June 9, 2023
Unlocking The Padlock of Bondage
“And Jesus said, ‘For judgment I came into this world, so that those who do not see may see, and that those who see may become blind.’ Those of the Pharisees who were with Him heard these things and said to Him, ‘We are not blind too, are we?’ Jesus said to them, ‘If you were blind, you would have no sin; but since you say, We see, your sin remains.’”
John 9:39-41 (NASB)
Earlier this last week, I received a text from someone who was sharing Christ with an unbeliever. The person said they had trouble trying to communicate the gospel because they kept questioning things. Let us understand something from the beginning; all unbelievers ask questions. It is part of understanding the gospel. It helps clarify it. The Bible tells us we should “preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; correct, rebuke, and exhort, with great patience and instruction” (2 Timothy 4:2). We should know our Bible well enough to share it. The problem with the person’s questions were the spirit in how the questions were being asked. I read one of the texts. The person argued with the person trying to prove unverifiable points. The truths presented were on willfully deaf ears. Even if there was a miracle, I wonder if this person would believe. We can only pray for God to open his eyes and allow him to see the truth.
“For judgment I came into this world,” seems to be a contradiction to Jesus’ statement in John 3:17 “For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him.” “It also might appear other statements such as John 5:17, “For not even the Father judges anyone, but He has given all judgment to the Son,”and John 5:27 “and He gave Him authority to execute judgment, because He is the Son of Man.” When actuality, the two truths are complementary; they are two sides of the same reality. To reject Jesus’ peace is to receive punishment; to reject His grace is to receive His justice; to reject His mercy is to receive His wrath; to reject His love is to receive His anger; to reject His forgiveness is to receive His judgment. While Jesus came to save, not to condemn (12:47; Luke 19:10), those who reject His gospel condemn themselves, and subject themselves to judgment (John 3:18, 36).”[1] Jesus told the Pharisees, “I came into this world, so that those who do not see may see, and that those who see may become blind.” They were willfully and spiritually blind to truth. If they were to receive sight, they would have to admit their blindness and ask for spiritual sight. The blind man already had, and he received his second miracle; a new birth in-Christ. His spiritual eyes were opened to the ploys the Pharisees tried when they questioned him; twice. If the Pharisees recognized they were spiritually blind, then could Jesus open their eyes. He is God. If not, Jesus told them, “since you say, we see, your sin remains.” Their sin carried out their own judgment as MacArthur mentions. Now the padlock to their freedom would remain locked in their own willful bondage.
I often speak with folks who claim to have a desire to hear the gospel, but later become argumentative or threatening. Light reveals darkness. Satan doesn’t like you and I sharing the truth. He wants everyone to remain blind. He wants to keep them in bondage. One day though, “that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” (Philippians 2:10-11). Willingly or not, they won’t be blind anymore.
[1] (John MacArthur, 2006), 416.