That You May Be Saved
John 5:17-47
This entire chapter, as it may affect us, rests on this question; “Do you believe verses 17 and 18? Do you believe that the works or signs that Jesus does are the works and signs of God? Do you believe that Jesus by calling God his father was claiming that he himself was equal with God?”
But Jesus answered them, “My Father is working until now, and I am working.”
18 This was why the Jews were seeking all the more to kill him, because not only was he breaking the Sabbath, but he was even calling God his own Father, making himself equal with God.
Notice that Jesus is not necessarily defending the sign that was performed, but that he is explaining who he is and why he has the authority and is able to do the sign. There are 3 truths to this and 6 witnesses or testimonies to the truths for one purpose.
I. The son can do nothing apart from the father.
a. “Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of his own accord,
b. In the perfect union of God the Father and Christ the Son the Son does exactly what he has seen the Father do. And here is why Christ is dependant upon the Father; They are so perfectly united that it is impossible for Christ NOT to be dependant upon the Father.
Hebrews 1:3 (ESV)
He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,
John 17:4 (ESV)
I glorified you on earth, having accomplished the work that you gave me to do.
Since the God the Father is working even now, the Son also must be working. The accusation of the Jews is true and correct. He was working on the Sabbath and by saying these things Christ is saying he is equal with God the Father. This truth is what allows the other truths we will look at today to be true also.
II. Those who hear and believe him have eternal life
a. Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life.
b. Belief/Faith comes through hearing
Romans 10:17 (ESV)
So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.
c. This truth is possibly speaking of the Jews. They were a nation that was called out from among all the nations to display the glory of God. They had the knowledge of the Most Holy One. They were supposed to know God. The covenant and promise was to their fathers and passed down to them. They only needed to hear and believe. Many scholars will put these two “Truly, truly” passages together as one truth. I believe however that when put to the rest of Scripture the promise is always presented first to the Jew, second to the Gentile. The Jews worship what they “know”. The Gentiles do not. The Jews would have considered spiritually, the Gentiles as dead. For Christ to use this language would have been offensive to the Jew who did not consider the promises to be for anyone other than the Jews. This would then let us consider that the dead who hear Christ and live would also be a reference to the Gentiles that would also believe on Him. This was also the first great debate in the Church after Pentecost. Were the Gentiles capable of not only receiving the Spirit but also not obligated to keep the law of circumcision?
III. The dead will hear Christ and live
a. “Truly, truly, I say to you, an hour is coming, and is now here, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live.
Ephesians 2:4–5 (ESV)
But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved—
Ezekiel 37:3 (ESV)
And he said to me, “Son of man, can these bones live?” And I answered, “O Lord GOD, you know.”
The Witnesses
I. Jesus’ own testimony
a. But the testimony that I have is greater than that of John
i. Conversation with the Samaritan woman (John 4:26)
b. They would not accept Christ’s testimony here but were more than willing to use it against him to kill him.
II. John the Baptist
a. There is another who bears witness about me, and I know that the testimony that he bears about me is true. 33 You sent to John, and he has borne witness to the truth
i. John 1:23 (ESV)
He said, “I am the voice of one crying out in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way of the Lord,’ as the prophet Isaiah said.”,
John 1:26–27 (ESV)
John answered them, “I baptize with water, but among you stands one you do not know, even he who comes after me, the strap of whose sandal I am not worthy to untie.”
III. The works
a. the very works that I am doing, bear witness about me that the Father has sent me.
i. Matthew 12:25–28 (ESV)
Knowing their thoughts, he said to them, “Every kingdom divided against itself is laid waste, and no city or house divided against itself will stand. And if Satan casts out Satan, he is divided against himself. How then will his kingdom stand? And if I cast out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your sons cast them out? Therefore they will be your judges. But if it is by the Spirit of God that I cast out demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you.
Likewise, our works do not bring us into right standing or favor with God the Father. They are proof and testify to who we belong to and who has sent us!
IV. The Father
a. And the Father who sent me has himself borne witness about me.
i. Matthew 3:16–17 (ESV)
And when Jesus was baptized, immediately he went up from the water, and behold, the heavens were opened to him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming to rest on him; and behold, a voice from heaven said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.”
Why does the Father testify? Because no one is able to come to Him except through Christ!
V. Scripture
a. You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness about me,
Luke 24:25–27 (ESV)
And he said to them, “O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory?” And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself.
2 Timothy 3:15 (ESV)
and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.
VI. Moses
a. For if you believed Moses, you would believe me; for he wrote of me
Deuteronomy 18:18 (ESV)
I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their brothers. And I will put my words in his mouth, and he shall speak to them all that I command him.
John 3:14–15 (ESV)
And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.
Numbers 21:9 (ESV)
So Moses made a bronze serpent and set it on a pole. And if a serpent bit anyone, he would look at the bronze serpent and live.
Your accuser will be what ever you set your hope on. Some set their hope on men, others on works, still others on knowledge. What do you set your hope on?
The purpose of Christ speaking these things to us in this passage is plain.
“I say these things that you may be saved.” v.34
This is the purpose of Christ; to save that which has been lost. Christ came to save you. Christ came to take your place and bear your punishment for your sin. In order that, as the serpent was lifted up and the people would be healed, if you would look to him on the cross and believe and follow, you too will be saved from your sin. You can ignore it and even deny it but it does not change the fact that all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. This includes you and me. Notice Christ does not speak to their comfort or itching ears; he speaks in order to create discomfort so they may turn and seek him. Christ speaks to convict so that they may acknowledge and repent of their sins. Christ speaks so that they have no excuse and can not say “No one told me”. So why did they not turn and seek and believe Him? As Augustine says;
They saw the flesh, the God they knew not; they observed the habitation, of the inhabitant they were ignorant. That flesh was a temple, within it dwelt God.
