It is very interesting to note that in the Gospel of John the word “believe” is used 100 times. Of the 100 times it is translated “commit” in John 2:24. The words “believe not” are found in John about 15 times. Note John 6:64 - John 8:24 - John 16:9 and John 3:36.
“But there are some of you that believe not. For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were that believed not.” “If ye believe not that I am He, ye shall die in your sins.” “Of sin, because they believe not on Me.” “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.
Surely the Lord Jesus Christ is the eternal I AM, in the Gospel of John; for in that Book He speaks of Himself as “I AM” at least 20 times. As the I AM, of course Christ was omniscient. He knew all things (John 4:25 - John 21:17). He knew what was in man. He was more than a mind-reader. (John 2:24 and 25). Thomas was right, “My Lord and My God.” (John 20:28).
“If ye believe not that I AM, ye shall die in your sins.” (John 8:24). Surely no man but the God-man would make such a statement, or the statement in John 6:47 and John 10:28: “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on Me hath everlasting life.” “And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish; neither shall any man pluck them out of My hand.”
The question in John’s Gospel is the “Son” question. The great sin is the refusal to accept (by believing) God’s remedy for sin, the Lord Jesus Christ, as the eternal I AM, the spotless Lamb of God, Who was foreordained before the foundation of the world (John 1:29 and I Peter 1:18 and 20). This was true in Christ’s day, and it is true today. We read in John 3:18 and John 16:9: “He that believeth on Him (Christ) 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.” “Of sin, because they believe not on Me (Christ).”
Strange language to fall upon the ears of the self-righteous religious person are Christ’s statements in John 6:29 and John 6:40: “This is the work of God, that ye believe on Him Whom He hath sent.” “And this is the will of Him that sent Me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on Him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.”
Man has many spiritual responsibilities and duties but the great fundamental truth is to know that the first duty is to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ. “Other foundation can no man lay, than that is laid. Which is Jesus Christ.” (I Corinthians 3:11).
In studying John’s Gospel, we learn that it was written that the readers might believe that Jesus is the eternal Christ, the Son of God; and thereby have life. (John 20:31). Upon the one who believeth not the wrath of God abideth. (John 3:36). Christ died and arose to deliver us from the wrath to come. (I Thessalonians 1:9 and 10).
About eighty per cent of the doings and sayings of Christ, recorded in John’s Gospel, are not found in Matthew, Mark and Luke, called the “Synoptics.” We shall dwell more fully on this in another lesson.
Unlike the Synoptics, the rejection of Christ is set forth in the very first chapter of John, where Christ is the Lamb of God Which heareth away the sins of the world. (John 1:11 and John 1:29). Therefore in that first chapter we learn that grace came by Jesus Christ and the eternal life in John’s Gospel, by grace, is on the ground of the rejection, death and resurrection of Christ. The sinner’s work is to “believe.” This is the truth so clearly set forth in Paul’s “grace” gospel in Ephesians 2:8 to 10. “By grace—through faith—not of works—unto works.”
Grace Bible Church (Click Here)
How God Saves
Men
Believing
Christ DIED, that’s HISTORY.
Believing
Christ DIED for YOU SINS and Rose again that’s SALVATION.
Read
Romans 1:16, Romans 10:9-10 and 1. Corinthians 15:1-4
(A 10 Minute Video)
Posted By Cecil and Connie Spivey
Share this Bible Message with your friends
No comments:
Post a Comment