CHRISTIAN ETHOS IN ACTION – “If you believe you will see“ – John 11:40

CHRISTIAN ETHOS IN ACTION – “Jesus said to her, “Did I not say to you that if you would believe, you would see the glory of God?” (John 11:40)

The phrase “if you”, as it applies to you (and me) as a disciple of Jesus, appears one hundred twenty-four times in the English Standard Version (ESV) of the New Testament.

First, we will be confronted with various situations and circumstances from the Bible and, we will discover how we are to respond in these examples. Secondly, I have personalized (rephrased) our study verses for you to memorize. By this, we can bring the Gospel to life as we go and defeat sin along our way.

Today we, as Christians, are confronted with questions about how we should deal with matters such as faith, miracles, death, life, assurance and conviction, promise made, promised kept, deliverance and victory.

“Jesus said to her, “Did I not say to you that if you would believe, you would see the glory of God?” (John 11:40)

IN CONTEXT

John 11:14-15, 38-44, “So Jesus then said to them plainly, “Lazarus died, and I am glad for your sakes that I was not there, so that you may believe; but let’s go to him.”

(Verses 38-44). “So Jesus, again being deeply moved within, came to the tomb. Now it was a cave, and a stone was lying against it. Jesus said, “Remove the stone.” Martha, the sister of the deceased, said to Him, “Lord, by this time there will be a stench, for he has been dead four days.” Jesus said to her, “Did I not say to you that if you believe, you will see the glory of God?” So they removed the stone. And Jesus raised His eyes, and said, “Father, I thank You that You have heard Me. But I knew that You always hear Me; nevertheless, because of the people standing around I said it, so that they may believe that You sent Me.” And when He had said these things, He cried out with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!” Out came the man who had died, bound hand and foot with wrappings, and his face was wrapped around with a cloth. Jesus said to them, “Unbind him, and let him go.” 

REPHRASED and personalized to memorize:

“Jesus says to me, “If I would believe, I will see the glory of God!”

Hebrew 11:6 tells us that without faith it is impossible to please God, because whoever would draw near to God must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who seek him.

Said another way: In order to draw near to God and to know that He exists, and in order to see His rewards for your life, you must first have faith!

When you or I say that we have faith in God, what does that actually mean? Is it a vivid imagination, a strong desire to believe, a powerful hope, a great longing?

The belief (πιστεύω = pisteuó), that is the faith (πίστις, εως, ἡ = pisits) that Jesus, and the Apostle Paul in the book of Hebrews are referring to is:

“The assurance (substantive evidence, the reality and guarantee) of things hoped for (an expectant reality of that which is to be), the conviction (inner proof and conviction) of things not (yet) seen (visible by the naked eye). For by it the people of old received their commendation. By faith, we understand that the universe was created by the Word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible”. (Hebrews 1-3).

This is the evidence and the outcome of this kind of faith:

Hebrews 1:4, “By faith Abel offered to God a more acceptable sacrifice than Cain, through which he was commended as righteous, God commending him by accepting his gifts. And through his faith, though he died, he still speaks.

Hebrews 1:5. “By faith Enoch was taken up so that he should not see death, and he was not found, because God had taken him. Now before he was taken he was commended as having pleased God.

Hebrews 1:7, “By faith Noah, being warned by God concerning events as yet unseen, in reverent fear constructed an ark for the saving of his household. By this he condemned the world and became an heir of the righteousness that comes by faith.

Hebrews 1:8, “By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place that he was to receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going. Verse 9. By faith, he went to live in the land of promise, as in a foreign land, living in tents with Isaac and Jacob, heirs with him of the same promise.

Hebrews 1:11, “By faith Sarah herself received power to conceive, even when she was past the age, since she considered him faithful who had promised. Therefore, from one man, and him as good as dead, were born descendants as many as the stars of heaven and as many as the innumerable grains of sand by the seashore.

Hebrews 1:17, “By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises was in the act of offering up his only son, of whom it was said, “Through Isaac shall your offspring be named.” He considered that God was able even to raise him from the dead, from which, figuratively speaking, he did receive him back.

Hebrews 1:20, “By faith Isaac invoked future blessings on Jacob and Esau.

Hebrews 1:21, “By faith Jacob, when dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph, bowing in worship over the head of his staff.

Hebrews 1:22, “By faith Joseph, at the end of his life, made mention of the exodus of the Israelites and gave directions concerning his bones.

Hebrews 1:23, “By faith Moses, when he was born, was hidden for three months by his parents, because they saw that the child was beautiful, and they were not afraid of the king’s edict.

Hebrews 1:24, “By faith Moses, when he was grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, choosing rather to be mistreated with the people of God than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin. He considered the reproach of Christ greater wealth than the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking to the reward.

Hebrews 1:28. “By faith he kept the Passover and sprinkled the blood, so that the Destroyer of the firstborn might not touch them.

Hebrews 1:29, “By faith the people crossed the Red Sea as on dry land, but the Egyptians, when they attempted to do the same, were drowned.

Hebrews 1:30, “By faith the walls of Jericho fell down after they had been encircled for seven days.

Hebrews 1:31. “By faith Rahab the prostitute did not perish with those who were disobedient, because she had given a friendly welcome to the spies.

Hebrews 1:32. “And what more shall I say? For time would fail me to tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets—who through faith conquered kingdoms, enforced justice, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, 34quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, were made strong out of weakness, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight. Women received back their dead by resurrection. Some were tortured, refusing to accept release, so that they might rise again to a better life. Others suffered mocking and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment. They were stoned, they were sawn in two, they were killed with the sword. They went about in skins of sheep and goats, destitute, afflicted, mistreated—of whom the world was not worthy—wandering about in deserts and mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth.”

…that kind of faith!

So how do you come by this kind of faith? (This can only be heard by those who have the ears willing to hear and eyes to see).

This kind of faith only comes from hearing, and only by hearing through the word of Christ. (Romans 10:17)

But you may ask, have I not heard?

Indeed, you have, for “Your voice has gone out to all the earth,
and their words to the ends of the world.”

But I ask, did I not understand?

God says,

“I have been found by those who did not seek me;
I have shown myself to those who did not ask for me.”

But of you, God says, “Have I, all day long, held out my hands to a disobedient and contrary person?”

Dear friends. Let’s not pursue our own desires and call that faith. Desire to find and know the revealed Will of God – and pursue that.

Exercise your faith IN GOD (not in things) and believe without doubting that God is true to His Word. Ask for these things, and whatever you ask shall be given you.

Ask for these things, and you shall receive.

Seek these things and you shall find.

Knock on the door for these things, and that door shall be opened to you.

For everyone who

Asks, receives.

Seeks, shall find.

Knocks, the door is opened.

Your Brother and Friend,

Mike Young

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