Life and Judgment in Christ

 By: Dr. Dale Weckbacher

 

Text: John 5:16-30

 

John 5:16-17

For this reason the Jews persecuted Jesus, ^[a]and sought to kill Him, because He had done these things on the Sabbath. ¹⁷ But Jesus answered them, “My Father has been working until now, and I have been working.”

(NKJV)

 

The theology of the Church must achieve a balance between cheap grace that believes God’s grace covers sin so one can continue in sin and legalism requiring one to adhere to a strict set of rules to earn salvation. The Gospel is a balance with one receiving salvation through the finished work of the cross (Ephesians 2:8-9) and bringing life to their faith through their works (James 2:14-17). The mission of the Church is to spread the Gospel and make disciples (Acts 1:8; Mark 16:15; Matthew 28:19-20). My prayer is that the Church does this with a balance of God’s grace and works done not to earn salvation but out of love for what God has done.

 

Because Jesus healed a lame man on the Sabbath, the Jews persecuted and sought to kill Jesus (John 5:16). Jesus answered these Jews by telling them His Father had been working until then and He had been working also (John 5:17). This answer enraged the Jews even more for not only did Jesus heal on the Sabbath, but he now called God His Father, making Himself equal to God (John 5:18), Jesus then tells them that the Son does nothing by Himself but does what He sees the Father do (John 5:19).

 

Jesus continues by telling these Jews that the Father loves the Son, showing Him all the things He does with greater works to come so the Jews may marvel (John 5:20) The Father raises the dead, giving them life with the Son giving life to whomever He will (John 5:21). God the Father has committed all judgment to the Son and why all should honor the Son just as they honor the Father because he who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent Him (John 5:22-23).

 

Jesus continues by saying that one hearing His word, believing in the Father who sent the Son has everlasting life, escaping judgment for he has passed from death into life (John 5:24). In fact, a day is coming and even here when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God with those hearing living (John 5:25). God the Father has granted the Son to have life and given the Son authority to execute judgment because He is the Son of Man (John 5:26-27). This is not something to marvel at for a time is coming when all will hear His voice and come forth with those doing good to the resurrection of life and those doing evil the resurrection of condemnation (John 5:28-29). Jesus can do nothing of Himself, judging as He hears from the Father in righteousness, seeking the will of God the Father (John 5:30).

 

While Scripture does not specifically identify this group of Jews, they were most likely Pharisees or Sadducees due to their legalism regarding the Sabbath. These legalistic Jews take pride in placing themselves on a pedestal to sit in judgment of anyone they perceive as breaking any portion of the Law. While these Jews expected Jesus to defend healing the lame man on the Sabbath, He instead identified Himself as the Son of God (John 5:19), infuriating His persecutors even more. Jesus is letting these legalistic Jews know that they are persecuting God, accusing Him of breaking His own law. This accusation of God, accusing God of violating the Sabbath, dishonors God and places these Jews in violation of the first commandment (Exodus 20:1-3). What does a legalist do when someone confronts him or her with their own violation of the law?

 

Legalism represents a works-based righteousness where one believes he will attain righteousness due to his or her good works. Granted, James stated that faith without works is dead (James 2:14-17), but James is talking to Christians who have received salvation through God’s grace, urging them to live their faith through their works. When one truly realizes the extent of the love of God the Father who sent his only Son to die for the sins of humanity, taking upon Himself our judgment for sin, the response should be to serve God out of love (John 3:16).

 

However, we must not become legalistic like the Jews in this text, so caught up in obeying every letter of the law that they missed a miracle of God happening right before their eyes. We must not become like the older brother in the parable of the prodigal son, so caught up in his own righteousness that he missed a demonstration of his Father’s grace and love towards his brother (Luke 15:11-32). God is indeed a just God expecting obedience to His Word, but He is also a loving God willing to forgive anyone coming to Him seeking forgiveness (1 John 1:9). This is because God gave the World His only Son to save humanity, not to condemn it (John 3:16-17).

 

I want to invite anyone reading this post who has not prayed for salvation from their sins and to make Jesus the Lord of their life through the confession of their belief in Jesus as their Savior to do so now by praying with me,

 

Dear Lord Jesus, I know I have sinned (Romans 3:23) and know that the penalty for my sin is death (Romans 6:23).  I ask you to forgive me of my sin and cleanse me as you promise in your Word (1 John 1:9).  I believe you died, spent three days in the grave, and resurrected from the dead and now declare you Lord of my life.

 

May the Lord challenge, convict, and bless everyone reading this post.