In order to redeem people, Jesus had to be both God and man. There are also conditions for redemption for humans, which we will look at in more detail using the encounter between Jesus and Nicodemus in John 3. Jesus explains to Nicodemus that a new birth is necessary because the old life cannot see heaven and eternity. Christ, who has come from heaven, brings us life. Without this new creation, salvation is impossible. John 1:12-13 makes it clear that the birth from heaven through faith is crucial.
A testimony is the result of faith and means accepting Jesus' life and living by faith. We must believe in the new identity in Christ. Only in his name do we find salvation. John the Baptist emphasizes in John 3:36: “He who believes in the Son has eternal life...”. This shows the necessity of identifying with Jesus as our Savior. In contrast, God's wrath remains on those who do not believe. These statements make it clear once again that a new life is necessary for reconciliation with God, since in the old life - in selfishness - we are separated from him. Only from the new life - in love - is life possible.
In John 4, we meet the woman at Jacob's well. Jesus knows her longing for love and is aware of her search for men who cannot give her what she needs. He waits for her and offers her a new identity. The point is that God wants to give us a new name. When the woman drinks the water that Jesus offers her, living water flows out of her, because she cannot keep the good news of Christ to herself.
The faith of the Samaritans in John 4 also shows us that people without preconceived ideas or doctrines can often more easily recognize the true Christ and understand what he offers. These aspects are dealt with in detail in the fifth part of the series “Themes in the Gospel of John”.