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John 8:31-36
I'd like to speak to you as we continue our journey through the Gospel of John. So please open your Bibles with me to the Gospel of John, chapter 8, as we continue our wonderful study through this glorious, wonderful Gospel that is centered and focused on the person and works of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior.
He is Lord. We should not look at that lightly, and He is Savior. He is God. He is God in flesh. And the deity of Jesus Christ shines forth all the way through this wonderful Gospel. So let me begin by reading to you, beginning at verse 30 in chapter 8, to jump right in to the Word of God, to verse 36.
In this particular section, the truth shall make you free. I've titled this, The Gospel Truth That Makes You Free. The truth, and you will see that truth is Jesus Christ. Christ is that truth. He did say, I am the way, the truth, and the life.
Sad, there's so many people in the world. Jesus is right there in their presence, and they cannot see Him. As Pilate says, what is truth? Right in the front, in the face of Jesus. But it takes the Spirit of truth, God's Spirit, to show us that truth of who Jesus really is.
And if you notice, as we've gone through this wonderful Gospel, what is paramount and what really beams forth strongly from the Scriptures is that who Jesus Christ is, who He is, His identity. And it's absolutely critical.
And I'm telling you this, that in this section, everything that Jesus has said and everything that He does say is all of great importance. But anytime you come to a section where Jesus says, verily, verily, depends on what translation you have, most assuredly, there needs to be special attention given to that.
And this particular section is very critical because Jesus is going to give these people a critical test. And giving them the truth of what He says and the meaning of discipleship. What it means to follow Jesus.
What does that mean? What does that entail? What is the implications to that? What is it to our life? And it means it's critical, folks. So, let's hone in and listen to the Word of God as I read beginning at verse 30.
As He spoke these words, many believed in Him. So there are some believers here. Verse 31, Then Jesus said to the Jews who believed in Him, If you abide in My words, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.
They answered Him and said, We are Abraham's descendants and have never been in bondage to anyone. How can you say you will be made free? Verse 34, Jesus answered them, Most assuredly, or verily, verily, truly, truly, I say to you, Whoever commits sin is a slave of sin.
And a slave does not abide in the house forever, but a son abides forever. And then Jesus emphasizes once again, verse 36,. Therefore, if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed. The truth shall make you free.
The Son shall make you free. That's why Jesus is the truth, folks. Let's pray. Father, we thank You. And we bless Your holy name. And we give You praise for who You are. We seek Your face. We seek Your favor, and it has come through Jesus Christ.
Grace and truth has come. So, Father, help us to submit to Your allegiance this morning in this time of worship. As we hear Your word, the word of truth, we need the spirit of truth to help us, help me speak.
I'd be behind the cross. Lord, just a voice crying in the wilderness. And may we all see Jesus, the Lamb of God. Lord, we do need illumination. We have all the revelation we need, so there's no new revelation.
The cannon's closed. So we thank You. But we do need illumination, the light and heat. The light from Your word, the heat from Your spirit, to help us this morning to open our eyes, to open our ears, our blinded eyes, our deaf ears, our stubborn hearts, to perceive who Jesus is.
Your one and only Son in whom You are well pleased, and the one that was lifted up on the cross, the one that died in our places, our substitute is the Lamb of God that took the curse, that took our sin, bore the wrath, that we can have eternal life in Him.
So Father, I pray this morning that we will behold and gaze and look at the beauty of Jesus, the wondrous things from Your truth, Thy word. Thy word is truth. Sanctify us through Your word this morning.
May not a one of us leave here today the same way we came. Lord, change us from faith to faith, from glory to glory. And Father, help us not to just be hearers only, but to be doers of Your word, to be obedient to Your word for the glory and the honor of Yourself.
And in Jesus' name, we pray this. Amen. Wonderful text this morning. Actually, it's going to take three sermons to get through this. So this will be part one of a three-part series because there's so much here, folks.
It's so critical. Here we see that Jesus offers discipleship and freedom to the believing Jews. And He puts them to a test. Scripture says we are to examine ourselves to see if we're in the faith. I think it's very critical, and this is a good time to do this, as we always should, and allow the Spirit of God, the Scriptures to search us, the Holy Spirit to search our hearts.
So here in our text, in John 8, beginning in verse 31 -59, this complete section reveals the intensification of the theological divide between Jesus and the religious leadership. The Pharisees, the Sanhedrin, as you already know, we've already gone through and we've seen that they've already taken up stones to try to kill Jesus.
They already are offended at what they have heard, and they are offended by what? His words. His words. And folks, this is what it all comes down to, is the words of Jesus Christ. His words. Two major issues are at heart of the debate in which they debated Christ and which was not wise, because you're not going to debate Christ and win.
