"Three Timeless Truths"
John 8:24
John 8:24 I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins.
Introduction: Someone has well said that John 8:24 is the Gospel in a nutshell. All of the greatest truths about the depravity of man and the divinity of our Lord are encapsulated within this one short verse. In it you have three of the greatest truths found anywhere in God's Word. In it you have the disobedience of man, the divinity of the Master, and the destiny of the miscreants. This morning I want to share those three great truths with you and my prayer is that we would have open hearts and minds to what God has for us. First John speaks of:
I. The Greatest Transgression "...for if ye believe not..."
What would you say is the greatest transgression? Everybody probably has their own idea about what that would be. A short list would look like this; murder, adultery, lying, theft, envy, covetousness etc. Did you know that there is one transgression that is greater than all others combined? I hope that I have your attention now because this is really important, to you, to me, to all of us. The greatest transgression of all is unbelief and I can prove it. First, it is the greatest transgression of all because:
a. It is the original transgression
(Gen 3:1) Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?
(Gen 3:2) And the woman said unto the serpent, We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden:
(Gen 3:3) But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die.
(Gen 3:4) And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die:
(Gen 3:5) For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.
(Gen 3:6) And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat.
(Gen 3:7) And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons.
b. It is the transgression we all have in common
(Isa 53:6) All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.
Rom 3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
Rom 5:12 Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:
c. It is the transgression that nailed Jesus to the Cross.
A GLIMPSE OF ME
In Mel Gibson's Movie, "The Passion of Christ" there is an obscure detail in the crucifixion scene that probably goes unnoticed by most people, but it is a detail that says so much.
When Jesus is being placed on the cross, the camera comes close to watch as a large spike is positioned in the middle of Jesus' hand. Then, a mallet comes into focus, and a rugged hand swings it to drive the spike. Those are all things you expect to see.
But there is something you don't see. You never see the face of the one who drives that nail. You never get a glimpse into the eyes, or heart of the one who so assuredly pounds away until the spike has passed through Jesus' flesh and comes to rest in the wood of the cross.
You might be interested to know that the person who plays that role in the movie is the director himself, Mel Gibson. But why does he never show the face of the one who put Jesus on the cross? Why does he not give us the identity of the one who had the gall to put the Son of God to death?
He didn't show us that face because that face was his. It was ours. We are the ones who put Jesus to death. It wasn't the Romans. It wasn't the Jews. It was our sin that nailed Jesus to the cross.
Colossians 2:13-14 says: "And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross." ESV
We need to remember Jesus' sacrifice--a sacrifice made for us--a sacrifice made for even the ones who drove the nails in his hands.
SOURCE: SermonCentral Staff. Citation: from the live interview of Mel Gibson at Saddleback Community Church, January, 2003.
UNBELIEF PUSHES HIM AWAY
Like the city where I grew up, Jesus' home town is close to a major highway. The only difference is that traffic moved a little slower in those times. Traders from all over the world passed by Nazareth. Did Jesus come into contact with them as a boy? Did He meet people of different nationalities and customs? He came into the world and it seems in those early years of His life the world came to Him, yet still they did not recognise Him, passing Him by, on route to other places to make money and a living. Not enough time to get to know Jesus for who He really was.
We are all capable of missing the point concerning Jesus. The world still passes by Jesus as wars, greed, poverty, terrorism and violence continue unabated. The Kingdom of God, the authority of Jesus, the answers for life are abandoned because of unbelief. UNBELIEF pushes Jesus away and refuses God's wisdom and power. Unbelief builds a levy bank that redirects the flood of God's blessings elsewhere and then complains of a drought. Sermon Central
II. The Greatest Truth "...that I am He..."
The I AM statements of Jesus
Who do you say Jesus is? Jesus asked this same question to his disciples about what others thought of him and then asked what they thought of him.
John.5:37: "And the Father himself, who sent me, has borne witness of me. You have neither heard his voice at any time, nor seen his shape. 'Jesus gives the source of his commission, which is from the Father personally. It is the Fathers voice and form they have not seen, yet Christ has.
