If you do not believe that I am, you will die in your sins.
We find these words of Jesus in a conversation he had with some of his opponents as recorded in John 8 (See verse 24). A fascinating exchange in which Jesus clearly claimed to be God (John 8:58), he, the Son of God, connected sin, death, and faith in him.
If you do not believe in Jesus, in who Jesus is, you will die in your sin. To die in your sin is to go into eternity, forever separated from God.
But some Christian leaders these days downplay or completely bypass sin in their teaching. They give it the occasional nod now and then, just to signal they are still coloring within the lines, but generally, they choose to stay away from the topic as much as possible. Playfully mocking those who insist on the seriousness of sin, these leaders believe it wise not to confront people too quickly and openly with their sin. Talk about other aspects of the message at first. Be positive and accepting.
Jesus would not agree
If you do not believe in Jesus, you will die in your sins. That’s serious stuff. Jesus did not mince his words.
Jesus’ words were so direct that they provoked his enemies to blurt out a challenge (John 8:25):
Who are you?
Who does this guy think he is? Can you believe this guy?
Ironically, in their unbelieving disgust, Jesus’ enemies hit the nail on the head and asked a good question.
Indeed, the two most important questions in life are who is Jesus and what did Jesus say. Let me combine them into one: If Jesus is truly the Son of God, what did he say?
He said you will die in your sins if you do not believe in him.
And the Father agrees
Those are not just the words of the Son of God. Jesus went on in the same exchange in John 8 to say that the Father who sent him is true and that he, the Son, spoke only what he heard from the Father (John 8:26-27). The Father too says if you do not believe in Jesus, you will die in your sins. Jesus heard that from the Father.
If Jesus was not who he said he was, go back to sleep. Carry on. Nothing he said matters. Enjoy yourself. We’re here for a good time, not a long time. But if he was who he claimed to be, I think you should stop and listen. You are in grave danger.
Who Jesus is, according to the New Testament, is the focus of the Candle study. What Jesus said is the heart of Unsilence the Lamb: A Case for Listening to Jesus.
Finally, Jesus’ blunt words in John 8:24 remind us that the command of the gospel is that you repent of your sin and believe in the Lord Jesus Christ. Repent and believe. Do not die in your sins.
Oh, and beware of false shepherds who downplay and bypass sin.
Listen to Jesus. Listen to the Father.