FIVE WONDERFUL THINGS

Introduction:

    1. John 5:24 . . . "I say to you, he who hears My word..."
    2. This passage has been used by many followers of Calvin to prove that one cannot fall from grace.
    3. This verse does not teach us such things, but it does teach us some wonderful things.

Body:

  1. WONDERFUL PRIVILEGE - HEARING THE WORD.
    1. Illustrate how many there are in the world who have never heard the gospel, no not even one gospel sermon, or might be they have never even seen a Bible...eg. India, Darkest Africa.
    2. Consider what we have in the Gospel.
      1. The word of God is effective.....Hebrews 4:12
      2. The word of God is incorruptible...1st Peter 1:23 ; Matt. 24:35.
      3. The word of God gives us understanding ...Psa 119:104-105.
      4. The word of God draws us to Christ ....John 6:45.
      5. The word of God brings comfort to our hearts... 1st Thess. 4:18 ;Romans 15:4.
    3. It is no wonder that David said in His Psalms "the statutes of the Lord are right...." Psa. 19:8-11


  2. THERE IS THE WONDERFUL PERSON - GOD.
    1. God sent Jesus to save mankind, even though man was undeserving of it.... Romans 5:8.
    2. God thus showed His:
      1. Love .............John 3:16
      2. Mercy.............Ephesians 2:4-5 ;Titus 3:5.
      3. Grace.............Ephesians 2:7-8
    3. Therefore let thanks be given unto God...1st.Cor.9:15.


  3. A WONDERFUL POSSESSION - EVERLASTING LIFE.
    1. "hath everlasting life" is in the present tense and it is a logical conclusion that we somehow must have everlasting life now in some type of sense, as other verses show us that we have everlasting life in the world to come.
    2. It is in my judgment that once a person has Spiritual access to Christ, he has a means of everlasting Life.
      1. This life is not time stretched out, but is a kind of life. Notice what the Scriptures teach:
        1. John 1:4 ; 6:35 ; 17:3 ; 3:36 ; 6:47.
        2. Col. 3:4
        3. 1st John 3:15*** ; 5:13
      2. A faithful Christian has a new spiritual life, eternal life, abiding in him.
    3. In another sense eternal life is future.
      1. Mark 10:29-30
      2. Titus 1:2 ; Romans 8:24-25
      3. Romans 6:22
      4. Romans 2:7. This glory, honor, and immortality is the future eternal life.
    4. It is now that our life is dependent on abiding in Christ. 1st John 1:3-6
      1. Illustrate the baby and the dependency of the umbilical cord.
      2. At birth it no longer needs that cord.


  4. GOD AND HIS WONDERFUL PROMISE - NO CONDEMNATION.
    1. Jesus taught that the believer shall not come into condemnation. John 10:27-28
    2. This eternal security is conditional.
      1. 1st.Peter 1:5 ..... it is through Faith.
      2. Heb. 3:12 ; 1st.Tim.1:19 ; 5:12 ; 2nd.Tim.2:18 .... We can lose our Faith, so take heed brethren. Point out the fact that the Calvinists have problems with this, and exactly why....TULIP is wrong.
      3. 1st Peter 5:9 ....... The way we resist the devil is by being firm in the Faith.
    3. Take careful note of John 5:24 it is he who HEARS the word and BELIEVES on God shall not come into condemnation.


  5. THE WONDERFUL PASSAGE - DEATH TO LIFE.
    1. Man as a sinner is DEAD IN SIN.
      1. Romans 3:23.
      2. Ezek. 18:20.
    2. But God has given us an avenue of escape.
      1. Ephesians 2:1,5.
      2. It is in baptism that we receive this new life.
        1. Romans 6:4
        2. Romans 6:6-11 ... Once dead in sin, now dead to Sin.

Conclusion:

    1. It is the faith in action that makes this passage from death to life.
    2. Verily, Verily; affirms the sure saying of this text.
    3. If we have done what Jesus says, with all the implications, we can rest assuredly as to where we are standing.

Ideas Taken from a sermon by Weldon Warnock.