John chapter 3. I'd like to look this morning
at verses 25 to 30. The Scripture says, Then there
arose a question between some of John's disciples and the Jews
about purifying. And they came unto John, and
said unto him, Rabbi, he that was with thee beyond Jordan,
to whom thou bearest witness, behold, the same baptizeth, and
all men come to him. And John answered and said, A
man can receive nothing except he be given him from heaven.
Ye yourselves bear me witness that I said, I am not the Christ,
but that I am sent before him. He that hath the bride is the
bridegroom, but the friend of the bridegroom which standeth
and heareth him rejoiceth greatly because of the bridegroom's voice. This my joy, therefore, is fulfilled. He must increase, but I must
decrease." Now, in our last study, We looked at this verse of Scripture. Verse 24 actually was where I
was actually trying to stay for just a few minutes. John was
not yet cast into prison. Remember, John the Baptist was
the forerunner of our Lord and Savior. Almighty God had everlastingly
purposed that the Lord Jesus Christ would come into this world. And there was going to be one
that the Lord was going to send that was going to announce who
He was. Well, that was John. John the
Baptist. And John, he came doing just
exactly what the Lord had called him to do. He was a preacher. And he was baptizing. I'm going to say a word about
that in just a minute. But the Lord was actually revealed. The Spirit of God had told John
the Baptist, upon whom you see the Spirit of God descend and
remain. That's Him. That's the One. And so John saw just exactly
the Lord had told him would happen. And he looked and he saw the
Lord Jesus Christ coming up. And he said, Behold. Behold the Lamb of God that taketh
away the sin of the world. Well, John was called to be a preacher. That's what God had sent him
to do. He was baptizing. But the Scripture says after
the Lord was revealed, John was not yet cast into prison. The Lord hadn't removed him from
what He told him to do. That's what God called him to
do. He called him to be a preacher. And wherever God calls a man,
a woman, wherever He places them in the body, stay right there
and be faithful, faithful to what God has called you to do.
Not all men are preachers, but those that He calls to preach,
be faithful to it. As I said last week, some say,
well, He just called me to be a member. What a calling. What a ministry. To be a member. To be a revealed
sheep. To be a regenerated sinner. What
a blessing. Be faithful to that. All I can
do is be here and support and pray. Oh my! Boy, wouldn't you like to just
grab every one of those that you can find and just hug them
and just say, you know what, it's just so good to be with
you. John was not yet cast into prison. Well, in the midst of
that, John's ministry, something happened that is absolutely going
to be revealed as promised. To everyone that Almighty God
has called out of darkness, something happened. A trial came up, a testing, a
tribulation. And the reason that these trials
and tribulations and testings come is always to prove God's
faithfulness to His people. That's why they're there. God's
people will always be shown to be what they are by the grace
of God. There arose, verse 25, a question
between some of John's disciples and the Jews about purifying. Don't be surprised when things
come up. that are trials of your faith.
These things the Lord said, have I spoken unto you that in me
you might have peace? In the world you shall have tribulation. But be of good cheer, I have
overcome the world." Now, why should we act as though something
strange has happened to us when tribulation comes? In this world you shall have
tribulation. A question came up. John was
baptizing, and this question came up, and the question was
between John's disciples and some Jews about purifying. Now, cleansing. Actually, this purifying was
according to the laws. And the Jews, they knew, they
were familiar with that purifying, the washing of pots, the washing
of hands. Remember how many times it came
up every time the Lord goes somewhere and somebody would notice you,
he'd get him something to eat or something like that, and he
said, you know, your master didn't wash his hands. You see, according to the law,
those washing of hands and washing of pots, You know that that was
a picture of the absolute need of a man being clean before God. Now, it was a picture. It was
a type. It was according to the law.
