Thu, Jul 3rd - 11:12AM
Book of John
5:40-47
"And you will not come to Me, that you might have life. I do not receive honor from men. But I know you, that you do not have the love of god in you. I am come in My Father's name, and you do not receive Me: if another shall come in his own name, you will receive him. How can you believe, which receive honor from one another, and not seek the honor that comes from only God? Do not think that I will accuse you to the Father: there is one that accuses you, even Moses, in whom you trust. For had you believed Moses, you would have believed Me: for he wrote of Me. But if you do not believe his writings, how shall you believe My words?"
In ancient times people rejected Jesus claim to be equal with God. This is still true today. Jesus gave six reasons for their rejection of Him. 1. They do not will to come to Christ. 2. They do not love God. 3. They will receive false messiahs. 4. They seek the approval and honor of other people. 5. They do not believe prophecy...do not believe Moses writings. 6. They do not believe the words of the true Messiah.
People deliberately choose to deny/reject Jesus. They are obstinate, hard hearted, and in constant rebellion against God. They choose to believe any other imaginative explanation as to why life exists on this planet.
1. Jesus claimed that life was in Him and Him only. 2. People receive life by coming to Jesus. 3. Jesus was not claiming to be the Son of God in order to receive praise and glory from people. He did so because He loves all of us, and His claim to deity is the truth. People must face the truth if they wish to be redeemed/saved.
Those to whom Jesus was speaking to in this passage professed to love God deeply. They worshipped faithfully, knew the scriptures, were always praying, and were unashamed to talk about Him. But the love of God was not in them. They did not want to help all less fortunate people. If they truly loved God then they would have received Christ Jesus joyfully. ln verse 42 Jesus said that He knew them all. He knew their minds and their hearts. People frequently say one thing but do the exact opposite. God sees this truth about people.
People are so willing to listen to and receive another person but not Jesus. People are willing to esteem another person's opinions but not esteem the words of God. Why? I suppose some want to escape the pressure, tension, immorality, selfishness, hatred, and injustices of our world. Others want a reasonable amount of prosperity, pleasure, power, recognition, and fame in our world. Since Jesus can't lie and must tell the truth, that offends many people. To gain life does not mean to try to escape our world or by getting as much of what it offers as we can. The way to life is to do exactly what Jesus said.
Human "deliverers" are not truthful. They are mortal, full of weaknesses and shortcomings. They deceive with leadership qualities and charisma, having learned to promise what people crave: escapism and possessions. They set themselves up claiming that all one must do to have all that one wants and needs is to believe that they know God's Word. Listen to what they tell you, and just believe. This is anti-Christ, it is ungodly behavior and it misleads many people. They may preach a prosperity gospel or a Jesus plus works gospel, or even a message that spiritual rebirth is unnecessary for everyone has already been saved/forgiven by God.
Too many people seek the acceptance and approval of others. They are enslaved to seeking the right position, the right place to live and work, the right car to drive, the right clothes to wear, the right way to look, the right power and wealth to have. All of these, if they have become the driving force of a person's life, create a prison cell. It is almost impossible to find the key to unlock the cell door on ones own.
People measure themselves, compare themselves, against other people. Some even will compare themselves to themselves, always coming out looking really good. Surprising? Only when people measure themselves against God do they see themselves for what they truly are: short of God's Glory. Only then do they bow down in humility and beg forgiveness.
There are many online who think much of themselves, they deceive themselves. They deny sin exists, they deceive themselves. They believe they are wiser than other people, they deceive themselves. They accuse others of being intolerant and hateful, but they deceive themselves for they speak that way of those they disagree with.
People simply do not believe the words of the Messiah. They question the writings of Moses, how then can they believe the promises of the Messiah? They do not believe the testimony of a man whom they profess was a great and honorable man. They will honor Moses yet they treat him as a liar, an unreliable source of testimony. People do the exact same thing with Jesus. They acknowledge Him as a great and honorable man, a fine teacher, a prophet, a Rabbi, but treat Him as a liar, a man whose testimony and claims are untrustworthy.
"He that rejects Me, and does not receive My words, has One that judges him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day." John 12:48
To those celebrating Independence Day please do so safely. Remember the sacrifices that our Founding Fathers accepted in order to give birth to a new nation with a form of government never before seen in history.
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Name: Eric Rajaniemi
