Kingsport Sovereign Grace Church,
located at 905 Yadkin Street in Kingsport, Tennessee, would
like to invite you to listen to a message of sovereign grace
by their pastor, Gabe Stoniker. And now, Pastor Gabe Stoniker. I invite you to turn with me
in your Bibles this morning to John chapter 5. John 5, we're
going to look at verses 39 through the end of the chapter. This
is a very condemning portion of scripture to the world. Very
condemning. All those who are outside of
Christ, it's a very condemning portion of scripture. I wish
the world could see this and understand it. At the beginning
of this chapter, the Lord healed an impotent man. And in verse
eight, he said, rise, take up thy bed and walk. What glorious words to hear.
What glorious, wonderful words to hear. What greater news could
a sinner hear? A lame man. What greater news
could he hear? Rise, take up that bed and walk. The Lord proved his power and
his authority and his ability. He didn't walk up to that impotent
man and stand there at his heart's door and knock. He didn't do
that. He said, rise, take up that bed
and walk. And the Jews didn't like that.
The Pharisees, they didn't like that one bit. And in verse 17,
our Lord said, my father worketh hitherto and I work. And then in the next few verses,
he went on to explain to them that he and his father are one. One God. He explained his deity
to them. That means he told them, I'm
God. I am God. And in verse 31, he said, If I bear witness of myself,
my witness is not true. But he said, my works have borne
witness of me. The works I do. He said, John
bore witness of me. He said, the scriptures have
borne witness of me. And he said, my father. has borne
witness of me. But here is the condemnation
on this world. Verse 38 says, ye have not his
word abiding in you. That's the condemnation. And
that's the reason for condemnation. In verse 47, right here of John
5, he said, you believe not his writings. Oh, may that not be
us. Lord God, may that not be us.
May it not be said of us. They don't believe his word.
They don't believe his writings. My calling as a pastor is to
declare God's Word. That's it. Is to tell men and
women what God has said, who He is, what He's done, and what
He said. And that's good news to a sinner.
When they hear the truth, that'll lift a sinner up, a true sinner.
And this is what he's about to tell us in this portion of scripture.
He says, if God has not put his word in a man's heart, or if
God has not put his word in a woman's heart, then they will not come
to Christ. They will not love God and they
will not be saved. That's serious, isn't it? That's
serious. How important? Is the word of
God. It's not my word. It's God's
word. How important is the word of
God? It's life and death. It's life and death. And I could
tone down this word for us. I could make it softer. than
what Christ said. I could water it down so it's
not so hard. I could tell us most of what
he said and take out the offensive parts. But here's the fact of
the matter. Life, eternal life, is finding
out the truth right now. and bowing to it. And death,
eternal death, is finding out the truth as we stand before
God in the judgment. I want the truth right now. Don't
you? Don't you want to hear the truth
of God's word right now? I want to hear it. I want to
bow to it. I want to bow to it. It's through
the preaching of this word that the Lord has purposed for life
to be given. Romans 1 verse 16 says, I am
not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, the preaching of Christ,
the good news of Christ, because it's the power of God unto salvation. It's the power of God unto salvation. It's through the conviction of
this word. that true sin is revealed. It's sharper than any two edged
sword. This word is the means God has
chosen to give faith to his people. Romans 10 verse 17 says, faith
cometh by hearing and hearing by the word of God. The Word of God. And it's through
this Word that spiritual life grows and grows and grows. So this is what our Lord says
in John 5. John 5, verse 39, He says, Search
the Scriptures. Search the Scriptures. That's our desire every time
his message is preached. Lord, may we search the scriptures. He says in verse 39, search the
scriptures for in them, you think you have eternal life and they
are they which testify of me. This is the commandment and the
exhortation and the warning to the world today. John is gone. He's not preaching in the wilderness
anymore. The actual works of Christ on this earth, the works
he physically did on this earth happened 2000 years ago. And we were not privileged to
get to see those with our own physical eyes. God, the father does not speak
out loud anymore. He said, this is my beloved son. Hear him, hear him. We have one testimony. still with us. Verse 39, our
Lord says, search the scriptures, search the scriptures for in
them. You think you have eternal life
and they are they which testify of me. Turn with me over to second
Timothy chapter three. Second Timothy chapter three,
verse 16 says this, all scripture is given by inspiration of God
and is profitable for doctrine. So many churches, so many places,
they claim to have different doctrines. Well, what do you all believe
over there? Well, we believe this. What do you all believe
over there? Well, we believe that. The Word
of God is my doctrine. It's our doctrine. All scripture
is given by inspiration of God and is profitable for doctrine. Whatever this word says, whatever
the scriptures say, as we search the scriptures, whatever they
say, that's our doctrine. All scripture is given by inspiration
of God and is profitable for doctrine. And then he goes on
to say for reproof. And that word means proof and
conviction. That means I see it in the Word,
I'm convicted by the Word, and it's all the proof I need. So
be it. All Scripture is given by inspiration
of God and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction. Well, I thought it was like this.
