Receivers And Non-Receivers

Receivers And Non-Receivers
April 27, 2008 – Pastor Ronnie Wolfe

John 1:11 He came unto his own, and his own received him not. 12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:

Introduction

It is very plain to see that some of these people received Jesus Christ, and some did not. This a statement of fact, but what is the reason that some received him and some did not?

WHY DID SOME NOT RECEIVE JESUS?

Because of Blindness

When these people looked upon Jesus, there was nothing in him that they saw that was pleasing as a man.

Isa 53:2 For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, [there is] no beauty that we should desire him.

He did not come as one who would deliver them from the bondage of Rome. He did not come to set up his Kingdom on earth and bring a Utopia to the Jews.

Their eyes were blinded to the beauty of Jesus’ inward being.

Eph 4:18 Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart:

So, this is not a blindness of the eyes but a blindness of the heart.

Jer 17:9 The heart [is] deceitful above all [things], and desperately wicked: who can know it?

Man must first see in Christ a man of sorrows, a man deeply committed to the saving of his people from their sins. He must see Jesus as the creator of the world, the caring and merciful God, and the One willing to sacrifice himself for his people.

Because of Self-Righteousness

We know that our own righteousnesses are as filthy rags to God

Isa 64:6 But we are all as an unclean [thing], and all our righteousnesses [are] as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.

Our righteousness must exceed that of the scribes and Pharisees.

Matt 5:20 For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed [the righteousness] of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.

Rom 3:22 Even the righteousness of God [which is] by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference:

Because of The Worldliness In Their Minds

Not only the criminal mind, but also the spiritual mind, was bent upon worldly thought. Notice as Nicodemus comes to Jesus:

John 3:3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.

Nicodemus had a depraved mind. He needed to be born again before his mind would be changed to love Jesus Christ.

Because of Unbelief

Heb 4:6 Seeing therefore it remaineth that some must enter therein, and they to whom it was first preached entered not in because of unbelief:

Luke 22:67 Art thou the Christ? tell us. And he said unto them, If I tell you, ye will not believe:

John 4:48 Then said Jesus unto him, Except ye see signs and wonders, ye will not believe.

To have faith, or to believe, one must have the work of God in them.

Phil. 2:12 Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. 13 For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.

God must work in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure before your blinded eyes will be opened and you see yourself undone and worthless spiritually.

If you are not saved today, stay under the preaching of God’s word, for it is by the calling of the Gospel that God opens your eyes. God does not find his sheep any other way except the Gospel.

WHY DID SOME RECEIVE JESUS?

Because of the Quickening of the Holy Spirit

Eph. 2:1 And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; 2 Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: 3 Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others. 4 But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, 5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)

By God’s distinguishing grace, he has brought these believers, those who received him, down to their lowest estate of self-abasement and self-abhorrence.

Just as Mephibosheth came before King David and said "What is thy servant, that thou shouldest look upon such a dead dog as I am?", so we come to the Lord and say the same to him. But then through his mercy and grace, he brings us up from our condemnation and saves us, delivering us from our sins and adopting us into his family.

This will give God all the glory!

Because They Were Brought To This Place

1 Pe ter3:18 For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit:

You may be brought to God in a public place, in a worship service, in a quiet place at your home, in your bed, or driving your car down the road.

Jesus said in Matt 11:28 Come unto me, all [ye] that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

The invitation to come to Christ is a universal one. Everyone needs to hear the message "Come unto me."

Now, we know that all men will not come to him, but we know that they need to hear this message.

Some will hear the message, which is a promise from God.

Ro 11:5 Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace.

Ac 18:10 For I am with thee, and no man shall set on thee to hurt thee: for I have much people in this city.

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