John 8:24

DISCOURSE: 1652
DANGER OF REJECTING CHRIST

John 8:24 : If ye believe not that I am He, ye shall die in your sins.

THE necessity of faith in Christ, in order to salvation, is not to be considered as a mere arbitrary appointment: it arises out of the very state into which mankind are fallen: a state in which it would be impossible for them to enjoy God, even if they were admitted into his immediate presence. They are at present laden and defiled with sin; and could derive no comfort from the sight of a holy God. Their iniquities would for ever render them odious in his eyes, and him terrible in theirs. They must be cleansed from their sins, before they can hold any communion with him as a Father and a Friend. But they can never wash away their own sins; nor find any other means of expiation besides that which God has ordained, even the blood of his only dear Son. Nor is there any way in which they can be interested in Christ, but by believing in him. Here then we see, that, independent of any particular command respecting it, there is a necessity for faith in Christ, if ever we would be saved at all. For we cannot go to heaven with our sins upon us: and they cannot be removed, but by an atonement: and there is no atonement capable of removing them, but that of Christ; nor any means of being interested in his atonement but by faith.

That we may see this truth in its just light, we will go back to the preceding chapter. Our Lord had told his unbelieving hearers, that he should soon be withdrawn from them; and that, in consequence of their rejecting the light, “they would never be able to come where he was [Note: John 7:33.].” They, not able to comprehend his meaning, supposed that he intended “to go among the Gentiles:” whither they, on account of their religion, could not follow him [Note: John 7:35.]. The next day he renewed to them the same solemn warning; saying, “I go my way; and ye shall seek me, and shall die in your sins. Whither I go, ye cannot come [Note: ver. 21.].” On this, instead of humbly inquiring into his meaning, they scoffingly and impiously asked, “Will he kill himself? because he saith, Whither I go, ye cannot come [Note: John 8:22.].” ‘No,’ says our Lord, ‘your sins will be a very sufficient barrier to keep you from me. You are altogether, in every disposition of your hearts, directly contrary to me: and in this state you will be left till death: and so dying, it will be impossible you should ever come where I am going, that is, into the beatific presence of my Father: “Ye are from beneath; I am from above: ye are of this world; I am not of this world. I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I am He, ye shall die in your sins [Note: ver. 23, 24.].’ ”

Now, this solemn warning is as applicable to us as to those to whom it was more immediately delivered: and, that we may not slight it as they did, I will proceed to shew,

I. What is comprehended in the faith here spoken of—

At first sight, it appears as if nothing more were required than to acknowledge Jesus as the promised Messiah; and that, consequently, all who bear his name may be considered as possessed of the faith here spoken of. But if we go back to the time of our blessed Lord, we shall see that the faith, of which he spake, comprehended,

1. A full persuasion of his Messiahship—

[This was necessary then: and it is no less necessary now. And we greatly mistake, if we think this a common attainment amongst those who call themselves Christians. The generality have no better reasons for believing Jesus to be the Messiah, than the Mahomedans have for their faith in that arch-impostor. I mean not however to say, that every Christian must have studied this point so accurately as to be able to answer all the objections of infidels: but, so far as to be able to “give a reason of the hope that is in him,” and to justify the reliance which he places on the Saviour, every true believer should have studied the point, and made up his mind upon it. Circumstances, I grant, may have been so unfavourable to the attainment of this knowledge that a person’s views may be very indistinct: but, where these have not been such as to preclude a reasonable hope of his acquiring this necessary information, a want of it may well cause him to doubt whether he has ever possessed any true faith at all.]