But the word has taught me otherwise. Correction. And then he finishes that verse
by saying for instruction in righteousness. If I want to know
and if I want to learn about the righteousness of God. That's
only found in Christ Jesus. If I want to know about that,
search the scriptures. Search the scriptures. This word
is all we need. That's it. Turn with me over
to Ecclesiastes chapter 12, the last book in Ecclesiastes chapter
12, verse 10 says this, the preacher sought to find out
acceptable words. And that which was written was
upright, even words of truth. That which was written, the scriptures,
the word of God, they're upright and they're words of truth. Verse
11 says, the words of the wise are as goads and as nails. fastened by the masters of assemblies,
which are given from one shepherd. All of this word of God is given
by one shepherd, the shepherd, Jesus Christ. These are the words
of Jesus Christ, the words of God. Verse 12 says, and further
by these, my son be admonished. of making many books, there is
no end and much study is a weariness of the flesh. Let us hear the
conclusion of the whole matter. Here's the conclusion of the
whole matter. Fear God and keep his commandments
for this is the whole duty of man. Fear God. Don't struggle with him. Don't
question him. Believe him. Fear him. And search his scriptures. Search the scriptures. Why? It's
because they're the only words that have life in them. What
do you believe? What do I believe? Well, I believe
this or I believe that. Why do you believe that? That's
what I was told. Well, were we told right? Well, I love the one who told
me. Well, that's wonderful. Did he tell us the truth? How will we know? Search the
scriptures. Search the scriptures. I've been
believing this way all my life. Well, is it consistent with the
scripture? No. Then bless my heart. It's wrong. Lord, teach me, teach
me what's right. This is life and death. And I
must know God's word, God's word, not the doctrine that my church
has been teaching for generations upon generations. I pray the teaching has been
the word of God, but if not, Lord God, teach me now, teach
me now, cause me to search the scriptures and see if these things
be so. Turn with me over to second Peter
chapter one. Second Peter chapter one, look
at verse 16 with me. Peter says, for we have not followed
cunningly devised fables. We haven't followed cunningly
devised fables. Paul said old wives tales. That's not what we're following. We have not followed cunningly
devised fables when we made known unto you the power and coming
of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty. We saw his works. Eyewitnesses. Verse 17 says,
for he received from God the father honor and glory. When there came such a voice
to him from the excellent glory, this is my beloved son in whom
I'm well pleased. Peter said, we heard the father
speak with our own ears. We heard him. Verse 18 says, in this voice,
which came from heaven, we heard when we were with him in the
Holy Mount, we heard him. We were with Christ in the Holy
Mount. But look at verse 19 with me.
Look at what the word of God says under the inspiration of
the spirit of God. Verse 19 says. We have also a more sure word
of prophecy. Where unto you do well that you
take heed as unto a light that shineth in a dark place until
the day dawn and the day star arise in your hearts. We have
a more sure word. I want to take heed, don't you?
Lord, cause me to take heed. Verse 20 says, knowing this first,
that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. None of it. The writings of the
apostle Paul are not Paul's opinion. They are not Paul's opinion on
anything. Verse 21 says, for the prophecy
came not in old time by the will of man, but holy men of God spake
as they were moved by the Holy Ghost. So our Lord commands you
search the scriptures, search the scriptures. What are we looking
for? We'll turn with me over to Luke
chapter 24. What are we looking for in the
scriptures? Luke 24 verse 44 says, and he said unto them,
these are the words which I spake unto you while I was yet with
you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written
in the law of Moses and in the prophets and in the Psalms concerning
me. Then opened he their understanding,
that they might understand the scriptures, and said unto them,
Thus it is written, and thus it behooved Christ to suffer. Oh, how he suffered, even unto
the death, for the sins of His people. He suffered, verse 46
says, and to rise from the dead the third day. That's why everything
was written. That's what everything in the
Word of God says. Every page, every word is about
Jesus Christ. It's about His life, It's about
His death. It's about His burial. And it's
about His resurrection. Every single word. Back to our text. Go back over
to John chapter 5 with me. In verse 39, he says, search
the scriptures. You dig deep, deep. You've skimmed them a little
bit. In them you think you have eternal life. That's what he
says in verse 39. Search the scriptures for in
them you think you have eternal life. But you dig deep. You dig a trench into them. And then you'll see that there's
only one way to have eternal life. This Way seems right to this
person. That way seems right to that
person. The truth in God's word is there
is one way. One way to have eternal life. All the scriptures testify of
Jesus Christ. And he himself said, I am the
way. His work is the only way. His blood is the only way. In Him is the only way. I can't work my way to glory.
