The Truth about the Son of God

John 5:18-29

We saw two weeks ago that Jesus is the long awaited Messiah, but he is also very lovingly interested in our lives.

Then last week we saw that He is the Savior that opens the door for us to be born again.

Today we want to see that this Jesus was not just a good man.

He was not just a wise teacher.

He is the very Son of God.

He is God himself in human flesh.

C.S. Lewis said, "A man who was merely a man and said the sort of things Jesus said would not be a great moral teacher. He would either be a lunatic--on the level with a man who says he is a poached egg--or he would be the devil of hell. You must take your choice. Either this was, and is, the Son of God, or else a madman or something worse. You can shut him up for a fool or you can fall at his feet and call him Lord and God. But let us not come with any patronizing nonsense about his being a great human teacher. He has not left that open to us.”

Here in this passage, Jesus made some bold claims.

In fact verse 18 tells us

18 Therefore the Jews sought the more to kill him, because he not only had broken the sabbath, but said also that God was his Father, making himself equal with God.

I love that Jesus never answered the question whether he was God’s Son or not, he just continued as a fact - he is the Son of God.

But here in this passage, we again have three times that Jesus said: Verily, Verily - or Truth, Truth - or Amen, Amen

Each time he reveals something about Himself that is Truth.

And we need to pay close attention to these truths, and not let this world, or the devil tempt us to bend on these facts!

He is the Son of God, and as such He is ...

I. The Obedient Son

Jesus is our perfect example of obedience to the Father.

Here in these first verses we see that authority Jesus had was given to Him by the Father.

19 Then answered Jesus and said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do: for what things soever he doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise.

20 For the Father loveth the Son, and sheweth him all things that himself doeth: and he will shew him greater works than these, that ye may marvel.

21 For as the Father raiseth up the dead, and quickeneth them; even so the Son quickeneth whom he will.

22 For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son:

23 That all men should honour the Son, even as they honour the Father. He that honoureth not the Son honoureth not the Father which hath sent him.

A. Father’s Example

There is a picture, an illustration, that just as a father does things and his son watches and learns…so it is with Jesus and the Father

Jesus said, the Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do.

Jesus emphasizes the authority that God the Father has given him here.

He follows the Father’s example of justice, love and power.

B. Father’s Enablement

Secondly we see that Jesus’ power comes from God.

For as the Father raiseth up the dad, and quickeneth them; even so the Son quickeneth whom he will.

Jesus was justifying himself to the Jews who wanted to kill him because He healed on the Sabbath.

But his justification is, This enablement, this power comes from God, and the authority to choose whom and how I heal is given to me by the Father.

The Son quickeneth whom he will.

Being the very Son of God carried with it power and authority endued to Him by the Father.

By the way we would do well to yield to that authority ourselves!

Jesus has every right to be the authority in our lives!

He made us and he bought us on Calvary!

But not only did God give him the power and authority, along with that we see the ...

C. Father’s Elevating

22 For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son:

23 That all men should honour the Son, even as they honour the Father. He that honoureth not the Son honoureth not the Father which hath sent him.

God the Father gave the authority to judge to the Son.

Verse 23 tells us that the Father has elevated Jesus to a place of honor.

If you don’t honor the Son, you don’t honor the Father.

A while back I was a coordinator for a Regional Student Convention for ACE (Accelerated Christian Education). As the Coordinator that was hired by the company to run the convention, I carried the authority that was endowed to me. I could make any decision or judgment that I needed to make within the authority that was given to me.

My authority carried with it the authority of those that were over me. And as such I was able to enforce various rules and procedures. From time to time someone would give me some form of praise regarding the convention. Truthfully, in honoring me, they were honoring those above me because I just carried out their wishes.

Today Christians are called the Ambassadors of Christ.

2 Corinthians 5:20 KJV

20 Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God.

We have been sent forth, like Jesus, with authority representing the Father.

We need to be like Jesus, and be obedient to the Father.

So he was an obedient son, following the Father's Example, Enabled by the Father, and even elevated by the Father.

Secondly, as the Son of God, he is...

II. The Life Giver

24 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.

Verse 24 is a great verse!

Again Jesus says Verily, verily - This is the Truth!

If you hear my word, and believe you will have everlasting life!

Who shall have this eternal life?

A. He that Heareth

He that heareth my word...

The first requirement for eternal life is to hear!

This word here for hearing is not just letting it go in your ear hole.

It is actively listen and obey.

By the way if this is the first step to eternal life for those that live in our community, we need to spread the Good News!

Paul kind of walks salvation backwards in...

Romans 10:14–15 KJV

14 How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? 15 And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!

