Believe That I AM

John 8:58

The place where many miss it, is in their understanding of who Jesus is. Jesus was not shy about sharing that information. In The Gospel of John, chapter 8, He spends 51 verses clearing the air about it. He begins this section by saying… ” I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.” (John 8:12 ) Light is the thing that reveals knowledge. When you walk into a dark room, you know nothing of what is in it until you turn on the light. The Apostle Paul said exactly this to the Ephesian Christians.   “But all things that are exposed are made manifest by the light, for whatever makes manifest is light.” (Ephesians 5:13)

Believe That I AM – SERMON AUDIO

Jesus is the Light of the World. He is the One who reveals the truth to us about ourselves and about God.  That truth is that we need a Savior. We are in darkness and we need to be shown who we are (rebels against the Holy God who created us), and who God is (One who loves us enough to take on human flesh to redeem us and bring us back to Himself). Usually, we are too block-headed to get it. We are too absorbed in our sin and rebellion, so much so that we don’t even realize that it exists. We thing God ought to be satisfied with us just as we are though try to use Him to our own ends rather than subject ourselves to His. Humanity is both wicked and blind.

Much of the reason we do not understand that Jesus truly is God in Human Flesh is because we automatically downplay the intensity of our sin (which happens to be a still greater rebellion). In order for man to be reconciled to the God against whom he has committed treason, God must be the Initiator. He must be God to be a sufficient Sacrifice. He must be man to be a real one. He became the Second Adam ( See Romans 5 and 1 Corinthians 15), the new Representative for the redeemed human race. His perfections are imputed to those who put their trust in Him. This could not be done with a mere man. And God did it in such a way as to accomplish His original purpose in us. To restore us and to give us what Adam lost in his rebellion.

And so, the Jews were perplexed by Him;

John 8:25  Then they said to Him, “Who are You?” And Jesus said to them, “Just what I have been saying to you from the beginning.

That is the question that needs to be answered. They should have known, they had the Scriptures, they saw the works that Jesus did. But they would not acknowledge who He is.  Why? Because it takes a dose of great humility. They were more concerned about their own ability and their own righteousness.

John 8:40-45  But now you seek to kill Me, a Man who has told you the truth which I heard from God. Abraham did not do this.  41  You do the deeds of your father.” Then they said to Him, “We were not born of fornication; we have one Father–God.”  42  Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love Me, for I proceeded forth and came from God; nor have I come of Myself, but He sent Me.  43  Why do you not understand My speech? Because you are not able to listen to My word.  44  You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it.  45  But because I tell the truth, you do not believe Me.

They did ultimately kill Him for what He said about them and about Himself. Yet even this was a part of God’s plan (See Acts 4:27-28). All in order to redeem the rebels! All done by God Himself. Jesus ends this conversation with the bold statement of His deity.

John 8:58-59  Jesus said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I AM.”  59  Then they took up stones to throw at Him; but Jesus hid Himself and went out of the temple, going through the midst of them, and so passed by.

The Name that God gave for Himself to Moses at the burning bush is the Name that Jesus claims here (See Exodus 3:13-14). In acknowledging who He is we also must realize our own helplessness. We must see that our sins have separated us from God. That He is the rightful Judge of the universe. That unless and until He comes to take us back, we have no more hope of being reconciled to Him that a guilty traitor has of regaining the friendship of his king on his own terms. Jesus is God. He is the One who has come to save us from our rebellion, from the sin that we have committed against Him. He is the love of God that pardons the guilty and establishes him as a son. Only God can do that.

Listen to the audio and consider what He says about Himself!

Believe That I AM – SERMON AUDIO

In Christ!

Kevin

Other People’s Sins

Some people are masters at pointing out other people’s sins, aren’t they? It is our tendency to use the faults of others in order to justify or cover our own sinful attitudes and actions. You know what I am talking about. You know the type. The hard-core fundamentalists who veils his hateful attitude as he chastises the “worldly” Christians for their worldliness. Or the cool, contemporary Christian who feels justified in mocking his more conservative Brother while pushing the boundaries of his own morality. I bet I could get just about any of you going and lead you right into this very sin, comparing others to ourselves to feel or show our own alleged superiority. It is called self-righteousness.

