“REJECTION OR RECEPTION: WHAT IS YOUR DECISION
“REJECTION OR RECEPTION: WHAT IS YOUR DECISION?”
JOHN 12:12-19; 37-50
INTRO: Today is Palm Sunday. This is the day the Our Lord and Savior
rode triumphantly into Jerusalem to present Himself as King. John
tells us in John 12:12-13—“On the next day much people that were
come to the feast, when they heard that Jesus was coming to
Jerusalem, Took branches of palm trees, and went forth to meet him,
and cried, Hosanna: Blessed is the King of Israel that cometh in the
name of the Lord.” In Matthew’s account we read, “And a very great
multitude spread their garments in the way; others cut down branches
from the trees, and strewed them in the way. And the multitudes that
went before, and that followed, cried, saying, Hosanna to the son of
David: Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord; Hosanna in
the highest. And when he was come into Jerusalem, all the city was
moved, saying, Who is this? And the multitude said, This is Jesus the
prophet of Nazareth of Galilee.” (Matthew 21:8-11). Adam Clarke in
commentary on these verses wrote: “Every expression of the multitude
plainly intimated that they fully received our blessed Lord as the
promised Messiah. - How strange is it that these same
people…should, about five days after, change their hosannas for,
Away with him! crucify him! crucify him! How fickle is the multitude!”
(Adam Clarke’s Commentary on The Bible). The ones who greeted Him
at the beginning of the week with a glorious reception; later in
the week offered Him a great rejection!
Today, I would like to speak on the subject, REJECTION OR
RECEPTION-WHAT IS YOUR DECISION? Rejection or reception? It is
a decision each person must make. Just as Pilate was left with the
dilemma, “What shall I do then with Jesus which is called Christ?”
(Matthew 27:22b); each person must either choose to reject or receive
Christ in their life. If Jesus were born one thousand times in
Bethlehem and not in me, then I would still be lost. -- Corrie ten
Boom in Each New Day. Christianity Today, Vol. 31, no. 18. Friend,
you may be religious but have you been regenerated? You may know
the Bible but do you know you have been born again? Jesus said in
John 1:11-13—“He came unto his own, and his own received him not.
But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the
sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: Which were born,
not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of
God.” Friend, there it is again: rejection or reception. B. W. Johnson
in The People’s New Testament wrote: “While the nation rejected him,
some received him. To such as receive him in every age he gives
power to become the children of God.” (The People’s New Testament).
Note five things with me this morning…
(1) THE FOLLY OF UNBELIEF
JOHN 12:37-38—“But though he had done so many miracles before
them, yet they believed not on him: That the saying of Isaiah the prophet might be fulfilled, which he spake, Lord, who hath
believed our report? and to whom hath the arm of the Lord
been revealed?”
A. UNBELIEF DENIES THE PROOF.
1. Unbelief Rejects Miracles. John tells us that, “…though he had
done so many miracles before them, yet they believed not on him.”
Throughout His ministry our Lord had healed the sick, opened the
eyes of the blind, raised the dead, made the dumb to speak and the
deaf to hear, yet many still rejected Him and refused to believe. The
miracles of Jesus served as undeniable proof of His Messiahship;
yet the nation did not believe on Him.
2. Unbelief Rejects Revelation. V38 says, “That the saying of Isaiah
the prophet might be fulfilled, which he spake, Lord, who hath
believed our report? and to whom hath the arm of the Lord been
revealed?”
ILLUS: Two men were sent to check a rumor that iron lay beneath the
surface of a certain piece of ground. One, a scientist and
mineralogist, conscious of his own limitations, took along
some instruments. The other, a buoyant, self-confident
individual, said, "I believe what I can see; and what I can't see
I won't believe." He walked rapidly over the field and said,
"Iron? Nonsense! I see no iron; there is no iron here." And that
is what he stated in his report. The other man did not trust his
eye at all but looked at his instruments. The needle on one
pointed to the fact that a rich deposit of iron did lie beneath
the earth's surface. As he made his report he said, "My eye
couldn't see it, but my magnet discerned it." As the eye cannot
see minerals hidden in the earth, so it cannot see what is in
the heart of God toward man. Man can look upon the crucified
Christ and fail to see God's plan of redemption.
