Dec. 2, 2018 - Saving Faith

Sermon  •  Submitted   •  Presented   •  44:59
0 ratings
· 45 views
Files
Notes
Transcript
Sermon Tone Analysis
A
D
F
J
S
Emotion
A
C
T
Language
O
C
E
A
E
Social
View more →
We will continue today to make our way through this 2nd chapter of the gospel of John...
…and today we’ll actually come to the end of this chapter...
If we step back a bit and look at this chapter, and look at what Christ has been doing...
He’s been giving signs as to WHO He is...
And so just like Baker Mayfield has come on the scene this year for the Browns..
And we’re beginning to see the signs that he’s performing every week...
People are beginning to see WHO he really is as a football player...
And the city of Cleveland looks at him and says - YES - We BELIEVE!!!
As we come now to the end of chapter 2, we’re going to see that when it came to Jesus...
People were paying attention!
John 2:23 ESV
23 Now when he was in Jerusalem at the Passover Feast, many believed in his name when they saw the signs that he was doing.
Now - if we were to just stop right here, and call it a day - we would walk away from this verse feeling really good about these people mentioned here!
We would probably rejoice in the thought that all these people were turning to Christ in faith...
And that the signs of Jesus were having their desired effect!
See - we live in a “I want it - and I want it now!” culture...
We want INSTANT gratification…!
And often times even THAT isn’t fast enough!
*Who in here remembers when logging onto the internet sounded like this: eeeghghgegegh
We’re just so conditioned to WANT things NOW - and to EXPECT things NOW!
And here’s a danger in that...
We often end up = judging a matter to quickly...
We judge people TOO quickly…and then damage is done...
And so regarding this verse…let’s go to the next verse, because it’s going to shine light on this verse...
and then we’ll go from there...
Read v23 again...
John 2:24 ESV
24 But Jesus on his part did not entrust himself to them, because he knew all people
And so what do we see here...
SLIDE: SAVING FAITH: A Faith in More Than Just Signs

SAVING FAITH

We see these people here - they had seen Christ’s SIGNS up to this point...
…and they would have AFFIRMED - Yes - that’s Jesus - He does miracles!
But it seems, based on how Jesus responds to them - that they remained in UNBELIEF!
It reminds me of the 5000 that Jesus fed...
He FEEDS them and then they come looking for him...
John 6:25–27 ESV
25 When they found him on the other side of the sea, they said to him, “Rabbi, when did you come here?” 26 Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, you are seeking me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate your fill of the loaves. 27 Do not work for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you. For on him God the Father has set his seal.”
So Christ here - calls out these people for seeking ONLY signs…and then what does He do in v27?
Read it
He begins to EXPLAIN to them WHO He is… “He says - I am the bread of life...”
But how do they respond? v41
John 6:41 ESV
41 So the Jews grumbled about him, because he said, “I am the bread that came down from heaven.”
Do you see?
They LOVED the sign!
But SAVING FAITH loves more than just the SIGNS...
It also LOVES the word! - The TRUTH of the Word!
And we see this connection in Scripture...
John 5:36 ESV
36 But the testimony that I have is greater than that of John. For the works that the Father has given me to accomplish, the very works that I am doing, bear witness about me that the Father has sent me.
John 10:37–38 ESV
37 If I am not doing the works of my Father, then do not believe me; 38 but if I do them, even though you do not believe me, believe the works, that you may know and understand that the Father is in me and I am in the Father.”
The AIM of the SIGNS is that we KNOW and UNDERSTAND that Jesus is the Son of God!
John 14:11 ESV
11 Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me, or else believe on account of the works themselves.
Believe SOMETHING on account of these SIGNS Jesus says!
Yes- sometimes it’s the SIGNS of God that awaken FAITH...
But true FAITH belongs together with the WORD!
And we can confirm this even in our passage...
SLIDE: Verse Comparison - “Believed”