There are three truths about ourselves that we must acknowledge and admit
I. We are completely and totally dependant upon the Father.
II. We hear because of the grace and mercy of the Father
III. We are dead apart from Christ but we are made alive in Christ.
Christ, and Christ only, makes salvation possible. Will you turn to him and believe?
Friday, December 3, 2010
Saturday, November 20, 2010
Sunday's Manuscript
A Father’s Plea
John 4:46-54
The very nature of Christ is astounding. Here in the pages of the Bible we find time and time again, how Christ heals the sick, the lame, the blind. To see Christ act in the compassion that only God can demonstrate is indeed something to take note of. In today’s passage, Christ is asked of an important official from the town of Capernaum to heal his son. We can assume from scripture that since the first sign in Cana of turning water into wine and also from the signs that were done while Christ was in Jerusalem, many people have heard about the great things that Christ has and was doing.
Much is made about sight by Christ. Even though many of us see, we do not see. Jesus points this out many times. In Matthew 11 Christ tells the disciples of John the Baptist to “Go and tell what you hear and see” to John. Even though John himself saw heaven opened and the Spirit descend like a dove on Christ, he did not see. Later here in Chapter 10:37-38 of John, Christ tells the Pharisees that “You do not believe me, so believe the works”. They saw the works of Christ, but did not believe his testimony. John also later explains this as he quotes Isaiah 6 and 53 in John 12:38 and 40.
Lord, who has believed what he heard from us,
and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?”
“He has blinded their eyes
and hardened their heart,
lest they see with their eyes,
and understand with their heart, and turn,
and I would heal them.”
How is it that they can see but remain blind? They do not believe. What did they not believe? Did they not believe the lame man walked or the possessed made well? Of course they did. What did they not believe? “I know that Messiah is coming, he who is called Christ. When he comes, he will tell us all things. I who speak to you am he.” Jesus is Christ! Jesus is Messiah! Jesus is Lord! Jesus is Savior! Jesus is God!
After the wedding feast in Cana, other than Nicodemus, I wonder how many people truly came to Christ about spiritual things. Even those that seem to be spiritual have an undercurrent of personal gain in their requests. Even here today, an important official come to ask of Christ to heal his son. Christ’s response is that “Unless you see signs and wonders you will not believe”.
Now this official, being a father, is also compassionate. Some will consider this to be a very Christian act on behalf of the father. He cares deeply for his sick and dying son. He cares so much for his that he does not send the servants to inquire of Christ, but rather he himself goes to Cana to beg and plead of Christ to come to Capernaum and heal his son. He demonstrates a love that we might tend to applaud as if it is out of the ordinary for a father to do. But friends, do not mistake this as spirituality. Is this what any father would do for their child? Of course we would seek their welfare and benefit if it was in our power to do so. But as Christ explains in Luke 11:9-13
What father among you, if his son asks for£ a fish, will instead of a fish give him a serpent; 12or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? 13If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”
How many of us would consider this man as “noble” or of “good Christian” example? One that we should imitate in order to demonstrate our love for our children? Perhaps this is why Jesus would say “Unless you see signs and wonders you will not believe”. Let me ask you at what point has this Official demonstrated faith? At what point is this father calling upon the Name of the Lord? At what point is he seeking the kingdom of God? No to this man, Jesus is simply a doctor who can heal a physical sickness and is probably the last resort taken to heal the young boy. Is there any wonder why Jesus would say “Unless you see signs and wonders” to this man?
Believing in Christ was not even a thought as the man traveled to Cana from Capernaum. He simply wanted his son to recover from his illness. Jesus tells him “Go home. Your son will live”. Notice the difference between the belief found in verse 50 and the belief in verse 53. The official goes back to Capernaum “believing the word that Jesus spoke to him”. No more. No less. He, at this point, only believes that his son will live. He will be healed.
Do not neglect the infinite wisdom of God in this action. Christ sends the father away with out performing a visible sign for him. This, points us to a truth that many of us fail to realize; That the Word of God is sufficient for faith! Far too many “Christians” can not and do not stand or live as if the Word of God is sufficient in their lives. It is merely a supporting crutch that they may carry from time to time but not the building block of faith that it truly is. Too many rely on a “Christian experience”; that mountain top high; emotion that comes and goes and is mistaken for the moving of the Spirit and not on the solid meat found in sound doctrine and holy living. They do not live as part of the promises of God. They do not live as people grafted into the covenants God made with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. They do not even live as people of the New Covenant of Christ who purchased their redemption by His blood!
Not only is the Word of God sufficient for faith it is necessary for faith. Before Isaac was ever born, God promised Abraham that he would have a son and that the nations would be blessed through him and his offspring. Before this took place, Abraham believed God and it was credited to him as righteousness (Genesis 15:6 and Romans 4:3). Abraham also believed simply the Word of God. Romans 4:21-22 says that Abraham was fully convinced that God was not only able but would do as he promised. This faith was counted as righteousness. In order to have faith we must have the promises of God to believe in. And now we have the promises of forgiveness and salvation through faith in Christ. Being justified, we now have peace and access into the grace in which the believer stands. What a demonstration of the grace and mercy of God!