Other People’s Sins – SERMON AUDIO

The Pharisees of Jesus’ day were just such folks.

John 8:2-6  Now early in the morning He came again into the temple, and all the people came to Him; and He sat down and taught them.  3  Then the scribes and Pharisees brought to Him a woman caught in adultery. And when they had set her in the midst,  4  they said to Him, “Teacher, this woman was caught in adultery, in the very act.  5  Now Moses, in the law, commanded us that such should be stoned. But what do You say?”  6  This they said, testing Him, that they might have something of which to accuse Him. But Jesus stooped down and wrote on the ground with His finger, as though He did not hear.

Trying to trap Jesus, they managed somehow to find a woman who was “in the very act” of adultery. They thrust her forward as an example of a great sinner. But Jesus didn’t fall for it, instead He changed their focus.

John 8:7-9  So when they continued asking Him, He raised Himself up and said to them, “He who is without sin among you, let him throw a stone at her first.”  8  And again He stooped down and wrote on the ground.  9  Then those who heard it, being convicted by their conscience, went out one by one, beginning with the oldest even to the last. And Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst.

Jesus is more concerned about you dealing with the sin in your own life than He is about you pointing out the sins of others. Sure, there is a place for confronting sin in others, but it is always with the attitude of restoring our fallen brother or sister.

Galatians 6:1  Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted.

It is never to be the source of advancing our own superior spirituality.

2 Corinthians 10:12  For we dare not class ourselves or compare ourselves with those who commend themselves. But they, measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise.

No matter what the reason, Christianity ought not to be about comparisons. It is about following Christ. It is about dealing with our own sin and helping our brothers and sisters to grow and be more holy.

Other People’s Sins – SERMON AUDIO

In Christ!

Kevin

My Doctrine…

Everybody has an opinion! Some people say they are like armpits, everyone has them and they all stink. Opinions are not necessarily bad, but in this age of blogs and social networking, it seems that the most important thing is making our opinions known. This is really nothing new. Jeffersonian political theory, unfortunately spilled over into other areas in the early 1800′s and splintered the American church into thousands of denominations, each espousing their own unique brand of the Christian Faith.

My Doctrine - AUDIO

Though there were many denominations before that time, they were largely connected to ethnic backgrounds, The Scots were Presbyterians, the English Anglicans and the Germans Lutheran for the most part. The saddest thing about what happened in the American church in the 1800′s was that most of the newer denominations threw out the the standard interpretation that those many previous denominations largely agreed upon. This is not to say they were in perfect harmony, but they were in agreement on the most important truths for the most part. In place of what had been taught and believed for the previous 300 years (restored truths buried by Rome in the Dark Ages) everyone became their own interpreter. Often times, training in language and interpretation were shunned and even made fun of by these egalitarian sects.

Studying John’s Gospel, I see that this is just another manifestation of man’s desire to be in control even if he is largely ignorant of the realities he seeks to govern. In John 7, Jesus is has gone to Jerusalem for a feast. We read:

John 7:14-18  Now about the middle of the feast Jesus went up into the temple and taught.  15  And the Jews marveled, saying, “How does this Man know letters, having never studied?”  16  Jesus answered them and said, “My doctrine is not Mine, but His who sent Me.  17  If anyone wills to do His will, he shall know concerning the doctrine, whether it is from God or whether I speak on My own authority.  18  He who speaks from himself seeks his own glory; but He who seeks the glory of the One who sent Him is true, and no unrighteousness is in Him.

Jesus came, armed with doctrine from heaven. His Father had given Him the things He taught. All of what He said was rooted in previously revealed truth from the Old Testament! Yet the more He spoke, the more conjecture came back to Him from the crowd.

