2. When Moses was asked to go to Egypt to lead Israel out of Bondage, his excuse was—“They will not believe me, nor harken to my voice: for they will say, The Lord hath not appeared unto thee.” In answer to this, God caused the miracle in connection with the rod turning to a serpent, and then back to the rod, saying, “That they may believe.” Exodus 4:5—And the Lord further said, “And it shall come to pass, if they will not believe thee, neither harken to the voice of the first sign, that they will believe the voice of the latter sign.” Exodus 4:8. This is sufficient to set forth the purpose of miracles even in the Old Testament.
Also, when the Holy Spirit came to complete revelation in the New Testament, he at once adopted the same powerful means to confirm his message. And so we read, “How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him; God, also bearing them witness, both with signs and wonders, and with divers miracles, and gifts of the Holy Ghost, according to his will.” Hebrews 2.
Jesus, mentioned the same reason for his works, when he said, “But I have greater witness than that of John; for the works which the Father hath given me to finish, the same works I do, bear witness of me, that the Father hath sent me.” John 5:36.
So, when we turn to the miracles of the Bible, and with eager hearts read, of Creation, by the Word of God; the taking of Enoch without seeing death; the flood waters of Noah’s day, the confounding of the languages, the birth of Isaac when Abram and Saria were old, the signs and wonders in Egypt, the crossing of the Red Sea, the manna in the wilderness, and the water from the rock, the shower of quail, the opening of the earth, the crossing of the Jordan, the capture of Jericho, the wonders of Elijah and Ehisha, the sun standing still for Joshua, and many more in the Old Testament age; and then link up with the wonders of the New Testament, such as the birth of Jesus to a virgin, his wonders too numerous to mention here, such as turning water to wine, healing the sick and lame and blind, the feeding of thousands, the stilling of the tempest by his word, the raising of the dead, and of his own glorious resurrection. And then the same power exerted by the chosen apostles, until the pages are completed: We are compelled to say, surely this is the power of God, and the words are from his Throne. The style of the writers’, convincing:
There is a common style followed by the writers of the Bible that the student of its pages must consider. We shall notice a few of the most prominent characteristics:
Brevity:
Not a word seems to be amiss, and yet enough to tell the whole truth on all subjects. This one common trait is not changed from the beginning of Genesis to the close of the Apocalypse. Men, would write libraries about that which a chapter teaches, such as1 creation, the beginning of the church and the description of the heavenly City.
Calmness:
The complete calmness of the writers, always and under all conditions, compels the reader to take notice.
There are no head-liners, though a nation falls in a day, a world wrecked by a flood, cities burned by brimstone, and fire from the heavens, the crucifixion of the King of the Jews, the resurrection of the Son of God, or the prophecy of the destruction of the world, all called forth the same sane account given in well selected terms, that only set forth the truth.
Unity:
Where can we find anything approaching the unity of teaching, in all the works of men? From the Garden of Eden, with the tree of life, to the City of God with the tree of life on etiher side the sparkling river; the writers told their story so that it never crosses the general plan and purpose of the whole Book.
Impartiality:
Another characteristic, very convincing to the thinking reader, is the impartiality of all writers. They shield no saint. They are prejudiced against no sinner. When David, the glorious king, committed an adulterous crime, when Peter denied his Lord, or Judas betrays his Master, the story is
told with the same frankness. Not a time could partiality be charged against one writer.
Prophecy:
“We have the more sure word of prophecy” which indeed is the “Light that shines in a dark place.”
This is the most convincing of all evidences we have studied. None, but God directed men, could unfold the future for millenniums in'advance with such accuracy as those Hebrew prophets of our Bible. But the spirit of prophecy is the Spirit of Jesus, and so we find the same grace in the Lord himself, and among the writers of the New Testament. A REWARDER:
God said to Abraham, “I am thy shield and thy exceeding great reward.” Genesis 13:1.
Paul declared that they that cometh to God, “Must believe— that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.”
When we read in the Bible, the many instances of God’s faithfulness in rewarding those who sought his favor—we are led to believe in Hixn as a sure Rewarder of all who will seek after him.
We shall notice a few of the many instances mentioned.
Abel: After Adam’s sin in Eden, we read of Abel’s sacrifice of faith; and though he lost his life as a martyr, yet he is rewarded by having his name at the head of the list of aU God’s worthies.
Enoch: Enoen, sought the Lora until it was said of mm, *‘He walked with God, and was not for God took him.” Passing on into God’s presence without death was the greatest reward in the age in which he lived.
Noah: Noah sought the Lord; walked with him, and did all that he was commanded, and as a result, obtained the salvation of himself and his house. What greater reward could, .have been bestowed?
Abraham: The founder of the Hebrew race, sought to please God, until he was called the “friend of God.” He was always found faithful and obedient to the will of his God. And has been rewarded by all the promises of God; a great posterity, the land of Palestine and the nations being blessed through his seed.
Moses: Moses sought the Lord, rather than the “glories of Egypt” and he was rewarded in being made the great leader of a chosen race, and in being given the Law which has astonished the nations.
Uzziah: When he sought the Lord, the Lord God made him to prosper. 2 Chronicles 25.