Not in His perfect wisdom. And as we've already seen, it's already great grace that He even takes the time to be patient with these self-righteous Pharisees. So that's incredible how loving and patient God is.
So the major issues here at the heart of the debate is the truthfulness of Jesus' testimony and who He is. Then you have opposite of the truthfulness of Jesus' testimony is the falsehood of those who opposed Him.
Actually, you could break down this whole chapter in its entirety as beginning with John chapter 53 through John 8, 11. Jesus is opposed by His accusers. In John 8, 12 through 30, He's opposed by darkness John 8 verse 31 through 59 Jesus is opposed by the devil and major emphasis here that is given John 8.
Jesus.
And the shame of sin as we saw the woman that was caught in adultery. But yet Jesus silences the enemies, the religious leaders that wanted the desire to stone her. But it was really about the words of Jesus Christ in which they hated.
You see that in verse 1 through 11. In chapter 8 and then chapter 8 verse 12 through 32 we see Jesus is the light.
Of the world.
And then in verse 33 through 59 in the rest of the chapter we see freedom in Jesus Christ, the Son of God. So that pretty much breaks down the entire chapter. We will again as we look into this particular section verse 31 to 36 it will take three parts.
I'm borrowing Pastor John MacArthur's outline let me give you a quote by him first before I get to the outline and in each of the points of the outline I'm going to basically take and we're going to look at that entire point and look at what is being said in the text.
MacArthur says this concerning John chapter 8 verse 31 to 36 he says this these verses quote are a pivotal passage in understanding genuine salvation and true discipleship. John emphasized these realities by stressing truth and freedom.
The focus in the passage is upon those who were exercising the beginnings of faith in Jesus as Messiah the Son of God and Jesus desired them to move on in their faith. Saving faith is not fickle but firm and settled.
He goes on to say such maturity expresses itself in full commitment to the truth to the truth in Jesus Christ resulting in genuine freedom. And he goes on the passage here has three features and this is the outline of this section.
First of all in verse 31 and 32 we see the progress of freedom. The progress of freedom. Second we see the pretense of freedom in verse 33 and 34 the pretense of freedom. Then third and.
Last the promise.
Of freedom. The promise of freedom verse 35 and 36. So by God's help we will look into each of these points each time again as God permits. We will meet together as the Lord wills learn more about our Lord Jesus Christ and what it means to follow him and be his disciple.
This is critical folks because in America there are so many people deceived under the guise of thinking that they are Christians just because they said a prayer just because they went to an altar. They think everything is ok just because they go to church just because they are baptized in water and don't get me wrong there's places for those things but that does not save you.
It takes the blood of Jesus Christ his only son his precious blood.
Faith in who he.
Is washed in his blood his person of who he is believing who he is and also his works that he did upon the cross to save us alone nothing else added or subtracted from that. Jesus paid it all to him I owe.
Sin had left a crimson stain he washed it white as snow. So we praise him for the great redemption he has provided and the great salvation that he has provided. So by God's help and grace we will look into each of these points.
Again.
Credits to Pastor McArthur on this wonderful outline. So I took the outline and I basically put together a message and I asked the Lord. I said I just don't want this to be just another sermon as I always do.
I said Lord burn this within my heart examine my own heart search me oh God try me see where I'm at before you today. We all need to do.
That David did that and he was.
A man after God's own heart. So we never ever enter into a place thinking okay.
We're okay we need to.
Make sure there is a security in God's salvation. We should know that security. Paul had it. I know whom I have believed and I am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day that was the apostle Paul.
And yet Paul on the other hand and many times realized he had remaining sin in his life. In Romans chapter 7 he said oh wretched man that I am. But yet he was one of the most holiest apostles and child of God that ever walked this earth as a follower of Jesus Christ.
And he was so close to Christ he even says be imitators of Christ as I imitate.
Him so if.
Paul could say that help us that we could get draw closer to the Lord Jesus Christ and be more like him. Well let's begin. Look and observe first of all this one.
Great point the progress.
Of freedom the progress of freedom verse 31 and 32. Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed him if you abide in my word you are my disciples.
Indeed and you.
Shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free. Freedom in Jesus.
Christ freedom in Jesus Christ and as.
Verse 30 is said and we looked at as he spoke these words many believed in him so we have believers here. Jesus found that many professed to believe in him doubtless some were genuine in their faith others only had been prompted to give only lip service to the Lord and their heart.
Was far from him we know.
That Jesus never committed himself to anyone. We see that in John John chapter 2 and then when he was at and verse 23 was in the Jerusalem in Jerusalem at the Passover during the feast many believed in his name notice that when they saw the signs the miracles which he did many.
Believed him.
But Jesus did not commit himself to them because he knew all men and he had no need that anyone should testify man for he knew what.