John 7:26-27  But look! He speaks boldly, and they say nothing to Him. Do the rulers know indeed that this is truly the Christ?  27  However, we know where this Man is from; but when the Christ comes, no one knows where He is from.”

John 7:31  And many of the people believed in Him, and said, “When the Christ comes, will He do more signs than these which this Man has done?”

John 7:40-43  Therefore many from the crowd, when they heard this saying, said, “Truly this is the Prophet.”  41  Others said, “This is the Christ.” But some said, “Will the Christ come out of Galilee?  42  Has not the Scripture said that the Christ comes from the seed of David and from the town of Bethlehem, where David was?”  43  So there was a division among the people because of Him.

They make partial reference to the Scriptures, but assume what they know about Jesus. They could have found more about Him if they would take the time to look. Read Matthew or Luke’s Gospel some time and pay particular attention to phrases like, “for thus it is written by the prophet” The problem of men assuming that their knowledge was sufficient and rejecting the proper study of God’s revelation was common even in Jesus’ day.  If anything, it has proliferated in our day. People are looking for soundbites and maxims, but not for solid theology. If it sounds good to most of us, we will accept it, especially if it goes along with our presuppositions. This is critical information and we don’t want to get it wrong because we are tool lazy to dig it out or to comfortable to be troubled by truth. Yet, sadly this is where most of us reside. After 52 verses of discussion among the people and their religious leaders, those leaders made a pronouncement and then John tells us’

John 7:53  And everyone went to his own house.

For all of the talk, nothing really changed. No one was persuaded one way or the other,but hey, everybody had their say.  What about you? Are you satisfied with mere opinions? Will you dig in and receive the uncomfortable truths? Will you allow truth to change you or will you try to exert your will on the truth?

My Doctrine - AUDIO

In Christ!

Kevin

The Food that Perishes (John 6)

After shopping, the next word that comes to mind in the days following Thanksgiving is probably leftovers. Personally, I look forward to the Thanksgiving Sandwich more than the meal-proper, but by the third or fourth day, the leftovers have certainly lost their appeal. As great as the food is, it is only good for a few days and we are left with nothing but a few extra pounds on our bodies and the memory of the turkey and stuffing until next November. Considering all the effort of planning, shopping and cooking, it almost seems like its a little insane! Yet, we do it and we love it, year after year.

The Food That Perishes – AUDIO

As important as family time and food are to us, Jesus says to some folks who ate His big dinner that the “food that perishes” is really not all that important when we put it into perspective. After feeding 5,000 men plus their families on the shores of the Sea of Galilee, the people are impressed that He is able to feed them all by miraculously multiplying the lunch of a boy who was there. They cross the sea to find Him and then

Jesus answered them and said, “Most assuredly, I say to you, you seek Me, not because you saw the signs, but because you ate of the loaves and were filled. Do not labor for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to everlasting life, which the Son of Man will give you, because God the Father has set His seal on Him.”   (John 6:26-27)

Jesus is saying to those who seek Him for temporal gain that this is not what it is all about! Jesus did not come to give us our best life now, rather, He came to give us eternal life. Certainly, He will bless us at times, but what about when there is no visible sign of His blessing, will you still love and worship Him then? Many will only follow Him when their bellies are filled! And these folks cannot get their minds going in the right direction. They come back with this;

“What shall we do, that we may work the works of God?” (John 6:28)

They want to earn what Jesus has just offered to give them. Then Jesus straightens them out as He says;

“This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He sent.”  (John 6:29)

It is not about temporal blessings and it is not about earning the favor of God, it is simply about trusting Him. The One who came from heaven and spoke to us about the Father and about Himself. The One who told us about our sin and our need for redemption. The One who said simply, “Trust Me!” The easiest thing to be done is the hardest thing to do sometimes. Can you trust Him when the temporal blessings are not there? Can you stop trusting in your ability to earn His favor? Or are you like those men in Capernaum?

