John Series Part 18 The Subject Of Sin John 4: 15-18 Series

The Subject of Sin, John 4:15–18

(4:15–18) Introduction: Jesus promised the living water of spiritual rebirth. However, something had to be discussed before spiritual rebirth could be given: the subject of sin.

1. There was the request for living water (v.15).

2. There was the first essential: facing the truth, the fact of sin (vv.16–18).

1 (4:15) Water, Living—Satisfaction—Fulfillment—Purpose—Emptiness—Dissatisfaction: there was the request for living water. Jesus had just made a profound claim.

“But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life” (Jn. 4:14).

The woman wanted such water. She asked for it, but note the reasons why:

? That I thirst not (physical thirst).

? That I will not have to come and draw water every day.

The woman may have been jesting with Jesus; some commentators think she was. They hold that she certainly knew this man (Jesus) did not have a well of water from which she could drink and never thirst again, water that would cause her to live forever, never having to die. She thought that Jesus was jesting with her, so she played along, humoring Him. Others think she was sincere and just did not understand, but whatever the man’s magical waters were, she wanted a drink.

Whatever the case may be, the woman was thinking in terms of the physical world, only of the physical benefits. She had grasped nothing of the spiritual meaning, nothing of the inner satisfaction that Jesus could give which would quench all the thirst of a person’s heart.

Thought 1. Note two facts.

(1) Man does thirst, but his thirst is much deeper than physical thirst. Man has an inner, spiritual thirst.

(2) Christ alone can satisfy man’s thirst. If a man drinks of the water Christ gives, he is infused with purpose, meaning, significance, energy, and motivation. Once a man drinks of Christ, he does not mind drawing water; that is, he does not mind work and labor. In fact, the water of Christ stirs him to work and serve, helping mankind in every way possible. He wants to help and to share the wonderful news of a saving God, a God who can save from the thirst of …

• emptiness

• loneliness

• lostness

• despair

• hopelessness

2 (4:16–18) Sin, Exposed—Repentance: there was the first essential of facing the truth, the fact of sin. The woman had requested living water, but before she could be given the living water of spiritual rebirth, she had to be convicted of her sin and renounce it. Note four things.

a. Jesus stirred conviction and the confession of sin. Why was this necessary? Why did the woman have to face the truth of her sin before she could be spiritually reborn? There are two reasons.

1) She was weary and heavy laden, and it was caused by sin. She had to know this in order to seek the cure. Sin had to be removed and renounced, forgiven and cleansed before true rest and true relief could come. Once she was freed from sin, rest and relief would come. She would no longer be weary and heavy laden under the load of sin and irresponsibility, guilt and shame. She would be set free and given a life of spiritual rest and security.

2) She had the symptoms of disease and did not know what the disease was; therefore, she was unable to cure her disease. She needed deliverance and did not know how to be delivered. The woman’s disease was the same as the disease of all men: sin. Sin had to be renounced before the living water of spiritual rebirth could be given.

“Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls” (Js. 1:21).

“Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city” (Re. 22:14).

“Now therefore make confession unto the LORD God of your fathers, and do his pleasure: and separate yourselves from the people of the land, and from the strange wives” (Ezra 10:11).

b. Jesus accepted no evasion. Note how the woman tried to evade the fact of her sin. She told the truth; she did not have a husband, but she was living with a man just as she would live with a husband.

Thought 1. The point is clear: the sinner cannot evade his sin. He has to face it and renounce it if he wishes the living water of spiritual rebirth.

“He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy” (Pr. 28:13).