Even though the proof of the Messiah was abundantly clear the
people still rejected Jesus and the prophecy of Isaiah was fulfilled.
John 12:38 says, “That the saying of Isaiah the prophet might be
fulfilled, which he spake, Lord, who hath believed our report? and to
whom hath the arm of the Lord been revealed?”
B. UNBELIEF DENIES THE POWER.
1. The Display of God’s Power. The last part of v38 says, “Lord, who hath believed our report? and to whom hath the arm of the Lord been revealed?” The “arm of the Lord” is symbolic of power. The power of God was manifested by Christ in His preaching, miracles and the work of redemption. Isaiah 52:10 tells us, “The LORD hath made bare his holy arm in the eyes of all the nations; and all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of our God.” Someone said, “God writes with a pen that never blots, speaks with a tongue that never slips, and acts with a hand that never fails.”- Unknown - PULPIT HELPS, July, 1991. In John 1:1-4, 14 we read, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life; and the life was the light of men. And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.” The WORD dwelt among them. They saw the many miracles and they heard His teaching, yet as v37 tells us, “…they believed not on him.”
ILLUS: Is it not a frightening truth that the free will of a bad
man can resist the will of God? For He has, after a
fashion, restricted His own Omnipotence by the very fact
of creating free creatures; and we read that the Lord was
not able to do miracles in some place because people's
faith was wanting. -- C.S. Lewis in a letter to Don
Calabria (Letters, ed. Martin Moynihan). Christianity
Today, Vol. 34, no. 5.
2. The Design of God’s Power. John 12:38 echoes what Isaiah wrote in Isaiah 53:1—“Who hath believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the LORD revealed?” The report of the prophets, of John the Baptist, and Christ’s own report of himself. The Jews did not receive the report, and for this reason he was not manifested to them as the promised Messiah. (Adam Clarke’s Commentary on The Bible). Friends, the design of God’s power is that men might believe and trust in Christ as their Savior. Unbelief denies God’s power. Listen, the Lord can and will save whosoever will come to Him in repentance and believing faith but listen to what Isaiah 59:1-2 says, “Behold, the LORD's hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear: But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear.” If a man is to be saved from his sins, he must not deny the power of God to save Him! He MUST BELIEVE THE REPORT and he MUST TRUST IN THE ARM OF THE LORD!
ILLUS: While a student at Yale University, Eugene F. Suter, Jr.'s
father died, leaving him an estate of $400,000. When
Eugene refused the inheritance, the trustees of the
estate insisted he take it, and even took him to court to
force him to accept the money. In an unprecedented case
held in New York City, Judge William T. Collins
reluctantly ruled that the young man had a legal right to
reject the $400,000. The order legally cut off the 22-year-
old student from all future interest in the family fortune,
leaving him without an income. There are a lot of people
in this world who are refusing a far greater inheritance
than Suter did. God has offered us the opportunity to be
joint-heirs with Christ and heirs of eternal life, and so
many are refusing to profess belief in Christ and to be
born again. Like Suter, they will be cut off from all future
benefits from their Father's estate. Will your inheritance
go unclaimed?
THE FOLLY OF UNBELIEF is that UNBELIEF DENIES THE PROOF and UNBELIEF DENIES THE POWER but also notice…
(2) THE FRUIT OF UNBELIEF
JOHN 12:39-41—“Therefore they could not believe, because that
Isaiah said again, He hath blinded their eyes, and hardened their heart; that they should not see with their eyes, nor understand with their heart, and be converted, and I should heal them. These things said Isaiah, when he saw his glory, and spake of him.”
