Would you turn back to the ninth
chapter of John? While you're turning there, tonight
I'm going to be speaking in Crossville to see Mary and Donnie and Frank
Tate will be preaching here tonight. Let's read this 39th verse again. And Jesus said, For judgment, that word judgment is the sentence,
the verdict. It's the carrying out of the
sentence. For judgment I am come into this
world that they which see not might see. and that they which
see might be made blind. I've entitled this message, The
Two-Fold Judgment of Christ. Now, anytime the Lord says why
he came into this world, I think we ought to listen real carefully,
don't you? Well, anything in the Bible, we ought to listen
real carefully to. But I think of these statements
the Lord makes regarding why he came into this world. For
instance, in John chapter 3, verse 17, we read where our Lord
said, God sent not his son into the world to condemn the world,
world already was condemned, but that the world through him
might be saved. In Luke chapter 19, verse 10,
the Lord said, for the son of man is come. Why? To seek and to save that which
was lost. That's why he came. 1 Timothy
1.15. This is a faithful saying and
worthy of all acceptation that Christ Jesus came into the world. Why? To save sinners. He said in John 6.38, For 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. Now here is
another simple and powerful statement regarding his coming, and it
comprehends these other scriptures I just quoted. For judgment,
I'm coming to this world. The passing of the sentence The
verdict, and here the verdict is, that they which see not might
see, and they which see might be made blind. Now, that's why Christ came.
What in the world does that mean? Now, that's the twofold judgment
of Christ. He said, this is why I came.
they which see not might see, and they which see might be made
blind. Now let's look at the first of
this chapter. This is a very lengthy chapter
regarding one miracle of our Lord. The only one that I know
that is given more detail is that of the resurrection of Lazarus,
the raising of him from the dead in John chapter 11. But there's
a lot of detail given to this particular miracle that our Lord
concludes with that statement. Verse one, and as Jesus passed
by, he saw a man. which was blind from his birth. Born blind. A fit emblem of you and me. You see, when you're blind, you
cannot see. And when you're born blind, you
really don't even know what blindness is. It's all you've ever known.
The only way you can understand blindness is if you were blind
and then given sight. Then you understand something
about blindness. But this man was born blind. He could not see. He had never
seen. You know, if you're blind, there
are things that are just beyond your comprehension. Verse 2.
And his disciples asked him, saying, Master, who did sin? this man or his parents that
he was born blind? You know, that question really
didn't make a lot of sense, does it? Is he being punished for sin
before he was even committed? He was born that way? Or is this
some kind of punishment his parents are receiving because of their
sins? But the disciples demonstrate such a judgmental attitude. This
really is ugly, isn't it? You look at this man in this
poor plight, and first thing they think is, who did sin, him
or his parents, that he was born this way? How did this happen?
Now look at our Lord's answer. Jesus answered, neither hath
this man sinned nor his parents, but that the works of God should
be manifest in him. Now the Lord is not saying that
neither one of them had ever sinned. Both he and his parents
sinned in Adam and in themselves. The Lord is saying that this
man was born blind that the works of God might be seen. And how
clearly the works of God will be seen in this man who was born
blind. The Lord says in verse four,
I must work the works of him that sent me while it's day.
The night cometh when no man can work, The night was when
the Lord would no longer be in the world. He said, I've glorified
thee on the earth. I finished the work that gave
us me to do. The time is coming when he will no longer be in
the world. As long as I'm in the world,
I am the light of the world. Verse six, when he had thus spoken,
he spat on the ground and made clay of the spittle. He made
mud and he anointed the eyes of the blind man with clay. Now
this tells me three things. Number one, God uses memes. He didn't just have his sight
return. He spit in the ground, stirred
it up, made clay, and spread it on the eyes of this blind
man. God uses memes. The second thing that I see about
this is The means have no power in themselves. How could mud in your eye restore
sight? The means themselves have no
power. And I like this too. The third
thing I see about this is God works in spite of the means. If God ever uses me or you in
any way, it'll be in spite of us. Don't you know that's so?
God uses means. Verse 7, And he said unto him,
after he spread this mud in his eyes, Go wash in the pool of
Siloam, which is by interpretation sent. He went his way therefore
and washed and came seeing. What must have that been like?
He had been born blind. And now, all of a sudden, a whole
world is open to him. And he comes seeing. He'd never
experienced anything like this. If you would have talked about
vision or what the color of something was, he would have had no inkling
of what you're talking about. But now he does. He came seeing. Verse 8. The neighbors therefore,
and they which had been which before had seen him that was
blind, said, Is not this he that sat and begged? Some said, This
is he. Others said, He's like him. But
he said, I'm he. I'm the man who sat and begged,
and I see now. Therefore said they unto him,
How were thine eyes opened? And now that's a natural response.
