Untitled Sermon (3)

John Chapter 5:31-47 – “Court is in Session”

The Fivefold Witness and Twelvefold Indictment

31 “If I bear witness of Myself, My witness is not true.

32 There is another who bears witness of Me, and I know that the witness which He witnesses of Me is true.

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

34 Yet I do not receive testimony from man, but I say these things that you may be saved.

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

36 But I have a greater witness than John’s; for the works which the Father has given Me to finish—the very works that I do—bear witness of Me, that the Father has sent Me.

John 5:31–47 NKJV

31 “If I bear witness of Myself, My witness is not true. 32 There is another who bears witness of Me, and I know that the witness which He witnesses of Me is true. 33 You have sent to John, and he has borne witness to the truth. 34 Yet I do not receive testimony from man, but I say these things that you may be saved. 35 He was the burning and shining lamp, and you were willing for a time to rejoice in his light. 36 But I have a greater witness than John’s; for the works which the Father has given Me to finish—the very works that I do—bear witness of Me, that the Father has sent Me. 37 And the Father Himself, who sent Me, has testified of Me. You have neither heard His voice at any time, nor seen His form. 38 But you do not have His word abiding in you, because whom He sent, Him you do not believe. 39 You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of Me. 40 But you are not willing to come to Me that you may have life. 41 “I do not receive honor from men. 42 But I know you, that you do not have the love of God in you. 43 I have come in My Father’s name, and you do not receive Me; if another comes in his own name, him you will receive. 44 How can you believe, who receive honor from one another, and do not seek the honor that comes from the only God? 45 Do not think that I shall accuse you to the Father; there is one who accuses you—Moses, in whom you trust. 46 For if you believed Moses, you would believe Me; for he wrote about Me. 47 But if you do not believe his writings, how will you believe My words?”

37 And the Father Himself, who sent Me, has testified of Me. You have neither heard His voice at any time, nor seen His form.

38 But you do not have His word abiding in you, because whom He sent, Him you do not believe.

39 You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of Me.

40 But you are not willing to come to Me that you may have life.

41 “I do not receive honor from men.

42 But I know you, that you do not have the love of God in you.

43 I have come in My Father’s name, and you do not receive Me; if another comes in his own name, him you will receive.

44 How can you believe, who receive honor from one another, and do not seek the honor that comes from the only God?

45 Do not think that I shall accuse you to the Father; there is one who accuses you—Moses, in whom you trust.

46 For if you believed Moses, you would believe Me; for he wrote about Me.

47 But if you do not believe his writings, how will you believe My words?”

Sixfold Witnesses

Sixfold Witnesses:

Last week in Part 1 we looked at the Sixfold Witnesses of “Who Jesus is”...

Jesus Himself John the Baptist Jesus’ works God the Father Moses The Scriptures

John the Baptist

SIXFOLD WITNESSES:

Jesus’ works

Jesus Himself

Jesus Himself

John the Baptist

God the Father

John the Baptist

Moses

Jesus’ works

God the Father

The Scriptures

Moses

The Scriptures

Jesus transitions in the Courtroom from defense attorney to prosecuting attorney...

Twelvefold Indictment: (of their unbelief... our unbelief?)

1. You have not heard His voice at any time...

2. You have not seen His form...

3. You do not have His word abiding in you...

4. You do not believe, whom He sent...

5. You think you have eternal life... “You search the Scriptures, for in them you think...”

6. You are not willing to come to Me that you may have life... “You don’t want to come to me...”

7. You do not have the love of God in you...

8. You do not receive Me in My Father’s name; if another comes in his own name, him you will...

9. You, how can you believe, who receive honor from one another?

10. You do not seek the honor that comes from the only God?

11. You have one who accuses you—Moses,... (if you believed Moses, then Me; he wrote of Me.)

12. You do not believe Moses’ writings, how will you believe My words?”

§ John did not mount up these indictments for nothing...

§ John was going somewhere...

:

“31 but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name.”

That you may believe...

That you may believe that Jesus is the Christ

The Son of God...

And, that believing...

You may have life in His name...

What area of your life is NEEDING the Life of God in it?

§ Your Relationships? (Marriage? Family?)

§ Your Career?

§ Your Finances?

§ Your Health?

§ Your Intimacy?

The question this morning is, do you believe Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God? If so, will you come to Him? Then, in coming to Him, will you believe?

§ The Spirit wants to do something for our faith — for your faith and mine right now...

§ He wants this analysis of unbelief to penetrate into our hearts and reveal one of the deepest causes of unbelief... OUR unbelief...

§ Why did the Jews not believe?

§ Is it only a ‘Jewish’ issue?

§ Or is it a humanity issue at its core?

Look at verse 40, 43 & 44...

40 But you are not willing to come to Me that you may have life.

You don’t want to come to me... verse 43, for I have come in My Father’s name, and you do not receive...

We want, another ‘Messiah’... we want ‘another way’... Look at verse 43,

43 I have come in My Father’s name, and you do not receive Me; if another comes in his own name, him you will receive.

“If another comes in his own name, him you will receive.”

If some one comes in their own name...

Then, you will receive them... “Why?”

Because, then, they will be “LIKE” YOU...

And, that will require NO CHANGE...

§ Your “Wants”

§ Your “Self”

§ Your “Centeredness”

Look at verse 44,

44 How can you believe, who receive honor from one another, and do not seek the honor that comes from the only God?

We seek glory... of man...

§ From self – Self satisfaction, Self gratification...

§ From others – Esteem, Applause, Honor, Glory...

We do not seek satisfaction and honor from God...

It is the parable of the sower revealed... The seed sown amongst the thorns... the cares of this world, the deceitfulness of riches a