Now we know that God accompanies his message with signs and miracles (Hebrews 2:3-4). However, faith comes through belief in the word first. Take note our official. He did not come looking for faith. He did, however, believe the spoken word of Christ. The next day as he approached his hometown, he was greeted by one of his servants and given the news that the day before the fever left his son at the same hour the father was speaking with Jesus. Much the same as Abraham there was a promise followed by belief in the word. Then there was fulfillment of the promise followed by belief in the One who made the promise. The father knew that was the hour when Jesus had said to him, “Your son will live.” And he himself believed, and all his household. The Word, belief in it, fulfillment, belief.
This leaves us with two questions that must be settled today. The first being “What if God did not give the signs”? The second being “Do you see the responsibility God gives in this passage”? Unfortunately, far too many of us deny the Word of God and instead seek signs only. Many of us are just like the Pharisees that are spoken of in John 10. We do not believe either the Word or the signs, yet we demand the signs time and time again. No wonder Christ says it is a wicked generation that demands signs. What if there were no signs? What if, when you prayed for healing for that family member, God’s answer was a resounding “No”? What if you were Paul and prayed three times for the thorn to be taken away (2 Corinthians 12)? Would God’s grace be sufficient for you? What if there was no emotional, life shattering experience from which you could point back to and say “That’s when Christ saved me”? What if you just knew the calm assurance that God was God and Christ is Lord and you have surrendered to him and live according to the promises found in scripture? Which is more Biblical, to jump from mountain top to mountain top? Or to run the race set before us? Enduring to the end? Persevering and having our faith proved by testing?
The second question was “Do you see the responsibility”? The father believed the promise of Christ and as a result, the entire household believed in Christ. How was it that the household came to believe in Christ? Because the father told the household about the promise of Christ! What a responsibility to lead your family to Christ! Fathers, do not neglect the spiritual well-being of your children. It is your duty to tell your children the promises of God even before the church does. The church is just to reinforce or supplement what you are supposed to be doing already. A more appropriate question would be “Do you take care of your spiritual responsibility to your children”?
I have heard many in church health circles say this; “This first generation loves the Gospel. The second assumes the Gospel. The third generation hates the Gospel.” The break down in Christian families takes place when that unfortunate generation assumes that their children will grow up “Christian”. They do not teach or follow Deuteronomy 6 on how a family is to have the Word of God central to family life. They leave much to the church in the way of teaching and hope for the best. I grew up as a part of the church that hated the Gospel. Praise God! He still speaks and works miracles and does signs that lead people to faith! The good news also found in the Gospel is that it is not too late to tell your children about the promises of God and all that he has done for you! The only question that remains is “Will you?”
John 4:46-54
The very nature of Christ is astounding. Here in the pages of the Bible we find time and time again, how Christ heals the sick, the lame, the blind. To see Christ act in the compassion that only God can demonstrate is indeed something to take note of. In today’s passage, Christ is asked of an important official from the town of Capernaum to heal his son. We can assume from scripture that since the first sign in Cana of turning water into wine and also from the signs that were done while Christ was in Jerusalem, many people have heard about the great things that Christ has and was doing.
Much is made about sight by Christ. Even though many of us see, we do not see. Jesus points this out many times. In Matthew 11 Christ tells the disciples of John the Baptist to “Go and tell what you hear and see” to John. Even though John himself saw heaven opened and the Spirit descend like a dove on Christ, he did not see. Later here in Chapter 10:37-38 of John, Christ tells the Pharisees that “You do not believe me, so believe the works”. They saw the works of Christ, but did not believe his testimony. John also later explains this as he quotes Isaiah 6 and 53 in John 12:38 and 40.
Lord, who has believed what he heard from us,
and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?”
“He has blinded their eyes
and hardened their heart,
lest they see with their eyes,
and understand with their heart, and turn,
and I would heal them.”
How is it that they can see but remain blind? They do not believe. What did they not believe? Did they not believe the lame man walked or the possessed made well? Of course they did. What did they not believe? “I know that Messiah is coming, he who is called Christ. When he comes, he will tell us all things. I who speak to you am he.” Jesus is Christ! Jesus is Messiah! Jesus is Lord! Jesus is Savior! Jesus is God!
After the wedding feast in Cana, other than Nicodemus, I wonder how many people truly came to Christ about spiritual things. Even those that seem to be spiritual have an undercurrent of personal gain in their requests. Even here today, an important official come to ask of Christ to heal his son. Christ’s response is that “Unless you see signs and wonders you will not believe”.
Now this official, being a father, is also compassionate. Some will consider this to be a very Christian act on behalf of the father. He cares deeply for his sick and dying son. He cares so much for his that he does not send the servants to inquire of Christ, but rather he himself goes to Cana to beg and plead of Christ to come to Capernaum and heal his son. He demonstrates a love that we might tend to applaud as if it is out of the ordinary for a father to do. But friends, do not mistake this as spirituality. Is this what any father would do for their child? Of course we would seek their welfare and benefit if it was in our power to do so. But as Christ explains in Luke 11:9-13
What father among you, if his son asks for£ a fish, will instead of a fish give him a serpent; 12or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? 13If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”
How many of us would consider this man as “noble” or of “good Christian” example? One that we should imitate in order to demonstrate our love for our children? Perhaps this is why Jesus would say “Unless you see signs and wonders you will not believe”. Let me ask you at what point has this Official demonstrated faith? At what point is this father calling upon the Name of the Lord? At what point is he seeking the kingdom of God? No to this man, Jesus is simply a doctor who can heal a physical sickness and is probably the last resort taken to heal the young boy. Is there any wonder why Jesus would say “Unless you see signs and wonders” to this man?
