Unbelief on Trial

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7/30/2017

Unbelief on Trial (Jesus Turns the Tables on His Accusers)

John 5:30-47

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Unbelief on Trial

How much 'evidence' is enough?

Unbelief on Trial

Proposition: Jesus turns the tables on His accusers and presents 4 witnesses against their unbelief.

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Unbelief on Trial

I. Witness # 1: John the Baptist.

Unbelief on Trial There is another who bears witness about me, and I know that the testimony that he bears about me is true. You sent to John, and he has borne witness to the truth. Not that the testimony that I receive is from man, but I say these things so that you may be saved. He was a burning and shining lamp, and you were willing to rejoice for a while in his light. (John 5:32-35)

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Unbelief on Trial

I. Witness # 1: John the Baptist.

Unbelief on Trial So they said to him, "Who are you? We need to give an answer to those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?" He said, "I am the voice of one crying out in the wilderness, 'Make straight the way of the Lord,' as the prophet Isaiah said." (Now they had been sent from the Pharisees.) (John 1:22-24)

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Unbelief on Trial

I. Witness # 1: John the Baptist.

Unbelief on Trial The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, "Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!...I came baptizing with water, that he might be revealed to Israel."...And I have seen and have borne witness that this is the Son of God." (John 1:29-34)

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Unbelief on Trial There is another who bears witness about me, and I know that the testimony that he bears about me is true. You sent to John, and he has borne witness to the truth. Not that the testimony that I receive is from man, but I say these things so that you may be saved. He was a burning and shining lamp, and you were willing to rejoice for a while in his light. (John 5:32-35)

Unbelief on Trial

Witness # 2: His Miracles.

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Unbelief on Trial Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. This man came to Jesus by night and said to him, "Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God, for no one can do these signs that you do unless God is with him." (John 3:1-2)

Unbelief on Trial

Witness # 2: His Miracles.

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Unbelief on Trial So the Pharisees again asked him how he had received his sight. Some of the Pharisees said, "This man is not from God, for he does not keep the Sabbath." We know that God does not listen to sinners, but if anyone is a worshiper of God and does his will, God listens to him. Never since the world began has it been heard that anyone opened the eyes of a man born blind. If this man were not from God, he could do nothing." (John 9:15-33)

Unbelief on Trial

Witness # 2: His Miracles.

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Unbelief on Trial

Witness # 3: His Father’s Voice.

Unbelief on Trial And the Father who sent me has himself borne witness about me. His voice you have never heard, his form you have never seen, and you do not have his word abiding in you, for you do not believe the one whom he has sent. (John 5:37-38)

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Unbelief on Trial

Witness # 3: His Father’s Voice.

Unbelief on Trial ... and when Jesus also had been baptized and was praying, the heavens were opened, and the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily form, like a dove; and a voice came from heaven, "You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased." (Luke 3:21-22)

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Unbelief on Trial

Witness # 3: His Father’s Voice.

Unbelief on Trial ... and when Jesus also had been baptized and was praying, the heavens were opened, and the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily form, like a dove; and a voice came from heaven, "You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased." (Luke 3:21-22)

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Unbelief on Trial

Witness # 3: His Father’s Voice.

Unbelief on Trial "Father, glorify your name." Then a voice came from heaven: "I have glorified it, and I will glorify it again." The crowd that stood there and heard it said that it had thundered. Others said, "An angel has spoken to him." Jesus answered, "This voice has come for your sake, not mine." (John 12:28-30)

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Unbelief on Trial

Witness # 3: His Father’s Voice.

Unbelief on Trial

Witness # 4: Moses.

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Unbelief on Trial "Father, glorify your name. "Then a voice came from heaven: "I have glorified it, and I will glorify it again." The crowd that stood there and heard it said that it had thundered. Others said, "An angel has spoken to him." Jesus answered, "This voice has come for your sake, not mine." (John 12:28-30)

Unbelief on Trial

Witness # 4: Moses.

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Unbelief on Trial Do not think that I will accuse you to the Father. There is one who accuses you: Moses, on whom you have set your hope. For if you believed Moses, you would believe me; for he wrote of me. But if you do not believe his writings, how will you believe my words? (John 5:45-47)

Unbelief on Trial

Witness # 4: Moses.

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Unbelief on Trial The LORD your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among you, from your brothers-- it is to him you shall listen– (Deuteronomy 18:15)

Unbelief on Trial

Witness # 4: Moses.

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Unbelief on Trial You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness about me, yet you refuse to come to me that you may have life. (John 5:39-40)

Unbelief on Trial

Witness # 4: Moses.

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Unbelief on Trial

Verdict: Unbelief is a deliberate refusal to acknowledge the realities and embrace the Savior, "you refuse to come to me."

Unbelief on Trial For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse. (Romans 1:18-20)

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Unbelief on Trial You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness about me, yet you refuse to come to me that you may have life. (John 5:39-40)

Unbelief on Trial (Jesus Turns the Tables on His Accusers)

John 5:30-47

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Application: 1. Realize that unbelief is not about ignorance. 2. Recognize that unbelief is a willful refusal to consider Christ. 3. Understand that there is never enough evidence---no matter how much evidence.

Unbelief on Trial (Jesus Turns the Tables on His Accusers)

John 5:30-47

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