Israel: When following the Lord, in keeping his commandments which Moses spake unto them, Israel always enjoyed the great rewards promised them, Deuteronomy 28 th chapter. And they were not blessed when they turned from seeking after him.
Daniel and the Hebrew Companions: When Daniel and the Hebrew children associated with him were careful to respect and follow God’s will they were rewarded by deliverance from the lions and fire and were exalted to high places by the Most High God. Where can an honest heart be found, which will not be led to believe in God as a rewarder of them that seek him, after carefully meditating upon the great rewards which have been meted out to that host of seekers after him? And where is there a conscience so dead as to fail to be quickened into an earnest desire to “Seek after him” that it too might be answered by the reward of peace?
JESUS CHRIST THE SON OF GOD:
We have found in this study that God never requires men to believe without evidence: therefore, he has always supplied the unquestionable evidence, and has been highly displeased at man’s unbelief. Perfection of faith is reached in accepting Jesus Christ as the Son of God. We reject God, when we reject, in unbelief, his only begotten Song of Solomon 2 Jno. 9.
After being led to believe in God the Father through his divine revelation, we also find that he has given us a commandment, “That we believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ." 1 Jno. 3:23. And as we have found that God requires faith in him as a rewarder of all who seek him now find that reward is based on our faith in Jesus, and all his promises and blessing are “in him.” 2 Corinthians 1:20—Ephesians 1:3.
Paul, made a wonderful statement in Romans 10:9—when he wrote, “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.”
Evidences in Proof of His Sonship:
1. The pureness of his life, is an outstanding monument to his claim to being the Son of God. His pureness has never teen questioned. People who deny that he is the Son of God, will not deny his truthfulness and his purity. But he said he was the Son of God, and if his truthfulness is established then he must be acknowledged to be what he claimed.
2. His works are sufficient to establish his claim, because they are beyond the power of men. He was willing for this very test to be the deciding factor of my Father, believe me not. But if I do, though ye believe not me, believe the works; that ye may know, and believe, that the Father is in me, and I in him.” Jno. 10:37, 38. When he stilled the waves in Galilee, or fed the five thousand men with the loaves and fishes; when he restored sight to the blind and hearing to the deaf, and strength to the lame and health to the sick; when he raised the widow’s son, and Lazarus from the grave, it is said “They believed on him.” He was manifesting his divine power beyond question. “No man could do the miracles that thou does except God be with him” was truly said.
3. Prophecy fulfilled by him, was his strongest proof. “We have the more sure word of prophecy.”
The spirit of prophecy began to move the first writers of the Bible to predict the coming of the Kingly Messiah.
The first dim glimpse of him was no doubt the promise made to mother Eve, when she was told that “Thy seed shall bruise the serpent’s head” in Genesis 3:15 and Paul declared that God has sent forth his Son, “made of a woman.” Galatians 4:4. So, the fight between Christ, the Seed of woman, God’s own Son, and Satan the enemy of souls fulfills this prophecy.
After several centuries more had rolled by, a promise was made to Abraham that through his seed the nations should be blessed. Genesis 22:18. And the first line of the New Testament states that Jesus was the seed of Abraham, and the Gospel of Matthew closes with that Seed of Abraham giving instruction to his disciples to go to all the nations with the message of saving truth. Matthew 28:19.
About fourteen generations later, David came to view as the seed of Abraham, and while King of God’s people it was told him that after he should sleep with his fathers his seed would be established forever. 2 Samuel 7. And the first verse of Matthew states that Jesus was the seed of David, and Peter distinctly tells the Jews on Pentecost that David saw the resurrection of Christ, which had been fulfilled in their day. Acts 2:30.
Isaiah, the evangelical prophet, told of the time when a Virgin would give birth to a son. Isaiah 7:14. And Matthew, in his first chapter tells of Jesus’ birth to the Virgin Mary. At this very moment, Jesus became the Seed of woman, the Virgin’s son and the seed of David, thus fulfilling the prophecies. The same wonderful prophet told of the works of that being when he should come. Isaiah 35:5. “Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped.” And in Matthew 11:5 we read of Jesus doing those very things, and it being witnessed by disciples of John. In the great prophetic chapter, Isaiah, the fifty third, a description is given in detail of things connected with that Coming one—He would be “despised and rejected of men:” He would be “wounded for our transgressions:” He would be “afflicted and yet opened not his mouth:” “Like a lamb: Like a sheep before her shearers:” “He would be cut off from the living:” “He would make his grave with the rich and the wicked:” He would be “numbered with transgressors,” and “make intercession for them.” All of these were brought to view in the last days of Jesus on earth and recorded in Matthew 27 th chapter.
Nearly a thousand years before the birth of Jesus, David being a prophet, spoke of their casting lots for his vesture, in Psalms 22:16, and in Matthew 27:35, they cast lots for his garment.
David also said he would cry, “My God! My God! Why hast thou forsaken me?” Psalms 22:1. And in Matthew 27:41 we hear these very words fall from the lips of Jesus, while on the cross.