People can’t believe without hearing…people can’t hear without a preacher… people can’t preach unless they go!

this word translated preacher here speaks not to a pastor in a pulpit, but to everyone who is called on to proclaim the gospel.

So who will have eternal life?

He that Heareth...

B. He that Believeth

…and believeth on him that sent me...

He is saying here - you have to believe that God sent me!

These Jews were angry at Him because He dared to claim to be the Son of God.

Jesus’ response is - you better believe that I am the Son of God, and you better believe that the Father sent me, or eternal life is not yours!

John 14:6 KJV

6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

It’s not enough to just hear the truth - you have to believe the truth!

So who is he that will have eternal life?

He that Heareth

He that Believeth, and...

C. He that Receiveth

…hath everlasting life…but is passed from death to life.

Once the person has heard the Truth, and believed the truth, life is given to them.

They are passed from death unto life.

Have you heard the good news today?

Yes, we are all sinners,

Yes, there is a penalty for that sin…separation from God in Hell.

But the good news is that even the penalty is high, God’s grace is even higher!

Romans 6:23 KJV

23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Have you accepted Christ, his death, his burial and His Resurrection?

Have you accepted His offer as payment for our sin?

You need to hear the good news, you need to believe the good news and you need to receive the good news!

Jesus is our perfect example of being the Obedient Son…and praise the Lord He is the giver of life!

Then in verses 24-29, we see the third Verily, Verily…we see that He is...

III. The Righteous Judge

Building on verse 24...

John 5:24–29 (KJV)

24 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.

25 Verily, verily, I say unto you, The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live.

26 For as the Father hath life in himself; so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself;

27 And hath given him authority to execute judgment also, because he is the Son of man.

28 Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice,

29 And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.

As the Righteous Judge given the authority by God the Father to judge the world, we see in love, He first of all...

A. Brings Spiritual Resurrection

In verses 24-25 we see...

1. The Person

The person of that is responsible for this Spiritual Resurrection.

24 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.

25 Verily, verily, I say unto you, The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live.

If you have Jesus you have life!

If you have Jesus - the Son of God you shall live!

Jesus then again tells them where the power is coming from...

2. The Power

26 For as the Father hath life in himself; so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself;

27 And hath given him authority to execute judgment also, because he is the Son of man.

God is life- the Father hath life in himself.

And so He gave that life to the Son, in himself...

With that life, the Father gave him the authority, the power.

These Jews were accusing him of blasphemy, but Jesus said…you don’t understand who sent me!

And without me, there is no life!

This Spiritual Resurrection that he brings needs to come, because when sin entered the world, death came along with it.

Romans 5:12 KJV

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:

First Spiritual Death, and then Physical Death.

But Christ’s coming, and His death on the cross brings with it Spiritual Resurrection.

For the first time we are alive again in Christ.

But that’s not all…Jesus as the Righteous Judge also...

B. Brings Physical Resurrection

28 Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice,

29 And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.

Because of what Christ did for us on the cross, we not only have Spiritual Resurrection now, but we have the promise of a Physical Resurrection one day!

Death still comes, but we have the promise of Resurrection!

Back in verse 25, he said...”The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live.”

This is not a cross my fingers and hope…we see first all this is...

1. A Certain Someday

The hour is coming

is coming is in the indicative mood - it is certain!

We don’t have to wonder, no the Son of God himself said it!

The hour is coming!

Secondly we see

2. A Complete Showing

in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice.

All - in the Greek that word all means ALL

Every one is going to show up at the throne of Judgment.

Whether at the Great White Throne Judgement, or at the Judgment Seat of Christ, all will appear before the judge!

2 Corinthians 5:10 KJV

10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.

This will be a complete showing!

Thirdly we see that there is ...

3. A Coming Sentence

29 And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.

Those that have done good - not a scale of how more good…it says have done good - the only way anyone can fall into this category is if Jesus’ righteousness is placed on our account.

Those who have done evil - not more bad than good - even our righteousness is as filthy rags…No If your sin is still on your account…you will experience resurrection, but a resurrection of damnation.

Are you prepared for the coming judgment?

When we accept Jesus Christ as our Savior, we are claiming his death on the cross as what it was, the payment for our sin.

When we do this, all of our sin is placed on Jesus life account.

But He also takes all of His righteousness and places it on our account.

What will your life statement say on the day of judgment?

This is the truth!

There is no your truth or my truth!

There is only Jesus!

What will you do with Him today?

Do you already know Him as your savior?

Good - follow His example - be God’s obedient child!

Be the ambassador that can take the life that Jesus gives to those around us!

Be aware that we will stand before him and give an account for all that we have done, whether good or bad!