Why Doesn't Everyone Believe?

One of the first real witnessing experiences I had was on State Street in Madison, WI. One of the ministry teams from MBU went down there every Friday night and we would pass out tracts and witness to people on the street. I gave a tract to one person and we got into a conversation about the gospel. Turned out she was a homosexual and she asked the question, “Can I believe in Jesus and still be a homosexual?” In other words, can I say I believe in Jesus and still live the way I want to live? What would you say to that person? What does it mean to believe in the Son of God?

If we want to help our friends come to faith in Jesus Christ one of the things we will need to help them understand is what it really means to believe in Jesus.

Last time we examined several principles of Christlike evangelism. We looked at the principles that Jesus used in order to cause someone to believe in His name.

Let’s review the principles of Christlike evangelism:

1. curiosity aroused

2. problem pointed out; and then (maybe),

3. the answer is given

Jesus finally does give Nicodemus an answer he can understand- Jesus gives Nicodemus the gospel. But Jesus did not give Nicodemus the gospel until he had caused Nicodemus to ask the right questions. First Jesus aroused his curiosity by saying things that he could not understand- You must be born again or you cannot see the kingdom of God. Then before Jesus gives Nicodemus an answer he verbally slaps him in the face- Are you the teacher of Israel and you do not know these things?

The primary problem facing Nicodemus was his pride. He prided himself on his knowledge of religious things and he prided himself on his position- a leader of the Jews. But he could not answer the most fundamentally important question there is- “How can a person get into the kingdom of God”! We might say it this way, “How can a person get into heaven?”

Nicodemus didn’t know! And Jesus called him out on his pride and his arrogance by asking him, “Are you the leader of Israel and you do not understand these things?”

Now that Nicodemus is ready to hear the answers, now that Nicodemus is genuinely searching for truth- Jesus gives him an answer he CAN understand. And Jesus confronts Nicodemus about what genuine faith looks like.

What does it really mean to believe?

I. Why does Jesus use the example of Moses lifting up the serpent in the wilderness? (John 3:14-15)

John 3:14–15 KJV 1900

14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: 15 That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.

First of all Jesus used this example because it was something that Nicodemus could understand. He knew this story well. But why this story specifically? Why not any of the other stories in the OT? What specifically does Jesus want Nicodemus to understand about faith and belief from this story?

Numbers 21:4–9 KJV 1900

4 And they journeyed from mount Hor by the way of the Red sea, to compass the land of Edom: and the soul of the people was much discouraged because of the way. 5 And the people spake against God, and against Moses, Wherefore have ye brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? for there is no bread, neither is there any water; and our soul loatheth this light bread. 6 And the Lord sent fiery serpents among the people, and they bit the people; and much people of Israel died. 7 Therefore the people came to Moses, and said, We have sinned, for we have spoken against the Lord, and against thee; pray unto the Lord, that he take away the serpents from us. And Moses prayed for the people. 8 And the Lord said unto Moses, Make thee a fiery serpent, and set it upon a pole: and it shall come to pass, that every one that is bitten, when he looketh upon it, shall live. 9 And Moses made a serpent of brass, and put it upon a pole, and it came to pass, that if a serpent had bitten any man, when he beheld the serpent of brass, he lived.

What about this story would have helped Nicodemus understand genuine faith?

John 3:14–15 KJV 1900

14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: 15 That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.

Why did Moses have to lift up the serpent in the wilderness? Because God judged the Israelites for this sin by sending poisonous snakes to bite them, and the only cure was for the people to look upon the image of the serpent on the pole.

Why did the Son of man have to be lifted up? (v. 15) That whoever believes in him should not perish, but have eternal life.

Who were the ones that had to look at the snake in Numbers 21? The ones who got bitten by the snake. Why? Because they were about to die/perish.

Who are the ones that have to “look upon” or “believe” in the Son? The ones that are going to perish. Who are the ones going to perish? The truth is everyone is going to perish- everyone has been bitten by a poisonous snake. Why is everyone going to perish? Keep reading.

Remember back to Jesus’ question in v. 10- “Are you the teacher of Israel and do not understand these things?” What things did Nicodemus not understand? How to enter into the kingdom of God. Another way we could say that is how to have eternal life.

