Disciples - Tests Purpose of John’s writing Jn. 20:30,31; 1 Jn. 5:13

Test of Belief, 1 Jn. 5:1,5 Antichrists denied this truth, 1 Jn. 2:18,22; 4:2,3; 2 Jn. 7 Faith in Christ is essential to salvation, Jn. 8:24; Acts 8:29-37

Jewish Secular Evidence Josephus (94 A.D.) – “And when Pilate had condemned him to the cross on his impeachment by the chief among us, those who loved him at first did not cease; for he appeared to them on the third day alive again…”

Gentile Secular Evidence Pliny the Younger (112 A.D. Roman governor of Bithynia) – “They were in the habit of meeting on a certain fixed day before it was light, when they sang an anthem to Christ as God, and bound themselves by a solemn oath not to commit any wicked deed, but to abstain from all fraud, theft and adultery…”

More Evidence Tacitus (115 A.D., Roman historian) – “To scotch the rumor, (about the fire in Rome) Nero substituted as culprits, and punished with the utmost refinements of cruelty, a class of men, loathed for their vices, whom the crowd styled Christians. Christus, from whom they got their name, had been executed by sentence of the procurator Pontius Pilate…”

DaVinci Code Doctrine The Gospel accounts are frauds – clues from DaVinci paintings and 80 apocryphal (doubtful origin) books show Jesus was married to Mary Magdalene, had a daughter named Sarah and there are living descendants of Jesus on earth. Fact: Apocryphal books (not 80 of them) written in 2 nd & 3 rd centuries by Gnostics who denied the humanity of Christ – How could He have been married?

Was Jesus Married? The Gospel accounts say nothing about it. When Paul said he had a right to lead about a wife – why didn’t he use the ultimate example? (1 Cor. 9:5) Mary Magdalene was present at the cross; would Jesus have ignored His wife? (Jn. 19:25,26) Such is foolish; designed for one purpose.

Test of Love, 1 Jn. 5:1,2 God demonstrated His love, 1 Jn. 4:9,10; 3:16; Jn. 15:13 Disciples must love God, Mt. 22:36-38 Disciples must love one another, 1 Jn. 4:20-5:1,2; Jn. 13:34,35

Test of Obedience, 1 Jn. 5:2,3 Essential to having fellowship with God, 1:6,7 Essential to knowing Jesus, 2:3,4 Essential to abiding in Him, 2:5,6 Obedience from love is not burdensome, 5:3

Conclusion Disciples of Christ must Believe that Jesus, the Son of God came in the flesh, died, was buried, arose. Love God, Christ and their brethren Obey and keep God’s commandments