In this sermon, Pastor Dave Capoccia finishes examining John 5:17-29 in which Jesus declares his divine sonship. John presents Jesus’ declaration of divine sonship so that you will not remain condemned in mere religious tradition but might find resurrection life in Jesus. In part 2, Pastor Dave covers John 5:25-29 and the final of three points in Jesus’ declaration:
1. Jesus’ Divine Sonship Justifies His Sabbath Work (vv. 17-18)
2. The Father and Son Are Intimately United (vv. 19-24)
3. The Son Gives Life and Exercises Judgment (vv. 25-29)
3a. Now, through the Gospel Message (vv. 25-27)
3b. Soon, through the Coming Resurrection (vv. 28-29)
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God in heaven like we were talking about in Sunday school this morning we need you to open our eyes to your word it is wondrous it has lifegiving truth in it but unless you open our hearts to understand and to welcome the truth it will not benefit us it will only result in Greater accountability and judgment so God I pray that you would open our understanding cause us to love and accept these truths Holy Spirit I ask you to fill me to empower me to speak this word in the way that Christ would have me speak it bless us all in this time transform us we pray amen well many of you know that one of my passions is history love history even church history and thinking about today’s passage there’s one event in church history that is particularly relevant in ad 325 Christian church leaders from all over the Roman Empire met at what came to be known as the first Council of NAA NAA is a city that’s in modern turkey today and these church leaders met to try and settle the Aryan controversy that was dividing Christians everywhere at that time what was the Aryan controversy well aryanism was a movement centered around a certain teacher named Aras who argued that Jesus the son of God was not fully God but an exalted created being aras’s trademark phrase was there was a time when the sun was not that is there was a time in the past when the sun didn’t exist because God only begat him or created him later Aras use various statements from the Bible to support his claim especially statements about the son being begotten or given Life by the father or statements that seem to suggest that the father was greater than the son therefore the gathered church leaders in 325 met in NAA and wrangled for more than a month over the question of how to describe biblically the relationship of God the father and God the son were the Father and Son of different substance were the Father and Son of similar substance or were the Father and Son of the same substance the same Essence if the answer was anything but the same substance well then the son might not be equal to the father he’s not the Eternal God but if the son is of the same essence or substance then he would have to be equal to God he would have to be the one true God eventually the count eventually the council reached a consensus and published a document that came to be known as the nyine Creed Creed just means a formal statement of belief a modified version of the Creed appeared in 381 and it became more popular and it’s the nyine Creed that’s most quoted today but the original Creed from 324 five reads as follows this is an English translation we believe in one God the Father Almighty maker of all things visible and invisible and in one Lord Jesus Christ the son of God begotten of the Father the only begotten that is of the essence of the Father God of God light of light very God of very God begotten not made consubstantial that is of the same substance with the father by whom all things were made both in heaven and on Earth who for us men and for our Salvation came down and was incarnate and was made man he suffered and the third day he rose again ascended into heaven from then he shall come to judge the quick and the dead that is the living and the dead and in the Holy Ghost that is we believe in the Holy Ghost but those who say there was a time when he was not and he was not before he was made and he was made out of nothing or he is of another substance or Essence or the Son of God is created or changeable or alterable they are condemned by the Holy Catholic that is universal and Apostolic church and that is the whole of the original nyine Creed now these ancient men in their Creed they were not inspired by the Holy Spirit the Creed does not equal scripture nor does it have the scripture same Authority but is this nyine Creed a faithful confession of what the Bible says about Jesus absolutely according to the Bible the man Jesus is the one true God and consequently your Eternal destiny of either experiencing life forever or judgment forever hinges upon what you believe about Jesus and let’s hear Jesus himself explain more of this Monumental truth to us today if you would take your Bibles and turn to John chapter 5 John five our message is Jesus declares his Divine sunship part two Jesus declares his divine sunship part two I know it’s been a while since we’ve been in this chapter so don’t worry I’ll do some review but we’re in John 5 we read verses 1 to30 earlier in the service I’m going to read now verses 16 to 29 that’ll give us the most important context for the passage we’re focusing on today verses 25 to 29 so this is Page 1064 if you’re using the Bibles that we’ve provided 1,64 reading now John 5: 16- 29 for this reason the Jews were persecuting Jesus because he was doing these things on the Sabbath but he answered them my father is working until now and I myself am working for this reason therefore the Jews were seeking all the more to kill him because he Not only was breaking the Sabbath but also was calling God his own father making