16 For this reason the Jews persecuted Jesus, 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.”18 Therefore the Jews sought all the more to kill Him, because He not only broke the Sabbath, but also said that God was His own Father, making Himself equal with God. 19 Then Jesus answered and said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He sees the Father do; for whatever He does, the Son also does in like manner. 20 For the Father loves the Son, and shows Him all things that He Himself does; and He will show Him greater works than these, that you may marvel. 21 For as the Father raises the dead and gives life to them, even so the Son gives life to whom He will. 22 For the Father judges no one, but has committed all judgment to the Son, 23 that all should honor the Son just as they honor the Father. He who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent Him. 24 “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life. 25 Most assuredly, I say to you, the hour is coming, and now is, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God; and those who hear will live. 26 For as the Father has life in Himself, so He has granted the Son to have life in Himself, 27 and has given Him authority to execute judgment also, because He is the Son of Man. 28 Do not marvel at this; for the hour is coming in which all who are in the graves will hear His voice 29 and come forth—those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation. 30 I can of Myself do nothing. As I hear, I judge; and My judgment is righteous, because I do not seek My own will but the will of the Father who sent Me. 31 “If I bear witness of Myself, My witness is not true. 32 There is another who bears witness of Me, and I know that the witness which He witnesses of Me is true. 33 You have sent to John, and he has borne witness to the truth. 34 Yet I do not receive testimony from man, but I say these things that you may be saved. 35 He was the burning and shining lamp, and you were willing for a time to rejoice in his light. 36 But I have a greater witness than John’s; for the works which the Father has given Me to finish—the very works that I do—bear witness of Me, that the Father has sent Me. 37 And the Father Himself, who sent Me, has testified of Me. You have neither heard His voice at any time, nor seen His form. 38 But you do not have His word abiding in you, because whom He sent, Him you do not believe. 39 You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of Me. 40 But you are not willing to come to Me that you may have life.” (John's Gospel, Chapter 5)
There are some who believe, that the spiritual dead are so dead, that they cannot hear the Gospel Message. This passage in John shows that this is NOT what Jesus Christ taught.
The words in this passage are addressed by Jesus Christ, to the Jews who wanted to murder Him, for claiming that God was His “own Father”, and “ making Himself equal with God”. Note, it says, “ But Jesus answered them” (v.17), and “Then Jesus answered and said to them” (v.19); “I say to you” (v.24); “ I say these things that you may be saved” (v.34), etc.
Firstly, these words are not spoken to “believers”, but to the Jews who wanted to murder the Lord.
Secondly, here Jesus tells these same Jews,
“Most assuredly, I say to YOU, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life” (v.24)
“Most assuredly, I say to YOU, the hour is coming, and now is, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God; and those who hear will live.” (25)
“but I say these things that YOU may be saved.” (34)
“YOU search the Scriptures, for in them you think YOU have eternal life; and these are they which testify of Me. But YOU are not willing to come to Me that you may have life.” (39-40)
These words are NOT addressed to “the elect”, but to the UNSAVED Jews, who were 100% AGAINST Jesus Christ, and conspired with the authorities to have Jesus MURDERED! YET, it is to THESE same Jews, that Jesus speaks this words. IF these same Jews were to HEAR His Words and BELIEVE in the Gospel Message that He was preaching, THEY could be saved! The lost CAN hear the Gospel Message for their salvation, and are NOT dead to this, as some teach! Jesus even tells these Jews, “but I say these things that YOU may be saved.”. Yes, the very Jews who sought Jesus' death, were the ones that Jews wanted to believe and get saved! No amount of twisting of these words can change the FACT that Jesus also, not only died for these Jews, but also wanted them saved! Even though Jesus here preaches to THEM, they were “UNWILLING” to accept what Jesus was saying, so that they could get saved!
This IS exactly what Jesus means when He said, “For God SO LOVES the entire human race”, because it is His desire that NONE are lost! It is some with their “theological” nonsense who think that they know better than God Almighty, and argue against the Words of God!
There are some who believe, that the spiritual dead are so dead, that they cannot hear the Gospel Message. This passage in John shows that this is NOT what Jesus Christ taught.
The words in this passage are addressed by Jesus Christ, to the Jews who wanted to murder Him, for claiming that God was His “own Father”, and “ making Himself equal with God”. Note, it says, “ But Jesus answered them” (v.17), and “Then Jesus answered and said to them” (v.19); “I say to you” (v.24); “ I say these things that you may be saved” (v.34), etc.
Firstly, these words are not spoken to “believers”, but to the Jews who wanted to murder the Lord.
Secondly, here Jesus tells these same Jews,
“Most assuredly, I say to YOU, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life” (v.24)
“Most assuredly, I say to YOU, the hour is coming, and now is, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God; and those who hear will live.” (25)
“but I say these things that YOU may be saved.” (34)
“YOU search the Scriptures, for in them you think YOU have eternal life; and these are they which testify of Me. But YOU are not willing to come to Me that you may have life.” (39-40)
These words are NOT addressed to “the elect”, but to the UNSAVED Jews, who were 100% AGAINST Jesus Christ, and conspired with the authorities to have Jesus MURDERED! YET, it is to THESE same Jews, that Jesus speaks this words. IF these same Jews were to HEAR His Words and BELIEVE in the Gospel Message that He was preaching, THEY could be saved! The lost CAN hear the Gospel Message for their salvation, and are NOT dead to this, as some teach! Jesus even tells these Jews, “but I say these things that YOU may be saved.”. Yes, the very Jews who sought Jesus' death, were the ones that Jews wanted to believe and get saved! No amount of twisting of these words can change the FACT that Jesus also, not only died for these Jews, but also wanted them saved! Even though Jesus here preaches to THEM, they were “UNWILLING” to accept what Jesus was saying, so that they could get saved!
This IS exactly what Jesus means when He said, “For God SO LOVES the entire human race”, because it is His desire that NONE are lost! It is some with their “theological” nonsense who think that they know better than God Almighty, and argue against the Words of God!
