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Devotions from Gospel Chapel Ministries HOME SERMONS SERMON NOTES
THE MISSING LINK
"For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God," JOH 3:20-21.
Whether or not we believe in the Lord Jesus Christ may be gauged by our attitude and actions a lot more safely than buy our knowledge, emotions, or certain experiences. These are deceiving; our gauge must be our attitude and our actions which are renewed by God's grace. Do we understand what it is to be renewed in the spirit of the mind? The washing of water by the Word changes us, and that is a much better and safer gauge.
See how the Pharisees rejoiced in the light of a man, but only for a season. It is dangerous to have our emotions tied up in a certain man because he had a calling or a gift in preaching. Many people get carried away to the point of worshipping the preacher instead of Christ. Many are deceived in this area.
John the Baptist had a true calling; he was prophesied as the forerunner of Christ. John the Baptist indeed was a mighty, powerful preacher of the gospel. He preached it without any flinching of the truth. Are we to worship John the Baptist because of his call and dedication? Look at JOH 5:35, "He was a burning and a shining light: and ye were willing for a season to rejoice in his light." Do you see the missing link? They were rejoicing in his light, in the wonderful, powerful preacher rather than rejoicing in the true light, which is Christ and the Word. They were not rejoicing in the truth that was being preached. The power and credentials of the man were their focus. There is no salvation in this type of emotion.
We may hear some gospel preacher, and greatly rejoice "in his light." Oh, that was a wonderful sermon or message, and yet be totally devoid of the new birth because the rejoicing is in the man and his light. This is very dangerous. The first time our little maid dances well, we may behead that preacher rather than cut off some of our fleshly desires. The work of regeneration begins with crucifying our own self and the evil desires of the flesh.
We may delight to come to the light of some preacher who has a powerful call such as John the Baptist, and yet flee from the true light which reveals our bosom sins. Let's look at the context in which we find our text to see how urgently important this is. The Lord Jesus is giving the definition of those who believe and those who believe not. JOH 3:18 says, "He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God." Now He goes on to show that condemnation in V:19. "And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil."
There are multitudes who sincerely believe they are saved who have never rightly believed in
Jesus Christ. They have not understood how the light of the Word is the condemnation of the unbeliever. "He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil," JOH 3:18-19. See in the next verse the total contrast in those who believe not, and those that believe. "For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God," JOH 3:20-21.
Now we need to consider MAT 7:13. "Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat." Take notice of the strait gate; that word strait means a place where it is difficult to stand. Let's go back to V:12 to see what Jesus is talking about when He refers to the strait gate. MAT 7:12 says, "Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets."
Jesus tells us to do to others whatever we would like to have them do to us; then He comes right after it to tell us how difficult it is to stand, "for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat." In other words, those who do not stand the test of the obedience of faith and don't practice that law of love are condemned. They have not learned to understand what it is to love their God with all their heart, soul, and mind and love their neighbor as themselves.
These "many" that Scripture speaks about ("and many there be which go in thereat.") are not the open infidels who make no profession of believing in Christ. Do you know who they are? They are the professed believers in Christ who are on the broad road spoken of in MAT 7:22. "Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?"
This is the same parable, the same "many" as we found in the above paragraph. They will come in the Day of Judgment having died believing in the Lord Jesus Christ as their only hope of salvation. They did not believe with a true gospel belief. Look at the next verse. MAT 7:23 says, "And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity." Why?
They had never been washed by the washing of regeneration of the Holy Spirit; they had never been cleansed from their sins. They continued in the broad road where they didn't have to stand. They could have a little grudge, a hate, a little spite, and a little nag, and a little of the sins and pleasures they cherished. They thought it was all washed in the blood of Christ, but they never had a renewing of the affections of the heart. They never rightly believed, and they perished eternally.
It is one thing to believe that sin is the awful thing it is, and quite another thing to have a holy hatred for sin in the very soul. We can truly believe sin is a terrible thing, a damning thing, but have secret sins which we love, that we are loath to give up, cherishing those sweetheart sins. A true fear of God hates all iniquity.
Look at PRO 8:13, "The fear of the LORD is to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate." It is to hate sin. Why? If we stop cherishing sin, we will start turning from sin. As long as we cherish a sin and love that sin in our heart, we will continue to sin. Read PRO 8:13 again to see the mark of a true believer. The hatred we have for sin is where we can begin to divide the sheep from the goats. Sin becomes a loathsome thing and exceedingly sinful. Amen.
Have Thine own way, Lord! Have Thine own way!
Thou art the Potter, I am the clay;
Mould me and make me after Thy will,
While I am waiting, yielded and still.
Have Thine own way, Lord! Have Thine own way!
Search me and try me, Master, today!
Whiter than snow, Lord, wash me just now,
As in Thy presence humbly I bow.
Have Thine own way, Lord! Have Thine own way!
Hold over my being absolute sway!
Fill with Thy Spirit till all shall see
Christ only, always, living in me!
~Author: Adelaide A. Pollard, 1902
Our sermons and devotions are a ministry of Gospel Chapel located in Conrad, Montana. We also have a daily devotion and sermon notes on-line. We pray this devotion has been a blessing to those who read it. Thank you.