Believe While You Can

John chapter 20. John chapter 20. You can begin to turn there. Here in John chapter 20, we find that there was an interaction that occurred between Jesus Christ and one of His disciples. Within this exchange of words, what we find is something that is of incredible significance to you and I. This interaction here in John chapter 20 occurred when Jesus Christ was now resurrected from the dead. Jesus at this moment had already revealed Himself as risen to Mary. He had already revealed Himself as risen to several of the other disciples, but not yet to one particular disciple. He hadn't revealed Himself as risen to Thomas yet. The other disciples now rush to tell Thomas of this monumental news here. Let's pick up the story here. John chapter 20. Let's read verses 24-29. Look at and see Thomas's reaction here to this news. Verse 24.

Now just feel this exchange that occurs between Jesus Christ and Thomas here. After eight days, His disciples were again inside. Thomas was with them. Jesus came, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst and said, Peace to you. Then He said to Thomas, this is Jesus Christ speaking, Reach your finger here and look at my hands. Reach your hand here and put it into my side. Do not be unbelieving, but believing. Thomas answered Him and said, My Lord, My God, it hit Him. Jesus said to him, Thomas, because you have seen Me, you have believed.

Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed. Let's stop there. What an exchange between Thomas and our great Savior here. You can just imagine this scene. Jesus Christ no doubt knew that Thomas was there and no doubt knew of the words He had said. So He comes in, He shuts the door, addresses the group, Peace to you, He says. Then He puts His focus on Thomas. Thomas, I hear you have requested something from me. Well, here I am. Look at my hands. Reach your hand here and put it in my side. Thomas, would that satisfy your unbelief? Then by all means do so, because I don't want you unbelieving, but believing.

This is quite an exchange of words here. So we want to come to the Scripture today and this issue of belief. So the title of today's message is, Believe While You Can. Believe While You Can. Would Thomas Believe? If you think about it, Jesus was asking just something rather extraordinary from Thomas, and that is this. He was asking Thomas to believe in him as his personal Savior. That is quite a remarkable thing to ask. This question of belief extends well beyond Thomas and well beyond this moment.

This question of believing that Jesus Christ is our risen personal Savior. This question really propels itself through all the centuries to all of God's people today. We, too, today are presented with the imprint of Jesus' nail-driven hands and the gap in his side. We're being asked to believe. Not just any belief, but a very specific belief. What was Jesus asking Thomas to believe? Jesus was asking Thomas to believe that in actual history's past, a divine Father sent his Son. He asked Thomas to believe that that Son is our very Creator. Thomas was being asked to believe that Jesus Christ stepped upon this earth, emptied himself of his divinity, shared in our humanity, took on a crown of thorns, allowed himself to be humiliated and tortured, to have his feet and hands pierced with a final thrust in his side.

Thomas was being asked to believe, then, that Jesus not only did all of this, but that he did all of this so that a life that is truly life could be given to Thomas and to all of God's future called-out ones. That's what we're being asked to believe. If we sit here today as one of God's called-out ones, then we're being asked the same question of belief.

Let me ask. Do you believe? Do you believe? The gospel, the good news by Jesus Christ, it's really not something that offers itself for debate or discussion. Rather, the gospel is something that calls for a definite acceptance and a genuine belief. There can be no other decision that we could ever be called upon to be asked to make that is more important than this one. In realizing something about this moment here between Jesus and Thomas, we have to realize that Thomas had walked with Jesus, Thomas had talked with Jesus, Thomas had seen just the evidence of miracle after miracle.

So how could there ever be, then, a question of unbelief? Of course he believed, right? How could he not? Well, that's a good question, and I would agree with that, but unbelief was an issue. Unbelief was an issue and a reality for Thomas. Why do you think that is? Why do you think with Thomas walking and talking shoulder to shoulder, seeing the miracles, why was unbelief still a reality for Thomas? I believe the answer lies in what we know about true belief, authentic belief. The true belief that Jesus Christ was requesting for Thomas here doesn't come from simply walking or talking with or even witnessing miracles.

We could say that through God's Word, you and I, we walk with Jesus Christ, we talk with him. Every time we open this book, every Sabbath, we could say that we witness miracles in our own lives and in the lives of others. But did you know that the kind of belief that Jesus was wanting from Thomas and wants from you and I, true belief doesn't simply come from those things?

No. A man or a woman who is called by God will only ever truly believe in Jesus Christ when they recognize who he is and what he has done for them. Let me repeat that. True belief, authentic belief in Jesus Christ, can only come when we recognize who he is and what he has done. And so then, once you have that authentic belief, once that truly hits your heart, then and only then does something remarkable happen. A change occurs in the true believer. A change occurs as he or she is able to see their personal need for Jesus Christ.

