All right, let's turn back to
John chapter 5. John chapter 5, this is a very
condemning portion of Scripture. It is. This is a very condemning
portion to all those who are not in Christ. And it breaks
my heart. It really breaks my heart. I
wish the world could see this and understand this. I would
that all men were saved. I really do. At the beginning
of this chapter, the Lord healed an impotent man. And what He
said was, in verse 8, He said, Rise, take up thy bed, and walk. And He proved His power and His
authority. and his ability, and he didn't
walk up to that impotent man and stand there at his door and
knock. He didn't do that. He walked up to him, and he said,
rise, take up thy bed, and walk. And the Jews didn't like that
at all. Why? Why? Really? The Pharisees, they
didn't like that at all. And in verse 17, he 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, equal with the father. He explained his deity. to them. What he told them was,
I am God. Plain and simple. And in verse
31 he said, If I bear witness of myself, my witness is not
true. So let me give you a list of
those who have borne witness of me. He said, My works have
borne witness of me. He said, John bore witness of
Me. He said, the Scriptures have
borne witness of Me. And He said, My Father hath borne
witness of Me. But here's the condemnation on
this world, and here's the reason for everything that He has to
say in these next few verses. Verse 38 says, Ye have not His
Word abiding in you. There it is. That's the condemnation and the
reason for the condemnation. You have not His Word abiding
in you. Verse 47 says, You believe not
His writings. You believe not His writings.
Now my calling as a pastor, it is becoming more and more clear
to me as I go what I've been called to do. And my calling
as a pastor is to declare God's words. You know, we've said before
we're not going to argue the gospel, right? I'm not called
to go argue my opinion on the scripture. When something comes
up, I'm to declare God's word. And then period. I have nothing
else to say on the matter. Declare God's word. That's what
we're all called to do as believers. Anytime something comes up. Our
foundation is God's word. That's it. Totally. That's it. It's to tell men and women what
God has said, who he is, what he's done, and what he has said. And this is what He's about to
tell us in this portion of Scripture, okay? Here it is, paraphrased,
and then we're going to look at it. Really, our text is verse
39, but we're going to kind of look at it the rest of the chapter.
Here's what He's telling us. If God has not put His Word in
a man or a woman's heart, and we started this whole book by
saying, in the beginning was the Word. The word was with God. Word was God. The word was made
flesh. And if God has not put his word
in a man's heart or a woman's heart, then they will not come
to Christ. They will not love God and they
will not be saved. That is serious. I'm not making
that up. That's what we just read and
we're about to look at again. That is serious. How important
is the Word of God? Just how important is the Word
of God? It's life and death. It is life
and death. Now, I could tone down this Word
for us. Because as I read it, and as
I think about my notes, and I study it, I think, now how am I going
to deliver this message? And I want to deliver this with
love, and with compassion, and tenderness, and meekness, and
long-suffering. But the Word is the Word. And
the Word is offensive. I don't have to be offensive.
But the Word is going to offend. Because these are hard sayings.
Very hard sayings. I could tone down this word for
us and I could make it softer than what Christ said easily. I could water it down so it's
not so hard. Let's just make a little mud
with it, which is what men do. They muddy it up because it's
too hard. So they say, well, let's pour
some water on it. Let's sodden it down with water. I could tell most of what he
said and take out the offensive parts. I could do that. But here's the fact of the matter.
Life is finding out the truth right now and bowing to it. That's life. And death is finding
out the truth as we're standing before God right there in the
judgment. That's death. Either way, they're all going
to find out the truth. Every knee will bow. Every single
tongue will confess, you really are God. You really are. I crave the truth right now. Just tell me the truth right
now. I need it right now. It's through the preaching of
this Word that the Lord has purposed for life to be given. Through
the preaching of this Word. Now, as I say that, I'm the preacher. And I'm not trying to lift myself
up. I'm just a vessel. I'm just a
servant. I compare this to an answering
machine. If you want to tell him something
and he's not home, you're going to leave it on the answering
machine, right? And then he's going to come home
and he's going to hit play and the answering machine is going to
deliver the message. And that answering machine, the
message didn't start with him. He had nothing to do with it.
There's no glory in it for him. It's from you to him, right? But it has pleased the Lord through
the preaching of this word for life to be given. Romans 1.16
says, I'm not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the
power of God unto salvation. It's through the conviction of
this word and only through the conviction of this word that
true sin is realized. As soon as this word becomes
alive, As soon as it stands up on the page, as soon as we really
get a hold of what it's saying, that's when the Word, like a
two-edged sword, slices the heart. True sin is realized through
this Word. Sharper than a two-edged sword.
This Word is the means God has chosen to give faith to His people. Romans 10, 17 says, cometh by hearing, and hearing
by the Word of God." Through the Word. And it's through this
Word that spiritual life grows. Life is given. A seed is planted,
just like a baby. And then it grows, and it grows,
and it grows, and it matures. Starts out like a little blob.
