Gospel of John - "For we live by Faith, not by sight."

 

“For we live by faith, not by sight.” 2 Cor. 5:7 

John 20:24-29

Doubting seems to have a massive impact on the hearts and minds of Christians at every maturity level, and humanity in general. We know that God is real, our Lord Jesus is everything his titles proclaim, and the Holy Spirit truly is our powerful guide and counselor through our walk of faith in this world. And yet we fail to fully believe the words of our Lord. Like Thomas, we let doubt cloud our faith in the infallibility and immutability of our Lord and God. 

Let’s begin the lesson with the first portion of the text, “Now Thomas (also known as Didymus), one of the Twelve, was not with the disciples when Jesus came. So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord!” But he said to them, “Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.” Thomas seemed to be a person who looked at life through a skeptic's lens. He was chosen to be a disciple possibly after Matthew’s calling, for he is paired with Matthew in the lists of the twelve disciples in the gospel.

He is also the one disciple who was willing to stand by Jesus' side even to death, when Jesus stated they must go back to Jerusalem, “Let us go back to Judea. But Rabbi,” they said, “a short while ago the Jews there tried to stone you, and yet you are going back?… Then Thomas (also known as Didymus) said to the rest of the disciples, “Let us also go, that we may die with him.” (Jn. 11:7-8,16) and then there was the one question that allowed Jesus to open the eyes of the disciples at the table of the last supper. Jesus had told them to believe in him for he was leaving to go back to his Father’s house, and that they should know the way to the place he was going. Thomas’ question, “Lord, we do not know where You are going, how do we know the way? " (Jn.14:5) Thomas showed through his few recorded words that he liked the black and white interpretation and tangibility of life, he was still trying to grasp the faith needed to believe. 

Now, for whatever reason, Thomas was not in the room with the others, but upon his return they told him of Jesus’ appearance before them and all that Jesus had said to them and the testimonies of the two from Emmaus and of Mary Magdalene. Even with the testimonies of the  enthusiastic host of disciples and friends, Thomas held to his skepticism. “Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.” 

Thomas may have seen Jesus on the cross, but he also could have remembered the scars of those who were crucified. Nevertheless, Thomas would be remembered most for his unbelief and doubting.

Application -  Doubt is both a mental and spiritual problem. James likened doubting to a person’s mind and faith, it is driven like a wave in the wind, it is blown any direction the wind desires. He asks for something but doesn’t truly believe it will happen. “But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind.” (James 1:6) It is simply easier to believe by watching someone else do something than to try and do it yourself, or when we are asked to believe something difficult or impossible we fall back to the tangible and logical of a black and white world. But Jesus didn’t ask us to just live in a tangible world, he asked us to believe in God who does the supernatural, who is not bound to the tangible and logical. We are to believe in his Words, not because they are just and true words, but because they are the words of the one who created all things, it is the Word that was from the beginning. “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.” (Jn. 1:1-3) 

Jesus told his disciples that they would see and do many miracles (greater things) if they would believe in God. “I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father. You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.” (Jn. 14:12-14) 

Jesus told us to believe in him and the Father for salvation and for the faith to do the works of God. God will increase your faith, “The apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith!” (Luke 17:5)

A week transpired, and the disciples were discussing all the implications of Jesus’ death and his resurrection. For at the Lord’s table he had said that he was going back to the place of his Father’s house. Where exactly was his Father’s house? Nazareth? No Mary, Jesus’ mother would have settled that issue. Then his Father who is in heaven, so how would they know the way there? They must have spent many days and nights reflecting on the works of God that Jesus had done in their very presence, and the words of his teachings. This would make a vast volume of manuscripts, “Jesus performed many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book. But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.” (Jn.20:30-31) 

Since Jesus’ appearance,Thomas had stayed close to the place where they were all staying in Jerusalem. Let’s read the last portion of the text, “A week later his disciples were still in the house, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.” Thomas said to him, “My Lord and my God!” Then Jesus told him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”

Jesus had a way of making an entrance. Without any introduction of a knock or bell, Jesus popped into the room through locked doors. Jesus’ accustomed greeting, “Peace be with you.” was just that, his peace resting upon the home and the lives in which he entered. He had taught the disciples to say and do this when he sent them out with the good news. Every home into which would receive them, their peace would rest. “When you enter a house, first say, ‘Peace to this house.’ If someone who promotes peace is there, your peace will rest on them; if not, it will return to you.” (Matt. 10:5)

Jesus had also given them his peace, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” (Jn. 14:27)  Now that his peace was given and received, he walked over to Thomas. With his arms stretched out, Jesus tells him to touch my scared hands, put your finger into the hole created by the iron spikes, and the hole in my side where the spear pierced. Jesus wanted all doubt to be removed from Thomas’ mind and heart. 

