John 5:31-40 If I bear witness of myself, my witness is not true.… I. WHY IS IT THAT WE WILL NOT COME TO CHRIST FOR LIFE? 1. Negatively. Not (1) from any want of sufficiency in Christ to meet our need (vers. 21-29). (2) From any want of evidence that He is the eternal life (vers. 31-39). (3) From any want of consciousness of the need of life (ver. 39). We all want something we have not, and few are so besotted as not to feel their need of heaven. 2. Positively. Prejudice and enmity against Himself, arising from self- righteousness and unbelief. He gives four reasons for this. (1) Ver. 41. The Lord Jesus is not fashionable in the world. (2) Ver. 42. If you only knew how God delights in Christ, and is honoured by Him, you would love and admire Christ too. (3) Ver. 44. The thing that keeps many back is the knowledge that he would be sneered at. (4) Ver. 46. We don't believe our Bibles, and therefore do not come to Christ for life. II. CHRIST SETS BEFORE US THREE WEIGHTY MATTERS. 1. The great want of our souls is life. We think that reformation, good resolutions, a certain amount of sorrow, will do when Life is wanted; for the Bible is in nothing more emphatic than that man is dead in trespasses and sins. Consequently words, works, prayers, repentance, are all dead till we come to Christ. That is the begin- ning of religion. 2. The great duty and privilege of every sinner. (1) We must come to Christ because (a) God commands it; (b) it is the end of Christ's coming; (c) the purpose of gospel preaching; (d) the object of the mission of the Spirit. (2) It is our privilege to come (a) because life is to be had on the easiest terms; (b) because all men, without exception, may receive it. (3) But what is coming? Taking Him at His word and pleading His promise. You want no further warrant than your need and His invitation. 3. The great folly of infatuated sinners. Health proclaimed to diseased souls, life to dead souls; when the world, pleasure, evil calls, they go, but God calls in vain. What is this but folly?Conclusion: 1. Christ says, "Come unto Me": not to ministers, priests, ordinances: men readily go to them. 2. Not to go to Christ for life is to reject Him. (Marcus Rainsford.) Parallel Verses KJV: If I bear witness of myself, my witness is not true. |
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