Was in man he knows.
Our hearts beloved.
Now.
That could be a terrifying thing or a comforting thing just depends on which side you are on. So Jesus makes a powerful statement in verse 31. Crystal clear distinction. I like to say it like this. He drew a straight line of demarcation right here straight between those who are quote on quote disciples learners the basic meaning followers of Christ and those who are disciples indeed.
That word.
Indeed is very important. It's the same as what Jesus speaks of in the gospels you read about in Matthew in the parable of the true and the false.
Spoke about the straight and the narrow only two paths not three the wide the narrow those that are many that will go in the broad road of destruction those that are few that goes in the straight and narrow.
He spoke also in parables about the wheat and the tares that the tares will grow up right next to the wheat and you cannot tell the distinctions you cannot tell the difference of it and the only way you can would be would it be good fruit or bad fruit.
And even that sometimes.
Can.
Sneak in within the church like a leaven and leaven the whole lump like Paul says. And not until the end of the world until Christ comes back. The angels is going to separate the tares and the wheat. So it takes a sharp discerning eye nowadays to those who come and profess Christ.
Even the.
Apostle Paul had a demis and he forsook following Jesus Christ alongside Paul the apostle. And why. Because he loved this present world. And the scripture says if the love of the world is in you the love of the father is not in you so you cannot have both.
Don't hear much of that nowadays do you? It's almost like a very wishy-washy compromising Christianity today that you can have one foot in the world and one foot in God's kingdom. But it doesn't work that way.
Jesus says you're for me or you against me. You cannot serve two masters where your heart is where your treasure is your heart is also. So Jesus said to them here these Jews that believed in him if that's important.
If.
You abide that means continue.
In my.
Word in my word you are my disciples indeed. Leon Morris says here. J .C. Rouse says pretty much the same thing but I'm quoting Leon Morris here great commentator. He says this this section of the discourse is addressed to those who believe and yet.
Do not believe.
Clearly they are inclined to think that what Jesus said was true.
But.
They were not prepared to yield him the far reaching allegiance.
That.
Would trust in him. That real trust in him implies.
This.
Is a most dangerous spiritual.
State.
Why is it dangerous. I tell you why it's dangerous. You don't have to turn there and I've already pointed this out in some of the sermons but Hebrews chapter 10 gives us warning why it's dangerous. Because there's apostasy right on the horizon.
If you go to verse 25 of chapter 10 the bible says. Let me back up a little bit. Verse 22. Let us draw near verse 22 with a true heart in full assurance of faith having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.
Let us hold fast. This is important because this is going to be the track Jesus is going to give us is perseverance. Let us hold fast. The confession of our hope without wavering for he who promised is faithful.
And then he goes on to say. And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together as is the manner of some but exhorting one another.
And so much the more as you see the day approaching the day is a capital. D speaking of.
The day of judgment.
That's what he's speaking of because this is how important it is that we come together as God's people to exhort one another because the day of judgment is coming and we exhort one another.
Why? because.
We love one another we love one another. And then from verse 25 to verse 26 is like a huge gap of falling away when these people were neglecting to come together as they were supposedly commanded to do in a manner of some but exhorting one another.
He said you need to come together. And then he says for if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth people call themselves Christians. Listen to this they profess to be Christians.
There.
No longer remains a sacrifice for sins but a certain fearful expectation of judgment fiery indignation which will devour the adversaries. Anyone who has rejected Moses' law dies without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses.
How much more worse punishment do you suppose will he be thought worthy who has trampled the son of God under.
Foot counted.
The blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified a common thing and insulted the spirit of grace. That's severe warnings folks. It's far worse to sin against the light of grace than it is of law. And then he says for we know him who said vengeance is mine.
I will repay says the Lord. And again the Lord will judge his people. It is a fearful thing to fall in the hands of the living God you see that. That's why it's dangerous as we receive the light of the gospel.
The gospel goes forth in power and truth and in love. And then we what do we do.
With it.
We just are not to be just hearers of the word but to be doers of the word and to apply this great truth to our lives and love our Lord Jesus Christ and go all the way to the end with him. It's not how well you start it's how well.
You end.
And will you end faithfully. That's what is really important. As you know now and many denominational camps whether it be Southern Baptist or Reformed Baptist or whatever it may be we have been seeing a falling away from the faith folks.
But at the same time there has been as we know two godly men, three godly men. I think about Pastor John MacArthur that went home to be with the Lord Vody Bachman, Charlie Kirk. These men were faithful folks.
They finished faithfully.
But yet there are others that knew, could preach. Well they could tell the truth they could get up and preach a great sermon, they could tell you the word of God. They're great theologians.
They have got.
