You’ve Got the Time is taking 28 minutes a day to listen to the New Testament on mp3. You’ll cover the entire New Testament in just forty days. 28 minutes a day for forty days – it’s just that simple. You can pick up free mp3s at any of our exits as you leave today. Our entire church family began two Sundays ago, but you can catch up. This upcoming Saturday is the halfway mark. I’m preaching on selected Scriptures throughout the forty days as you listen.
As you quickly peruse John 8, you notice at first glance a lengthy dialogue where Jesus claims to be the Messiah. It’s a conversation with many layers. It’s a conversation that heats up quickly.
As he was saying these things, many believed in him.
31 So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, 32 and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” 33 They answered him, “We are offspring of Abraham and have never been enslaved to anyone. How is it that you say, ‘You will become free’?”
34 Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who practices sin is a slave to sin. 35 The slave does not remain in the house forever; the son remains forever. 36 So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. (John 8:30-36)
My goal for you today is to have a real, genuine faith. I have three questions today and along the way I want to tell you a story about the most famous scientist of the twentieth century, Albert Einstein.
1. Is Your Faith Real?
It looks as if Jesus is speaking of real disciples for verse 30 says that after Jesus spoke to the crowd, “many believed in him.” Evidently, because of Jesus’ teaching, many people were attracted to Him. Yet, Jesus does not treat their belief in Him as genuine. For their faith oscillates between hero worship and massive discontentment.
Did you see and hear the word “truly” in verse 31? “So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, ‘If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples…’” (John 8:31) This word “truly” means really – “you are really my disciples.”
Later on, these same believers are described as:
• slaves to sin (John 8:34);
• indifferent to Jesus’ words (John 8:37);
• children of the devil (John 8:44);
• liars (John 8:55);
• and people who attempt to kill Jesus by stoning Him (John 8:59).
If all those descriptions are not telling enough, Jesus’ opinion of their faith is stated matter-of-factly later on in their conversation: “But because I tell the truth, you do not believe me.” (John 8:45)
Jesus suggests there are not two kinds of people in the world: disciples of Christ and non-disciples… But three kinds of people: non-Christians, there are real Christians, and there are fake Christians.
Don’t assume all belief in Jesus is real for not all belief in Christ is real. Is your faith real? Or are you a phony? It's not a good thing if you never question whether you are a Christian. Every once and awhile, check the validity of your faith. “Therefore, brothers, be all the more diligent to confirm your calling and election, for if you practice these qualities you will never fall. 11 For in this way there will be richly provided for you an entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.” (2 Peter 1:10-11)
If your faith were a ship, you would check to see if the hull was seaworthy before taking off into the ocean. So Jesus wants you to check your faith. Satan wants the counterfeit Christian to go to his grave with the confidence He is saved. Now, any Christian who incessantly questions their experience with Christ finds no traction to confidently witness, pray, or live the Bible. Yet, Jesus doesn’t assume that all belief is real. Do you want a real faith? Jesus gives us a test that we can use to test whether our faith is real.
2. What are the Marks of Real Faith?
There is a genuine faith that rules a man’s house and runs his business. And Jesus gives us a short checklist of three items of real faith. Before I launch into these three marks of real faith, let me say a word about small faith.
Jesus takes notice of even the smallest amount of real faith. “…when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?” (Luke 18:8b) Certainly, He can find it if anyone can. For He has remarkable eyes to see all. Out of weak and imperfect faith, Jesus recognizes that something greater might arise from it.
Though you have an insufficient faith right now, Jesus watches over it in hopes that your “thread” of faith turns in to a “rope.” And while God deserves the highest form of faith, your faith can grow from its small embers. Many of you will join the father in Mark 9 who said: “I believe; help my unbelief!” (Mark 9:24b) So don’t disparage if your faith is small for it can grow by hearing the Word (Romans 10:17).
Now, let’s turn our attention to three marks of real faith.
2.1 The Bible
The first mark of a real faith is found in verse 31: “So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, ‘If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples…’” (John 8:31) Jesus attaches a condition for all those who wish to follow Him – you must stay in the pages of the Bible. And the pages of the Bible must stay in you. “My word” is the sum total of all that Jesus taught.
Later on in John, you’ll read these words: “If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. 8 By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples.” (John 15:7-8)
If you stay in the pages of the Bible, you will prove to be a Disciple of Christ. Your time in God’s Word is evidence of a real faith. Stay in God’s Word as you would a lifeboat. Once you are in the lifeboat, stay inside it. Don’t get out of the lifeboat to ride the storms of doubt.
The kind of Bible study that marks a real follower of Christ is not informational, but transformational. Transformational Bible study does not simply know facts and info about the Bible (though that’s a start)… but Transformational Bible study is having the Word live inside of you. The Word transforms your character.
The Bible isn’t optional for Christ-followers. If you wish to be a certified disciple, then stay in His Word.
There are not two kinds of people in the world but three kinds of people: non-Christians, there are real Christians, and there are fake Christians. And the first mark of those with real, genuine faith is staying in Christ’s Word.
2.2 Staying Power
The second mark of a real faith is staying power and it is also found in verse 31: “So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, ‘If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples…’” (John 8:31)
It is easy enough to be superficially attracted to Jesus, but the test is continuing with Jesus. Real faith is life-long act.