And not only this - but if we take into account that this passage is being lived out during Passover in Jerusalem...
We can see many similarities to those who actually experienced the first passover...
When we think back to ALL that the Israelites experienced in the Exodus...
Seeing the great signs of God...
The Israelites had seen: God CRUSHING the Egyptian gods and goddesses
Water turned to blood
Frogs swarming the land
Gnats overwhelming everything
Flies do the same
Livestock of the Egyptians perish
Boils break out on man and beast
Crushing Hail from the Heavens
Locusts covered the land (based on the size of Egypt, that would have been at least 77.4 Trillion locusts...
Complete Darkness, like a blanket before their eyes
Death of all Egyptian first-born
From these signs, the Israelites go on to see - the PARTING of the RED SEA...
And the destruction of their enemies when the waters were released...
Exodus 14:31 ESV
31 Israel saw the great power that the Lord used against the Egyptians, so the people feared the Lord, and they believed in the Lord and in his servant Moses.
Notice what happens here...
What does it say?
They SAW the great power of the Lord - they SAW the signs...
AND they - BELIEVED - in the Lord...
Remember that slide we saw before where we COMPARED the belief of John 2:23 with the belief of John 1:12?
SLIDE:
Saving Faith vs Dead Faith
Remember how this one (John 2:23) is an AORIST verb in the indicative sense… which means it focuses on a SPECIFIC moment in time...
Like saying - at that moment, they believed…but no longer.
The Belief had a beginning, but also had an END...
Well guess what…?
In this verse here...
Exodus 14:31 ESV
31 Israel saw the great power that the Lord used against the Egyptians, so the people feared the Lord, and they believed in the Lord and in his servant Moses.
The Israelites “BELIEF” is a flash in the pan “BELIEF”...
Same as JOHN 2:23...
In the moment - they believed…but that was it.
And this is REVEALED later in the wilderness story = when OVER and OVER again…the Israelites CONTINUE to - MURMUR…and COMPLAIN...
“Send us back into SLAVERY!” - they end up crying out!
A STIFF- NECKED people! God says...
They LITERALLY experienced God LEADING them through the wilderness...
LITERALLY experienced manna falling from heaven to feed them...
LITERALLY experienced ALL of God’s mercy - on display...
AND YET...
their HEARTS were FAR from God...
Hebrews 3:16–19 ESV
16 For who were those who heard and yet rebelled? Was it not all those who left Egypt led by Moses? 17 And with whom was he provoked for forty years? Was it not with those who sinned, whose bodies fell in the wilderness? 18 And to whom did he swear that they would not enter his rest, but to those who were disobedient? 19 So we see that they were unable to enter because of unbelief.
WAIT - didn’t Exodus tell us they SAW God’s signs and they - BELIEVED?
Yes it did...
But what does this say -
This here says THOSE people were UNABLE to enter the promise land because of - UNBELIEF
So what happened?
Saving faith is a faith rooted in more than just signs
1 Corinthians 1:21–23 ESV
21 For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, it pleased God through the folly of what we preach to save those who believe. 22 For Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom, 23 but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles,
An UNBELIEVING heart will BELIEVE itself to be wiser than God (repeat)
This world believes that Christianity is - FOOLISHNESS! to the highest degree
Some DEMAND signs - Give me a sign and THEN I’ll believe…no you won’t!
And to others this is all FOOLISHNESS!
But God says - WHERE is the debater of this age??
God says - I’ve made FOOLISH the wisdom of the world!
SIGNS have a purpose…they POINT to something!
If you’re trying to get to a destination, and you continue to see SIGNS along the way, guiding you to that destination…what would happen if you never obeyed the signs or used them according to their purpose?
You’ll NEVER make it to your destination!
*Song - Many men will drink the rain, and turn and thank the clouds - (the clouds are like - NO, No…don’t thank me…I’m just here to - DISPLAY HIS Glory!!)
Saving Faith is a Faith in more than just SIGNS!
SLIDE: Saving Faith: Believes & Embraces Jesus Christ