Believing in Christ was not even a thought as the man traveled to Cana from Capernaum. He simply wanted his son to recover from his illness. Jesus tells him “Go home. Your son will live”. Notice the difference between the belief found in verse 50 and the belief in verse 53. The official goes back to Capernaum “believing the word that Jesus spoke to him”. No more. No less. He, at this point, only believes that his son will live. He will be healed.
Do not neglect the infinite wisdom of God in this action. Christ sends the father away with out performing a visible sign for him. This, points us to a truth that many of us fail to realize; That the Word of God is sufficient for faith! Far too many “Christians” can not and do not stand or live as if the Word of God is sufficient in their lives. It is merely a supporting crutch that they may carry from time to time but not the building block of faith that it truly is. Too many rely on a “Christian experience”; that mountain top high; emotion that comes and goes and is mistaken for the moving of the Spirit and not on the solid meat found in sound doctrine and holy living. They do not live as part of the promises of God. They do not live as people grafted into the covenants God made with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. They do not even live as people of the New Covenant of Christ who purchased their redemption by His blood!
Not only is the Word of God sufficient for faith it is necessary for faith. Before Isaac was ever born, God promised Abraham that he would have a son and that the nations would be blessed through him and his offspring. Before this took place, Abraham believed God and it was credited to him as righteousness (Genesis 15:6 and Romans 4:3). Abraham also believed simply the Word of God. Romans 4:21-22 says that Abraham was fully convinced that God was not only able but would do as he promised. This faith was counted as righteousness. In order to have faith we must have the promises of God to believe in. And now we have the promises of forgiveness and salvation through faith in Christ. Being justified, we now have peace and access into the grace in which the believer stands. What a demonstration of the grace and mercy of God!
Now we know that God accompanies his message with signs and miracles (Hebrews 2:3-4). However, faith comes through belief in the word first. Take note our official. He did not come looking for faith. He did, however, believe the spoken word of Christ. The next day as he approached his hometown, he was greeted by one of his servants and given the news that the day before the fever left his son at the same hour the father was speaking with Jesus. Much the same as Abraham there was a promise followed by belief in the word. Then there was fulfillment of the promise followed by belief in the One who made the promise. The father knew that was the hour when Jesus had said to him, “Your son will live.” And he himself believed, and all his household. The Word, belief in it, fulfillment, belief.
This leaves us with two questions that must be settled today. The first being “What if God did not give the signs”? The second being “Do you see the responsibility God gives in this passage”? Unfortunately, far too many of us deny the Word of God and instead seek signs only. Many of us are just like the Pharisees that are spoken of in John 10. We do not believe either the Word or the signs, yet we demand the signs time and time again. No wonder Christ says it is a wicked generation that demands signs. What if there were no signs? What if, when you prayed for healing for that family member, God’s answer was a resounding “No”? What if you were Paul and prayed three times for the thorn to be taken away (2 Corinthians 12)? Would God’s grace be sufficient for you? What if there was no emotional, life shattering experience from which you could point back to and say “That’s when Christ saved me”? What if you just knew the calm assurance that God was God and Christ is Lord and you have surrendered to him and live according to the promises found in scripture? Which is more Biblical, to jump from mountain top to mountain top? Or to run the race set before us? Enduring to the end? Persevering and having our faith proved by testing?
The second question was “Do you see the responsibility”? The father believed the promise of Christ and as a result, the entire household believed in Christ. How was it that the household came to believe in Christ? Because the father told the household about the promise of Christ! What a responsibility to lead your family to Christ! Fathers, do not neglect the spiritual well-being of your children. It is your duty to tell your children the promises of God even before the church does. The church is just to reinforce or supplement what you are supposed to be doing already. A more appropriate question would be “Do you take care of your spiritual responsibility to your children”?
I have heard many in church health circles say this; “This first generation loves the Gospel. The second assumes the Gospel. The third generation hates the Gospel.” The break down in Christian families takes place when that unfortunate generation assumes that their children will grow up “Christian”. They do not teach or follow Deuteronomy 6 on how a family is to have the Word of God central to family life. They leave much to the church in the way of teaching and hope for the best. I grew up as a part of the church that hated the Gospel. Praise God! He still speaks and works miracles and does signs that lead people to faith! The good news also found in the Gospel is that it is not too late to tell your children about the promises of God and all that he has done for you! The only question that remains is “Will you?”
Sunday, November 14, 2010
Sunday Notes
The Food of Jesus
John 4:25-45
Jesus is not simply another character in the Bible. He is not like David or Sampson. He is not like Abraham or Joseph. He is not even like Paul or Peter. Jesus is God and far too often I sometimes think that we slip into a mindset of reading the viewing the stories of Jesus very much the same as the other people in the Bible. You might be wondering, isn’t that what the Bible stories are? How do you read one story different than another? Let me answer that by saying you already do read different passages different than others. We do not read Old Testament historical the same as we do the Poetry; which we do not read the same as the Prophetic or the Epistles. But why should we read the Gospel accounts of Jesus different than the rest of the people we read about in the Bible? Simple, he is God! Stop and think about this for a moment. In many of our Bibles, the words of Jesus are in red. Those are the very words of God! They should impact our life more than the rest! God is speaking.
