The Mark of a True Disciple

Do you have anyone in your life right now who you would say is spiritually floundering?

Maybe someone who, if you were to be asked, you know, is that person a born-again Christian,

a true disciple of Jesus, you might have some hesitancy. Maybe not sure. Somebody who maybe

at one time professed faith in Christ, but now, today, spiritually, they just don't seem to be

doing very well. Maybe at times you've wondered what you might do or say to that person to help

them or to encourage them. Or maybe you've had some long talks with them already about some of

the struggles that they're going through, and maybe it even seemed to help for a time, but now

they're back to struggling. Well, this morning we're going to hear from Jesus what he said to people who

are in a similar kind of situation. We're going to hear from Jesus what marks a true disciple of his,

and we're going to talk about how we might think about people in that spot and how we can help those

who are spiritually floundering. So if you have your Bible with you, please open it up to John 8,

John 8:31

verse 31. John chapter 8, verse 31. And it's been a couple weeks since we were here in John,

John 8:31

so let's just take a moment to remember what's happening here in the story. Jesus is in Jerusalem.

He's been there for the week-long festival. Many people have been there. He's teaching in the temple

courts, and there's been some large crowds gathered listening to him. At one point, you may recall,

if you were here, that some of the Jewish leaders sent the temple guards and officers to go arrest Jesus.

And after hearing Jesus speak, the guards decided, well, I don't think we should.

And then the Pharisees finally came and challenged Jesus openly and directly.

Jesus has been speaking now to the Pharisees, as well as to the people, the crowd that's gathered there

in the temple courts. And last we heard was in verse 21 of the same chapter.

Jesus said to them, I'm going away, and you will look for me, and you will die in your sin.

The people were wondering, where are you going? What place is he talking about? Will he kill himself?

Jesus said, you are from below. I am from above. You are of this world. I am not of this world.

If you do not believe that I am he, you will indeed die in your sins.

Who are you? They asked.

Just what I've been telling you from the beginning, said Jesus.

So Jesus is passionately pleading with the people to believe in him.

This is their opportunity.

He is the one sent from God so that they might be saved,

so that the problem of their sins might be dealt with and their guilt taken away.

This is their chance.

And he's pleading with them.

And we read down in verse 30.

Even as he spoke, many believed in him.

Sounds good for those of us who love Jesus and believe in him.

We're thinking, yes, finally, some are believing in him.

We're ready to celebrate.

But hold on.

Jesus has something more to say to those who believed in him that day,

which might give us reason to postpone the celebration,

or perhaps even to call it off altogether, at least for now.

Let's read verses 31 to 32.

To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said,

If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples.

Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.

So John makes it crystal clear that right now Jesus is speaking

not to the Pharisees who are trying to take him out.

He's speaking to those who had believed in him,

to the Jews who had believed in him.

Jesus said,

and we might expect Jesus to say something like,

Those of you who believe in me,

yes, good,

you have now become my disciples.

You will now receive all that I've promised,

eternal life.

I will raise you up at the last day.

But Jesus seems to go in the opposite direction.

Rather than congratulating them or celebrating them for believing,

he says this,

he says,

if you hold to my teaching,

you are really my disciples.

And then you will know the truth,

and the truth will set you free.

Jesus seems to speak to these people,

who have believed,

as though they're not in yet,

as though there's something missing,

which should cause them to wonder,

and us to wonder,

if they have really believed in Jesus,

or perhaps only believed in a shallow or superficial way.

So as we listen closely in these verses,

and the verses that follow,

there are plenty of clues given to us,

which suggest that these believers believe in some sense,

yet they are not true disciples,

not true believers.

We get a couple clues in these verses,

at least three,

just in these two verses.

First of all,

Jesus tells them that if they are truly his disciples,

they will hold to his teaching.

Literally,

you will remain in my word.

Why does he say that to them?

Well,

it seems perhaps implied,

that some of them only believe in him for the moment,

but may later change their mind about Jesus.

