Humanity Redeemed | Introduction
Introduction for the Bellevue Women Fall 2020 study "Humanity Redeemed."Why do we need redemption? Redeemed – “to get or win back” (Merriam-Webster Dictionary). “As God’s possessions created for His own purpose, we were lost to God when we fell into sin and subsequently, death. But God reclaimed us through Christ’s death on the cross. Our redemption, at the high price of the blood of His Son, demonstrates His love for us” (Humanity Redeemed, Introduction).Current events 2020: Impeachment trial, Worldwide pandemic, quarantines, stay-at-home orders, economic shutdown, school shutdown, foodbanks, racial unrest, riots and looting, polarized Presidential election, murder hornets, wildfires, hurricanes, flooding, human trafficking, immorality, child abuse, abortion, social media addiction, drug abuse, anxiety, depression, suicide, unemployment, marriage and the family under assault, sensationalized news...we are depraved!People are hurting, fearful, hopeless, and seeking.Beware, of false teachers: Popular authors who claim to be Christians yet distort and twist the truth of God’s Word. “For a time is coming when people will no longer listen to sound and wholesome teaching. They will follow their own desires and will look for teachers who will tell them whatever their itching ears want to hear. They will reject the truth and chase after myths” (2 Timothy 4:3-4).Sift all teaching through the Word of God. Not does it sound true—is it true? Use the sieve or strainer of God’s Word to test all teaching and authors.Momma Bear Apologetics, General Editor, Hillary Morgan Ferrar
Podcasts and authors – Alisa Childers, Rachel Jankovic, Christopher Yuan, Katie McCoy, The Briefing with Albert Mohler, Journeywomen, Revive Our Hearts, Timothy Keller, Jen Wilkin.AuthorJohn the “disciple whom Jesus loved” (John 13:23); brother of James and son of Zebedee and Salome.“The early church father Irenaeus (ca. A.D. 130-200) was a disciple of Polycarp (ca. A.D. 70-160), who was a disciple of the Apostle John, and he testified on Polycarp’s authority that John wrote the gospel during his residence at Ephesus in Asia Minor when he was advanced in age” (The MacArthur Study Bible, p. 1535).Time writtenMany believe John wrote the gospel from Ephesus, before he was exiled to the Isle of Patmos. That would put the time between A.D. 80-90. He also authored 1-3 John and Revelation.Purpose“But these have been written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name” (John 20:31).“No person can see God; therefore, Christ came to declare Him” (Henrietta Mears, What the Bible is All About, p. 419).Prominent words(preachingsource.com/journal/word-studies-in-the-gospel-of-john/) Believe: appears 98 times in the Gospel
Love: appears 57 times
Life: appears 47 timesWord: “logos” appears 40 times Truth: appears 25 times
Sign: appears 17 timesThemeThe deity of ChristThe KeyJohn 1:12 “Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God.”John, the disciple Jesus loved, was very focused on the person of Christ. All of the Old Testament points to Christ. He was the fulfillment and the One through Whom it was all accomplished. John wrote to prove the deity of Jesus.