Unbelieving Believers???

You may have noticed the peculiar title, unbelieving believers.

What does this mean, we will soon find out.

I am preaching through the life of Christ, we had begun with HIS forerunner, John the Baptist, then to HIS birth and we will go all the way to HIS ascension.

In all of that, we have many events, parables and miracles to cover.

Jesus said in Matthew 11.29 to “learn of me”.

That is exactly what we are going to do, is to learn of Christ.

We are to learn of Christ, this is what the Christian faith is all about.

Our text this morning is John 2:23-25.

John 2:23-25 (KJV) Now when he was in Jerusalem at the passover, in the feast day, many believed in his name, when they saw the miracles which he did. ²⁴ But Jesus did not commit himself unto them, because he knew all men, ²⁵ And needed not that any should testify of man: for he knew what was in man.

Believers

Preceding this passage Jesus called unto Him Andrew, Peter, Nathanael and Philip, then He attended a wedding where He turned water into Wine, then He went turned the tables of those selling animals and exchanging money.

After He turned the tables He must have done some more miracles.

These miracles are not recorded in the bible but we do know that they were enough to win those who witnessed them to belief.

This was not uncommon in the life of Christ, to have those looking for a miracle, those asking for a miracle or even those won by His miracles.

This is exactly what happened here after the passover, the bible says in verse 23 “many believed in his name, when they saw the miracles which he did.”

You might be thinking this today, if only we could have miracles today people would believe or there might be somebody in here who is thinking if only I could see a miracle then I would believe.

There are some problems with that kind of thinking according to the word of God.

We have people running around looking for miracles today, there are people who claim that they will believe if only they could see some sign.

What does Christ say of those looking for a sign?

Matthew 16:4 (KJV) A wicked and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given unto it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas.

We also read of a man who cries out from HELL to send somebody to tell his family of the place called HELL.

Listen to the response back from Heaven.

Luke 16:31 (KJV) And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead.

This book is enough, believe its words and watch it become the most powerful thing in your life.

Unbelieving Believers

There seems to be a problem with these believers in the very next verse.

John 2:24 (KJV) But Jesus did not commit himself unto them, because he knew all men,

What does this mean?

Jesus will only commit Himself to a true conversion; it is obvious that these believers were not true believers.

Or that they did not believe in Jesus for the right thing.

Did you know that many people believe in Jesus for the wrong things?

This happens many times in the scriptures.

John 6:60 (KJV) Many therefore of his disciples, when they had heard this, said, This is an hard saying; who can hear it?

John 6:64-66 (KJV) But there are some of you that believe not. For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were that believed not, and who should betray him. ⁶⁵ And he said, Therefore said I unto you, that no man can come unto me, except it were given unto him of my Father. ⁶⁶ From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him.

They were disciples (plural), who were following Him, but they followed Him no longer, but why?

It was a wrong kind of belief.

In Luke 8, Jesus is explaining a parable of what happens when the word of God is preached; Jesus gives four responses to the preached word of God.

Luke 8:11-18 (KJV) Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God. ¹² Those by the way side are they that hear; then cometh the devil, and taketh away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved. ¹³ They on the rock are they, which, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, which for a while believe, and in time of temptation fall away. ¹⁴ And that which fell among thorns are they, which, when they have heard, go forth, and are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to perfection. ¹⁵ But that on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience. ¹⁶ No man, when he hath lighted a candle, covereth it with a vessel, or putteth it under a bed; but setteth it on a candlestick, that they which enter in may see the light. ¹⁷ For nothing is secret, that shall not be made manifest; neither any thing hid, that shall not be known and come abroad. ¹⁸ Take heed therefore how ye hear: for whosoever hath, to him shall be given; and whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken even that which he seemeth to have.

I am very fearful today that many people who thinks themselves to be saved are not really saved.

Let us look at some more.

1 Corinthians 15:1-2 (KJV) Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; ² By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.

Yes, there is such a thing as a vain belief, which is an empty belief, a belief that amounts to nothing.

Those Christ spoke of in John 2, John 6, those that fell on the rocky ground and those that fell among thorns are those who had a vain belief.

Remember what we read in Luke 8, that those who do not have a true belief will be made manifest.

1 John 2:19 (KJV) They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us.

Let me ask this morning, who is us in this scripture?

Us, are those in fellowship with other Christians, something the bible calls church, us, are those involved in the work of God, us, are those in love with the word of God, us, are those who love to speak the things of God.

The bible tells us why they did not continue with us, because they were never like us, that is they were never truly saved.