The second thing that we see,

clue we see here,

he says,

then you will know the truth.

He speaks to them as if,

they don't yet know it.

You need to continue in my word.

You need to continue listening to the things I'm saying.

You need to take it seriously,

and then you will know the truth.

So they don't yet seem to know the truth about Jesus.

Maybe they're excited about the possibility that,

oh,

is this the Messiah?

I think so.

I think he is.

It sounds good.

But maybe they don't know for sure yet.

And the third clue that they're maybe not true believers,

is in the last thing Jesus says here.

He says,

and the truth will set you free.

That sounds a little weird to our ears,

but let's,

to maybe hear what they're hearing,

maybe a paraphrase.

The truth will liberate you.

And as the people hear this,

they take offense.

What do you mean set us free?

What do you mean liberate us?

We're not slaves.

And Jesus,

without getting into it,

we'll look at it more,

a little bit next week.

Jesus basically says to them,

oh yes,

you are.

He says,

everyone who sins

is a slave to sin.

So when we bring all these things together,

Jesus is telling these believers

that they are still slaves to sin,

who need to know the truth

that he speaks

and be set free.

So those are at least three evidences

in this conversation

of why these believers

believed in some sense,

but probably are not yet true believers.

And in any case,

if there's any more,

if there's any doubt or concern,

all we have to do is keep reading

in this passage

and see where the conversation goes.

And it becomes pretty obvious

that they're not true believers.

We'll get into these verses

in the weeks ahead,

but Jesus is going to tell them

that they are unresponsive

to his word,

children of the devil,

liars,

and at least some of them

have the desire to murder him

in their hearts.

So these many

who have believed in him

seem to have a shallow

or a superficial,

on-the-surface

kind of faith

instead of the kind

that Jesus has been calling them

to have,

a deep faith

from the heart,

the kind that leads

to salvation

and eternal life

and all that Christ

has promised

to those who believe.

And it shouldn't surprise us

that some

seem to believe at first

and then turn away

or fall away.

John has already told us

about something like this

in his gospel

earlier back in chapter 2.

Do you remember?

Jesus was in Jerusalem

for the Passover festival

and

it says there,

many people saw

the signs he was performing.

and believed in his name.

But Jesus would not

entrust himself to them

for he knew

all people.

He did not need

any testimony

about men

for he knew

what was in a man.

So there was

something not right

about their faith

back on that occasion.

They believed

in some sense

and yet not

in the sense

that Jesus

is aiming at.

and Nicodemus

was the example

that John gave.

He seemed to have

some faith

in Jesus.

We know

he said

that you are

a teacher

who has come

from God.

How else

could you be doing

all these miracles

that you're doing?

And yet

that came that point

in the conversation

where Jesus

looked him in the face

and said

Nicodemus

you don't believe

the earthly things

I'm telling you about.

So what's the point

in answering your questions

about the heavenly things?

Nicodemus' problem

at that moment

was the same

as the people

in this moment.

He had a

shallow

superficial

faith in Jesus

just on the surface.

He believed

in some sense

and yet not

deeply

in his heart

all

that Jesus

has been saying

the things

he's been claiming.

Perhaps

the best place

to find insight

about what's

going on here

with these people

who believed

and yet

seems have not

truly believed

is Jesus'

own teaching

from the parable

of the sower.

I think

probably all of you

know that parable

or have heard it.

