Who Has Believed What He Has Heard From Us?

John 12:12-50

We know and all agree that sinners are saved by the grace of God through faith in Christ crucified, risen, and reigning. This is the truth that we build our lives on as Christians. But what is not so quickly agreed upon is where this faith comes from. My fear is that in fear of disagreement many Christians downplay this question as if it doesn’t matter too much. This morning I want to try to show you that it really does matter, and what we believe about the source of saving faith is literally life-shaping. So then, let’s ask ourselves the question: where does faith come from? This passage points us straight to the answer.

Tracking the movements of the people

A large crowd comes out to see Jesus

Because they heard of the raising of Lazarus

The Jewish leaders are disgusted

They hate the people’s attraction to Jesus

A group of Greeks seek Jesus

This causes Jesus to respond with His call

Many believed but yet did not confess Him

This type of superficial belief has been a theme in this book

John 5:44- How can you believe, when you receive glory from one another and do not seek the glory that comes from the only God?

Jesus’ call is impossibly hard

There is a reason that these people still do not believe

It is not because they are simply more dense than the rest of mankind

It is not because they are more sinful than the rest of mankind

It is not because they don’t believe that Jesus isn’t actually doing amazing miracles

Free will is not free

No natural person can respond in faith and obedience

The only thing we can choose in ourselves is sin and rebellion

Romans 3:10-11- as it is written: “None is righteous, no, not one; no one understands; no one seeks for God.

Romans 1:18-21- For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse. For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened.

Retrace John’s Gospel

John 1:5- The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

John 1:9-13- The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world. He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.

John 3:3- Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.”

John 3:18-20- Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God. And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil. For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed.

John 6:44- No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him. And I will raise him up on the last day.

John 8:47- Whoever is of God hears the words of God. The reason why you do not hear them is that you are not of God.”

John 9:39- Jesus said, “For judgment I came into this world, that those who do not see may see, and those who see may become blind.”

John 10:14-16- I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep. And I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd.

John 10:25-26- Jesus answered them, “I told you, and you do not believe. The works that I do in my Father's name bear witness about me, but you do not believe because you are not among my sheep.

An example from Jesus’ teaching

Rich young ruler

Matthew 19:16-26- Bible

Faith only comes through God’s free and sovereign grace

This means we only have one hope

God’s sovereign choice has to break through our deadness

Ephesians 1:3-6- Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love he predestined us[a] for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved.

Ephesians 2:4-5- But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved

John 3:6-8- That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You[d] must be born again.’ The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.”

If He doesn’t, we won’t believe

All who receive New Birth believe and are saved

Romans 8:29-30- For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.

He is always good and wise

He never does anyone any wrong

He always does what is most glorifying to Himself

Romans 9:14-23- Bible

Why does it matter?

This is a pride-killing truth

How can we be proud when it was all of grace?

This is a love-evoking truth

Love for God

Love for others

This is an evangelism-motivating truth

Knowing the power of God to save sinners and His wisdom in doing it is to most freeing motivation for sharing the Good News

This is a Christ-exalting truth

It reminds us that all things have been made for Christ’s glory and He does all things for His glory