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Part 2: Seeing is Believing
Scripture Study:
"If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.....
For in this way the entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ will be abundantly supplied to you"
[Gal:5:25 ][2Pt:1:11]
"If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed,
... nothing shall be impossible unto you."
[Mt:17:20]
"...all things are possible to him that believeth
.... For with God nothing shall be impossible."
[Mt 9:23] [Lk:1:37]
Introduction:
"He that believes on the Son has everlasting life: and he that believes not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abides on him." [John 3:36]
Too often we show ourselves to be babies when it comes to understanding the things of God. So often we think that because we are 'born again', that somehow we are immune from certain portions of the Word of God - that they do not apply to us.
Moreover, when the results of unbelief, ignorance, or disobedience to the Word of God suddenly rear their ugly heads - too often, many Christians still refuse to acknowledge the truth - even though the truth is staring them in the face!
Look Carefully at What The Word
Says:
Let's examine in detail what the word says regarding the passage in John 3:36 as it contains some important information that we may have missed.
"He that believes on the Son has everlasting life: and he that believes not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abides on him."
Number 1:
Notice that the first primary point deals with the issue of 'belief'. The passage deals with the results of believing on the Son and the results of not believing on the Son.
The word translated as 'believe' is taken from the Greek Word: "Pisteo". It is a derivative of the Greek Word "pistis", which is the same word translated so often as: "Faith". It means to: 'confidently put one's trust in, or to believe'.
Therefore the passage could easily be translated: "He who confidently trusts or believes on the Son..."
Number 2:
As so often discussed, it is of utmost importance to every child of God to understand that Jesus is literally:
The Word of God.
Whenever the terms "Jesus", or "Son" are used, or any other mention of the Lord as a person - one can always use the alternate terms: "Word", "Word of God" etc - because they are one and the same - And there is absolutely no difference between Jesus the "person" - or - Jesus the "Word". [See John 1: 1-14]
I remember what an incredible revelation this was to me when the Lord first showed this truth to me, and it has had an incredible impact on both the way I read the Word of God, as well as the way I receive from the Word of God.
So then: When this passage speaks of 'believing on the Son' - it is important to recognize that the 'Son' it is speaking of is not just Jesus the person - but also: Jesus - the Word of God.
It's Getting Clearer:
Look what happens when we translate this passage using by including the "Word of God":
"He that believes on the Son:
(The "Word of God) has everlasting life: and he that believes not the Son:
(The Word of God) shall not see life; but the wrath of God abides on him."
Suddenly the passage takes on a new meaning, especially to the believer.
Deceptive Thinking:
As a born again Christian, it is easy to deceive ourselves by thinking: "This passage doesn't apply to me because I am born again (I have the Son) - therefore it must be referring to the unsaved" (those who do not
have the Son).
But once we realize that Jesus, and the Word of God, are the same - it suddenly becomes clear, that as a believer, we too can be included in this passage by simply
refusing to accept
or believe any portion of the Bible (The Word of God). That it is possible for us to miss certain benefits that accompany our salvation simply by not believing them. [See Heb:12:15]
Number 3:
"He that believes on the Son has everlasting life...."
Notice the word translated here as "life". It is taken from the Greek word: "Zoë" - and the literal meaning of the word is: "Life of God - or the 'God kind of life'.
It is what Peter refers to in [2 Peter 1:4] when He says that we can "become partakers of the divine nature" - the same kind and quality of life that God lives! And that includes:
-- Divine Health
-- Divine Abundance / Prosperity
-- Divine Security
-- Divine Soundness
-- Eternal Life
So what is this passage saying here?
Simply put, when one has knowledge of the Word of God (revelation knowledge) - AND - places their confidence, trust and expectation in the Son (the Word of God) to do, and provide everything that it promises - they will have the fulfillment and manifestation of those promises.
Number 4:
"..and he that believes not the Son shall
not see life..."
Praise God! This is where it gets real exciting!
I don't know about you - but personally, I love it when I see something that corrects any errors I might have in my thinking because I know that my Father in heaven is trying to teach me something.
Two Things:
There are two things I want to draw your attention to in this portion. They are:
-- "believes not the Son"
-- "see life"
Let's start with: "the son":
Notice that, unlike the first portion of the verse, it does not say:
"believes not on the Son" - but rather, it says:
"believes not the Son" or (the
Word)". The word "on" is omitted. Did you notice that?
