John 5
SIBJohn 5:17-23
As my Father, who instituted the sabbath, continually performs his providential works on that as well as on other days, so I, who am his only begotten Son, partaking of the same nature and perfections, must be allowed to work along with him as is meet.—My union with him, in nature, operation, and design, is such, that I can do nothing separately from him, but do always act in the same work, and in the same manner, and with the same divine power and authority, as he does. And such is our union, will, and affection, that nothing of his counsels or operations is ever hid from me: yea, in co-operation with him, I will perform works still greater than the healing a lame man, that, if you will continue obstinate in your unbelief, ye may at least be astonished and confounded thereat. And as he at pleasure can restore the dead to life, so I, with equal power and sovereignty, will not only restore to natural life whenever I please, but quicken them who are dead in trespasses and sins, and bestow upon them eternal life. For the Father has not reserved for himself, nor doth he exercise immediately by himself, the management of the present concerns of providence, or the future judgment of the world, but has intrusted the same to his incarnate Son; that, instead of being offended at his deep humiliation, men might be induced, by his bearing and executing this high commission, to pay the same religious worship and obedience to him as they are obliged to pay to the Father himself: and whoever neglects to honour him in this manner is held a neglector of the honour of the Father, who has authorised, and is represented by, him
John 5:24-30
I, who am truth itself, solemnly assure you that whosoever heartily receives my doctrine relative to my person and office, and believes on my Father, who has constituted me Mediator, has a full title to, and the beginnings and earnests of, eternal life, and is completely translated from under the curse and condemnation of the law into a state of justification of life:—and that the time is at hand when not only some, corporeally dead, shall be restored to life by my word, but even they, who are dead in trespasses and sins, shall be regenerated, and quickened to the obedience of faith, and live for ever: for as the Father has life essentially and necessarily in himself, and communicates life to every living creature, so he has constituted me, his essentially living Son, a quickening Spirit, full of life in myself as Mediator, and authorised me to communicate it to others. Nor need you think it strange, that I say dead bodies and souls shall quickly be enlivened by my power; for, at the last day, the whole race of mankind shall by it be raised from the dead, and brought to my judgment seat. The true saints, quickened by my Spirit dwelling in them, shall be adjudged to the full enjoyment of everlasting life: and they who died in their sins, raised by my power, shall receive a dreadful sentence of condemnation, to their utter and everlasting ruin.—But in all these things I neither do, nor can do, any thing separately from my Father; for in all my administrations I proceed as one perfectly acquainted with his counsels, and as his Messiah, instructed by him; and my whole management must necessarily be perfectly right, because I therein neither aim at, nor pursue, any private will of my own, different from, or opposite to, the will of my Father, but exactly discharge the commission which he hath given me in sending me into the world
John 5:31-39
But I do not rest the matter upon my own mere testimony, as if that alone were sufficient: I appeal to that solemn testimony which John bare concerning me, and which ye cannot object against, since ye acknowledged him an eminent prophet, submitted to his baptism, and for a time appeared extremely fond of his instructions, till he offended you by his sharp reproofs and his attestations of my Messiahship. I mention his testimony, not as if it could establish my divine or mediatorial character, but only that I may reason with you upon your own principles, and omit nothing which may tend to your conviction and salvation.—For the miraculous and gracious works which I have performed, or will perform, 2 by my own power, are so great and good as plainly to manifest me the Son of God and the promised Messiah. And the Father himself, in a manner which none of your nation ever before heard or saw, has, by a voice from heaven, attested me as his beloved Son, in whom he is well pleased. But it is evident, by your continued rejection of me, that neither his immediate declaration, nor the words of his prophets, make any lasting impression on you.—As ye profess to read and study the books of the Old Testament, as containing the true doctrine of eternal life, and as a mean of securing your eternal happiness, I charge you still more earnestly and impartially to search them, and observe what they teach: for they, in their types, promises, and prophecies, and the Holy Ghost by them, concur to represent me as the Son of God and Saviour of the world
John 5:40-47
But notwithstanding all this evidence, such is your pride, prejudice, carnality, and wilful obstinacy, that you will not apply to, nor trust in, me for pardon, peace, life, and salvation, in whom alone they are to be found. I neither need, have, nor seek, human applause or external pomp and grandeur, but only aim at advancing the glory of God in the salvation of men. But I know that, notwithstanding all your high professions, ye are quite destitute of the love of God, and have the love of the world reigning in your heart. Hence, when I am come, authorised by JERUSAL, and sufficiently attested to glorify him, to effect a spiritual salvation from sin and wrath, ye reject me, because I oppose your darling vices, and give you no ground to expect worldly riches, honour, power, or pleasures. But, if any mere impostors should flatter you in your sins, and promise you temporal deliverances, wealth, and grandeur, ye will readily entertain and follow them, to your own destruction.—And indeed, while your hearts are so full of carnal ambition, of worldly honours and applause, and so regardless of the spiritual, substantial, and eternal, honours which God alone bestows on his favourites, it is impossible that ye can believe on me, whose appearances are so mean, and doctrines so self-denying. But, though I charge none your faults upon you for your conviction, I came not to spy out, aggravate, or accuse you of, your crimes to God, but to be a merciful Saviour and Advocate. Nor need I turn your accuser, when Moses, by whose law ye expect to be saved, by his writings, sufficiently indicts and condemns you, for your unbelief and other wickedness: and, had ye believed his declarations, ye could not but have believed me, as all the types in his law, and the prophecies recorded by him, evidently point to, and are fulfilled in, me. But, if ye will not be convinced by what he, for whom you profess so high a regard, hath said, it cannot be expected that ye will believe me, whom ye treat with contempt, and run down as an impostor
REFLECTIONS UPON CHAP. V.—It is a great mercy that our world is not altogether filled with persons diseased, since sin hath introduced such a variety of evils. Marvellons, as well as numerous, were the types by which God prefigured his Messiah. And who, sensible of spiritual distempers, would not gladly wait at the pool of ordinances for relief? Jesus graciously prevents the most needy and miserable with his mercy: and his word powerfully determines and enables to obedience. And yet much weakness and ignorance sometimes remain for a while. It is wonderful that his kindness should have occasioned to him, such malicious hatred and envy. And marvellous is his wisdom that this abuse of him should be the mean of a more clear manifestation of himself as the Son of God and promised Messiah. How sufficient is he to save sinners, who is both God and man; one with, and equal to, God; knowing, willing, and performing, the same things as Jehovah his Father! Even in his mediatorial character he is the absolute Lord of life and death, who manages all providences, quacks the dead, examines all causes, and distributes eternal happiness or punishment, as he pleases. Faithfully he executes his office, to the glory of God, and the salvation of men. And worthy is he to be honoured and worshipped equally with the Father, that God may be glorified and worshipped in him. What ground is there for the most undoubting confidence in him who hath such attestation from prophets, for…cracks, from God himself!—And it becomes us seriously to search the scriptures, where every saving truth concerning him is to be found. —But, alas, fearful are the effects of ignorance, pride, and carnal ambition. No clear and earnest ministrations of truth can affect such as are under the power of these things. Owning the authority of the scriptures, they neither understand, believe, nor practise, them. Pretending regard to Jesus, they will never receive him for salvation, and yet are ready to run after the vilest impostors. —It is the highest folly to lean to the broken law for happiness, when it so charges us with our sins: and greatly absurd to prefer men to Christ, and yet disregard even these our human favourites when they instruct us concerning Christ