Be Careful With Your Trust
Notes
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25 “I have said these things to you in figures of speech. The hour is coming when I will no longer speak to you in figures of speech but will tell you plainly about the Father.
26 In that day you will ask in my name, and I do not say to you that I will ask the Father on your behalf; 27 for the Father himself loves you, because you have loved me and have believed that I came from God. 28 I came from the Father and have come into the world, and now I am leaving the world and going to the Father.”
29 His disciples said, “Ah, now you are speaking plainly and not using figurative speech! 30 Now we know that you know all things and do not need anyone to question you; this is why we believe that you came from God.”
31 Jesus answered them, “Do you now believe? 32 Behold, the hour is coming, indeed it has come, when you will be scattered, each to his own home, and will leave me alone. Yet I am not alone, for the Father is with me.
33 I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”
Opening Prayer
Opening Prayer
Setting the Stage
Setting the Stage
As we read, especially vv.26-28 we certainly see Jesus speaking straightforward:
the Father loves you because you love Me and believe Me.
you have believed that I came from God.
I cam from the Father, came into the world, going back to the Father.
As far as this teaching goes:
It’s not a parable.
It’s straight teaching.
But, at the same time, it is not the full unveiling of the mystery of Christ that we see in the epistles…
And, as Christ has promised would occur when the HS comes at Pentecost.
So, not a parable, but the veil has not been close to fully removed either.
But, with that in mind, let’s look at the disciple’s response to what Jesus has just stated.
29 His disciples said, “Ah, now you are speaking plainly and not using figurative speech! 30 Now we know that you know all things and do not need anyone to question you; this is why we believe that you came from God.”
The disciples seem to be alluding to the fact that Christ knows the hearts of men…
And His knowing the thoughts of men without those men even asking the question.
Which is what just happened to them, again.
This seems like a good truth to express.
But, listen to Christ’s response…
31 Jesus answered them, “Do you now believe? 32 Behold, the hour is coming, indeed it has come, when you will be scattered, each to his own home, and will leave me alone. Yet I am not alone, for the Father is with me.
Why would Jesus respond this way?
Well, as they’ve rightly concluded, He knows the hearts of men and addresses the heart rather than the words.
There seems to be at least a mild degree of flattery in the disciple’s response…
But, I think Jesus is addressing something else.
Look at two statements they make that stand out…
John 16:30 “Now we know…; this is why we believe…”
When Jesus responds to them, what does he address?
31 Jesus answered them, “Do you now believe? 32 Behold, the hour is coming, indeed it has come, when you will be scattered, each to his own home, and will leave me alone. Yet I am not alone, for the Father is with me.
The conclusion the disciples seem to be making is that because of these statements everything is all cleared up.
Their previous misunderstandings are crystal clear now.
Now, they know enough to be secure in themselves.
So, I want us to think about what I believe Jesus is addressing, and that is…
The Danger of Self-Trust
The Danger of Self-Trust
Think about what Jesus says to them…
…you will be scattered, each to his own home, and will leave me alone…
Jesus has already stated…
27 for the Father himself loves you, because you have loved me and have believed that I came from God.
Their faith is not being called into question.
What is being called into question is their reliance on their faith making them confident in self.
This is a misguided, incorrect confidence in self.
They’re claiming knowledge that has them now confidence in self…no longer needing to ask questions.
Now, let me ask questions…
Is knowledge needed? —> Yes
Is faith necessary? —> Yes
Is repentance necessary? —> Yes
All of those are necessary, but they should never be your confidence.
All of those are necessary, but none of them are your righteousness.
All of those are necessary, but none of those atone for your sins.
What matters is not:
the quantity of your faith.
the quality of your faith.
What matters, and it is the only thing that matters:
Is the OBJECT of your faith.
The object of your faith, which can only be Christ, is your:
Righteousness
Atonement
Reconciliation with God
If you’re asked why you should be allowed in heaven, and you answer:
I went to church.
I taught SS.
I gave money every Sunday.
I prayed.
I read the Bible.
That is a works salvation and a false gospel.
But, let me take it a little further, if you say to the same question:
I repented of my sins.
I have faith.
That is still resting in something you have done.
Your personal repentance is lacking & incomplete.
Your personal faith is weak, wavering, and needs a Savior.
The only correct answer to the question, why should you be allowed in heaven is this:
Christ has paid for my sins.
Christ is my righteousness.
In Him, and Him alone is my refuge.
And so when Jesus says…
31 Jesus answered them, “Do you now believe? 32 Behold, the hour is coming, indeed it has come, when you will be scattered, each to his own home, and will leave me alone.
He is addressing their misguided confidence in knowledge, which makes them confident in self...
Because our tendency is to allow knowledge to puff us up.
