The Golden Verse (Part 3)

Well, what a joy it is to come before you up here and to share some of the things that the Lord, I believe, has through my heart. We've been working through for the past number of sermons, a couple at least, through the Golden Verse. John 3.16. We saw in our previous sermons, the first two, that God initiated and manifested his divine mercy and grace, his profound sacrificial love towards the sin-loving world of lost souls.

God sent his only begotten son into this corrupt world to preach the kingdom of love and grace and to give his life a ransom that he may save man from a lost eternity. Our aim today is to hopefully further understand the scriptures and to specifically the identity of the son of God and what it means to believe in him. We'll do our little reading first from John's gospel, chapter three. I'm not going to read all of it. We're going to start in verse 13 and cover to verse 18.

First up today, John 3, 13 through to 18. Reading. No one has ascended to heaven but he who came down from heaven, that is, the Son of Man who is in heaven. And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son that whoever believes in him should not perish but have everlasting life.

For God did not send his son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through him might be saved. He who believes in him is not condemned, but he who does not believe is condemned already because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten son. Amen. Let's pray, shall we? Thank you, gracious Lord, God almighty, for all that you have done to save wretched, indeed sinners like us.

Thank you for your blessed Holy Word. Thank you for the gift of the Holy Spirit. Bless us, we pray, to honour you, our gracious Father, and our Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ. May you help us, Holy Spirit, as we open up the eternal word of God, that we might be transformed by grace with deeper faith and obedience to serve him who is worthy of all praise and glory and honour. Forgive us our sins, Lord, and wash our minds from the influences of evil, that you may be honoured in all that we do.

In Jesus' blessed name, we pray. Amen. Today, we're continuing to work our way through this famous verse, John 3.16, known as the Golden Verse. There's lots of other names for it too, which are high words as well.

For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son, that whoever believes in him, that's the part we're looking at today, shall not perish but have eternal life. And so far in part one, or sermon one and two, in the first half of the verse has been covered. For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son. Now we shall attempt to investigate the next phrase, whoever believes in him. In the first sermon, we covered the fact that God so loved the world.

The scriptures make it clear that God's love is manifested to sinful mankind. Salvation is freely offered to all. Hosea declares, ho, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters. And you who have no money, come by and eat. Yes, come buy wine and milk without money and without price.

Those referred to as everyone, including foreigners, who come to the Lord, who love the name of the Lord, and who desire to serve him are noted in Isaiah 56. Psalm 67 declares, your ways may be known on earth, your salvation among the nations. So the offer of salvation is freely extended to the nations, mankind from every tribe and tongue. Therefore, the whoever is referencing the world. Everyone under heaven, Jew and Gentile alike.

For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. Let us be clear, whoever doesn't mean universal salvation. Rather, that is, all are actually saved, as some Christians erroneously believe. Rather, the call is effective for those who actually believe in the Son of God, as we shall explore a bit further on. Now we shall investigate the key focus for today, which is the word believe.

What a word. The verb believe occurs nearly 100 times just in the Gospel of John alone. So that hopefully that will help us to realise how significant it is for conversion. Yes, it's a vast topic, and to be sure, we cannot expect to exhaust all the facets of believing in our brief time together today. Therefore, I've chosen a couple of nuances of the word believe that will hopefully help us in our investigation.

In defining the word believe, we arrive at the following in its simplest form. It is generally an intellectual process involving the mind and reasoning, informing the heart that something is true. Believing, however, in the context of faith is much broader. It's an activity, yes, of the mind, knowing something intellectually, but also in a fuller sense, It includes the faculties of the heart, the spirit and the soul. In biblical times, a name represented a person's entire character, the nature and the authority of that particular person.

To believe in Jesus' name goes beyond simple intellectual agreement. It means completely trusting in his actions, his sacrifice, and who he claimed to be. The name of Jesus is not a magical formula or an incarnation. Faith in the name of Jesus means trusting and obeying. Remember the old song, trust and obey?

There's no other way to be happy in Jesus. As a matter of illustration, some might say, yes, I believe. I believe every word of the gospel. I believe Jesus died as a fact of history. And yes, I believe he died for men's sins.

