THE TEMPORARY BELIEVER

 

John 2:23-25

 

It was the time of Passover that demonstrated Jesus’ burning passion for His Father’s house and this made the Jews who opposed Him to ask a question. And when Jesus spoke to them, they could not see the meaning to His answer because of their depraved hearts. But there was another group of people, according to John’s writings, saw the signs and many claimed to believe; but we see something is wrong with their belief.

 

Jesus knows what is in man?

That’s a scary thought, isn’t it?

If we stop and ponder that statement for a moment; it should cause us all to tremble with fear in our skin, that a holy God knows everything about you and me.

 

Think about it!

A holy God knows what you are thinking and feeling at this very moment.

A holy God knows what you did and said yesterday and still allows you to breath.

A holy God knows your pain and suffering as you stay silent among your family.

A holy God knows where you’re going to be after this service is over.

A holy God knows how you feel towards others in this sanctuary.

A holy God knows if you truly want to be here this morning or not.

A holy God knows if you’re truly His, and where you will spend an eternity.

 

As it is written in 2 Chon 16:9, “For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to give strong support to those whose heart is blameless toward him…..”

 

God is seeking those who are sincere and upright in heart; whose graces are sincere for the right reasons. It isn’t that God just knows about you, or knows of you, like a distant friend on Facebook, or X, formally known as Twitter, because He see’s your posts. The Godhead knows you! He knows the intimate thoughts and desires of your heart.

 

Again, that is scary for a great majority of people who claim to believe in His name for their life, soul, and eternity. Everything comes down to this fundamental principle about God’s Omniscience, “But the LORD said to Samuel, “Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the LORD sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the LORD looks on the heart.” 1 Sam 16:7. God knows the heart of every created image-bearer before they were born. Everything in our life is a heart issue, as Jesus said, “The good person out of the good treasure of his heart produces good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure produces evil, for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.” 

Luke 6:45

 

We come to the closing portion of this chapter during the feast of Passover and we see a window into the heart of Christ, in what He saw, in the people around him. (v23-v25) This passage yet again affirms the supremacy, His omniscience, and deity of Christ. See! The people were amazed at His miracles, but Jesus knew the heart of the people.

 

Jesus looks for genuine conversions

rather than enthusiasm.

 

What is before us this morning is the difference between believing in His name and believing on His name.

 

Believing In His Name Only.

 

This is a temporal believer; we would classify them as “False professors. The troubling thing about this text is that they seem to be doing the right thing by believing His signs; and yet Jesus is not accepting them. You would think this is the kind of people God would want; but He did commit Himself to them, He did not accept them. Why? They were impressed by signs alone and they only had a surface level of belief. To be impressed by signs alone is not enough. The signs should lead us to believe in Him, but if that is how we see Jesus, this puts into a defective position. Martin Llyod Jones wrote, “True faith is found on words, not wonders.” This is likened to what Jesus said to the religious elites when they studied the Scriptures. “You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness about me, yet you refuse to come to me that you may have life.” John 5:39-40

 

These people only believed in His signs, because John writes “Many” which indicates a large group that don’t necessarily prove genuine. This is a mere “intellectual assent” which proves nothing, because even the demons had such a faith. James wrote, “You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe—and shudder!” James 2:19 Why do I say this? “Jesus on His part did not entrust Himself to them.” (v24) A W Pink called them, “Stony ground hearers, they were intellectually convinced and our Lord Jesus clearly discerned this. He goes on to say that (v24) reveals a warning for us. We do well to remember that all is not gold that glitters. It is not wise to trust in appearances of friendliness on short acquaintances." J C Ryle touched on this by saying, “Learn not to place yourself rashly in the power of others. Study to develop a wise and happy moderation between universal suspiciousness and that of making yourself the sport and prey of every pretender and hypocrite.”

 

This is why Jesus did not commit Himself unto them because He knew all; and its here we are shown the Saviour’s perfect knowledge of the human heart. It is if Jesus was doing the opposite of today’s evangelism, He knew their hearts and the motives of why they were amazed, and He opposed them, over embracing them, on their new found faith. These people were attracted to Jesus, they were intrigued by Jesus, as He confronted the traditions of men and the religious establishment. These people saw Jesus as a revolutionary of the old ways, He brought something new and fresh and many believed, but for the wrong reasons. Because we know later in John’s gospel many got bored and found He was not as exciting as he was when He was doing signs and wonders. John 6:66 reveals the heart of many that followed Jesus to a point, “After this many of his disciples turned back and no longer walked with him.” This is likened to the parable that Jesus talked about the seeds that fell on rocky ground. “As for what was sown on rocky ground, this is the one who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy, yet he has no root in himself, but endures for a while, and when tribulation or persecution arises on account of the word, immediately he falls away.” Matt 13:20-21