Thomas, you've walked shoulder to shoulder with me. You've heard all my teachings. You've witnessed all of my miracles. That's a good start. That's a good start. But I want you to know that there's more that you require. So come closer. Look at my hands. Do you see where they pierced them? Give me your hand. Here, put it in my side. Do you feel where they thrust that spear causing me to draw my last breath? And yet, here I am. I stand before you, Jesus Christ.

Thomas, I need you to understand now what these marks on my body represent and what they mean to you. You need to understand what they have done for you. Do you see, Thomas, that this is the culmination of it all? Thomas, it's time to put the whole picture together now. You need to see. You need to see why I came. You need to see why you needed me to come. Jesus is saying, do you see that through the giving of my life, you now may have life? Life that is truly life. Do you understand? So that you can believe. You need to believe this. Do you believe? And again, this question rings loudly to us today.

And isn't it interesting that Jesus would address this whole matter of belief with that of his resurrection? Putting together, connecting the belief with his resurrection. Why would he do this? We could say, isn't there much more to that of our belief?

Well, of course there is, but there's a reason that Jesus Christ makes this connection here. And that is this. If you believe in his resurrection, then you will believe in it all. If you believe that the resurrection of Jesus Christ is true, and that it actually occurred, if you truly believe that, then the rest of it, all the rest goes along with it. That's what 1 Corinthians 15 tells us. Let's turn there. Turn with me to 1 Corinthians 15. 1 Corinthians 15. And we'll begin in verse 12. 1 Corinthians 15 verse 12.

What we're going to see here is that coming to a true belief in Jesus Christ begins with our belief in that he was raised up, his resurrection. It's the very foundation of our belief. We're going to break into the conversation here. It's a conversation in which Paul is refuting those who said that there was no resurrection from the dead. And so Paul is about to say, well, let me tell you some truth here regarding the resurrection and regarding the rising up of Jesus Christ. 1 Corinthians 12. Let's read 12 through 18.

Verse 12. Now, if Christ is preached that he has been raised from the dead, how do some among you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? He says, well, let me tell you. But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ is not risen. Verse 14. And if Christ is not risen, then our preaching is empty. And your faith is also empty. Yes. And we are found false witnesses of God, if that's not true. Because we have testified that of God that he raised up Christ, whom he did not raise up, if that's the fact. If, in fact, the dead did not rise. For if the dead did not rise, then Christ is not risen. And if Christ is not risen, you know what? Your faith is futile. Why? Well, because you are still in your sins. Then also those who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. They're just gone forever. Let's stop there. Now, that's quite a passage. So what Paul is saying here is that it all, all of it, begins with this connection. We see why Jesus Christ draws the connection with Thomas. It all begins with your belief that he actually was raised from the dead. Because if that's not true, if that's not true, nothing else matters. We might as well just go home.

As verse 17 brings forth, if he is not risen, then you are still in your sins. And we know what that means.

Life. Life is not made available to you then. So it was essential, absolutely essential, that Thomas feel the imprint and feel his side so that he could begin to understand what all the teachings and all the miracles were leading to.

He needed to believe now that Jesus Christ was more than just a man who said intriguing things. Or more than just a man who performed admirable miracles.

Thomas, at this moment, needed to come to the belief that Jesus Christ was his Savior. His personal Savior. This was the next step in Thomas' spiritual journey. Jesus didn't want Thomas to be one who failed to understand the significance of the resurrection. He didn't want Thomas to be one who saw the miracles but failed to be fundamentally affected by them.

Again, because the only way an individual can truly be transformed by these words and by these miracles is that they understand what they all pointed to. They understand the culmination. The whole of Gospel points to this very moment that Jesus Christ was being raised from the dead. The whole of Gospel brings all of God's called-out ones to this very question of belief. Why is belief so important? Why is belief in this so important? If we want to break it down simply, it is because your success and my success and progress towards being fundamentally changed can be traced back to the depth of understanding that we hold with regards to what Jesus did for us.

This progress of being fundamentally changed can be traced back to the depth of that belief. Thomas needed to be much more than just a hearer of his words. Thomas needed to be much more than just an observer. He needed to believe that Jesus Christ indeed did rise up as his Savior. And he needed to believe that so that he would be fundamentally affected and changed by them. Fundamentally changed by the words he heard. Fundamentally changed by the miracles he witnessed. And likewise today, likewise today, if we truly believe that he was the sacrificial lamb for us and that that sacrifice removed death from us, if we truly believe that, then our sinful behavior should be greatly affected and greatly diminished.

