“And if anyone hears My words and does not believe, I do not judge him; for I did not come to judge the world but to save the world. He who rejects Me, and does not receive My words, has that which judges him—the word that I have spoken will judge him in the last day. For I have not spoken on My own authority; but the Father who sent Me gave Me a command, what I should say and what I should speak.”
John 12:47-49. New King James Version
It is the Spirit of Christ who brings all things, which Jesus has said, to our remembrance. All holy Alignment demands agreement with the Spirit of Truth.
Today’s verse reminds us of the need for our agreement with Him, lest there be judgment on the last day.
We all face times of questioning, “did God really say.” It was Eves temptation in the garden.
Jesus met His own ‘if’ in,‘If you be the son of God,’and then found his security in, ‘man shall not live by bread alone but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.’ His believing that God had said, “this is my beloved son,” had enabled Jesus to sanctify himself to His Fathers purpose. Adam and Eve’s rejection of Gods command allowed sin to dominate their choices and ultimately alter their very nature.
Our scripture from John’s gospel is a strong admonition by Jesus for us to believe. When Jesus was asked by the hungry crowd what work they must do, He responded, you must believe, John 6:29. You cannot separate Jesus from his words.
We’d all like to have a Damascus road experience to assure our doubt or disbelief. Something that knocks us off our horse. An encounter that blinds by its light and a hearing of the holy voice; but we seldom realise that even these moments still face the same questions. Whether it’s the challenge of man or simply adverse circumstances, our job is to be steadfast in our confidence that God had said. Paul wrote that those things that are seen require, no faith, Romans 8:25. It is always the unseen that demands our choice to believe. Since faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God, Romans 10:17, there is sufficient grace in this living word to activate believing. Thus, choice is freely given to mankind.
The whole trinity of the Godhead is involved in the process of choice.
The Father decrees the word. Jesus is the word. The Spirit of Truth reveals the word and works within the unbeliever this conviction of sin, righteousness and judgment.
There is no accountability where there has been no word delivered. However once the word is presented choice is required. Acceptance or rejection lies within the purview of every individual. The servant who heard and received, but did not do was judged. The one putting his hand to the plow and looking back is judged. We might be able to coast along in this life, but the day comes when we must give an account for having heard, and the choices we made with that word.