Remind you we're going to have
a church dinner this Sunday after morning worship service, and
if some of us could put up the tables and chairs tonight, that
would be helpful. Let's read verse 36 again. He that believeth, on the sun hath everlasting life. And he that believeth not the
sun shall not see life, but the wrath of God abideth on him. Now we have two people described
in that verse of scripture, and I'll be describing both myself
and you. We fit into this, one of these
two groups, he that believes on the sun and he that believeth not the
sun. I'm one of those two people.
You're one of those two people. And this is said in a way, he
that believes on the Son, that's what he is. He believes. That's
what he does. He believes the Son. And the
one who does not believe, that's what he is. He's one who does
not believe the Son. That's what he does. He does
not believe the Son. I hope by the end of this message
we will know which one of these groups we're in and how sobering
it is when John tells us that one who does not believe on the
Son, the wrath of God abides on him. I don't know of anything
more sobering than that. Now let's pick up in verse 22
of John chapter 3. After these things came Jesus
and his disciples into the land of Judea and there he tarried
with them and baptized. People were hearing what he was
saying and they were being baptized. Remember, whosoever believeth
and is baptized the same shall be saved. He that believeth not
shall be damned. Those were the words of the Lord
and people were hearing what he was saying and they were being
baptized. Verse 23, and John also was baptizing
in Aonon near to Salem because there was much water there And
they came and were baptized for John was not yet cast into prison. John the Baptist was doing the
same thing. He was baptizing people. Verse 25, then seeing
these two different men baptizing the baptism of John the Baptist
and the baptized baptism of the Lord Jesus Christ. Two men were
baptizing and this created a debate. Then there arose a questioning
and that means a debate between some of John's disciples and
the Jews about purifying. Now, they do what religious people
do. This is always a debate between
religious people. This is why there are different
religions. This is why there are different denominations.
This is why there are different groups, even within Christianity,
what they call Christianity, all of which believe they have
the best method of purifying. Baptists are better about this.
No, Methodists have a clearer view of what it means to be purified. No, the Catholics have it down,
what needs to be done for purification, cleansing. What brand of religion
does this the best? John baptizing, does that lend
itself to a better form of purification than the baptism of the Lord
Jesus Christ? Or does Christ's baptism, does
it lend itself to a better view of purification than John's baptism? There's always a debate. There's
actually a competition between religious people. Who is the
best at this thing of purification? What's the most accurate way,
what is the best way. And anytime we have divisions
within religion, you have one group claiming to be better or
having more of a handle on this thing of purification. And that's
what was going on there. Now, let me say this. The only
person who understands purification is the person who believes What
the writer to the Hebrews said when they said he by himself
purged, that's the same word, made purification for our sins. That is the way of purification. And to look at it in any other
view is to look at it in a wrong way. Look in chapter four, verse
one. When therefore the Lord knew
the Pharisees had heard that Jesus made and baptized more
disciples than John, though Jesus himself baptized not but his
disciples. He left Judea and departed again into Galilee. Now, I love the way the Lord
just leaves this. There's a debate going on. The
Lord's baptizing more disciples than John is. There must be something
better about him. You know, there's always competition
in religion. Who has the most converts? Who
has the most baptisms? What's the first thing somebody
asks you about your church? How many folks go there? How
many are there? First thing people ask. As if
that's a gauge as to whether or not there's anything accurate
about it or whether there's, or it's successful a little bit,
well, you're not very successful a bunch, yeah, the Lord's really
using you. There's competition in godliness. Somebody thinking,
well, I'm more spiritual or I have more understanding. And they
were doing that at this time. The Lord was baptizing more people
than John. And I love the way the Lord just left. He just left. He's not going to have anything
to do with anything like that. He just left. Verse 26, 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. He's got a bigger following than
you. He's got more influence than you. Everybody is coming
to him. Verse 27, John answered and said, Oh, may this be written in our
heart, a man can receive nothing except to be given him from heaven. Now, John says with regard to
These baptisms, the Lord is performing. This is the Lord's work. A man
can receive nothing except it be given him from heaven. Do
you know you've got to have it given to you even to receive
Christ. You won't receive him unless
that is given to you. You won't have faith unless that
is given to you. A man can receive nothing except
it be given him from above. If I've not received, he never
gave. Everybody he gives the gift of
his grace to, you know what they do? They receive it. willingly,
joyfully. They're mighty glad to do it,
but they receive it. Verse 28, you yourselves bear
witness that I said I'm not the Christ, but that I'm sent before
him. I never claimed to be anything
but a voice. You're asking me about more people being baptized
by Christ than me. I never said I was the Christ.
