Tonight, in the scriptures, we want to read, and we'll note there's some that are mentioned, and a hymn would have been applicable. The last one that we read, they were almost persuaded. But we find that we need to be all together persuaded. Like Paul said, I know whom I believed in and persuaded that he's able to keep that job committed unto him against that day. And we pray that it be true for each one that hears the message tonight. I'm reading in the gospel of John chapter 12. John chapter 12. And we want to read beginning in verse 37, read through the rest of the chapter this evening. As we've noted in times past, as far as John's record is concerned, this is the, except for his crucifixion, his arrest and trial and crucifixion, this is the close of John's record of Christ's public ministry. John 12, verse 37, but though he had done so many miracles before them, yet they believed not on him. That the saying of Isaiah the prophet might be fulfilled which he spake, Lord, who hath believed our report? And to whom hath the arm of the Lord been revealed? Therefore they could not believe because that Isaiah said again, yet blinded their eyes and hardened their heart, that they should not see with their eyes, but understand with their heart and be converted, and I should heal them. These things said Isaiah when he saw his glory and spake of him. Nevertheless, among the chief rulers also many believed on him, but because of the Pharisees, they did not confess him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue, for they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God. Jesus cried and said, He that believeth on me believeth not on me, but on him that sent me. And he that seeth me seeth him that sent me. I am come a light into the world that whosoever believeth on me should not abide in darkness. And if any man hear my words and believe not, I judge him not, for I came not to judge the world, but to save the world. He that rejected me and receiveth not my words hath one that judged him. The word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day. For I have not spoken of myself, but the Father which sent me, he gave me a commandment, what I should say and what I should speak. And I know that his commandment is life everlasting. Whatsoever I speak, therefore, even as the Father said unto me, so I speak. And so we find here tonight the subject of rejection of Christ. And in verse 37, once again, it states where that, but though he had done so many miracles before them, yet they believed not on him. And John has specifically recorded seven miracles up to this point in the earthly ministry of the Lord Jesus. And he has referred to others in general or in passing without describing them in detail. Look back in chapter 2, for instance, John chapter 2, and you know how that in the first 11 verses, it speaks of his turning the water into wine there at the marriage of Cana in Galilee. And verse 11 of John 2, This beginning of miracles did Jesus in Cana of Galilee and manifested forth his glory and his disciples believed on him. And then in verse 23, now when he was in Jerusalem at the Passover and the feast day, many believed in his name when they saw the miracles which he did. And so there's some miracles that John doesn't go into detail describing, He just mentions them, he just passes over them and here Jesus of course was at Jerusalem at one of the Passover's during his earthly ministry and he says he did the miracles that they saw. Then look in chapter 4, and it refers to this same thing. In verse 45 of John 4, then when he was coming to Galilee, the Galileans received him, having seen all the things that he did at Jerusalem at the feast. For they also went unto the feast, and then from verse 46 through the rest of the chapter. It records, as John calls it, in verse 54, the last verse of chapter four, the second miracle that Jesus did. It's not the second one in total, it's the second one here that John is recording the specifics of, and it's where he healed the nobleman's son, And he didn't even go to the place where he was at. He was at some distance. He was in another town. And the noble one had come asking Jesus to come and heal his son. And Jesus said, go thy way, thy son liveth. In verse 50, the man believed the word that Jesus had spoken unto him and went his way. He found, when he got back, he found that Jesus, he was healed at the very same hour. The other gospel writers, of course record many other of the Lord's miracles that he did but we noticed already in chapter 5 the healing of the impotent man there at the pool of Bethesda on the Sabbath day then in chapter 6 the multiplying of the loaves and the fishes to feed the great multitude that was over 5,000 people there in the wilderness. And then in that same chapter where that he walked on the water of the Sea of Galilee at night to meet up with the disciples. who were crossing by boat that he had sent ahead of him. And then in John chapter nine, when he gave sight to the man who was born blind, and then in chapter 11, when he raised Lazarus from the dead. And so John is gonna also record in chapter 21, another of his miracles, the second great haul of fishes that followed his resurrection. And so despite the many miracles that Jesus wrought, In the main, the Jews did not believe on him. And so nationally, Israel rejected their Messiah. And we learn from God's word, as John here, he quotes from two places in Isaiah. verse 38 and verse 40 he quotes from a couple of places in the prophecies of Isaiah that foretold this rejection as he says there Verse 38, at the saying of Isaiah, the prophet might be fulfilled, which he spake, Lord, who hath believed our report? And to whom hath the arm of the Lord been revealed? That, of course, is Isaiah 53 in verse one. You remember Isaiah 53, it's that great chapter about Calvary where he describes the sufferings of Christ as our substitute. And then, And he says in verse 39, therefore they could not believe because that Isaiah said again, he hath blinded their eyes