If you saw someone who was born blind, all of a sudden they see,
you see this glorious miracle. You'd say, How were your eyes
opened? What happened? Verse 11, I love the simplicity
and the accuracy of his testimony. He answered and said, a man that
is called Jesus made clay and anointed mine eyes and said unto
me, go to the pool of Siloam and wash. And I went and washed
and I received my sight. Ben said they unto him, where
is he? He said, I know not. They brought to the Pharisees
him that aforetime was blind. I guess they wanted some further
explanation and our buddies, the Pharisees, they think would
probably give them some more information. I mean, these guys know God,
supposedly, and they can tell us what took place. Verse 14,
and it was the Sabbath day when Jesus made the clay. You know, I love the way the
Lord picked the Sabbath day to perform the great majority of
his miracles. He had many reasons for it, no
doubt, but one of them was to get under the skin of the Pharisees.
I have no doubt about that. He did that purposely. Oh, how
this annoyed them and how this angered them. Look at their response.
And it was the Sabbath day when Jesus made the clay and opened
his eyes. Then again, the Pharisees also
asked him how he'd received his sight. And he said unto them,
he put clay upon mine eyes and I've lost and do see. Therefore
said some of the Pharisees, this man is not of God because he
keepeth not the Sabbath day. Others said, how can a man that's
a sinner do such miracles? And there was a division among
them. You know, there's always a division.
There's always a division. And we see the ridiculous thoughts
of the Pharisees. He broke the Sabbath. He couldn't
be of God. Verse 17. They say unto the blind
man again, what sayest thou of him that he hath opened thine
eyes? Well, he said, he's a prophet.
He believed this man to be a prophet. How could he do this if he wasn't
of God? But the Jews did not believe
concerning him with even more evidence that he had been blind
and received a sight until they called the parents of him that
had received a sight. And they asked them saying, is
this your son who you say was born blind? How then doth he
now see? Now, I have no doubt that his
parents knew how he was given sight. of the Pharisees. They were so
afraid of what they would think. And this shows the bondage of
man's religion, what it does to people. Look at their response. Verse 19, And they answered them,
saying, Is this your son, who you say was born blind? How then
doth he now see? His parents answered them and
said, We know that this is our son, and that he was born blind.
But by what means he now seeth, we know not. Or who hath opened
his eyes? We know not. He's of age, ask
him. He should speak for himself.
These words spake his parents because they feared the Jews. For the Jews had agreed already
that if any man did confess that he was Christ, he should be put
out of the synagogue. They feared excommunication. Ask him, verse 24. Then again
called they the man that was blind said unto him, give God
the praise. We know that this man is a sinner. That was their estimation of
the Lord Jesus Christ. You give God the praise. We know
what this man is. Look at his answer. He answered
and said, whether he be a sinner or no, I know not. One thing
I know, that whereas I was blind, Now I see. Now he did not yet know who the
Lord Jesus Christ was, or he wouldn't have said, I don't know
whether or not he was a sinner. He would have known this is the
son of God. He didn't yet know who he was,
but he knew about his own experience. That's all he could say, his
physical experience. He didn't yet know who Christ
was, but he knew I was blind. I was born blind. And now I see. Verse 26, then said they to him
again, what did he to thee? How opened he thine eyes? Now
he'd already told them, hadn't he? I love this guy. He answered them, I've told you
already and you didn't hear. Wherefore would you hear it again?
Will you also be his disciples? I can see the sarcasm in this.
You got to like this guy. You fellas want to be his disciples? Verse 28, then they reviled him
and said, thou art his disciple, but we are Moses' disciples. We know that God spake unto Moses. As for this, Zero, that's basically
what they mean when they say this fellow, this zero, he doesn't
even deserve a title. We know not from whence he is.
Now, number one, they claim to be Moses' disciples, but were
they? No. Our Lord said, Moses wrote
of me. If they would have been Moses'
disciples, they would have bowed the knee to the Lord Jesus Christ,
and they would have found in him all. They weren't Moses'
disciple. And the man sees the ridiculousness
of them. Verse 30, the man answered and
said unto them, why herein is a marvelous thing that you know
not from whence he is. And yet he hath opened my eyes. You guys are ridiculous. I was
born blind and he opened my eyes and you're balking and you don't
know where he came from. Verse 31, now we know. This is the man who was given
sight. Now we know that God heareth not sinners, but if any man be
a worshiper of God and doeth his will, him he heareth. Now that's the truth. That's
the truth. God doesn't hear sinners. But aren't you thankful that
Christ Jesus the Lord is the friend of publicans and sinners?