2. A cordial acceptance of him under that character—

[A speculative assent to the mere abstract truth of his Messiahship was never such a faith as he approved. Many there were who could not resist the evidence of his miracles, who yet were regarded by him as no better than aliens, in whom he could place no confidence [Note: John 2:23.]. To exercise faith aright, we must receive him in all his offices: we must view him as that Prophet, whom God has sent by his word and Spirit to enlighten us: and as that Great High-Priest, who has made atonement for us, and now intercedeth for us within the vail: and as that King also, who is to reign over us, and to have “every thought of our hearts brought into captivity” to his holy will. Here, then, the subject before us opens to our view. Faith is not a speculative assent; but a practical affiance, that leads us to the Saviour for every thing that we stand in need of, for “wisdom, for righteousness, for sanctification, and for complete redemption.” Then only do we truly believe, when we can say with the Apostle Paul, “The life which I now live in the flesh, I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me [Note: Galatians 2:20.].”]

3. An entire devotion to him, as his disciples—

[This our Lord expressly required of all his followers: “If any man will be my Disciple, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.” Nay, he required that this should be done in defiance of the whole world. He declared, that if any man hated not his father and mother, yea, and his own life also, in comparison of him, he could not be his Disciple. Now, all this is essential to true faith. Whatever was requisite in those days, is requisite still. A man must be wholly given up to Christ; having no will but his; and no object, but to advance his glory. If we have true faith, we shall “henceforth live no more to ourselves, but unto Him who died for us and rose again.”]
Nothing less than this will constitute a living faith: and our Lord’s assertion in relation to it clearly marks,

II.

The importance of it to our eternal welfare—

To “die in our sins” is a most fearful doom—
[The man, so dying, goes into the presence of his God with all his sins upon him; with those of early childhood, and those of inconsiderate youth, and those of maturer manhood, yea, and those committed even to the very hour of his departure hence. Alas! what a catalogue is here! a mass numerous and heavy as the sands upon the sea-shore! And for every distinct offence must the soul receive an appropriate recompence at the hands of God. O! who can conceive the anguish of the soul at the instant of its appearance at the tribunal of its Judge! With what horror must it shrink back, to hide itself, if it were possible, under rocks and mountains! And now, when challenged by his God, how mute is he, who once would vindicate himself with such assured confidence! Not for one action of his whole life can he now offer any excuse, nor urge any reason why he should not be consigned to the bottomless abyss in hell. Thither, therefore, is he cast, with all his sins upon him; nor carries he with him so much as a ray of hope to cheer those regions of darkness and despair. Now he knows, what once he was so averse to believe, what “a fearful thing it is to fall into the hands of the Living God.” Such is the doom that awaits the whole unbelieving world: “They drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and they are tormented with fire and brimstone, in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb: and the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night [Note: Matthew 25:41; Matthew 25:46; Revelation 14:10.].”]

And this must be the doom of all who believe not in Christ—
[Our Lord has assured us of it: yea, he has repeated it again and again [Note: Shewn in the Introduction.]. And wherefore has he so solemnly affirmed it? Was he disposed to create unnecessary alarm? or did he feel any pleasure in denouncing woes? No: it was from love he spake: he desired the salvation of his hearers; and, therefore, whilst he encouraged them with words of grace, speaking to them with a wisdom and a tenderness that “never man spake,” he warned them of the consequences of rejecting his gracious invitations. Let it not, then, be thought unkind in us, if we also, “knowing the terrors of the Lord, persuade men [Note: 2 Corinthians 5:11.].” It is not to excite unnecessary fears that we thus speak, but to avert the judgments that are impending over your heads. We would not willingly grieve you; but we dare not “prophesy unto you smooth things; we dare not prophesy deceits.” Our God has told us, that, “if we forbear to sound the trumpet of alarm, our own souls must perish.” Nor will you be at all benefited: for “you will die in your iniquities; and your blood will be required at our hands [Note: Ezekiel 33:8.].” If you doubt the truth of what we affirm, look at the frequent appeals which God makes to yourselves — — — look at the parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus. The Rich Man believed not in Christ, nor gave himself up to him: and when he died, “he died in his sins:” and the next that you hear of him is, that he was “in hell, lifting up his eyes in torments.” His five brethren, who inherited his wealth, were following his steps; never dreaming whither he was gone, or whither they themselves were hastening. The man in torments earnestly entreated that one might be sent from the dead, to warn his surviving brethren of the certain issue of their course. But that favour could not be granted. They had Moses and the prophets: and, if they would not receive their testimony, no other would be given them. So then you may see the certain consequence of unbelief: and, if you will not credit the testimony of the Lord Jesus, nothing remains for you, but to feel to all eternity what you cannot now be prevailed upon to believe and shun [Note: Hebrews 2:3; Hebrews 12:25; Hebrews 10:28.]