himself equal with God therefore Jesus answered and was saying to them truly truly I say to you the son can do nothing of himself unless it is something he sees the father doing whatever the father does these things the son also does in like manner for the father loves the son and shows him all things that he himself is doing and the father will show him Greater Works than these so that you will Marvel for just as the father raises the dead and gives them life even so the son also gives life to whom he wishes for not even The Father judges anyone but he has given all judgment to the son so that all will honor the son even as they honor the father he who does not honor the son does not honor the father who sent him truly truly I say to you he who hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and does not come into judgment but has passed out of death into life truly truly I say to you an hour is coming and now is when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God and those who hear will live for just as the father has life in himself even so he gave to the son also to have life in himself and he gave him authority to execute judgment because he is the son of man do not Marvel at this for an hour is coming in which all who are in the tombs will hear his voice and will come forth those who did the Good Deeds to a resurrection of Life those who committed the evil Deeds to a resurrection of judgment recall that John 5: 1-47 is one United section of narrative and teaching in John 51-16 our author the Apostle John presents Jesus’s third sign miracle in this gospel Jesus heals a sick man by the pool of Bethesda in Jerusalem on the Sabbath The Miracle itself certainly is a clear sign in confirmation that Jesus is the Messiah of God but Jesus specifically did the Miracle on the Sabbath to reveal something about the Jews and something about himself for you will remember the Jews that is the Jewish religious leaders they get very angry with Jesus about his healing on the Sabbath because Jesus in so doing breaks the Jewish religious tradition God commanded in the Old Testament that Jews should not do any work on the Sabbath meaning that they should not do regular farm work commercial business or household chores but should rest instead and find refreshment and show trust in God but the Jewish rabbis wanting to put a fence around God’s law and make sure that no one accidentally violated God’s commands which would in their thinking result in the Jews acceptance and blessing from God these rabbis eventually interpreted the Sabbath rule to also mean that one could not carry anything no matter how big or how easy it is to carry it how small rather you could not carry anything on the Sabbath and you couldn’t even heal on the Sabbath that would violate the tradition and risk violating the command of God now Jesus for his part he could have exposed the unjustified Ridiculousness of the Jews Sabbath tradition that’s not what he chooses to do in this instance rather Jesus Takes the opportunity to reveal his Divine sunship reveal his divine sunship and equality with the father indeed in verses 17 to 29 Jesus declares his Divine sunship and then in verses 30 to 47 Jesus defends his Divine sunship by pointing to multiple Avenues of testimony now last time we were in the passage together we began to see how Jesus declares his Divine sunship and we articulated our author John’s purpose in verses 17 to 29 in this way here’s the main idea John presents Jesus Declaration of divine sunship so that you the audience the readers the listeners will not remain condemned in mere religious tradition but might find Resurrection Life In Jesus Jesus Declaration of divine sunship consists of three points there’s an introductory point and two main points and we looked at the introductory point and the first main point last time this is more review Jesus introductory Point appears in verses 17 to 18 and that point is number one Jesus divine sunship justifies his Sabbath work Jesus divine sunship justifies his Sabbath work the Jews were objecting to Jesus working on the Sabbath even though God himself works every Sabbath to keep the world going to be a blessing to his people Jesus then reveals that God is Jesus own father thus it is entirely appropriate for Jesus the son to do exactly what his father does even work on the Sabbath like Father Like Son Well the Jews they did not miss what Jesus was claiming in such a response Jesus was claiming nothing less than full equality with God and unwilling to entertain this claim even from a moment from a violator of their religious tradition the Jews were told in the text they sought all the more to kill Jesus God’s own son but Jesus doesn’t back off rather he further explains his introductory point with a second and main point in verses 19 to 24 this is number two the father and son are intimately United the father and son are intimately United Jesus clarifies to the Jews that God’s son never does anything on his own but joins the Divine father in every work that the father himself is doing thus by working on the Sabbath Jesus is not making himself equal with God or asserting some right abusing some right that does not really belong to the son it’s quite the contrary Jesus is merely manifesting what has always been true about himself and the father and accomplishing what a perfect son must always do since he and the father are determined to work together Jesus further clarifies that the father loves and is so determined to honor his son that the father has given the son even Greater Works to do than healing on the Sabbath healing a mere sick man on the Sabbath what are these works well Jesus says it’s giving life and exercising judgment on the