Because the Bible says that sin is like a terminal illness. And we really have to come to that acknowledgment here and come to the belief that there was only one who rescued us from that impending death. Only one.

It's not surprising, you know, it's not surprising that one of the primary goals of Satan the devil is to diminish the significance of Christ's sacrifice and what it has done in your life and what it's done in my life. The devil will try to sell you on the notion that you're really not sick. You're really not that bad off. The devil will try to sell you on the notion that you're really not in need of healing. That you're really not in need of this sacrifice. And you're really not in need of saving, of rescue. The devil's objective with all of called out ones is this. And it is for the purpose to have he or she fail to recognize their need for Jesus Christ. Really quite simple. So again, Jesus didn't want Thomas to remain the kind of individual who grasped enough to know, but didn't grasp enough to be changed. And I think we have a stark example of this in Scripture of one such individual who grasped enough to know. He heard it. He heard the words. He walked with Jesus, just like we do. Saw many things. But yet remained fundamentally unchanged. Grasped enough to know, but didn't grasp enough to be changed. We have such a stark example here, so let's meet him. Turn with me to Mark 6. We will meet one such unbeliever who heard God's word, but it failed to have any effect on him. Mark 6. Here we have, and are going to read about, the account of John the Baptist and God's word that he preached to King Herod. So John the Baptist, one of the greatest preachers that God ever raised up. We're going to find him now speaking in a very personal way to a very powerful King, King Herod. Mark 6. Let's pick up in verse 18. Now let me set the scene here. Mark 6 verse 18, but the scene here. Herod had John the Baptist arrested because John had spoken out against Herod's unlawful relationship that he had with Herodias. And so Herod now imprisoned John. And what we're going to see born out here is that this would be an occasion for John the Baptist to come before Herod and to give him the Gospel, give him God's word.

And we're going to see that God's word caused the King to be stirred, caused the King to be intrigued, but yet in the end remain unaffected and unchanged. Mark chapter 6. Let's read verse 18 through 20. Because John had said to Herod, it is unlawful for you to have your brother's wife. Therefore Herodias held it against him, John, and wanted to kill him. But she could not, for Herod feared John, knowing that he was a just and holy man, and he protected him. Now look at these next words. Then he, Herod, heard him. He heard John. And he did many things, and he heard him gladly. Let's stop there. The NIV reads this last scripture this way. When Herod heard John, he was greatly puzzled. Yet he liked to listen to him. Philip's paraphrase, Herod used to listen to him, be profoundly disturbed, and yet he enjoyed hearing him.

And as we read, and even did many things because of them. King Herod, heard, disturbed, intrigued, stirred, did many things, enjoyed hearing him. Such an interesting statement here. Again, John, one of the greatest preachers that God ever raised up in history to speak the Gospel, spoke in this very personal way to King Herod over and over again. And the response of the king was to be stirred, intrigued, but at the end of the day, he remained unchanged. After hearing this Gospel, after hearing these true words brought by God, he grasped enough to do many things, but failed to grasp enough to be changed. In the end, King Herod didn't remove himself from this sinful relationship with Herodias, and instead, in the end, had John beheaded. So, why could Herod hear so much and not be changed? Why could Herod hear so much and not be changed? Could it be because of his inability to realize what all the words were pointing to? Do you know what all these words point to? All of it. All of it is given for the purpose to bring the hearer and the observer to recognize who he is and what he has done. If Herod had realized that of all that John was saying concerning sin, repentance, righteousness, concerning judgment, if he would have realized what John was saying, then he would have come to the understanding that he was in need of the solution that John was saying. And yet, Herod heard, and Herod remained unchanged, ultimately remained an unbeliever.

The truth of who Jesus is and what he has done calls for a decision. You may be disturbed. You may be intrigued. You may be interested and like the words that you hear and that you read. But the great tragedy would be is if you remain before God unaffected by it all. I believe God was at work giving Herod a chance, maybe. A chance to change. But he missed it. He listened. He liked it. He was slightly moved. He did many things. But ultimately remained unbelieving and unchanged. And we must know that there is great danger in remaining unbelieving and unchanged. Great danger. Great danger for the called-out ones of God. Because we know, he who believes in the sun has everlasting life, and he who does not believe in the sun shall not see life. That's John 3.36. Let's turn there. John 3.36. It's important to read these words. This is just one verse. John 3 and verse 36. In reading through the whole Gospel of John in particular, you will notice this reoccurring theme of belief and unbelief, and the importance of it, and the urgency of it to make a decision. John 3.36. How clear is this verse? Just one verse, but what a verse it is. John 3.36. He who believes in the sun has everlasting life, and he who does not believe in the sun shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him. Again, if you read through the whole Gospel of John, you will notice this reoccurring theme of the dangers of unbelief. John is continually, throughout his Gospel, returning and emphasizing this issue of unbelief and the consequences of it. John makes it very clear. You're either one or the other. You're either one or the other. You're either believing, and you're affected, and you're changing, or you're not. These are very solemn words here, very serious words, and there does seem to be a sense of urgency that's attached to them. There's an urgency with these words, and we're about to see what that urgency is. There is an urgency because the choice to believe may not always remain in your grasp. Did you know that? That the choice to believe and therefore be changed may not always remain in your grasp.