A. THE REALITY. Notice what v39 says, “Therefore they could not believe…”. Why? Because they did not believe the report of the prophets concerning Christ; therefore they credited not the miracles which he wrought as a proof that he was the person foretold by the prophets, and promised to their fathers. Having thus resisted the report of the prophets, and the evidence of Christ’s own miracles, God gave them up to the darkness and hardness of their own hearts, so that they continued to reject every overture of Divine mercy. (Adam Clarke’s Commentary on The Bible). Mankind has received sufficient evidence to believe in the reality and necessity of salvation through Christ Jesus. But people continue to not receive Christ because they CHOOSE to remain lost! Jesus said in John 5:36-40—“ But I have greater witness than that of John: for the works which the Father hath given me to finish, the same works that I do, bear witness of me, that the Father hath sent me. And the Father himself, which hath sent me, hath borne witness of me. Ye have neither heard his voice at any time, nor seen his shape. And ye have not his word abiding in you: for whom he hath sent, him ye believe not. Search the Scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me. And ye will not come to me, that ye might have life.”
B. THE RESULTS. Vv. 40-41 gives us THE FRUIT OF UNBELIEF:
1. A Person is Blinded (v40a). “He hath blinded their eyes.” The sin of unbelief causes a person to be blinded to the truth. The expression in Isaiah is, “Go, make the heart of this people fat, and shut their eyes.” That is, go and proclaim truth to them truth that will result in blinding their eyes… This does not mean that it was the design of God that they should not be converted, but that it was the effect of their rejecting the message. (Albert Barnes’ Notes On The Bible).
ILLUS: Speaking to his physician, John cried in great perplexity,
"I might not live a week!" "Of course you may not, John,
but very likely you will, and the medicine will be in the
house; it will keep; and if you find yourself getting worse,
you could take some. I shall not charge anything for it. If
you should feel worse tomorrow you might begin even
then." "Sir, I may be dead tomorrow!" "When would you
propose to begin your medicine then, John?" "Well, sir, I
hoped you would tell me to begin today."
"Begin today, by all means," consented the doctor,
kindly. "I am glad to see you realize how foolish it is to
put off taking this medicine." And then the physician,
reflecting upon their past conversations about spiritual
matters, inquired, "But are you not being just as foolish
when you put off taking the medicine which the Great
Physician has provided for your sin-sick soul? I plead
with you, John; don't put it off!"
2. A Person is Hardened (v40b). “He hath… hardened their heart.” The longer a person remains in unbelief the harder that person’s heart becomes! A person must desire to be saved before God can save Him! If the desire is not there, the person will harden his heart and remain in his lost condition.
ILLUS: How do you go about curing a drunk? The answer to that
is, you can't. Before a man can lead a consistently sober
life, he has to be motivated from within. He has to admit
to himself he has a real problem, and he has to want to
lick it. Only then can anyone help him. It is the same way
when a man is obsessed with a false idea. You can't
change his opinions simply by telling him he is wrong. He
will only become more firmly set against you, and more
determined than ever to defend his idea. No, a man must
first admit to himself that following his idea to its logical
conclusion in his life has led to utter spiritual poverty; he
must want to know the truth. He must be willing to follow
it once he is convinced.
Proverbs 14:12 says, “There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.” Until a person sees that his way will only lead to spiritual death and destruction, he will continue hardening his heart and failing to believe.
3. A Person is Condemned (v40c). “that they should not see with their eyes, nor understand with their heart, and be converted, and I should heal them.” Unbelief only ends in condemnation. IN fact, Jesus said that the person who has not received Him in believing faith is condemned already; “For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.” (John 3:17-19).