Look in John chapter one with me for a moment, beginning in
verse 19. And this is the record of John
when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask
him, who are you? And he confessed and denied not,
but confessed, I'm not the Christ. And they said in him, what then
are you Elijah? And he said, no. Are you that
prophet? And he answered, no. Then said
they unto him, who art thou then that we may give an answer to
them that sent us? What sayest thou of thyself? He said, I'm the voice, just
a voice, nothing more. He didn't give his name. The voice of one in the wilderness,
crying in the wilderness, make straight the way of the Lord
as the prophet Isaiah, as said the prophet Isaiah. And they
which were sent were of the Pharisees, and they asked him, and said
unto him, Why baptizest thou then, if thou be not that Christ,
nor Elias, neither that prophet? John answered them, saying, I
baptize with water, but there standeth one among you, whom
you know not. He it is who coming after me
is preferred before me, for he was before me, whose shoe latchet
I am not worthy to unloose. Now that was John the Baptist.
testimony at this time. Now look what he said back in
John chapter three. You yourselves bear witness that
I said what I just read. I'm not the Christ, but that
I'm sent before him. He that hath the bride is the
bridegroom. You know, John the Baptist understood
what Paul taught in Ephesians chapter five. Christ is the bridegroom
of the church. The church is the bride. He understood
that. He knew that. 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. If they leave me and go to him,
my joy is fulfilled. That's what I want. Do you think
that this is a slam against me because they're going to him?
I love it this way. This is exactly what I want to
see. Men and women coming to the Lord
Jesus Christ. Verse 30. He must increase. But I must decrease. Now, that's the desire of every
believer. I say that first. Was that the
desire of the preacher? Yeah, but I say this first with
regard to every believer. He must increase. That's what
we want. And we want to decrease to where we're not even seen
and he's all that is that's seen. And that's the desire of the
preacher. He must increase. but I must decrease. Verse 31, he that cometh from
above is above all. Now he's talking about the Lord
Jesus Christ. How many times did the Lord say, particularly
in the book of John, I came down from heaven. I imagine people
just about flipped out when he said that. What if I said to
you, I came down from heaven? Why, you'd say, you're a liar. And
I'm sure they thought the same thing about the Lord Jesus Christ
when he said that. I came down from heaven. He said in John
chapter six, verse 38, I came down from heaven, not to do my
own will, but the will of him that sent me. And this is the
will of him that sent me, that of all which he hath given me,
I should lose nothing, but raise it up again at the last day."
He's talking about himself when he says, he that cometh from
above is above all. That's John talking about the
Lord Jesus Christ. He's the one who came from above.
He's above all. You know what that means? Everybody's
under him. Everybody's under him. He controls everybody and
everything, every thought, every event. He's above all. He that is of the earth is earthy. You know who John the Baptist
talked about there? Himself. Every son of Adam, made of earth,
made of dirt, he's earthy. You know, when I'm preaching
the gospel, you know something that's very apparent to me while
I'm preaching it? I'm earthy. I'm earthy. I'm a weak, sinful man and didn't
Paul say we have this treasure in earthen vessels? That the excellency of the power
might be of God and not of us. John the Baptist was speaking
of himself and really everybody else except the Lord when he
said that he that is of the earth is earthy and speaketh of the
earth. He that cometh from heaven is above all. And what he has
seen and heard speaking of the one who came from heaven and
what he has seen and heard that he testifies. Oh, I love the
testimony of the Lord. Don't you? He testifies that
which he's seen and heard of his father. He speaks the words
of God. He that has seen and what he
has seen and heard that he testified and no man received with his
testimony. He brings the very Word of God, He brings the very
Gospel, and no man, me and you won't, unless God gives His grace
to. We won't receive His testimony,
we'll reject His testimony. The natural man, listen to this
scripture, 1 Corinthians 2, 14, the natural man receiveth not
the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness unto
the end. Neither indeed can he know them. He lacks the ability to know
them because they're spiritually discerned. For me or you to be
able to understand the gospel, he's got to give us a new spirit.
