The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him today and what came to my heart and mind in John 15:22,
"If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not be guilty of sin; but now they have no excuse for their sin."
In a chapter that emphasizes abiding in Jesus Christ in an environment that is to be marked by believers loving one another in the midst of the world hating them, he points to the culpability of those who, in Jesus' words, "do not know the one who sent me." Verse 21.
While he speaks of "the world", meaning the family of mankind that rejects its Creator and Savior, he has in view, specifically, the Jews who had heard and rejected him. Jesus came to the Jews, he proclaimed to them who he was, and authenticated that through fulfillment of prophecy, signs, miracles and wonders. He turned water to wine, he healed the sick, he raised the dead. He told them he had come from the Father and that there was salvation in no one else, save him.
Having accomplished those things among them, those who rejected him demonstrated they did not know the Father and sealed their fate. There was and is no hope for them. No eternal life, only eternal death awaits them as they remain in the guilt of their sin, "they have no excuse for their sin."
So it is today. We look back and recognize that Jesus Christ came, established his bona fides and offered his invitation, "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest." Matthew 11:28. He offered hope for all in this lost and fallen world, "Very truly I tell you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be judged but has crossed over from death to life. Very truly I tell you, a time is coming and has now come when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God and those who hear will live." Matthew 5:24-25. And he also provided his warning, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." John 14:6.
"If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not be guilty of sin; but now they have no excuse for their sin."
In a chapter that emphasizes abiding in Jesus Christ in an environment that is to be marked by believers loving one another in the midst of the world hating them, he points to the culpability of those who, in Jesus' words, "do not know the one who sent me." Verse 21.
While he speaks of "the world", meaning the family of mankind that rejects its Creator and Savior, he has in view, specifically, the Jews who had heard and rejected him. Jesus came to the Jews, he proclaimed to them who he was, and authenticated that through fulfillment of prophecy, signs, miracles and wonders. He turned water to wine, he healed the sick, he raised the dead. He told them he had come from the Father and that there was salvation in no one else, save him.
Having accomplished those things among them, those who rejected him demonstrated they did not know the Father and sealed their fate. There was and is no hope for them. No eternal life, only eternal death awaits them as they remain in the guilt of their sin, "they have no excuse for their sin."
So it is today. We look back and recognize that Jesus Christ came, established his bona fides and offered his invitation, "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest." Matthew 11:28. He offered hope for all in this lost and fallen world, "Very truly I tell you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be judged but has crossed over from death to life. Very truly I tell you, a time is coming and has now come when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God and those who hear will live." Matthew 5:24-25. And he also provided his warning, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." John 14:6.
There simply is no excuse for anyone who rejects Jesus Christ: they remain in their sin.
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just reply and let me know.
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just reply and let me know.
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