The next thing you know, it's starting to look like a baby.
We had an ultrasound. I can kind of see its face. You
see those little nubs? Those are going to be fingers
one day. Until finally, as a woman in travail, it's finished. Deliverance comes. Perfectly
formed into the image of the firstborn. Isn't that something? It grows through this Word. So in verse 39, right here in
John 5 verse 39, our Lord says, search the scriptures. Search the scriptures. That's
what we're doing. every time we meet. That's why
we meet every time. It's this purpose that we meet. We search the Scriptures. We
want to learn about our Lord. I want to hear from Him. I want
to hear what He has to say to me. And I want to worship Him
for everything He's done. It's all recorded right here.
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 whole world today. The whole world. John is gone. He's gone. He is not preaching
out in the wilderness anymore. The actual works of Christ happened
2,000 years ago. We were not privileged to get
to see Him with our own eyes. They were, we're not. God the
Father doesn't speak out loud anymore. He said, this is my
beloved Son, hear Him. Hear Him. But we still have one
testimony. We still have one witness that
the Lord has preserved. Verse 39, search the scriptures,
for in them you think you have eternal life, and they are they
which testify of me. Now turn with me over to 2 Timothy
chapter three. 2 Timothy 3, and let's look at verse 16. It says, all scripture is given
by inspiration of God and is profitable for doctrine. This word is my doctrine. This word is my doctrine. Every
single place that meets has a doctrine. That's why there's different
buildings. Because each place that meets has a doctrine, right? This is my doctrine. Period. What do y'all believe
over there? Every single word that proceeds
out of the mouth of God. The scripture. We believe the
scripture. This is our doctrine. And it's
profitable for doctrine. And then it says in verse 16,
for reproof. And that word means proof. Conviction. Proof. That means I see it in
the word. I'm convicted by the Word. It's
all the proof I need. So be it. Reprove. See it in here. That's all we
need. And then it says in verse 16, for correction. Well, I thought
it was like this, but the Word has taught me otherwise. It's
our ground for everything. Everything. And then it says
for instruction. in righteousness. This word is
all we need. It is all we need. Turn with
me over to Ecclesiastes chapter 12. Ecclesiastes chapter 12 and look at verse 12. It 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. We just keep making books, and
we just keep making books, and we just keep making books, and
we just keep making books, and we only need one book. Now, I use commentaries, and
there's nothing wrong with using commentaries. The Lord has shown
some men some things, and they've shed some light on some things,
It's wonderful. But Ralph Barnard used to say
this, and he's right, okay? He said, all a man needs is a
Bible and a dictionary, and he's right. There's one book, and
it's perfect. It's absolutely perfect. And
so he says in verse 12, 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. Fear God and keep His commandments. This word. Fear God and keep
His commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. Fear God. Don't struggle with Him. The
Lord was merciful to Jacob, right? Oh, He was patient with old Jacob.
But I don't want to strive with, I will, my nature will, but if
God will be merciful to me just like he was to Jacob, I don't
want to strive with him. Don't struggle with him, don't question
him, believe him and fear him. That's the whole duty of man.
That's the whole duty of man. Search the scriptures. Why? They're
the only words that have life in them. And you can tell the
difference. When you read those commentaries,
I'm thankful for them and they'll say something that makes sense,
but there's no life in those commentaries. That's another
thing Ralph Barnard used to say, the Bible will shed a lot of
light on those commentaries. And it's true. It's true. All
right, now turn with me over to 2 Peter chapter 1. 2 Peter chapter 1 verse 16 says, For we have not followed cunningly
devised fables. And if you run the, you see how
fables has got a center margin right there? If you turn to that
and read it and then go to the center margin and you run the
course, it'll tell you that Paul called them old wives tales.
Just traditional wives tales that have just been carried down
and carried down. 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. Okay, now that's
the first witness the Lord gave. My works. Okay, these men said,
we saw his works. Verse 17, 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. They said, we heard the voice.
We were there. We heard God the Father speak
and give witness to him. Verse 18, And this voice which
came from heaven we heard when we were with him in the holy
mount." Now, can you imagine being one of the ones who were
standing on the holy mount and heard God? But look at verse 19. He says,
we have also a more sure word of prophecy. Isn't that something? 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. That more
sure word is what's in our hands right now. Look at verse 20.