What does Jesus tell Nicodemus how to get in v. 15? Eternal life.

How does one get eternal life? By believing in the Son.

We are all of us perishing, we are like the Israelites who were bitten by poisonous snakes- and we all need to be healed- we all need eternal life- and the only way to get that life is by believing in the Son of man- Jesus.

II. Why did God send the Son into the world? (John 3:16-18)

John 3:16–18 KJV 1900

16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. 17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. 18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

16 Οὕτως γὰρ ἠγάπησεν ὁ θεὸς τὸν κόσμον,

For in this way God loved the world,

ὥστε τὸν υἱὸν ⸆ τὸν μονογενῆ ἔδωκεν,

for this reason, the Son the Only Begotten, He gave,

ἵνα πᾶς ὁ πιστεύων εἰς αὐτὸν μὴ ἀπόληται

so that all the ones believing in Him might not perish

ἀλλʼ ἔχῃ ζωὴν αἰώνιον.*

BUT might have eternal life.

How did God love the world? He gave his only begotten (one and only) Son.

Why did God give the Son to the World? So that all the ones believing in the Son might not perish, BUT might have eternal life.

Who are the only ones that will not perish? The ones believing in the Son.

Who are the one who will perish? The ones who do not believe in the Son. Again, we have all been bitten by snakes, we all have the threat of death or perishing hanging over our heads. But God loved the whole world- and so that no one would have to perish, he gave the Son so that instead of perishing the ones who believe in the Son will have what instead? Eternal life.

17 οὐ γὰρ ἀπέστειλεν ὁ θεὸς τὸν υἱὸν ⸆

For God did not send the Son

εἰς τὸν κόσμον

into the world

ἵνα κρίνῃ τὸν κόσμον,

in order to judge the world,

ἀλλʼ ἵνα σωθῇ ὁ κόσμος διʼ αὐτοῦ.

BUT in order to save the world through Him.

Why didn’t God send the Son into the world? To condemn the world, or to judge the world.

Why did God send the Son into the world? To save it through Him, through the Son.

Think about this from the story of Moses and the serpent. Did Moses make this image of the snake, put it on a pole, and lift it into the air for people to see in order to condemn them? In order to cause them to perish? No. If Moses had wanted to condemn them, if he had wanted them to perish, what did Moses have to do? Nothing! They were already perishing.

If God really wanted us to perish, what would he have had to do? Nothing! We are already perishing. God didn’t send the Son into the the world to judge or condemn the world. He didn’t have to, the world was already perishing. All God would have had to do was leave the world alone. But God loved the world, and because of that He gave his one and only Son. Not to judge the world, but to save the world. So that the world could look upon the Son of God and believe in the Son and have eternal life.

Then does everyone get saved from perishing? Does everyone get eternal life?

John 3:18 KJV 1900

18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

Who is not condemned? The ones that believe on Jesus.

Who are the ones who are condemned already? The ones that do not believe.

Why are the condemned already? Because they do not believe in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

Why already? Why not in the future when the die? Think about the people who were bitten by the snake. The poison was already in their blood, it was only a matter of time. There was one antidote- look upon the image of the snake that Moses made. What if they refused to look? What is they closed their eyes and said, “NO WAY!” Well, they would be condemned already. Their doom would be sealed.

For the ones who will not believe on the Son of God- Jesus- for eternal life- it is like being bitten by a poisonous snake and refusing the antidote. If you refuse the only cure- they you are condemned already.

III. So why doesn’t everyone believe? (John 3:19-21)

John 3:19–21 KJV 1900

19 And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. 20 For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. 21 But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.

In v. 18- we read that the ones who do not believe are condemned already. In v. 19 we read that “this is the condemnation.” What is the condemnation or the judgement issued in v. 19? Men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.

Why doesn’t everyone believe? Some love darkness because their deeds are evil.

What two things do people do when they love darkness? They hate the light, and they do not come to the light.

Why do they hate the light? Why do they not come to the light? For fear that their deeds/works might be reproved/exposed.

What is the basic purpose of light? To reveal things, to make things visible, illuminated. To let you see what was otherwise un-see-able.

