Are We Secret Believers?

Lesson #203

Even though Jesus taught with authority and backed up what he taught with many signs, most of those who heard him would not believe. As a result of disobedience on the part of the Jewish people from the time they were chosen, God turns from them and enlists the Gentiles, leaving for the time being, the Jews outside of his grace of salvation. In a way he blinded their eyes and hardened their heart because of their disobedience. Isaiah prophesied this condition of unbelief long before Jesus came to earth.

Let us return to our text and see what John has for us today. “Isaiah said these things because he saw his glory and spoke of him” (John 12:41 ESV). “In the year of King Uzziah’s death I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, lofty and exalted, with the train of His robe filling the temple” (Isaiah 6:1 NASB). King Uzziah reigned for 52 years as one of the great kings, who walked with God until the end when he sinned by assuming the role of a priest and made an offering. This sin tarnished his reign, leaving the people wondering who could be another good king to lead them. At this point God brings Isaiah on the scene to point to the Lord, God’s Son, “sitting on a throne, lofty and exalted, with the train of His robe filling the temple” as their perfect king. Jesus came to earth claiming to be that king, but he did not fulfill the expectations of the king the people had in mind and thus was rejected by most as a fraud. However, Isaiah saw the glory of Christ, the indescribable majesty of the "Word of God," that would become flesh and dwell among us. There are few verses of the New Testament that convey as clearly as this reference does to the pre-existence of Jesus Christ and his place in the eternal Godhead.

“Nevertheless, many even of the authorities believed in him, but for fear of the Pharisees they did not confess it, so that they would not be put out of the synagogue” (John 12:42 ESV). In the last two lessons the focus was on unbelief, but here there might be a ray of hope with the use of the word “Nevertheless,” which implies that there were some who believed, even among the authorities. If we think back to earlier lessons in chapter 3, Nicodemus comes to mind as one who eventually stood in defense of Jesus. However, the meaning of “believed” must be considered. Consider the demons that Jesus cast out of people: “Demons also came out of many, crying out, “You are the Son of God!” But he rebuked them, and would not allow them to speak, because they knew that he was the Christ” (Luke 4:41 NET). They believed because they knew who Jesus was and they confessed that, but they would still spend an eternity in hell. These demons believed and confessed, but were still eternally lost. In Romans, we read in 10:9 – 10: “If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved” (ESV). Something seems to be missing because this isn’t true when applying to the demons Jesus is casting out of people. We might find the missing condition in Luke 6:46: “Why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do what I tell you?” (ESV). Obedience is that missing condition. True belief results in obedience, which results in a lifestyle that you can’t hide for very long. I read reports from persecuting countries, where people come to salvation, but out of fear keep their conversion secret, but as they grow spiritually people see a change in their lives and eventually determine there has been a conversion. Like the Pharisees, some of these people who live under persecution are in bondage under fear for a time, but if truly saved their conversion will become known. The Pharisees did not want to be put out of the synagogue, and these people here mentioned did not want to be isolated from their loved ones and face possible death for their relationship with Jesus.

The Pharisees remained silent about their belief, “for they loved the glory that comes from man more than the glory that comes from God” (John 12:43 ESV). This expression gives a distinct difference between the Pharisees and the people living under persecution. The Jews desiring glory from men more than from God remained silent while the people living under persecution desired to maintain family relationships and feared the consequences of rejection. In both cases, true belief will be validated by their obedience to the Lord and resulting lifestyle.

Prayer

Father, this was a longer than usual lesson, but the text required it be done as one lesson. I believe this lesson is vitally important for us today because of many in the American church that believe they are Christian, but seem to fall in the category of those who call Jesus Lord but do not obey his commands. Father, I fear this number may be larger than we realize. Lord, encourage us to evaluate our lifestyle against the Bible to determine whether there is sufficient evidence to support our confession.