A farmer went out

to sow his seed

and as he's doing

so

some seed

falls on

different places

four different places

some falls on the path

some falls on the rocky soil

some falls on the weed

or the thorny soil

and some falls

on the good soil

and depending on

where the seed fell

there was

a different outcome

and the only good outcome

in which the plant

survived

and a harvest resulted

was the seed

that fell

on the good soil

and Jesus later

explained the meaning

of that parable

to his disciples

he told them

that the seed

represents the word

of God

and he explained

how each of those

different outcomes

is a picture

of how people

respond

when they hear

the word

of God

which Christ

is speaking

and we learn

from Jesus

that it's possible

not just possible

but that it's even

to be expected

that some will receive

the word of God

which Jesus is speaking

but then later

abandon it

later

change their minds

listen to what Jesus

says

in Matthew 13

Matthew 13:20

verse 20

the seed

falling on rocky

ground

refers to someone

who hears the word

and at once

receives it with joy

but since they have

no root

they last only

a short time

when trouble

or persecution

comes because

of the word

they quickly

fall away

I think this is

an example

of what's happening

here with the crowds

in the temple courts

there's this initial

excitement

yes

could this be

the Messiah

could this be

the one

who's going to

put an end

to all of our

big problems

I think he is

I mean listen to him

he sounds good

but the word

that Jesus is speaking

is only being received

in a shallow sense

it's not

putting down roots

deep into the heart

and so suddenly

when there's this

big shift

and Jesus

becomes publicly

blacklisted

by the religious

leaders

and it's no longer

popular to believe

in Jesus

and there's even

some negative

consequences

for those who do

such as being

kicked out of the

synagogue

or other things

suddenly

many of these

people

these same people

will be the ones

shouting

crucify him

as the religious

leaders are

whispering in their

ears

why

because the word

that Christ

spoke

the word of God

did not penetrate

deep

down into their

hearts

their belief in him

is shallow

it's superficial

surface level

they don't know

the truth

about Jesus

and as Jesus

says to these

people

they are still

slaves to sin

they're still in need

of being set free

this is the whole

thrust of what

Jesus is driving

at here

and I couldn't

help but think

you know

Jesus is so

unlike us

if it was you

or me

and all these

people were

gathering around

to listen

and more and

more are coming

it's like yes

this is good

let's keep this

going

let's not say

anything that will

thin out the

crowd

but Jesus is not

interested in just

having superficial

followers

or surface

level

faith

do you hear

what he's saying

if you hold

to my teaching

if you remain

in my word

you are really

you are truly

my disciples

literally if you

continue or you

remain or stay

in my word

truly

you are my

disciples

you see there are

disciples of

Jesus

and then there

are true

disciples of

Jesus

according to

Jesus one of

the indicators

or marks of a

true disciple

of his

is that you

remain in

his word

you hold fast

to it

you continue to

believe

you continue to

trust

you continue to

obey

to listen to

to take

seriously

his word

there are

disciples of

Jesus

and then there

are true

disciples of

Jesus

and we've seen

an example of

this happen

already in

John's gospel

do you remember

back in

John chapter

six

Jesus was

teaching in

the synagogue

at Capernaum

he said

I am the

bread of

life

that's come

down from

heaven

to give

life to

the world

and he said

some things

that day

that were a

little shocking

talking about

eating his

flesh and

drinking his

blood

and of course

we talked

about that

and how he

was speaking

metaphorically

and what

followed that

his disciples

it says

grumbled

they didn't

like what

he was

saying

this is in

John 6

John 6:60

verse 60

on hearing

it many of

his disciples

said this is

a hard

teaching

who can

accept

that

and Jesus

looked at

them and he

said to

them

verse 63

the spirit

gives life

the flesh

counts for