A natural man can't understand the gospel, only the spiritual
man. Now, I realize that this word
is almost in vogue in our day. Somebody says, I'm spiritual.
I hate it when people say that. I'm a spiritual person. Well,
no, you're not. No, you're not. Only a believer
is a spiritual person. He's been given a new spirit.
He's got a spiritual nature, the gift of the Holy Spirit.
He is spiritual and it takes only a spiritual person, someone
birthed by the Spirit of God, given a new nature, can understand
the things of God. He that is spiritual, the scripture
says, discerneth, understandeth all things, but no man receives
his testimony. Verse three, he that hath received
his testimony. Now there's some that do receive
his testimony. Who are they? We'll look back in John one for
a moment. Verse 11, he came unto his own and his
own received him not, but as many as received him. To them gave he power to become
the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name." There's
what they do. They believe on his name. His
name is his attributes. It's the person behind the name.
It's not just being able to know that his name is Jesus Christ.
It's knowing he's sovereign, that he's holy, that he's omnipotent,
that he's omnipresent. that he is all-wise, that he's
all-powerful, that he's immutable, that he's independent, and you're
believing on his name to save you. This is the only one who
can save you, someone that is described by his name. We believe
on his name. To as many as received him, to
them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them
which believe on his name, which were born, birthed by God, not
of blood, not because their mom and dad were Christians, not
of the will of the flesh, not as an act of man's free will,
not of the will of man, because a bunch of men got together and
said, we're going to pray for this person until they're saved.
Now they're born of God. That's the person who receives
Christ. The person who is born of God. Back to our text, verse
33, he that hath received his testimony, the testimony of the
gospel has set to his seal that God is true. And the seal is the mark of authenticity. And you know what the mark of
authenticity of a believer is? They have the Holy Spirit. Ephesians
chapter one, verse 13 says, you are sealed with that Holy Spirit
of promise. He's called the earnest. He's
the proof that God's done something for you. We have God, the Holy
Spirit, and he that has received his testimony, and that's what
every believer does. That's what whoever's born of
God does. He that's received his testimony has said to his
seal that God is true. Now, if you and I have been sealed
by the Holy Spirit of promise, you know what? We believe God
is true. It's that simple. We believe
that God is true and everything he says is the truth. Do you
believe that? Do you believe God is true? Do
you believe everything he says is the truth? That's the seal
of God the Holy Spirit. Verse 34, for he whom God hath
sent speaketh the words of God. For God giveth not the Spirit
by measure unto him. Now, if I'm a believer, I have
a measure of the Spirit. A measure. given in the new birth. I don't have the fullness of
the Holy Spirit. And when I'm even talking about that, I'm
just saying stuff that I believe and don't understand. I don't
have the fullness of the Holy Spirit. The Lord Jesus Christ
did. You see, he had complete dependence,
complete communion with God the Holy Spirit. And when he spake,
every word was inspired by the Spirit of God as the Word of
God. Now, the only time I can for
sure say I'm speaking the Word of God is when I'm reading the
scriptures. And the only way you can know if what I'm teaching
is the word of God is by the scriptures. When the Lord spake,
it was as one having authority. Not like the scribes, not like
those religious idiots is what they're saying. He spake as one
having authority. Look in John chapter six for
a moment. Verse 59, these things said he
in the synagogue as he taught in Capernaum, many therefore
of his disciples when they had heard this said, this is an hard
saying. This is a hard word. We don't
like this. We don't agree with this. This
doesn't fit into our way of thinking. This is a hard saying. This is
a harsh saying. This is an austere saying. This
is cold. This is dry. The word dry comes
out of this word. They heard the words of the Lord
in John chapter six and they said, well, this is dry doctrine.
This is harsh. This is austere. Who can hear
this? Who can be expected to hear this?
It would behoove us to go back and read what it was he said.
I'm not gonna do that right now, but I hope you do that on your
own. Verse 61, when Jesus knew in
himself that his disciples murmured at it, what he said, he said
unto them, did this offend you? What I've said, do you find it
offensive? Are you in disagreement? Verse 62, what and if you shall
see the Son of Man and stand up where he was before. Now you're
hearing me speak from earth and you're offended. How offended
are you gonna be when you see me speaking from the throne?