What am I talking about this morning, unbelieving believers.

God knows

John 2:24-25 (KJV) But Jesus did not commit himself unto them, because he knew all men, ²⁵ And needed not that any should testify of man: for he knew what was in man.

Ø  The Lord Jesus Christ knew these believers were not genuine believers, because HE knew them.

1 Samuel 16:7 (KJV)  …for the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart.

And, Jesus Christ surly does not need somebody else to testify.

God knows the hearts of man, HE does not need to hear our personal testimony of salvation, nor does Christ need somebody else to testify on our behalf.

Christ knows all men!!!

I could see some people thinking that they could convince Jesus, like it is going to be something like TV courtroom.

You either KNOW or you DON’T!!!

Unbelieving Belief

It is obvious that these believers believed the wrong thing.

Many times over in the bible we are told to believe on Jesus Christ for salvation.

Acts 16:30-31 (KJV)And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved? ³¹ And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.

There is something you must believe in Jesus Christ for.

You could believe that Jesus Christ is God, than that is not enough.

You could believe that Jesus can give the peace that surpasses all understanding, than that is not enough.

You could believe that Jesus can be your friend that sticketh closer than a brother, than that is not enough.

You could believe that Jesus did all those miracles that the bible talks about, than that would not be enough.

You could believe that Jesus could fix all of your problems, than that would not be enough.

You could believe that Jesus has a wonderful plan for your life than that would not be enough.

You could believe that Jesus loves you like no other, than that would not be enough.

You could believe that Jesus died on the cross for the sins of the world and that would not be enough.

We have to put the “believe in Jesus Christ for salvation” in context with the rest of the word of God.

Do you realize a person cannot get saved without knowing that they have done something worthy of the eternal fires of hell?

Luke 16:19-23 (KJV) There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day: ²⁰ And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores, ²¹ And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man’s table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores. ²² And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham’s bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried; ²³ And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.

This man was and is suffering in the torments of hell, but why?

It does not say that he murder 6 million Jews, it does not say that he was a pedophile or a rapist, it does not say that he stole from the poor, what does it say?

What was this man guilty of that he would be in the torments of hell?

Luke 16:27-31 Then he said, I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him to my father’s house: ²⁸ For I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment. ²⁹ Abraham saith unto him, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them. ³⁰ And he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent. ³¹ And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead.

So, why was this man in the torments of HELL?

Did you see it?

He neglected to hear Moses and the prophets.

God gave Moses the law, and in that law we are condemned.

We are condemned liars, thieves, adulterers, blasphemers, and idolaters.

Who in here could stand before a Holy and Righteous God and be measured to the law that God had given to Moses, NOT A ONE OF US!!!

We all deserve the torments of Hell for our sins.

The rich also failed to hear the prophets.

The prophets gave the good news, they tell of one who would come and die in the place of the one who has broken God’s law.

That one came and HIS name is Jesus Christ.

Also notice the rich man knew how to be saved, at the end of verse 30, his hopes were that his brothers would repent.

What does that mean, repent?

Repent means a change in the heart that results in a change in direction.

2 Corinthians 7:9-11 (KJV)
⁹ Now I rejoice, not that ye were made sorry, but that ye sorrowed to repentance: for ye were made sorry after a godly manner, that ye might receive damage by us in nothing. ¹⁰ For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death. ¹¹ For behold this selfsame thing, that ye sorrowed after a godly sort, what carefulness it wrought in you, yea, what clearing of yourselves, yea, what indignation, yea, what fear, yea, what vehement desire, yea, what zeal, yea, what revenge! In all things ye have approved yourselves to be clear in this matter.

For a person to get saved they need the knowledge that they have personally offended God’s law and are deserving of the eternal fires of hell.

Then they need to be sorry for their personal sins against God and repent of them.

Then they must believe in Jesus Christ for standing in their place, taking the penalty and judgment for their personal sins against God.

Notice what they believed 1 Corinthians 15.

1 Corinthians 15:1-4 (KJV) Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; ² By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. ³ For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; ⁴ And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:

Let me ask you this morning, has there been a change in your life, one that communicates forgiveness of sins?

How can you ask for forgiveness of sins and not be sorry for your personal sins against God, how can you ask for forgiveness of sins and want to continue in them?

I believe many of these Unbelieving Believers believed in the wrong thing.

They looked to Christ for SOME OTHER REASON, than for the forgiveness of sins.

What have you looked to Christ for?

Preached Sunday June 12, 2011

By Jason LaPat

jasonlapat@yahoo.com