How To Judge Correctly Series

JOHN 5: 25-32

HOW TO JUDGE CORRECTLY

1 Corinthians 15:42-44 / Ezekiel 37: 1- ]

Jesus has just given our old adage, "like father like son" new meaning. Jesus, like the Father, has the authority to execute judgment and to give life. A life centered on Jesus’ and His Word will judge correctly and do right and will be resurrected to life. A life centered on any thing else will judge wrong and do evil and be resurrected to judgment. Our passage teaches two resurrections, a resurrection to life and a resurrection to judgment.

The passage also teaches us how to judge correctly, how to know the will of God in a certain situation. We are to learn correct judgment by becoming like the One who will judge everyone on the final day of judgement. We judge correctly only when we take our self out of the equation seek the will of God.

I read about a woman who was terminally ill. She only had 3 months to live. So she called her pastor. He came over to discuss her final wishes with her. After they had planned the funeral service, she said, "There is just one more thing. I want to be buried with a fork in my right hand." The pastor looked at the woman speechless. The woman said, "That surprises you, doesn’t it?" The pastor said, "Well, I have to admit that it

sounds a little weird."

The woman explained, "In all my years of attending church socials, banquets, and potlucks, I always remembered that when the main course dishes were being cleared, someone would always lean over and say, "Keep your fork." It was my favorite part of the meal because I knew that something better was coming. Like chocolate cake. Or ice cream. Or deep dish apple pie. Something wonderful. So I just want people to see me there in that casket with the fork in my hand, and I want them to wonder, ’What’s with the fork?’ Then I want you to tell them, "Keep your fork, the best is yet to come."

The pastor’s eyes welled up with tears of joy as he hugged the woman good-bye. He knew this would be one of the last times he would see her before her death. But he also knew that the woman had a good grasp of eternity. She KNEW that something better was coming. The resurrection reminds us that something better is coming.

I. HEAR & LIVE, 25-26.

II. LIFE & DEATH, 27-29.

III. TRUE TESTIMONY, 30-32.

Jesus tells us in verse 25 that a new day has dawned. "Truly, truly, I say to you, an hour is coming and now is, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live.

Jesus proclaims a solemn promise and pledge here. For those who put their trust in the Word which Christ speaks a new day, a day of resurrection life, dawns. Apart from Him who is alone the light and life of men, we are spiritually dead. Those who hear the word of Christ and accept Him now have spiritual and eternal life in Him (Isa. 55:3), but a time is coming when the all the physically dead will be caused to hear the voice of the Son of God and will live (Ezekiel 37:4). Jesus’ life-giving power can call a person out of the grave (11:43), everyone from their tombs (5:28-29), or anyone in spiritual death to eternal life

Jesus continues His claim for equality with the Father in verse 26. "For just as the Father has life in Himself, even so He gave to the Son also to have life in Himself;

God is the source of life. He is the Creator of life and the sustainer of life. Apart from God there is no true life either here or hereafter. Physical life and eternal life are a gift from Him (Job 10:12; 33:4). The OT proclaims that He breathe life into men (Gen. 2:7). All life receives its origins from God, all except God Himself. God is self-existent. God alone has no beginning, is uncreated, possessing inherently life in Himself. All other life is derived from Him. [The Jews would agree.]

Because Jesus is uncreated and eternally co-existent as God, He too is self-existent. This is a startling claim. Jesus claims deity by saying He is not dependent on another for life, not even the Father. Like the Father Jesus possesses inherent life[, the power to create and the power to renew life that has died.] Everything depends on who Jesus really is.

II. LIFE & DEATH, 27-29.

Jesus states the extent of His authority in verse 27. and He gave Him authority to execute judgment, because He is the Son of Man.