When Thomas had complied with Jesus' words "Stop doubting and believe.” He fell to his knees in humility and released the doubt with his words of faith, “My Lord and my God!” Thomas' proclamation drove faith in Jesus to another level. Jesus wasn’t just rabbi or master, or even Messiah. He now personalized his relationship and devotion to Jesus, he was “my Lord and my God.” Jesus knew that Thomas now believed, but he had another lesson for the disciples to learn, for they had been truly blessed to walk with the Son of God for three years, but blessed will be those who haven’t seen his fleshly or glorified body and believed, “blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” The myriad of people throughout history who would believe in Jesus for salvation through the gospel records written by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit in the disciples, as Jesus had told them, “But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come. He will glorify me because it is from me that he will receive what he will make known to you.” (Jn.16:13-14)

Application - Believing in Jesus is not a request or option, it is a requirement of faith. As in the defining of faith in Hebrews 11, “Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.” (v.1)

There are two works of grace to salvation. The first is justification by faith, “That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.” (Rom. 10:9-10) When we believe wholeheartedly in Jesus as our Savior and Lord, it is by faith in what we cannot see. He is very real, yet not visible. This leads us to the second work of grace, Sanctification. Sanctification is the setting apart, the choosing of a vessel for a specific purpose. This vessel must be cleansed in order to be used for the purpose it was created. It is through the blood of Jesus on the cross that we are cleansed in heart and mind from all unrighteousness. “But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin. If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” (1 Jn. 1:7-9) The sanctification of our souls takes out the rebellion, disobedient, and resistance to believe out of our hearts and makes us a clean and pure vessel that the Lord may live in.

The last part of Rom. 10:10, “And it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.” Our confession in the cleansing power of the blood of Christ and the forgiveness of our sins is wrapped up in the sanctifying work of Jesus. Then the part I love is the tangible, the peace of God, that Jesus gives us, his peace, “And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” (Phil. 4:7) 

Jesus began with peace, his peace. And Thomas received that peace through the believing in the resurrected Lord and in the sanctifying work of God when he confessed, “My Lord and my God!” 

So believing is the absence of doubt, and the increase of faith in that which we cannot see but know it is very real. If you are still doubting if God cares, loves you, or is really listening, ask him to increase your faith to believe and trust, especially when things aren’t working out in your black and white, tangible world. My go to verse is Prov. 3:5-7, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight. Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and shun evil.”

I’m again including the ABC’s of salvation (JD Farag). Please, Jesus, God the Son, came to this world to save all who would believe and trust in him. He desires to reveal himself to you, He is the Light that overcomes the darkness of this lawless world. He hears your prayers, and all authority in heaven and earth have been given to him. He will answer you if you will truly believe. And he wants to empower you with the Holy Spirit. If you haven’t asked him to be your Lord and Savior, today could be that day.

 First, A - Admit that you are a sinner. This is where that godly sorrow leads to genuine repentance for sinning against a righteous God and there is a change of heart, we change our mind and God changes our hearts and regenerates us from the inside out. Romans 3:10 - As it is written: "There is none righteous, no, not one." Romans 3:23 - For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. (We are all born sinners which is why we must be born spiritually in order to enter the Kingdom of Heaven). Romans 6:23 - For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. The bad news is that the wages of sin is death, in other words our sin means that we have been given a death sentence, we have the death penalty hanging over our heads, that's the bad news. But here's the good news: The good news is that the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Ephesians 2:8-9 - For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith —and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast. Second, B - Believe in your heart that Jesus Christ died for your sins, was buried, and that God raised Jesus from the dead. This is trusting with all of your heart that Jesus Christ is who he said he was. Romans 10:9-10 - That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved. Third, C - Call upon the name of the Lord. Every single person who ever lived since Adam will bend their knee and confess with their mouth that Jesus Christ is Lord, the Lord of lords and the King of kings. Romans 14:11 - For it is written: "As I live, says the Lord, Every knee shall bow to Me, And every tongue shall confess to God." Don't wait until later — do this now. Romans 10:13 - For "whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved." "O God, I am a sinner. I'm sorry for my sin. I want to turn from my sin. I believe Jesus Christ is Your Son; I believe that He died on the cross for my sin and that He was buried and You raised Him to life. I have decided to place my faith in Jesus Christ as my Savior, trusting only in His shed blood as sufficient to save my soul and to take me to heaven. Thank You, Lord Jesus, for saving me. Amen."

Please share this with someone this week, the Lord knows that we and they need it.

If you would like other lessons, please go to http://pmdinhisservice.blogspot.com 

Until next week, In His Service Mike Davis

I am developing a new webpage on Spiritual warfare. Please give it a look. I’m adding answers each week to questions that pertain to our time today.  Thank you

http://uss-warfare3.webnode.com