Blind from Birth

The Bible makes it clear that prior to salvation and women are spiritually blind, but we can be lulled into thinking that spiritual blindness isn't really as bad as it seems today on Truth for Life. Alistair Begg explains why it's so important for you and your church to maintain a gospel focus in a message titled blind from birth. Last time we finished by asking the question, what possible relevance is there to those of us are dwelling on the 21st century to consider the story of somebody who 2000 years ago was a blind beggar and was healed by Jesus and the answer that we gave to that was clear and I hope understood.

We said that this was one of the signs of John's Gospel which John tells us have been recorded as evidence that may be the basis of faith in the Lord Jesus, which may in turn produce life spiritual life. These things have been recorded. He says in verse 31 of chapter 20 eyes signs so that men and women might come to understand who Jesus is and what he's done and then coming to believe in this Jesus that they might find life in his name. So here in John chapter 9, we have one of those signs I let you go and find the others on on your own and this is a sign pointing to the fact that just as surely as he opened this man's eyes physically so Jesus opens the spiritual site of men and women, why would Jesus have to open men and women's eyes spiritually answer because men and women are spiritually blind in the Bible tells us in an uncompromising way and quite frankly, often in a very uncomfortable way and maybe some of us would want to say this morning in an unpalatable way that each of us is spiritually blind from birth. John chapter 8 they come and oppose him. And Jesus says you cannot hear my word, John chapter 9 he says to them, you cannot see my work. Neither can you hear what I'm saying. Nor can you see what I'm doing. This of course is a quite dramatic statement. Is it not let me pause here for a moment and_and very purposefully so unless from the Bible. We are made aware of the true nature of our condition, then it may be possible for us to respond to a superficial presentation of the good news which addresses only our felt needs without ever tackling our real predicament.

You see the gospel impact says by first of all confronting is with the bad news of who and what we are until our blind eyes are open to our predicament until our death years are unstopped to hear this story, then the proclamation of any antidote to the predicament is. That's why some as young people sit and listen to the story as it was somehow or another.

My parents are into this but I don't need this to know why you say that because you blind. Let me quote to you and Englishmen on the Scotsman force the Scotsman a contemporary Scotsman on the nature of what send us see many of us have a view of sin, which is simply while I lost my temper. I stubbed my toe and I said a bad word. I I I was jealous of Mrs. so-and-so, whatever it might be in all those things are evidence of a predicament that is far more endemic. You see what the Bible says when this is that all of us have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God is saying is this, that there is no part of the nature of the essential being of a man or a woman that is unaffected by sin it affects our emotions. It affects our affections.

It affects our wills it affects our understanding of things. There is no little six until in our expedience to which we may go to find refuge whereby we say what I know that I'm a very good here, here, here and here. But, of course, this little area of my life is. It is imperfect condition.

It affects our understanding it affects our intellect so that we can think straight nor make proper deductions or pursue proper arguments. All you say wait a minute you can possibly be serious. They just undocked from the space station. We put we put people out there. We left somebody from Europe up there some poor soul is up there with his two cronies for the next six months. That is not one of my aspirations, I can assure you I'm afraid and I'll in an elevator saw what it would be like up there for six months and it is says by the way, but someone says what we've done these remarkable things. Yes, of course, we have when able to reason mathematically, but we think flawed about so many things are human thought processes are presuppositions are assumptions of human logic are all messed up.

Why because they are hostile to God. You see, this is this is where the only place you ever going to get.

This is by reading your Bible, you never know to come to this by yourself. You only walk along the road one day and come to this is why God is given as the Bible. Listen to what is says in Romans chapter 8 the mind of sinful man is dead. But the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace, the sinful mind is hostile to God.

It does not submit to God's law, nor can it do so. That's the predicament, so when the Bible says we are blind that blindness speaks to the amazing way in which sin has permeated our condition's why the idea appealing to people on the basis of just how badly the been feeling coming out of a week may appear on the one had to be very sensitive and unkindly and to say what now working being confronted with in the Bible may seem to be the very reverse of that. Why would anybody ever come to Parkside church listen to this that the distortion of sin is such that there is an anti-God bias in our life's we think crookedly rethinking an ungodly way, with Thomas Watson dealt with us on Sunday afternoon for his congregation in the 17th century in London. This is what he says to them under the heading of man's misery.

As a result of the fall in Genesis 3.

He says the first misery is that by nature.