father’s behalf the intended results of these Greater Works is not simply so that people will Marvel but that all will give the same honor to to God the son as they should give to God the Father even by believing and heeding the son’s word to escape judgment and receive eternal life you see Jesus has already clarified up to this point there is no true believing in or honoring the father without also believing in and honoring the son father and son are so intimately United that if you miss or reject Jesus you miss and reject God and therefore you will never pass out of death where you are into life all this we have seen thus far but Jesus has something further to say in Declaration of his Divine sunship and this is what we see in verses 25 to 29 and at first glance these verses may seem like a simple repetition of what we’ve already heard in verses 19 to 24 but these new words from Jesus represent more than rep ition in these verses jesus takes what he revealed generally about himself and the roles given to him by the father and he makes them more concrete he’s declaring how both now and in the future the Divine son gives life and executes judgment again our author John includes these words for us in his gospel so that we will not remain condemned in mere religious tradition but might instead believe and find Resurrection Life in Jesus so we arrive at our third point and the second main point in Jesus declaration Divine sunship number three the son gives life and exercises judgment the sun gives life and exercises judgment now since this is the only new point that we’re going to be covering today I’ll give you two sub points to go under it how does the sun give life and exercise judgment our first subo is in verses 25 to 27 3A now through the gospel message the son gives life and exercises judgment now through the gospel message and we can see this for ourselves as we walk through the passage starting at the beginning of verse 25 Jesus says truly truly I say to you oh this is the third time Jesus has used this phrase as a favorite phrase of his third time we’ve seen it in this chapter one once again this opener Jesus is indicating that he’s about to say something amazing something that’s hard to believe surprising it’s shocking but it’s something worthy to be believed because it’s true believe what I’m about to tell you Jesus says what amazing truth does Jesus now declare well next phrase in verse 25 an hour is coming and now is this is another phrase that we ‘ve seen before isn’t it if you just glance back to John 4:23 Jesus used the same phrase when he was speaking to the Samaritan woman at the well John 4:23 but an hour is coming and now is when the true worshippers will worship the father in spirit and Truth for such people the father seeks to be his worshippers back in John 4:23 Jesus revealed to the Samaritan woman that Jesus arrival on the earth is already initiating a fundamental change in the nature of true and acceptable worship to God our is coming and now is by using that same phrase again here in verse 25 John 5:25 Jesus reveals that something else new is happening now now that Jesus is on the earth the hour is not simply coming not simply be something marvelous happening in the future no it’s something marvelous happening right now and something marvelous that will continue to happen in the future what will be and even is happening now the rest of verse 25 when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God and those who hear will live this is a more specific declaration what we’ve already heard in verse 21 from Jesus about a greater work given by the father to the son to do Jesus told us the son also gives life to whom he wishes but how does the son give or impart life verse 25 is giving us the specifics he does it through his voice all the son must do to give life is speak and to whom does the son speak verse 25 says he speaks to the dead the dead will hear his voice and those who hear will live now that’s a strange statement isn’t it because how well do dead people hear not very well the dead don’t hear anything at all you could go up to a casket at a funeral and Shout at the body wake up wake up I don’t recommend doing that and guess what that person will not wake up he will not respond at all and you know why because he’s dead a dead person cannot hear you but Jesus says it’s different with him his voice is no ordinary voice because he is no ordinary man notice it says in verse 25 they will hear the voice of the Son of God that’s interesting Jesus rarely uses the title Son of God for himself in the gospels but he does do so here this title for Jesus not only expresses his full deity as the son of God God he must be God but it also emphasizes his power you can be sure that when the Son of God speaks even the dead will listen but more than that verse 25 says Those Who hear the Son of God the voice of the Son of God they will live what on Earth is this someone has a voice so powerful that it even raises the Dead that’s right Jesus has that kind of voice what exactly does Jesus mean by dead and live here is Jesus talking about physical resurrection that Jesus can command people with his voice to come back to physical life well certainly Jesus can do that and will do that even in this book The Last of The Seven miraculous signs that John presents to us in this gospel proving that Jesus is the Christ and the Son of God is Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead in John 11 and do you remember how that happens Jesus doesn’t pour some chemical over Lazarus body or zap Lazarus with some machine what does Jesus do how does he do it he speaks he cries out Lazarus come forth and what do you know John 11:44 the man who had died came