Living in Denial

Let us go straight into scripture:

John 8:28–32 NKJV

28 Then Jesus said to them, “When you lift up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am He, and that I do nothing of Myself; but as My Father taught Me, I speak these things. 29 And He who sent Me is with Me. The Father has not left Me alone, for I always do those things that please Him.” 30 As He spoke these words, many believed in Him. 31 Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. 32 And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”

What a wonderful testamony of many Jews beleving in the Messiah.

Let go to:

John 10:22–26 NKJV

22 Now it was the Feast of Dedication in Jerusalem, and it was winter. 23 And Jesus walked in the temple, in Solomon’s porch. 24 Then the Jews surrounded Him and said to Him, “How long do You keep us in doubt? If You are the Christ, tell us plainly.” 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. 26 But you do not believe, because you are not of My sheep, as I said to you.

What a sad testamony of Jews who did not believe in the Messiah.

What is the difference between these 2 Jews?

Why did some believe and others not?

Jesus tells us:

John 8:45–47 NKJV

45 But because I tell the truth, you do not believe Me. 46 Which of you convicts Me of sin? And if I tell the truth, why do you not believe Me? 47 He who is of God hears God’s words; therefore you do not hear, because you are not of God.”

So:

Those who believe are “of God”.

Those who do not believe are “not of God”.

What does that even mean?

Can a person who does not believe - therefore a person who is not of God : Can they come to believe and therefore become “of God?”.

Well yes.

The bible makes it very clear that Jesus brothers did not believe:

John 7:1–5 NKJV

1 After these things Jesus walked in Galilee; for He did not want to walk in Judea, because the Jews sought to kill Him. 2 Now the Jews’ Feast of Tabernacles was at hand. 3 His brothers therefore said to Him, “Depart from here and go into Judea, that Your disciples also may see the works that You are doing. 4 For no one does anything in secret while he himself seeks to be known openly. If You do these things, show Yourself to the world.” 5 For even His brothers did not believe in Him.

So His brothers, including James did not believe and according to Jesus that was because they were not of God.

However, in time they did believe, James in particular became a leader in the early Church.

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So what changed? Why did some believe and others deny?

Lets talk about what it means to deny.

The Greek word is Apar-neo-mai.

Its a compound word of 2 other words:

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Denial is a 2 step process.

1: The Negation of the actual.

To deny something means you have to negate (dismiss) what is being stated.

“My Pulpit is blue”

1: Negation: “No it is not.”

Then there is the second step:

2: The assertion of the contrary.

Biblical denial is not just saying what something is not, it is also the assertion of what that something is.

“My pulpit is blue”

1: Negation: No it is not.

2: Assertion: It is Yellow.

Now immediately there is an elephant in the room.

Where on earth did the idea that its yellow come from?

Is it yellow?

No. So the idea that it is yellow must therefore be a lie.

Ok Key!!!

So long as the lie that it is yellow is believed, the truth that it is blue will always be denied.

Where did the lie come from?

The same place all lies come from:

John 8:42–45 NKJV

42 Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love Me, for I proceeded forth and came from God; nor have I come of Myself, but He sent Me. 43 Why do you not understand My speech? Because you are not able to listen to My word. 44 You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it. 45 But because I tell the truth, you do not believe Me.

So lets get back to our question:

Why do some accept Jesus and other deny Jesus?

Those who deny Him do so because of a lie they believe which makes them deny the truth.

Do we know this to be true from scripture?

Yes!

John 8:30–33 NKJV

30 As He spoke these words, many believed in Him. 31 Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. 32 And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” 33 They answered Him, “We are Abraham’s descendants, and have never been in bondage to anyone. How can You say, ‘You will be made free’?”

Please note: They “they” in verse 33 does NOT refer to those who believed in Him but to those who were listening and did not believe in Him.

Note:

Why did “they” not believe that “the truth shall set them free”?

Jesus said “The truth shall set you free”.

They denied it.

1: Negation: “How can you say you will be made free?”

2: Assertion: “We have never been in bondage to anyone.”

Can you see the elephant in the room?

That assertion that they have never been in bondage to anyone - is a flat out, delusional level lie of the highest order!

The book of Judges tells us that Israel was in bondage to several mighty nations.

The 10 Northern tribes of Israel were in bondage to Assyria.

The 2 southen tribes were in bondage from Babylon.

And even at that very moment Israel was in bondage to the iron rule of Rome!

WHAT A LIE!!!

But note: They were NOT making up the lie - They were just BELIEVING the lie.

And so long as they believed the lie, they would always deny the truth.

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What does this have to do with you?

What lies has Satan told you about that so long as you believe them, the truth cannot set you free?

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Who you are in Christ

Because you are in Christ, EVERY ONE of these statements is true of you.

I am loved.

1 John 3:3

I am accepted.

Ephesians 1:6

I am a child of God.

John 1:12

I am Jesus' friend.

John 15:14

I am a joint heir with Jesus, sharing His inheritance with Him.

Romans 8:17

I am united with God and one spirit with Him.

1 Corinthians 6:17

I am a temple of God. His Spirit and his life lives in me.

1 Corinthians 6:19

I am a member of Christ's body.

1 Corinthians 12:27

I am a Saint.

Ephesians 1:1

I am redeemed and forgiven.

Colossians 1:14

I am complete in Jesus Christ.

Colossians 2:10

I am free from condemnation.

Romans 8:1

I am a new creation because I am in Christ.

2 Corinthians 5:17

I am chosen of God, holy and dearly loved.

Colossians 3:12

I am established, anointed, and sealed by God.

2 Corinthians 1:21

I do not have a spirit of fear, but of love, power, and a sound mind.

2 Timothy 1:7

I am God's co-worker.

2 Corinthians 6:1

I am seated in heavenly places with Christ.

Eph 2:6

I have direct access to God

Ephesians. 2:18

I am chosen to bear fruit.

John. 15:16

I am one of God's living stones, being built up in Christ as a spiritual house.

1 Peter 2:5

I have been given exceedingly great and precious promises by God by which I share His nature.

2 Peter 1:4

I can always know the presence of God because He never leaves me.

Hebrews. 13:5

God works in me to help me do the things He wants me to do

Philippians 2:13

I can ask God for wisdom and He will give me what I need.

James 1:5