But is this what the Lord means regarding believing? John addresses this thought in his first letter. Whoever says, I know him, but does not keep his commandments is a liar. And the truth is not in him. 1 John 2 verse 4.

Therefore, simply knowing that God exists or some facts about him is not actually biblical belief. Obedience and faith in his person is essential. James 2 verse 19 teaches, you believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe and tremble.

So the intellectual belief of demons is accompanied by terror, trembling and shuddering as they know who the living God is and the power and authority that he wields. But this kind of believing cannot save. Having the right facts about God is not the same as having saving, loving relationship with Him. He is the Messiah, the Christ, the Saviour of the world that must be believed upon. As Jesus has already given Nicodemus the example of the lifted up serpent on a pole, as was necessary for the healing of the rebellious children of Israel, likewise, looking upon the Son of Man lifted up on the cross is essential anchor to our faith.

That's sinners, for sinners to be saved. Something happens within the soul, within the heart and the spirit when God gifts a sinner with repentance and belief in the gospel. Seeing and hearing are elements leading to believing. Jesus said to Thomas, because you have seen me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet believed.

And hearing, the gospel, is the means God has given for believing. Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. Romans 10. The word believe can be likened to a precious gemstone. Something like maybe a diamond, for example.

As the jewel is rotated in the light, the facets refracting the rays, bending the light as it radiates through the cut of the stone, dispersing clarity, beauty, sparkle, and perfection. Likewise, to believe in Jesus consists of the various dimensions of truth, faith, hope, Love, obedience, commitment, inward conviction, and outward action, and so on. Isaiah cried out, who has believed our report? And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed? This rhetorical lament foreshadows that many Jews would initially reject the coming Messiah and his message of salvation.

This is one of the greatest proofs of the condition of men's hearts, that he will no more desire to obey the gospel than to obey the law. He stubbornly disobeys his creator, whether God speaks to him in merciful love or through the law. Man is a disobedient creature, following in the footsteps of Adam, the federal head of humanity. Sadly, most humanity will sooner believe and trust in their own stubborn hearts than in the grace of God. It's true.

I speak of my own stubborn refusal until I was age 27. When someone receives the gospel, it is surely the action of God's grace. The arm of the Lord is revealed. And no one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him, and I will raise him up at the last day. It is written in the prophets, and they shall all be taught by God.

Therefore, everyone who has heard and learned from the Father comes to me. John 6. But when people refuse the gospel, it is certainly their own sinful rebellion. They have disobeyed God. If only they would think and consider the consequences of their actions.

In Acts 17 and verse 30, God now commands all men everywhere to repent. because he has appointed a day on which he will judge the world in righteousness by the man Jesus, whom he has ordained. Therefore, it is the duty of men and their obligation and responsibility to obey God's commandments. Otherwise, they shall be lost. but he who does not believe is condemned already because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God, John 3.

18, as we just read. The scriptures teach us that the sinner is dead in trespasses and sins. And just as a dead person cannot comprehend life, nor living, and so it is that the natural man cannot indeed believe and comprehend spiritual things, nor believe the gospel, because he is spiritually dead. Indeed, men are alienated from God and bound by the sinful nature. Something is needed to help men believe.

And that something is faith. The Apostle Paul puts it this way in Ephesians 2, for by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not of your own doing. It is a gift of God, not a result of works that no one may boast. Therefore, the ability to believe, to have faith, to trust in Jesus, are undeserved generous gifts freely and graciously given by the Holy Spirit, all given through God's irresistible grace towards the repentant sinner.

For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son that whoever believes in him We're going to look at the Son now. And this is the testimony, reading from 1 John 5. Let's read it together, shall we? Give you something to do. What better thing to do than to have your face in the Bible?

1 John 5. verse 11 through 13. Reading. And this is the testimony that God has given us eternal life. And this life is in his son.

He who has the son has life. He who does not have the son of God does not have life. These things I have written to those who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God.' Finish there. John here emphasises the name of the Son of God.

and we've learned that it is the only begotten Son who is sent from heaven by God his Father. The Son is the Messiah, He is the Christ, the Anointed One, the Saviour of the world that must be believed upon. It is vital that trusting in Him, relying upon Him, placing faith in Him and obeying Him are critical to receiving peace with God and eternal life. Of course, to believe in Him is the pivotal factor of receiving life eternal. But what does it mean to believe in the name of the Son of God?

