John Lesson 15

Introduction

Very pleasant good day to you and welcome to Let the Bible speak. Get your New Testaments and open with me to the reading found in the fifth chapter of the Gospel of John. John chapter five, we will begin our study today from John 5, beginning in verse 25. We’ve been going through in a verse by verse study the Gospel of John, and we’ve had two or three lessons already in this fifth chapter, it’s a very important chapter. But really to go through the Gospel of John that takes some careful study and analysis. While there’s some places we may move a little faster than we will at other places, yet we hope always to keep the Scripture in its context. Understanding the thought and making and agree with all else that the Bible says on any particular subject.

This is indeed the best way to study the Bible, and we hope that you’re following right along with us. There are many who are taking the correspondence course, they’re taking the study notes and studying on your own and working out for yourself what the Word of God says. I hope that it has enriched your life and filled your life, or indeed, in the Word of God is life. In John chapter 5, in verse 24, we observed in our last study how that Jesus made the promise of everlasting life on the conditions that he that heareth me and that believeth in him that sent me. And furthermore, he talked about the assurance of that eternal life, that those who have eternal life, that is, those who continue to believe on him and continue to hear the word, that they have they have passed even from death unto life.

They shall not come into condemnation. That does not mean that one cannot, that it is impossible for him to to so sin as to be lost, that one saved always saved, as it is sometimes phrased. That is not really what is being taught here. The verb tense, however, is such that says that there is security of the believer. That if indeed we continue to hear and continue to believe, that we will have that confidence that is in Christ Jesus, that assurance of knowing that we have the remission of our sins and the promise of life everlasting. But if we should draw back, and if we should cease continuing in that faith, then we can so sin as to be lost. We’re going to continue our study in John chapter 5.

If you have a testament, please read with read with me now, verses 25 through verse 29. Where Jesus said, Verily, verily I say unto you, the hour is coming, and now is when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God, and they that hear shall live. For as the Father hath life in himself, so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself, and hath given him authority to execute judgment also, because he is the Son of Man. Marvel not at this, for the hour is coming into which all that are in the grave shall hear his voice and shall come forth. They that have done good under the resurrection of life, and they that have done evil under the resurrection of damnation.

Quite an important verse, and really it is tied in to what Jesus has just previously said. We may recall that in the context of John 5, Jesus healed a man who had been infirm for some thirty-eight years. And the Jews reacted uh rather angrily to that good work. They really couldn’t say anything about the miracle, they did not deny the miracle, and they didn’t say anything about the good deed that Jesus had done. All they said was, You’ve broken the Sabbath. And Jesus in verses 17 and 18, in fact, replied, If I have broken the Sabbath, then so has my Father in heaven. Well then they got angry at him for that because they said, You make yourself equal with God. And Jesus, of course, was deity.

He was in the form of Godhood, he made himself of no reputation, became like man in the form of a servant. He is God. He is the Son of God. He is in the form of Godhood, and He became manhood. So there is a sense in which he was equal with God, that is in nature, in his eternal character. But he is not the same as the Father. But in that he, what works he did were of the Father, he was speaking the truth. They thought he was speaking blasphemous. But you may remember in verse 20, where Jesus said, The Father loveth the Son, and showeth him all things that himself doeth, and he will show him greater works than these, that ye may marvel. Now, what are the greater works that Jesus performed than the works or the signs which they actually witnessed?

Did he do greater works than turning water to wine? Did he do greater works than healing the nobleman’s son who was a full day’s journey away that we studied back in John chapter 4? Did he do greater works than healing this man who was infirm for thirty-eight years? Or as we continue to look at the life of Christ, did he do greater works than walking on the water? Or taking five loaves and two fishes and feeding the multitude of five thousand men, plus women and children? What were their greater works than than raising Lazarus from the dead? Well, there are greater works that Jesus did. And I believe that’s what he’s really explaining for us in these verses that we’ve been studying from verse 24 through even now through verse 29.

1. The Greater Works: The Dead Shall Hear and Live

The greater works had to do with man’s soul. Jesus Christ could take one who is broken in spirit, one who is lost in sin, and give him life. That’s greater than even giving him physical life, raising him from the dead. You see, the purpose for the miracles that Jesus worked was not just to be some kind of a super doctor healing men of their physical diseases, but Jesus came to seek and to save the lost. And the greater works that he did was to provide eternal life. And that’s why he said in verse 24, He that heareth me and believeth on him that hath sent me, even this man hath everlasting life. That’s a greater work. But even more than that, when he said in verse 25, the hour is coming and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God, and they that hear shall live.

