John 20:26–31 (NIV) CONTEXT: After Jesus rose from the dead, He appeared to His disciples, but Thomas (John 20:28). It is after this that John pauses to say, “this is why I wrote this book — so that you may believe and The purpose of the book of John is the same as all of the books in the Bible: so that “you may believe (John 21:25, “Now there are also many other things that Jesus did.

You might be surprised to hear the real reason Christ appeared. 1 John 3:7-10 (ESV) 7  Little children John writes, "Whoever practices righteousness is righteous, as he [Christ] is righteous. John is speaking in very general terms here. style ), John explains in no uncertain terms why Jesus came. "The reason the Son of God appeared," John explains, "was to destroy the works of the devil."

John 10:22–30 (NIV) 22 Then came the Festival of Dedication at Jerusalem. This wasn't even their first attempt; John writes "Again his Jewish opponents picked up stones..."

Jesus gives the deepest theological insights to people just like you. Listen to passage & devotional: Belgic Confession of Faith, Article 1 We all believe in our hearts and confess with our mouths that there is a single and simple spiritual being, whom we call God— eternal, incomprehensible, invisible, unchangeable, infinite, almighty; completely wise, just, and good, and the overflowing source of all good. Summary One of the beefiest books I have on my shelf is called Systematic Theology, by Louis Berkhof. It weighs in at nearly 1,100 pages of very small type, and as its title implies, it explains in significant detail what the Bible says about God. Yet, when it comes right down to it, Berkhof is forced to admit that "the Bible does not give us a definition of God." The Bible certainly explains quite a bit about God's attributes, character and the things He's done, but nowhere does it provide a stand alone description of exactly what God is. So when Jesus says in v24 that "God is spirit," it ought to get your attention. This is the fullest definition you'll find for God anywhere. Notice here exactly what Jesus said and what He didn't say. He didn't say that God is a spirit, He just said that God is spirit. This makes sense in light of the name God gave Himself: I AM. Just like He does with His other attributes, God defines that which He is. Dig Deeper The format in which Jesus explains what God is adds to our understanding. Jesus doesn't give a speech at a theological conference attended by religious elites, or package His explanation in an 1,100 page book, or even post a series of binge-worthy podcasts. It's not that those formats aren't good and even necessary things, it's just that the context of this conversation deepens the meaning of the one word definition Jesus gives of God. Jesus speaks these invaluable words to a fallen, broken, outcast woman - a Samaritan woman at that! And He does so right after calling her out for her sin and deception. Do you see what this means? It means that knowing God is not just a lofty ideal, attainable only by self righteous monks who climb the religious mountain, so to speak. Theology - knowing what God is and what He has done and is doing - is for common, ordinary, sinful folks; people just like you and me. Nor is theology an optional thing for Christians. You can't just hold onto the Bible's warm fuzzies like love, joy and peace without a firm grasp of the Bible's dogmatic claims. In fact, the very next thing that Jesus says here is that those who worship God must worship Him in spirit and truth. The Christ has come - the one which this sinful woman knew would be able to explain everything to us (v25). He's given us His Word, that we might fully know Him and worship Him in that truth. AAA Prayer (About) ACKNOWLEDGE WHO GOD IS: Our Father God, who is spirit; ALIGN YOUR LIFE WITH GOD'S WILL: Thank God for giving us the truth in His Word, and pray that you would know it well so you can fulfill your purpose of worshipping Him; ASK GOD FOR WHAT YOU NEED: Read the New Testament in a year! Today: Mark 5

Summary In this letter John is writing to a church during a time of struggle to encourage them after John reaffirms what the false teachers tried to deny: the full divinity and humanity of Christ. In the third chapter of this letter, John addresses how to respond to what had occurred. John gives a means of testing to see where one’s allegiance lies, writing that “anyone who does not do Dig Deeper John lays out the difference between those whom he labels the children of God and the children

John 15:26–16:15 (NIV) 26 “When the Advocate comes, whom I will send to you from the Father—the Spirit 6 Rather, you are filled with grief because I have said these things. 7 But very truly I tell you, it

John 3:16-17 (NIV) 16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes Christ We believe that by being thus conceived the person of the Son has been inseparably united and joined Summary John 3:16 is one of the most beloved verses of the Bible. Not only are the words of John 3:16 reassuring, they also eloquently lay out the key themes of the Gospel

Mark begins with a prophecy of Isaiah, and then writes about John the Baptist. John’s introduction is a theological statement about who Jesus is. John’s prologue (John 1:1-18), builds on the very first statement of Jesus being the Word, speaking of He has always existed, that is why John says, “In the beginning was the Word.” But as we read John 1:3, we know that cannot be true.

John 4:39-42 (NIV) CONTEXT: Jesus has just finished His famous encounter with the Samaritan woman at John doesn't convey what it was that Jesus taught them for those couple of days, but we can tell from Because of Jesus' words , John tells us, many more became believers.

Summary John 16 comes in the middle of one of the most intense conversations in history, as Jesus spoke These chapters in John's gospel form the basis for much of our theology and understanding of God's Tri-une