A MDiv, a PhD and they've learned how to preach but yet they have fallen away into deep immorality and disqualified themselves from the preached word, how sad that is and we should be.
Weeping and we should be searching.
Our own hearts and say oh God.
What about me what about my heart.
Keep me.
It's the apple of God's eye, keep me from falling as.
Scripture says, keep me and.
Persevere me.
As scripture says, God will.
Persevere the faithful.
Well.
That's why there's warnings to exhort us and to encourage us that we would search our hearts where we are with God our relationship with God, our fellowship with one another, are we part of the true body of Christ.
And.
I'm not talking about just one denomination God has his people scattered out like salt across this entire world and other denominations and certain issues we may not believe in. But I tell you one thing they better believe in they better believe in who Jesus is they better get that one right and they better believe what the works of Jesus Christ is, that he died on the cross, he was born of the Virgin Mary he lived a perfect life and he went to the cross and he took our sin to the cross and who he was he was the son of God, the lamb of God.
And he died.
A criminal's death but he was the son of God, God man fully God, fully man truly God, truly man. And he died was buried, rose again, ascended on high and he's coming back. Folks we better get that one right.
So here you have warnings. So coming to Jesus as being his disciple means we must abide, continue to live in, to dwell in, to make our home.
In.
His word in his word, it all comes down to obedience to the words of Jesus Christ beloved are you joyfully obeying the Lord. Jesus says if you abide in my word what does this mean, what does this mean, let's look into it one commentator, Trasker gives us a great definition he says this and what it means to abide, this one word abide, let's look at this word abide, it means to continue here you have the perseverance of the saints the perseverance of the saints, we are to continue in the words of Jesus, in his word, he says this quote, it means to welcome it being at home with it living with it so continuously that it becomes part of the believers life a permanent influence and stimulus in every fresh advance in goodness and in holiness, I love that continuously we continue in his word it makes me think of many many scriptures but I'm going to quote one here which is one of my favorites from Psalm 1 because the godly man, the believer in Jesus Christ loves God's word and this is actually the first Psalm is actually the introduction to all 150 Psalms what does he say blessed is the man who walks, notice this he walks, not in the counsel of the ungodly nor stands in the paths of sinners, nor sits there's an order here walking, standing, sitting nor sits in the seat of the scornful and here's the break verse 2, but this is how a disciple of Jesus Christ looks like folks, but his delight is in the law of the Lord, talks about God's word his delight is in the law of the Lord he delights in it, he loves it, it's part of his life, morning.
Noon, evening.
Even midnight he gets up and he praises God for his great judgments, he praises God throughout the day. Do you delight in God's word today, but his delight that's a heart issue that's a heart motive delight in the law of the Lord, and in his law what does he do, he meditates, he ponders like brother Key says like a cow chews the cud he chews on it it's sweeter than honey beloved, and in his law he meditates he just doesn't read it, he meditates on it, day and night, and he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water that brings forth its fruit in its season, whose leaves shall never wither, and whatever he does shall prosper, the ungodly are not so, but are like the shaft which the wind drives away.
Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous but the Lord knows. Get that? You know a lot of times, people that profess to be Christians and are not truly born again of the spirit of the living God they may fool people, but folks they can't fool.
God.
But the Lord knows the way of the righteous but the way of the ungodly.
Shall perish.
That's powerful so you have that right there, there's many other scriptures I can go to but time permitting let's keep looking at what it means to abide in God's word, go with me to Colossians chapter 3.
Colossians chapter 3, I think this is a great verse of scripture that speaks about what it means to abide in God's word. Look at verse 12 all the way to 17. Therefore this speaks about character. Folks this talks about who you are.
Your heart just not your brain but your heart, how is your character. Do you have integrity therefore as the elect of God.
Holy.
Beloved put on tender mercies kindness humility.
Meekness.
Long suffering very similar to the fruit of the spirit isn't it, bearing with one another, as brother Ben was talking about compassion, if you're compassionate toward one another, you bear with one another and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another even as Christ forgave you so you also must do.
That's how a believer is to look like folks. But above all these things put on.
Love love.
Agape love which is the bond of perfection, you remember what it says in.
First.
Corinthians 13.
If you look at it.
We won't go there, but that whole chapter is about agape love, you can have all the knowledge, you can have all the wisdom, you can know all these things you can even have the gift of tongues and tongues of sea, said languages.
In other words you can speak all these languages you can be brilliant, you can even give yourself a body to be burned and Paul says if you don't have God's love you are.
Nothing.
Folks we need to smoke that one in our pipe. Let the peace of God rule in your hearts to which also you were called in one body.
And be thankful.
Are you thankful. You know when these words come up we should say okay if I'm God's elect I should be holy, I should be separated from the world I am beloved for God to even.
Choose me.
