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'And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God (John 3:19-21).'
There have been people in every Christian’s life who have heard the gospel numerous times - people whom you have witnessed to often, who still are not Christians. There are people who have attended church ever since you can remember, who still go for some reason that you cannot fathom, for they have never been saved. There are those who have grown up in a Christian home, been taught the truth from a young age, and yet have not believed the gospel.
And you sit there scratching your head bewildered by all such situations - why is it so?
Why was it that the Jews did not believe in the Lord Jesus Christ to their own salvation? These people had all the evidence required in order to believe, these people were the most prepared of any people on earth to receive the Saviour yet did not. They had the Scriptures of the Old Testament with all its pointing to Christ, they had the evidence of miracles, and the exercise of Divine authority among them, yet they would not believe - why was that?
Some Calvinists would have you believe that such people have never believed because they are not part of God’s elect, but is that the whole story - I don’t think so, in fact I know it is not.
Only those selected by God, or elected unto salvation will ever be saved - that is Biblical truth. ‘Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world... (Eph 1:3,4)’ Only those chosen to be saved by God will ever be saved.
But though the doctrine of election unto salvation is the truth taught by the Bible, election is not the reason why any person is not saved. Election is the reason why any are saved at all for election is the decision of God’s mercy. Today we will begin to see just why it is that there are those who will not believe the gospel. Well this passage gives us the answer, and so we study it today to see why people will not believe.
1. The Love of Darkness
What is the reason for people not believing, for continuing on with life away from the Lord Jesus Christ - this passage gives us the reason for it. ‘And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil (Jn 3:19)’, this is the divine decision or verdict concerning the situation regarding those who continue in their disbelief.
They sit under the verdict of condemnation because they love darkness rather than light. These people will be condemned for this reason only, and not because they are not part of the elect, or haven’t yet been convinced of the claims of the gospel.
What we are considering here in this passage is what God tells us is the reason for their continued disbelief, and why they will be ultimately condemned. Indeed, ‘He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God (Jn 3:18).’
Though men, women and children may tell us all manner of reasons as to why they won’t become Christians, this passage tells us the answer that God gives to the question of why they won‘t believe. Remember that this answer to the question of why people will not believe comes from the very one who reads the hearts and minds of men, of He who knows everything. ‘But Jesus did not commit himself unto them, because he knew all men, And needed not that any should testify of man: for he knew what was in man (Jn 2:24,25).’
So this answer can be trusted as the real reason behind such continuing unbelief, that unbelief which refuses to come to Christ in order to obtain eternal life and deliverance from sin. Here is an answer that you can take as the absolute truth of the matter.
You have undoubtedly heard all manner of reasons as to why some people will not believe - How do I know if I’m one of the elect, I’m not good enough, I’m not convinced that what your saying is right, I need more information, I need some concrete proof, and so on. Yet though there be all manner of reasons given, there is only one reason in reality - they don’t want to.
This then is the divine verdict concerning the matter under consideration - that all these things are mere smokescreens, all used to simply avoid the reality of the matter - they simply don’t want to. Don’t be bluffed by these people when they throw up such smokescreens, they simply don’t want the gospel light, and the life that is to be found in Christ - it’s of no interest to them.
Don’t think that you need to convince them some more, or that you can persuade them to believe - you can’t. They don’t want it - ‘For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness; Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them. For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse (Romans 1:18-20).’
This world of sinners already knows that God exists, and because they know He does, and that one day they will have to face Him, they seek to hide this knowledge away from themselves so that they won’t have to think about the consequences of their rebellion against Him. This is the chief reason why men have invented the theory of evolution, to keep God from the forefront of their thinking.
You don’t need to work some more in order to change their minds; they are determined to not know because they don’t want to know. Hence the reason why we are to take the gospel to men and leave the changing of hearts to God alone.
The Light has come into the world, the very one which gives life for He is the source of all spiritual life, yet those who will not believe will not go to Him to live. They don’t want the spiritual life that Christ gives. And why is that?
