John 20:19-31
Life in His Name
Imagine being there the day Jesus rose from the dead. Imagine being a disciple of Jesus and hearing about it for the first time. What must have gone on in the minds of those who first witnessed the resurrected Lord, Jesus Christ?
John’s gospel gives us two scenarios in chapter 20. The first one, (verses 1-18) we covered in the auditorium class where Mary Magdalene met Jesus at the tomb. The second scenario, is our reading for this morning’s lesson where “doubting” Thomas comes face to face with the unbelievable reality of the risen Lord.
Both of these stories (and, in fact, the entire gospel) are recorded by John for a twofold purpose: these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.
What does God really want for you and me?
How does he bring us into a saving faith for eternal life in Jesus Christ?
Somewhere, somehow, we must confront the crucified, buried and risen Jesus Christ so that who he is and what he has done for us is real to us by faith. So real, in fact, that our lives are formed and shaped by following him and striving to become like him. Christianity is founded here. More than living a good life. More than loyalty to church. More than performing the worship according to the pattern of scripture. Christianity is a saving experience of believing that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing we may have life in his name. The name that is above all names.
Life in his name... let’s look at that here for our lesson this morning.
What does this mean: that you may have life in his name?
What is this life; when does this life begin? Are we talking about a life that starts when this life ends or are we talking about a life that starts now and continues after this life is over?
What is this life in Jesus’ name?
To answer these questions, we need merely look at what the New Testament says about life in Jesus Christ. And, believe me, it is all over the place.
First: Life in Jesus Christ is eternal life, everlasting life.
John uses the words eternal life more than any other gospel and they are inevitably connected to saving, obedient faith in Jesus.
1.John 3:15 so that whoever believes will in Him have eternal life.
2.John 3:16 "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.
3.John 3:36 "He who believes in the Son has eternal life; but he who does not obey the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him."
4.John 5:24
"Truly, truly, I say to you, he who hears My word, and believes Him who sent Me, has eternal life, and does not come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life.
5.John 6:27
"Do not work for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you, for on Him the Father, God, has set His seal."
6.John 6:40
"For this is the will of My Father, that everyone who beholds the Son and believes in Him will have eternal life, and I Myself will raise him up on the last day."
7.John 6:47
"Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes has eternal life.
I could go on, but I think you get the point.
What do you know that is going to last forever? God’s word warns us to fix our eyes on Jesus and set our minds on things above where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Why? God wants us to have eternal life, not a temporary one here and then eternal death. Jesus Christ is our life! Everything else in this world that is not his is death. John wrote later: 1 John 2:15 Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For everything in the world— the cravings of the flesh, the lust of his eyes and the boastful pride of life— comes not from the Father but from the world. 17 The world and its desires pass away, but the man who does the will of God lives for ever.
How long is forever?
Did you hear about the man and woman who had been friends for many years, who had died and gone to heaven. They told St. Peter that they wanted to be married.
“Take your time and think about it,” said Peter, “you have eternity so take fifty years and see me then.”
Fifty years later, the couple returned and again told Peter they wanted to be married. “Well,” said Peter, “take another fifty years and really think about it….” But the couple was insistent, “We know we want to be married now….”
Peter replied, “Well, take another fifty years anyway, and if we don’t have a preacher up here by then, I’ll marry you myself.”
The Lord reigns at the right hand of the Father and his kingdom endures forever!
Second: When does life in Christ begin?
Life in Christ is something that begins when one becomes a child of God. In fact, to have life forever in glory you must start by having it here. Jesus came here to give us life. He is the way, the truth and the life! Without Jesus Christ we are all doomed to eternal punishment. Our sins have killed us. The Bible says that outside of Jesus Christ we are DEAD IN OUR TRESPASSES AND SINS. Eph. 2:1-2. Unless the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ is applied to you and me, unless his blood cleanses us from our sins, we remain dead in sin and headed for eternal death in hell. There is no hope in this world without Christ. None! Not a shread. Listen again to God’s word to those who do not have life in Christ:
Eph. 2:12 remember that you were at that time separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in this world. 13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. 14 For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility
How does the Bible here describe our condition if we do not have life in Christ; what words does it use? Separated, alienated, strangers, without hope, without God. We could spend a lot of time here looking at how bad it is NOT to have life in Christ. It is tempting to take you through the gamete of horrors that the Bible says awaits those who squander their time on earth and do not follow Jesus Christ... It would take a l o n g time. Let me just give us three passages and move on. (Read the following).
2 Thessalonians 1:5-10
Hebrews 10:28-31
Revelation 20:11-15
God’s word speaks for God. Either we believe these words to be true or we don’t. Life in Christ depends on whether we believe on the Lord and accept his word or not. Do you believe Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God? That is the first step toward life in Christ and adoption into God’s family!
Is there more? Yes. There is. The gospels reveal that the demons also believe, but they are not saved. God doesn’t save anyone who will not follow his Son. Eternal life in Jesus Christ is not for those who say they believe but do not obey. Putting it positively: All who have life in Christ believe AND follow him!
Saving faith moves us to obedience and love of God. Jesus calls us to be disciples, followers, who give our lives to Him who gave his life for us. The belief that leads to life in Christ where we become children of God is described throughout the New Testament. But for starters lets look in Galatians 3:24-25.
This is exactly what Jesus was talking about when he commissioned the Apostles to go make disciples in Matthew 28:19-20.
Paul describes when we are given newness of life in Christ in Romans 6:3-11
Life in Christ is something that begins when we become children of God.
Third (and last) What does life in Christ look like?
Simply put: It looks like someone who is becoming more and more like Jesus Christ!
Look at and read with me: 1 John 3:1-3. Eph. 5:1-2, Phil 2:5, 3:10-14, Col. 3:1-4.
Ok! Now for the conclusion.
Do you have this life in his name today? Are you dead in your sins or alive in Christ Jesus? What does your life look like? Will it last forever in glory with Christ? If not, don’t leave here today until you are ready to live forever. God paid for your new life in Jesus Christ by giving Jesus to take death from you and impart life to you. It’s free, but you can’t have it and your sinful life at the same time. One of them is yours forever. Which will it be?
