Jesus spoke to the people then but speaks to us now. If we can believe anything, we can believe him. What he says is right.
John 5: 24 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.25 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.26 For as the Father hath life in himself; so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself;27 And hath given him authority to execute judgment also, because he is the Son of man.28 Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice,29 And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.30 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.31 If I bear witness of myself, my witness is not true.32 There is another that beareth witness of me; and I know that the witness which he witnesseth of me is true.
Jesus was teaching something important that revealed to us the truth of what is to come. He revealed what we should do in the meantime. When people hear the Word that Jesus died for the sins of the world, they need to know that he died for sins and the sinner. Only in Jesus is there true release from sin.
What Jesus said was probably a shock to the people. They desired to be God’s people but didn’t realize the need of a change in the heart and soul. Many believe they establish themselves as a church goer and will go to heaven. Some churches teach this. There is no talk of an internal change. This may be acceptable to the world, but it is not to God. We cannot change ourselves. Before there is a hope of heaven for anyone the creator—and only he can do it—must change what we cannot. This is Jesus Christ. Verse 24 says we hear the word and believe on him that sent him. Then we have everlasting life and not condemnation. This is a freeing from the shackles and bonds that sin creates. We pass from death unto life when we accept Jesus. Our sin needs to be dealt with. When we sin as Christians we have an advocate in Jesus Christ. John said we are to confess our sin, admit the wrong to the Lord, and he is faithful and just to forgive us and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
Never get bored with the truth. The devil is putting pressure on. The world puts pressure on us to go back into the world. If we continue in Jesus Christ we continue to be passed from death unto life. When we were saved Jesus lifted us out of spiritual death, out of the condemnation of sin and its eternal punishment. He gives us eternal life. I’m a little worn out physically but Jesus is the same. He has not aged nor has he broken down. He doesn’t need a thing. He’s the same yesterday, today and forever. He’ll always be the same.
Jesus spoke of two hours—one coming and then said and now is. The church is not going down. The world may forecast Christianity to be almost extinct. The devil is deceiving many. Generations have come and gone but God is still the same. The hour is coming 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. The hour is coming. Yes. But it now is. Open your mind and really hear his voice. Jesus is the only begotten Son of God yet he’s the son of man. His Father is God Almighty and his mother is a young girl named Mary. He became human for us. At 12 years old the priests and rulers of the temple gathered round him, not the other way around. When asked by his mother and father why he had done that he said how is it that ye sought me? wist ye not that I must be about my Father’s business? Jesus knew we could not save ourselves. God was willing to give him to the world to save us. When he speaks we need to believe what he says.
Sin destroys and kills. Without Jesus we are dead. When we hear his voice and believe we live. This old body may feel half dead but if we’re saved we’re alive! Being alive inside is all that matters. Don’t you think it’s worth telling someone about? In the hour we were saved we passed from death unto life. Jesus will do that for anyone. The hour is now. Today is the day of salvation.
Whatever is on the morrow it will still be the hour. There is still hope in these last hours for someone to be saved. Even when Noah entered the ark God would have made provisions for all who wanted to enter the ark of safety. No one did. He shut the door. Hours later when the rain started it was too late. The time will come when there will be no more hours of salvation. Jesus is authority. He has power. He raises the spiritually dead. We’re a church of former sinners. When this old body stops we won’t be dead. We’ll just change addresses!
Verses 28-29 state Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation. It’s just about here. Don’t deny the Lord under any circumstances. Even if they kill you, you’ll hear his voice and come out of the grave. When the trumpet sounds the dead in Christ will rise first and receive their glorified body. Then we which are alive and remain will be caught up. We’ll wave goodbye to our pill bottles and doctor appointments. Can we ask for anything better than our Savior? Can we have any fuller experience than eternal life? I’d rather have Jesus than anything!
Jesus said there is another that beareth witness of me; and I know that the witness which he witnesseth of me is true. When he said this he was speaking of John the Baptist. I’ve not seen Jesus face to face but I have seen him heart to heart. I don’t need to see him to believe. I met him in his fullness. John dedicated his short life to witness for Jesus Christ. He was beheaded by Herod. His time was over. Praise God there was another. The disciples went to other nations. Our forefathers were saved. Our fathers were saved. We’ve been saved. It was all because of the witnesses who told of Jesus.
At this moment in time you and I are the other. How can we not fill those shoes and be the witness God has called us to be? Our words communicate to others. The Holy Spirit will draw hearts and bring them to the point that Jesus can knock on their heart’s door. In 1972 there was hope for Bob Surber. In 2016 there is still hope for my loved ones. There is hope for yours. To hear ‘well done’ we must be faithful. Pray that the Lord will help you be the other witness so that people in your life can go to heaven with you.
Adwolfe Freewill Baptist Church 