John 8 from London

Before I sort of feel like I have a mission this evening to make it all the way through, all the following. We saw the use of trace that from other texts in John back into the Old Testament. And we read through verse 30.

Saving Faith in John 8 and the Meaning of Belief

And so with your indulgence, I'll just be skipping through some of these sections rather than reading all the way through again this evening so we have maximum time to actually make application. Specifically, beginning at verse 30.

We remember this morning we looked at these verses and we read here that as he was speaking these things, many believed in him. Many believed in Jesus. Now, before I read the rest of it, I need to give you some background information so you can understand this amazing statement.

Why do I say it's an amazing statement? Because if you've read the rest of this chapter, you know that by the end of the chapter, the people to whom you think about of fickle faith, faith that is temporary, faith that is easily changed.

As they heard Jesus speaking, they believed that faith would allow you to be picking up stones to stone Jesus. I think we can learn a very important lesson from this because in the Gospel of John, when saving faith is discussed, when saving faith is presented, it is presented as an honor.

For example, we all know John 3 .16, probably the most widely memorized verse in all. It is not someone just simply for a moment believing, it is the one who is constantly believing as a regular thing, an honor.

Saving faith is described of those who are coming to Jesus, believing in Jesus, looking to Jesus, and it's an ongoing thing. It says that having seen the sign, some believed in him, but it uses a different form of the language.

A form of the language, simple point action, a very simple thing. It does not speak of ongoing action. It's just simply believed. And most of our English translations say, but Jesus did not entrust himself to them.

Because he knew what filled the hearts of men. It's literally the same word. Jesus did not believe himself to them because he knew that theirs was not an ongoing faith, it was a point action faith. And here in John chapter eight, that's exactly what we have in verse 30.

When it says he was saying these things, that some believed in him. This is saving faith, this is, they believed and are seeking Jesus.

Surface level. Faith.

The Freedom Christ Gives from Sin

He is not excited by, instead he says, if you plumb the depth, so many people are dissatisfied. Born again, he places within that heart, a desire to hear the two chapters from miraculous signs, but is the real thing?

Say it somehow. Flying off and filling its, slightly religious people. Does not mean that sin. Seeks to make men feel, seeks to make Jesus angry. Everyone doing sin, there's that present tense. Doing sin is the, sin is not something you, when it's something you're experiencing slavery.

Who sets free, tyranny, his. A truth that he heard. And exactly when you should have your church services and how long they should be and what colors you should have in the sanctuary and what kind of clothing that your pastor should wear.

And I guarantee you they never suggest what I wear, but, and what color his hair should be. And I really strike out there and all sorts of stuff like that. Craft your church, to be the most porous. We said, well, it's how we do church.

And it's how we present it or, more drama in the church service and so on and so forth.

Now don't get me wrong.

I'm not saying there aren't unique and excellent ways to get people's attention and to open up dialogue and things like that. I'm not saying there's something wrong with that. But the fundamental question first, before we even start thinking about those things is, why is it that people reject the claims of Christ when the end centered thing, at least try, focus on, to be focused.

The Shepherd, the Sheep, and the Voice of Jesus

Religious Jews today, yes, religion can be very dangerous things. Spoken the truth about himself. Which one of you can be, once again, how the wise hears for this, talks about himself as a good shepherd.

My shepherd, my sheep, they hear my voice.

They follow me.

And when he gets done with that, what does he say to the Jews who are opposing him? This is gonna be, the sheep die. Jesus lays down supreme responses when we proclaim repentance. And why is there a difference?

One is when the son says, I will lose none of them, but raise them all up in water. If you keep my word, and again, hear that, my word. Someone keeps your word, they will. You're making yourself out to be crazy.

Once you die, who are you making yourself out to be? Did Jesus therefore say, open hearts and minds, boys and girls, he instructed to drink this cup of the Lord's death, of faith, that that Jesus of John 8, that Jesus of John 10, John 20, 28, when Thomas, seeing the risen Lord, says, akuriasmu kahateasmu, my Lord and my God, a reminder of sin, a deal with sin, is not a reminder of a savior.

Fulfill the Lord, he loved, fulfill the desire to not save us, a dividing line between supernatural and to us.