We are under the power of Satan. Before the fall man was free, now a slave before a king on the throne. Now in factors and to whom is man enslaved to one that hates it enslaved to one who hates you who is happy to continually feed the distortion of your thinking to say to you, all I can see everything and you can, he is completely opposed to the possibility of you ever becoming like the individual in the hymn says once I was blind but believed I knew everything piled in my ways get a full and my part, says Watson. He rules the understanding he blinds man with ignorance and then rules them as the Philistines first put out Samson's eyes and then bound him. Satan can do what he will with an ignorant man because he does not see the error of his way. The devil can lead them into any sin. You may leave a blind man anywhere. Does this affect the way in which we make decisions about the raising of our children see the real problems for our children is not whether not doing so very well or the are doing exceptionally well, or they graduated magna cum laude in there now holding down a significant position that the loved ones. Let's just be straight up on what the Bible says is that our children are spiritually blind and deaf, and are absolutely on able to rectify their predicament. The friends and neighbors, to whom we go and tell the gospel are not people living in some middle territory between belief and unbelief between site and blindness is not that you can sit on a Sunday and listen to the story of the gospel and say well I know there is a possibility overhearing over there but I live in my own little world over here know you don't.

This is the judgment that light has come into the world and man loved darkness rather than light, because our deeds are evil and the wonder of it is that we walk through life blinded – showing no interest in God find ourselves to be on the receiving end of us seeking God and God, who, for reasons only, and all of himself set out in the person of his son to seek out those who are the wondering sheep lost in the long and so on is a wonderful story. The implication, of course, everything about it is a chart is God going to go over my put it reverently to this extent to come down into our tiny space Show jewelry D- so that we can all sit and sing songs to one another and be happy about the fact that we are all okay no matter what happens to anybody else that I don't think you think that for a moment.

I think some of you some of eyes be lulled into thinking that what the Bible says it doesn't really mean that somehow or another is going to work out okay. Somehow or another.

It's not really as bad as it seems somehow or another. They're not really totally blind.

You know they're not really they'll be okay. No, they won't know they won't. He who believes in the son has life.

He who does not believe in the sun does not have life. Because the condemnation of God rests upon.

This is no some superficial little story to be played with and apply to the masses. In a way that disregards the intellect and doesn't take seriously their suffering and doesn't enter into their life's so Jesus walks along the road.

He rules the mat. The disciples say who send this man or his parents. Jesus said, and that's not the issue. He said this happened so that the works of God might be declared so that I might give a sign to all who see that as surely as this man has been brought to physical site. So to others will come like he does at the end of the chapter to recognize that Israel predicament is not whether you can see physically, but whether he can understand the voice of this Jesus. Now Jesus was absolutely clear concerning these things and if you read not only nine, but read around it. You will find that that is the case let us go though to the reaction of the neighbors. Otherwise you will be just saying what a waste of a good chapter that was with him going on forever and ever and ever. Like standing up on the TV and fiddling around shaken the golf club in all directions and never hitting the ball. Let's get let's get the verse eight quickly, his neighbor said to those who had formerly seen him begging formerly seen him begging Riley bag anymore he's changed. There's no reason to sit down there with that little bag on the same corner underneath that shady tree. Now he's up and about. He's up and about to such a dramatic effect that is caused confusion in division will visit. It's him I don't think it is.

I think someone looks like him. The whole I think no and eventually the man stands up and says I'm on the mat.

All right, it's me, it's me, the matter of his identity, there is second only to the question of the activity that produced a dramatic change in him. Is it not, I'm the man he says, well, okay. They said if you're the man lets us the $64,000 question. How then we are eyes open.

The man's replies clear and succinct is not there in verse 11. The man called Jesus made some clay smeared it on my eyes and then he said go to silo woman walks off I went and washed, and that's how I got my site's response is not marked by theological precision is certainly not marred by any kind of analytical biological explanation is it but it doesn't need to be because the transformation is clear.

The proof is in the pudding. If you like of the proof is in the eating of the pudding rash that is not a good analogy. Forget that entirely the fight of the matter is that he is living proof standing in front of them. I did this happen.

I'm telling you how it happened, smeared on my eyes, washed it, washed it off.

I came home see I remember and keep reminding yourself of this. This sign is pointing to the wonder of what happens when God opens the eyes of the spiritually blind when God does what Peter says, calls out of darkness into his marvelous light. And it also produces or should produce the same question when a person who has lived his life or lives her life in one direction is suddenly found going in another direction. It's almost inevitable that friends, family and neighbors would say what happened to you.

