THE SON GIVES ETERNAL LIFE

John 5:16-30
Key Verse: 5:24

“I tell you the truth, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life.”

* JESUS GIVES ETERNAL LIFE TO MEN (16-23)

1. Why did the Jewish leaders persecute Jesus? Why should people worship God on the Sabbath? (Dt 6:5) What was the Jews’ misunderstanding about the Sabbath? Can you think of any other times when Jesus challenged the Jewish leaders’ view of the Sabbath? (Lk 13:15-16)

2. Read verses 17-18. What is the work that the Father is doing? How does Jesus participate in it? What does it mean to call God, “my Father”? (Mt 6:9; Ro 8:15)

3. Read verses 19-21. In what sense are those trapped in their own fatalism like dead men? What kinds of people are similar to the walking dead? Can you think of some times when Jesus gave such people a new life? (Jn 5:8; Lk 13:10-13; Jn 8:7-11; Mk 10:46-52)

4. Read verses 22-23. What does it mean that the Father entrusts judgment to Jesus? How do men condemn themselves? (Jn 3:17-21)

* THE WAY OF SALVATION (24-30)

5. Read verses 24-27. What is Jesus’ promise in verse 24? How does Jesus save you? What do you have to do in order to be saved?

6. Read verses 28-30. How does Jesus vividly illustrate the life-giving power of his word and the absoluteness of his authority? Why must men fear God? Why must we hear the word of the Son of God? (Ro 2:7,8; 1Cor 15:49)