nothing

the words

I have

spoken to

you

they are

full of

the spirit

and life

and then

he looked

them in

the eyes

and he

said yet

there are

some of

you

these are

his disciples

he's talking

to there are

some of

you who

do not

believe

Judas was

one of

them

the summary

statement at

the end of

that section

was this

from this

time many

of his

disciples

turned back

and no

longer

followed

him

the reason

they left

is they

did not

truly

believe

in

Jesus

Jesus

started

saying

some

things

that

people

didn't

like

things

that

people

took

offense

at

things

that

were

starting

to

make

him

less

popular

and

people

are

grumbling

and

complaining

about

this

they

didn't

want

to be

associated

with

that

as

soon

as

some

trouble

comes

they're

quick

to

fall

away

so

they

left

we're

done

not

following

you

anymore

the

mark

of a

true

disciple

of

Jesus

a

true

follower

of

Jesus

is

that

they

stay

they

stay

in

his

word

they

remain

in

it

they

continue

to

hold

fast

to

it

to

trust

his

promises

to

take

seriously

his

warnings

to

obey

his

commands

and

instructions

Jesus

said

if you

remain

in

my

word

you

are

truly

my

disciples

and

the

apostle

John

was

listening

that

day

not

only

did

he

hear

Jesus

say

this

in

the

temple

courts

and

write

it

down

for

us

here

but

John

himself

thought

he

should

remind

the

believers

of that

too

when

he

wrote

his

letter

second

John

verse

nine

this

is

what

John

had

to

say

in

his

letter

he

said

anyone

who

runs

ahead

and

does

not

continue

same

word

remain

continue

in

the

teaching

of

Christ

does

not

have

God

whoever

continues

in

the

teaching

has

both

the

father

and

the

son

in

other

words

if

you

move

on

from

the

teaching

of

Jesus

to

something

else

or

to

someone

else

John

says

it's

evidence

that

you

don't

have

God

those

who are

truly

disciples

of

Jesus

know

the

truth

about

him

they've

been

set

free

by

it

and

so

they

don't

move

on

from

Christ

to

something

else

they

stay

they

remain

in

his

word

John

says

a

similar

kind

of

thing

in

a

slightly

different

context

in

his

first

letter

some

of

you

will

be

familiar

with

this

passage

this

is

1

1 John 2:18

John

2

verse

18

dear

children

this

is

the

last

hour

writes

John

and

as

you

have

heard

that

the

Antichrist

is

coming

even

now

many

Antichrists

have

come

this

is

how

we

know

it

is

the

last

hour

they

went

out

from

us

but

they

did

not

really

belong

to

us

for

if

they

had

belonged

to

us

they

would

have

remained

with

us

but

their

going

showed

that

none

of

them

belonged

to

us

now

I

know

that

as

soon

as

I

read

the

word

Antichrist

some

of

us

are

in

end

times

prophecy

mode

but

that's

not

our

main

focus

here

this

morning

Jesus

John

also

talks

about

many

Antichrists

plural

and

he

says

that

they

were

people

who

went

out

from

us

they

were

here

among

us

in

the

church

and

they

left

they

went

out

but

he

says

this

about

them

he

says

they

did

not

really

belong

to

us

if

they

had

belonged

to

us

he

says

they

would

have

remained

with

us

same

word

remained

continued

but

their

going

out

showed

that

they

never

really

belonged

to

us

in

the

first

place

is

essentially

what

he's

saying

there

once

you

truly

know

Jesus

you

will

never

move

on

to

someone

or

something

else

you

have

been

born

again

you

will

never

leave

now

that

doesn't

mean

that

as

Christians

we

will

never

struggle

it

doesn't

mean

that

we

will

never

have

times

or

perhaps

even

seasons

of

doubt

or

times

where

we

sin

where

we

turn

our

face

away

from

Jesus

for

a

moment

a

time

I

don't

think

Jesus

or

John

is

saying

that

the

true

disciple

is

only

the

one

who

holds

to

his

word

perfectly

none

of

us

does

let's

take

Peter

for

an

example

he

was

truly

a

disciple

of

Jesus

that

day

when

all

those

disciples

left

it

was

Peter

who

said

to

whom

shall

we

go

you

have

the

words

of

eternal

life

