“That Ye Might Believe That Jesus Is the Christ”Gospel Doctrine: New Testament, Lesson 1: Isaiah 61, JST Luke 3, John 1

“______Thomas”

Why Study the New Testament?Matthew 11:28-30

Who here labors or would call themselves heavy laden?

Bruce R. McConkie

"In the final analysis, our purpose in learning of our Lord is to gain that knowledge, insight, and desire which will cause us to become like him - all in harmony with his divine promise:

'Ye shall have fulness of joy; and ye shall sit down in the kingdom of my Father; yea your joy shall be full, even as the Father hath given me fulness of joy: and ye shall be even as I am, and I am even as the Father: and the Father and I are one.' (3 Ne. 28:10)."

Tips on understanding the New Testament

Read the books individually (none of them will take more than 90 min)

The Gospels (Testimonies of Christ)

Acts (work of the Apostles, especially Peter’s work among the Jews and Paul’s among the Gentiles)

Epistles (letters from Church leaders to the saints)

Revelation (revelation received by John on the isle of Patmos)

Tips on understanding the New Testament

Understand the authors individually (don’t harmonize)

Mark: Not an apostle, mission companion of Paul & Peter, served among Gentiles

Matthew: A Jew, a publican, an apostle, served among Jews

Luke: Gentile convert, wrote to those looked down on by the Jews: women, lepers, Samaritans. He was a physician: had close contact with men and women (and the unclean)

John: A Jewish convert, an Apostle (first presidency), writing to the believers

Isaiah prophesied of the Savior’s Mission

Isaiah 61:1-3

Preach good tidings

Bind up the brokenhearted

Proclaim liberty to the captives

Comfort all that mourn

Christ’s Early Ministry

He quotes Isaiah’s prophesy

Luke 4:16-20

This was his congregation. They knew him.

Why would he start his ministry this way?

What did he add?

Jacob 4:14 <> John 8:12

John the Baptist prophesied of the Savior’s Mission

JST Luke 3:4-9

Take away the sins of the world (5)

Bring salvation to the heathen (5)

Gather those who are lost (5)

Make possible preaching to the Gentiles (6)

Be a light unto the darkness (7)

Bring to pass the resurrection (7)

Administer justice (9)

Convince the ungodly of their deeds (9)

Compare the 4 Gospels

Look at the chapter headings. What event do they start with?

Mark (written first)

Matthew & Luke

John (written last, no parables)

Only here is his Divine nature emphasized

The Apostle John testifies that Jesus Christ is “the true Light.”

JST John 1:1-3,14

1. Christ ‘was in the beginning’ with God

President Hugh B. Brown: "Jesus himself frequently referred to the fact of his preexistence. For example, he said, 'For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me' ( John 6:38)."

2. Christ is God

"The Apostle John tells us that the Word—which he identifies as the Savior (John 1:14) —was with God in the beginning (John 1:1). This is a precise and unambiguous declaration, not only that he was with God in the beginning, but that he himself was invested with the powers and rank of godship and that he came into the world and dwelt among men. He was the Creator of all that is."

He is the True LightJohn 1:9-10

If it lights every man, why are so many in darkness?

D&C 84:45-46

Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin:  "As the sun gives life and light to the earth, a spiritual light gives nourishment to our spirits. We call this the Light of Christ. The scriptures teach us that it 'lighteth every man that cometh into the world.' Thus, all mankind can enjoy its blessings. The Light of Christ is the divine influence that allows every man, woman, and child to distinguish between good and evil. It encourages all to choose the right, to seek eternal truth, and to learn again the truths that we knew in our premortal existence but have forgotten in mortality."

What are the two purposes of the Gospel records?

John 20:31

Believe that He is the Christ

Believe that ye might have life through His name

Thomas S. Monson"We need not visit the Holy Land to feel him close to us. We need not walk by the shores of Galilee or among the Judean hills to walk where Jesus walked.

    "In a very real sense, all can walk where Jesus walked when, with his words on our lips, his spirit in our hearts, and his teachings in our lives, we journey through mortality."

Harold B. Lee, preparing a talk"During the days which followed, I locked myself in one of the rooms over in the Church Office building, and there I read the story of the life of the Savior. As I read the events of his life, and particularly the events leading up to and of the crucifixion, and then of the resurrection, I discovered that something was happening to me. I was not just reading a story; it seemed actually as though I was living the events; and I was reading them with a reality the like of which I had never before experienced. And when, on the Sunday night following, after I had delivered my brief talk and then declared, simply, 'As one of the humblest among you, I, too, know that these things are true, that Jesus died and was resurrected for the sins of the world,' I was speaking from a full heart, because I had come to know that week, with a certainty which I never before had known."

“That Ye Might Believe That Jesus Is the Christ”

Gospel Doctrine: New Testament, Lesson 1Isaiah 61, JST, Luke 3, John 1