Christ who is called the exact image of the invisible Father is the voice that the people heard. He then says ...that they search the Scriptures in them you think you have eternal life but they testify of me."(v.39) The Son is said to be the eternal life with the Father. Are we to believe the Scriptures testify of only a human being and not God himself? In the end of the discourse Jesus says in vs.46-47 "If you believed Moses you would believe Me; for he wrote about me. But if you don't believe his writings, how will you believe my words?"
When did Moses write of him? Deut.18:15-19: "The LORD your God will raise up for you a Prophet like me from your midst, from your brethren. Him you shall hear, "according to all you desired of the LORD your God in Horeb in the day of the assembly, saying, 'Let me not hear again the voice of the LORD my God, nor let me see this great fire anymore, lest I die.' "And the LORD said to me: 'What they have spoken is good. 'I will raise up for them a Prophet like you from among their brethren, and will put My words in His mouth, and He shall speak to them all that I command Him. 'And it shall be that whoever will not hear My words, which He speaks in My name, I will require it of him." Jesus claims to be the prophet Moses spoke of that should listen to. Notice that it says they did not want to hear the voice of the Lord anymore or see his glory in Horeb. Then God says he will put his words in a future prophets mouth if they do not listen to his words, God will require it of him." This very thing Jesus said of himself in:
Jn.8:24 "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."
John 6:51:"I am the living bread which came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever;"
John 8:23: And He said to them, "You are from beneath; I AM from above. You are of this world; I am not of this world.
John 8:12: Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, "I AM the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life."
John 8:58 Jesus said to them, "Most assuredly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I AM."
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."
John 10:11: "I AM the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep.
John 10:36: "do you say of Him whom the Father sanctified and sent into the world, 'You are blaspheming,' because I said, 'I am the Son of God'?
John 11:25: Jesus said to her, "I AM the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live.
John 14:6: Jesus said to him, "I AM the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.
John 15:1: "I AM the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser.
John 19:2: Therefore the chief priests of the Jews said to Pilate, "Do not write, 'The King of the Jews,' but, 'He said, "I am the King of the Jews."'"
Acts 7:32: Stephen speaking of Moses' encounter at the burning bush "saying, 'I am the God of your fathers-- the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.' And Moses trembled and dared not look."
Acts 9:5: And he said, "Who are You, Lord?" And the Lord said, "I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. It is hard for you to kick against the goads."
The I Am In the Old Testament was whatever man needed. Jesus in the New Testament uses all the examples to show who He is. He is everything to man and the only way to God.
The most important of all the statements is in John 8:24 after he tells them I am not of this world.
"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." ( he is not in the original). He is communicating to them he is the same I AM that Moses met at the burning bush which commissioned him.
Christ's Deity Was questioned many times in different ways, and many times it was affirmed by both God and man
The IF of Satan- IF Thou art the Son of God command that these stones be made bread" (Matt, 4- 3).
God's Testimony- This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased" (Matt. 3:17) Affirmed by God the Father.
The IF Of 'the Jews- 'IF You are the Christ, tell us plainly" (John 10: 24).
Christ's Testimony- v.25 Jesus answered them, "I told you, and you do not believe. The works that I do in My Father's name, they bear witness of Me."v.36"I am the Son of God.". Affirmed by Jesus
The IF of the Chief Priests- "If He is the King of Israel, let Him now come down from the cross, and we will believe Him." (Matt 27:42)
Nathanael's Testimony- "Thou art the Son of God, Thou art the King of Israel" (John 1: 16). Affirmed by a Jew with no guile. Luke 23:38 And an inscription also was written over Him in letters of Greek, Latin, and Hebrew: THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS
The IF of the passersby- 'IF Thou be the Son of God, come down from the cross" (Matt. 27: 40).
The Centurion's Testimony-Truly this was the Son of God" (Matt. 27: 54). Affirmed by a Roman witness
The IF of the Rulers- "Let Him save Himself IF He be the Christ, the chosen of God" (Luke 23: 35).
The Father- "If I honor Myself, My honor is nothing. It is My Father who honors Me, of whom you say that He is your God. John 8:54
The IF of the Pharisee- "This man, IF He were a prophet, would know who and what manner of woman this is who is touching Him, for she is a sinner."