ILLUS: Isn't light self-revealing? Do we need to stand out in the
street and shout to those who pass by, "That's the sun,"
as we point to it in all its brightness? The sun is self-
revealing in the same sense that Jesus Christ was and is
the Light of the world. The fact that John the Baptist
came to give his witness about the Light did not in any
way steal from it the power to reveal itself. The necessity
for the human testimony of the Baptist is a clear
indication of the complete depravity of man, his inability
to comprehend that which is spiritual. His mind and
heart have been so darkened by sin that, seeing the
Light, he does not recognize it as the Light. We must also
remember what men and women actually saw down here
on earth was a human Jesus. Their darkened vision
could not see anything superhuman in Him. It was
necessary for someone like John the Baptist to tell them
that this One who walked with them and who ate with
them was the Light.
The Son of God came so that “the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine” in this sin-darkened world. But unbelief results in condemnation to those who reject Christ. As John 3:36 says, “He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.”
4. A Person Never Sees the Glory of God (v41). Notice what v41 says, “These things said Isaiah, when he saw his glory, and spake of him.” The person who remains in unbelief never sees the glory of God! John 1:14 tells us, “And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.” The unbeliever never sees the grace, mercy, and kindness that brought salvation! Ephesians 2:4-5 tells us, “But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, by (grace ye are saved;)”. He never experiences the power and presence of God operating in his life confirming the awesome glory of our God!
We have seen THE FOLLY OF UNBELIEF and THE FRUIT OF UNBELIEF but also let us see…
(3) THE FAILURE OF SILENT BELIEF
JOHN 12:42-43—“ Nevertheless among the chief rulers also many
believed on him; but because of the Pharisees they did not confess him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue: For they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God.”
A. THE REASON FOR SILENT BELIEF. Someone has written:
Jesus, and shall it ever be,
A mortal man ashamed of Thee?
Ashamed of Thee, whom angels praise,
Where glories shine thro' endless days?
Ashamed of Jesus! sooner far
Let evening blush to own a star;
He sheds the beams of light divine
O'er this benighted soul of mine.
Ashamed of Jesus! Yes, I may,
When I've no guilt to wash away,
No tears to wipe, no good to crave,
No fear to quell, no soul to save.
Till then, nor is my boasting vain,
Till then I boast a Saviour slain;
And oh, may this my glory be,
That Christ is not ashamed of me.
- Unknown
- Quoted by H. A. Ironside,
- GOSPEL OF JOHN, p. 529.
What are some of the characteristics of “silent believers”? :
1. A Failure To Confess Jesus (v42a). We are aware of two of these believers by name: Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus. Both were believers but both were “silent believers”. Many today are “silent believers”. They will not confess that they know Jesus as their Lord and Savior. Psalm 107:2 says, “Let the redeemed of the LORD say so, whom he hath redeemed from the hand of the enemy.”
ILLUS: Billy Graham relates the story of a wealthy father who
provided well for his only son. One day, the boy came to
his father and said he was dropping out of school and
leaving home. Asked why, the son said, "Well, Dad, the
truth of it is, I hate you." The father was stunned and
demanded, "Why, son, why? I have given you everything,
have I not?" "Well, that is just it. You have not. You may
have thought you bought me everything, but you have not
given me anything to believe in."
Friends, this world is looking for something to believe in. Something real. Something that will carry them through life and prepare them for the life to come. We who have trusted in Jesus have that something. Will we keep silent or will we confess Jesus before men?
ILLUS: A strong horseshoe magnet may be held over an old rust-
eaten, shapeless nail without meeting any response. A
bright, ringing nail will leap to the magnet, attract another,
and through it draw yet another, until several are
attracted. That is how Christians are. A really genuine,
active, shining Christian has a tremendous attraction to
Christ, is magnetized by His love and purity, attracted by
His power. And through that Christian, Christ can draw
others to Him to share the same power and attraction.
But a rusty, unpolished, corroded Christian, cranky,
defiled and selfish, has very little attraction, and through
him the power of Christ to win the world cannot flow. God
has enough power to wipe out every vice and every evil
doctrine in this world, but first of all, there must be
conductors. And rusty, untaught, unprepared, and
unpracticed church members neither draw others near to
God nor are drawn near themselves. Our religion must be
intensive before it can be extensive.