The exact same things. You're offended now, you'll really
be offended then. Verse 63, it is the spirit that
quickeneth, that gives life. The flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak unto you,
they're spirit and they are life. That is how God's people respond
to the word of Christ, their spirit. the very Word of God,
their life. Life itself is in the Word of
the Lord Jesus Christ. Now go back to our text. John
chapter 3, verse 34, For he whom God hath
sent speaketh the words of God. For God giveth not the Spirit
by measure unto him, the Father loveth the Son, and hath given
all things into his hand. I wish I could speak on that
the way it ought to be spoken. The Father loveth the Son. He says, this is the son of my
love. This is my well beloved son. This is the one who's altogether
lovely. The father loveth the son. Everything about his son, the
father loves. Oh, he sees such glory in everything
concerning his son. He is altogether lovely. You
know, I think of that passage in scripture where Paul said
in 1 Corinthians 16, verse 22, if any man loved not the Lord
Jesus Christ, let him be anathema, maranatha. Let him be damned
upon the return of the Lord. Was Paul being harsh? Was he
being unloving? No, no. If somebody doesn't love him
who is altogether lovely, they ought to be damned. That's just
so. And I know if I do love him,
he gave me that love. And I can't give myself the credit
for that, but I do love him. Like Peter said, Lord, you know
all things. You know that I love you. The father loveth the son and
giveth all things into his hands. I have all things, all the things
of creation He created. The world was made by Him and
without Him was not anything made that was made. All things
of providence, He's the first cause of. He's in control of
everything. Salvation, my dear friends, is
His will being done. He says, as the Father raises
the dead and quickens them, even so the Son quickens whom He will. All things are delivered into
the hand of the Lord Jesus Christ. Now here's our text, and I'm
not going to spend much time, but I think it was good to read
everything that came up to this verse. He that believeth on the
Son Hath everlasting life. Now that's not talking just about
the longevity of life, you know that. That's talking about the
life of God in the soul. Eternal life. The gift of God. What's the evidence of having
eternal life? You believe on the Son. He that
believeth on the Son hath everlasting life, and he that believeth not
the Son of God shall not see life. but the wrath of God abideth
on him. Now, he that believeth on the
Son. Now, let me say something about
faith. Faith is not believing you're saved. Do you get that? Faith is not
having assurance that you're saved. Well, I know I'm saved. You know, as soon as I say that,
I know I'm saved. You can't tell me any different.
I know I'm saved. Something happens inside. I thought, are you sure? Are
you sure? I've heard people say that to
me. I know I'm saved. Well, I hope you are. I don't
know it, but I hope you are. But faith is not knowing that
you're saved. Faith is believing on the son. Somebody, maybe in here right
now, is struggling with assurance. I'm afraid I'm not saved. I'm
afraid I'm not saved. How could somebody that's saved
think the things I think and do the things I do? I'm afraid
I'm not really saved. Well, let me ask you this. Do
you believe that Jesus Christ is the son of God? Do you believe
he's all in salvation? Do you? Is that not saving faith? Whoso
believeth, 1 John 5, 1, whoso believeth that Jesus is the Christ
is born of God. Now let me illustrate this to
you. The Lord told Peter, you're gonna
deny that you even know me three times, but I prayed for you. that your faith fail not. Now, Peter was there listening
when the Lord said, anyone who denies me before men, him will
I deny before my father, which is in heaven. You reckon he heard
that? You know he did. The Lord said
that on numerous occasions. Well, what does Peter do? I know not the man. Three times,
I know not the man. Out of cowardice, out of fear
of men, out of fear of what would happen, I know not the man. I don't claim any association
with this man. I don't know who he is. And he
even did so with cursing and swearing. I know not the man. Now, after Peter did this, I feel
quite sure that he thought of the Lord's words, who so denieth
me before men, him will I deny before my Father which is in
heaven. And I'm sure Peter thought there ain't no hope for me. I've
been cut off. I'm no believer according to
the Lord's testimony. Remember what the Lord prayed
for him? He prayed that his faith fail not. Not his assurance. He lost his assurance. But you
know something Peter never quit doing that whole time? He never
quit believing that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God. That
is what faith is. Faith is not believing you're
saved. Now, it's great to have assurance, and when you look
to Christ, you'll have assurance. When you look within, it'll leave.