Jesus' testimony- But Jesus did not commit Himself to them, because He knew all men, John 2:24
Luke 19:10"for the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost." Affirmed by Jesus
The IF of the high priest -"I put You under oath by the living God: Tell us if You are the Christ, the Son of God!" (Matt 26:63)
Jesus' Testimony- "It is as you said. Nevertheless, I say to you, hereafter you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Power, and coming on the clouds of heaven." Matt 26:64 affirmed by Jesus
The thief's testimony- Then he said to Jesus, "Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom." (Luke 23:42) Affirmed by a criminal put to death.
Why would Satan challenge on his being the Son of God if son only meant his humanity or being a child of God in the general sense like anyone else. It was an assault on His true person who He was before he came to earth. For one to claim specifically to be God's Son was to claim a unique relationship that no one else has. In Jn.5:18, the Jews wanted to kill him because He said God was his Father, making himself equal with God (in nature.) This meant a special relationship that excludes anyone else is able to have. In Jn.10:30 Jesus claimed "I and my Father are one." In V.33 the Jews pick up stones because they understood this as blasphemy in v.36 Jesus interprets what He meant by saying, "because I said, I am the Son of God."
4 TITLES of Son are used in the New Testament:
The Son of Adam- Means he is a man (Son of Man) within the lineage of humanity.
Son of David- Means Jesus is a King a descendent of David being an heir to his throne.
Son of Abraham- Means Jesus is of a Jewish descent.
Son of God --Means Jesus is God just as the Father is God. The phrase "Son of"- is used among the ancients to refer to one who has the same nature as...Son of God, means he has the same nature as God. He was called THE Son of God, being unique one of a kind.
I saw in the night visions, and behold, with the clouds of heaven there came one like a son of man, and he came to the Ancient of Days and was presented before him. And to him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve him; his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom one that shall not be destroyed. (Daniel 7:13--14)
III. The Greatest Tragedy "...ye shall die in your sins..."
Jesus says two things here that are vital. First, He says that you shall die. No one is going to get out of this world alive. I want you to do something this morning. Place your hand over your heart. Can you feel it beating? Or maybe you can feel your pulse either in your wrist or neck. One day they will feel for a pulse but there will be no pulse. One day a doctor will be called and he will place a stethoscope on your chest and there will be no heartbeat. Only silence. Do you believe that this morning? Second, and most important is the truth that if you die without Jesus as your Lord and Savior you will have "...died in your sins..." That is the greatest tragedy of all. You will be in hell and I believe that you will be able to see the Cross of Calvary and you will spend all eternity with the knowledge that you could have been saved but you chose to say no to Jesus who said yes to the Cross.
Conclusion: Centuries ago on the South Coast of China, high up on a hill overlooking the harbor of Macao, Portuguese settlers built an enormous cathedral.
They believed it would weather time, and they placed upon the front wall of this cathedral a massive bronze cross that stood high into the sky.
Not too many years later, a typhoon came and nature's finger work swept away man's handiwork. That entire cathedral was pushed down the hill and into the ocean as debris, except the front wall and that bronze cross that stood high.
Centuries later, there was a shipwreck out a little beyond that harbor. Some died but a few lived. One of the men that was hanging onto wreckage from the ship, moving up and down in the crest of the ocean as the swells were moving, was disoriented, frightened. He didn't know where land was. As he would come up on the swell, he'd spot that cross, tiny from that distance. His name was Sir John Bowring.
When he made it to land and lived to tell the story, he wrote this hymn:
In the cross of Christ I glory,
Towering o'er the wrecks of time;
All the light of sacred story
Gathers round its head sublime.
The last stanza says:
When the woes of life o'ertake me,
Hopes deceive, and fears annoy,
Never shall the cross forsake me:
Lo! It glows with peace and joy.
John Bowring is telling us that we have a cross, we have an altar. And when all of life seems to crush in on top of us, we need to go back to the Cross and remember the empty tomb. Call to mind the fact that a Man is neither on the cross nor in the tomb, but He lives. He stands ready and able to give us victory through whatever we are going through at the time.
Come by grace to the Cross and say, "That is my sufficiency. That is my only hope."
--Kenneth Osbeck, 101 Hymn Stories.