To be part of his family, part of the kingdom of God because we do not earn it it's by grace and grace alone and putting on tender mercies and kindness and humility and meekness and so on and so forth, notice this is the way Jesus looks and we are followers of Christ, disciples of Christ, this is the way we should look.
Now I'm not.
Talking about perfection but I like what MacArthur says, it's direction. Because we fall short of these things don't we. And may God help us if we're going in that direction and if we fail, we repent.
And if we've done.
Something wrong and a sin against another, we go to the brother or the sister and say please.
Forgive me.
And show it that's what he talks about forgiving one another as Christ forgave.
You.
But above all these things put on love I love that pardon the pun agape. Love which is the bond of perfection, it's the bond.
Of perfection.
And let the peace of God rule in your hearts to which also you were called in one body and be thankful. And here it is, let the word of Christ, God's word Christ's word dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms, how do we do that, in psalms in hymns, we did it this morning singing to one another, singing to the Lord in spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to who?
To the Lord we bless the Lord, we minister to the Lord. And whatever you do whatever you do in word or deed do all in the name of the Lord Jesus giving thanks to God the.
Father through Him.
Praise His name so that's the first step that Jesus gives if you abide and continue in His word you're His disciples. Indeed, there's another progress, that direction is to continue, that second step is also the progress towards true discipleship is one word and I've already mentioned it, that word abiding to continue is perseverance perseverance, endurance obedience to the scripture, now I say this I was in Hebrews chapter 10 a minute ago but there's the latter part of Hebrews 10 speaks about this I stopped right at verse 31 it's a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God, but listen to verse 32 to verse 39 and listen what the writer of Hebrews says, but recall the former days in which after you were illuminated, you endured, you hear that?
And now He's already introducing to us endurance, you endured a great struggle with sufferings, you mean to tell me to be a disciple of Jesus Christ you're going to suffer, you can guarantee it you can guarantee it, but it should not let you down, and that's why Jesus says in John 14, we'll go there in a minute, to the disciples He talks about the Spirit of God will be the comforter, He will comfort them in their trials and persecutions and all the afflictions because that another comforter by the way, Jesus was the first comforter empirically, here comes the Spirit of the living God to abide within.
Us.
To help those disciples those apostles through persecutions, and guess what happened to almost every single one of them except for one they were martyred.
And if you look.
At the record of scripture they took it joyfully.
Because.
They knew whom they belonged to, folks. They knew that they were passing through this world, and it was short, like a vapor like a shadow, and they recognized it was a grand privilege to suffer for one so great and mighty.
May God give us that grace when the time comes, if we are going to be facing martyrdom. You recall the former days, you endured a great struggle with sufferings. What's he doing? He's encouraging them, partly while you were made a spectacle both by reproaches and tribulations and partly while you became companions to those who were so treated, companions.
Psalm 119 says we're a companion of those who fear God. For you had, listen to this you had compassions on me and my chains. We don't know who this apostle is or who he is, but he said you had compassion on me and my chains.
Joyful, accepted the plundering of your goods, knowing that you have a better and an enduring possession for yourselves in heaven. It's going to endure forever. Doesn't sound like your best life now.
Does it? Matter of fact.
If it is our best life now, you can just about grant it, your worst life is.
To come. Verse 35.
Therefore do not cast away your confidence don't cast it away which has great reward. For you have need of endurance, don't you love that? Listen to what he says, you have need of endurance, I read that I said God, I have need of endurance, give me endurance give me endurance, so that after you have done the will of God we're to do God's will.
Doing it.
You may receive the promise and then listen to what he says for yet a little while, it's just a little while and he who is coming will come and will not tarry he's coming.
And now the just shall live by faith. That's how we're to live. The just shall live by faith. But if anyone draws back my soul has no pleasure in him, folks that's God's word. We should not be sliding back we should be going forward.
There's no neutrality with God, we're to go forward. And then he says this, what an encouragement verse 39, but we are not of those who draw back to perdition. Amen, we're not drawing back one iota. We're going to go forward in Jesus Christ and pursue.
As the deer pants after the water brook, so we are my soul will pant after God. But those who believe to the saving of the soul, hallelujah so much more.
The word.
Abide is key, it means to habitually continue to abide in Jesus and Jesus' words, one who continues in his words, teachings. As a genuine believer, they hold fast to his words, they obey his words and most important as they obeys the word of God practices the words of Jesus they just don't talk about it they actually.
Practice it.
Paul said that, he said I preach the gospel but I live by the gospel I live it. There was defectors in John chapter 6, we already went through that section but remember with that in verse 66 from that time many many of his disciples get that, disciples went back and walked with him no more.
Verse 67. In chapter 6, Jesus said to the 12, he asked them a question, do you also want to go away? Simon Peter answered, hallelujah.
