The Bible Believer’s Handbook JOHN W. Max Alderman Copyright © 2002 by W. Max Alderman First Edition January 2003 Published by Bethel Baptist Church 4212 Campbell St. N. London, Ont. N6P Printed in Canada This book is dedicated to my father, Harmon M. Alderman, who went to be with the Lord during the time that I was writing this book. No greater example for me, than he…. This book is also dedicated to a man who was like a father to me, who also went to be with the Lord during the time that I was writing this book. In a prayer that he prayed shortly before he died, Brother C. L. Roach asked God to give me prudence, power, and protection for my ministry. In Appreciation 1) To my dear wife and family who “shared” me with the book of John for over three years. 2) To my daughter, Amy Thompson, who helped finalize the book, making it ready for publishers. 3) To my dear church family who have encouraged me along the way. 4) To Mrs. Pam Eastridge who typed my “hen scratching” and kept a smile while doing so. 5) To Mrs. Shirley Hughes who proofed my book. 6) To the fine restaurants and their waitresses who would let me “tuck away” with a cup of coffee and write to my heart’s content: R J’s Seafood & Steakery Snooky’s Restaurant Boyd’s Barbeque 7) To the many others who may have contributed in some manner, as well as to you who will read and benefit from this study. 8) To, above all else, my Saviour who made this all pos- sible. Introduction It was during a revival service that God spoke to me about doing a study on John. I had long recognized the Book of John to be a great study on belief. With this being true, I felt that it would be appropriate to call my book, The Bible Be- liever’s Handbook. Each chapter begins with the question, “What do you believe about…?” Taking this approach has thrilled and blessed my heart. This approach allows one to probe and study a particular truth in its Biblical setting. Though this is a verse-by-verse study, one may also consider each chapter in- dependently of the other. It is my sincere desire that this study on John will be a blessing to you and cause you to have a greater appreciation of the many benefits of faith. Dr. W. Max Alderman Statesboro Bible Baptist Church 151 Northside Drive East Statesboro, Georgia 30458 (912) 764-5615 Contents Chapter What Do You Believe About: Page 1 Creation? (1:1-18) 13 2 The Record of John? (1:19-34) 17 3 The Call of God for Service? (1:35-51) 21 4 Miracles? (2:1-11) 26 5 The Holiness of God? (2:12-25 31 6 The New Birth? (3:1-16) 37 7 The Doctrine of Condemnation? (3:17-21) 44 8 The Glory of God? (3:22-36) 51 9 Jesus – The Living Water? (4:1-30) 57 10 Real Hunger? (4:31-42) 64 11 Long Distance Miracles? (4:43-54) 69 12 Sin and Sickness? (5:1-16) 75 13 Judgment? (5:17-29) 81 14 A Witness’ Qualification? (5:30-47) 88 15 The All-Sufficient One? (6:1-14) 95 16 The Bread of Life? Part I (6:15-40) 102 17 The Bread of Life? Part II (6:41-71) 108 18 The Doctrine of Christ? Part I (7:1-29) 115 19 The Doctrine of Christ? Part II (7:30-53) 122 20 The Wise Teacher? (8:1-11) 129 21 The True Light? (8:12-30) 136 22 The Truth Versus The Lie? (8:31-59) 143 23 Spiritual Blindness? Part I (9:1-12) 151 24 Spiritual Blindness? Part II (9:13-41) 160 25 The Good Shepherd? Part I (10:1-18) 167 26 The Good Shepherd? Part II (10:19-42) 175 27 Resurrection Power? Part I (11:1-26) 182 9 Chapter What Do You Believe About Page 28 Resurrection Power? Part II (11:27-43) 191 29 Resurrection Power? Part III (11:44-57) 198 30 True Worship? Part I (12:1-11) 205 31 True Worship? Part II (12:12-26) 212 32 The Purpose of His Crucifixion? (12:27-33) 220 33 Jesus As Light? (12:34-50) 228 34 Love’s Posture? (13:1-20) 236 35 Demon Possession? (13:21-38) 244 36 God’s Solution for Troubled Hearts? Part I (14:1-4) 251 37 God’s Solution for Troubled Hearts? Part II (14:5-31) 258 38 The True Vine? (15:1-17) 266 39 The World’s Hatred of the Christian? (15:18-16:6) 275 40 The Operation of the Holy Spirit? (16:7-15) 284 41 His Return? (16:16-33) 291 42 The High Priestly Prayer? (17:1-26) 297 43 The Arrest of Jesus? (18:1-12) 