How can believers encourage others to seek life in Jesus, per John 5:40? Setting the Scene • In John 5, Jesus speaks to religious leaders who know Scripture yet miss its central message: Him. • John 5:40: “and yet you refuse to come to Me to have life.” • Life is not found in religious activity alone but in the Person the Scriptures reveal. Our calling is to help others move from information about God to a living relationship with Jesus. Why People Refuse to Come • Familiarity without faith—knowing verses but not embracing the Savior (John 5:39). • Pride—trusting personal goodness rather than Christ’s righteousness (Romans 10:3). • Fear—worrying about social cost or lifestyle change (John 12:42-43). • Unbelief—spiritual blindness that only the Holy Spirit can overcome (2 Corinthians 4:4). Ways Believers Can Encourage Others to Seek Life in Jesus 1. Point to the Person, not merely principles – Highlight Jesus as the Scriptures’ focus (Luke 24:27). – Share testimonies that show how Christ gives life, not just rules. 2. Open the Bible together – Read key “life” passages: John 3:16; John 10:10; 1 John 5:11-12. – Let them see in the text that eternal life is a gift found in Christ. 3. Live the contrast – Display the peace and joy that flow from abiding in Jesus (John 15:11). – Consistent, Christlike conduct authenticates the message (Philippians 2:15). 4. Speak with grace and truth – Avoid argumentative tones; follow 1 Peter 3:15, “with gentleness and respect.” – Explain sin and redemption plainly (Romans 6:23), always returning to hope in Christ. 5. Pray and depend on the Spirit – Only the Spirit convinces hearts (John 16:8). – Pray privately and, when appropriate, with the person, asking God to open eyes. 6. Extend invitations – Invite them to study the Gospel of John, attend worship, or join a small group. – Encourage direct, personal calling on Jesus: “Whoever comes to Me I will never cast out” (John 6:37). Living the Example • Practice daily repentance and faith so your life stays visibly connected to Christ. • Serve sacrificially; love in action makes the gospel tangible (John 13:35). • Celebrate answered prayer and transformation, reinforcing that Jesus truly gives life. Words That Point to Life • “Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way and the truth and the life’” (John 14:6). • “I have come that they may have life, and have it in all its fullness” (John 10:10). • “Salvation exists in no one else” (Acts 4:12). Trusting the Spirit's Work • Our role: sow and water the seed (1 Corinthians 3:6). • God’s role: give the growth, opening hearts to come to Christ for life. Summary Truths • Scripture is accurate and literally true, and it points directly to Jesus as the source of life. • People resist for many reasons, but believers can lovingly guide them toward Christ through Scripture, lifestyle, gracious speech, Spirit-dependent prayer, and personal invitation. • When they do come, Jesus fulfills His promise: life—now and forever. |
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