‘Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life (Jn 8:12).’
If a person embraces the light that is the Lord Jesus Christ, He who is the giver of spiritual life, who turns on the spiritual lights that don’t exist in an unbeliever - then he will be unable to continue to walk in the way of darkness.
What does this mean? It means that all the sinful pleasures of the flesh will have to be abandoned, and the gospel will demand a walk that is consistent with the way of life and of holiness called for by God, of not giving in to the sinful temptations that plague the heart of man, and so on.
But the people of this world, the world separated from God, would rather continue their existence in darkness than embrace the light, because they love their darkness. Ignorance is bliss so the saying goes, and this is what they love about the darkness. Spiritual darkness allows them to continue on in their own ways, enjoying all that they currently do.
They can continue to think and do those things that perhaps they themselves alone know about, which they have managed to keep hidden from you and other people. They can continue in those things that Scripture calls ‘the pleasures of sin for a season (Hebrews 11:25),’ and this is because that is what their lives are all about.
That person whom you have been witnessing to for so many years is one who loves the darkness in which he lives, he doesn’t want to experience the dawning of spiritual life for it will be the death knell of all that he now loves. He doesn’t think he needs deliverance from sin for it is those things that are dearest to him, all his little secrets and unhealthy attitudes - they are what give him his identity, and what he loves.
Why does that person who isn’t a Christian keep going to Church then? The reason is probably to pacify a noisy conscience with a bit of religion so that they can continue to enjoy the ‘passing pleasures of sin’ without being molested by an active conscience.
But one thing is sure, every person who will not believe in the gospel does so because they love ‘darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.’ And if you do not believe the gospel today, the very reason you will perish is because of your own unbelief and rebellion, and your guilt lies upon your own head.
These people are enslaved to their sin, and though the only thing that can deliver them from this enslavement is the Lord Jesus Christ, they will not go to Him - they are happy with this enslavement, and cannot resist the slavery of sin. These people love to be the slaves of sin, and both they and you cannot break the chains of this slavery.
2. The Fear of Exposure
‘For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved (Jn 3:20).’
From the context of this passage, it is surely clear that those who practice evil in this verse are all those who will not believe. This is true of all that do not believe - even those who appear to us to be good and decent people. Sure they may not be axe murderers and the like, but such people are still given over to evil in their own way. Evil of course is anything that is opposed to God and His ways, and therefore includes much more than what humanity regards as evil.
All unbelievers hate the light, that is what this verse is telling us - even those who appear to be listening to us when we witness are inwardly snarling away at us and the truth that we witness to them.
Have you really thought about that - unbelievers don’t just choose another way of life, its not that they just aren’t interested in the gospel, they literally hate it. Unbelievers exercise an active hatred of the light.
They won’t come to the light, avoiding it at all costs. This is why they won’t come to Church, read the Bible, or appreciate evangelism coming to them - they are hostile to all light. Don’t think it’s your fault, that you haven’t been a good witness if they won’t come - they simply hate it, therefore they won’t come.
‘Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword. For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law. And a man's foes shall be they of his own household (Mt 10:34-36).’
Family members often disown Christian family; such is their hatred for the light. A person whom you have been a friend with for years will suddenly turn on you when you seek to win them for Christ, and no longer want anything to do with you. Unbelievers will go to any extreme to avoid the light.
Some of these people even go to Church, or to youth groups, or other forms of church meetings, and this can even be their own method of avoiding the light. Think about that - often when a person goes to Church all those who seek to win them for Christ finally leave that person alone. Going to Church may be a way for them to turn the light off. If you can keep the light at arms distance it has to be better than having it at your throat seems to be the reasoning.
Unbelievers won’t come to Christ because their beloved habits are evil, and coming to Christ means leaving all this, and that they are not prepared to do. ‘I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on me should not abide in darkness (Jn 12:46).’