But faith is a, assurance is a great thing to have, but assurance
is not faith. Faith is what you believe with regard to Him. He
that believeth on the Son. That's it. He that believeth
who He is. He's the Son of God. He's incapable
of failure. He's God manifest in the flesh.
All the fullness of the Godhead dwells in His body. He's God
the Son. He's the Christ, God's Christ. That's faith. He that believeth
on the Son hath. That means he's got it. He's got it. Hath everlasting
life. The life of God in his soul. He that believeth not the Son shall not see life, but the wrath
of God abideth on him. Now let me tell you something
about faith and something about unbelief. You only believe when
you have no choice. It's not like you have any other
options. You only believe when there's nothing left to believe.
You don't have to make a choice between two different positions.
You believe because you have no choice. You know, I don't
choose to believe. I just believe. Well, I'm gonna
believe. No, it doesn't work that way.
You believe because you have no choice. But if you do not
believe, you have chosen not to believe. There's choice involved. Do you hear the truth? I don't
believe that. You chose to not believe that. You believe because
you, Have no choice. You don't believe because that
is your choice. You do not believe what is being
said. Now I want to close with six
statements about faith. Number one, believing on the
son is faith. He that cometh to God must Believe
that He is. And that's not just talking about
believing He exists. You believe He is the Son of
God. You believe He is the righteousness that God accepts. You believe
He is the way, the truth, and the life, and that no man comes
to the Father but by Him. You believe He is. Faith, secondly,
is the gift of God. By grace do you save through
faith. In fact, not of yourselves, it's the gift of God. Listen,
if you're having a hard time believing, ask the Lord to give
you faith. That's the best thing you could
do. Lord, give me faith. I don't even know what it means.
Give me faith. Enable me to believe the gospel. You said it's your
gift. I need it. Give me your gift. Faith is the
gift of God. Ephesians 2, 8 and 9. Number three, faith is the initial
grace. Now what do I mean by that? Well, when you live, you believe. And every other grace flows from
saving faith. Let me give you an example of
that. The Lord looked at his disciples and he said, if your
brother sins against you seven times, In the same day, and let's
think this is not just, I mean bad stuff. If your brother sins
against you seven times in the same day and turns around and
says to you all seven times, I repent, you're to forgive him
willingly, freely. You know what the disciples said?
Lord, increase our ability to forgive. No, they didn't say
that. They said, increase our faith. You see, if my faith is
increased, everything else will be increased. Faith is the initial
grace and faith has, fourth faith has only one object, not Christ
and Christ alone. At all times, not Christ and. Not Christ and my experience,
not Christ and my knowledge, not Christ and my anything. It's
got only one object, Christ alone. Fifth, faith's foundation is
the Word of God. Faith cometh by hearing. Hearing
by the Word of God. We will not have faith apart
from the Word of God. Of his own will beget he us with
the Word of truth. Being born again, not of corruptible
seed, but of incorruptible by the Word of God, which liveth
and abideth forever. And here's the last statement.
Faith rests. there remaineth a rest for the
people of God." Faith rests in Christ. And if you're resting,
you know what you're not doing? You're not working. You're resting. Resting in this
glorious truth that what he did by himself completely accomplished
my salvation and I rest in who he is and what he did. Oh there's
such power in his blood that I can rest. Faith rests in Christ. It doesn't work. Now I want I wanna leave it at that. Every
time I make a statement about grace, I think, well, I need
to qualify this. I don't want anybody to get the
idea that, rest! Give me something else, no! Rest! They which believed do enter
into a rest. He that has entered into his
rest has ceased from his own works, as God did also from his. Let's pray together. Lord, how we thank you for your
gospel and we ask in Christ's name that by your grace you would
give us the grace to believe on the Son and have everlasting
life. In Christ's blessed name we pray,
amen. We're missing a song right now.
Drew, we can get through it. Rich, do all that thrills my soul is
Jesus. All that thrills my soul is Jesus. Let's stand and sing
all that thrills my soul is Jesus. I'll tell you the number after
I look it up. And Kelly, can you get my glasses? 463. 463. by his precious soul divine. True and tender, pure and precious,
oh, how blessed to call him mine. All that thrills my soul is Jesus, Love of Christ so freely given,
praise the Lord.