forth bound hand and foot with with wrappings and his face was wrapped around with a cloth well the dead indeed heard the voice of the Son of God and the one who heard lived that’s power that’s Authority and I like one person’s observation it’s a good thing that Jesus added Lazarus to the beginning of that command or else all the dead would have come forth but back to John 5:25 could Jesus be referring to his power to bring about physical Resurrection with a word well Jesus says an hour is coming and now is emphasizing that the time of the amazing reality he speaks of has already arrived but no one has been physically raised from the dead at this point in Jesus ministry at least as recorded in John’s gospel and Lazarus raising is some time and narrative distance away so does that really qualify for the hour is coming and now is more importantly in just the previous verse verse 24 Jesus said that those who believe his word have eternal life and have already passed out of death into life so Jesus has already been talking about how he gives people life that’s the best way to understand Jesus words in verse 25 are not reference to physical Resurrection but to spiritual Resurrection Jesus speaks to spiritually dead Sinners and raises them to spiritual life and salvation what does Jesus speak to these Sinners he speaks the truth about himself he speaks the message of the Gospel it is the declared and received word of Jesus that coincides with new spiritual life this indeed is a reality that is as Jesus says coming and already is because Jesus the preacher is here and he’s declaring the message of the kingdom and he would entrust this same message the same saving gospel the message of the good news about the person and work of Jesus to his Apostles after him and even to us today so even though Jesus is no longer physically on the on the earth his voice his life-giving voice is still being heard through his gospel to summarize then Jesus is declaring in verse 25 that as part of his work as the faithful Divine son he is raising to spiritual and eternal life through his word all the Sinners all the the dead spiritually dead Sinners who have been ordained to Life by the father and one of the marks of these regenerated Sinners is that they hear Christ’s word and by the way again if we just look back to verse 24 we saw that same verb being used it says Those Who hear the word of the son and believe in the one who sent him have eternal life the same idea here in verse 24 is appearing in verse 25 we’re not talking about people who merely have the words of Jesus enter their ears but people who listen to it who heed it who respond to it who ultimately follow Jesus as a new master those are the ones who have been given New Life by Jesus word compare John 10 John 10: 27- 28 Jesus will say there my sheep hear my voice and I know them and they follow me and I give eternal life to them and they will never perish and no one will snatch them out of my hand so already we have a question that we can ask ourselves that the spirit would want us to ask have I heard the voice of the Son of God through his Bible and have I responded by heeding Christ’s word to believe in and follow after him yet how can Jesus the man now exercise this extraordinary power of God even to give life to the dead well Jesus himself provides the answer in verse 26 verse 26 for just as the father has life in himself even so he gave to the son also to have life in himself ah verse 26 if not interpreted carefully could easily seem like a gotcha verse confirming aryanism even that Jesus is not the same substance not equal with the father and therefore is not God because look the Aryan might say the father eternally had life in himself but he had to give to the son that quality the son didn’t have life in himself the father had to give it to him which means that the sun did not or the sun must not be Eternal the son is inferior to the father he’s a created being who needs life from the father Jesus is not God but such an assertion from John 5:26 would be wrong for two reasons first and follow me on this part of a Biblical understanding of the Trinity is an affirmation of what theologians call the Eternal generation of the Sun the Eternal generation of the Sun that is that the son is begotten from the father but not in time in eternity after all to truly be God’s son the son must somehow be begotten or generated by his father that’s what a son is yet there never was a time when the the son was not begotten the son has been eternally established in a sunship sunship relationship with the father we could even say but in a way we cannot fully understand using the words of verse 26 the father who has life in himself eternally gave to the son so that the son also might have life in himself this Truth by the way is reflected in the nyine Creed did you notice the very specific language where the writers say the son was begotten but not made the son’s begetting is not like any begetting we know on Earth he doesn’t he wasn’t begotten like people are begotten there wasn’t any creation there wasn’t any making of a new being who didn’t exist before no the son is eternally generated or eternally begotten now there’s a lot of mystery to that truth but that’s what the Bible teaches us and by the way there’s a similar truth when it comes to the spirit called The Eternal procession of the spirit but I’m not going to get into that right now all this to say John 5:26 does not contradict biblical trinitarianism it fits fine with that but there’s a second and more important reason to counter any Aryan assertion based on this verse verse and that is verse 26 is most likely not talking about the fundamental internal workings of the Trinity at