If you'd like to follow along,
I'm gonna be in John chapter 20. And I'm just gonna read the
last two verses, verse 30 and 31. John chapter 20 and verse 30. And many other signs truly did
Jesus in the presence of his disciples, which are not written
in this book. These are written that ye might
believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing
ye might have life through his name. Now, my title is this,
These Are Written. That's the title, Paul. These
Are Written. And I did a little checking.
80 times in the Bible is this exact statement written, it is
written. That is written 80 times in the
scriptures. 63 of them are in the New Testament,
the vast majority. 26 times in the gospel alone. The written word of God is his
gift to us. The written word of God is important. The written word of God is vital. Matter of fact, this written
word of God is the sole authority of the church and of believers. Old Testament and New Testament,
both, both. Matter of fact, well, Peter wrote
this, because I know a lot of people think, well, whatever
it says it's written, usually it means the Old Testament, and
that's true in the scriptures. What it is, it's referring to
the Old Testament. But Peter wrote this, in 2 Peter
3, 15 and 16, you don't have to turn there if you don't want
to. An account that the long suffering of our Lord is salvation,
even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom
given unto him hath written unto you. As also in all his epistles,
speaking in them of these things, in which are some things hard
to be understood, which they that are unlearned
and unstable rest, as they do, and here it is, as they do also
the other scriptures unto their own destruction. Paul states
clearly that he put Paul's epistles, Paul's writing, as scripture. He's comparing it with the other
scriptures. Because here's the thing, this
is what Peter understood and this is what the world doesn't
understand. If you're gonna disagree with Paul, you're gonna be disagreeing
with the whole book. If you're gonna disagree with
the Old Testament, you're gonna be disagreeing with the Apostle
Paul and the Lord Jesus Christ himself. Because this is one
book. It's made of many books, but
it has one message. And that is Jesus is the Christ. That's the message. But it starts
off here, many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of
his disciples, which are not written in this book. All right? If you look on the next page,
or chapter 21, and verses 24 and 25, the last two verses of
chapter 21, this is the disciple which testifieth of these things,
and wrote these things, and we know that his testimony is true. And there are also many other
things which Jesus did, the which, if they should be written, every
one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain
the books that should be written. Amen, amen. We sing a song sometimes. I've heard it sung. The half
has never yet been told. That's true, that's true. I mean,
if you stop and think about it, there's about four chapters,
five chapters in John where you're dealing with the space of one
night and the next day. And there's only 21 chapters
in the book. The half has never yet been told.
Now, here's the fact. We don't know Anything more than
what has been written in this book? That's a fact now Here's
another fact We don't know everything that has been written in this
book There is such a thing as to grow
in the grace and the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ I see
things in this book every time I look at it that I didn't know
before I Not from that particular spot. But here's the thing. The
book of Isaiah agrees with the book of John. The books of Moses
agree with the epistles of the apostle Paul. It all agrees in
one, and that one is Jesus Christ the Lord. The half has never
yet been told, but we don't know what's in here. Not all of it,
by any stretch of the imagination. Because we've got enough trouble
keeping up with what's written. That's why you have to study
to show yourself approved, a workman unto God. Rightly dividing what? The word of truth, what is written. These are written. The world
doesn't believe him or what has been written. And as a matter
of fact, there has been a conscientious effort to deny this book, to
deny the writers of this book, to deny the written word that
those writers wrote. But these are written, these
are written. But God's children, his adopted
sons and daughters, Christ's brethren, do believe him and
his word as it is written. Then John writes this, but these
are written. These are written. These words
are written down, and we have them preserved for us, translated
into English, right now. Right now. And here's the thing. These words were written because
they were to be written. God didn't leave his word up
to chance. He did not leave his word up to chance. God wanted
these to be written. 2 Timothy 3 and verse 15 and 16,
17 says this. And that from a child thou hast
known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto
salvation through faith. through faith, which is in Christ
Jesus. All scripture is given by inspiration
of God and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction,
for instruction in righteousness. Oh, in Christ. That the man of
God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works. The scriptures are important.
