Introduction:
Our theme for this year is “God will revive in 2005”.
What does revival imply?
The danger for every local congregation of the Lord’s Church is the tendency to become a religious club, run for the benefit of the members, rather than for the purpose of winning the world to Christ.
We need to be revived in our passion for witnessing.
A witness is someone who gives testimony.
I. Our Testimony: The Simple Gospel
Notice John’s testimony: “Behold the Lamb of God!” (John 1:35). The Greek word here for lamb is amnus, which is found only 4 times in the New Testament.
A. Two times are in John’s gospel, here and in 1:29 where the Baptist proclaims, “…Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.”
1. Background
a. Abel’s offering – Genesis 4:4 “And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof. And the LORD had respect unto Abel and to his offering”
b. Noah – Genesis 8:20 “And Noah builded an altar unto the LORD; and took of every clean beast, and of every clean fowl, and offered burnt offerings on the altar.”
c. Abraham’s offering of Isaac – Genesis 22:2ff, esp. 7, 8, 12 concept of the substitutionary sacrifice
d. The Passover Lamb – Exodus 12:13 “And the blood shall be to you for a token upon the houses where ye are: and when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and the plague shall not be upon you to destroy you, when I smite the land of Egypt.”
e. Leviticus 14:10-25 trespass/sin offering blood of the sacrifice was for atonement
B. The central point of the gospel message is the sacrificial death of Christ. It is by His blood that we are purged from dead works. Hebrews 9:14 “How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?”
C. A summary of the simple gospel message: 1 Corinthians 15:3-4 “For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures.”
B. 1 Peter 1:18-19 Christ, as a precious lamb of God without spot or blemish, paid the price for our redemption with his own blood.
1. The allusion is to Isaiah 53:7 (see 5-7).
2. Hebrews 9:22 “…without shedding of blood is no remission.”
C. Acts 8:32 – Ethiopian eunuch was reading from Isaiah 53:7. Philip began at this scripture and preached Jesus. Result: the Ethiopian eunuch was converted.
II. The Response: Follow Christ
A. As a result of John the Baptist’s testimony, two of his disciples (Andrew, and perhaps John) follow after Jesus.
B. “What seek ye?” Notice that these are the first words of the Lord recorded in John’s gospel. “What do you want?”
1. Testing their motives.
2. People follow Jesus for many reasons.
C. Jesus’ response to their question is not an answer, but an invitation—“come and see”.
III. The Result: Andrew’s Testimony
A. Andrew seeks Jesus.
B. After Andrew meets Jesus, the first thing he does is find his brother, Simon, and testify to him – “We have found the Messiah” – and he brings him to Jesus.
C. It is interesting to me that we only find Andrew mentioned once in the book of Acts – and that is simply to state that he was present in the upper room (Acts 1:13). We read no record of his ministry. There are no epistles that bear his authorship. Yet, every time we see Andrew in the John’s gospel, he is bringing someone to Jesus.
1. Simon Peter in John 1:44
2. A boy with a small lunch in John 6:8
3. Certain Greeks in John 12:20-26
Conclusion: Some, like Andrew, find the Lord because they are seeking him. Many others, however, only find Christ because others who know Him bring them to Him.
In this matter we have a great responsibility.
If Christ is all we say He is, we cannot keep Him to ourselves, but must share Him with other.
1. Hear the gospel
2. Believe
3. Repent of sin
4. Confess Christ as Lord
5. Be baptized