What are the dangers of reading the stories of Jesus the same as say someone like David? First, we diminish the importance of the teachings of Jesus. We put them on par with the other people and teachers in Scripture. You might say that since all scripture is God-breathed how can this be? Aren’t all the words of scripture God’s? Yes, but do you treat them as such? Do you treat what Abraham says the same as Paul the same as Gideon the same as Jesus? What about passages where say Habakkuk is conversing with God? Do you treat the words of Habakkuk the same as God? I believe most people do because we do not study the Bible as God’s revelation of Himself to man. We gloss over it in order to check the box of reading our Bible if we actually read our Bible.
Second, if we read them the same, we diminish the deity of Christ. Is Jesus fully man? Yes. But he is also fully God! This actually should be the first danger because it is the greatest danger that leads to all the others. If Jesus is not read or viewed as God, his words carry the same weight as everyone else’s. Then they weigh the same as any man’s. The same as any theologian. The same weight as any pastor. The same weight as any believer. This is why we hear so many say Jesus was a good person, good teacher, prophet, but not God. Friends, we have established that Jesus is God at so many points through out this study already. Let us never move away from the fact the Jesus is Christ, the Son of God Most High. He and the Father are One. Let us read scripture the same. Jesus is God.
Third and last this morning, if we diminish Jesus and his teachings, we elevate our selves. Here’s how this one works. Since we don’t consider Jesus as God, his teachings aren’t authoritative. Since his words aren’t authoritative, they are not relevant in my life. They don’t apply to me. Sure they are nice sayings or even if you do put some weight to them, they are words to live by but I can pick and choose the ones I want to live by. The passages where Jesus points out sin don’t apply to me. I do enough to warrant a little slack. I’m good enough. He is talking to those sinners across the room here today. We put ourselves into the position of judge and jury which is actually putting ourselves in the position of God which is sin. Let’s keep these in mind this morning and every time we open up the Bible. Jesus is the word. Give him proper honor and glory as such. I really only want to focus on two parts of this passage this morning, Verses 25 and 26 and then verses 34-38.
I who speak to you am he.
1. If Jesus is God what should that mean to your life?
2. If Jesus is God how do you serve him?
a. The disciples wanted to feed him. How often do we try to serve with only the obvious?
b. Jesus tells how to serve.
My food is to do the will of him who sent me
1. John 17 – accomplish the work of him who sent me
2. Food? We are here to be fed? Is this true? How should we feed ourselves?
3. The fields are white. They are already planted and are ready for the harvest.
John 4:25-45
Jesus is not simply another character in the Bible. He is not like David or Sampson. He is not like Abraham or Joseph. He is not even like Paul or Peter. Jesus is God and far too often I sometimes think that we slip into a mindset of reading the viewing the stories of Jesus very much the same as the other people in the Bible. You might be wondering, isn’t that what the Bible stories are? How do you read one story different than another? Let me answer that by saying you already do read different passages different than others. We do not read Old Testament historical the same as we do the Poetry; which we do not read the same as the Prophetic or the Epistles. But why should we read the Gospel accounts of Jesus different than the rest of the people we read about in the Bible? Simple, he is God! Stop and think about this for a moment. In many of our Bibles, the words of Jesus are in red. Those are the very words of God! They should impact our life more than the rest! God is speaking.
What are the dangers of reading the stories of Jesus the same as say someone like David? First, we diminish the importance of the teachings of Jesus. We put them on par with the other people and teachers in Scripture. You might say that since all scripture is God-breathed how can this be? Aren’t all the words of scripture God’s? Yes, but do you treat them as such? Do you treat what Abraham says the same as Paul the same as Gideon the same as Jesus? What about passages where say Habakkuk is conversing with God? Do you treat the words of Habakkuk the same as God? I believe most people do because we do not study the Bible as God’s revelation of Himself to man. We gloss over it in order to check the box of reading our Bible if we actually read our Bible.
Second, if we read them the same, we diminish the deity of Christ. Is Jesus fully man? Yes. But he is also fully God! This actually should be the first danger because it is the greatest danger that leads to all the others. If Jesus is not read or viewed as God, his words carry the same weight as everyone else’s. Then they weigh the same as any man’s. The same as any theologian. The same weight as any pastor. The same weight as any believer. This is why we hear so many say Jesus was a good person, good teacher, prophet, but not God. Friends, we have established that Jesus is God at so many points through out this study already. Let us never move away from the fact the Jesus is Christ, the Son of God Most High. He and the Father are One. Let us read scripture the same. Jesus is God.
Third and last this morning, if we diminish Jesus and his teachings, we elevate our selves. Here’s how this one works. Since we don’t consider Jesus as God, his teachings aren’t authoritative. Since his words aren’t authoritative, they are not relevant in my life. They don’t apply to me. Sure they are nice sayings or even if you do put some weight to them, they are words to live by but I can pick and choose the ones I want to live by. The passages where Jesus points out sin don’t apply to me. I do enough to warrant a little slack. I’m good enough. He is talking to those sinners across the room here today. We put ourselves into the position of judge and jury which is actually putting ourselves in the position of God which is sin. Let’s keep these in mind this morning and every time we open up the Bible. Jesus is the word. Give him proper honor and glory as such. I really only want to focus on two parts of this passage this morning, Verses 25 and 26 and then verses 34-38.
I who speak to you am he.
1. If Jesus is God what should that mean to your life?
2. If Jesus is God how do you serve him?
a. The disciples wanted to feed him. How often do we try to serve with only the obvious?
b. Jesus tells how to serve.