all but instead these special external roles given by the father to the son as part of the son’s Incarnation work not talking about the nature of the Trinity we’re talking about the work given to the different persons of the Trinity and specifically the Sun for notice the first part of verse 27 says something similar to what we see in verse vers 26 look at verse 27 now and he gave him authority to execute judgment you see the role the son’s role of having life in himself and giving that life to whomever the son wishes is not the only role that the father gave to the son the father also gave the role of executing all judgment the role of judging who is worthy of condemnation who is condemned and then carrying out the appropriate sentence of punishment for that condemned person so verses 26 and 27 together are talking about the roles given to the son in his Incarnation thus verse 26 is not most likely talking about the son’s Essence but his work the father ordains that the son should be the lifegiver for mankind that’s what verse 26 is telling us the father ordains that the son should to be the lifegiver for mankind and why are both these roles lifegiver and judge particularly appropriate for Jesus the son well the end of verse 27 tells us because he is the son of man at first glance the reasoning Jesus reports here seems awfully simple Jesus should play the role of lifegiver and judge of mankind because Jesus himself is a man okay man is best best judg by someone from his own kind I guess so makes sense that Jesus should be the judge well such thinking makes a certain amount of sense but let’s not forget there is more to the title son of man than an expression of Jesus full Humanity it is that but there’s a context to that title the title of son of man is also a reference to Glorious and even Divine messiahship due to what is written and Daniel 7: 13- 14 I’ll read that to you Daniel 7: 13- 14 Daniel says I kept looking in the night visions and behold with the Clouds Of Heaven one like a son of man was coming and he came up to the Ancient of Days and was presented before him and to him was given Dominion glory and a kingdom that all the peoples Nations and Men of every language might serve him his Dominion is an everlasting Dominion which will not pass away and his kingdom is one which will not be destroyed you see Jesus is not given the role of lifegiver and judge of mankind simply because Jesus is a man but because Jesus is the god man God’s chosen Messiah even the very staircase Between Heaven and Earth upon which Angels Ascend and descend like Jesus said in John 151 you will see the angels in ascending and descending on the son of man truly as the one who is in himself the bridge between God and Mankind the son is the perfect choice to be God’s lifegiver and judge for all men let’s now take a step back though to consider an implication in verses 25 to 27 together if Jesus as the faithful Divine son is already about the business of spiritual Resurrection by his Supernatural voice even his preached word and gospel message what about the business of judgment after all if Jesus determines not to give you the life that God gave to the son to have in himself well then what is Jesus doing with you well hasn’t our author already told us in this gospel John 3:18 John 3:18 Jesus speaking he who believes in Him is not judged he who does not believe has been judged already because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God or John 3:36 John 3:36 this time it’s John the Baptist speaking he who believes in the son has eternal life presently but he who does not obey the son will not see life but the wrath of God abides on him presently you see Brethren there is an already and not yet quality to the sons of ordained role with mankind these great works the father has given him as we’ll see in a moment Jesus work of spiritual Resurrection is an anticipation of the full physical Resurrection to come the resurrection unto eternal life with God he’s doing now what he’s going to do in an even greater way in the future but now let’s consider the opposite side just as there is a waiting for all Sinners a final judgment there must be a judgment that has already begun and it’s currently being executed on all who refuse to hear and heed the son ask yourself this who is executing that judgment is it not the one to whom the father has already given over all judgment because this one is the son of man Brethren the one ordering every person who dies in his sins to be thrown into hell is the son whose eyes are a flame of fire and whose feet are like bronze that has been heated in a furnace glowing what could be more fearful to a religious person person and to hear from the lips of the Savior depart from me into the outer Darkness I never knew you you who practice lawlessness yes Jesus came primarily to save not to judge but he nevertheless has been appointed as God’s sole executor of judgment so do not ignore this great savior believe in Jesus the son heed his word so that you will not remain condemned if you haven’t done this you are already condemned do not remain condemned in mere religious tradition but instead find Resurrection Life In Jesus the son gives life and execute judgment even now through the gospel message but there’s more because as I said what the sun does now is in one sense just a picture of the fullness to come we now come to our second some point sub point in verses 28 to 29 the son also gives life and executes judgment 3B soon through the coming Resurrection soon through the coming Resurrection look at the beginning of verse 28 do not Marvel at this huh this is a phrase that’s kind of similar to what Jesus said at the beginning of verse 25 verse 25 Jesus