Christ Relationship to the Believer

Lesson #205

In the last lesson we looked at the characteristics of one who believes in Jesus. In this lesson the emphasis is on Christs relation to the believer. “If anyone hears my words and does not keep them, I do not judge him; for I did not come to judge the world but to save the world” (John 12:47 ESV). Jesus came into the world as light, so that whoever believes in him may not remain in darkness (v46). The emphasis in verse 47 is on his words, which the whole future of mankind will be affected. What we do with those words is very important because, “Everyone who hears these words of Mine and does not act on them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. The rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; and it fell—and great was its fall.” (Matthew 7:26 – 27 NASB). Woe to the one who hears but does not act because an awful charge of responsibility is now assessed to that person.

Jesus said that he will not judge the person for hearing and not acting, because that is not what he came for. While on earth, Jesus will not pronounce a sentence against disobedience because he came to be our savior. The person is already condemned because he believes not. “For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God” (John 3:17 – 19 ESV). There will be a time in the future when Jesus will judge. We find an indication of this in John 5:22: “The Father judges no one, but has given all judgment to the Son” (ESV).

“The one who rejects me and does not receive my words has a judge; the word that I have spoken will judge him on the last day” (John 12:48 ESV). “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth” (John 1:1, 14 ESV). The Word, the Son of God, in flesh as Jesus said, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6 ESV). These are the words that must be received, believed and acted upon and if they are not then they in turn will judge that person on the last day.

What is Christs’ relationship to you? Is he your savior and as a result God abides in you and you in God? If so, then you should have come to know and to believe the love God has for you. “God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him. By this is love perfected with us, so that we may have confidence for the day of judgment” (1 John 4:16b – 17a ESV). Our future is determined by what we do with the words of Jesus.

Prayer

Father, thank you for providing the way of salvation through your Son, Jesus Christ. Thank you that he is not only the way and eternal life, but he is also the source and foundation of truth. As the Word, what Jesus said is truth, no manner what else anyone thinks or believes. Thank you that by grace I have been saved through faith. My salvation is not based on anything I did; it is simply the gift of God. Father, thank you for that gift.