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TRU-23

121028AM

No one understands the Gospel better than our Lord & Savior, the Author & finisher of our faith, Jesus Christ.

Today we continue on our journey through the Gospel recorded by the Apostle John.

As we open to John 5 we are listening and watching the eyewitness record of John who was closest of all the Apostles to Jesus.

The Holy Spirit uses that proximity and loving eye and ear of young John, to give the most unique of all the four Gospel accounts.

But before we dive into these verses, we need to remember why we have the Gospels opening the New Testaments, open before us this morning.

The Four Gospels are For Christ’s Church

The Four Gospels, and their powerful presentations of Christ’s gospel messages, were written:

•    FOR Christ’s Church;
•    TO Christ’s Church; and
•    BY the Apostles of Christ’s Church.

The Four Gospels were each written after the birth of Christ’s Church in Acts 2.

The Four Gospels were written for those who were being saved and trained in Christ’s Church.

The Four Gospels were written during the very era when Paul and the Apostles were taking the Good News into all the world, and to every creature.

The Four Gospels should be the richest treasure trove to us in Christ’s Church; and we should be mining the very words of Christ, as He speaks to every heart, laden with sin.

The Gospels are so powerfully the voice to us the Church, of God the Son, the Savior of the world.

So as we open to read together from John 5:24-30, remember that John captures the content of the Gospel of Jesus Christ that was sweeping the Roman Empire.

When the Holy Spirit of God moved upon John the Apostle to write, God was writing down the Gospel According to Jesus.

Christ’s Word is the Only Pathway to Eternal Life

Please stand and follow along with me as we hear Jesus, right in the middle of His sermon on salvation, preached in public at the Temple in Jerusalem, after He had healed a man paralyzed for 38 years. Here is Christ’s explanation of salvation in John 5:24-47.

John 5:24-47 (NKJV) “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life. 25 Most assuredly, I say to you, the hour is coming, and now is, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God; and those who hear will live. 26 For as the Father has life in Himself, so He has granted the Son to have life in Himself, 27 and has given Him authority to execute judgment also, because He is the Son of Man. 28 Do not marvel at this; for the hour is coming in which all who are in the graves will hear His voice 29 and come forth—those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation. 30 I can of Myself do nothing. As I hear, I judge; and My judgment is righteous, because I do not seek My own will but the will of the Father who sent Me. 31 “If I bear witness of Myself, My witness is not true. 32 There is another who bears witness of Me, and I know that the witness which He witnesses of Me is true. 33 You have sent to John, and he has borne witness to the truth. 34 Yet I do not receive testimony from man, but I say these things that you may be saved. 35 He was the burning and shining lamp, and you were willing for a time to rejoice in his light. 36 But I have a greater witness than John’s; for the works which the Father has given Me to finish—the very works that I do—bear witness of Me, that the Father has sent Me. 37 And the Father Himself, who sent Me, has testified of Me. You have neither heard His voice at any time, nor seen His form. 38 But you do not have His word abiding in you, because whom He sent, Him you do not believe. 39 You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of Me. 40 But you are not willing to come to Me that you may have life. 41 “I do not receive honor from men. 42 But I know you, that you do not have the love of God in you. 43 I have come in My Father’s name, and you do not receive Me; if another comes in his own name, him you will receive. 44 How can you believe, who receive honor from one another, and do not seek the honor that comes from the only God? 45 Do not think that I shall accuse you to the Father; there is one who accuses you—Moses, in whom you trust. 46 For if you believed Moses, you would believe Me; for he wrote about Me. 47 But if you do not believe his writings, how will you believe My words?”
Pray

In this amazing passage Jesus continues to explain the one way to God. This chapter is not introducing a new plan or salvation, or another way to be saved.

God’s Simple Plan of Salvation

Jesus is just enlarging, explaining, and describing more of the simple way God saves. It is always divine, always miraculous, and always so simple.

Welcome to the eighth scene where Jesus presents the Gospel. Here in John 5 the Gospel according to Jesus declares: A believer is someone who hears, believes, crosses over, and does good.

That is simple, clear, and right from Christ’s mouth. This scene brings us one-third of the way through the message of Christ in this book of John.