Lord.
To whom shall we go.
Excuse my.
Emotions and tears. Folks, there's nowhere else to go. This world's got nothing for you and me but death, hell and the grave. And Jesus conquered that. But there's a hell for those who fall into perdition and forget God, but our eyes is upon the author and finish of our faith, Jesus Christ.
He endured he endured the cross. Now it's our turn. Not even dare in the same degree he took. Folks, we can't even come close. We can't even come close to a lot of godly martyrs. But I'll tell you this, we better keep our eyes on Jesus.
He said, Lord to whom shall we go, you have the words of eternal life, the words also. We have come to believe. We have come to believe and know, he had assurance.
That you.
Are the Christ, the son of the living God.
Jesus said.
Jesus didn't pat him on the back.
Did he?
He said, great job Peter. No, what does he do? He gives another warning did I not choose you in the twelve and one of you is a devil. It makes me think of the time when they were at the table reclining at the Lord's supper and what happens.
Jesus said, one of you will portray me and each one of them said, is it I? Is it I? Is it I? They were concerned about their heart and he spoke of Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon for it was he who would betray him being one of the twelve.
Judas heard all of Jesus' sermons, saw his miracles, he knew plenty about Jesus, he would probably be a great church goer and yet he fell away. Folks, I'm telling you, we better examine ourselves to see whether we're in the faith.
I say that in love and so much more. The one who continues in his teaching abides in his word, has both the Father and the Son. 2 John 9 says, whoever transgresses and does not abide in the doctrine of Christ does not have God.
And he who abides in the doctrine of Christ has both the Father and the Son. Hebrews 3 14, for we have become partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast to the end. That is why Paul says in 1 Corinthians chapter 15 I want you to get this, this is the resurrection chapter, but this is so critical and a lot of times we can easily miss something like this, but it's so critical what he says as he begins to unpack the gospel and the risen Christ and the faith's reality that it's all in the risen Christ and Jesus' death.
Moreover brethren, I declare to you the gospel which I preach to you, which also you receive, in which you stand. Listen to this by which also you are saved. The gospel saves us.
Christ.
If, if.
You hold fast.
That word, which I preach to you unless you believed in vain, you get that.
If you hold fast.
Folks we better hold.
Fast, that's why Paul says lay hold of eternal life and don't let it go. How can that happen, because.
He's lay hold of you.
Paul said that we should not let go of him.
That's why Jesus says.
He that he talked to someone, a so called believer, he said. If you have your hands to the plow and you look back you're not fit for the kingdom of God and I believe it was another part, he says. Remember Lot's wife, what happened to her.
She looked back you know why. She looked back to Sodom while judgment came down her heart was still there. Folks we better not love this evil wicked.
World.
The Bible says clearly if the love of the world is in you, the love of the Father is not in you love not the world, that's a command from God, that's a command from God.
That word, which I preach to you unless you believed in vain. I'd like for you to look at something also from Revelation chapter 2. Go with me to Revelation chapter 2. Here we see the glorified risen Christ.
He speaks to the seven churches in Asia Asia Minor and he gives warning. He gives promises but this is a very interesting promise here, but I want to read the entirety of this chapter not the chapter but the section.
There's.
Chapter 2 there's the loveless church Ephesus. You have Smyrna which is the persecuted church and now he has the corrupt church. Then later on in chapter 3 you got the dead church. Then you have the faithful church.
But listen to what he says. To the corrupt church which has immorality within it. To the angel he's talking about the messenger. He's basically passing it to the elders. To the church of Thyatira. Write.
These things says the son of God who has eyes like a flame of fire and his feet like fine brass. I know your works love, service, faith, and your patience. He commends them for this. And as for your works the last are more than the first so he commends them.
Nevertheless I have a few things against you. Notice what he says. Because you allow that woman Jezebel who calls herself a prophetess to teach and seduce my servants to commit sexual immorality and eat things sacrificed to idols.
It's a serious thing to be partakers of this. And I gave her time to repent. The old king James says I gave her space. God is patient, Christ is patient. He gives people space to repent. I gave her time to repent of her sexual immorality.
And she did not repent. What happens. Indeed. I will cast her into a sickbed. Those who commit adultery with her in great tribulation unless they repent of their deeds. You don't hear this much folks.
But the glorified king of kings.
And Jesus says this.
I will kill her children with death. God can bring judgment folks when a person refuses to repent they will be cut off but he gave him space to repent. And all the churches, listen to this all the churches, not some of them all the churches shall know that I am he who searches the minds and the hearts and I will give to each one you according to your works.
This is not talking about salvation this is talking about those who follow Christ and will be judged according to our deeds. The body. And now to you I say to the rest in Thyatira as many as I do not have this doctrine who have not known the depths of Satan as they I will put on you no other burden, now get this.