Such people like the appearance of being good, decent people - but beneath all this are the deeds of evil that they will not leave - pride, selfishness, self-righteousness, bitterness, resentment, and so on. We may not see any of these things, but they are there - the reader of hearts assures us of this, let alone those whose wickedness seems to go before them like a flood.
Such people love their reputations of being good and decent, and do not wish to have their own deviant evil lives exposed, and therefore become shamed, and convicted of their sin. They fear exposure, shame, and punishment, and therefore will not come.
Unless such moral issues, attitudes, sinful appetites, and so on become a concern for the majority of people, then anything and everything is acceptable to an amoral society, and the world won’t be bothered by it - but not so Christianity, it exposes such things for what they truly are.
Why is it that these more decent folk attempt to keep their tongues under control when they are around Christians? Is it because they want to do the right thing? No, it is because they want to continue on appearing decent, and acceptable with all, and not be embarrassed by Christians who would expose their behaviour as sinful, and bring them to face the accusations of an accusing conscience.
What after all is persecution when it is all boiled down - is it not an attempt by unbelievers to suppress the truth, and to keep themselves free from accusing consciences that are stirred up by the light shed by Christians.
Why is it that people will not come to Christ? It is because they love their sin too much, will not leave it and wish to avoid the consequences of having their evil deeds exposed. No one is to blame for the condemnation of sinners but themselves; they are responsible for their own unbelief.
You my brethren ought not to feel guilty because of this world’s unbelief; it is their own fault.
3. The Believer’s Life
‘But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God (Jn 3:21).’
The Christian’s life is markedly different to that of the unbelievers. The Christian is happy to be exposed to the Light. The Christian is the one ‘who does the truth.’ The Christian has no problem being in the presence of true gospel preaching, of having the Word of God taught, of Christian conversation, and so on - in fact they can’t get enough of it.
Christians seek to do the truth. To do the truth is to act faithfully and honourably, to live in a sincere and honest manner. Such a person admits the truth about Himself. The Christian readily admits to his own sin, confessing his continuing struggle with iniquity and transgressions - yet it is a walk or way of life that is not that of darkness, but one that seeks to live for the Lord in every way.
‘If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. (1 John 1:6,7).’
This person is happy to come to the light, and to expose himself to it. Why? Because he knows that to be in the Light is the only way to have life, to live, and to escape the consequences of sin. The Christian knows that going to Christ is the only way to have sin forgiven, and to be able to appear acceptably before the Lord with a clear conscience.
‘That his deeds may be clearly seen’ is not the way of cockiness or superiority - but the way of one humbly coming to the Lord in order to have his deeds tested by the light, for such seek to walk and live to God’s glory and not their own.
‘Examine me, O LORD, and prove me; try my reins and my heart. For thy lovingkindness is before mine eyes: and I have walked in thy truth (Psalm 26:2,3).’
The Christian is concerned to follow the commands and precepts of the Lord in every area and situation, and therefore comes to the light to measure his life according to the Divine standard.
When the Christian fails he owns it as his own, names it as sin, and seeks the washing of the blood - his continuing acceptance with God is Christ and not his own merit.
What they have achieved they acknowledge as being done by God's enablement, ‘For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure (Philippians 2:13),’ and therefore the Christian is keen to bring glory to God as the Author of such a walk, ‘that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in God.’
The Presence of God is the place sought by the Christian, being in the light is the privileged position of the believer, and we would have it no other way.
Brethren do not allow yourselves to be cast down by the unbelief of the wicked as though it were your fault. These people chose not to believe that they might continue on in their own wicked ways, and to be kept free from the exposure of light.
We cannot change such people - but the omnipotent God can. Take the gospel to such people for sure, but seek the Lord that He would bring in the harvest - for if not, these people will ever come.
Through all this we are to continue in the light, doing the truth in obedience to God’s revealed will. May God give you the grace required to persevere in such a world of unbelief.
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10/10/2006
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