I do not think that God made a mistake here. What about you?
As far as I am concerned you just can't get any more clear than this. We already know that "Jesus" - and "the Word" are one and the same. Therefore this portion could simply read:
"Hey - listen up - if you don't believe the Word, then forget trying to get anything from it!" [my paraphrase]
And, if this is so, it also becomes blatantly obvious why so many
Christians experience the failures, defeats, sickness, etc that they do.
Why?
Because of the fact that even though they may acknowledge that the Son (the Word) does make certain promises - they do not actually believe them in their heart.
"I do so!"
Sure, I admit that there are probably many who immediately said to themselves: "How dare Him! I do believe it!" Hey, I used to say the same thing! Unfortunately the evidence of my unbelief was in my life - though I failed to see it, or admit it.
And, unfortunately the proof of their unbelief is also evident in:
-- Their lifestyle
-- Their confession
-- Their thoughts of worry and concern
-- The way they speak
-- The way they act towards others
-- Etc.
Next - Let's deal with the word "see":
" ..and he that believes not the Son shall
not see life..."
Did you notice that the person who does not believe the Son (the Word of God) - will not see life? Again, the word life here is: "Zoë" - the Life of God. I like to say it this way: Kingdom living!
True, as a born again believer, you may very well have eternal life abiding in you - but if you don't
believe the promise of the Son (the Word) regarding all of the
other benefits -AND- that are yours as a citizen of the Kingdom of God (See Psalm 103) - and that are
available RIGHT NOW - here on this planet - you will never
SEE them!
As the Word of God says, there are a whole lot more things that
accompany salvation than just "eternal life". [Heb:6:9] - but you will never see them if you don't
believe them, and these are not just for when you die - but
RIGHT NOW!
Doesn't the Word say that "where there is no vision (people who cannot see) the people
perish"? [Prov:29:18]
Again, this would explain why so many Christians suffer continual failure and defeat. And, no matter how much they try, they just never seem to be able to get to the place where the promises of God are manifested in their lives.
Why is that?
Because before they will ever see the promises manifested, they must believe it!
"Jesus saith unto her, Said I not unto you, that, if you would
believe, you will see the glory of God?" [Jn:11:40: ]
Brothers and Sisters, there is so much that we have available to us a citizens of the Kingdom of God, and even though we may walk on earth, we are told not only to walk in the Spirit [Gal:5:25] but that we already LIVE in the Spirit. [Gal:5:25]. In case you haven't gotten it yet: That means the Kingdom of God! Hallelujah!
We Don't Have to Wait!
When will we realize that we don't have to wait to get to
heaven before we can live the life of God?
Where does it say that we have to wait?
When Jesus was asked by the Pharisees as to when the kingdom of heaven would appear: Look at what He said:
".....The kingdom of God does not come with observation: Neither shall they say, Look here! or, look there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you." [Lk:17:20-21]
He didn't say: "it's coming, just keep looking for it because it's bound to show up here one day!"
NO!
He said: "It's HERE - and it's in you!"
Yet despite what Jesus said, how many Christians are still looking and waiting for the kingdom to appear (for Jesus to come back, the rapture, going on to glory, etc).
Why?
Because despite what He said - they believe that the promises of God will only be fulfilled once the kingdom appears!
But according to Jesus it's already here, and it's inside of us - And, if He never said that we have to wait until we die in order to experience kingdom living (to live in it right now)- then why do so many of us believe it?
You have to believe it - before you will see it:
But, just as Jesus said: You will never see it - if you don't believe it - and that's the reason why so many of our brothers and sisters never experience all of what God has done for us: What Jesus paid for! What belongs to us! What is available TODAY - RIGHT NOW!
They don't believe it - and so they are still waiting for a train that has already arrived!
Number 5:
"but the wrath of God abides on him"
Now we get to the final results of unbelief - as well as the explanation as to why so many Christians seem to experience the curse -
instead of the blessing - (even though we have been redeemed from it).
About The Wrath of God:
First of all. the 'wrath of God' that is referred to here is more simply put: the
curse.
