Truth or Consequences

made with Proclaim

Jon Gruss

Allegan Bible Church

Gospel of John • Sermon • Submitted a month ago • Presented a month ago • 34:40

John 5:30–46

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Truth or consequences

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Title: Truth or Consequences

Passage: Jhn 5:30-46.

Intro:

Bob Barker is probably best known for the price is right but he actually hosted a game show before that one called “Truth or Consequences”

The format of the show was simple. Contestants would be given about two seconds to answer an obscure trivia question. If they couldn’t figure out the answer (i.e., the truth), they would have to suffer the consequences.

If a contestant got an answer correct, they usually faced a quick second or third question to trip them up.

The consequences were participating in some ridiculous, embarrassing stunt.

In one episode in which two men couldn’t figure out the “truth,” they were forced to try to ride a unicycle on national TV.

The Truth matters and sometimes consequences can be very real!

C.S. Lewis = Liar, Lunatic, or Lord… the truth matters and the consequences are real

Courtroom witnesses / truth on trial

Muslim = Prophet not God

Jehovahs Witness = Angel / First Creation not God

Mormon = Spirit child of Heavenly Mother and Father / not biblical Jesus

2 Corinthians 13:1 “1 This is the third time I am coming to you. Every charge must be established by the evidence of two or three witnesses.”

Deuteronomy 19:15 “15 “A single witness shall not suffice against a person for any crime or for any wrong in connection with any offense that he has committed. Only on the evidence of two witnesses or of three witnesses shall a charge be established.”

Prayer:

Witness 1 = John The Baptist.

John 5:33 ESV

33 You sent to John, and he has borne witness to the truth.

John 5:35 ESV

35 He was a burning and shining lamp, and you were willing to rejoice for a while in his light.

John 5:31 “31 If I alone bear witness about myself, my testimony is not true.”

John 1:32–34 “32 And John bore witness: “I saw the Spirit descend from heaven like a dove, and it remained on him. 33 I myself did not know him, but he who sent me to baptize with water said to me, ‘He on whom you see the Spirit descend and remain, this is he who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.’ 34 And I have seen and have borne witness that this is the Son of God.””

Witness 2 = The Works of Jesus.

John 5:36 ESV

36 But the testimony that I have is greater than that of John. For the works that the Father has given me to accomplish, the very works that I am doing, bear witness about me that the Father has sent me.

Nicodemus = Pharisee / Ruler

John 3:2 “2 This man came to Jesus by night and said to him, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God, for no one can do these signs that you do unless God is with him.””

Water to Wine

Long Distance Healing

38 Year Paralytic

Dead from the Grave

Feeding a Multitude

Walking on Water

Sight to the Blind

Leppers Cleansed

Hearing to the Deaf

John 20:30–31 “30 Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; 31 but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.”

Witness 3 = The Words of Scripture.

John 5:39 ESV

39 You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness about me,

John 5:46–47 ESV

46 For if you believed Moses, you would believe me; for he wrote of me. 47 But if you do not believe his writings, how will you believe my words?”

Luke 24:25–27 “25 And he said to them, “O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! 26 Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory?” 27 And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself.”

2 Corinthians 1:20 “20 For all the promises of God find their Yes in him. That is why it is through him that we utter our Amen to God for his glory.”

Witness 4 = The Spirit of God.

John 5:37–38 ESV

37 And the Father who sent me has himself borne witness about me. His voice you have never heard, his form you have never seen, 38 and you do not have his word abiding in you, for you do not believe the one whom he has sent.

1 John 5:9–10 “9 If we receive the testimony of men, the testimony of God is greater, for this is the testimony of God that he has borne concerning his Son. 10 Whoever believes in the Son of God has the testimony in himself. Whoever does not believe God has made him a liar, because he has not believed in the testimony that God has borne concerning his Son.”

Romans 8:16 “16 The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God,”

Consequence 1 = You Cannot Understand Scripture.

John 5:39 ESV

39 You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness about me,

Exalting Jesus in John You Cannot Properly Interpret Scripture (John 5:38–40)

If you’re a Christian and you read the Bible while missing the point, you’re going to struggle with confusion, discouragement, frustration, ineffectiveness, and stagnation:

• Confusion because the parts won’t make sense by themselves.

• Discouragement because it will seem like a duty instead of a delight.

• Frustration because your love for the Scriptures won’t grow.

• Ineffectiveness because you won’t understand why it matters in your life.

• Stagnation because you won’t see growth in understanding or maturity.

1 Corinthians 2:13–14 “13 And we impart this in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the Spirit, interpreting spiritual truths to those who are spiritual. 14 The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned.”

Consequence 2 = You Cannot Know/Love/Honor God.

John 5:38 ESV

38 and you do not have his word abiding in you, for you do not believe the one whom he has sent.

John 5:42–43 ESV

42 But I know that you do not have the love of God within you. 43 I have come in my Father’s name, and you do not receive me. If another comes in his own name, you will receive him.

John 14:6 “6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”

Consequence 3 = You Cannot Avoid Judgement.

John 5:39–40 ESV

39 You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness about me, 40 yet you refuse to come to me that you may have life.

John 5:45–47 ESV

45 Do not think that I will accuse you to the Father. There is one who accuses you: Moses, on whom you have set your hope. 46 For if you believed Moses, you would believe me; for he wrote of me. 47 But if you do not believe his writings, how will you believe my words?”

John 5:34 ESV

34 Not that the testimony that I receive is from man, but I say these things so that you may be saved.

John 3:16–18 “16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. 18 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.”

Acts 4:12 “12 And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.””

Close

Exalting Jesus in John (Witness 4: God the Father (John 5:37–38))

It all boils down to this: if Jesus is not God, he could not have paid the penalty for our sin. If Jesus is not God, we would be unable to cling to his righteousness. If Jesus is not God, we would be without hope… But Jesus is God.

Exalting Jesus in John (You Cannot Avoid Judgment (John 5:45–47))

Hope in anything other than the finished work of Jesus Christ on the cross for your sin is a fool’s hope.

The only way to have life is to come to Jesus, and the only consequence for the man or woman who rejects Jesus Christ is judgment.

When Bob Barker hosted Truth or Consequences, he ended every show by saying, “Hoping all your consequences are happy ones.” If you deny the truth about Jesus, your consequences are not going to be happy.

You won’t understand the Bible.

You won’t know/love/honor God.

You won’t avoid judgment.

But if you embrace the truth about Jesus, these consequences flip around and become happy ones.

Because of Jesus, you will avoid judgment.

Because of Jesus, you can know/love/honor God.

Because of Jesus, you will understand the Bible.

In fact, the Bible will come to life as you start to see Jesus on every page.