Cara a Cara con Cristo
Un sermón Juan 1:5-46
Predicado originalmente 7 de octubre de 1956
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Escritura
Descripción del Sermón
Muchos creen que el cristianismo es simplemente otro punto de vista político o solo otra opción de estilo de vida. En este sermón sobre Juan 1:5-46 titulado "Cara a Cara con Cristo", el Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones afirma que esto es una completa incomprensión del cristianismo. Aunque existen muchas filosofías morales que buscan hacer del mundo un lugar mejor a través de la educación y organizaciones de cabildeo político, estas fallan en traer un verdadero cambio al corazón humano. El centro del cristianismo es Jesucristo, quien nació de una virgen, vivió una vida sin pecado y murió la muerte de un pecador en la cruz, para luego ser resucitado de la tumba. Todo esto fue predicho en la ley de Moisés y los profetas. Cuando Jesús vino, aquellos que conocían las Escrituras lo reconocieron como el Mesías largamente esperado que liberaría a Israel y traería el reino de Dios. Aquellos que rechazan a Dios y a Jesucristo no lo hacen porque sean racionales e imparciales, pues hay evidencia de la identidad de Cristo en las Escrituras. Lo hacen porque son pecadores cegados por la oscuridad. Solo por la gracia de Dios esta ceguera puede ser disipada.
Desglose del Sermón
- El propósito de la predicación y de la iglesia es presentar a Jesucristo a las personas, así como Felipe presentó a Jesús a Natanael.
- Muchas personas tienen una visión errónea del cristianismo. Algunos lo ven como una simple filosofía o enseñanza. Otros lo ven como simplemente vivir una vida moral. Otros lo ven como una mera experiencia.
- La esencia del cristianismo es encontrarse cara a cara con la persona de Jesucristo.
- Debemos volver a las Escrituras para entender quién es realmente Jesús. El Antiguo Testamento señala a Jesús como el Mesías.
- Moisés habló de Jesús como el profeta que Dios levantaría, la simiente de la mujer que aplastaría la serpiente, la simiente de Abraham por quien todas las naciones serían benditas, los sacrificios que señalan a Jesús como el Cordero de Dios, etc.
- Los profetas también hablaron del nacimiento virginal de Jesús, su nacimiento en Belén, la entrada triunfal, su sufrimiento y muerte, etc.
- Juan el Bautista lo resumió llamando a Jesús el "Cordero de Dios que quita el pecado del mundo."
- A Natanael le costaba aceptar a Jesús de Nazaret como el Mesías ya que Nazaret no se menciona en las profecías. Pero estuvo dispuesto a "venir y ver."
- Jesús vio a Natanael como un "verdadero israelita, en quien no hay engaño." Era un buscador sincero de la verdad.
- Debemos buscar a Jesús sinceramente y sin doblez, dispuestos a enfrentar dificultades y venir a Él tal como somos.
- Venir a Jesús significa leer los Evangelios, escuchar Su enseñanza, orar por revelación y rendirse a Él.
- Si venimos a Jesús sinceramente, lo confesaremos como el Hijo de Dios, como lo hizo Natanael.
- Jesús vino a morir en la cruz como el Cordero de Dios para quitar nuestros pecados. Solo Él puede perdonar pecados, dar nueva vida y abrir el camino a la eternidad.
- La pregunta para cada persona es: ¿Te has encontrado cara a cara con Jesucristo? ¿Lo has considerado? ¡Ven y ve!
Sermon Q&A
Questions and Answers from Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones' Sermon on John 1:45-46
What is the central message of Christianity according to Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones?
According to Dr. Lloyd-Jones, the central message of Christianity is first and foremost about encountering the person of Jesus Christ. He emphasizes that many people approach Christianity wrongly by focusing on teachings, ethics, or experiences without first confronting Christ Himself. As he states: "Christianity starts with him. You see, before you begin to discuss theories about anything or ways of life and of living, we are just facing this fact that there has been in this world this Jesus, this person who lived in Nazareth." The sermon stresses that true Christianity begins with meeting Jesus personally, not with philosophies or attitudes.
How does Philip present Jesus to Nathanael in John 1:45-46?
Philip presents Jesus to Nathanael by saying, "We have found him of whom Moses in the law and the prophets did write, Jesus, the son of Joseph of Nazareth." Dr. Lloyd-Jones emphasizes that Philip doesn't try to convince Nathanael by talking about an experience or a feeling, but rather presents Jesus as the fulfillment of Scripture. Philip points to Jesus as the one prophesied throughout the Old Testament, making a claim about His identity as the Messiah, and then simply invites Nathanael to "come and see" for himself.
What common misconceptions do people have about Christianity according to the sermon?