And these Jews, they were watching. They were watching John, his
disciples baptizing, and they were seeing the baptizing of
the Lord, but actually the Scriptures We looked at that. The Lord didn't
baptize anybody personally. His disciples did. But what happened
was these Jews came to the disciples of John and they were going to
ask a question about purifying. And obviously it was asked in
a way that was going to raise some doubt, some problems in
the minds of John's disciples. The question was, I don't have
any doubt whatsoever. Here's what it was. These Jews
were familiar with purifying according to the law. And they
saw John baptizing, the Lord baptizing, and they were thinking
purification according to the law, and they're watching baptism,
and they're coming around to this question. Now, we know what
the law says about purifying, washing hands, washing pots,
cleansing, water, you know. Which one of the baptisms, John's
baptizing and here's Jesus of Nazareth that's baptizing. Now,
let me ask you this. Which one of those baptisms are
actually the one that's actually putting away sin? Which one of
them is actually cleansing. We're familiar with purifying,
and you're baptizing, and you're baptizing. The answer to that
question is neither. Neither one of them. John's baptism, the believer's
baptism, which one of those actually purifies and puts away sin? Neither
one of them. They were both confessions. What was the difference in John's
baptism and Believer's baptism? Was there a difference? I think
there was. John's baptism was a baptism
that was confessing a promised Messiah. There is a Messiah coming. I don't know who he is, but I believe that God has revealed
in His Scriptures that a promised Messiah is coming. Listen to
the words of John the Baptist, John 1.31, And I knew him not,
but that he should be made manifest to Israel. Therefore am I come
baptizing with water. John's baptism was a baptism
that confessed that a Messiah was coming. But John said, I
didn't know who He was. I believe that God is going to
send the Messiah. Believer's baptism is the confession
of our faith that Jesus of Nazareth is God's revealed Christ. Believer's
baptism is a baptism that confesses that Jesus Christ, Jesus of Nazareth,
is God's Christ, one that has come into this world, lived,
died, buried, raised, ascended. That's believer's baptism. It's
baptism in a revealed Savior. The Scripture sets forth concerning
Jesus of Nazareth, a man Approved of God among you by wonders and
signs." You know, I got to thinking about that word right there this
morning. Approved. A man approved of God. And I
thought, well, sure. I mean, surely he was approved
of God. Well, I know that. I had to go
look that up, Neal. A man approved of God. You know
what it means? Pointed out or exposed. Jesus of Nazareth, a man pointed
out by God, by the Spirit of God descending at Him. A man approved of God among you
by miracles and wonders and signs, delivered by the determinate
counsel and foreknowledge of God, crucified and slain, whom
God hath raised up, having loosed the pains of death. This is what
we confess in Believer's Baptism. that Jesus Christ, Jesus of Nazareth,
the One sent into this world, this is He. This is the One. This is the One that's come into
the world. It's the revealed Savior. John's baptism was a
baptism that confessed that a Messiah was coming, but I don't know
who He is. God's never pointed Him out.
The Spirit of God pointed Him out. That's believer's baptism
now in a revealed Savior. So this question comes up. This
question comes up from the Jews and some of John's disciples,
and they said, you know what, the one that you pointed out,
well, he's baptizing, and some of these Jews have asked us about
purifying and how this fits and how that goes together. And that
question caused John's disciples to approach John. They wanted
an answer. They went to John the Baptist. And the Scripture
says in verse 26, They came unto John, and he said unto him, Rabbi,
he that was with thee beyond Jordan, to whom thou bearest
witness, behold, the same baptizeth, and all men come to him. I don't doubt for one second that
John's disciples were jealous. They were jealous for John's
reputation. They loved him. I know that. But I want you to listen to the
wisdom of John the Baptist, that witness from the heart of one
that has been taught by the Spirit of God, whose desire it is for
God's honor and God's glory and God's praise in the blessed person
of the Lord Jesus Christ." Listen to what John said. John answered
and said, verse 27, a man can receive nothing except it be
given him from heaven. Now what does John do? He bows
to the sovereignty of Him who rules and reigns. We are so prone. We're so self-centered, really,
aren't we? I mean, the bottom line is this.
You know, I'd like to, you know, be patted on the back and somebody,
you know, bump me on the head and say, what? Boy, I'm telling
you, Marvin, you're, you know, or this one. Preachers are the
world's worst. They're just so silly. Now that's the bottom
line. John, the one that you pointed
out, the one that you gave witness to, he's over there baptizing. And listen, everybody's flocking
over there to him. What about your reputation, John?
What do we do? A man can receive nothing except
it be given him from heaven. The honor is toward him. You know, isn't it amazing how we're able to settle down
when the Lord would just teach us that I'm just not the most
important one. He is. I mean, can a man be satisfied? Can a woman be satisfied just
to settle down, just sit down and let God be honored? You said this one time to me,
Gary. I remember this. You said, you know, it's just
amazing. What's wrong with God getting
all the honor? What's wrong with Him? being the one that people see.
What's wrong with that? Paul said in Ephesians 3,8, I
am less than the least of all saints. What a blessing if a man or a
woman can just settle down and be concerned with His honor
and His glory. David said in Psalm 75, 6 and
7, for promotion, that is, exaltation, cometh neither from the east,
nor from the west, nor from the south, which the word south there
means the desert, but God's the judge. He putteth one down and
setteth up another. If the Lord would be pleased
that somebody would just lay on a bed for the rest of their
life and cough, Is He not worthy? John reminds his disciples of
something that he had already said. Look at verse 28. He said,
You yourselves bear me witness that I said, I'm not the Christ,
but that I'm sent before Him. I'm the forerunner. Yeah, but
you're John the Baptist. No, he said, I'm a voice. I'm just a voice. He's the Lord. John's disciples should have
expected that the Lord's ministry must prosper. Verse 29, He that hath the bride
is the bridegroom, but the friend of the bridegroom which standeth
and heareth him rejoiceth greatly because of the bridegroom's voice. My joy, therefore, is fulfilled."
The bride belongs to the husband. The church belongs to Christ. This is the way it is. Before
the foundation of the world, he was always the surety. He was always the bridegroom.
And the Father gave Him a bride, chose her. Out of all the nations
and kindreds and tribes and tongues in this world, God was going
to have a bride for Him. It was not good that the man
should be alone. That just amazes me. I know that that was written
in Genesis concerning, you know, we think it was concerning Adam.