Albert Einstein’s fingerprints are all over today’s technologies. Photoelectric cells and lasers, nuclear power and fiber optics, space travel, and even semi-conductors all trace back to Einstein’s theories. It was Einstein who warned then-President Franklin Delano Roosevelt via the letter that building an atom bomb may be possible.
When the famous scientist Albert Einstein was but nine years of age, he developed a passionate zeal for Judaism. His parents, Jewish by race, were largely secular. So when Einstein decided to eat no pork, keep kosher dietary laws, and observe the Sabbath, it was difficult on the entire family. Einstein’s fervency even caused him to compose his own hymns, which he sang to himself as he walked home from school.
Yet, his religious enthusiasm did not last. Just as other boys his age were preparing for their bar mitzvah, Einstein’s exposure to the science produced an aversion to religion at the young age of twelve. His friend, Phillip Frank, later noted, “There arose in Einstein an aversion to the orthodox practice of the Jewish or any traditional religion, as well as to attendance at religious services, and this he never lost.” And while even Einstein’s early religious enthusiasm was not based on Jesus, it serves to illustrate temporary faith.
Again, real faith is a life-long act. The shout of “I believe” is too often over when the excitement is over. A key ingredient to your faith is staying power.
The keyword is the word “abide” in verse 31: “So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, ‘If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples…’” (John 8:31)
I am not a fan of the word “abide” as I never use it in everyday language. The original word behind the English word means, “to stay in one place.” Your faith in Christ “stays” on Jesus. Your faith doesn’t float around; it stays for a lifetime.
Continuing is the surest test of a genuine believer. And remaining makes you a disciple.
Your faith is real when it holds tight to Jesus. Your faith is real when it perseveres through difficulty and continues to hold tight to Jesus. You are not a follower of Christ if you follow Jesus only for a season. It is only those who continue who are genuine disciples.
“and you will be hated by all for my name's sake. But the one who endures to the end will be saved.” (Matthew 10:22)
Staying Power is where the heart leans with all of its weight on Christ. Real faith rests on God’s Word and real faith has staying power.
There are not two kinds of people in the world but three kinds of people: non-Christians, there are real Christians, and there are fake Christians. And the second mark of those with real, genuine faith is staying power.
2.3 Jesus
The third mark of genuine faith is to see if your faith rests on Jesus.
“and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” 33 They answered him, “We are offspring of Abraham and have never been enslaved to anyone. How is it that you say, ‘You will become free’?”
34 Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who practices sin is a slave to sin. 35 The slave does not remain in the house forever; the son remains forever. 36 So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. (John 8:32-36)
The “truth” is a synonym for Jesus in verse 32. You spell this Truth with a capital “T.” Knowing the truth will set you free. Knowing Christ will set you free.
The third mark of you real faith is asking, “Does my faith rest on Jesus Himself?”
If faith is a rope then the rope must be tied to Jesus. For only the Son can set you free. Jesus speaks of two kinds of people in verse 35: slaves and sons. He wants you to see a difference between the two. A son doesn’t stay in the family house forever but a son does. A slave can be sold or given away. But a son can never be given away or sold. The genuine Son is Jesus Himself. Because He has an intimate relationship with His Father, He has the authority to forgive sinners.
The reason why all religions don’t lead to God (Jesus is speaking to Jews here but it could apply to anyone) is that only the Son has the authority to forgive sins. Only He can set you free. The words in verse 32, “the truth will set you free” are another way of saying, “The Son will set you free.” If your faith is a thread, then secure it tightly to Christ’s death.
There are not two kinds of people in the world but three kinds of people: non-Christians, there are real Christians, and there are fake Christians.
3. What are the Benefits of Real Faith?
3.1 A Certified Faith
Let’s look back in verse 31 again: “So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, ‘If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples…’” (John 8:31)
You can truly know you are a real follower of Christ. You can know for certain if you love Christ and will spend an eternity with Him. One of the benefits of knowing if your faith is real is you’ll have confidence in your faith. You no longer have to guess at the truth… You do not have to think on a sliding scale of probability… Instead, you can know the truth.
This same John would later write about this confidence: “I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God that you may know that you have eternal life.” (1 John 5:12)
The first benefit is a certified faith. You will not have to live life with uncertainty. You will not have to die with the uncertainty of your eternity.
3.2 A Faith that Frees
“So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.” (John 8:36)
The reason you need freedom is not because of political tyranny. You are not citizens of Iraq looking for freedom from a political tyrant. Instead, your tyranny is of a different kind.
“Jesus answered them, ‘Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who practices sin is a slave to sin.’” (John 8:34)
Earlier, Jesus had issued a death threat: “I told you that you would die in your sins, for unless you believe that I am he you will die in your sins.” (John 8:24)
The reason Jesus brings up the subject of freedom is that the tyranny of death looms. The ultimate bondage is not enslavement to a political or economic system but slavery to moral failure. This is slavery to shameful self-centeredness.
Don’t be offended by this text if you are Jewish. It’s not just Jewish people who are given a death threat but everyone. Buddhists, Muslims, Hindus, spiritual none’s, homosexuals, Baptists, materialists, Catholics. You will ALL die in your sins. Even if you feel spiritually confident in something other than Jesus. A sincere belief in Christ leads to emancipation. The question is: Are you safe without Jesus?
There are not two kinds of people in the world but three kinds of people: non-Christians, there are real Christians, and there are fake Christians.
Don’t assume all belief in Jesus is real for not all belief in Christ is real. Is your faith real? Or are you a phony? Are you authentic or inauthentic?