My food is to do the will of him who sent me
1. John 17 – accomplish the work of him who sent me
2. Food? We are here to be fed? Is this true? How should we feed ourselves?
3. The fields are white. They are already planted and are ready for the harvest.
Saturday, November 6, 2010
Sunday's notes
Inconsistency of Man
and the Consistent Mercy of God
John 4:1-26
This past week I finished a book entitled “Knowledge of the Holy” by A.W. Tozer. This wonderful book dealt with how unchangeable God is in all his characteristics and actions. God is God. To be less or different in any one area would mean that He would cease to be God. Maybe it is because I have spent much time meditating on the consistent being of God that I have also become aware of the horrible inconsistency of men, and therefore have become almost over burdened by the inconsistency of myself in spiritual things. I think that for most people our inconsistency come from a rather innocent place. We pay attention to details. In fact, we pay such close attention to the details that we often times become trapped or enslaved by them. We come to depend upon such trivial things that it often time clouds our judgment, our thought processes and our belief systems. We accept a+b=c, but can’t deal with the possibility of e-d=c.
Now step into the world of religion. Not only are we, by our very nature as sinful beings, inconsistent but we are prideful in it. Not only do we try to force a+b but we shun anything other than a+b. We pay such close attention to so many of the wrong details we become the very people we once swore we would never become. Details enslave us and create such a mess of red tape for so many churches and people is there any wonder that we don’t know or understand what it means to “walk in the Spirit”? Details become rules. Rules become idols. Idols move us away from God. But of course, these rules only apply to others, not ourselves.
Details also have a tendency to blind us form what is really going on, especially in Scripture. Our passage today is a passage that many of us probably know or have heard preached. While it is important, the message is not about how Samaritans were viewed by Jews. The message is not about how many husbands the woman at the well had. Here’s what the details do to us when we focus too much on them; “Thank you for not making me like that sinner over there”! What the message is about is how consistently merciful God is towards sinful people, regardless of the details.
Now to prove how inconsistently human I am, there are some details we must discuss that will show us the “Inconsistency of man and the consistent mercy of God”.
1. The Pharisees
a. Jesus left when they heard he was baptizing more than John.
2. The Disciples
a. Went to buy food in Sychar. v.8
b. Jews have no dealings with Samaritans. v.9
c. They want to question both Jesus and the woman. v.27
3. The Samaritan Woman
a. Can’t be pleased. v.9
i. The number one complaint Samaritans had was how Jews treated them. Now here is one who is treating her well and she seems upset by it.
b. Disbelief v.11
c. Nationalistic not spiritual. v.12
d. Her response to both the Word and sign is in religious pride. v.19-20
It is at this point we must acknowledge how inconsistent we truly are. How many of us will admit what scripture says is true, but we find all sorts of reasons not to do it, or why we can’t do it, or reasons someone else should do it? Perfect example, “Do not forsake the gathering of saints”. In other words, “DON’T SKIP CHURCH!!!!” Oh the excuses we come up for this simple, simple command in the Bible. To remove a coal from the fire is to guarantee that it will be extinguished. It will no longer be useful for anything. But not us, we will be the exception. Friends, I bring this up because it may more clearly illustrate the path that the three groups of people are on. The core of all three is what we brought up last with the Samaritan woman, religious pride. No matter what level of spirituality we may be on, it is there.
This pride leads to a cheap/false belief or religion. Notice that her request is not to know, receive, or to follow the One who gives this water, but rather it is to benefit herself in an earthly materialistic manner because she knows. She’s smart enough to have figured this out. Friends if you do not move past this elementary way of thinking it leads to quiet judgmentalism like the disciples displayed, which leads to loud legalistic religion like the Pharisees. All while missing the consistent merciful heart of God.
Consistency of God
1. The Gift
a. Do you know Jesus? If you ask, he will give. v.10, 14
2. God points out sin.
a. We really like a God who forgives but doesn’t hold us accountable don’t we. v.16-18
3. God seeks true worshippers not vain worship that is dependant on time and place and ceremony. v.23,24
4. Jesus reveals himself to someone who needs Jesus.
a. The first person Jesus says he is the Christ to, is not even a Jew. v.26
and the Consistent Mercy of God
John 4:1-26
This past week I finished a book entitled “Knowledge of the Holy” by A.W. Tozer. This wonderful book dealt with how unchangeable God is in all his characteristics and actions. God is God. To be less or different in any one area would mean that He would cease to be God. Maybe it is because I have spent much time meditating on the consistent being of God that I have also become aware of the horrible inconsistency of men, and therefore have become almost over burdened by the inconsistency of myself in spiritual things. I think that for most people our inconsistency come from a rather innocent place. We pay attention to details. In fact, we pay such close attention to the details that we often times become trapped or enslaved by them. We come to depend upon such trivial things that it often time clouds our judgment, our thought processes and our belief systems. We accept a+b=c, but can’t deal with the possibility of e-d=c.
Now step into the world of religion. Not only are we, by our very nature as sinful beings, inconsistent but we are prideful in it. Not only do we try to force a+b but we shun anything other than a+b. We pay such close attention to so many of the wrong details we become the very people we once swore we would never become. Details enslave us and create such a mess of red tape for so many churches and people is there any wonder that we don’t know or understand what it means to “walk in the Spirit”? Details become rules. Rules become idols. Idols move us away from God. But of course, these rules only apply to others, not ourselves.
Details also have a tendency to blind us form what is really going on, especially in Scripture. Our passage today is a passage that many of us probably know or have heard preached. While it is important, the message is not about how Samaritans were viewed by Jews. The message is not about how many husbands the woman at the well had. Here’s what the details do to us when we focus too much on them; “Thank you for not making me like that sinner over there”! What the message is about is how consistently merciful God is towards sinful people, regardless of the details.
