Download A Great Benediction John 20:29-31

A Great Benediction
John 20:29-31
To See or Not to See
Why This Book Was Written
John 20:29 (NASB)
29
Jesus said to him, “Because you have
seen Me, have you believed? Blessed
are they who did not see, and yet
believed.”
A Great Benediction
John 20:29-31
To See or Not to See
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What does Jesus mean by this statement?
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Is a subjective faith better than an objective
faith?
Is a faith that has no relation to evidence
better than one that has evidence?
Is a subjective faith more blessed than an
objective faith?
A Great Benediction
John 20:29-31
To See or Not to See

It is difficult to believe that Jesus is
preferring a subjective faith.
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Jesus had just offered up proof of His
resurrection to draw Thomas into the fold.
This verse is followed with a statement
about why these things were written … “so
you may believe.”
This statement is sandwiched between two
statements concerning evidences for faith.
A Great Benediction
John 20:29-31
To See or Not to See
Jesus is not speaking of a subjective faith
but of a satisfied faith.
 A satisfied faith is one that is not looking
for visions, miracles, esoteric experiences,
or various forms of success as evidence of
God’s favor.
 Ultimately, a satisfied faith is complete
and superior.

A Great Benediction
John 20:29-31
To See or Not to See

What about visions?
Many in Scripture saw visions.
 We often say, “If I could experience God the
way they did, my faith, walk, and witness
would be so much better.”
 These experiences we seek are often based in
pride.
 In the examples of Scripture, faith always gives
meaning to experience, not experience to
faith.

A Great Benediction
John 20:29-31
To See or Not to See

What about miracles or other special acts
of God?
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Do you pray for miracles?
Do you think you could believe God better if
you saw some miracles?
Constantly looking for miracles makes you
insensitive to the thousands of normal
evidences of God’s mercy.
We can become dependent on miracles.
A Great Benediction
John 20:29-31
To See or Not to See

What about some esoteric experiences?

Some read passages like 1 Corinthians 12:7-10
and long for such experiences to validate their
faith.
1 Corinthians 12:7-10 (NASB)
7
8
9
10
But to each one is given the manifestation of
the Spirit for the common good.
For to one is given the word of wisdom
through the Spirit, and to another the word of
knowledge according to the same Spirit;
to another faith by the same Spirit, and to
another gifts of healing by the one Spirit,
and to another the effecting of miracles, and
to another prophecy, and to another the
distinguishing of spirits, to another various
kinds of tongues, and to another the
interpretation of tongues.
A Great Benediction
John 20:29-31
To See or Not to See

What about some esoteric experiences?
Some read passages like 1 Corinthians 12:7-10
and long for such experiences to validate their
faith.
 As we read these chapters in context, Paul
never tells us to seek out these experiences
and, in fact, he seems to warn against them.
 There is never the pronouncement of a
special blessing on them.

A Great Benediction
John 20:29-31
To See or Not to See
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What about the evidence of success?
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Society today links numbers, converts,
church growth, and church income to
evidences of faith.
So, what is faith then?
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Faith is believing God on the basis of His
Word and then acting on it!
God’s blessings are for all who believe.
Suppose God’s blessings were only for
those who experienced the unusual.
A Great Benediction
John 20:29-31
To See or Not to See

What are those blessings?
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
It is by faith that we become children of God
and enter into the privileges of God’s
spiritual family – John 1:12.
It is through faith that we have eternal life.
By faith we are delivered from judgment.
Faith ushers us into the blessings of spiritual
satisfaction now.
Faith is the means by which we enter into
the final resurrection.
A Great Benediction
John 20:29-31
To See or Not to See
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What are those blessings? – cont.
Faith is the way we become a blessing to
others through the Holy Spirit.
7. Through faith we see the glory of God.
8. Faith is the secret to a holy life.
9. Faith brings the blessings of a fruitful and
effective life.
10. Faith brings the benefits of Jesus’ prayers on
our behalf.
6.
A Great Benediction
John 20:29-31
Why This Book Was Written
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It was not written to glorify the writer
John but to glorify the Son of God.
The Gospel of John is a selection of
events for the sole purpose that people
might believe that Jesus is the Son of
God and glorify Him.
The chain of witnesses is specific and
deliberate.
A Great Benediction
John 20:29-31
Application
How is your faith?
Is it growing because of your dependence
on the Word of God and submission to
the Holy Spirit? Or …
Are you looking to God for something to
confirm His presence and work in your
life?