and hardened their heart that they should not see with their eyes and understand with their heart and be converted and I should heal them. These things said Isaiah when he saw his glory and spake of him. Well, that's in Isaiah chapter six, turn there for a moment. You of course remember where that Isaiah, he saw the Lord high and lifted up. And he says here that he beheld his glory. He's saying, if you really pay attention to that, he said he saw his glory and spake of him. The glory of Christ. Notice Here he says in verse 1 Isaiah 6 in the year that King Uzziah died I saw also the Lord sitting upon a throne high and lifted up and his train filled the temple above it stood the stair of Thames Each one had six wings with twain he covered his face and with twain he covered his feet and with twain he did fly and one cried unto another and said holy holy holy is the Lord of hosts the whole earth is full of his glory The post of the door moved at the voice of him that cried, and the house was filled with smoke, and I said, I, woe is me, for I am undone, because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips, for mine eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts. Then flew one of the seraphims unto me, having a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with the tongs from off the altar, and he laid it upon my mouth, and said, Lord, this has touched thy lips, thine iniquities taken away, and I sin purged. Also, I heard the voice of the Lord saying, whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, here am I, send me. And he said, go and tell this people, hear ye indeed, but understand not, and see ye indeed, but perceive not. Make the heart of this people fat, and make their ears heavy, and shut their eyes, lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and convert and be healed. And so John says this in reference to Israel's unbelief. and how that they could not believe. And John points out and says these prophecies were fulfilled in Israel's rejection of the Christ, the Messiah, the Lord Jesus. Now, as we saw a hint of that earlier in this chapter, remember the Greeks who came up to the feast to worship and they sought out Philip of Bethsaida, and they told him they wanted to meet Jesus. And we saw there that the hint of the gospel that it would go to the Gentiles. We know from the further teachings of the scriptures that the rejection of Christ on the part of the Jews would result in the gospel going on to the Gentiles that God might thereby call out from among the Gentiles a people for his name. Look in Romans chapter 10. Romans chapter 10. And verse 16 said, but they have not all obeyed the gospel for Isaiah saith, Lord who hath believed our report. And so you see here, he's quoting that same verse of scripture that John mentions. And he said, so then faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the word of God. But I say, have they not heard? Well, Jesus was referring to that when he said there, when he said he that, if any man hear my words and believe not, I judge him not. But my word that I've spoken is gonna judge him at the last day. But you see, he said, have they not heard? Yes, verily there's Solomon to all the earth and their words unto the ends of the world. quotes from a few other passages here at the end of Romans chapter 10 referring to how that Israel would be blinded and the gospel would then go on to the Gentiles and chapter 11 expounds to a great extent on that. We're not gonna read this whole 11th chapter. You can feel free to read it later. Go ahead and plan on that but verse 7 what then Israel hath not obtained that which he seeketh for but the election hath obtained it and the rest were blinded and Then notice he says about the Gentiles He says in verse 19, Thou wilt say then the branches were broken off that I might be grafted in. Well, because of unbelief they were broken off. And now standest by faith, be not high-minded, but fear, for if God spared not the natural branches, take heed, lest he also spare not thee. Behold, therefore, the goodness and severity of God, and them which fell, severity, but toward thee goodness, if thou continue in his goodness, otherwise thou also shalt be cut off. And they also, if they abide not still in unbelief, shall be grafted in, for God is able to graft them in again. And so we see here these wonderful things. That's why Jesus said, he that believeth on me, Or he that believeth not the miracles that jesus performed There were many John said if all the things that jesus did were recorded. He didn't think the world could contain the books But the miracles that jesus performed displayed his glory Remember as it refers to john said in john 1 we beheld his glory the glory as of the only begotten of the father Now, it wasn't just in reference to the Mount of Transfiguration. It certainly was in reference to that, but it was in reference to every time He manifested forth His glory in what He did. They showed that He was the Son of God, God manifest in the flesh. Like John said in chapter 20, these things are written that you might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you might have life through His name. We have a confirmation here that it is by faith that we must be saved because he says they believed not on him. What is, you know, this has been emphasized throughout John's record of the gospel over and over, the great truth in this wonderful record of our Lord Jesus Christ, believe on the Lord Jesus Christ. All right, Jesus said it in chapter three, whosoever believeth on him. It's not perish, but have everlasting life. Here again, it's stated over and over. Go back through the Gospel of John and see every time he talks about belief, believeth, believing, faith. It's one of the great emphases, things emphasized by John as the Holy Spirit directed him, that it is by faith that we must be saved. Now, notice in verse 42 and 43, here's some, these are ones I was referring to earlier when I said, well, they were almost persuaded. It says, nevertheless, among