says his listeners should not disbelieve what he’s about to say but in verse 28 Jesus looks back on what he just said and he says again that you should not find it too incredible to believe do you not Marvel at this that the son of man is already giving life and executing judgment why not well Jesus is about to explain to us because the son is going to do the same acts and an even greater way in the future the same kind of work let’s look at the rest of verse 28 and the first part of verse 29 pardon me for an hour is coming in which all who are in the tombs will hear his voice and will come forth notice the similarity and the differences here in verse 28 and the beginning of verse 29 to Jesus statement in verse 25 we again have the voice of the sun causing the dead to come forth from their tombs but notice what’s different an hour is coming Jesus says but he does not add and now is which means that this is not a present reality but a future one and which dead are coming forth not some who hear and heed Jesus word and thereby receive eternal life but everyone all who are in the tombs everyone who’s in the grave everyone who’s dead and no worries that that person’s body was cremated or disintegrated or whatever the powerful Son of God is perfectly able to reconstitute those persons in Resurrection indeed behold in even greater way the power and authority of Jesus the son he will speak and all the dead will come forth not some not most all will come forth in Resurrection now somebody’s not paying attention what comes afterwards this declaration up to this point may sound like wonderful news everyone’s going to be brought back to life in the end that’s great isn’t it well I’m afraid it’s only great for those who are in Jesus but notice the rest of verse 29 those who did the good deed Deeds to a resurrection of Life those who committed the evil Deeds to a resurrection of judgment you know the fact is that everyone is going to live forever there is no truth to annihilationism the idea that God’s final judgment on the wicked will consist in their being destroyed and finally put out of existence no though every human soul has a definite beginning every human soul will not see an end thus the promise of eternal life in Jesus is not so much about longevity of existence but quality of existence notice Jesus reveals here that there are two kinds of coming Resurrection one of life and one of judgment what do those phrases mean other scriptures help fill in the details a bit but the Bible is not totally exhaustive in describing what these are those who one day receive the resurrection of Life they receive new glorified physical bodies that have been made fit for a delightful existence in God’s kingdom forever we’re told in the Bible that Jesus resurrected body is a preview of the Resurrection that is awaiting all God’s people They will receive bodies made for life in the fullest sense designed even for dwelling in God’s presence in the new heavens and the new Earth without any sin or death or pain or tears or futility truly to be part of the resurrection of life means join Jo beyond your ability to imagine but there’s another Resurrection a resurrection of judgment and as you might expect it is a resurrection that is completely opposite to the resurrection of Life those who one day receive the resurrection of judgment also receive new physical bodies but not for experiencing life in the greatest measure but death instead these bodies are designed for punishment and pain for the experience of Maximum suffering under the B burning holy wrath of God forever these bodies are not designed for the kingdom of God but for the Lake of Fire from which There Is No Escape and no relief from torment if the resurrection of life means Joy Beyond imagination then the resurrection of judgment means horror Beyond anyone’s worst nightmare you do not want to be part of the resurrection of judgment so here’s an important question now how do you know for which Resurrection you are headed the answer according to verse 29 might surprise you it comes down to your Deeds Jesus says those who did good receive the resurrection of Life while those who committed evil receive the resurrection of judgment but I thought salvation was by faith someone might say and didn’t you just say Pastor Dave that those who fail to to believe in Jesus are the ones judged why does verse 29 now suggest that God in the end will establish salvation by works the answer is simple God will not inaugurate salvation by works he’s not going to change his mind at the last minute but works are the clearest external demonstration of what you really believe what’s in your heart after all if you look around this room look at all the other people here how do you know who really believes in Jesus you don’t do you because you cannot see their hearts you can get a pretty good idea though of what they believe based on how they live what they say and do of course our observations and interpretation of the evidence is not perfect but we could still get a pretty good idea but in the final judgment there is a similar reality at play there will be no room for one to protest to the judge that despite appearances that person really did believe so God should spare and accept that person the judge who has meticulously observed and recorded every person’s every deed in his books would simply say to such a protester your record doesn’t lie you showed what you believed you showed what was in your heart by what you said and did therefore there is no question that you are justly condemned as a law breaker inside and out we should ask again who will oversee this final assessment of each person whose powerful voice will raise every person and place them