Permit me now to recommend to you,
1.

An inquiry into your state, in relation to this matter—

[Do not take it for granted that you are believers in Christ. The Jews thought that they believed Moses, whilst they were acting in direct opposition to his words. And, as they deceived themselves, so do ye, whilst you imagine that you can be saved in any way but that of a total surrender of yourselves to Christ. You must be Christ’s now, if you would be his hereafter: and if you will not give yourselves up to him, you must “die in your sins.” I know how averse we are to believe this. Of the thousands that die around us daily, we never entertain a thought whether they died in their sins or not? It seems to us a matter of course, that a person dying goes to a state of happiness: and if a doubt were expressed in relation to the happiness of any one connected with us, we should resent it as the grossest insult. But, I pray you, brethren, whatever charity ye exercise towards others, be careful not to deceive yourselves. Others you may well “leave to their own Master:” but respecting yourselves let no doubt be suffered to remain. Call to mind the description we have before given of a saving faith, and examine yourselves by it. This is the advice of the Apostle Paul: “Examine yourselves whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves [Note: 2 Corinthians 13:5.].” Let your state be ever so good, you can suffer no loss by self-examination: the gold sustains no injury by being tried by the touchstone: nor can ye, if true believers, by the strictest scrutiny. I entreat you, therefore, to “prove your own selves: so shall you have rejoicing in yourselves alone, and not in the delusive testimony of others [Note: Galatians 6:4.].”]

2. A consideration of the doom that awaits the unbelieving soul—

[Doubtless, such a consideration must be painful. But yet, how much better were it to reflect on that doom, whilst by timely penitence it may be averted, than to sustain it through the endless ages of eternity. Reflect, I pray you, what it is to die in your sins? Think what your state would have been at this very hour, if you, by disease or accident, had been taken unprepared into the presence of your God? Ask yourselves, Whether at this moment you have any scriptural ground to believe that your sins have been blotted out; and that, if you were removed hence this very night, your transition would be from a world of vanity to a world of bliss? Think of the unhappy souls that are now gone beyond the reach of mercy; the hearers of our Lord, for instance, who would not regard his warnings, but turned them into ridicule: Would they, think ye, make light of such warnings now, if for a few short hours they could be restored to your state? Ah! think how soon their state may become yours! Methinks the very possibility of such an event is enough to make you tremble. “To-day, then, whilst it is called to-day, harden not your hearts, lest you provoke God to swear, in his wrath, that you shall never enter into his rest.”]

3. An attention to the blessed truth which our text implies—

[When our Lord says, “If ye believe not that I am He, ye shall die in your sins,” who does not see what a glorious promise is implied in it; that, if we do believe in him, we shall not die in our sins? Yes, this blessed truth is declared throughout the whole Scriptures. Hear what the Apostle said to the jailor. Under a dread of God’s wrath, the convinced sinner cried, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” and the answer which the Apostle gave was clear and full: “Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ; and thou shalt be saved [Note: Acts 16:31.].” The same say I to you: “Be it known unto you, men and brethren, that through the Lord Jesus Christ is preached unto you the remission of sins: and by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses [Note: Acts 13:38.].” O! it is a blessed truth, that “there is no condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus [Note: Romans 8:1.]!” Their iniquities are blotted out, as “a morning cloud [Note: Isaiah 44:22.]:” they stand before God “without spot or blemish [Note: Ephesians 5:27.];” “nor does God himself behold any iniquity in them [Note: Numbers 23:21.].” Believe, then, in Christ, and “live unto him; so, whether living or dying, ye shall be the Lord’s [Note: Romans 14:8.].”]