Remember, we got here because John captures Jesus describing in 24 different settings, those believers who will surround the Throne, We saw last time that truly saved, born-again Christians are described in the Gospel According to Jesus, as:

1.    A believer who possesses Christ, and becomes God’s Child by a Supernatural event.   John 1:12-13

2.    A believer who understands that salvation is only by trusting in One who took my place.   John 1:29

3.    A believer who is overwhelmed by the Spirit of God. John 1:33

4.    In John 2: A believer is saved only by hanging onto Christ alone.  John 2:11  Salvation is a person, and He is our substitute, and we cling to him!

5.    In John 3: A believer gets to start life over again, seeing Christ as their only hope to live the truth and love the light, and have God’s wrath removed forever. John 3:3,7,15-16,18,20-21,36.

6.    In John 4: A believer drinks Christ as the water of life, and finds Him the spring that never runs dry; and begins a life of worshipping Christ as our only hope. John 4:10,14,23-24,39,41-42.

7.    A believer takes Christ at His Word. John 4:50,53

Jesus Christ our Savior Is also The Final Judge (John 5:21-29)

Here at the message after the miraculous healing at the Pools of Bethesda, Jesus, who gently presents His wide-open arms of salvation, is also the Judge who speaks with a voice that can be heard even by those in the Grave. That is an amazing voice!

Now walk with me through these words in your Bibles, as we see:

8.    In John 5: A believer in the Gospel according to Jesus is someone who hears, believes, crosses over, and does good.  John 5:21, 24, 28-29

v. 21 For as the Father raises the dead and gives life to them, even so the Son gives life to whom He will.

v. 24 “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life.
v. 28 Do not marvel at this; for the hour is coming in which all who are in the graves will hear His voice 29 and come forth— those wh
o have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation.

Jesus Christ is the Bread that Gives Eternally Secured Life (John 6:27-56)

9.    In John 6: A believer in the Gospel according to Jesus is securely drawn to Christ, partakes of Him, and stays in Him, because salvation equals abiding in Christ. John 6:27,35,37,39-40,44,47,51,54,56.

A BELIEVER IS ONE WHO SECURELY COMES TO JESUS. John 6:27,35,37,39

v.27 Do not labor for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to everlasting life, which the Son of Man will give you, because God the Father has set His seal on Him.”

v. 35 And Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst. 37 All that the Father gives Me (that’s election) will come to Me (that’s free will of choice), and the one who comes to Me I will by no means cast out. 39 This is the will of the Father who sent Me, that of all He has given Me I should lose nothing (that’s eternal security), but should raise it up at the last day.

A BELIEVER IS ONE WHO IS LOOKING TO JESUS AND BELIEVING.  John 6:40 And this is the will of Him who sent Me, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in Him may have everlasting life; and I will raise him up at the last day.”

A BELIEVER IS ONE WHO IS SECURELY DRAWN TO JESUS John 6:44,47 No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up at the last day. 47 Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me has everlasting life.

A BELIEVER IS ONE WHO PARTAKES OF JESUS (eats his Words); DRINKS JESUS (is washed by his blood); STAYS IN JESUS (salvation equals abiding in Christ). John 6:51,54,56 I am the living bread which came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever; and the bread that I shall give is My flesh, which I shall give for the life of the world.” 54 Whoever eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day. 56 He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood abides in Me, and I in him.

Salvation is of the Lord (John 6:63-66)

10.    A believer in the Gospel according to Jesus is someone who has genuine spiritual life, because they are enabled by God.

John 6:63,65,66 It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life. 65 And He said, “Therefore I have said to you that no one can come to Me unless it has been granted to him by My Father.” 66 From that time many of His disciples went back and walked with Him no more.

Salvation Produces in us Submission To the Will of God (John 7:17)

11.    A believer in the Gospel according to Jesus is someone who chooses to do the will of God.

John 7:17 If anyone wills to do His will, he shall know concerning the doctrine, whether it is from God or whether I speak on My own authority.

Salvation Produces in us a Life Overflowing With God’s Spirit (John 7:37-39)

12.    A believer in the Gospel according to Jesus is someone whose life is overflowing with the Spirit of God.

John 7:37-39 On the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. 38 He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.” 39 But this He spoke concerning the Spirit, whom those believing in Him would receive; for the Holy Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.

