Hear The Word!

Jesus shouted to the crowds, “If you trust me, you are trusting not only me, but also God who sent me. For when you see me, you are seeing the one who sent me. I have come as a light to shine in this dark world, so that all who put their trust in me will no longer remain in the dark. I will not judge those who hear me but don’t obey me, for I have come to save the world and not to judge it. But all who reject me and my message will be judged on the day of judgment by the truth I have spoken. I don’t speak on my own authority. The Father who sent me has commanded me what to say and how to say it. And I know his commands lead to eternal life; so I say whatever the Father tells me to say.” [John 12.44-50]

It would seem from Jesus' discussion here that there is a difference between "not obeying" and "rejecting" Jesus.

How can not obeying not be worthy of judgment? This is important! It has to do with God's grace and the free gift of salvation. It makes me think of this passage elsewhere:

So faith comes from hearing, that is, hearing the Good News about Christ. [Romans 10.17]

Hearing the Word of God gives rise to faith! It is impossible to please God without faith. Although the works of Jesus being performed through us identify us as His, we only become His through faith.

Jesus said He would not judge those who hear but fail to obey. Why? Because if He did, no one could be saved because all have sinned. The conviction resultant to hearing but not obeying is the constant work of the Holy Spirit to which believers should always remain repentant and pliable.

Those however who reject Jesus and His Message (the Word of God) will indeed be judged on the day of judgment - but only then. This too reflects the grace of God because as long as a person is alive, there remains the opportunity to "hear" the Word of God and build God-pleasing faith in so doing.

The disobedient hearer will naturally suffer constant conviction. But when the Message (the Word of God) is rejected (no longer heard), there can naturally be no faith (Romans 10.17) and then, without faith, it is impossible to please God (Hebrews 11.6) as will be revealed on the day of judgment by eternal damnation.

For me, this is such a relief! As long as I continue to hear God's Word and suffer conviction for disobedience in my life, I know I am His! I don't want to sin, but... The conviction grounds me to Christ - to the Cross - to His death, burial and resurrection. Conviction works with God's "heard" Word to guide me - it is the work of the Holy Spirit.

Danger lurks at the door of anyone who refuses to hear God's Word thus rejecting it. God-pleasing faith has NOTHING to do with a person's intentions, but instead has everything to do with hearing God's Word. None will escape disobedience (sin) while on earth, but an intentional intake of God's Word (with its conviction brought for disobedience and subsequent repentance), will continually sanctify the sinner. The one on the other hand who rejects God's Word... not so much.

The point is to "hear" God's Word - be it spoken (preached/taught), sung, or read. God's Word is key. The Holy Spirit has nothing to work with in our lives without the Word. Without the Holy Spirit, there is no conviction. Without conviction, there is no repentance. Without repentance, there is no forgiveness of sins. Without forgiveness of sins, there is eternal damnation. 

It all begins with the Word. How spectacular is John's revelation of this:

In the beginning the Word already existed. The Word was with God, and the Word was God. He existed in the beginning with God. God created everything through him, and nothing was created except through him. The Word gave life to everything that was created, and his life brought light to everyone. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it. [John 1.1-5]

We must learn of Jesus. To know the Bible cover to cover without recognizing Jesus in every word will simply not do. All the Bible gives definition of Jesus and Jesus gives definition of all the Bible! Jesus said it like this:

“You search the Scriptures because you think they give you eternal life. But the Scriptures point to me! [John 5.39]

Father, may we be found hearers of Your Word. May we be found students of Your Word. May we be found obey-ers of Your Word. May we be found in Christ Who is Your Word! So be it!