Now to prove how inconsistently human I am, there are some details we must discuss that will show us the “Inconsistency of man and the consistent mercy of God”.
1. The Pharisees
a. Jesus left when they heard he was baptizing more than John.
2. The Disciples
a. Went to buy food in Sychar. v.8
b. Jews have no dealings with Samaritans. v.9
c. They want to question both Jesus and the woman. v.27
3. The Samaritan Woman
a. Can’t be pleased. v.9
i. The number one complaint Samaritans had was how Jews treated them. Now here is one who is treating her well and she seems upset by it.
b. Disbelief v.11
c. Nationalistic not spiritual. v.12
d. Her response to both the Word and sign is in religious pride. v.19-20
It is at this point we must acknowledge how inconsistent we truly are. How many of us will admit what scripture says is true, but we find all sorts of reasons not to do it, or why we can’t do it, or reasons someone else should do it? Perfect example, “Do not forsake the gathering of saints”. In other words, “DON’T SKIP CHURCH!!!!” Oh the excuses we come up for this simple, simple command in the Bible. To remove a coal from the fire is to guarantee that it will be extinguished. It will no longer be useful for anything. But not us, we will be the exception. Friends, I bring this up because it may more clearly illustrate the path that the three groups of people are on. The core of all three is what we brought up last with the Samaritan woman, religious pride. No matter what level of spirituality we may be on, it is there.
This pride leads to a cheap/false belief or religion. Notice that her request is not to know, receive, or to follow the One who gives this water, but rather it is to benefit herself in an earthly materialistic manner because she knows. She’s smart enough to have figured this out. Friends if you do not move past this elementary way of thinking it leads to quiet judgmentalism like the disciples displayed, which leads to loud legalistic religion like the Pharisees. All while missing the consistent merciful heart of God.
Consistency of God
1. The Gift
a. Do you know Jesus? If you ask, he will give. v.10, 14
2. God points out sin.
a. We really like a God who forgives but doesn’t hold us accountable don’t we. v.16-18
3. God seeks true worshippers not vain worship that is dependant on time and place and ceremony. v.23,24
4. Jesus reveals himself to someone who needs Jesus.
a. The first person Jesus says he is the Christ to, is not even a Jew. v.26
Saturday, October 30, 2010
Sunday's Sermon notes
He Must Increase
John 3:22-36
Last week we ended by asking the question “How do you know you are born again?” As you have heard me say time after time, the answer to many of our questions can usually be found in the passage immediately preceding or following the passage we are currently reading. I hope and pray that this week we will not only know, but understand this question and more importantly the answer. How do you know you are born again?
This week’s passage opens up with Jesus leaving with the disciples and going out into the countryside and baptizing people. John the Baptist is also baptizing people at Aenon near Salim. The reason they are baptizing here is because there is much water here. One doesn’t need much water if you’re only sprinkling, do you? But it is here that a discussion breaks out between a Jew and some of the disciples of John. It is a very important discussion, one more of us should engage in. It is a discussion about purification. How is one made pure? Here is what we have read about purification so far in John.
1. The first sign of Jesus was turning water into wine. The water was held in purification jars.
a. These were used for ceremonial washing as you would enter the house.
2. Jesus “cleansed” or purified the temple of the money changers and oxen and goats and pigeons.
3. Jesus says that one “must be born of water and Spirit in order to see the kingdom of God.” Rev. 21:27 says nothing impure will enter it.
4. What is John doing?
a. Baptizing, ceremonial washing, symbolic of the washing away of sin.
5. What did Jesus just get done explaining to Nicodemus?
a. You must be born again.
Here is what we must know and understand;
We can “cleanse” and “purify” ourselves on the outside all we want, it does not and can not cleanse and purify what is in the inside. Only when what is inside has been cleansed and purified, do the outward actions have any meaning. Here is an example;
Facebook – We can put all the little status updates we want about how much we love Jesus, but when we also put up the pictures of what we did last weekend or we also have our tarot readings, or the last time we went to church to worship Him whom you claim to love, it diminishes the significance of your claim. My favorite lately is how when we carry out Bible Satan cringes in fear, etc. Sadly for many, Satan laughs at you. Outward works do not purify inwardly. They are filthy rags. How about we try this; Husbands set yourself to make Deut. 6 real in your life and in your family’s life. Wives, Proverbs 31. Acknowledge Christ and strive for these.
John’s disciples missed this truth. I find it interesting though how a discussion that began about purification turns and breaks down and becomes about how Jesus is gaining more popularity. He is stealing the crowd or sheep if you want to sound more Biblical. This disciple is outwardly focused. John is Christ focused.
John’s Response
1. John 3:27-29; Even the crowds are a gift from God.
2. John 3:30; Christ must be exalted, man must be humbled.
3. John 3:31; All things are under Him and He has all authority.
4. John 3:32-34; His word is TRUTH. Jn. 3:11-12, 17:17
5. John 3:35; All things have been given to Christ. He has all, not everything but…..
6. John 3:36; The inward work of Christ and the spirit is shown through the outward. True belief is demonstrated in the obedience to the Son.
I asked last week “how do we know if we have been born again?” Answer: If you believe and obey. There is also something present, joy. Read what John says in verses 27-29 again. It is also given. Receive it. Rejoice over it. Obeying Christ and His commands brings joy to the believer. But also, being born again is demonstrated by this; “He must increase, but I must decrease.” Christ continually becomes more prominent and preeminent in our life. If he hasn’t become more, if he hasn’t increased, what is he to you then? This also needs to be repented of. Unfortunately, if this is you, Christ will be exalted, he will be lifted up, he will honored and glorified, he will increase whether you like it or not. Scripture tells us how at His name every knee will bow and tongue confess that he is Lord. You will be humbled, brought low; you will decrease through no doing of your own.