Jesus said in Matthew 10:32-33—“ Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven. But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven.”
2. A Fear of Personal Loss (v42b). “Because of the Pharisees they did not confess him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue.” John 9:22 tells us, “…for the Jews had agreed already, that if any man did confess that he was Christ, he should be put out of the synagogue.” These believers were silent because they feared being put out of the synagogue. Many are silent today because they fear mockery, laughter, abusive language, or shunning because of their faith in Christ.
ILLUS: It had been a rather stormy board meeting and some very
harsh things had been said. One man--always highly
respected and unusually wise in his judgments--had said
nothing throughout the proceedings. Suddenly one of the
leaders in the argument turned to him: "You have not said
a word. I am sure we would all like to hear your opinion
about this matter." "I have discovered," replied the quiet
one, "that there are many times when silence is an
opinion."--"Bits & Pieces," September, 1989
When we are silent about the greatest gift God has given
the world, or about the greatest thing that has happened
in our lives, are we not expressing an opinion about it?
(The Timothy Report, Swan Lake Communications,
Swanlake@jam. September 29, 2003)
3. A Focus on Loving Man’s Praise More Than Living God’s Purpose (v43). V43 gives us the reason why many stay “silent believers,” “For they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God.” Many today keep silent because they desire the approval of man rather than the smile of God.
ILLUS: It was said of the soldiers of the first Napoleon that they
were content to die in the ditch if only he rode over them to
victory. With their last breath they cried, "Long live the
Emperor!" It seemed as though they had lost all thought
and care of their own interests, so long as glory was given
to his name. So should it be of us. Higher than our own
comfort, or success, or popularity, should be the one
thought of the glory of our God. Let Christ be honored,
loved, exalted, at whatever cost to us. Live to please God,
and He will breathe on you His peace. Seek His glory, and
He will make your heart His home. Do His will, and thereby
good shall come to you. --F. B. Meyer (The Timothy Report,
Swan Lake Communications, Swanlake@jam.
October 6, 2003)
B. THE REMEDY FOR SILENT BELIEF. If we are going to move beyond
being “silent believers” to being “sharing believers,” there are two things
we must do:
1. Rest In The Power of the Spirit (2 Timothy 1:7-8). When the Lord saved us He gave us “power to encounter foes and dangers; power to bear up under trials; power to triumph in persecutions. That is, it is the nature of the gospel to inspire the mind with holy courage” (Albert Barnes’ Notes On The Bible). If we are going to win people to Christ we must rest in the power of the Holy Spirit. If you think you are too small to be effective, you have never been in bed with a mosquito. -- Betty Reese. Leadership, Vol. 16, no. 2. Jesus said in Acts 1:8—“But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.” Notice the Lord said, “…Ye shall receive power…and ye shall be witnesses…”. It is the temptation of this pragmatic age to presume that technique is the secret of evangelism. -- A. Skevington Wood. Christianity Today, Vol. 1, reprinted Vol. 40, no. 10. It is not technique but the power of God’s Spirit which makes the message real and effective!
2. Rely On The Power of the Scripture (Romans 10:14-17). Friends, lets be honest there is nothing you or I can do to make someone repent and receive Christ as their Savior. If anyone gets saved God has to do it! Romans 10:17 says, “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” And 1 Corinthians 1:18-21—“ For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God. For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent. Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.” It is the MESSAGE not the METHOD which wins lost souls! And we must rely on the power of the Scripture!
Friends, If we keep silent how do we expect people to be saved! If we tell them not we fail to lay before them the opportunity of REJECTION OR RECEPTION. We have seen THE FOLLY OF UNBELIEF, THE FRUIT OF UNBELIEF, and THE FAILURE OF SILENT BELIEF but also let us see…
(4) THE FAITH OF TRUE BELIEF
JOHN 12:44-46—“ Jesus cried and said, He that believeth on me,
believeth not on me, but on him that sent me. And he that seeth me seeth him that sent me. I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on me should not abide in darkness.”
