HE THAT BELIEVETH & HE THAT BELIEVETH NOT

JOH 3:35-36 The Father loveth the Son, and hath given all things into his hand.

36 He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.

>>There is such blessed harmony in the gospel of Jesus Christ when our eyes are opened to see it in the context of all Scripture.

>>The words of John the Baptist in our text, "The Father loveth the Son, and hath given all things into his hand," are synonymous with what Jesus said in MAT 28:18 All power [i.e., authority or jurisdiction] is given unto me in heaven and in earth.

>>To rightly understand salvation, saving faith, or even the atonement of Christ's blood we must begin in Paradise.

>>The word "image" in GEN 1:26 And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness," is taken from the Hebrew word, "tselem" which means "a resemblance of, a representative figure, a reflection of.

>>Through Adam's fall rebellion was born, and we have all lost that image of God.

>>The gospel of salvation is the good news that God has taken reasons out of Himself to make a way open whereby His perfect image can again be reflected in our human nature.

HEB 1:3 Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high:

>>Through this blessed Person of Christ we now have a revelation of the true image of the Person of the Father.

JOH 14:8-9 Philip saith unto him, Lord, shew us the Father, and it sufficeth us.

9 Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Shew us the Father?

>>How was this unspeakable gift of reconciliation accomplished?

PHI 2:6-8 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:

7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:

8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.

>>Nothing but the humble obedience of God's own Son in our human nature, paying the penalty of our sins as an act of obedience, could have ever fulfilled the purpose of God's creation after the fall of Adam.

>>This is why the Father was so pleased with such perfect obedience of His Son in our human nature that Jesus "thought it not robbery" to say, "All power [i.e., authority or jurisdiction] is given unto me in heaven and in earth," MAT 28:18.

>>This blessed truth is so apparent when we see how the Father was so glorified in glorifying His Son for such obedience.

PHI 2:9-11 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:

10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;

11 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

>>As we learn to see that it was Christ's payment of the penalty of sin as an act of obedience which so glorified the Father we can begin to understand our text.

JOH 3:35-36 The Father loveth the Son, and hath given all things into his hand.

36 He that believeth on the Son [i.e., he that bows to His authority] hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son [i.e., he that shall rebel against that authority through willful disobedience,] shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.

>>Until we rightly understand how it was rebellion which broke the original state of conciliation between God and man, and that no reconciliation could be obtained until perfect obedience was rendered in our human nature, we cannot understand salvation.

>>Salvation is to be saved from the rebellion of Paradise.

MAT 1:21 And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.

>>This blessed truth "He that believeth on the Son [or bows to His Kingly authority,] hath everlasting life: [is contrasted with the awful truth,] and he that believeth not [i.e., obeys not] the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.

>>This portion of our text is synonymous with, HEB 10:26-29 For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins,

27 But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries.

28 He that despised Moses' law died without mercy under two or three witnesses:

29 Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace?

>>The words "believeth" and "believeth not" come from the same two words in the Greek as those used in MAR 16:16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.

>>"Believeth not" comes from the Greek word "apeitheo" which means "contumacious, i.e., `haughty; obstinate; perverse; stubborn; inflexible; unyielding; disobedient...wilfully disobedient to orders...' unpersuadable."

>>Satan's gospel of salvation without repentance hides these essential elements of repentance in the gospel of Christ.

2CO 4:3-4 But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost:

4 In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.

>>Believing is having our mind and will conformed to that blessed image of Christ.

ROM 8:27-29 And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.

28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

29 For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.

>>"He that believeth," in our text comes from the Greek word "pisteuo" which means "reliance upon Christ for salvation," i.e., for deliverance from the power of sin and rebellion.

>>Our text says, "The Father loveth the Son, and hath given all things into his hand." This love was prompted by His obedience as Jesus affirmed in JOH 15:10 If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love.

>>"If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love," is synonymous with our text

36 He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.

>>True repentance involves a turning from sin; it is far more than a change of mind, it is a transformation of the will. It constitutes a willingness—or a determination—to abandon unbelief, i.e., "haughty; obstinate; perverse; stubborn; inflexible; unyielding; willful disobedience to orders..." with a true desire to do the will of God.

PHI 2:13 For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.

>>True repentance alters the whole character of the man. He becomes a reflector of the character of God. It is a realization of the sinfulness of sin, and how displeasing it is to God.

>>True repentance is a realization that you are a guilty sinner before God, and that every sin requires the precious blood of Christ for cleansing, or the eternal wrath of God.

MAT 3:5-8 Then went out to him Jerusalem, and all Judaea, and all the region round about Jordan,

6 And were baptized of him in Jordan, confessing their sins.

7 But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism, he said unto them, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come?

8 Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance:

>>Repentance is not a one time act. It is a progressive, life-long process of confession.

1JO 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

>>It is this life-long work of repentance which produces the poverty of spirit, mourning over sin, and the meekness Jesus spoke of in the beatitudes.

>>True repentance, i.e., a complete change in our course of life is the mark of true Godly fear which was preached throughout the Old Testament gospel.

>>When Jesus began to preach saying, "Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand," The Jews well knew their rabbis taught that ISA 1:16-17 commanded nine acts of repentance which began with internal cleansing and which were made manifest in attitudes and actions.

ISA 1:16-17 Wash you, make you clean; put away the evil of your doings from before mine eyes; cease to do evil;

17 Learn to do well; seek judgment, relieve the oppressed, judge the fatherless, plead for the widow.

>>God's Word confirms that repentance is not a one time commitment but a life long change of life in EZE 33:18-19 When the righteous turneth from his righteousness, and committeth iniquity, he shall even die thereby.

19 But if the wicked turn from his wickedness, and do that which is lawful and right, he shall live thereby.

2CH 7:14 If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.

>>The Old Testament gospel clearly places repentance before any pardon as we see in

ISA 55:6-7 Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near:

7 Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.

>>We must carefully examine God's Word to see what God considers as true repentance! God certainly heard the prayers and confessions of the Ninevites, but what moved His bowls of mercy towards them? It was their deeds!

JON 3:10 And God saw their works, that they turned from their evil way; and God repented of the evil, that he had said that he would do unto them; and he did it not.

>>See what John the Baptist said to the Pharisees and Sadducees when they came for baptism.

MAT 3:7-8 But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism, he said unto them, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come?

8 Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance:

>>John didn't say "here are our esteemed leaders who are coming for baptism, but their motives seem to be wrong; he was very harsh. They were poisoning the nation with deceit; nothing about their behaviour indicated they had repented.

>>Repentance must produce observable fruits. See what John said to those who inquired what they must do to show repentance in

LUK 3:10-14 And the people asked him, saying, What shall we do then?

11 He answereth and saith unto them, He that hath two coats, let him impart to him that hath none; and he that hath meat, let him do likewise.

12 Then came also publicans to be baptized, and said unto him, Master, what shall we do?

13 And he said unto them, Exact no more than that which is appointed you.

14 And the soldiers likewise demanded of him, saying, And what shall we do? And he said unto them, Do violence to no man, neither accuse any falsely; and be content with your wages.

>>Jesus sums up the gauge of real righteousness in His Sermon on the Mount with

MAT 5:48 Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.

>>The response of any true disciple of Jesus Christ would be as we see in MAT 19:25-26 When his disciples heard it, they were exceedingly amazed, saying, Who then can be saved?

26 But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible.

>>Repentance, faith and redemption from the power of sin are all free gifts of God as we see in JOH 6:63-65 It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.

64 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.