Believing the one God sent
John 5:38 [1]
38 nor does his word dwell in you, for you do not believe the one he sent.
Last week, we studied another witness of Jesus – the Father who sent Jesus. As written in Matthew 3:17, Mark 1:11, and Luke 3:22, God testified about Jesus saying,
‘This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.’
However, they have been spiritually deaf and blind to hear or see God (John 5:37b) and God’s word did not dwell in them (38a).
Why did God’s word not dwell in them?
I. Nor does His Word dwell in you (38a)
See 38b.
for you do not believe the one he sent.
It was because they did not believe the one God sent (38b).
The Word became flesh (John 1:14) and now was speaking to them. Invisible God became visible and heard. However, they could not hear or see God through His Son Jesus.
Despite Witness John [2], Miracles [3], and God’s Testimony [4], they didn’t believe in Jesus.
Why did they not believe Him?
II. The true reason for unbelief
The true reason for unbelief is explained in John 3:19-20.
- (John 3:19) Because their deeds were evil, they loved darkness instead of light
- (John 3:20) because the light will expose their deeds,
- they hate the light.
- they will not come into the light.
III. The importance of the life of repentance
Not recognising our sinfulness results in the same problem in v38a (‘His Word does not dwell in them’).
See 1 John 1:8, 10
8 If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us.
10 If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word is not in us.
That is,
- claiming to be without sin
- claiming we have not sinned
mean
- we deceive ourselves
- we make God out to be a liar
which result in
- the truth is not in us
- God’s Word is not in us
What should we do instead?
See 1 John 1:9.
9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.
That is,
- Confess our sins
knowing that
- God is faithful and just.
Then, God will
- forgive us our sins
- purify us from all unrighteousness
References
- The Holy Bible: New International Version. Anglicised. Revised and updated. ed. 2011: London: Hodder & Stoughton.
- Park, Y. Another Witness of Jesus – John the Baptist. 2023 30/04/2023]; Available from: https://comnc.org/another-witness-of-jesus-john-the-baptist/.
- Park, Y. Another Witness of Jesus – The Works that the Father has given Him to finish. 2023 7/05/2023]; Available from: https://comnc.org/another-witness-of-jesus-the-works-that-the-father-has-given-him-to-finish/.
- Park, Y. Another Witness of Jesus – the Father who sent Jesus. 2023 14/05/2023]; Available from: https://comnc.org/another-witness-of-jesus-the-father-who-sent-jesus/.