A. FAITH BELIEVES IN THE REVELATION OF GOD. Jesus said in v44—“He that believe on me, believeth not on me, but on him that sent me.” Jesus said in John 14:6—“I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” Jesus Christ is the mediator between God and man. He is the bridge builder and the Cross is the bridge. That is why Paul proclaimed in Galatians 6:14—“But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world.” If a man desires to approach God he must do so by believing on Christ first. If a man says he believes in God but not in his Son, he is deceived.
B. FAITH SEES THE REDEMPTION OF GOD. Jesus said in v45, “And he that seeth me seeth him that sent me.” A man sees God only through seeing Jesus Christ. Christ claimed, “He that hath seen me hath seen the Father” (John 14:9). When a person looks at Christ, they see the very nature of God—the very acts and words of God Himself. Christ is the revelation of God who came to earth to reveal God. (Preacher’s Outline And Sermon Bible-New Testament. Volume 5. John Commentary). In John 6:40 Jesus said, “And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one that seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.”
C. FAITH RECEIVES THE DELIVERANCE OF GOD. Jesus said in v46—
“I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth in me should
not abide in darkness.” Christ is the light of the world. He came in
order to bring light and salvation to a world of darkness. When a
person truly receives Jesus as their Savior they move from the realm of
darkness into the glorious light.
ILLUS: Religious instruction, however sound, is not enough by itself. It
brings light, but it cannot impart sight. The assumption that
light and sight are synonymous has brought spiritual tragedy to
millions. The Pharisees looked straight at the Light of the World
for three years, but not one ray of light reached their inner
beings. Light is not enough. The inward operation of the Holy
Spirit is necessary to saving faith. The gospel is light but only
the Spirit can give sight. -- A.W. Tozer, Born After Midnight.
Christianity Today, Vol. 41, no. 5.
We have seen THE FOLLY OF UNBELIEF, THE FRUIT OF UNBELIEF, THE FAILURE OF SILENT BELIEF and THE FAITH OF TRUE BELIEF and finally note…
(5) THE FATE OF UNBELIEF
JOHN 12:47-50—“And if any man hear my words, and believe not,
I judge him not: for I came not to judge the world, but to save
the world. He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words,
hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the
same shall judge him in the last day. For I have not spoken of
myself; but the Father which sent me, he gave me
commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak.
And I know that his commandment is life everlasting:
Whatsoever I speak therefore, even as the Father said unto me, so I speak.”
A. THE REASON FOR THIS JUDGMENT (JOHN 12:47-50). Jesus said in v48—“He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoke, the same shall judge him in the last day.” Note the words “rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words…”. Friend, there it is again: REJECTION OR RECEPTION. If a man rejects the words of salvation, he condemns and judges himself. Why? Because in the last day, when the man stands before God, the words of salvation will not be found in him. The words will be outside the unbeliever, standing there to judge him (Preacher’s Outline And Sermon Bible-New Testament. Volume 5. John Commentary). The very words a person rejected will stand as a witness against him at the last day. Why? :
1. Because The Words of Jesus are The Word of God (v49). Jesus said in John 7:16-17—“ My doctrine is not mine, but his that sent me. If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself.”
2. Because The Words of Jesus are The Words of Life (v50a). Jesus said in John 12:32—“And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me.” Lifted up, first, to the cross; second, from the grave; third, to heaven and the eternal throne. (The People’s New Testament). He truly hath the words of life! Peter said to the Lord, “…to whom shall we go? Thou hast the words of eternal life. And we believe and are sure that thou art that Christ, the Son of the living God” (John 6:68-69).
ILLUS: These words of our Lord are similar to that saying in St.