That’s a rather strange verse at first reading. When you think about how that he says the hour now is, that the dead shall hear and shall live. How is it that it could be said two thousand years ago? It is now the time that the dead shall hear and shall live. Well, the word dead does not always refer to physical death. And if we can understand that Jesus even in this passage is talking about spiritual death and spiritual life, then the passage certainly does make sense. It is true that those who were spiritually dead could be made alive. And that hour now is, as Jesus even spoke. You may remember the language in Ephesians chapter 2, when the Apostle Paul spoke about the condition of those who were saved by grace through faith.

He said, beginning in Ephesians 2 and verse 1, You hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins. Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince, the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience. Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lust of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature the children of wrath. But God, who is rich in mercy for his great love wherewith he loved us, even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ by grace you are saved. We were dead in sins, but quickened or made alive by the grace of God through Christ Jesus.

You see, one can be dead, and that as Jesus even spoke, the greater works that he was doing, or that God would enable him to do was not just heal one physically, but rather to provide eternal life. Second Corinthians chapter 5 and verse 17 says, Wherefore any man is in Christ is a new creature. Old things are passed away, behold, all things are become new. In Christ Jesus, we become as a new person. A person who’s been broken in sin can now become dead to sin. Ephesians 2 says we’re dead in sin. But look at Romans chapter 6 and verse 2, and it talks about some who have become dead to sin. I’m reading Romans 6 and verse 3. Know ye not, that so many of us as we’re baptized into Jesus Christ, we’re baptized into his death.

Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death. The like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. For if we’ve been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection, knowing this that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. Oh, what a glorious thought that we can reach that point where we do not serve sin, that we can be delivered from the bondage of sin, that through the precious blood of Jesus Christ our sins are washed away. And as this passage says, that we become dead to sin when we are buried by baptism into the death of Christ.

2. Authority to Execute Judgment

That is, when we reach his blood, that’s where his blood was shed. It is by faith that we repent of our sins. By faith we confess Christ as a Son of God, and by faith we are buried by baptism into his death. And you see, when we are buried by baptism into his death, then his blood washes away from sin. We become a new creature. We begin to walk a different lifestyle. And those who were dead now become alive, hearing the word of God, believing in the Christ, those who were dead shall live. But another great work Jesus shall do is that he shall execute judgment. As verse 27 of John 5 says, God had given him authority to execute judgment, because he is the Son of Man.

As one who, though he’s the Son of God, deity, yet he was born of woman. He walked as man. He is able to be a merciful and a and a faithful high priest, Hebrews 2, 17 and 18 says. But think about Christ as our judge. When we come before the judgment throne of God, Christ being the one who has given been given authority to execute the judgment of God, Christ will be one who can come and judge us with mercy. But he also judges us with justice.

3. All in the Graves Shall Come Forth

He’s been given authority to judge. But notice more than that, verse 28, the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the grave shall hear his voice. Now, verse 25 said, The hour is now that the dead can be made alive. But now in a future tense, the time is coming, when all in the grave shall hear his voice, and shall come forth, they that have done good under the resurrection of life, they that have done evil unto the resurrection of damnation. Now the time is coming when all in the graves shall come forth. Now this point in time is going to be at the last day. Look at John chapter 6. In the next chapter, the scripture speaks about what will happen at the coming of Christ.

It says, This is the Father’s will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I shall lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day. In verse 40, this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son and believeth on him may have everlasting life. I’ll raise him up at the last day. And even John 6.54, Whoso eateth my flesh and drinketh of my blood hath eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day. I want you to notice, my beloved, that in the gospel of John, it speaks about some things that are going to happen at the last day. We look forward to the second coming of Christ. But it is at that time that there shall be resurrection.

When Christ comes again, all that are in the graves shall hear his voice and come forth. Now there’s a popular belief today, we sometimes refer to it as premillennialism. That really holds the doctrine that when Christ comes again, there will first of all be a rapturing of the only the righteous ones, Christians, and they’ll be taken up, and then there’s going to be a thousand year period of uh on this earth. There will be first of all a period of tribulation of seven years, and then a battle of Armageddon, and then a thousand year period on the earth. But they have a problem with when the last day comes and when the resurrection comes. Jesus speaks about his coming at the last day when he’ll raise up the believers.

John 6, 39, 40, and 54. Now that’s the last day. If that is the last day, then what how would you describe that thousand year period? The last third days. He does not say there’s going to be another thousand years, 365,000 more days to follow on the earth. But at the second coming of Jesus Christ, all who are in the graves shall come forth. The resurrection will occur. And it’s a resurrection both of the wicked and of the righteous. It’s not two different resurrections separated by a thousand years or however many you may place there. It’s not a resurrection at his first coming at the end of the tribulation, at the end of the that’s too many resurrections. The Bible speaks of the one resurrection at the second coming of Christ.