the chief rulers also many believed on him. But because of the Pharisees, they did not confess him lest they should be put out of the synagogue. For they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God. And so here's one of the greatest natural hindrances to saving faith. And I want you to see that it was a heart problem. They loved something, and it was the wrong thing. They loved the praise of man more than the praise of God. They'd rather have man praise them, man approve of them, man accept them, Man, like them, be the friend of man, than God. And that's very dangerous. That'll keep you from being saved. It did these. It's with the heart that man believeth. It's also with the heart that man loves. Faith and love operate together in oneness. Now, there were many, John says, among the chief rulers who believed on Jesus. It says then, verse 42, nevertheless among the chief rulers also many believed on him. You say, well, it says they believed. Yeah. But it wasn't saving faith. We've already seen this in John's record of the gospel. Sometimes the Bible says people believed, but they didn't believe savingly. And it's not just in John's gospel. Go back and read the commentary that's in the book of Psalms, and about the children of Israel in the Old Testament. You know they would something would happen and then it says and then they believed God's works and then almost the very next verse They turn right back around in there and they're not believing And they're rebelling against God so these believed only so far as they were assenting to, they were agreeing with certain facts or opinions. But that's not effectual to save the soul. They had a defective faith. They had a faulty faith. They believed on him as far as They, like Nicodemus there in John three, when he said, we know thou art a teacher sent from God because no man can do the miracles like you're doing, lest God sent him. But he didn't believe that he was the one sent down from heaven and that he must cast himself upon him alone in order to be saved. Do you think Nicodemus thought he needed Jesus to die for him? In John chapter three he didn't. Now he might have later. But remember when Jesus was saying things to him and he said, how can these things be? And Jesus said, you're a master of Israel. You're the one that's supposed to be teaching everybody else. understand these things and so these had a defective faith if the faith you have does not cause you to love the Lord Jesus Christ and confess him before men then it is not saving faith again Matthew chapter 10 That was how these evidenced that there was something wrong. They believed. They had a good opinion of Jesus. They thought he certainly, you know, was right, at least about most of them. What he taught was right. He did wonderful things, but they didn't want to run afoul of the Pharisees on his account. Matthew 10 verse 32 and 33, Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, Him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven. But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven. You go back to John chapter nine, and remember how the parents of the man that was born black, they didn't want to say too much, because they were afraid of the Pharisees, The order had already been given that if anybody confessed that Jesus was a Christ, they'd be put out of the synagogue, they'd be ostracized. That was a drastic and a severe punishment, to be cast out of the synagogue, cut off. You were considered, basically, like you were an unbeliever. You were you were going against the religion of the Jews But here these they were afraid of that Notice back in John chapter 5 Goes through people's minds I'll fight if I do what God says I'll run follow friends and family They'd rather be okay with them then be okay with God I They got a low opinion of God and a high opinion of people who probably don't even know God. You're putting things in the wrong place. You're putting them in the place of God and you're putting God down low somewhere. That's what you're doing. But notice in John 5 verse 39, Search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life, and they are they which testify of me. And you will not come to me, but you might have life. I receive not honor from men, but I know you that ye have not the love of God in you. I am come in my Father's name, and ye receive me not. If another shall come in his own name, him ye will receive. How can ye believe? which receive honor one of another, and seek not the honor that cometh from God only. You see, the real problem was the love of God was not in their hearts. They did have something that they loved. John said they loved the praise of man more than the praise of God. That's something that was important to them. That's something that they thought they couldn't do without. You can't do without Jesus Christ. You can't do without the love of God in your heart. But they'd rather have the praise, the approval, the acceptance, and the friendship of men than of God. But Jesus had already said, in verses 25 and 26 here of John 12, he that loveth his life shall lose it. That's what some people, they love their life, they wanna keep things the way they want, the way they are, the way they want them, they don't wanna lose anything. Now I lose What they're trying to hold on to as far as this earthly life is concerned, you know You're gonna you're gonna let go of it one day. You're gonna let go of all of it all of a sudden You're gonna take any of it with you And all the people that you care, that you, you know, were so concerned about them, you know, approving of you or accepting you or being your friend, or you thought, you know, they appreciated you or whatever. They aren't gonna be thinking about you for two months longer after you're gone. He behaves its life in this world Jesus said should keep it under life eternal if any man serve me Let him follow me and where I am there shall also my servant be if any man serve me him will my father honor They wanted to honor it came from from men Look at John