The dual purpose of Christ as Saviour and as Judge
1. Christ as Saviour
a. Christ was sent as Saviour into the world
“For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.” John 3:17
b. Christ saved us from our sin and from judgment
c. The Lord is Saviour to those who have faith
i. Faith comes by hearing the word
“Most assuredly, I say to you, He who hears My word” John 5:24
ii. Faith in God
“And believes in Him who sent Me” John 5:24
d. The results of having Christ as Saviour
“Has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life.” John 5:24
i. Everlasting life
ii. No judgment
iii. Passed from death into life
e. Hearing of voice of the Lord and live
“Most assuredly, I say to you, the hour is coming, and now is, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God; and those who hear will live.” John 5:25
i. A present reference … “Now is”
ii. This a reference to all who are presently spiritually dead.
iii. If we hear the voice of the Lord, we will live.
2. Christ as judge
“Do not marvel at this; for the hour is coming in which all who are in the graves will hear His voice and come forth—those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation.” John 5:28, 29
a. This is a reference to the second coming of Christ
i. He will come as judge
ii. He would bring final judgment
iii. Those who have done good…to the resurrection of life
iv. Those who have done evil…to the resurrection of condemnation
b. God had given the authority to judge the world to His Son as the Christ
“For the Father judges no one, but has committed all judgment to the Son,”John 5:22
“And has given Him authority to execute judgment also, because He is the Son of Man.” John 5:27
c. Christ’s judgment is righteous as it is according to God’s will (John 5:30)
d. The judgment of Christ is the same as the judgment of God.
The promise of life
“For as the Father raises the dead and gives life to them, even so the Son gives life to whom He will.” John 5:21
1. The Father has the power to raise the dead and to give life
2. He entrusted that power to His Son
3. Christ has the prerogative to give life as He promised.
4. He does it according to God’s will
5. He gives life graciously and wonderfully
The personal choice between life and death
1. A matter of life and death
a. If we were to receive Christ, then there is life
b. But if we were to reject Christ, then there is judgment and death
2. Choose life in Christ
a. If we hear the voice of the Lord, we will live.
b. Seek to choose Christ and to come alive in Him.