“And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of His disciples, which are not written in this book: But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through His name” (John 20:30,31).
According to John’s testimony, his purpose in writing his gospel was that of evangelism, hoping to win those who would read it to saving faith in Jesus Christ as the Son of God. It is thus appropriate that Christians, through the years, have used the Gospel of John, more than any other book of the Bible, in seeking to win people to Christ.
Since John was also inspired by the Holy Spirit in what he wrote, we would be well advised to follow his initial approach in witnessing. With that in mind, note that he began his soul-winning message with creation! “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by Him; and without Him was not anything made that was made” (John 1:1–3).
He then noted that we are in rebellion against Him. “He was in the world, and the world was made by Him, and the world knew Him not. He came unto His own, and His own received Him not” (John 1:10,11). Next, John stressed the miracle of His incarnation. “And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth” (John 1:14).
He proceeded then to His substitutionary atonement, “Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world” (John 1:29). John’s inspired approach would surely imply that true faith in Christ must first be based on recognition of Him as Creator and ourselves as sinful rebels against Him, then of His true but perfect humanity, and finally, His work as our sin-bearing personal Savior. HMM