Friend, there is one last question left to ask this morning. If you were to be convicted of sin by the Spirit and the Word, how would you deal with it this morning? Let me beg you to not simply try to wash it away on the outside. Let Christ forgive and wash the inside. Here’s what so many do; they are convicted but go away simply feeling sorry for what they have done. They feel bad. They have not confessed to God nor repented of their sin and have no intention of obeying. They are not born again. They have made up their mind that they can wash it away on their own. It is much like the criminal who only feels bad because they were caught, not because they see their crimes for what they truly are. Also do not believe that merely quitting a particular sin is equivalent to repentance. Just because you quit it does not make you pure, only the blood of Christ can make you pure. Forgiveness and righteousness can not be found outside the blood of Christ and his redeeming work on the cross. Here is the good news though; he has done it for you. Will you believe? Will you confess? Will you repent? Will you obey? Will you let him increase?
John 3:22-36
Last week we ended by asking the question “How do you know you are born again?” As you have heard me say time after time, the answer to many of our questions can usually be found in the passage immediately preceding or following the passage we are currently reading. I hope and pray that this week we will not only know, but understand this question and more importantly the answer. How do you know you are born again?
This week’s passage opens up with Jesus leaving with the disciples and going out into the countryside and baptizing people. John the Baptist is also baptizing people at Aenon near Salim. The reason they are baptizing here is because there is much water here. One doesn’t need much water if you’re only sprinkling, do you? But it is here that a discussion breaks out between a Jew and some of the disciples of John. It is a very important discussion, one more of us should engage in. It is a discussion about purification. How is one made pure? Here is what we have read about purification so far in John.
1. The first sign of Jesus was turning water into wine. The water was held in purification jars.
a. These were used for ceremonial washing as you would enter the house.
2. Jesus “cleansed” or purified the temple of the money changers and oxen and goats and pigeons.
3. Jesus says that one “must be born of water and Spirit in order to see the kingdom of God.” Rev. 21:27 says nothing impure will enter it.
4. What is John doing?
a. Baptizing, ceremonial washing, symbolic of the washing away of sin.
5. What did Jesus just get done explaining to Nicodemus?
a. You must be born again.
Here is what we must know and understand;
We can “cleanse” and “purify” ourselves on the outside all we want, it does not and can not cleanse and purify what is in the inside. Only when what is inside has been cleansed and purified, do the outward actions have any meaning. Here is an example;
Facebook – We can put all the little status updates we want about how much we love Jesus, but when we also put up the pictures of what we did last weekend or we also have our tarot readings, or the last time we went to church to worship Him whom you claim to love, it diminishes the significance of your claim. My favorite lately is how when we carry out Bible Satan cringes in fear, etc. Sadly for many, Satan laughs at you. Outward works do not purify inwardly. They are filthy rags. How about we try this; Husbands set yourself to make Deut. 6 real in your life and in your family’s life. Wives, Proverbs 31. Acknowledge Christ and strive for these.
John’s disciples missed this truth. I find it interesting though how a discussion that began about purification turns and breaks down and becomes about how Jesus is gaining more popularity. He is stealing the crowd or sheep if you want to sound more Biblical. This disciple is outwardly focused. John is Christ focused.
John’s Response
1. John 3:27-29; Even the crowds are a gift from God.
2. John 3:30; Christ must be exalted, man must be humbled.
3. John 3:31; All things are under Him and He has all authority.
4. John 3:32-34; His word is TRUTH. Jn. 3:11-12, 17:17
5. John 3:35; All things have been given to Christ. He has all, not everything but…..
6. John 3:36; The inward work of Christ and the spirit is shown through the outward. True belief is demonstrated in the obedience to the Son.
I asked last week “how do we know if we have been born again?” Answer: If you believe and obey. There is also something present, joy. Read what John says in verses 27-29 again. It is also given. Receive it. Rejoice over it. Obeying Christ and His commands brings joy to the believer. But also, being born again is demonstrated by this; “He must increase, but I must decrease.” Christ continually becomes more prominent and preeminent in our life. If he hasn’t become more, if he hasn’t increased, what is he to you then? This also needs to be repented of. Unfortunately, if this is you, Christ will be exalted, he will be lifted up, he will honored and glorified, he will increase whether you like it or not. Scripture tells us how at His name every knee will bow and tongue confess that he is Lord. You will be humbled, brought low; you will decrease through no doing of your own.
Friend, there is one last question left to ask this morning. If you were to be convicted of sin by the Spirit and the Word, how would you deal with it this morning? Let me beg you to not simply try to wash it away on the outside. Let Christ forgive and wash the inside. Here’s what so many do; they are convicted but go away simply feeling sorry for what they have done. They feel bad. They have not confessed to God nor repented of their sin and have no intention of obeying. They are not born again. They have made up their mind that they can wash it away on their own. It is much like the criminal who only feels bad because they were caught, not because they see their crimes for what they truly are. Also do not believe that merely quitting a particular sin is equivalent to repentance. Just because you quit it does not make you pure, only the blood of Christ can make you pure. Forgiveness and righteousness can not be found outside the blood of Christ and his redeeming work on the cross. Here is the good news though; he has done it for you. Will you believe? Will you confess? Will you repent? Will you obey? Will you let him increase?
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