What is it that some people do not want revealed? Their deeds or their works.

How would you feel if ALL of your deeds were exposed? Would you want everyone to know ALL of the things that you have done?

Can Jesus expose our deeds in deeper ways than anyone else?

John 2:24–25 KJV 1900

24 But Jesus did not commit himself unto them, because he knew all men, 25 And needed not that any should testify of man: for he knew what was in man.

What if coming to the light meant not only exposing your deeds but your inner most thoughts as well?

Does it change things to know that God loves you? Does it change things to know that God already knew all of those things about you, and yet He still sent his Son into the world- not to condemn the world (it was already condemned), but to save you. God doesn’t want you to perish, but to have eternal life.

So why doesn’t everyone come to Him? Why doesn’t everyone believe?

Remember the story I told at the beginning of the sermon?

Remember the question the person on State Street asked me?

“Can I believe in Jesus and still be a homosexual?” In other words, can I say I believe in Jesus and still live the way I want to live?

What do vv. 19-20 seem to say about what genuine faith in Jesus involves? We must love the light more than darkness. We must love Jesus more that our evil deeds. We must be willing to have our evil deeds exposed. We must be willing to stop, or at least have a desire for light more than darkness. Genuine believe involves turning away from darkness, turning away from our evil deeds. It involves changing our minds. It involves believing Jesus because He is better than living for our evil deeds. This is what we call repentance. It means to change our minds. And true faith in Jesus is not some easy believe-ism, say a prayer and your good kind of belief. Genuine belief involves turning from darkness, from evil, to light, to Jesus.

Do you remember what time of day it is as Jesus is saying these things to Nicodemus? Look back at v. 1- Nicodemus came to Jesus by night- in darkness. Why? He didn’t want his deeds to be exposed. He was a man of pride and position and he couldn’t allow people to see him coming to Jesus for answers. How do you think Jesus’ statement in v. 20- that people that do evil hate the light, and they do not come to the light, lest their deeds should be revealed- how do you think that is sitting with old Nicodemus? How do you think Jesus’ demand for repentance and belief effected him?

Have you ever done that? Have you ever repented of your sin? Have you ever genuinely believed in Jesus for eternal life? Or are you still perishing?

Look at how Jesus finished his message in v. 21.

John 3:21 KJV 1900

21 But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.

Left to your own ability would anyone want all their deeds to be made manifest by the light? Does anyone only walk in truth? You might have some deeds that you think would be OK to be exposed by the light, but would anyone want ALL of their deeds to be exposed?

Notice the end of the verse. What kind of deeds are the only ones that truly deserve to be exposed by the light? The ones wrought in God- or the one carried out in God. In other words, the one who loves the light, the one who willingly comes to the light to have their deeds exposed by the light does not do so in self-absorbed arrogance. There is no cocky self-righteousness, there is no boast of being an intrinsically superior person to anyone else. BUT, the lover of the light comes to the light so that it may be seen plainly that what he has done has been done only through God.

How many of us have lived as lovers of the light this past week? How many of us have walked in the truth. How many of us would gladly come to the light, and willingly allow our deeds to be exposed? Not because of our own superiority. Not because of our own self righteousness. BUT because you have been born again, you have believed on the Son, and you have walked closely with God this week and HE has done good deeds through you?

Do you love the light more than the darkness? Can you willingly come to the light so that your deeds might be exposed? Have your works been carried out through God this wee? If not- what are you going to do about it?

Maybe you have never been born again. Maybe you have never turned from darkness, maybe you have never truly repented of your own pride and position and turn to Christ, and you need to look upon Jesus and believe that He is the Son of God and that by believing you might have life through His name.

Maybe you have been born again- you have trusted in the name of the Son of God. But, lately you have been walking in darkness. You are terrified right now of coming to the light, lest your deeds might be exposed.

We sang that song this afternoon- Mercies Anew. Jesus’ blood is available to you right now- and if you confess your sin- he is faithful and just to forgive you your sin and to cleanse you of all unrighteousness. Maybe some of you need to get on your knees today and come to the light, seek his forgiveness, and once again walk in the truth.

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