and

we

have

come

to

know

and

believe

that

you

are

the

holy

one

of

God

it

was

Peter

who

made

that

confession

you

are

the

Christ

the

son

of

the

living

God

but

then

three

times

he

said

I'm

not

one

of

his

disciples

I

don't

know

I

don't

know

I

don't

know

him

he

denied

the

Lord

three

times

a

true

disciple

of

Jesus

but

even

as

he

did

it

broke

his

heart

he

wept

it

brought

him

to

tears

because

he

did

truly

love

and

believe

in

the

Lord

Jesus

and

he

turned

back

to

the

Lord

and

that

wasn't

the

only

time

that

Peter

sinned

even

after

he

had

received

the

Holy

Spirit

there

came

that

time

when

Paul

had

to

rebuke

Peter

mentioned

in

Galatians

because

Peter

had

begun

to

treat

some

of

the

Gentile

believers

in

a

way

that

wasn't

right

but

again

even

though

he

blew

it

and

led

some

others

astray

even

Peter

responded

to

he

repented

so

yes

as

true

disciples

we

won't

hold

to

Jesus

word

perfectly

we

will

make

mistakes

at

times

we

will

blow

it

being

a

true

disciple

of

Jesus

doesn't

mean

we

will

never

fail

again

it

means

that

we

will

always

come

back

to

him

when

we

do

it

means

that

you

know

we

may

go

through

a

season

of

doubt

perhaps

questioning

wrestling

why

do

I

feel

like

this

it

doesn't

I

don't

see

the

promises

of

God

coming

true

for

me

perhaps

but

at

the

end

of

the

day

we'll

always

come

back

if

we're

a

true

disciple

of

Jesus

to

what

Peter

said

to

whom

shall

we

go

you

have

the

words

of

eternal

life

and

I

believe

I

know

that

you

are

the

holy

one

of

God

if

you

remain

in

my

word

said

Jesus

you

continue

truly

you

are

my

disciples

so

what do

we do

with

all

this

well

I

hope

before

we

start

applying

all

of

this

to

other

people

that

we

first

stop

and

apply

it

to

ourselves

what

does

Jesus

want

from

you

you

here

sitting

in

the

sanctuary

this

morning

put

yourself

there

in the

crowd

that

day

as

Jesus

is

saying

this

Jesus

is

not

only

calling

you

to

believe

in

him

he's

also

calling

you

to

stay

in

his

word

to

remain

in

his

word

my

translation

says

hold

fast

to

my

teaching

but

I

think

the

more

literal

word

that

Jesus

chose

remain

in

my

word

is

on

purpose

what

word

Jesus

spoken

word

that

is

pretty

general

but

probably

on

purpose

it

includes

all

of

it

Jesus

had

many

different

kinds

of

things

that

he

said

his

word

includes

his

teaching

it

includes

his

claims

it

includes

his

promises

it

includes

his

prophetic

predictions

it

includes

his

statement

about

the

reality

of

what's

going

on

right

now

it

includes

his

warnings

it

includes

the

things

that

we

might

wish

he

hadn't

said

it

includes

the

things

that

we

love

that

he

said

it

includes

his

commands

all

of

those

things

make

up

Jesus

word

and

Jesus

says

that

we

need

to

remain

continue

in

those

things

that

he

said

his

word

which

means

that

we

continue

to

listen

to

his

teaching

we

continue

to

believe

his

claims

we

continue

to

trust

his

promises

we

continue

to

look

forward

to

his

prophetic

words

being

fulfilled

we

continue

to

look

at

the

world

the

way

that

he

taught

us

to

we

continue

to

heed

his

warnings

we

continue

to

obey

his

commands

does

that

describe

how

you're

living

right

now

how

you've

been

living

lately

if

it

doesn't

I

want

to

plead

with

you

to

come

back

to

repent

to

come

back

to

remain

in

Jesus

words

seek

his

forgiveness

are

you

opening

your

bible

still

every

day

to

listen

to

the

word

of

Jesus

so

that

you

can

know

him

and

stay

in

his

word

it's

here

in

the

words

of

Jesus

in

our

bibles

that

God

speaks

that

we

can

know

the

truth

the

truth

that

sets

us

free

the

truth

that

gives

us

life

the

truth

that

gives

us

joy

and

peace

and

hope

and

confidence

and

all

those

things

that

we

talk

about

Sunday

after

Sunday

are

you

remaining

in

Jesus

word

that's

what a

true

disciple

of

Jesus

does

and

so

I