He gives a promise.
Hold fast what you have till I come.
Hold fast.
And he who overcomes and keeps my works until the end to him I will give power over the nations. He shall rule them with a rod of iron and they shall be dashed to pieces like the potter's vessel. He quotes the psalm there and I also receive from my father and I will give him the morning star.
And he who has an ear let him hear what the spirit says to the churches. But the emphasis is on verse 25. But hold fast what I, what you have till I come.
Real disciples hold fast. Real disciples of Jesus persevere. They endure they endure to the end. Jesus says he that endures to the end shall be saved. There's perseverance of the saints right here folks and the promise is made to true disciples verse 32.
We'll probably be looking more into that next Lord's Day. Back to chapter 8. And the truth and you shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free. There's a few things I like to bring to application very quickly and I'll probably pick up on this a little bit more later on you'll hear more of this.
A .W. Tozer said this in his book The Incredible Christian.
He said this.
The gravest question of any of us face is whether we do or do not love the Lord. Too many, too much hinges on the answer to pass the matter off lightly. It is a question that no one can answer for another.
Not even the Bible can tell you tell the individual that he loves the Lord. It can only tell him how he can whether or not love the Lord. It can and does tell us how to test our hearts though for love.
Is a man to test.
Our hearts for love. As man might test ore for the presence of uranium but we must do the testing. It goes on to say all the patriarchs and saints of Holy Scripture had all consuming passionate love for God.
They had a jubilant longing and pining after God himself. God was their goal. They loved God supremely. God was all in all to them. Not just first but everything. He is everything to you. I read a quote from J .C. Rowe.
He says Christ is all he says beloved. That is the essence and heart of Christianity. That Jesus Christ is all in all. Question is is He everything to you is Christ. Your first love is He more than life to you.
Do you truly love the Lord from your heart, mind, soul and strength. And we cannot love Him perfectly. But the Scripture says to love the Lord thy God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength and is more to it than all the burnt offerings and sacrifices.
He says love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets. This is the first and great commandment and only Christ did this perfectly. But folks this should be something we should strive after fullness.
We have received grace for grace for the law was given through Moses. But grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.
Let me.
Give you some bullet points. In order to love God we first must remember that it is God who first loved us beloved. Spurgeon said there is no light in the planet but that which proceeded from the sun.
And there is no true love to Jesus in the heart but that which coming from the Lord Jesus Himself. From this overflowing fountain of infinite love of God our love to God must spring. This must ever be a great certain truth that we love Him for no other reason that because He first loved us.
Can you.
Understand how much He loves us in you. No we can't but Paul says I fall on my knees and he says I desire. And he prayed for the church that they may know the height and the depth and the width of the great love of God.
Folks we cannot imagine. And how is it so hard for people to even enter church to hear God's word or even more so to follow Christ on a daily basis. Knowing all that He did folks I'm telling you we better think about it.
Especially if He's chosen us in Him before the foundation of the world.
That's love.
Paul said that He's chosen us in Christ before the foundation or that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love so we must see first of all that He loves us with a great love.
Second.
The love to God is produced only by the.
Holy Spirit.
Galatians 5 .22 but the fruit of the Spirit is love and there's others joy, goodness, faithfulness.
Does that abide you.
Do you practice that. Does people see that in you. Now may the Lord Jesus direct your hearts into the love of God and the patience of Christ. 2 Thessalonians 3 .5. Romans 5 .5. One of my favorite verses.
Now hope does not disappoint but the love of God has been shed abroad.
Poured out.
Into your hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to you has that love been poured into your heart. Chambers says this before we can love God we must have the lover of God in us by the Holy Spirit. And when the Holy Spirit is shed abroad the love of God in our hearts then that love requires cultivation.
It must be divinely nourished and must be watered from above. No love on earth will develop without cultivating and we have to commit ourselves to this love which means identifying ourselves with God's interest with God's people.
Third.
Fourth.
Love to God is characteristics of his saints that produces joy Psalm 5 .11. But let all those who rejoice put their trust in you let them ever shout for joy because you defend them. Let those also who love your name be joyful in you.
By the way joy is another fruit of the Spirit.
Love to God produces hatred to sin. Listen to that hatred to sin. Psalm 97 .10. You who love the Lord hate evil. We love what God loves. We hate what God hates. He delivers them out of the hand of the wicked.
So to love God is to fear God. They are connected and to fear God is the beginning of wisdom.
Fifth.
Love to God brings obedience to the commandments of Jesus Christ. Love to God brings produces obedience to the commands of Jesus. Deuteronomy 30 .20. That you may love the Lord your God that you may obey his voice that you may cling to him for he is your life and the length of your days.
