June 6, 2004

BELIEVERS THAT AREN'T

John 8:30

   "Now when He was in Jerusalem at the Passover, in the feast day, many believed in His name, when they saw the miracles [signs] which He did. But Jesus did not commit [trust] Himself unto them, because He knew all men, and needed not that any should testify of man; for He knew what was in man" (John 2:23-25). As evidenced by the Lord's reserve toward these "believers," He knew it was not real. Their expressed faith was connected with seeing "signs"!

   In John 8:24, the Lord had said, "...if ye believe not that I am He, ye shall die in your sins." And "as He spoke these words, many believed on Him. The said Jesus to those Jews which believed on Him, 'If ye continue in My word, then are ye My disciples indeed, and you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free" (8:31-32). To this they promptly took offence and protested that they "were never in bondage..." The Lord explained that those who practiced sin were indeed in bondage to sin further stirring their ire. They claimed descent from Abraham and cast aspersions on the Lord's own birth. But after another exchange He said, "Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father you desire to do..." (8:44). As in John 2, these so-called "believers" were not truly believers at all!

   In Acts 8 there was a magician named Simon who had "beforetime used sorcery, and bewitched the people..." But the people were de-livered from his influence "when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom God, and the name of Jesus Christ... Then Simon himself also believed and when he was baptized, he continued with Philip, and wondered, beholding the miracles and signs... When Simon saw that through laying on of the apostles' hands the Holy Spirit was given, he offered...money, saying, 'Give me this power, that on whomsoever I lay hands, he may receive the Holy Spirit.' But Peter said, 'thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money. Thou has neither part nor lot in this matter; for thy heart is not right in the sight of God.'" His "faith" was linked to what he saw." Not every one that says, 'Lord, Lord,' shall enter in the kingdom..." (Mt. 7:21).

Ivan L. Burgener