chapter 16 that Jesus would tell the disciples here a little bit of Not long before he went to the cross, that this was how they were gonna be treated. That's what these chief rulers, they didn't want to be cast out of the synagogue. But notice what Jesus says to disciples in John 16, verse one, these things have I spoken unto you that ye should not be offended or cause to stumble. They shall put you out of the synagogues. Yea, the time cometh that whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God's service. And these things will they do unto you, because they have not known the Father nor me. And so, we see here these, they believed on him, but their belief, it wasn't saved. And they wouldn't confess him before men. Notice in the closing verses of this chapter, it says, verse 44, Jesus cried and said, and the chapter ends with his words. And he closes here, as it were, his public ministry with a declaration, essentially summarizing his ministry. And notice, he that believeth on me, believeth not on me, but on him that sent me. And he that seeth me, seeth him that sent me. Well, who is that? Well, it's God the Father. I am come a light into the world that whosoever believeth on me should not abide in darkness. And if any man hear my words and believe not, I judge him not, for I came not to judge the world, but to save the world. He that rejecteth me and receiveth not my words hath one that judgeth him. The word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day. For I have not spoken of myself, but the Father which sent me. He gave me a commandment, what I should say and what I should speak. And I know that his commandment is life everlasting. Whatsoever I speak, therefore, even as the Father said unto me, so I speak. And so Jesus here, he declares that you must either receive him by faith you are rejecting him and to reject him is to reject God who sent him Jesus claims to be sent as the official representative of God the Father the one sent to save man so I came to save the world I came to whosoever believeth on me shall not abide in darkness but have light He said earlier, the lie of lying. He speaks what the Father commanded him to speak. He did the works the Father commanded him to do. He acted and spoke in official capacity and did so faithfully. You know, if I was to go up to somebody's house, and knock on their door and tell them, you know, they had to, you know, maybe their car was parked out on the street or something, and I knocked on their door and I told them they had to move that car. Well, they could ignore me. But you know, if a police officer came with jurisdiction in that, you know, town or village or city, wherever they live, and knocked on their door and told them, you need to get this car off the street. Well, they ignore him. Now they're in trouble. They've run afoul of the official authority and he's operating on the official authority that he's been given to enforce that law. Well, Jesus came on the authority of God the Father with the official message of salvation. And if you ignore and reject him, you do so to the peril of your soul. Jesus described the consequences of rejecting the word of God. He said, if any man hear my words and believe not, he that rejected me and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him. The word that I have spoken, the saint shall judge him in the last day. You see, it's God's word that'll be the final judge of everyone. The Bible is the final judge of every man, woman, boy, and girl. The Bible reveals the way of everlasting life. And outside of faith in Christ is nothing but spiritual darkness, ignorance, and blindness, which will end in the perishing of the soul. God's commandment is life everlasting, Jesus said. What is God's commandment? Believe on his Son, Jesus Christ. Repent and turn to Christ for the full and free forgiveness of all your sins and follow him. That's his commandment. Jesus said, I know that his commandment is life everlasting. Well, folks, they think they're fine. They're safe. But they haven't done what God commands. They haven't confessed and forsaken their sins and fled to his son Jesus Christ by faith and laid hold on him as the only salvation and refuge of their soul. It is not enough to be impressed with Christ. Love those go back to verse 42 and 43 those people were impressed with Christ It's not enough to think that religion is important It's not enough to approve of yourself or be approved of by your fellow man knows a lot of you said all these people I know they think very good of me and And it's not enough to have some religious or some Bible knowledge. Remember, go back to John chapter four. That's what the woman at the Jacob's well had. She had some religious and some Bible knowledge. Nicodemus, I mean he had more Bible knowledge than anybody you could probably ever come across and yet he needed to be born again he didn't even And he stumbled on that It's not enough to know the facts about Jesus even and say that you believe Lot of people that do that Look in John chapter eight, in verse 51. Verily, verily, I say unto you, if a man keep my saying, he shall never see death. Are you keeping his saying? Jesus said in John 5, 24, he that heareth my word, believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation, but is passed from death unto life. Those in there in John 12 that the many that believed on it, but they wouldn't keep the same Are you saying well the salvation that you say you have today Be worth anything in the last day When the dead are raised and judged by the Word of God. I A lot of people have a salvation that it's good enough for today It's good enough for them. It's good enough for their friends. It's good enough for their family and all their acquaintances It's good enough for the folks. They go to church with whenever they go Is it going to be good enough in the last day When the books are opened as the Bible says and when this book is open and we're judged out of it by the word of God that liveth and abideth forever. May the Lord bless you.