Go forward with me here, a few chapters in John 12. John 12. Let's read verses 37 through 41. John 12, 37 through 41. In many ways, this whole issue of belief and unbelief really is brought to a head here in this one passage, because John is about to explain why there is an urgency, for God's called out ones to respond. So John 12, 37. Now, we should sit up in our chairs for this one. This needs our full attention here.

Very important passage and truth to understand. John 12, 37 through 41. See if you can pick up on what's being said here. But although he had done so many signs before them, they did not believe in him, that the word of Isaiah the prophet might be fulfilled, which he spoke, Lord, who has believed our report, and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed? Verse 39. Therefore, they could not believe, because Isaiah said again, he has blinded their eyes and hardened their hearts, lest they should see with their eyes, lest they should understand with their hearts, and turn, so that I should heal them. These things Isaiah said when he saw his glory and spoke of him. Let's stop there. All right, let's look at this. Verse 37. John is reminding us of Christ's miraculous signs here. He had done so many signs before them, it says. And as he's doing this, he draws our full attention to those who have rejected them and refused to believe in him who performed them. At the end of verse 37, they did not believe in him. They did not believe in him. This is at a point in which Jesus had healed the sick, he had fed the 5,000, he had walked on water, revealed to them their secret thoughts at the well, even raised Lazarus up from the dead.

And despite all these things, verse 37, after all this, they did not believe in him. They saw it, they heard the words, but still did not believe. And then notice here, John now quotes Isaiah's prophecy. And this really brings it all to a head here with this fundamental truth of belief and unbelief. Notice this. Let's read verse 39 and 40 again. Verse 39 and 40. After they did not believe. Verse 39. Therefore, they could not believe, because Isaiah said again, He has blinded their eyes and hardened their hearts, lest they should see with their eyes, lest they should understand with their hearts, and turn, so that I should heal them.

So, notice again here, the last part of verse 37. They did not believe in him. And then notice the first part of verse 39. Therefore, they could not believe. Verse 37, they did not believe in him. Verse 39, therefore, they could not believe.

They did not, therefore, they could not.

There is a fundamental truth here with regards to this, to belief and unbelief. And that is this. Those who willfully and continually hardened their hearts against the call of God, may at some point be hardened.

Those who willfully and continually hardened their hearts against this calling, may at some point be hardened. Do you see the significance here of what John is saying concerning the eventual result of continuing to not believe? We are starting to see maybe the eventual result of an individual who is Herod-like, who grasps enough to know, but doesn't grasp enough to be changed. Even though Jesus had done all these miracles in their presence, they still did not believe. And so for this reason, they could not believe. They did not, and therefore the day came when they could not.

Just so John says in verse 40, he's blinded their eyes, hardened their hearts. But we understand that the blinding and the hardening doesn't take place without full participation of the people. These people for themselves chose to continue unbelieving, and therefore continued to be unaffected, and therefore didn't have any change in their lives. They chose to reject his miracles and his words.

John was making clear there's consequences. There's an urgency, he says.

It's not a trivial thing to resist the call of God. The responsibility in many ways falls upon who?

Us. And we see this, once you see that, you begin to see it all throughout the Gospels and all throughout Scripture. Let's turn to one particular one. Romans 1, 18-28. Romans 1, verses 18-28. This passage in Romans, it really requires no commentary.

These words regarding our decision, the decision that's before us, and if we have been delaying, believing, therefore delaying, changing, there's a warning here, and there is an urgency. And that decision may not always remain. Romans 1, verse 18-28. Let's read this together. Romans 1, verse 18. For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and all unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, because what may have been known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them. For since the creation of the world, His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power in Godhead, so that they are without excuse. Verse 21. Because although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, and became futile in their thoughts. And their foolish hearts were darkened.