 

Other prime examples of this is…. The five foolish virgins, whose fake hope ended with the door being shut at the most important moment in their lives. We read, “Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, ‘Lord, lord, open to us.’ But he answered, ‘Truly, I say to you, I do not know you.’ Matt 25:12. The apostates in the Book of Hebrews, especially in chapter six. The false professing when Jesus rebukes them and says “Depart from Me I never knew you.” Matt 7:13. And later, we will see John expose this kind of faith in His first epistle. “Children, it is the last hour, and as you have heard that antichrist is coming, so now many antichrists have come. Therefore we know that it is the last hour. They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us. But they went out, that it might become plain that they all are not of us.” 1 John 2:18-19. These are people who were received by the church by the way; because on the surface you take them at their words, but over time it reveals who they truly are.

 

False converts, who only had a superficial faith, because they were intrigued to what Jesus did, and what He could do for them personally. It’s a head knowledge belief that doesn’t transform the heart. How can you identify them? These are….. People filled with religious excitement in the moment, emotionally moved, but not genuinely transformed. A example of this was Simon the Sorcerer who was so intrigued by the signs, but not by doctrine. ”Even Simon himself believed, and after being baptized he continued with Philip. And seeing signs and great miracles performed, he was amazed.” Acts 8:13. But a few verses down we see the true heart of Simon, “Now when Simon saw that the Spirit was given through the laying on of the apostles' hands, he offered them money, “Give me this power also, so that anyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit.” But Peter said to him, “May your silver perish with you, because you thought you could obtain the gift of God with money! You have neither part nor lot in this matter, for your heart is not right before God.” Acts 8:18-21

Leonard Ravenhill said, “Everyone wants to be clothed with power but no one wants to be stripped of self” Such faith was shallow and disingenuous, it was not true saving faith, because he only believed in signs; just as so many do who sit in churches today. And because their heart was never truly changed; Jesus wouldn’t embrace these “many” believers who witnessed His signs. This is a person who is “mechanically interested” in the Bible only, sadly this in not genuine knowledge of the Scriptures. These are the one’s James writes about who have entered the church. “You desire and do not have, so you murder. You covet and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel. You do not have, because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions (your own lusts).” James 4:2-3

This our natural desire by the way, apart from His saving grace. Likened to Simon, and so many professing in churches today, are desiring Christ for the wrong things. Lusting is more than sexuality, and James says our lusts can be for greatness, power, notoriety and everything supreme. Paul rebuked the church of Corinth for this, as some where desiring gifts, instead of true understanding and knowledge of the Scriptures. 1 Cor 12-14. The gifts were consumed their hearts and this was wrong, because the people were in love with the Jesus who could do, and give, signs, and wonders. They experienced a portion of Christianity but their hearts where never engaged. This means they were not truly committed to Jesus because they never believed on Him. They were only interested “in Him” to be their king, their political leader, healer and whatever else that made them feel warm and fuzzy inside. We know this was true as Jesus saw the heart of these people, after His first great feeding of the multitudes. “When the people saw the sign that he had done, they said, “This is indeed the Prophet who is to come into the world!” Perceiving then that they were about to come and take him by force to make him king, Jesus withdrew again to the mountain by himself. “John 6:14-15. These people were never committed on to Him, they never really believed on Him. They only believed in Him, because He did signs and wonders, and this only left them completely misunderstood about who He truly was.

 

Believing On His Name.

 

The evidence of true belief is the heart is transformed not by signs alone, and wonders alone; but in the fullness of Christ. Take Andrew for a moment, what was the first thing he said to his brother when he spent the evening with Jesus? We have found the miracle worker We have found the one who can do signs and wonders. No, Andrew goes to his brother and very first thing he says is “We have found the Messiah” (which means Christ).” John 1:42. What about Phillip? Does he go to Nathaniel and say, “We have found a man who is so powerful He does signs and wonders.” No, he says, “We have found him of whom Moses in the Law and also the prophets wrote, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.” John 1:45 What was Nathaniel's response when Jesus revealed his secret heart to him? Nathaniel wastes no time and says, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!” Those who followed in His name followed for the wrong reasons; but those who followed on His name, their hearts were transformed by truth, not just signs and wonders.