I can't work alongside of Him. I can't decide to be saved. I can't do anything. There's one way. God's got to choose. God's got
to redeem. God has got to bring me to glory. That's the only way. The Lord
said, I am the way. Verse 40 says, Christ says, and
you will not come to me that you might have life. You will not come to me. You'll
come to anything else, he says, but you will not come to me.
Does man have a will? Does man have a will? Yes, he
does. And it's not free. It is totally
bound to sin. It's only evil continually. Our Lord said, no man can come
to me. And do you know why that is?
It's because no man will. Verse 40, he said, you will not
come to me that you might have light. Do you know what that
tells us? Coming to Christ has something
to do with eternal life. It actually has everything to
do with eternal life. How do you know? Because our
Lord said in John 6, him that cometh to me, I will in no wise
cast out. Well, if I will not, then what's
my hope? Here it is. He said, all that
the father giveth me shall come to me. How? Well, in spite of their rebellious,
wicked will, my father will draw them. He is faithful. Isn't that good news? Verse 41
says, Christ says, I receive not honor from men. That's what
the word says. How can he receive honor from
man? There's no honor in man to give. Do you believe that? Do you believe
what Christ is saying right here? That in and of our flesh, nothing
we could ever do would honor the Father or the Son? Because
we're so corrupted with sin. All our righteousnesses are as
filthy rags. Do you believe that? Verse 42
says, but I know you that you have not the love of God in you.
Christ said that. Do you believe that? Do you believe
that in your flesh and in my flesh, we don't by nature love
God? And that our salvation depends
not on the fact that we love God, but that God loved us and
gave his son for us? Do you believe that? Verse 43,
Christ says, I am come in my father's name and you receive
me not. If another shall come in his
own name, him you will receive. Do you believe that in your flesh
and in my flesh we won't receive God? Our Lord said in verse 44,
how can you believe which receive honor one of another and seek
not the honor that cometh from God only? Do you believe that
mine and your flesh prefers everything and anything in this world more
than God, before God? Do you believe that? Man is a
wicked creature, isn't he? Verse 45, our Lord said, Do not
think that I will accuse you to the Father. There is one that
accuseth you, even Moses, in whom you trust. Moses, the lawgiver. Do you believe you're a sinner?
And I'm a sinner. Like the Lord Jesus Christ is
saying, we are lawbreakers, cursed, convicted before God. Verse 46
says, for had you believed Moses, you would have believed me for
he wrote of me. Do you believe? Every word in
this book is about and gives glory to and honor and praise
and thanksgiving to Jesus Christ and Him crucified. And none of
the glory goes to man. Do you believe that? Verse 47,
he said, but if you believe not his writings, how shall you believe
my words? Do you actually believe? that
if you don't believe this word, then you don't believe Christ.
Do you believe that? If you do, if you do, then you're
a believer. You believe the word of God. That's what a believer believes.
Every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God, And by God's
grace and by God's message, we're going to continue to search the
scriptures for words of life. Christ alone, grace alone, scriptures
alone. Until next Sunday morning, may
the Lord God bless his word. You have been listening to a
message by Gabe Stoniker, pastor of Kingsport Sovereign Grace
Church in Kingsport, Tennessee. If you would like a copy of this
message or to hear other messages of Sovereign Grace, you can write
to our physical mailing address at 905 Yadkin Street, Kingsport,
Tennessee 37660 or log on to our website at kingsportsovereigngracechurch.com. If you would like to come and
worship with us, our service times are Sunday morning Bible
study at 10 o'clock a.m., worship at 10.45 a.m., and 6 o'clock
p.m. Wednesday evening at 7.30 p.m. Please tune in next Sunday morning
at 8.30 for another message of God's free and sovereign grace.