306 44 Peter’s Denial? (18:10-27) 314 45 Pontius Pilate? (18:28-19:16) 322 46 Jesus’ Death? (19:17-37) 328 47 The Empty Tomb? (19:38-20:9) 334 48 His Resurrection Appearances? Part I (20:10-31) 341 49 His Resurrection Appearances? Part II (21:1-25) 348 10 Chapter 1 WHAT DO YOU BELIEVE ABOUT CREATION? John 1:1-18 Certainly you believe something about creation. The hu- manist educators will teach you that you were evolved, not created. Those who embrace the teachings of Scripture are taught that God made all things. This teaching is true. Yet, theologically, we find it necessary to build upon that truth and to expand our thinking in accordance with God’s taught Word. During the first century of the Church, beginning with the apostolic age, there were two different mindsets pertaining to Creation. There was the “Hebrew mindset” and the “Greek mindset.” When I refer to the Greek or Hebrew mindset, I am simply conveying that the Hebrews and the Greeks were “set” in their thinking as to what they believed. The Hebrews found no difficulty believing in God and be- lieving Him to be the Creator God. The Greeks, however, were more prone to an atheistic or an agnostic position. The Apos- tle Paul’s approach was different when he spoke to the He- brew and Greek cultures. As he spoke to the Hebrews, he could immediately preach the Gospel to them because they believed in God and also in creation. In preaching to the Greeks, he first pre- sented Christ as the Creator God, then gave them the Gospel. I. NOTICE THE POWER BEHIND THE CREATION 1:1-3 A credible creation (vv. 1-3a). What you believe about the creation is determined by what you believe about the Creator. Who made us? What was the source of His power for such an event? Consider the magnitude of creating out of absolutely nothing everything that is. When stating that the Word created all things, John was confirming the deity of Christ. Christ or the Word is God. “Word” in the Greek is “logos,” which means “word, thought, concept, and the expression thereof.” God ex- presses Himself through His Son. When God the Son walked 13 JOHN upon the earth, He was doing the will of the Father. Literally, He was expressing the Father’s will. He was demonstrating the awesome power of His deity as He did so. Though He lim- ited Himself while upon the earth, while walking as a man, He was certainly no less God. He could weep and tire, but He also could create and heal. He was able to die as a man, but only He could be raised in resurrection splendor as the Eter- nal God. The power of His deity allowed Him to manifest His power in His duty. God commissioned Him to do the initial work of creation, but also he was commissioned to do the work of Sal- vation as the Light of the world. A credible Christ (v. 3b). Christ’s credibility is established in the miracle of creation, it is believed upon in the miracle of salvation. God communicated the account of Himself through His Son, the Word. Those who believe in and receive Him, become the sons of God. It is the duty of the “Word” to say everything the Father wants said to His creation. For that rea- son, the Son declares that He came not to do His own will, but the Father’s. The purpose of Christ the Word is clearly spelled out in John 20:31. He communicates the heart of God the Father through the Word by His seven sign miracles. They are: 1. The turning of the water into wine (2:1-11); 2. The cure of the no- bleman’s son (4:46-54); 3. The cure of the paralytic (5:1-18); 4. The feeding of the multitude (6:6-13); 5. The walking on the water (6:16-21); 6. The giving of sight to the blind (9:1-7); 7. The raising of Lazarus (11:1-45). During the course of these miracles, people either re- ceived or rejected the Person and the work of Christ. II. NOTICE THE PURPOSE FOR THE CREATION vv. 4-10a The Creator’s purpose (vv. 4-5). Everything God does has purpose. Just as Christ Himself had a purpose in the econ- omy of God, there was also purpose in the creation work. Each element of the creation was designed to compliment, assist, serve, support, sustain or in some way perpetuate life.