According to Dr. Lloyd-Jones, common misconceptions about Christianity include: 1. That it's primarily a philosophy or point of view about various issues 2. That it's merely a moral or ethical way of living 3. That it's just about having a certain kind of emotional experience or finding happiness 4. That it's a teaching among many teachings offering solutions to life's problems
He states: "Their whole conception of Christianity is that it is a particular teaching... It's a point of view. It's an attitude which you take up with regard to particular subjects." The sermon emphasizes that these approaches miss the essential nature of Christianity as an encounter with the person of Christ.
How does the Old Testament point to Jesus according to Dr. Lloyd-Jones?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones explains that the Old Testament points to Jesus in multiple ways: 1. Through direct prophecies (Isaiah's virgin birth prophecy, Micah's prediction of Bethlehem as birthplace) 2. Through early promises (Genesis 3 - the seed of the woman bruising the serpent's head) 3. Through the Abrahamic covenant (blessing all nations through Abraham's seed) 4. Through the sacrificial system (prefiguring Christ as the ultimate sacrifice) 5. Through specific prophecies about the timing of His coming (Daniel) 6. Through prophecies about His suffering (Isaiah 53)
He summarizes: "John the Baptist, in the statement that he made to his disciples was just summarizing the whole of this prophetic teaching. When he said, behold the lamb of God that taketh away the sin of the whole world."
What does it mean that Nathanael was "an Israelite indeed in whom is no guile"?
According to Dr. Lloyd-Jones, this statement from Jesus about Nathanael has two important aspects: 1. "An Israelite indeed" means Nathanael was a true seeker of the Messiah: "An Israelite, a true Israelite, was a man who was looking for the Messiah." He was genuinely waiting and hoping for the promised one. 2. "In whom is no guile" means he was completely sincere and honest in his seeking: "Without Guile means this. There was no cunning, there was no deception, there was no concern about personal advantage, there was no employment of trickery for selfish advantage."
Dr. Lloyd-Jones emphasizes that Nathanael wasn't coming to argue or to show his cleverness, but with genuine desire to know the truth, despite his initial doubts about Nazareth.
What does "Come and see" mean for people seeking Christ today?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones interprets the invitation to "come and see" as a practical approach for seekers today: 1. Don't reject Christ simply because of intellectual difficulties 2. Come to Him just as you are, with all your doubts and questions 3. Encounter Him directly in the Gospel accounts: "Look at him. Explain him if you can. Explain the impact he's had upon the whole world ever since his coming." 4. Ask Him in simple prayer to reveal Himself to you by the Holy Spirit 5. Be sincere and honest in your seeking
He emphasizes this approach is for those who are genuinely seeking: "If with all your heart you truly seek him, you shall surely find him. But if you're not a true seeker, well, then I hold out no hope for you."
Why is personal encounter with Christ essential to Christianity?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones teaches that a personal encounter with Christ is essential because Christianity is fundamentally about a relationship with a person, not adherence to a system. He says, "There is nothing which is so easy, it seems to me, in this world, as to think of Christianity even without Christ." The sermon emphasizes that the ethical teachings, experiences, and worldview of Christianity only have their true meaning and power when they flow from a personal relationship with Jesus. This is what distinguished the apostles and explains their transformed lives: "What is this knowledge of Jesus Christ? The question I'm asking is, have we all got this? Do we possess it? Do we find that our relationship to Jesus Christ transforms our life, changes it completely, revolutionizes everything?"
What was Nathanael's objection to Philip's message about Jesus?
Nathanael's objection was summarized in his question: "Can there any good thing come out of Nazareth?" Dr. Lloyd-Jones explains that this wasn't merely a prejudice against Nazareth as an insignificant town, but rather a theological objection based on Nathanael's knowledge of Scripture: "There is nothing in the Old Testament scriptures that associate the messiah with Nazareth. If you'd said Bethlehem, it would have been all right. But you're saying Nazareth." Nathanael, as someone who knew the prophetic writings, was pointing out that no prophecy had identified Nazareth as the Messiah's hometown, creating a legitimate difficulty for him in accepting Philip's claim.
Evangelio de Juan
Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones
El Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones (1899-1981) fue un ministro evangélico galés que predicó y enseñó en la tradición Reformada. Su ministerio principal fue en Westminster Chapel, en el centro de Londres, desde 1939-1968, donde impartió exposiciones de varios años sobre libros de la Biblia como Romanos, Efesios y el Evangelio de Juan. Además de la colección del Fideicomiso MLJ de 1,600 de estos sermones en formato de audio, la mayoría de estas grandes series de sermones están disponibles en forma de libro (incluyendo una colección de 14 volúmenes de los sermones de Romanos), así como otras series como "Depresión Espiritual", "Estudios sobre el Sermón del Monte" y "Grandes Doctrinas Bíblicas". Es considerado por muchos líderes evangélicos de hoy como una autoridad en la verdad bíblica y la suficiencia de las Escrituras.