either in the resurrection of life or the resurrection of judgment the answer is Jesus of Nazareth the Son of God can you see more now why even religious persons cannot ignore play games with or reject Jesus the son he himself declares that the father has appointed him the lifegiver and judge he’s already going about the business of spiritual Resurrection ction and condemnation but the full work of Resurrection Life and judgment is coming soon so what should you do what should any sinner do it is to heed the exhortation of Psalm 212 Psalm 212 do homage to the son or as other translations put it kiss the son that he not become angry and you perish in the way for his wrath May soon be kindled how blessed are all who take refuge in him my friends You Must Believe In The Sun you must heed his word don’t give lip service heed his word so that you will not remain condemned in mere religious tradition but find in him Resurrection Life instead both now spiritually and in the future physically and eternally do not trust in your religious tradition your man-made rules your church involvement your political conservatism your baptism your Bible knowledge none of these things will save you rather do you love believe and follow with a whole heart Jesus as your savior and Lord that’s the only way you can find life do you believe in Jesus and is it showing up in how you live how you live your life well you think you say you do so that if Jesus were to break open your record book right now the verdict would be obvious yes he clearly loves me she clearly loves me Believes In Me he’s no fake she’s no fake of course none of us would ever be good enough for God on our owns if it came down to our performance even our righteous Deeds are like filthy rags Isaiah 646 but Jesus offers his own righteousness to all those who turn from their sins and believe in him so won’t you take him up on that offer it’s free it’s free and available for every one of you right now he’s glad to give it to you of course know that even though it’s free it will cost you everything it will cost you your sins yourself your effort to earn God’s favor your desires and plans for your life it may even cost you your friends your family your health your wealth and your life but no matter what you lose consider what you gain instead you get Jesus you get the Son of God you get the Resurrection Life the eternal life that only he has and as a bonus you get the church you get a new family of brothers and sisters in the Lord you get the Lord’s kind Providence his love directing your life caring for you all your days even in the midst of suffering isn’t that worth G giving up everything even the greatest treasures of this world because those things are quickly fading and passing away you know there’s some irony in this declaration of divine sunship from Jesus he says all this in response to the Jews who are judging him as a Sabbath breaker and blasphemer who deserves death Jesus reveals in his response that far from being worried about their judgment of him they ought to be concerned about his Judgment of them because he is the Son of God he has even in this reply given his enemies those who are trying to kill him a chance to repent an opportunity to respond to the voice of the son and of course he’s doing the same for all of us who hear this word today how will you respond to his voice I pray that it’s with repentance and Faith even with a commitment to follow him not perfectly that’s never going to happen but doggedly determinedly until he comes or until you see him face to face let me close in prayer Jesus what can we say what can we say in light of this incredible revelation we see your goodness and we see your severity at the same time oh it is as we’ve sung today your grace is magnificent it covers all our sins you raise the dead to life you give them eternal life so that they can look forward to the final Resurrection where there is only joy forever more oh but Lord for the those who trifle with you Jesus those who only give you lip service what a fearful expectation of judgment you would rather people turn and be saved but you will execute judgment on your father’s behalf and that judgment will not air in the slightest for you do not seek your own will but the will of him who sent you and your judgment is just my Lord God I thank you for salvation in Jesus Christ I thank you for covering from the wrath of God I thank you for life eternal but I am so concerned Lord I’m so concerned for my brethren and the people who are listening to this message today oh Lord may it never be that someone today who heard this message who’s hearing this message convinces themselves that they know you while they walk in darkness and therefore I set themselves up for the greatest terrifying surprise when they see you Lord thank you that salvation is not by works but God we want to be afraid of false belief let all those who call upon the name of the Lord depart from wickedness your word says we know Lord your spirit is in the business of sanctifying us we are not yet Sanctified as we need to be but you’re not done with us yet we want to become more like you we want to follow after you more faithfully and we believe your spirit we’ll continue that work in us but Lord if there’s any here who do not truly know you who have not responded to your voice with true repentance and faith I pray that they would do it today right now they would not waste any more time nor risk your judgment glorify yourself in the salvation of Sinners you love to do that and we love to see that for those of us who do know you Lord I pray that we would be so thrilled that we have such a savior and that we might cling to you even more closely in Jesus name I pray amen