The scriptures are vital. They are the only guide we have
for what is true and what is not true. Now, this is not hard
for a believer, but it's impossible for an unbeliever. You understand? I mean, I've heard, what was
it Earl used to say up here? Well, God said all men are created
equal. No, that was Abraham Lincoln. God didn't say that. God said
Jesus Christ is supreme. God said Jesus Christ is superior
to men and to angels and to the prophets and to the priests and
to the kings of the Old Testament. By him, all things consist. And these are written, these
are written. What was it, 2 Peter 1 and 21
says this, for the prophecy came not in old time by the will of
man, talking about the Old Testament, but holy men of God spake as
they were moved by the Holy Ghost. Well, I know that's Old Testament,
right. But Peter went on, what? In his
next epistle, no, I'm sorry, the same epistle, chapter three,
I already read it. to say that the Apostle Paul's
words were scripture. What's that mean? He wrote as
was directed by the Holy Spirit of God. That's true. Because here's the thing. This
is the thing. Seven words, okay? I am the Lord. which everybody agrees with,
even though they don't believe it, they'll agree with that.
I am the Lord. Here's the part they don't get.
I change not. Because you understand, those
seven words are for me a glorious, gracious truth. You understand? If God loves you, he'll never
change. If Christ loves you, he's God.
Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. He'll
never change. But I'm gonna tell you something,
for some people, those same seven words, I am the Lord, I change
not, those are words of doom and despair. And they're also
the words of weeping and wailing and gnashing of teeth. Understand,
I am the Lord, I change not. And these things are written,
these are written Because those in the Old Testament were written
to those that believe. And these words that John has
written here in the New Testament, they're written to those who
believe. That's what it says. First John
two and verse 21 says this. I have not written unto you because
ye know not the truth, but because ye know it. And that no lie is
of the truth. Who is a liar? What did John
say? Who is a liar? But he that denieth
that Jesus is the Christ. These are written. He is antichrist
that denieth the Father and the Son. I wrote to you. That's what John told us. I wrote
to you. Why? That know the truth. That believe
the truth. Those who know that Jesus is
the Christ, these are written to believers, to believers. Because
there is one uncontested, incontrovertible fact about the natural man, about
the natural man, and here's that fact. The natural man will not
have this man, Jesus the Christ, to reign over him. Okay, he might
have him to reign, but he won't have him to reign over him. He
might say, oh yes, God is sovereign. He's just not sovereign over
me. But I can do what I want. I can go where I will. Oh no,
scripture's clear. Man proposes, but God disposes. The lot is cast into the lap,
rolling dice. The dispersal thereof, the disposal
thereof is of the Lord. Ah, I'd be tough being an insurance
agent, because everything would be an act of God to me. I don't
believe in accidents. I believe in providence. I believe
in providence. Jesus spoke that in a parable,
that they would not have this man to reign over them, and it's
still true. It's still true today. This unbelieving
world, while Christ was here walking on it, speaking nothing
but truth, healing, raising the dead, opening blind eyes, curing
lepers, not only just curing lepers, making them whole, making
them whole. And they went about trying to
kill it. the religious and the secular alike. They hated me,
Christ said it himself, they hated me without a cause. And you know what? That's written
too. That's written too. These things
are written, these are written. What? That you believe that Jesus
is the Christ. See here's the miracle of it.
Some do believe. As we are naturally. In our father
Adam, we're nothing but sin. There's none good, no, not one.