Professing to be wise, they became fools, and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man, and birds and four-footed animals and creeping things. Verse 24. Because they've done this, therefore, God also gave them up to unclean this in the lust of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies among themselves, who exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen. Verse 26. For this reason, because of their choice, God gave them up to vile passions, for even their women exchanged natural use for what was against nature, likewise also the men leaving the natural use of a woman, burned in their lust for one another, men with men committing what is shameful and receiving in themselves the penalty of their error, which was due. Verse 28. And even as they did not retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind to do those things which are not fitting. Let's stop there. Although they knew God, that's a key phrase in this passage, although they knew God, they rejected Him. Therefore, therefore God gave them up, and He gave them over. Because they would not believe, they therefore remained unchanged in their sinful desires, and so God eventually gave them up and over to all that activity.

Since they didn't think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, He gave them up to that depraved mind. So we see a process here that occurs, a process that can occur in an individual who continues in their unbelief.

Don't let that day come. Don't let that day come when did not changes to could not. We can't come here Sabbath after Sabbath, sit under the Word of God, witness His miracles in our life, and then remain unbelieving and unchanged.

I feel uncomfortable with these words, and that's okay. We should all feel uncomfortable, and that's a good thing, because that means we haven't been given up.

If you feel uncomfortable, that means you're still being offered the imprint of these words. That offer is still there. Believe while you can. Let's turn back to John 12 as we move toward a conclusion here. John 12, verses 44-48. The fact is, Jesus is very caring and loving for those to whom He's called. It's such a tender moment, really, that Jesus gave to Thomas to address him and to show him His hand and to show him His side. He took that time for Thomas. He cared that Thomas came to believe. He wanted for him to come to believe. In many ways, Jesus Christ calls out for us. He cries out for His called out ones to believe in His rising up so that we can be changed and so that we don't remain in darkness. John 12, verse 44. Here is the call from Jesus to the true believers here. John 12, verse 44. Jesus cried out and said, He who believes in Me believes not in Me but in Him who sent Me. For He who sees Me sees Him who sent Me. And I have come as a light into the world, that whoever believes in Me should not abide in darkness. And if anyone hears My words and does not believe, look, I do not judge Him. For I didn't come to judge the world but to save the world. He who rejects Me and doesn't do My words has that which judges Him. The word that I have spoken will judge Him in that last day. So what I identify as a true believer? A true believer is one that not only comes to the acknowledgment and the belief as He, as our Savior, Jesus Christ, but a true believer now is then taken over by the revolutionary impact that that belief brings. That's a true believer. And I know that My belief and that He is My Savior, if that doesn't transform Me, then I know genuine belief hasn't taken place. That's how I know. There are so many who say, I believe. We know that. So many who say. So how do you recognize a true believer? It's the fundamental change because He came as a light so that whosoever believes in Him should not abide in darkness. How do you know you're a true believer? It's because you no longer live in darkness. The evidence of our belief is that we walk as He is. Walk in the light as He is in the light. And if we claim to believe and we're walking in darkness, we're not fundamentally changed. And we deceive ourselves. A true believer no longer plays around with darkness. Why? Because he knows who came and what He did for them. And they realize their need for Him. It is just a depth that it will invade you. If you know who He is and what He did for you, man, you realize, I need Him. I need Him. True beliefs begins there. In verse 47 and 48, this is such an interesting set of Scriptures here. The main reason and main purpose for Jesus coming wasn't judgment. It was salvation. Let's read this again. 47 and 48. If anyone hears my words and does not believe, I do not judge him. For I didn't come to judge the world, but to save the world. He who rejects me and does not receive my words has that which judges him. The word that I have spoken will judge him in the last day. Now, it is true. We know that He is our judge. But we could say, and what this passage is saying here, to a great degree, we judge ourselves. Don't we? To a great degree, we judge ourselves. We have the words. We have the miracles.

And we judge ourselves by choosing to reject them, and to not believe, and to live in darkness.

Will you believe in Jesus Christ, or will you harden your heart and reject Him?

Feel a sense of urgency. What if the light should go out before you respond properly with change?

Settle the matter today. Don't wait. Believe while you can. We'll conclude the matter here with two verses at the end of this letter. Let's turn to the very end of John, John chapter 20, and verse 31. Excuse me. John chapter 20 and verse 30 and 31. Let's read these last two verses. John chapter 20, verse 30 and 31. This was very important to John. So let's conclude with his conclusion to the end of his letter. John chapter 20, verse 30 and 31, and what this will conclude. And truly, Jesus did many other signs in the presence of His disciples, which are not written in this book, but these that are written, why? That you may believe that He is Jesus, that Jesus is Christ, the Son of God. In that believing, you may have life in His name.