Rejecting Jesus Text: Jn. 12:48 Scripture Reading: Jn. 6:66-68 Jn. 12:48Jn. 4:1 "He who rejects Me and does not receive My sayings, has one who judges him; the word I spoke is what will judge him at the last day.

Rejecting JesusIntro Isaiah predicted that some people would reject the Suffering Servant (Christ) – Is. 53:3

Rejecting JesusIntro Isaiah predicted that some people would reject the Suffering Servant (Christ) – Is. 53:3  Imagine rejecting the One “pierced through for our transgressions” (Is. 53:5)  Imagine rejecting the One “crushed for our iniquities” (Is. 53:5)

Rejecting JesusIntro Isaiah predicted that some people would reject the Suffering Servant (Christ) – Is. 53:3  Imagine rejecting the One “pierced through for our transgressions” (Is. 53:5)  Imagine rejecting the One “crushed for our iniquities” (Is. 53:5)  Imagine rejecting the One who was a “guilt offering” and bore our sins (Is. 53:10-12)

Rejecting JesusIntro The sad fulfillment of Isaiah’s prophecy is seen in the rejection of Jesus by His own people!  Jn. 1:10-13: “He came to His own, and those who were His own did not receive Him.”  Jn. 5:39-42: They did not love God enough to accept Jesus and have eternal life! (Acts 13:46)  Lk. 17:25; Mk. 8:31: The Jews would reject Him and kill Him!  Jn. 12:42-43: Some rulers loved the praise of men rather than God so did not confess Him! Jn. 12: "He who rejects Me and does not receive My sayings, has one who judges him; the word I spoke is what will judge him at the last day. Jn. 12: "He who rejects Me and does not receive My sayings, has one who judges him; the word I spoke is what will judge him at the last day. When one rejects Jesus Christ, the Redeemer, there are consequences into eternity! When one rejects Jesus Christ, the Redeemer, there are consequences into eternity!

Rejecting Jesus To Reject Jesus Is to Reject Adoption God’s children are special to Him!  I Jn. 3:1-3: God’s children have the love of God.  Rom. 8:14-17: As children we are fellow heirs with Christ! (Gal. 4:4-7)  I Pet. 1:3-5: Children of God inherit Heaven! To accept God’s adoption is to accept the responsibility to be holy – II Cor. 6:14-18 Jn. 1: He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him. 11. He came to His own, and those who were His own did not receive Him. 12. But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name, 13. who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God. Jn. 1: He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him. 11. He came to His own, and those who were His own did not receive Him. 12. But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name, 13. who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.

Rejecting Jesus To Reject Jesus Is to Reject Adoption Rejection of God’s adoption is to accept adoption of the world!  Eph. 2:1-3: Sons of the world = “sons of disobedience,” “children of wrath.”  I Jn. 2:15-17: If not from the Father, then from the world! (I Jn. 4:4-5) Those who reject Christ reject God’s adoption and choose the world and its destruction! Those who reject Christ reject God’s adoption and choose the world and its destruction!

Rejecting Jesus To Reject Jesus Is to Reject Light Those who reject Jesus choose darkness, for their deeds are evil  Eph. 4:17-19: They run to sin “with greediness.” Jn. 3: "He who believes in Him is not judged; he who does not believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. 19. "This is the judgment, that the Light has come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the Light, for their deeds were evil. 20. "For everyone who does evil hates the Light, and does not come to the Light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. 21. "But he who practices the truth comes to the Light, so that his deeds may be manifested as having been wrought in God." Jn. 3: "He who believes in Him is not judged; he who does not believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. 19. "This is the judgment, that the Light has come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the Light, for their deeds were evil. 20. "For everyone who does evil hates the Light, and does not come to the Light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. 21. "But he who practices the truth comes to the Light, so that his deeds may be manifested as having been wrought in God." Those that choose the darkness of sin choose an uncertain life (Jn. 12:35-36; I Thess. 5:2-4)

Rejecting Jesus To Reject Jesus Is to Reject Light Choosing light is to choose a life of readiness! Rejection of light is to reject the “Light of life” and choose darkness!  Jn. 8:12: To not follow Jesus is to stumble in darkness.  Jn. 12:46: Jesus is the answer to not remaining in darkness. Those who reject Christ reject the “Light of Life” and choose darkness! Those who reject Christ reject the “Light of Life” and choose darkness!

