How does John 20:31 connect with John 3:16 about eternal life? \One Gospel, One Goal\ John begins by announcing eternal life (John 3:16) and ends by explaining why every page was penned (John 20:31). The same Spirit-breathed thread—believe in Jesus and receive life—runs from start to finish. \Side-by-Side Texts\ • John 3:16: “For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that everyone who believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.” • John 20:31: “But these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in His name.” \Shared Vocabulary, Shared Vision\ • Believe – both verses center on personal trust in Jesus. • Son of God – His unique identity guarantees the promise. • Life – not mere existence but everlasting, imperishable life. • Gift – God “gave” His Son (3:16); Scripture is “written” as another gift to spark faith (20:31). \John 3:16—The Promise Announced\ • God’s love initiates salvation. • The cross is the giving of the Son. • Belief is the solitary condition. • Eternal life is the certain result (cf. John 5:24; 11:25-26). \John 20:31—The Purpose Declared\ • The Gospel’s signs and sayings are recorded evidence. • Their aim: move the reader from inquiry to faith. • Outcome: the very “eternal life” first promised in 3:16. • Scripture itself thus participates in God’s saving gift (cf. Romans 10:17). \How the Verses Interlock\ 1. The Promise (3:16) sets the agenda—eternal life through belief. 2. The Evidence (20:31) fulfills that agenda—written testimony designed to create that belief. 3. Together they form an unbreakable chain: • God loves → God gives → Scripture testifies → People believe → People live. \Witness Echoing Through John’s Pages\ • John 1:12 – receiving Jesus equals believing in His name. • John 5:39-40 – the Scriptures point to Him so we “may have life.” • John 17:3 – eternal life defined as knowing the Father and the Son. • 1 John 5:11-13 – assurance that “God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son.” \Living the Connection Today\ • Read John’s record with confidence—its stated purpose is your everlasting good. • Rest in the simplicity: believe and live. • Rejoice that the same Lord who spoke to Nicodemus (3:16) still uses His written Word (20:31) to grant eternal life to all who trust Him. |
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