Jesus speaks to them clearly, and they gain a little understanding…
And, they’re thinking they are good to go.
Jesus is like…
Don’t be confident in self.
Pretty soon your SELF is going to let you down.
You’re going to be so scared.
You’re going to be so overcome by circumstances that you won’t care about anything other than self-preservation.
Don’t rest in your knowledge.
Don’t rest in your faith.
Rest in Christ.
Rely on Christ.
Trust Christ.
Feel secure in Christ.
Be careful, dear Christian, because it is all too easy to allow the knowledge we obtain to puff us up…
—> And grow confidence in self rather than Christ.
The gospel kills confidence in self…
And, keeps pointing us back to our only hope, who is Jesus Christ.
And, that is exactly what Jesus is graciously calling the eleven back to…
—> Trust Him, not self.
This is brought out further when Jesus says…
32 Behold, the hour is coming, indeed it has come, when you will be scattered, each to his own home, and will leave me alone. Yet I am not alone, for the Father is with me.
Now it is not just Peter who will deny Christ.
All of them will by their abandonment of Him in the garden.
Now, all of them are aware of their betrayal.
But, Jesus is telling them that He will be all alone except for the Father.
And, really Jesus is teaching them a few things by this:
God is the only One who is truly trustworthy.
He always keeps His promises.
He cannot tell a lie.
God will never leave you, nor forsake you.
Nothing can separate a Christian from the love of God in Christ Jesus.
God is enough.
26 For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul?
The only gain a person truly has begins and ends with if they have God or not.
Are you reconciled with God?
It begins and ends with that truth.
Let’s think about this…
Let’s think about this…
Isn’t it amazing how the followers of Christ…
Specifically, the Apostles of Christ, who are known as pillars of Christianity and the NT.
They’re not geniuses. They struggle to understand.
They’re not successful. They fail over and over.
They’re not marketing gurus. They have failed to understand the central plan/theme of redemption again and again.
They’re not correct in decision. They’ve stuttered through too many.
What makes Christianity so glorious?
What makes it a movement that has turned the world upside down?
It’s not the competence of men.
It is the power of God.
Jesus promises the HS to come when He departs to His Father.
And, the rest of Christianity and all its success is…
The Work of the Holy Spirit through the Apostles in Building the Church of the Lord Jesus Christ and Sustaining it until the Consummation of the Groom and Bride at the great Wedding Feast into eternity future.
Hallelujah, what a Savior!
Let’s Continue
Let’s Continue
Now, Jesus continues with this beautiful statement that not only confirms who they should put their trust in…
But, also looks past the abandonment to their restoration.
33 I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace.
Do you see it?
Peace Can Only Be Found in Jesus
Peace Can Only Be Found in Jesus
Where do we have peace?
In knoweldge?
In faith?
In repentance?
In self?
In other things?
—> No. —> In Christ alone.
The only peace through the storms of life is in Christ.
The only peace through the failings of self is in Christ.
The only comfort that carries us through the tragedies of a fallen, cursed world is the peace we have with God in Christ.
And, just in case you look in other places for peace, Jesus says…
33 I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”
The world has nothing to offer that you truly and ultimately need.
—> Only Christ can give you peace.
It is not the world you want to know…
—> It is God.
It is not the world you need reconciled to…
—> It is God.
It is not the world you need peace from…
—> It is God.
And, that peace can only come through and in Jesus Christ.
So, What Are You Expecting?
So, What Are You Expecting?
Peace in this life, from this world?
—> Not if you’re at peace with God.
If you’re at peace with the world, then you’re at enmity with God.
Let not the trials of this world and failings of self catch you off guard.
Let them point you back to the proper object of your faith.
And, if you find the weight of this world troubling.
If you find the tragedies of this world disheartening.
If you find the scoffing of this world to be frustrating.
If you find the blasphemy of this world gut wrenching.
Jesus says this to you, as a comfort and as a hope…
But take heart; I have overcome the world.”
The World Is Defeated
The World Is Defeated
The world and it’s:
Scoffing.
Systems of ideologies that exalt themself against the truth of God.
Persecution of Christians.
Systems of temptation.
And, it ruler, the prince of the power of the air.
They’re all conquered.
And, all the comforts this world offers that have been trusted in while rejecting Christ…
Will become daggers of condemnation.
And, one day Christ’s victory will be universally & inexplicably & undeniably announced and experienced for all who are not trusting in the Lamb of God.
Let’s think about this...
Let’s think about this...
Don’t rest in what you know.
Rest in who you know.
Rest in who you have peace with.
Don’t find your strength in anything other than Jesus.
Don’t find your value in anything of this world.
Find your value in the righteousness of Christ.
Closing Prayer—>Lord’s Supper
Closing Prayer—>Lord’s Supper
