John 12:47-50
47 And if anyone hears My words and does not believe, I do not judge him; for I did not come to judge the world but to save the world.
48 He who rejects Me, and does not receive My words, has that which judges him—the word that I have spoken will judge him in the last day.
49 For I have not spoken on My own authority; but the Father who sent Me gave Me a command, what I should say and what I should speak.
50 And I know that His command is everlasting life. Therefore, whatever I speak, just as the Father has told Me, so I speak.”
“God’s Word Will Judge Us In the Last Day”
In verses 47 through 49, Jesus says that He has come to save the world, not to judge or condemn it. He says He doesn’t judge or condemn someone who doesn’t believe in Him. So is Jesus giving the unbeliever a free pass? No, not at all. Jesus doesn’t have to judge or condemn the unbeliever, because the unbeliever has already judged himself through his/her unbelief. We all fall into God’s judgment/condemnation when we reject Jesus. Without Jesus, we are judged already. If Jesus had never died on the cross for our sins, we would fall into judgment automatically. There would be nothing we could do to save ourselves. Jesus said this once before in John 3:17-18 when He was speaking with Nicodemus, “For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.” Jesus says His words will judge us. We will either be saved or judged/condemned. It is all up to us. Jesus’ words are the standard by which we are to live, because they came straight from God the Father. Jesus didn’t speak His own words, but spoke the words that the Father commanded Him to speak. God gave Jesus the authority to speak for Him. Jesus has already said in John 8:38 that He speaks what He has seen of His Father. God authorized everything Jesus said and did. God and Jesus are always on the same page. And we are all expected to be on the same page with them. We can’t force Jesus to be on the same page we are. We can’t twist God’s Word to make it fit our lives. We are to conform our lives to the standards His Word has laid out for us. There is no other way to go to heaven other than through obedience to His Word.
As Christians, we are all supposed to speak the same things today, which is why all these different religious bodies are not authorized. In Galatians 1:8-9, Paul reminds us what will happen if we preach or follow another gospel other than the gospel of Jesus. We will be accursed. When I think of all the people out there preaching and teaching things that Jesus never said or authorized, it sends chills down my spine. How can someone say they love Jesus with all his/her heart, yet twist what He says into the meaning they want it to have? It is the god of this world blinding their eyes to the truth.
In verse 50, Jesus says that God’s command is eternal life. What does that mean? It means that God commanded Jesus to come to earth and die for our sins so we could have eternal life. Jesus speaks about eternal life because God spoke to Him about it. God wanted eternal life to be possible for us. How beautiful is that? Jesus preached that all who believe in and obey His words will inherit eternal life. This is what God commanded Jesus to tell us. Peter already understood this in John 6:68 when He asked, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.” He said this after the feeding of the 5000 when Jesus told the people He was the bread of life. He told them they would have to eat His flesh and drink His blood to have eternal life. Many disciples left Jesus that day because they didn’t understand. How can we eat His flesh and drink His blood? They weren’t rooted and grounded in His Words. Instead of staying with Jesus to learn more from Him, they left Him. But Peter and others stayed. Peter may not have fully understood what Jesus meant, but He was rooted and grounded in His Words. Jesus said it, and that was all that mattered to Peter. Jesus’ words are His flesh and blood. To survive spiritually, we must eat and drink His Words. Some may ask, “But what about all the humans who wrote words in the bible? Do they count as Jesus’ flesh and blood?” Yes! All the authors of the Bible spoke and wrote the words of God/Jesus through the Holy Spirit’s divine inspiration. “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work” (1 Tim. 3:16-17). Remember… Jesus is the Word, and the Word became flesh and dwelt among us (John 1:1, 14). THE Word is the standard by which we will be judged. Am I rooted and grounded in God’s Word? In Jesus? Is He my final authority in all my decisions? Is God’s Word the standard by which I live?
God’s Plan of Salvation
Below is the plan God has outlined in His Word for humankind to receive His grace, which leads to salvation and an eternity with God in heaven. This plan is straight from the Bible.
We have to hear His word. (Romans 10:17)
Upon hearing the message of Jesus, we believe it. (Mark 16:16)
Then, we confess Jesus’ name before men. (Matthew 10:32)
Next, we repent of our sins. (Acts 2:38, Acts 3:19)
Finally, we are baptized into Christ for the remission of our sins. (Acts 2:38, Matthew 28:18-20, Mark 16:16, Romans 6:3-4, Acts 22:16, 1 Corinthians 12:13, Galatians 3:26-27) After baptism, God adds us to His church. (Acts 2:47)
Then, we must remain faithful until death or until Jesus returns, whichever comes first. (Rev. 2:10)
God means for everyone to learn what the Bible teaches about being saved. It only takes an open heart for Jesus and a willingness to put away what we’ve been taught in the past, and truly read what God’s Word says for ourselves… and then accept what it says and obey it. If I can help you in any way, I would love to! Are you walking in the light? Are you in Christ? Are you saved? If you aren’t, or if you’re not sure if you are, I’d love to help you. Are you a member of the Lord’s church, but are struggling spiritually in your walk with Christ? If you are… believe me, I’ve been there many times, and I’d love to help you. If you have any questions, please reach out.
I love God’s Word. It challenges me to be better… to do more in His service. It is interesting and keeps me on the edge of my seat, wondering what will happen next. It gives me confidence and builds me up, and it brings me to my knees when my soul needs convicting! Thank you, Father, for the wonderful gift of Your Word!