“They look and stare upon me” Psalms 22:17—“And sitting down they watched him there.” Matthew 27:36. This is a complete fulfillment. Not a bone to be broken, Psalms 34:20, and not a bone of him was broken, even after the authorities gave specific instruction to that end—John 19:31.
His hands and feet would be pierced. Ps. 26:16. And in Luke 24:39—Jesus appeared and asked his disciples to behold his hands and his feet.
Gall and vinegar would be given him. Psalms 69:21. They gave Jesus gall and vinegar, while on the cross—Matthew 27:34. His soul would not be left in the haddean world, nor would his body be left to decay. Psalms 16:10. Peter said this was fulfilled in Jesus’ death and resurrection. Acts 2:31.
Daniel beheld One like the Son of man coming with the clouds of heaven to the Ancient of days. Daniel 7:13.
Jesus was called the “Son of man” and he left this earth from Mount Olivet, on a cloud, while his apostles gazed. Acts 1. And Peter said he was at the right hand of God—Acts 2.
These are only a very few of the great prophetic statements concerning Jesus, which he fulfilled, even though hundreds and even thousands of years intervened.
“All things written in the Law and in the Psalms and in the prophets concerning me must be fulfilled.” Luke 24:44.
It seems that we have reached the conclusion—“That many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples which are not written in this book, but these are written that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ the Son of God, and that believing ye might have life throught his name.” This is the ultimate end of all things written by inspiration. It seems that line after line, every Spirit guided man, was building toward this wonderful climax.
Other Testimony:
Jesus, said, “Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.” John 5:39. After his resurrection, he told his disciples that he must fulfill all things written in the Law of Moses, the psalms and the prophets. Luke 24:44. And again he said his works testified of him—John 5:36. We have mentioned this evidence in referring to his many miracles. •
We find in Luke 4:41, that devils came out of many, crying, “Thou art the Christ the Son of God.”
And the centurion, that watched his men crucify Jesus, was forced to the confession that “Truly this was the Son of God." Matthew 27:54.
Thomas, though doubtful at first, was led by what he saw, to confess “My Lord and my God.” John 20:28.
Peter, was bold in confessing him as “Christ the Son of God” by the things which he heard, before he had all the proof—Matthew 16:18. „
The angels, that made known the birth of Jesus to the shepherds, said he is “Christ the Lord” Luke 2:11.
The Holy Spirit was sent to testify of Jesus —John 14:26. And John tells us that “Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God.” 1 John 4:4. The Ethiopian, was led by the preaching of Philip, to con¬fess that “Jesus Christ is the Son of God.” Acts 8:37. And as final testimony, the Father makes a confession from heaven, that “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” Matthew 3:17.
“Many years ago I entered the wonderful temple of God’s revelation. I entered the portico of Genesis and walked down through the Old Testament Art Gallery where the pictures of Adam, Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, Joshua, Samuel, David and Daniel hung on the wall.
I entered the music room of the Psalms where the Spirit swept the keyboard of nature, and brought forth the dirge-, like wail of the weeping prophet Jeremiah; to the grand, impassioned strains of Isaiah until it seemed that every reed and harp in God’s organ of nature responded to the tuneful touch of David, the sweet singer of Israel.
I entered the chapel of Ecclesiastes where the voice of the Preacher was heard, and passed into the Conservatory of Sharon where the Lily of the Valley’s sweet scented spices filled and perfumed my life.
I entered the business room of the Proverbs and passed into the observatory of the Prophets where I saw many tele¬scopes of various sizes, some pointing to far off events, but all concentrated upon the Bright Morning Star which was soon to rise over the moon-lit hills of Judea for our salvation.
I entered the audience room of the King of Kings and caught a vision from the standpoint of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John; entered the Acts of the Apostles where the Holy passed into the Correspondence room where sat Paul, Peter, Spirit was doing his office work in the forming of the church; James, Jude, and John penning their epistles. I I got a vision of the King seated upon His Throne in all His glory and I cried:
“All hail the power of Jesus’ name Let Angels prostrate fall.
Bring forth the royal diadem,
And crown Him Lord of all.”
CONCLUSION:
When we are led by these undeniable testimonies, to accept Jesus Christ, as the Son of God, and therefore with power to save the world we are ready to cry out with Saul of Tarsus, “Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And if honest men will hear the Lord’s own answer—he says, “He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved.” And in searching through the di¬vine history, called “Acts of the Apostles” we are convinced that no other plan was followed, and not an example is left that would lead to doubt or fear in accepting this heaven born, gospel plan of salvation.
Jesus says, “Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” Matthew 11:28. The church, is built upon the great Truth—“Jesus Christ the Son of God.” “The church, is his body.” “He is the Savior of the Body.” “There is One body.” Faith in the Lord, sin¬cere repentance, the confession of Jesus as the Christ, and baptism into the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, brings the sincere soul into all the blessings that are “In Christ” that are planned by the “Father” and taught to the world by “The Holy Spirit.” Here we enjoy the “Remission of sins.” It is here that “We are raised to walk in the newness of life.” Here we become “New creatures.” Here we are led daily onward toward the fulness of the heavenly promises.
“The Spirit and the Bride say come.”