I and then how did it happen that's supposed to be the question that our friends and neighbors as were supposed to live in such a way not a posture, but our lives was to be unfolding Sedgwick the people say what happened to you and how the nano is a triple analogy, but you know if you have it. If you have a son whose car looks like a tip which I don't is no personal analogy, but if you're a son who's in his car. Looks like you is is very difficult to get your feet actually on the floor because of old McDonald's wrappers and CD boxes and all manner of things all over the place and all of a sudden you go out there in the driveway and you having just a look inside the car and is immaculate. That's that's a cause for concern because standard pattern trashed beautiful what you suspect a girl, a girl or if he comes down looking like he came through a hatch smelling like last week's chicken curry but comes down later on looking better and smelling like his father's cologne. What happened to you them to me, what's her name how did you know everything you ever have a son, Isaac and Isaac. I met a girl we know you did. How did that happen. That's was happy and there is a mystery about it. It's is mysterious even more mysterious than the process that led to this man's site John chapter 3 go back and read it again for yourself.

Nicodemus and Jesus having this interchange and Jesus is unless a man is born and you are born from above, are born of the spirit he cannot see the kingdom of Nicodemus is intrigued by that and as the dialogue ensues.

Jesus says perhaps it was a wind picked up at that point I just blew as they were talking with one another. Jesus seizes on the moment and he says the wind blows where it likes you can hear the sound of it, but you've no idea where it comes from or where it goes. Nor can you tell how a man is born by the word of the spirit. How can something like this happen says Nicodemus and Jesus says it is mysterious to him. Writer picks it up doesn't. I know not how the spirit moves convicting man of sin, revealing Jesus through the word creating faith in him and this man is unable to speak in clinical terms. He's unable to speak in theological terms. At this point the journey has begun. There's going to be more takes place before the end of the chapter thing is at least able to stand up and say I once was blind but now I can see. Do you have a story like Jonah, volume 1, volume 2, you definitely have a volume 1 will of volume 1, volume 1, for this man was blind beggar volume 2 was cited. See our ability to describe the details of the gestation period through which we can living in a watery sac inside our mother's womb or our inability to describe the exact process whereby we were born does not call in question are existence that sums her seawall and exactly how were the nine months of gestation for you. I don't know I don't anything about what can you give us a detailed detailed explication of your arrival into the world that I can do that in. I'm sorry you're probably dead I would be ridiculous with yet you take the average interview for church membership and if people don't speak down the right line say the same things in the right way at the right time.

Then we gotta wonder whether they actually know what they're talking about. We did some theological precision. We don't want. I just was blind but now I can see why not.

That's a story of the gospel is the Lord will take care of all filling in all the other stuff, but at the start looking.

You see I see men as trees walking me try this again you see now what your story I was blind, now I can see what you story. I was with Amanda yesterday.

I was with a lot of men yesterday as it turns out that there was one in particular, one moment when I speedily said to me all my life used to be a complete world maps. He says and what changes come about and he says I can't even fully explain how and why this happened to me except I am no longer the man I once walks you know I always think of others in relationship to the thief on the cross when he arrives in the portals of heaven. Imagine that. Interview process where you doing here. I don't know or who sent you here. What no one sent me here. I decide I'm here while you have you been justified by faith. You have peace with God. I don't know you know anything yeah you know the man on the middle cross said I could come here. That's all he needed to know and in its essence, that's all any of us need to buy our natures.

The story is foolishness. We are deaf to its appeal. We are blind to this one only the God who opened the eyes of this blind man can open our eyes to, did you ever ask them to open your eyes so that you might see are you so convinced that you can see, you have no interest asking God for eyes to see, to request the can lead to a spiritual awakening listing to a message titled blind from birth on Truth for Life with Alistair Begg. Perhaps today you are ready to ask God to open your eyes to the truth of his word, but you're not exactly sure how to do that.

If that's the case, we want to invite you to visit Truth for Life.org/the story that's where you'll find a helpful video presentation that explains more about God's free gift of salvation God's saving grace is nothing we can earn on our own. It's a gift freely given to those who believe again. Visit Truth for Life.org/the story in today's message Alister reminded us of our need to maintain a gospel focus, but sometimes sharing the good news with friends or neighbors is challenging and something we may be like to do but were still hesitant if that describes you. We want to encourage you to request today's book titled facing a task unfinished. This is a year-long devotional that will help you rely on the Lord for strength to share the gospel with others with more confidence facing the task unfinished will guide you through a selection of Scripture passages, hymns and prayers that will help you better understand Jesus deep passion for reaching the lost with the message of salvation and then in response you will develop a greater desire to share as well.

Tomorrow is the last day will be offering this book, so be sure to request your copy today when you make a generous one-time donation. Simply tap the image on the mobile app visit Truth for Life.org or you can call us at 888-588-7884. I'm Bob Lapine.

Thanks for joining us for the listen again tomorrow to continue a series titled a light in the darkness. Alister will challenge us to pay close attention to critical evidence about the claims of Jesus, the Bible teaching of Alistair Begg is furnished by Truth for Life with the Learning is for Living