Therefore they said to Him, “What sign will You perform then, that we may see it and believe You? What work will You do? (John 6:30)

I encourage you to listen to the audio of the message by clicking on the link and to consider the mercy of God in Christ. I urge you not to try and earn what is freely given to those who trust in Christ rather than self. I plead with you not to look to Jesus as a Life-Improver, but as a Savior from sin.

The Food That Perishes – AUDIO

In Christ!

Kevin

How Can You Believe?

What is it that stands in the way of true faith? Is it that there is not enough evidence, or is there more (or less) to it than that? Actually, evidence is not in short supply, the very creation calls for the necessity of a Creator. As the Apostle Paul wrote to the Believers in Rome, he informed them of this;

Romans 1:18-20  For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness,  19  because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them.  20  For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse…

The evidence is there and it is plain, but men do not want to be accountable. As Jesus confronted the religious leaders of His day, he said essentially the same thing to them. After healing a man on the Sabbath Day to get their attention, He spoke of the testimony of God through the Prophets, and of the Miracles He had performed publically…

John 5:31-34  “If I bear witness of Myself, My witness is not true.  32  There is another who bears witness of Me, and I know that the witness which He witnesses of Me is true.  33  You have sent to John, and he has borne witness to the truth.  34  Yet I do not receive testimony from man, but I say these things that you may be saved.

John 5:36-37  But I have a greater witness than John’s; for the works which the Father has given Me to finish–the very works that I do–bear witness of Me, that the Father has sent Me.  37  And the Father Himself, who sent Me, has testified of Me. You have neither heard His voice at any time, nor seen His form.

Though the evidence was overwhelming, these men persisted in their hard-heartedness. It was not their intellect that restrained them from believing that Jesus was the Messiah. Jesus gives the accusation;

John 5:43-44  I have come in My Father’s name, and you do not receive Me; if another comes in his own name, him you will receive.  44  How can you believe, who receive honor from one another, and do not seek the honor that comes from the only God?

These men were primarily concerned about appearances; what other men thought of them. They were following the status quo of their time. Not to mention that their positions of power would be demonstrated to be without foundation if they accepted Jesus as Messiah. And so, Jesus demonstrates the impossibility of their faith as long as they maintained the mindset that man’s opinions of each other was paramount. When man’s judgment is the determining factor of truth, then the best they can do is to make a god that fits their scheme. God is above all of creation. He has made men in His image and implanted the work of His law on our hearts. In our rebellion, we have sought to suppress that knowledge, but as we hear the truth of His Word and it is quickened by His Holy Spirit, we are able to set men’s opinions aside and seek the truth of the Only True God. It takes a large dose of humility, but in the end, is it better to be thought wise by your peers or the possessor of real wisdom?

How Can You Believe? – AUDIO

Destroying My Religion!

Destroying My Religion

What would you say, if the most respected religious authority you knew, commended you on your faith and the practice of it? As Jesus began His ministry, He drew the attention of several people who were religious leaders in Jerusalem. Most of them did not like Him, probably because they felt threatened by Him. However, one man, Nicodemus, came to Jesus by night and began with a flowery benediction as he addressed Him.

John 3:1-2  There was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews.  2  This man came to Jesus by night and said to Him, “Rabbi, we know that You are a teacher come from God; for no one can do these signs that You do unless God is with him.”

I don’t think that he got the response that he expected. Instead of returning the nicety, Jesus immediately began to instruct this “teacher of Israel” on basic points of the Faith. Remembering that Nicodemus was one of the Pharisees, this would be unheard of audacity if Jesus was not indeed, “a teacher come from God.” Nicodemus considered himself in the Kingdom of God already (though it was a kingdom that awaited its consummation). He was a Pharisee, the most elite group of Jews there was, the most holy of the holy men of God’s people, Israel. As Jesus dispensed with the cordial conversation and went to the heart of the matter, He destroyed the religion of this man.

