John 12:24
"Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit," John 12:24. Here in this passage of Scripture Jesus Christ is giving us an allegory regarding His death, and even the necessity of His death and resurrection. If He doesn't die, He abides alone. No death means no fruit. "Much fruit" here in this verse is speaking of those whom Christ has and will redeem. Last week we looked at the extent of Christ's death, meaning those for whom Christ died. Not one drop of Christ's blood was wasted. This week we will look at the effect of Christ's death.
Most of us understand this example of the corn of wheat falling into the ground. If the seed was not planted then it couldn't die; therefore, it could not bring forth any fruit. When the seed dies life shoots forth from it. The example we see here is that Christ had to die. Christ came to die.
1). The Plan. "Pilate therefore said unto him, Art thou a king then? Jesus answered, Thou sayest that I am a king. To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness of the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice," John 18:37. Jesus was the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world. This has always been God's plan. God has never had to react to a decision made by man for God ordained the death of His Son from eternity's past. "Him being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain: Whom God hath raised up, having loosed the pains of death: because it was not possible that he should be holden of it," Acts 2:23-24. God used these wicked men to fulfill His plan of redemption. We have learned from Ephesians 1 that God chose to show His love to all who have and will believe. "This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief," I Timothy 1:15. Christ came to save sinners. "But when Jesus heard that, he said unto them, They that be whole need not a physician, but they that are sick. But go ye and learn what that meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance," Matthew 9:12-13. Here Christ is speaking to some of the pharisees. They did not see themselves as sinners; therefore, they did not see their need for the Saviour. "For the Son of man is come to save that which was lost," Matthew 18:11. "For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost," Luke 19:10. Just from reading these Scriptures we see that it was no accident that Christ came to die. We must understand that this was not something God was required to do. The plan to redeem is of the free and sovereign exercise of His love. God chose to save people because He wanted to. God has chosen one way to save people. "Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved," Acts 4:12.
God saves us of His own choice, His own way, and He did this apart from anything about us. "For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another. But after the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared, Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; Which he shed on us abundantly," Titus 3:3-6. We cannot be saved by doing good works, or by refraining from evil works. It is alarming how many people think that they can work their way to heaven. Let us look at some examples that are plaguing the church today. In looking at these examples let us remember that God has only given us One way to receive forgiveness of our sins; that is through His Son Jesus Christ. Some people trust in their repentance for salvation. Anyone can repent and turn over a new leaf, but our sins are still there. Some people grow up and lay down many of their childish ways, but our sins are still there. Judas Iscariot repented, but he is burning in the torments of hell as we speak. Many people say they have repented, but have you believed upon the Lord Jesus Christ to save you from your sins? "For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death," II Corinthians 7:10. Most people are sorry because they have been caught. When someone truly repents, turns from their sins and turns to Christ, that person is made a new creation. "Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new," II Corinthians 5:17.
Most people are looking for some type of feeling or emotion, but repentance is a lifestyle. By God's grace you are not who you used to be and by His grace you continue not to be who you used to be. Thank God for this radical transformation! These are evidences that we can see in each other's lives that lets us know that Christ has interrupted our lives. Many people examine themselves by other people. We look at so and so and say, well, I am not as bad as they are. But we must look to the Lord. "For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God," Romans 3:23.
Something else that plagues the church is the sinner's prayer. How many people trust in what they said instead of trusting Christ? I repeated a prayer; or I was really sincere. I'm sure you were sincere, but did you trust Jesus Christ to save you, or are you trusting in what you said to save you?
Another plague is ceremonies. Ceremonies such as being confirmed into a denomination or being baptized to wash away sins. It is amazing how many people actually think that baptism washes away sins. These are works for salvation. Ephesians 2:8-9. Salvation is by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone. "Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin," Romans 3:20. "Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh by justified," Galatians 2:16. "Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began," II Timothy 1:9.
God's plan was to send His only begotten Son. It was never God's plan for us to work for salvation. He has given us "One" way to be saved. Lord willing we will look more at this next week. To God be the glory.