There's none that understandeth. There's none that, what? Seeks
after God. But some do. Some do. Christ told some himself, art
thou the Christ? Tell us. And he said unto them,
if I tell you, if I tell you, You will not believe. That's
the facts. This book is written. It's available
everywhere. People will give you one. They'll
give you one even if you don't ask for it. Some of them will. But man, the natural man, will
not have this man to reign over them. They don't like what is
written. They don't like what he said,
they don't like what he did. The things of Christ, the fact
that Jesus is the Christ is spiritually discerned. It is spiritually perceived,
understood, and believed that Jesus is the Christ. Jesus of
Nazareth Jesus of Galilee Jesus the one born of a woman made
under the law oh Made under the law what that
those under the law? Might be saved oh wow The one
that John wrote about the one whose words and actions Matthew
Mark and Luke and John wrote about They wrote it down. This Jesus is the Christ of God,
the one prophesied in the Old Testament. Yes, what was it? A child is born, but the son
was given. A child is born and the son is
given. I like that, I do. What'd he
say? He was looked for and seen in
the Old Testament. What'd he say? Christ said it
himself, Moses saw my day. But not only that, he was glad.
He was glad. Moses saw the day of Jesus Christ
and was glad. We have it written in here and
people will scoff. People will murmur, people will
complain, people will say, you talk too much about Christ. You
talk too much about Jesus. Don't you know anything else?
Well, certainly I know something else, but nothing is valuable.
I know lots of things, but that's not why I'm here. And I hope
to God that's not why you're here, and I hope that's not why
you're listening. He's the message. These are written. What? They're
written of him. Moses wrote of me. That's what Jesus Christ said.
He told some of them, he said, you search the scriptures. Why?
They're written. You search the scriptures. But
they are they which testify of me. Jesus Christ. These are written that you may
know that Jesus is the Christ. And these are written so that
I can preach that Jesus is the Christ. And you can hear that
Jesus is the Christ. This is his word. What? Why is that so important? Again,
1 John chapter five, verse one. Whosoever believeth that Jesus
is the Christ, and here it is, is born of God. Born of God. Oh, I like that. And everyone that loveth him
that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him. All right,
if you love Christ, you'll love his people. That's what it says. He that loves not his brother
is a murderer. He that hates his brother is
a murderer. And that's not talking about
your rotten brother-in-law, it's talking about your brothers and
sisters in Christ. If you love him that begat, you'll love those
that are begotten of him. Only those who are born from
above, born of God, believe that Jesus is the Christ. These are
written. These are written. What? That
Jesus is the Christ, and here he makes it even more specific.
The son of God. The son of God. There's a lot
of people going around, think Jesus was a really good teacher.
They don't do what he taught, they don't do what he said, but
they think he was a really good teacher. He had some good points.
No, this Jesus is the Christ, what? The Son of God. The Christ
is God. The Father, the Son, and the
Holy Spirit, what? These three are one. Isaiah 47 and verse 4. As for
our Redeemer, now Jesus Christ is the Redeemer. Is there any
question about that from the New Testament? As for our Redeemer,
what? The Lord of hosts is his name. Oh, what? The Holy One of Israel. Jesus is the Christ. Isaiah 48
verse two says this, for they call themselves of the holy city
and stay themselves upon the God of Israel. The Lord of hosts
is his name. What? Isaiah 51 and 15. But I am the Lord thy God. What? That divided the sea whose
waves roared. The Lord of hosts is his name. And he's your redeemer. If you're
redeemed, he's the only redeemer. He's the only redeemer. Here,
this one, Isaiah 54 and verse five, I love this one. For thy
maker is thine husband. The Lord of hosts is his name,
and thy redeemer, the Holy One of Israel. What? The God of the
whole earth, what? Shall he be called. You know
why he's gonna be called that? Because he is. That's right. The Redeemer is the God of the
whole earth. The Son of God, Jesus is the
Christ, the Son of God. This was revealed to Peter by
the Father. You know who said that? Well,
it's written down. This is written. And Simon Peter answered and
said, thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. And Jesus
answered and said unto him, blessed art thou, Simon Barjona, for
flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which
is in heaven. Oh my. What? Whosoever believeth that Jesus
is the Christ is born of God. And everyone that loveth him
that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him. I like that,
I do. Flesh and blood, if not revealed
it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven. And believing,
you have life through his name. By faith, the just live. by faith that just live, by the
faith of God's elect, by grace, through faith of Jesus Christ,
the gift of God, the called of God, we all live and move and
what? Have our being. In Christ, in Christ. Can I make that any more clear?