John’s first epistle, 1Jo_5:11, 1Jo_5:12. This is the
record, that God hath given unto us eternal life, and this
life is in his Son. He that hath the Son hath life. God’s
commandment or commission is, Preach salvation to a
lost world, and give thyself a ransom for all; and
whosoever believeth on thee shall not perish, but have
everlasting life. Every word of Christ, properly credited,
and carefully applied, leads to peace and happiness here,
and to glory hereafter. What an amiable view of the
Gospel of the grace of God does this give us? It is a
system of eternal life, Divinely calculated to answer every
important purpose to dying, miserable man. This sacred
truth Jesus witnessed with his last breath. He began his
public ministry proclaiming the kingdom of God; and he
now finishes it by asserting that the whole commission is
eternal life. (Adam Clarke’s Commentary On The Bible).
3. Because The Words of Jesus are The Words of Truth (v50b). Jesus is “…the way, the truth, and the life…” and whatsoever He says declaring the way to God is the TRUE and ONLY WAY! There are not many truths out there; there is only one TRUTH! There are not many ways out there; there is only one WAY!
ILLUS: John the Baptist's message from the wilderness was not,
"Smile, God loves you." It was "O generation of vipers,
who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come."
Jeremiah was not put into a miry pit for preaching, "I'm
OK, you're OK." It was for crying against the adultery,
idolatry and other wickedness of his nation. Noah's
message from the steps of the ark was not, "Something
good is going to happen to you." He condemned the world
and was a preacher of righteousness. Jesus Christ was
not crucified for saying, "Consider the lilies, how they
grow," but for saying, "Woe unto you scribes and
Pharisees, hypocrites...children of hell ...fools and blind
guides ... whited sepulchers...generation of vipers."
It was our Lord Jesus who said, “Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand,” “He that believeth not is condemned already,” and “He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day.” Jesus is THE TRUTH and He spoke THE TRUTH!
B. THE RECOMPENSE OF THIS JUDGMENT (ROMANS 6:23a; REVELATION 20:15). There is only one sin which will send a person to hell and that is the sin of UNBELIEF! “Hell must be an awful place if God sent His Son to save me from it.” --Frank Pittman
ILLUS: A companion of a newly converted Christian said to him one
day, "Can you tell me where hell is?" After a moment's
hesitation the young Christian said, "Yes, it's at the end of a
Christless life."
CLOSING: Friend, let me ask you this morning: REJECTION OR RECEPTION:
WHAT IS YOUR DECISION? That is a question only you can
answer. Have you ever truly received the Lord Jesus into your
life by faith? There are many people today who are religiously
decorated. These decorations deceive the owners into believing they
are Christians, that they are born-again believers. They have
bought some religious pictures or other items. They hang up
pictures of saints or one of Jesus Christ knocking at the closed
door, but they have never opened their own door to Christ. They
have no love for the cross of Christ, but they may have a very
handsome crucifix hanging on the wall, or even a cross on a chain
hanging around their necks. They may be garnished with
generosity, giving their tithes to the church but withholding their
hearts from Jesus Christ. The Bible is on the table or in the
bookcase, but it is never read. These are the decorations of religion
that the Lord is speaking about. People may pray long-winded
prayers, show zeal, go to church, volunteer to cut the church lawn,
yet these may only be the decorations of an empty heart.
We have seen THE FOLLY OF UNBELIEF in that it DENIES THE
PROOF and DENIES THE POWER. We have seen THE FRUIT OF
UNBELIEF that a person is BLINDED, HARDENED, CONDEMNED,
and NEVER SEES THE GLORY OF GOD. And sadly, we saw THE
FATE OF UNBELIEF which is eternity in hell separated from God
and those who love Him. Friend, If you have not received Christ,
will you receive him today or will you continue to reject Him?
Christian, are you a silent believer? Do you keep silent because of
fear? Will you today become a sharing believer by RESTING IN THE
POWER OF THE SPIRIT and THE POWER OF THE SCRIPTURE?
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