What is His name? Of course, His name is Jesus. and Mary will bring forth a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins. Matthew 1.21.

God gave his only begotten son, as we've seen in previous sermons, we find in this phrase. One, Jesus is divine. Monogenes, remember that last time? of the same substance or nature, Jesus shares the exact essence as God the Father. He is fully divine.

Two, that God gave his son points directly to the incarnation. To give a son to the world means that the divine word took on flesh. John 1, 14, and became a man capable of offering his life as a substitutionary sacrifice. This directly relates to the God-man as the necessary bridge between God and humanity. This means that eternal life is only accessible through the one who is both fully God and fully man.

As we've read in the scriptures, his name as the only begotten son carries power and authority to do all of his father's will. But do the scriptures elaborate on this name and further express who he is? Well, yes, they do. When Jesus states in John 8, 58, that I am, we are given compelling evidence to the fact that he is eternally divine. Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am.

This reference to his name is of course in Exodus 3.14. The text underscores God's plan to free Israel from slavery in Egypt. Ah, Jesus is indeed the subject and focus of salvation throughout the Old Testament as we've seen here in Exodus. Jesus preached to the disciples upon his resurrection, quote, And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded to them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself.

Luke 24. Moses asked God the crucial question. What do I say when the people ask me? What God sent you? I am who I am.

I am, in the New Testament, is said like this, and I'm not sure this is the right way to say it, but it's Egoemi, which is spelled E-G-O space E-I-M-I. It looks like E-O, doesn't it? Anyway, I believe it's pronounced Egoemi. Which means, in essence, he who necessarily exists is absolutely divine. In Jesus' statement in John 8, he firstly uses an emphatic adverbial intensifier.

That is to say, truly, truly, adding rhetorical weight to the truth that he is declaring. I admit, I didn't get this from my own intellectual command of language, no. I had to Google it. But that's beside the point. Jesus declares the truth as it is written in the scriptures.

And he says the things the Father wants him to say. Quote, the father is in me and I in the father. Again, the words I say are the father's words. Indeed, his proclamation led the religious leaders of his time to accuse him of blasphemy. And picked up stones to kill him.

they knew exactly what Jesus was claiming. To them, his claim was worthy of death. Let's do a little flip through, a little bit of work through the scriptures here, and investigate some of these themes, or some of these words. The majority of notable theologians agree regarding the identity of Jesus as written in the scriptures. Let's have a look at these.

We're going to Isaiah 41 to begin with. And we're just going to work our way through Isaiah and a couple of other surrounding texts. Isaiah 41 verse 4. I, the Lord, am the first and the last. I am he.

And again, over a couple of chapters to Isaiah 43 and verse 3. Yes, that's correct. Our brother Joshua did preach through some of these texts last week. And what a joy that was. Praise the glorious name of the Lord as we visit them again.

Isaiah 43 verse 3. For I am the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel, your Saviour. Now to verse 10, 43 verse 10. The Lord speaks to his people. You are my witnesses, says the Lord, and my servant, whom I have chosen, that you may know and believe me and understand that I am he.

The very same identity that Jesus uses time and again. Now in verse 15, it reads, I am the Lord, your Holy One, the Creator of Israel, your King. Perhaps one more from Isaiah in chapter 48 and verse 12. Listen to me, O Jacob and Israel, my called. I am he, I am the first, and I am also the last.

We note here that the Lord uses this same title in Revelation in chapter 1.8, 1.17, and again in chapter 22 and verse 13. Turn with me now to Deuteronomy 32. Deuteronomy chapter 32 and verse 39.

Now see that I, even I am he, and there is no other God besides me. Let's go to John chapter 8. John 8, 23 and 24. Jesus is again talking with the Pharisees and predicting his departure from earth. And he said to them, you are from beneath, I am from above.

You are of this world, I am not of this world. Therefore, I said to you that you will die in your sins. For if you do not believe that I am he, you will die in your sins. Again, from John chapter six, verse 28. Jesus tells the crowd, when you lift up the son of man, then you will know that I am he and that you do nothing on my own initiative.