Knowing Christ is not the act of a natural man. It's not, it's
not. Believing Christ is not the act
of the natural man. It takes the power of God to
believe Christ. It takes the Holy Spirit of God
in you to believe Christ. Oh, that's written too. Ah, I'm gonna send the Holy Spirit,
I'm gonna send the Comforter, and he's gonna take the things
of mine and show them to you. Oh, I like that, I like that.
Knowing Christ is not the act of the natural fleshly man, because
Jesus Christ is the way, the truth, and the life. What? No man can come unto the
Father except by me. Because our life, true eternal
life, is hid with Christ in God. You don't see it. We don't see
it. But the Holy Spirit is in you
if you're born of God. If you don't have the Holy Spirit,
you're none of His. That's what it says. These are written. One more thing, just on the off
end here. What did it say about the Bereans
in the Book of Acts? They were more noble than others.
Why, what'd they do? They searched the scriptures.
They studied the scriptures. What? To see if Paul was telling
the truth. And he was. And he was. Nothing Paul wrote in the New
Testament disagrees with anything written in the Old Testament.
Jesus Christ in the gospels is the one that mostly said, it
is written. It is written. Oh my. See this is the thing
nowadays, nobody wants to search the scriptures. Hey, I got them
on my phone, okay? I got them on a tablet, I got
them on a computer at my house. And guess what, I got a little
magnifying glass there that has search function. That's how I
know it was 80 times in the whole scriptures that it was written
down. I didn't count them. You used
to have to do that. You used to get out strong concordance
and count out. And I'd miscount and count three
times to get three different numbers. So I let the computer
do it for me. But here's the thing. They don't
even want to do that. But these Marines did. And they
went the right direction. That's why I said they were more
noble. I don't know whether they believed or not. But here's the
thing. They were searching scriptures to see if these things were so
that Paul was saying. That's a good thing. Walter said
it this morning on TV. I was thinking about it and I
thought, hey, try the spirits. Am I speaking right now any different
than what this book says, what this book has written down? These
are written. If I am, you don't have to listen
to me. But if I am speaking what this book says, You better hear. You better hear. Oh, that's another
thing about those that are born of God. They'll hear us. Why? Because he's speaking according
to the scriptures. Because these things are written.
These are written. I didn't write them, and you
didn't write them. But we read them. We read them. Study to show thyself approved.
We read them and by his grace, these written things, we believe
and we speak. This is what we got. We speak
because I have nothing to say of any true spiritual value except
that which comes from the scriptures. That's all there is. What I think,
what you think, hey, it might be true. But if it's not from
this book, it's not the truth. Because what I think may be true
and what I think may not be true. But here's the thing, the scripture
is always true. Even when we don't understand
it, the scripture is always true. Scripture is always true when
we do understand it. But the script is true even when
we don't, because see the problems never with the scriptures, the
problem is with us. The problem's with me. What? But here's the thing. If you know Jesus Christ, you
will believe his word. Because if you believe Jesus
Christ, I can tell you this, he prayed for you. He prayed
for you. He's already told, I pray not
for the world. I pray for those that thou have
given me out of the world. But then here later on, John
17 verse 20 says this. Neither pray I for these alone,
but for them also which shall believe on me through their word. These are written. Oh, I like
that. They shall believe on me through
their word that they all may be one as thou, Father, art in
me and I in thee, that they also may be one in us. That the world may believe that
thou hast sent me. You understand? We believe through
the words of the apostles. the words of Christ himself,
the words of the prophets, the books of the law, Moses. We believe Christ because he's
spoken of in all of those, the whole book. There's one Lord, one faith,
one church of whom Christ is the head. But here it says in
Romans 10 and verse 14, how then shall they call on him in whom
they have not believed? And how shall they believe on
him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without
a preacher? And how shall they preach except
they be sent? As it is written, as it is written. How beautiful are the feet of
them that preach the gospel of peace and bring glad tidings
of good things. Those that are sent preach the
gospel. The gospel of peace, and that's
the same word, the gospel of good things. You know why? Because it's the gospel of Jesus
Christ. And Jesus Christ is plumbed full
of good things. Oh, I like that. Oh, and guess
what? Where do these preachers get
this gospel of peace and the gospel of glad tidings? It's
written. It's written. These are written.