And of the judgment day. Hebrews 9 27 is appointed a man once to die. And after this cometh the judgment. There will be judgment day. And notice further that Jesus Christ will be the judge. And he says that when men shall come forth, they that have done good will receive the resurrection of life. They that have done evil, the resurrection of damnation. The Bible nowhere speaks about a second chance being given. You and I have the opportunity now to hear the word of the Lord and believe in the Christ. If we reject him now and we face death, we face judgment without a second chance. How will you be raised? Raised into eternal life because you were a believer now, obeying, obeying the Lord? Or shall you face condemnation because you rejected him?

Passages like Matthew chapter 25, 31 through 46 describe how the Lord will come with his angels to buy the sheep from the goat. Those on the one hand who heard and did. On the other hand, people who just did not do, shall be raised to everlasting destruction. In Revelation chapter 20, verses 11 through 15. There the scripture speaks about Christ sitting on his throne. The books were opened. Men were judged out of the books of the Lord. And every man shall receive according to his works. Where will you find yourself come judgment day? Are you ready for him to come again? Are you ready for the resurrection day? You need to be. What do you believe about Jesus Christ? Well, let’s raise the question, why believe that he is the Christ then?

We’re going to pause for just one moment, and when we come back, we’re going to raise that question because Jesus does. And he talks about the witnesses that he is the Christ. Why believe in him? He gives us some reasons to believe that he is the Christ. I hope you’ll stay with us. We’ll study it together in just one moment.

In John chapter 12 and verse 48, Jesus said, He that rejecteth me and receiveth not my words hath one that judgeth him. The word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day. Jesus would do greater works than healing men of their physical ailments. So he talked about giving life, eternal life. And he talked how that the Father had given him authority to execute judgment. There’s going to be the resurrection in the last day. And there will be this judgment, and it will be according to his word in the last day. John 12 and verse 48. It is so important, therefore, isn’t it, whether we believe in Jesus Christ or not? What do you believe about him? Do you believe that he is the Christ, the Son of God?

4. The Witness of Jesus and John the Baptist

If you reject Him and receive not His Word, then there is nothing but condemnation, to which you’re looking forward to. It is therefore very critical and important that you that you be certain before you say, No, I won’t accept Christ. Or that you be certain before you’d say, Well, no, I may believe him, but I’m not going to do his will. It is important that we know that he is the Christ, the Son of the Living God, for why believe in him? There are witnesses to the fact that he is that Christ. In John chapter 5, I’m reading verses 30 and 31, where Jesus said, I can of mine own self do nothing, as I hear, I judge, and my judgment is just. Because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me.

If I bear witness of myself, my witness is not true. Now, there are several witnesses, in fact, four in this text that Jesus gives us to the testimony that he is the Christ, the Son of God. In verse 31 here, he says, I if I bear witness of myself, my witness is not true. Now that that sounds as though he’s saying that you can’t believe what he says. That isn’t really what he’s meaning by that. In fact, later in John 8 and verse 14, he said, Though I bear record of myself, yet my record is true. For I know whence I came and whither I go, but you cannot tell whence I come and whither I go. What Jesus really meant in this passage of John 5 31 is that even as the law of Moses had so declared that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word should be established.

Numbers 35 and verse 30. Also in Deuteronomy chapter 19 and verse 15, and really other places. That same principle is held to be so that you needed at least two witnesses or three to establish a word. So Jesus is simply saying, Now I bear witness, I know from whence I came, I know who I am. But there are other witnesses. So let’s look at the other witnesses. In verse 32, he said, There is another that beareth witness of me, and I know that the witness which he witnesseth of me is true. Ye sent unto John, and he bear witness unto the truth. But I receive not testimony from man, but these things I say that ye might be saved. He was a burning and a shining light, and ye were willing for a season to rejoice in his life.

Jesus Christ was not the only one who bore witness. But also he said John the Baptist, and he was a burning and shining light. He illuminated the truth. He was one that was well received among the people. He was received as though he were a prophet, and that’s indeed what he was. He was a great man, a man of courage, a man of faith. In fact, he lost his life, he was beheaded because he was able and did courageously speak the word of truth to Herod. And John the Baptist testified that Jesus is the Christ. In John 1, verses 19 through 34. Jesus Christ, John the Baptist bore witness that he is the s the Lamb of God, that he is the Son of God. But now not only does Jesus bear witness, and John bear witness, but look furthermore, in verse 36.