Knowing this first that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private
interpretation. Not any man's opinion. This is
nobody's take on the Word. This is the Word of God. Verse 21, 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? What are we looking for? We'll
turn to Luke 24, and we'll see it with our own
two eyes. 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. Now what He just said is,
This must be fulfilled because everything that was written in
the Law, the Prophets and the Psalms are talking about this. Verse 45, Then opened He their
understanding that they might understand the Scriptures. What
are they looking for? Verse 46, And said unto them,
Thus it is written, and thus it behooved Christ to suffer
Suffer, suffer to the point of death, and to rise from the dead
the third day. That's why everything was written. That's what every single thing
says. Every page, every word is about Jesus Christ, His life,
His death, His burial, and His resurrection. Every single page. Now back over to our text in
John chapter 5, verse 39 says, search the scriptures,
for in them you think you have eternal life, and they are they
which testify of me. Dig deep, deep, dig deep. You've skimmed them a little
bit. He said, go ahead, search them. You do, you own a copy,
that's what he's telling them right there. And he said, you
open it up and he said, in them you think you have eternal life. You've skimmed them a little
bit, you think you have eternal life in them. But you dig deep,
dig a trench in them and you're going to see that there's only
one way to have eternal life. There's only one thing that all
these scriptures are talking about. All of the scriptures will testify,
I am the way. That's it. Every single one. Verse 40, he said, and you will
not come to me that you might have life. You'll come to anything else,
but you will not come to me. He's saying, search the scriptures,
right? In them, you think you have life.
What you don't understand is they're all about me. and you
will not come to me, that you might have life." That's what
he's saying. Does man have a will? The answer
is yes, he does. And it is not free. It is totally
bound to sin. Totally bound. It's only evil
continually. Our Lord said no man can come
You know why? It's because no man will. That's why. No man can because
no man will. Verse 40, you will not come to
me that you might have life. Do you know what that tells us?
And I can tell you that we're almost finished. You know what
that tells us? Coming to Christ has something
to do with eternal life. Coming to Christ has something
to do with eternal life. He said, you will not come to
me that you might have life. Coming to Christ actually has
everything to do with eternal life. How do you know? It's because our Lord said in
the next chapter, John 6, 37, He said, him that cometh to me,
I will in no wise cast out. Coming to Christ has everything
to do with our eternal salvation, our eternal life. All right? Well, if I will not, then what's
my hope? If I will not, what's my hope? He said, all that the Father
giveth me shall come to me. How? Well, in spite of my wicked,
rebellious will, My Father is going to draw him. That's how. He is faithful. Verse 41 says,
I receive not honor from man. How can He? There's no honor
in man to give. We have nothing to give. Do you
believe that? Do you believe that? I mean really. that in and of
your flesh, nothing you could ever do would honor the Father
or the Son? Most people don't believe that. They really don't. They think they are honoring
God. Let's do some good for Jesus. Do you really believe that nothing
you could ever do would honor the father or the son. Do you
believe because we're so corrupted with sin, all our righteousnesses
really are filthy rags? Do you believe that? Verse 42
says, I know you that you have not the love of God in you. Do
you believe that? We can ask ourselves these questions.
Do you believe that? Do you believe that in your flesh,
you don't love God? You go tell the average person
that and they'll say, no, I don't believe that. Do you believe that your salvation
depends not on the fact that you love God, but that God loved
you and gave his only son for you? Really, do you believe that?
In my flesh, I don't love God. By nature, in my wicked self,
I'm an enemy of God. Verse 43 says, I'm come in my
father's name and you receive me not. If another shall come
in his name, you will receive him. Do you believe that in your flesh
you won't receive God? Really? Verse 44 says, How can
you believe which receive honor one of another, and seek not
the honor that comes from God only? Do you believe that your
flesh prefers everything and anything in this world before
God? Do you believe that? Verse 45 says, do not think that
I will accuse you to the Father, there is one that accuseth you,
even Moses, in whom you trust. You trust in that you're gonna
fulfill Moses' law, you're gonna do the work. Do you believe you're a sinner? Do you believe you're a lawbreaker,
accused and convicted before God, really? 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 Jesus Christ and him
crucified? And none of the glory goes to
man as we read the pages and thumb the pages, no matter what
it says. When he said, daughter, be of good cheer. Thy faith has
made thee whole. Oh, my faith. I love my faith. I'm so proud of my faith. My
faith has saved me. As we read every single thing
in this book, do you know and believe no glory goes to man? If I'm seeing it that way, I'm
seeing it wrong. All the glory goes to God. Verse 47 says, but
if you believe not his writings, how shall you believe my words? You actually believe. that if
you don't believe this Word, then you don't believe Christ? You actually believe that? Then
you're a believer. This is all bad news. This text
is all bad news. It's all bad news. And I look
at every verse and I say, Amen. Next verse. You will not come
to me, amen. I receive not honor from you,
amen. I know you, you have not the
love of God in you, amen. You won't receive me. May God
be true and may I be a liar. You don't seek his honor. You'll
receive anything other than him, amen. I believe you. You just, when you speak and
you're clear when you judge. Amen. Amen. If I don't believe this, I don't
believe God. Amen. If I believe that, I'm
a believer. I'm a believer. I believe the
Word of God. I believe the Word of God. That's what a believer believes.
every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God. If it convicts
me, if it judges me, if it saves me, amen. Amen. By God's grace and by his message,
we're gonna continue to search the scripture for words of life. That old saying, Christ alone,
grace alone, scripture's alone. That's us. All right, let's stand
together.