This is what we got. Preach the truth written by the
Holy Spirit through the apostles, prophets, and in the law. The
gospel of God's dear son. Our Lord Jesus Christ is written
down for us, for us to read and to preach. And we are to believe
him, him. Now, because we believe him,
we believe his word. Because he has revealed himself
to us, we believe what is written. It doesn't go the other way.
He's the life, not this book. Now, like I said, this book is
important, it's vital, it's necessary, but this book is not my salvation.
Jesus Christ is salvation. God's dear son. We believe him
through the word which he has given us. The Holy Spirit of
truth glorifies Jesus the Christ. Because the Holy Spirit takes
the words of Christ and shows them to us. These things are written that
you believe that Jesus is the Christ. Now one word of warning
before I quit. It's in Revelation 22 and verse
19. If any man shall take away from the words of the book of
this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book
of life and out of the holy city and from the things which are
written in this book. What's that about? Well, if you
remember the word, two words, hermeneutical eisegesis. You
don't add anything to this book. You don't take anything out of
it, but you don't add anything to it. God said what God meant. Now, your problem might be you
don't know what he means. My problem might be I'm not sure
what he means. Well, in that case, I might need to not talk
about that part and talk about the part he has revealed to me.
Because that's one of the things Jesus did on the road to, was
it the road to Emmaus? In the end of the book of Luke.
Then opened he their understanding. What? Of the scriptures. Of the
scriptures. What? That they were about him.
That they were about the Christ. That's what it is. These are
written. He that believeth on the Son
of God hath the witness in himself. He that believeth not God hath
made him a liar. Because he believeth not. The
record, the record that God gave of his son. And this is the record
that God hath given to us eternal life and this life is in his
son. He that hath the son hath life. And he that hath not the son
of God hath not life. These things have I written unto
you. This is 1 John 5 and 13. These
things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the
Son of God, that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and
that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God, that ye may
believe that Jesus is the Christ. So these things are written.
These things are written. I didn't make up anything today.
I quoted you a bunch of scriptures. These things are written. Now
the only question left is do you believe? Do you believe him? Do you believe him? Because these
are written so that you believe. He did not leave himself without
a witness. I can witness to people, but
I'm not the witness. We've got his witness in here.
We've got his own words written down. I was listening to Henry Mann
on the way up here, and he said, a person ought to be more careful
about picking your pastor than picking your wife or your spouse,
because marriages will dissolve. but you better be under somebody
that's preaching the truth. And I agree with that. I agree
it's also very important to pick your spouse carefully too. Don't yoke yourself with an unbeliever
if you can possibly avoid it. But here's the thing. These are
written for all our needs. His word is true. His word is
always true. And they are for admonition and
rebuke. And neither admonition nor rebuke
is pleasant. Just like chastisement is not
pleasant. But afterwards it yields the
peaceable fruit of righteousness. These are written that you might
know that Jesus is the Christ. And he is the Christ whether
you know it or not. Our Heavenly Father, we're thankful
again for this time and this place, but thank you, Lord, most
of all, for your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, who did redeem
his people from their sins, who did save his people from their
sins, and he is bringing them in, calling them out, bringing
them out of the world and into your glorious light. Thank you,
Lord. Be with Paul as he comes to preach.
Give him the words we need to hear. Help us to understand your
gospel more and more every day. In Christ's name we pray, amen.