Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God

"These are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have faith through his name" (John 20:31).

This verse relates closely to the one we posted last week. In this brief passage the apostle John gives the reason for his writing what we today refer to as the gospel or book of John. By extension, it could be considered the purpose for virtually every book of holy scripture.

God so loved the world

"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life" (John 3:16).

Probably the most quoted scripture in all of Christendom, these 25 simple words from the apostle John allude to a number of fundamental truths:

1. God is a Father.
2. The Father and His only begotten Son are separate entities, else the One could not have sent the Other.
3. Jesus is the only person who has lived on the earth whose actual father was God, which is why He is called the only begotten Son.
4. The Father loves all the rest of His children.
5. The greatest evidence of that love is that the Father sent His Son into the world to redeem His children and to save those who believe in His Son.
6. Those who do not believe in Jesus at some point and on some level perish.
7. Those who do believe do not perish but enjoy eternal life with the Father and the Son.

Other scriptures make clear that real belief in Jesus involves active discipleship that includes having faith in Christ, repenting of sin, making and keeping sacred covenants, and enduring in faith to the end of mortal life. Simple confession or passive assent is hardly sufficient to merit an exquisite gift so precious as eternal life.