 

A prime example of this is Peter in the boat after they caught nothing. The Scriptures reveal Peter’s heart before the Lord and the miracle that followed. “On one occasion, while the crowd was pressing in on him to hear the word of God, he was standing by the lake of Gennesaret, and he saw two boats by the lake, but the fishermen had gone out of them and were washing their nets. Getting into one of the boats, which was Simon's, he asked him to put out a little from the land. And he sat down and taught the people from the boat. And when he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.” And Simon answered, “Master, we toiled all night and took nothing! But at your word I will let down the nets.” And when they had done this, they enclosed a large number of fish, and their nets were breaking. They signaled to their partners in the other boat to come and help them. And they came and filled both the boats, so that they began to sink. But when Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus' knees, saying, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord.” For he and all who were with him were astonished at the catch of fish that they had taken, and so also were James and John, sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. And Jesus said to Simon, “Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching men.” And when they had brought their boats to land, they left everything and followed him.” Luke 5:1-11

 

Peter said, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord.” This is the right response that gives evidence to a heart that has been transformed. Humility before the presence of God, reveals my heart of sin which produces confession and belief. See, brokenness before God in the person of Christ, through the gospel, produces genuine faith on His name. Remember when I said that many stopped following Jesus in John chapter six? Jesus asked the disciples this question. “So Jesus said to the twelve, “Do you want to go away as well?” John 6:67. Peter doesn’t hesitate one second and says, “Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life, and we have believed, and have come to know, that you are the Holy One of God.” John 6:68-69. Signs and miracles are evidence of Christ’s Divine character, but that isn’t why we follow, we follow because we know that He is our Saviour.

 

Jesus did not entrust Himself to them because

He knows the heart mankind.

 

The heart in general is a window into our souls. 

The heart is a window into our natural depravity. Gen 6:5

The heart is a window to the false professing relationships. Matt 15:8

The heart is a window to mankind’s unbelief. Rom 1:21

The heart is a window into man’s rebellious heart. Jer 17:9-10

The heart is a window into God’s forgiveness. Eze 36:26

The heart is a window to transforming perseverance. Psalm 27:14

The heart is a window to a true genuine Christian love. 1 Peter 1:22

The heart is a window to a genuine brokenness that leads to repentance before a holy God. Psalm 51:17

 

Jesus knew the heart man! This is why He didn’t

entrust Himself to them.

 

Jesus knows the inner workings of the human heart; and this is what made Him suspicious of entrusting Himself to them. Solomon wrote, “Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life.” Prov 4:23. Remember the heart is? “Desperately wicked” Jeremiah 17:9. Which means? We desperately need saving from ourselves, because we are easily deceived by our own hearts. Jesus knew the heart of man way before He took on a body of flesh!

 

He knew the greeting He would receive from the people when He came.

He knew there would be many false professors because they were excited by signs and wonders only.

He knew Andrew and his friend would follow Him.

He knew Peter would go on to preach the greatest message ever told.

He knew Nathanael was under the fig tree and would follow Him.

He knew what they were doing the temple area on the day of Passover.

He knows who will come to Him in repentance and faith.

He knows whose hearts are truly committed to Him, fully and completely.

He knows the true state of your heart, and every heart that did, and still beats today.

 

God is the heart-knower, “And they prayed and said, “You, Lord, who know the hearts of all,…” Act 1:27 This is why we should make our profession of Christ deeply rooted that transforms the heart; not shallow, self-seeking and unchanged. Its not just believing because He did this, and that, only. We believe because we are consumed on the person and work of Christ, for saving my wretched soul. I want to witness the fullness of Christ over my life; as I commit my life to the things of God, for the glory of God. What does your heart reveal about your profession this morning? For those who believe in His name only, reveals them lacking, because they only believe on a superficial level and Jesus will confront them on that great day. Jesus said, “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’” Matt 7:21-23 

 

But, for those who believe on His name, it reveals that they daily examine their hearts in Him completely. The Apostle Paul wrote in reference to the Lord’s table the same principle applies to daily life. ”Let a person examine himself,..” 1 Cor 11:28. Because they want to see the fullness of God in their lives, because they are eternal grateful for His saving grace. They believe in His signs and miracles, but they know that isn’t what saves them. They believe because it points to the fullness of Christ, who came to save sinners from eternal death and judgement. 

John 1:14-16.

 These are the one’s that Christ will never turn away because He knows the heart of men. Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst. But I said to you that you have seen me and yet do not believe. All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out. For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will but the will of him who sent me. And this is the will of him who sent me, that I should lose nothing of all that he has given me, but raise it up on the last day. For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.” John 6:35-40