5. The Works Bear Witness: The Father’s Testimony

But I have greater witness than that of John. For the works which the Father hath given me to finish, the same works that I do, bear witness of me that the Father hath sent me. And the Father Himself which hath sent me hath borne witness of me. Ye have neither heard his voice at any time nor seen the shape, and ye have not his word abiding in you, for whom he has sent. Him ye believe not. Well, this is pretty strong evidence. If you want to accept Jesus Christ, then look at the miracles that he did. Look at the works, the wonders, the signs which he performed. Jesus said, These are the Father’s testimony. Now you’ve really never seen the Father, but you’ve seen the evidence of the Father.

Acts chapter 2 and verse 22, the apostle Peter used this same testimony. When he said how that by the miracles, wonders, and signs, God bore witness. Jesus Christ walked among men, and they never questioned the miracles that he worked. They may have questioned the source, they may have questioned whether or not he really was of God, but they didn’t doubt the miracles that he worked. They didn’t want to believe him as the Christ, the Son of God. But Jesus said, These miracles testify that God is with me. In fact, Nicodemus observed that point in John 3 and verse 2. He said, No man can do these works or miracles that thou doest except God be with him. But here are three witnesses. Now Christ bore witness, he said, I know whence I came.

6. The Scriptures Testify of Me

I am the Son of God. John the Baptist bore witness. A man accepted among them as a prophet of God, he bore witness that Jesus is the Lamb of God, the Son of God, bore testimony. But not only that, he said the Father in heaven bore testimony by the very miracles, the wonders, and signs which were performed. But then there’s a fourth witness, first thirty-nine through the end of the chapter. Search the scriptures. For in them ye think ye have eternal life, and they are they which testify of me. And ye will not come to me that ye might have life. I receive not honor from men, but I know you that ye have not the love of God in you. I am come in my Father’s name, and ye receive me not.

If another shall come in his own name, him ye shall receive. How can you believe, which receive honor one of another, and seek not the honor that cometh from God only? Do not think that I will accuse you to the Father. There is one that accuseth you, even Moses, whom ye trust. For had ye believed Moses, ye would have believed me, for he wrote of me. But if you believe not his writings, how shall you believe my words? The fourth witness that Jesus refers to? The holy scriptures. Moses. He said that it isn’t just me that’s accusing you before God, but Moses himself. The very scriptures that you search by, the very scriptures that you believe that you’re following, they bear witness of me. And if you would really believe the scriptures, then you would accept me.

But the fact that you’ve rejected the scriptures, you’ve rejected me. The fact you’ve rejected me proves you reject the scriptures. One goes with the other.

You reject God, you reject me. You reject me, you reject rejected God. You cannot reject Jesus Christ and accept the Father. Whether you be a faithful Jew or a faithful Muslim, you cannot really believe in the God of heaven and not accept Christ. Jesus said, If you honor the Father, you’ll honor the Son, if you honor the Son, you’ll honor the Father. If you believe the Scriptures, you believe in me, for the Scriptures are of the Father, and they bear testimony of me. What do you believe about Jesus Christ? The scriptures bear witness. I think verse 39 is especially a significant passage, and one we ought to relate to ourselves, not just read this and say, Yeah, those Jews who who saw Jesus first hand should have accepted him.

But they can relate even to religious people today. You know, there are many people who sort of proverbially pick put their finger to their tongue and sort of wave it in the wind to see which way the majority are going, and then that’s the way they want to follow. You know, if you’d followed the majority in the day of Jesus, the religious majority, you would have rejected Jesus Christ. For the religious leaders rejected him. But Jesus said, You search the scriptures, and in them you think you have eternal life. But they are they that testify to me, and you will not receive me. How is it possible to search the scriptures and not believe in Jesus Christ? Well, the answer is simple. You can search the scriptures, but if you search it with a preconceived idea, the word is prejudiced.

You’ve prejudged. If you’ve made up your mind beforehand, it matters not what the scripture says. You know, you can skip here and there and misuse and mishandle the word of God and not properly understand it. Matthew 13, 13 through 15, a passage we referred to several times, Jesus spoke about some who will see but not perceive, who will hear but not understand, for your eyes have been closed, your ears are dull of hearing, your hearts, your minds are waxed gross, and you will not hear. Keep an open Bible, keep an open mind. Not only will prejudice heart keep us from understanding truth, but but also seeking the honor of men. In fact, that’s what he says in verse 44 those who seek honor of men. Oh, there are people who are quick to go after people today, all kinds of mystical beliefs or some kind of prominent man coming along.

Conclusion

People will follow man. Why not just accept the simple truth in Christ Jesus? Take his word and follow him. Give honor to him, not unto men. Let us have the kind of attitude of those noble Bereans in Acts 17 11 who searched the scripture with readiness of mind to see if these things were so. Or as James 1 says, be doers of the word, not hearers only. Keep an open Bible, keep an open mind, and accept Jesus Christ in simple faith, obedient faith. Until our next study, we bid the grace and peace of our Lord be with you.