It refers to those who are outside of the umbrella of protection offered by God to those who place their, confidence, trust and faith in Him. More specifically, it refers to those who walk in the Spirit (not the flesh) by believing the Word - doing the Word - and following the guidance of the Holy Ghost. [Read Romans 8:6-8, 13-14]
Oh no you don't!
I can just hear them now: "Don't try to tell me that the curse is working in my life! The Bible says that we have been redeemed from the curse!"
You Are!. Yet The Bible also says: "Let him who would stay ignorant - stay ignorant"
[1Cor:14:38]
It doesn't take a rocket scientist to see that not only are too many Christians
not walking in the divine health, prosperity, peace, safety and soundness promised in the Word of God - but that the
curse is active and doing just fine in their lives.
-- Divorce
-- Illness
-- Poverty
-- Debt
-- Worry
-- Strife
-- Shall I go on?
There is not space enough to go into a long sermon on this subject and it should be obvious just from past experience, that every child of God, regardless of the fact that they are born again, and regardless of the fact that we have been redeemed from the curse - can - and often does - suffer sickness, lack, hunger, peril, poverty etc - simply because of either a lack of knowledge or a rejection of knowledge.
Christians are not immune:
[Ephesians 4:17-18] states clearly that if we, as children of God, continue to live, think, and act as the world does, then we can, and will, suffer from the effects of the curse, and be
"separated (self-banished) from the life of
God". (Zoë). [Read also Romans 8:6,13 - it was written to the
church]
I understand that this may come as a surprise to many - but the Bible says it - therefore it must be true - and I believe it - and so should you!
For a more detailed study of this subject read the series on
Why Christians
Suffer.
Notice also the word: "abides":
"but the wrath of God (the curse) abides on him"
The word translated here as "abides" - is taken from the Greek word: "merimnao". And when translated literally, the more proper translation would be
"remains". Therefore a better rendition of this portion of the passage would be:
"the curse remains on him."
Again, notice that the result of not believing on the Son (the Word of God) - is that the effects of the curse remains on the person. Notice also that it doesn't say that Christians are immune just because they are born again.
Yes, we have been redeemed from the curse, but if we, as children of God, continue to live in disobedience to God, or unbelief towards the Word of God, we place ourselves outside the protection that we have in Him, and once that happens, instead of the curse being lifted - it remains.
In other words, if we choose not to believe that healing, safety, deliverance, soundness, prosperity, or any of the other promises of God are not our for the taking: NOW - but instead choose to believe some foolish doctrine of devils - that maybe God is trying to "teach us something" - or some other foolish notion - then despite the fact that we have been redeemed - the effects of the curse will remain on us.
Remember Israel:
God had blessing without number for them - and it says that the SAME GOSPEL was preached to them as it is to us - yet they could not enter in (to the promises) because of unbelief! [Heb 3:19 • Heb 4:2]
Summary:
" He that believes on the Son (the Word of God) has everlasting life (the Life of God): and he that believes not the Son (the Word of God) shall not see life; but the wrath (curse) of God remains) on him."
We have a choice:
"I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live:" [Deut:30:19]
Regardless of whether or not we believe it, the Word of God is true, and all will be fulfilled - whether it's the blessing or the curse. No one is immune, and no one is exempt. [Mt:5:18] [Deut. 28: 1-2, 15]
We can choose to believe on the Son (the Word) and walk in obedience to His teachings [Lk:6:46] and receive the blessing as a result: The Life of God [Zoë].
Or - We can choose not to believe the Word of God - and we will never see the blessings: The Life of God [Zoë] manifested in our lives.
The result of our unbelief, regardless of whether or not we believe it, will be that the curse remains on us, and we are separated from the life of God because of our ignorance and the blindness of our heart. [Eph 4:18] [Deut. 28: 1-2, 15]
Choose Life: Believe on the Son:
I hope that this study has helped to encourage you, and to correct any error in your thinking.
Be encouraged, God loves you, and wants only the best for you. He has provided exceeding great and precious promises in His Word so that by these we may become partakers of His divine nature: to live the God kind of Life. [2 peter 1:4].
Therefore choose life by purposing not only to read and learn the Word of God, but to believe it - and to prove your faith, trust and confidence in His Word by doing it - ALL of it - ALL OF THE TIME!
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