Faith vs. Actions

August 27, 2009, 7:18 am by dc-agape.

John Chapter 8:11 – 8:41

This chapter is a difficult one to break into smaller sections.  The entire passage is one sermon from Jesus.  There are breaks but they do not lend to separate posts very well.  To begin with Jesus is speaking to a larger crowd; he then spoke directly to Jews that believed him.  It is this section that is the most telling.  Jesus addresses the concept of being a son to YHWH and a son to the devil.  Jesus closes this sermon with more about himself.

In the opening of this passage, Jesus seems to be have been speaking to a large group of people.  He promises that he is the “light of the world”.  We know that he did not mean the literal light from the sun.  This was purely figurative, or if you wish spiritual.  We know this because all of his followers still had to deal with the darkness of night; he also used words like “light of life”.  But he made a bold claim:

John 8:12 When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world.  Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.

Notice that he did not say “Those who believe in me”, no, he said those who follow him!  This is a significant point that many modern Christians do not recognize.  Following Jesus is much more difficult than just believing in him. 

Jesus continued this opening claiming that sense he had YHWH on his side he actually had two witnesses (himself and YHWH).  I would truly love to see someone call YHWH to the witness stand!  So no, in a purely legalistic stance this does not hold water. 

Without doubt, Jesus’ life was predestined.  Even he knew what was going to happen to him.  Yet for some reason Christians then believe that the people surrounding Jesus still had freewill.  How can this be?  If someone had to betray Jesus for the crucifixion to take place, if a group of people had to order this crucifixion, if Pilot had to approve this crucifixion, and if Jesus had to raise on the third day, how do any of these people have freewill?  So, at least, when it counts YHWH does take freewill for humanity.

Jesus continues with a lot of spiritual mumbo jumbo.  Most of it was judging the Jews that were listening to him.  Kinda an odd way to win souls, speak harshly to them, when they were interested in what he had to say.  Yes, they questioned him, but he made it clear that they did not understand him because they were not from YHWH.  He even goes so far as to clarify this dilemma:

John 8:28 So Jesus said, “When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am, the one I claim to be, and that I do nothing on my own but speak just what the Father has taught me.

So not only can they not understand him due to their lowly births (on earth), but because they cannot understand him until his crucifixion!

Later he spoke directly to:

John 8:31-32 to the Jews that believed him, Jesus said, “If you hold to my teachings, you are my disciples.  Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

At this very verse Jesus tells people that believe him that belief is not enough.  To be disciples of Jesus one must hold to his teachings.  Paul uses similar language in his ministry:

1^st Cor 15:1-2 Now, brothers, I want to remind you of the gospel I preached to you, which you received and on which you have taken your stand.  By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you.  Otherwise, you have believed in vain.

Both men indicate that belief can be useless.  A specific action must follow belief – holding to the teachings of Jesus.  This is an important distinction!  One that is so easily mislead by the masses of Christendom.  But this exact passage (both Jesus’ and Paul’s) show why we have 45,000 denominations of Christians instead of just one!  Only one can be holding to the teachings of Jesus.  But which one is holding to the teachings of Jesus?  In that regard, Jesus may be the light of the world and his followers may have the light, but the rest of us (non-believers) are stuck with 45,000 possible (yes I do mean possible) correct doctrine. 

To the Atheist (and I am sure the Jewish, Muslim, Buddhist, and Hindu as well) it is truly by your actions that we will know that anyone is a follower of Jesus.  The problem is…we see nothing different from those claiming to be Christians and those claiming to be Jews, Muslim, Buddhist, Hindu, or Atheist.  Christians…you do not stand out!  Nothing proves that you are “the light of the world”.  Nothing proves that the world hates you!  In fact, the world may despise you, but that is because of the hypocrisy that we see, not because the message you bring is difficult or painful to us.

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