Rejecting Jesus To Reject Jesus Is to Reject Salvation Jesus illustrated the sadness of being lost and the joy of being found – Luke 15  A lost sheep  A lost coin  A lost son Jn. 3:16 (Lk. 19:10) 16. "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. Jn. 3:16 (Lk. 19:10) 16. "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. Paul said without Christ Gentiles were lost and had no hope or God – Eph. 2:11-12 In all cases when the lost was found there was rejoicing! (Lk. 15:7, 10, 32) In all cases when the lost was found there was rejoicing! (Lk. 15:7, 10, 32)

Rejecting Jesus To Reject Jesus Is to Reject Salvation To be saved, one needs to obey the gospel and accept the lifeline! (I Cor. 15:1-2)  Heb. 5:9: Christ is source for salvation to those who obey Him! (Rom. 1:16)  Phil. 2:16: One must “hold fast” the “word of life!” (Life preserver) Rejection of the “Word of life” (being saved) is to choose to remain “lost” (Jn. 3:16)!  Mt. 25:41, 46: To “perish” is to suffer “eternal punishment.” Those who reject Christ reject salvation and choose to remain lost (will be punished)! Those who reject Christ reject salvation and choose to remain lost (will be punished)!

Rejecting Jesus To Reject Jesus Is to Reject Eternal Life Sin separates man from God, and sin makes one “spiritually dead”  Eph. 2:1, 4-5: One outside of Christ is “dead in your trespasses and sins.”  Rom. 6:23: Wages of sin is death, but gift of God is eternal life.  II Thess. 1:7-9: Those who reject Christ and the gospel will be eternally separated from God! (Mt. 25:41, 46) Jn. 5:39-40 (Acts 13:46-49; Jn. 6:66-68) 39. "You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; it is these that testify about Me; 40. and you are unwilling to come to Me so that you may have life. Jn. 5:39-40 (Acts 13:46-49; Jn. 6:66-68) 39. "You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; it is these that testify about Me; 40. and you are unwilling to come to Me so that you may have life. One who chooses to obey Christ has forgiveness of sins (Eph. 1:7; Acts 22:16)

Rejecting Jesus To Reject Jesus Is to Reject Eternal Life Rejection of the “free gift of God” which is “eternal life in Christ” is to choose death!  Rom. 6:16: Remaining as a “slave of sin” results in death (II Thess. 1:9).  Rev. 20:14-15: To reject Christ is to not have one’s name written in the Book of Life and to choose the Second Death! Those who reject Christ reject eternal life choosing instead the second death!

Rejecting JesusConclusion How do people reject Christ? Jn. 12:48 (Mt. 7:21-23) 48. "He who rejects Me and does not receive My sayings, has one who judges him; the word I spoke is what will judge him at the last day. Jn. 12:48 (Mt. 7:21-23) 48. "He who rejects Me and does not receive My sayings, has one who judges him; the word I spoke is what will judge him at the last day.

Rejecting JesusConclusion All mankind has a choice Mt. 11: "Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. 29. "Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and YOU WILL FIND REST FOR YOUR SOULS. 30. "For My yoke is easy and My burden is light." Mt. 11: "Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. 29. "Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and YOU WILL FIND REST FOR YOUR SOULS. 30. "For My yoke is easy and My burden is light."

Rejecting JesusConclusion The saddest consequence of rejecting Christ is He will reject you! Mk. 8: "For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will also be ashamed of him when He comes in the glory of His Father with the holy angels." Mk. 8: "For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will also be ashamed of him when He comes in the glory of His Father with the holy angels." Christ’s own people rejected Him then; people reject Him now; WHAT ABOUT YOU? Christ’s own people rejected Him then; people reject Him now; WHAT ABOUT YOU?

Rejecting JesusConclusion What will you do with the word of God? Obey it!? Reject it!?

“What Must I Do To Be Saved?” Hear The Gospel (Jn. 5:24; Rom. 10:17) Believe In Christ (Jn. 3:16-18; Jn. 8:24) Repent Of Sins (Lk. 13:35; Acts 2:38) Confess Christ (Mt. 10:32; Rom. 10:10) Be Baptized (Mk. 16:16; Acts 22:16) Remain Faithful (Jn. 8:31; Rev. 2:10) For The Erring Child: Repent (Acts 8:22), Confess (I Jn. 1:9), Pray (Acts 8:22)