John Records the Most Amazing Message of Salvation in John 8:11-47

13.    In John 8 we find what may be the high-point of Christ’s explanation of the “switches” God turns on inside true believers, the instant He saves them: A believer in the Gospel according to Jesus is someone who leaves their life of sin, believes in Jesus, dies sinless, holding Christ’s teachings, really following Christ, knowing truth, set free by truth, belonging to God, and hearing His voice. (John 8:11,24,30,31,32,44,47):

SAVED PEOPLE LEAVE THEIR LIFE OF SIN, v. 11 She said, “No one, Lord.” And Jesus said to her, “Neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more.”

SAVED PEOPLE BELIEVE IN JESUS, v. 24 Therefore I said to you that you will die in your sins; for if you do not believe that I am He, you will die in your sins.”

SAVED PEOPLE DIE SINLESS, v. 24 Therefore I said to you that you will die in your sins; for if you do not believe that I am He, you will die in your sins.”

SAVED PEOPLE PUT THEIR FAITH IN JESUS, v. 30 As He spoke these words, many believed in Him.

SAVED PEOPLE HOLD HIS TEACHING, v. 31 Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed.

SAVED PEOPLE REALLY ARE CHRIST’S DISCIPLES, v. 31 Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed.

SAVED PEOPLE KNOW THE TRUTH, v. 32 And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”

SAVED PEOPLE HAVE BEEN SET FREE, v. 32 And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”

SAVED PEOPLE BELONG TO GOD, AND HEAR GOD   v. 44,47 You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it. 47 He who is of God hears God’s words; therefore you do not hear, because you are not of God.”

Salvation is when we go from Sightlessness To Seeing Christ (John 9:35-41)

14.    In John 9: A believer in the Gospel according to Jesus is someone who worships Christ as their sight-giver.

John 9:35,38-39,41 Jesus heard that they had cast him out; and when He had found him, He said to him, “Do you believe in the Son of God?” 38 Then he said, “Lord, I believe!” And he worshiped Him. 39 And Jesus said, “For judgment I have come into this world, that those who do not see may see, and that those who see may be made blind.” 41 Jesus said to them, “If you were blind, you would have no sin; but now you say, ‘We see.’ Therefore your sin remains.

True Sheep Hear the Voice of Jesus Christ as Shepherd and Follow Him (John 10:1-14)

15.    In John 10: A believer in the Gospel according to Jesus is someone who hears and obeys Christ’s voice, and enters into an abundantly satisfied life of personally experiencing Christ (John 10:1,3,10,11,14).

A BELIEVER ENTERS THROUGH JESUS. John 10:1 “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door, but climbs up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber.

A BELIEVER HEARS CHRIST’S VOICE. John 10:3 To him the doorkeeper opens, and the sheep hear his voice; and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.

A BELIEVER HAS BEEN SAVED BY JESUS AND FINDS PASTURE. John 10:9 I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture.

A BELIEVER HAS AN ABUNDANT LIFE. John 10:10 The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.

A BELIEVER TRUSTS IN CHRIST’S LIFE LAID DOWN FOR THEIR SINS. John 10:11 “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep.

A BELIEVER IS KNOWN BY JESUS AND PERSONALLY KNOWS JESUS.  John 10:14 I am the good shepherd; and I know My sheep, and am known by My own.

The Four Gospels are For Christ’s Church

The Four Gospels, and their powerful presentations of Christ’s gospel messages, were written:

•    FOR Christ’s Church;
•    TO Christ’s Church; and
•    BY the Apostles of Christ’s Church.

The Four Gospels were each written after the birth of Christ’s Church in Acts 2.

The Four Gospels were written for those who were being saved and trained in Christ’s Church.

The Four Gospels were written during the very era when Paul and the Apostles were taking the Good News into all the world, and to every creature.

The Four Gospels should be the richest treasure trove to us in Christ’s Church; and we should be mining the very words of Christ, as He speaks to every heart, laden with sin.

The Gospels are so powerfully the voice to us the Church, of God the Son, the Savior of the world.