I do nothing on my own initiative, but I speak the things the father has taught me. And now we'll go to John 18. Right. loving, convincing text. John 18, 3 to 6.

Then Jesus, having received a detachment of troops and officers from, did I say Jesus? Then Judas, sorry, I need glasses. Then Judas, having received a detachment of troops and officers from the chief priests and Pharisees, came there with lanterns, torches, and weapons. Jesus, therefore, knowing all things that would come upon him, went forward and said to them, whom are you seeking? And they answered him, Jesus of Nazareth.

Jesus said to them, I am he. And Judas, who betrayed him, also stood with them. Now, when he said, I am he, they drew back and fell to the ground. This is significant because we see Jesus over and over deliberately declaring, I am he. The whole party of officials and soldiers fell at his words, literally knocking these weapon-wielding troops, demonstrating his divine power over men, flooring them, proving that he is not being forced to the cross, but is surrendering willingly according to his father's plan.

The next instance Jesus was telling the disciples that one of them was going to lift up his heel against Jesus. John 13 verse 19. John 13 verse 19. Now I tell you before it comes that when it does come to pass you may believe that I am he. There it is again.

Believe I am he. I would really like to go on and on. Perhaps one more from John chapter four and verse 25, 26. Chapter four of John 25, the Samaritan woman at the well The woman said to him, I know the Messiah is coming, who is called the Christ. When he comes, he will tell us all things.

And Jesus said to her, I, who speak to you, am he. Now, there's one from Matthew 24, Mark chapter 13, and Luke 21, so we won't look them up. just so we see that these statements are not exclusive to John's gospel. While warning the disciples about the end times, Jesus foretells of false teachers. Take heed that no one deceives you, for many will come in my name saying, I am he, and will deceive many.

Maybe we'll just read one more from Revelation 1.17. Revelation 1.17. And when he saw him, I fell at his feet as dead.

but he laid his right hand on me, saying to me, do not be afraid, I am the first and the last. Verse 18, I am he who lives and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore, amen. So Jesus was rejected. That's our next little part we're going to look at now, the rejection of Jesus. So we've got the believing, and the opposite of that is the rejection.

Jesus was rejected by many of the Jews. He came to his own, but his own did not receive him. The crucifixion of Jesus is a clear indication that the Jewish leaders rejected his claim as their long-awaited Messiah, despite compelling evidence that he was who he said he was. The miraculous signs that Jesus did and the depth of wisdom he displayed, his concern for the poor and for the oppressed, and the testimony of those closest to him confirmed he was indeed the Messiah. So how is it that the Jewish leaders failed to recognise and to believe that he was who he said he was?

And what were they hoping for from the Messiah when he comes? Was it that they were informed? What was it that informed their rejection of Jesus? Was it ignorance? Prejudice?

Did they have a misconception? Or maybe something else? We certainly don't have time to address all of the factors that could be investigated. But let's look at a couple of possibilities for their unbelief. In a nutshell, the Jews generally were expecting the Messiah to be an anointed mortal king from the line of King David.

This figure was largely anticipated to be a military and political deliverer who would overthrow the oppressors, restore an independent kingdom of Israel, and usher in an age of global peace. The range of variations to this key idea were believed in a diversity of Jewish sects and subgroups. There were many. each with their own ideas and hopes. The concept of a divine suffering servant who would inaugurate a spiritual kingdom by dying on a cross completely contradicts their understanding of Messiah.

There were also several other reasons given in scripture as to why men found it hard to believe in Jesus. I'm just going to skip through several of these. Slow of heart to believe the prophets. Doubts rise in their heart. Do not believe because they were not his sheep and therefore cannot hear the voice of Jesus.

I prefer the traditions taught by men. A veil of unbelief was on the heart. Spiritual blindness was going on in their heads. Unbelief of the scriptures is another one. Let's have a brief look at a few of these here.

And those who knew him from his hometown of Nazareth were offended at him because they knew him. They were familiar with his life, with his family, and they knew his dad was a carpenter, even the names of his brothers and sisters. Those who knew him had no faith because of familiarity. Amongst those, quote, he could do no mighty works except for a few healings and Jesus marveled at their unbelief. There are also several other reasons given in scriptures as to why men found it hard to believe in Jesus.