You see the goodness of God in this. It's a mad man to push away a God so good. 1 John 5 .3. For this is the love of God that we keep his commandments and his commandments are not grievous they're not burdensome.
It's not hard to love because God's love is within us. It should be natural it should be part of us. To obey God is just it's not a duty but it's a delight a joyful delight. Beloved God's children long to please God and love bringing pleasure to God by joyful obedience to him.
You see when we love the Lord we seek the Lord. We please the Lord and it's by faith it's not by feelings. Sixth. The test of knowing Christ is this to love. God is perfected in obedience. 1 John 2 .3 and 6.
Now by this we know that we know him if we keep his commandments.
He who says.
I know him does not know does not keep his commandments is a liar and the truth is not in him. Folks this is important. But whoever keeps his word this is abiding. Folks. But whoever keeps his word truly the love of God is perfected in him.
By this we know that we are in him. He who says he abides in him ought himself to walk just as.
He walked.
I know this is convicting folks as I'm preaching this to you my heart is just being pierced but I say Lord search my heart. I want to know you more. Does he know you.
Do you.
Know him do you abide in his word.
Seventh almost finished.
The love of the world is proof of not having the love of God. I said that earlier 1 John 2 .15 -16 love not the world neither the things in the world. If any man loved the world the love of the father is not in him for all that is in the world the lust of the desires of the flesh the lust of the eyes the pride of life is not of the father but is of the world and the world is passing away and the lust thereof.
But he who does the will of God abides forever. If you are a friend of God then the world is your enemy beloved. If you are a friend of the world then God is your enemy. I would rather have this world as my enemy than God.
I'll tell you that now we're talking about the creator of the ends of the earth.
The all.
Powerful omnipotent wonderful loving God. For where.
You're if you're for him.
Or against him where your heart is your treasure is also is Christ your treasure this morning.
The world.
The lust of the flesh. God is a jealous God he will have no rivals he will not have second place he must be ruler and have full allegiance. This is what it means to be a true disciple of Jesus. Is he your king.
God demands all or nothing folks and he deserves all.
Eighth.
They who love.
Not others.
Listen closely.
Listen.
Those who do not love others are without the love of God.
You can.
Know about it but if you don't have it in your heart you're empty you're clinging as Paul says 1 John 4 20 if someone says I love God and hates his brother he's a liar.
A liar.
For he does not love his brother whom he has seen. How can he love God whom he has not seen. And this commandment this is a command this commandment we have from him that he who loves God must love his brother also.
And does it show. I would ask. Does it show.
The.
Undeviating question as a chamber says that comes from Christ himself. Is this lovest thou me. This question hurts but it can produce good fruit if obedience comes.
Out of it. And if we.
Love him then our actions.
Will show will we be.
Spent out and burned up for God. So many more scriptures I like to share with you but I'll wait to another day and let me close again with what Tozer says. Here he concludes this about this important subject.
The Christian cannot be certain of the reality and the depth of his love until he comes face to face with the commandments of Christ and is forced to decide what to do about them. Then he will know.
He that.
Loveth me not keepeth not my sayings said our Lord and he that hath my commandments and keepeth them he it is that loveth me. So the final test Tozer says is love of love is obedience. The final test of love is obedience to the commandments of Jesus Christ not sweet emotions not willingness to sacrifice.
Our Lord drew a line plain and tight for everyone to see. On one side he placed those who keep his commands and said these love.
Me and.
On the other side he put those who keep not his sayings said these love me not. Love for Christ is a love of willingness as well as a love of feeling and it is a psychological. It is psychologically impossible to love him adequately unless we obey.
His words.
End quote. And this is why the scripture says for it is better to obey than to sacrifice. Let's pray oh father we are humbled today.
You draw.
Close to those.
That humble themselves before you Lord. We definitely will do desire that.
We.
Desire to have a mind and a heart to obey you with all of us at wall within us oh God.
May we.
Put this to the test from scripture we would easily find ourselves to know for certain that the answer to the question troubled the fathers of old they should trouble us as well do we love you Lord or do we not.
It's an old prayer and I want to pray for all of us the dearest idol I have known whether whatever that idol may be help me to tear it from thy throne and worship only thee Lord. It's only by your love that's poured within us by your Holy Spirit that abounds more and more to love you and to love our brethren as the wonderful hymn says more love to thee oh Christ more love to thee.
Hear thou the prayer that I make on bended knee. Oh Lord. This is my earnest plea Lord. More love oh Christ to thee. More love to thee and Lord. As Amy Carmichael said Lord Jesus do turn us all into love and all of our love into obedience.
Lord let our obedience be without interruption only for your glory. And I ask.
In the name of Jesus.
Amen and amen.