SAVING FAITH

John 2:23–24 ESV
23 Now when he was in Jerusalem at the Passover Feast, many believed in his name when they saw the signs that he was doing. 24 But Jesus on his part did not entrust himself to them, because he knew all people
How many times have you experienced another person in your life - where you THOUGHT you could count on them ...
…but in the end, you realize you CAN’T count on them??
How many of you in here have been “FOOLED” by another person??
You THOUGHT you KNEW SOMETHING about them...
But then realize you - WERE WRONG!
We’re CONSTANTLY being played the fool right? (I THOUGHT i knew…)
Here’s the reason this is true: We are LIMITED in what we’re ABLE to understand
When Christ looks at a person - He sees their ROOTS...
We CAN’T see their roots...
All we can do is what - We’ll know them by their - Fruits...
We see the OUTWARD…we’re LIMITED!
Jesus Christ is NOT!
The SIGNS of Christ had a purpose -
The purpose of His signs was NOT to - Capture your faith and HOLD it there!
The purpose of His signs was to DRAW your faith - and CATAPULT it toward Christ!
That your faith would LAND on Christ...
be planted - IN Christ!
That’s why SIGNS and the WORD belong together!
Some saw the SIGNS - and their faith advanced from THERE - to the WORD…and it DEMONSTRATED - SAVING Faith!
Others saw the SIGNS just as clearly but refused the WORD and remained in UNBELIEF!
It happened in the Exodus
And it happened here in John 2
And you should have NO doubt - that for the Israelites who fell in the wilderness in Exodus...
That they stood before God - SHOCKED that they would hear - Depart from Me...
WHY?
Because they FELT like - they believed...
Could this be why the Scriptures tell us this??
2 Corinthians 13:5 ESV
5 Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Or do you not realize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you fail to meet the test!
We’re called to EXAMINE ourselves...
BUT - we should be careful - as Christians - how we do this...
Anyone ever experience a - Spiritual Depression?
How many of you have ever thought...
I’m failing at everything.
I don’t like the way God made me.
The Lord is not helping me.
My service is worthless.
My gifting is useless.
My growth is hopeless.
Listen to what Jared Mellinger has said:
SLIDE:
Self-examining spiritual depression speaks a thousand lies. The gospel speaks a better word.
Yes, we’re called to Examine Ourselves…there is GREAT benefit in doing so...
But there is also a Danger…there’s a fine line we must KNOW ABOUT...
Charles Spurgeon has said this:
SLIDE:
Any practice that detracts from faith is an evil practice, but especially that kind of self-examination which would take us away from the cross-foot proceeds in a wrong direction.
For true believers, any self-examination that LESSENS our faith…and leads us away from the foot of the cross - is a dangerous exercise...
AND SO - how do we do this properly?
Well what are we doing when we LOOK inward for self-examination…?
What are we LOOKING for…?
We’re looking for the DARKNESS that still rises up in us…?
We want to confess those things…right?
But a danger in this - is that the DARKNESS will - HOLD OUR GAZE!
When that happens, we become...
spiritually apathetic
We start to say - I CAN’T DO THIS anymore...
I CAN’T pray for my enemies
I CAN’T respond joyfully
I CAN’T overcome this or that
I’M NOT good enough!
I’m ONLY darkness…All i see is DARKNESS!
When DARKNESS within us HOLDS our gaze…we NEGLECT the LIGHT that has come!
We need to OPEN the curtains and let the LIGHT in!
HOW?
We soak in the Light of God’s WORD!…God’s TRUTH!
We take every introspective thought CAPTIVE...
Every DARKNESS focused thought captive…and we say
SLIDE:
…yes....BUT GOD!
- Yes, BUT GOD!!...
Yes - I fail You Lord ALWAYS - BUT YOU never fail me...
You’re ALWAYS FOR me…NEVER AGAINST me!
In YOUR strength I will RISE up and walk…again…!
Yes - I fell to that sin AGAIN this week...
BUT YOU LORD - have defeated that SIN...
You have CONQUERED that sin…BROKEN that chain...
And in YOUR strength I can pick myself up and CARRY ON!!
See - we ALWAYS NEED the gospel!!
The gospel is NOT that thing that we believe - in order to then get passed that - so that we can start LIVING for Christ...
If we want to CHANGE and become MORE LIKE Christ - we must BEHOLD (ourselves?) - NO - we must behold the LORD...
2 Corinthians 3:18 ESV
18 And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.
So we should KNOW:
SLIDE
Faith becomes what it beholds!
If all we do is behold OURSELVES....we will fall into an overwhelming despair!
And so this is why it’s SO important for us to - yes - examine ourselves...
…but to always culminate that examination by GAZING at the light and truth of God!
Robert Murray M’Cheyne famously said
“For every look at yourself, take ten looks at Christ.”
Listen to what the Gospel will do for you - in your self-examination...
Psalm 103:10 ESV
10 He does not deal with us according to our sins, nor repay us according to our iniquities.
1 John 1:9 ESV
9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
Only when we are secure in the love of God for us in Christ are we empowered for self-examination that is humble, confident, and fruitful.
The Gospel also KEEPS our Gaze focused into Eternity!
The most important things that we need to know about ourselves DO NOT come into focus by looking INWARD...
NO - the most important things about ourselves come into focus when we LOOK to Christ...
When we look to the death and resurrection of Christ...
OUR identity comes into FOCUS…!
His death and resurrection - PURCHASED our ETERNITY with Him!
And in doing - HOPE rises!!
Not ONLY is the Gospel a means to keep our GAZE focused on Eternity...
But the Gospel also helps turn Self-Examination into FUEL to empower our FAITH...
Isn’t that weird!??
You would think that Self-Examination would DAMPEN our faith…wound our faith!
But no - By focusing on the GOSPEL - in and through our self-examination...
we can UNDERSTAND that God is at work in us...
MOLDING us to become LIKE HIM...
And it helps us to KNOW that God is FOR US...
so that we can then KNOW that Phil 1:6 is true...
Philippians 1:6 ESV
6 And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.
All of these things help us to PROPERLY examine ourselves...
SLIDE
In Self-Examination, remain Gospel-focused!
And we need this - because it’s Christ who KNOWS us! right?
John 2:24–25 ESV
24 But Jesus on his part did not entrust himself to them, because he knew all people 25 and needed no one to bear witness about man, for he himself knew what was in man.
And so BECAUSE this is true - Self-examination becomes not a matter of REVELATION...
but IS a matter of - Humility and Confession
We surprise God with NOTHING...
He KNOWS us - He’s simply waiting for us to - come clean. be honest.
And so let’s devote time to that very thing right now - together!
LORD’S TABLE:
This brings us to the Lord’s Table…
a time for each of us to reflect on our lives,
to examine ourselves spiritually,
and to remember the cost of our faith.
We were bought with a price, and these elements remind us of this.
Have you experienced the Saving Power of Christ at the cross?
Has God AWAKENED you to where NOW you’re pursuing Him?
We are however, not to take this lightly. Scripture says – “ whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord.
Take time now and examine yourself before the Lord.
22 While they were eating, He took some bread, and after a blessing He broke it, and gave it to them, and said, “Take it; this is My body.” 23 And when He had taken a cup and given thanks, He gave it to them, and they all drank from it. 24 And He said to them, “This is My blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many. 25 Truly I say to you, I will never again drink of the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God.”
“do this…in remembrance of me.”
SING...
Related Media
See more
Related Sermons
See more