And God hears him, and he brings sinners into God's presence,
and they're accepted. But this man demonstrated some
understanding of who God is that these men had no idea of. He says in verse 32, since the
world began, was it not heard that any man opened the eyes
of one that was born blind? If this man were not of God,
he could do nothing. He had some understanding that
this man was of God. Verse 34, listen to the haughty
arrogance of this. They answered and said unto him,
thou wast altogether born in sins, and dost thou teach us? And they cast him out. They kicked
him out of the church. They excommunicated this man
because of his presuming to teach them. Verse 35, Jesus heard that they'd cast him out. And when he found him, I like
that, don't you? The Lord went and found this
man. He heard they kicked him out. And he went and found him
and said unto him, Dost thou believe on the son of God? Now this is THE issue. This is THE issue. Dost thou believe on the Son
of God? Verse 36, He answered and said,
Who is he, Lord? that I might believe on him."
You see, he didn't yet know who he was. You know, I've heard
people use that statement he said earlier, I was blind now,
I see, I might not understand this and that, but I was blind
now. Now, I love that statement too, but he didn't know the Lord
when he made that statement. And he reveals that at this time.
He says, who is he, Lord, that I might believe? You see, you
cannot believe on an unrevealed Christ. Who is he, Lord? that I might believe. Verse 37,
and Jesus said unto him, thou hast both seen him, and it is
he that talketh with thee. You're looking at him. I am the child that was born,
the son that was given. Oh, this son was never born.
This is the eternal son. I am the wonderful counselor,
the mighty God, the everlasting father, the prince of peace.
I that speak unto thee, am he. What a blessed revelation. When you find out who he is. Verse 38, and he said, Lord, I believe. And he worshiped him. Wherever you have faith, you
have worship. You worship him as God the Son, I believe, and he worshiped him. Now you'll only worship an absolute
sovereign. If you can manipulate him, if
you can do things to make him respond and get him to do what
you want him to do, you'll never worship him. But you only worship
an absolute sovereign, him who is God, him who can do with you
whatever he is pleased to do. He said, Lord, I believe that Jesus Christ is
the Son of God. Do you believe that? Do you believe
he's the uncreated, eternal creator, the second person of the blessed
Trinity, the God-man? He said, Lord, I believe, and he
worshiped. And then the Lord gives us his
mission statement. He tells us why he came. And I am so interested in the
Lord's description to us as to why he came. And look what he says. And Jesus
said, for judgment. I am come into this world. The verdict, the sentence, and
here it is, that they which see not might see, and that they which see might
be made blind. Now here is the two-fold judgment
of Christ. He came for judgment, and here's
the judgment. Here's his sentence. Here's his verdict. Everyone
who is blind, who cannot see, is given sight. And everyone
who sees is made blind. That is the judgment of the Lord
Jesus Christ. All who cannot see are given
sight, and all who can see are made blind. And listen, all, A-double-L all, no exceptions
to this rule, all who believe themselves to be so sinful that
they cannot see why God would look in favor on them. God saves. All who can see why God would
look in favor on them. After all, I fill in the blank,
whatever it is, all who can see why God would save them are made
blind. They are blinded by God. Now, how many people upon hearing
the gospel And let me remind you what I mean by hearing the
gospel. I'm talking about the gospel of how God saves sinners. The gospel of sovereign saving
grace. The Gospel that declares how
God the Father has elected a people before time began to be saved.