John 3:3-4  Jesus answered and said to him, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”  4  Nicodemus said to Him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?”

This obviously caught Nicodemus off guard. Jesus was telling him that he needed a foundational, fundamental and thorough change before he could even “see the Kingdom of God.” He needed to  be utterly recreated, to be “born again.” Nicodemus was overwhelmed at the thought and failed to comprehend its spiritual nature. So Jesus clarifies:

John 3:5-6  Jesus answered, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.  6  That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.

Jesus refers to the fact that Nicodemus has the nature of a fallen man and that no matter how religious he is, he is still lacking the fundamental nature that goes with the Kingdom of God. He needs to be born of the Spirit. Not only that, but Jesus refers to his need to be “born of the water” as well as “of the Spirit.” This is a bit of a thorny passage and has often been misinterpreted. Some believe that Jesus refers to the physical birth when He speaks of being “born of the water.” This is not so. “it is important to note the Greek grammar in this verse would seem to indicate “being born of water” and “being born of the Spirit” are thought of as one item, not two. Therefore, it is not speaking of two separate births, as Nicodemus incorrectly thought, but of one birth, that of being “born from above” see the complete article  Born of the Water  from GotQuestions.org

As Jesus later rebukes Nicodemus for not understanding this, being a “teacher of Israel,” it is because this idea is taught in the Old Testament. Ezekiel 36:25-27 tells us; “Then I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you shall be clean; I will cleanse you from all your filthiness and from all your idols.  26  I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.  27  I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will keep My judgments and do them.”  The idea of the spiritual birth that is given by the Holy Spirit includes a cleansing from the inside. The idea of being born again carries with it the idea of our old nature being cleansed and our desires being turned from the flesh to the things of God. This is pictured in water baptism, but Jesus is not saying to Nicodemus that he must be physically baptized.

This reference to the reality that is depicted by water baptism, puts this highly religious man on the same plane as an utter heathen. For a non-Jew to gain entrance into the community of Israel, he would have to submit to the outward rite. Jesus takes it to the next level and says the work needs to be worked in his heart. Nicodemus believes that his heritage and his religion are what God requires. Jesus dispels that myth and so He says,

John 3:7-8  Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’  8  The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit.”

The Holy Spirit will call whom He will call. It is not about the people who appear to be religious, either by heritage or by outward show, but about the work of the Spirit in the heart.  This sends Nicodemus into a tailspin. He cannot fathom this and cries out in despair!

John 3:9-10  Nicodemus answered and said to Him, “How can these things be?”  10  Jesus answered and said to him, “Are you the teacher of Israel, and do not know these things?

Outward religion is not the way to the Kingdom of God. Yet, the inward work of the Spirit on the heart of man, the work of regeneration, results in a visible change in the behavior of man. Not an external religion, though holiness and devotion mark the true believer, but an inward change of heart that results in faith, as well as love for God and for His people.

It takes the miraculous intervention of the Holy Spirit to move man away from relying on himself to be right with God. Unless and until the Holy Spirit destroys your hopes of satisfying God through religious observance or personal righteousness, you have no hope of seeing the Kingdom of God. As a matter of fact, trying to work our way into the favor of God has the opposite effect. God has established the standard of righteousness. Jesus told His hearers in the Sermon on the Mount, “unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 5:20)  These were the most righteous men in the nation and must bring us to despair if we hope to attain the Kingdom on our own. God has promised, through faith in Jesus that He would give us His perfect righteousness. If we try to do the job with our own inferior righteousness, we are telling God that we do not want, nor appreciate His perfect gift. We have added insulting God to our list of sins and made no progress at all.

I encourage you to listen to the audio of the sermon by clicking on the link below, and I pray that you will cry out with Nicodemus, “How can these things be?” and then reject your own righteousness and receive the righteousness of God that is by faith in the Person and Work of Jesus Christ as it is applied to you by the Holy Spirit.

Destroying My Religion – AUDIO

In Christ!
Kevin