Let's open up your Bibles to 2 Corinthians 3. The Apostle Paul writes, therefore, since we have such a hope, we use great boldness of speech, unlike Moses, who put a veil over his face so that the children of Israel could not look steadily at the end of what was passing away. But their minds were blinded. For until this day, the same veil remains unlifted in the reading of the Old Testament, because the veil is taken away in Christ. But even to this day, when Moses is read, a veil lies on their heart.

Nevertheless, when one turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. And again, 2 Corinthians 4, chapter 4, verse 4. The Apostle Paul continues to teach, but even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, whose minds the God of this age has blinded. who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them. And so we see here that Paul identifies two sources of spiritual blindness, seeing the heart of unbelievers and the work of Satan keeping the minds of unbelievers blinded to the truth of the gospel.

He's at work behind the scenes. In John, John chapter five, yep, we can look that up too, it's not far away. John chapter five, verse 45 through to verse 47. Jesus is again teaching. Do not think that I shall accuse you to the Father.

There is one who accuses you, Moses, in whom you trust. For if you believed Moses, you would believe me. For he wrote about me. But if you do not believe his writings, how will you believe my words? These men are well-versed in the Old Testament scriptures.

They know the law of Moses, and yet they reject Jesus and his teachings. And this is not due to ignorance. Rather, it is a willful refusal to see the truth. Now in John, back a couple of verses to John 5, 39, John 5, 39. And Jesus points out to the Pharisees, you search the scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life.

And it is they that bear witness about me. Yet you refuse to come to me that you may have life. The Pharisees seemingly are not concerned with the will of God, but rather more focused with rules and laws of men. Jesus has already confronted them, as we read in Matthew 15 verse 6. Matthew 15 verse 6.

So, for the sake of tradition, this is a quote, So for the sake of tradition, you have made void the word of God. You hypocrites, well did Isaiah prophesy of you when he said, this people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men. Not only do unbelievers reject the holy scriptures, but in so doing, they reject the father who sent the son. Quote, if you do not do the works of my father, I'll say that again, if I do not do the works of the father, that is my father, do not believe me. But if I do, though you do not believe me, believe the works that you may know and believe that the Father is in me and I in him.'

John 10. In summary, we've looked at the identity of Jesus and seen that he is the divine son of God. Indeed, the I am he. We've investigated what it means to believe in his name. And finally, some of the reasons that men reject and the free offer of eternal life.

We need to finish up today. Even so, there is so much more that could be said. It's hard to know just when you got to stop. And so, we're finishing on a few verses in John chapter 6. So we can read these together.

John 6, 37 through to 47. 10 verses. John 6, 37. Jesus clearly teaches, all that the Father gives me will come to me. And the one who comes to me, I will by no means cast out.

And this is the will of Him who sent me, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in Him may have everlasting life. And I will raise Him up at the last day. Verse 44, no one can come to me unless the father who sent me draws him and I will raise him up on the last day. Verse 45, it is written in the prophets and they shall all be taught by God. Therefore, everyone who has heard and learned from the Father comes to me.

Then verse 47 completes Jesus' teaching. Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in me has everlasting life. Amen. So the application. Well, the question must be asked, have you believed upon the only begotten Son of God, Jesus the Messiah.

He's the only way to heaven. He is the embodiment of truth. He cannot lie. And he is, in essence, the eternal life. He is the one to believe in.

And scriptures personally invite Everyone who hears the gospel call to what? Believe. Believe what God has done. Now is the day of salvation. Now it's time to trust in him.

Let's pray together, shall we? Loving Father, as we come, Lord God, to completing this sermon, Father, we ask you by your mighty, powerful, Holy Spirit, that you would be working in the hearts of those who indeed have heard, and more, Lord God, those who don't know, have not heard in reality. We pray that you would do your work Lord God, and grant the faith to repent and believe the gospel, to believe what you have done. You're such a loving God, so generous and kind towards sinners like us. Thank you for your provision of granting life eternal, forgiveness of sin, and the cleansing power of the blood of Jesus.

We thank you and we praise you. You are good in all your ways and we thank you in Jesus' name. Amen.