That was written concerning Christ. It's not good that the man should
be alone. Are you telling me that God Almighty
has set forth that it is not good, it's not the best, that
the Son Himself, the Lord of glory, should be alone? How can
that be? God said it was. And that just
settled it. You mean to tell me that there
is something in which He is glorified, He is honored in having a bride
given Him, and that that brings honor to Him in the redemption
of that bride, the preservation of that bride, the keeping of
that bride? that He could take one that was in herself, absolutely
pitiful, crown of her head, sole of her foot, putrefying sores,
nothing good in her, no beauty in herself whatsoever, and He
could take her and wash her white in the blood that flowed from
the precious body of our Savior. and make her what she is, spotless. Robe her in His righteousness
and present her to the Father. Here's all those that you gave
me. That they should behold His glory throughout all of eternity
and that He is honored He finds joy in her. He said in Song of Solomon, He
said, you've ravaged me with one of your eyes. You've stolen
my heart. I'm heartless. I'm heartless. And John says to his disciples
when they came to him and said, the one that you pointed out,
He's over there baptizing everybody that's coming to Him. John says,
He that hath the bride is the bridegroom, the friend of the
bridegroom. Who is that? The friend of the bridegroom.
Let me tell you who the friend of the bridegroom is. That's
every one of God's elect. Look at John 15, John 15, 13.
The friend of the bridegroom. John 15, verse 13 and 14. Greater love hath no man than
this, that a man lay down his life for his friends." You are my friends. If you do
whatsoever I command you. What does he command his people
to do? Here it is. I'm going to sum it all up right
here. Believe me. You are my friends. He that hath the bride, the bridegroom,
the friend of the bridegroom, which standeth and heareth him." Just settle down. Remember when the children of
Israel were hemmed up between a rock and a hard place? There's
the Red Sea in front of them. There's the Egyptian army behind
them. What are we going to do? Moses
said, stand still. and see the salvation of God.
Isn't it just amazing just to be able to watch and just behold
the sufficiency of God's grace? I told you this, but it came
back to my mind. I'll tell you again as we look
at one more verse after this. I remember when Brother Tommy
Robbins got sick and I was talking to some of the folks down in
Sylacauga. And they were rightly, rightly,
rightly concerned. And I understand their anxiousness. I'm not making light of that.
I mean, this was their pastor. And I mean, I think to myself,
oh, the tenderness that a church has for their pastor. And I remember telling one of
them, I said, you know what? I said, you're going to see the
grace of God. And she said, yeah, but you don't understand. Yeah,
I said, I know. I know. I know. And after Brother
Tommy was taken out of this world, after the Lord received him to
himself, one of them told me this. He said, you know what?
I saw what she's talking about. I saw the peace and comfort in
him and the peace and the comfort in the people. And that's what
they're doing. Here's what it is. and standeth and heareth Him,
and rejoiceth greatly because of the bridegroom's voice." Let
me tell you the miracle of that Scripture right there is that
they hear His voice. The sheep hear My voice. Someone might say, well, could
you explain to me how you hear the voice of the shepherd? And
I'd say, I can't. But if the Spirit of God ever
gives you an ear to hear it, no, you'll hear it. You'll hear
it. I've never heard it with this, but I'll tell you this,
I've heard it. I've heard it in the Scriptures. I've heard it in Providence.
I've heard it in my conscience. There's an ear that God gives
His people that this world doesn't know anything about. They hear
it. They heareth Him, and they give Him audience. They rejoice
greatly, cheerfully because of the bridegroom's voice. John said in this last verse,
verse 30, concerning what his disciples seemed to be so anxious
over, John said, He must increase.
I must decrease. He is the Master. We are the
servants. He is the King. We are ambassadors. He is the Son of Righteousness
and we are lamps that shine only by His power. This blessed truth is set forth. He must increase. I must decrease. Let me just read Colossians 1,
verse 16 to 19, and then I'll stop. Colossians 1. This is the Father's will. The
Father's will is that He must increase. Listen to Colossians
1, verse 16, for by Him, were all
things created that are in heaven, that are in earth, visible, invisible,
whether they be thrones or dominions or principalities or powers.
All things were created by Him and for Him. And He's before
all things, and by Him all things consist. And He is the head of
the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn
from the dead, that in all things He might have the preeminence,
for it pleased the Father, that in Him should all fullness dwell."
John, the one that you pointed out,
he's over there baptizing too, and everybody's flocking to him. John basically was saying this.
Thank God for that. I am not even worthy to tie his
shoes. Who am I that Almighty God would raise up this frail
creature to be a preacher? What a miracle of God's grace!
But let me tell you who gets all the honor and glory and praise. He does. that is put upon the creature
is usurped authority, usurped honor that they don't deserve. We are what we are by the grace
of God. And let me tell you something.
I understand something of our little fickle feelings and all
this kind of stuff. But He's the bridegroom and we're
the bride. He must increase. We must decrease. And it's going to be that way.
To the honor of His name. Amen.