The Gospel that declares how God the Son effectually redeemed
everybody He came for. He laid down His life for the
sheep and accomplished their salvation. The Gospel that declares
the saving work of God the Holy Spirit. How He comes invincibly
and irresistibly and gives life to all that the Father elected
and all that the Son redeemed. Now that is the gospel. If that's
not preached, the gospel is not preached. Now, how many people, upon hearing
the gospel of God's grace, say, how can that be fair? How can it be fair for God to
save some and pass by others? How can it be fair for God to
make a difference with some and not make that same difference
with others. If it's in God's power to save
everybody, why doesn't he do it? I would. I will. You say that. You say that. But when it comes right down
to it, if salvation were up to me or you, nobody would be saving
me. Now you can say that all you
want, but if somebody crosses you enough, At some time, you'll
say, that's it. And that's actually sitting in
horrible judgment upon God, presuming to be his judge. That's not the
way I do things. But when you find out you're
a sinner. And what a revelation that is. When you find out that you're
a sinner and that all you are in and of yourself is sin. A sinner by birth, you were actually
born that way. A sinner by choice, you choose
to be a sinner. A sinner by practice, that is
your practice. You know at least one person
who has absolutely no claims on God. You. You might not be real clear
about everybody else, but you're clear about yourself. If God
didn't choose you, if Christ didn't die for you, if God the
Holy Spirit does not give you life and you're sentenced to
an eternity in hell, Just and holy is his name. Do you believe that? Do you believe
that about yourself? Come on now. Do you really believe
that about yourself? You see absolutely nothing in
you that could ever recommend you to God. Can you pray with
the publican? God, be merciful. If you give me what I deserve
in any way to any degree, I'll be cut off. God, be merciful
to me, the sinner. You really don't think It would
not be fair for him to pass you by after all you've done this
or that. You cannot see why he would save
you if it has anything to do with you. Would that be you? That is the person who's given
sight. Isn't that wonderful? That is
the person that God gives sight to. You are made to see and to
rejoice in salvation for Christ's sake. And while there is no reason
in you why he would save you, there is infinite reason in Christ. as to why he would save you. You see, all of God's salvation
is in Christ, and you're made to understand that. I was chosen
in him. Elections aren't just a doctor
to argue about. I was chosen in him. Christ be
my first elect, he said, then chose us in him, our living head.
I'm justified in Christ. His righteousness is my justification
before God. His precious blood is my sin
payment. His resurrection is my salvation. You're made to see that all, that all, A-double-O-L,
that God requires of you, He looks to His Son for. Isn't that a blessed revelation?
All pressure is gone. You hear the same thing that
Jacob heard when Judah said that he will act as the surety for
Benjamin. This is what Christ said to his
father regarding us. I will be surety for him. Of mine hand shalt thou require
him. If I bring him not unto thee
and set him before thee, let me bear the blame forever. That is what Christ said to his
father concerning all who can't see why God would save them. He said, I will be surety for
them. Of my hand shalt thou require
of him. The Lord said to his father,
all you expect out of him, you look to me for. If I don't bring
him to you and set him before you, let me bear the blame forever. You see that Christ took full
responsibility for your salvation and your response is, why me? Why would he look in such favor
and such grace toward me? I stand amazed in the presence
of Jesus the Nazarene and wonder how he could love me, a sinner
condemned, unclean. Why me? But if you're in the other group,
I see why God would save me. It's because I and you fill in
the blank. If I comes in there, it's damning. I can see why God would save
me because I fill in the blank. I don't care what it is. If you're
one of those people who presumes to certain judgment upon God. How could it be fair for him
to save one and pass by another? Which translated is, how could
it be fair for him to pass by me? You've been made blind. You're
blind. You cannot see. You can't see
who God is. You can't see who you are. And
I pray God gives you sight, that sight that only comes from seeing
the meaning of the cross. Oh, may God give everybody here
that sight. But let's go on reading verse
40. Now there were some Pharisees
listening when the Lord said this in verse 39. And Jesus said,
for judgment, I'm coming to this world that they would see not
might see, and that they would see might be made blind. And some of the Pharisees which
were with him heard these words, and they said unto him, Are we blind also? What about
us? Are you talking about us? I think
they kind of got the feeling he was. Are you talking about
us? Verse 41, Jesus said unto them,
if you were blind, you should have no sin. Anybody that's blind, I don't
care who you are, if you're blind, if you cannot see in and of yourselves
why God would look in favor toward you." You know what? You have
no sin. He didn't simply say, your sins
are forgiven or your sins are not charged to you. He said,
you have no sin. But now you say, we see. Therefore, your sin remaineth. It's still on you. Now there
are two kinds of people in this world. Those who have no sin. And those whose sin remaineth. No sin? Surely the Lord didn't mean that
they don't have any sin. That's exactly what he meant. Sin is the transgression of the
law. And he was manifested to take
away our sins. And in him is no sin. If I'm in him, I have If I'm in Him, I have no sin. Whoso abideth in Him, sinneth
not. But if I'm one of those folks
who say, I can see why God saved me, I did this, I did that, I
believe this, I believe that, I experienced this, I remember
what I blah, blah, blah, blah, blah. Your sin remaineth." Oh,
what a horrible place to be. Your sin remaineth. If any part of salvation, acceptance
with God, is dependent on me. There is no hope for me. Thank God. Everything God requires of me,
he looks to his son for. And I love it that way. Let's pray.