1. Do You Believe in Jesus? (verse 23)
2. Does Jesus Believe in You? (verse 24)
3. Jesus Knows You. (verse 25)

We live in confusing times. Throughout the entire history of the world, it has been clear to all what a male is and what a female is. But now, in our day and age, our society has suddenly lost the ability to discern the difference between the sexes. Today, people think that they can identify as one or the other. A woman can say, “I identify as a man.” A man can say, “I identify as a woman.” A boy can say, “I identify as a girl.” A girl can say, “I identify as a boy.” We as society are expected (and in some cases, required) to accept their identification as real.

Sometimes people introduce themselves saying, my name is <such and such> my pronouns are "He/him": Typically used by those who identify as male. "She/her": Typically used by those who identify as female. "They/them": Often used by people who identify as non-binary, gender-queer, or prefer gender-neutral pronouns. "He/they": Used by those who are comfortable with both masculine and gender-neutral pronouns. "She/they": Used by those who are comfortable with both feminine and gender-neutral pronouns. In some circumstances, you are required to use them, even if the pronouns don’t match what you see and know.

In other words, our society embraces the notion that your self-perception trumps objective reality. For years, our society has taught us to “be true to yourself.” Now, this has evolved into thinking that what you are is entirely determined by what you feel or believe about yourself, regardless of whether those beliefs align with reality.

What has been happening in our society in recent years with the gender issues has been happening for years regarding spirituality.

For instance, three years ago, the Cultural Research Center, surveyed a cross section of Americans, representative of our entire nation. They found that 69% of Americans self-identify themselves as Christians. Yet of those who do, 72% of them argue that people are basically good. 64% of them claim that all religious faiths are of equal value. and 58% of them believe that if a person is good enough, or does enough good things, they can earn their way into heaven.

If you know your Bible at all, you know that the Bible doesn’t teach that men are basically good, Genesis 6:5 says that “The Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intention of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. Further, all religious faiths are not of the same value. Jesus said, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6). Jesus, the one who Christians follow, says himself that he is the only way to God, and thus, all religious faiths are not of the same value. Finally, you cannot earn your way to heaven. Romans 3:23 says "all [of us] have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." Romans 6:23 says "the wages of sin is death." We are not saved by our works. We are saved by grace through faith in Jesus alone (Ephesians 2:8-9).

These are core and indisputable beliefs of all Christians. Yet, we have a majority of professing Christians in America, who identify as Christians, but don’t believe the most basic truths of Christianity. In essence, these people are doing much the same thing as those who identify as a different sex than the one in which they were born. Contrary to objective reality, most professing Christians identify as Christian, but don’t believe what the Bible says you must believe to be a Christian in the first place.

Here’s the summary account of this survey:

“When someone says they are an American, the meaning of that term is clear. Someone who claims to be a policeman leaves little doubt as to their job. But when people describe themselves as “Christian,” what does that mean?

The latest report from the Cultural Research Center at Arizona Christian University shows that the meaning of “Christian” in America today is far from monolithic, with a number of diverse and often-conflicting theological views—even beliefs that are thoroughly unbiblical perspectives—among those who embrace the label.

And these differences in beliefs often lead to widely divergent views on questions of morality and politics among American Christians, depending on how closely and consistently they are aligned with basic biblical teachings. For example, the vast majority of American adults (69%) self-identify as “Christian” and embrace many basic tenets of the faith. But a closer look shows that at the same time, many in this group hold views clearly in conflict with traditional teachings and only 9% actually possess a biblical worldview, according to George Barna, CRC Director of Research. And within this larger universe of self-identified Christians is a segment known as “Integrated Disciples,” a minority of American adults (6%) who possess a biblical worldview, and demonstrate a consistent understanding and application of biblical principles.”^[1]

In other words, in our land, only about 1 in 20 self-identifying Christians in America demonstrate themselves to be devoted to actually following Jesus consistently. This isn’t anything new that has only occurred in our generation. It occurred in the days of Jesus as well. We will see this in John chapter 2, verses 23-25.

My message this morning is entitled, “True Identity.” My burden for this message is that you will leave her this morning clearly understanding your “True Identity,” and not be thinking something objectively false about your spirituality this morning. So, if you haven’t done so already, I invite you to open in your Bibles to John, chapter 2. Let me read verses 23 through 25.

John 2:23-25
Now when he was in Jerusalem at the Passover Feast, many believed in his name when they saw the signs that he was doing. But Jesus on his part did not entrust himself to them, because he knew all people and needed no one to bear witness about man, for he himself knew what was in man.

Again, as is our custom, let us remind ourselves why these things are written: "Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name" (John 20:30-31).

Verse 23 begins with a time-location stamp. Jesus was

John 2:23
in Jerusalem at the Passover Feast.

This brings us back to last week, when we looked at Jesus in the temple during the Passover celebration. Jesus saw the money-changers doing their business in the temple, and he made a whip and drove them out of the temple. Jesus then gave the reason why. He said,

John 2:16
And he told those who sold the pigeons, “Take these things away; do not make my Father's house a house of trade.”

In other words, worship was a transaction that you made. You came to the temple with your money in hand. You entered the temple, paid the money-changers, received an animal from them, and quickly afterwards offered it to the priest who would sacrifice it for you. It was all too easy. It was simply a religious transaction and Jesus hated it.

One of the things that I pointed out last week in my message is that Jesus wasn’t arrested. He could have been arrested for “disturbing the peace,” or for “destruction of property,” or for “assault,” or for “incitement to riot.” But they didn’t do that. Instead, (do you remember?) they asked for a sign. They said,

John 2:18
“What sign do you show us for doing these things?”

We don’t know of any signs that Jesus did at this time. But we know that he did some signs because that’s what verse 23 tells us.

John 2:23
Now when he was in Jerusalem at the Passover Feast, many believed in his name when they saw the signs that he was doing.

Up to this point, John only mentions one of his signs, the turning of the water into wine. Verse 11 identifies it at his “first sign.” 11 This, the first of his signs, Jesus did at Cana in Galilee, manifested his glory and his disciples believed in him. That’s the way that John has designed his gospel. Do you remember John’s purpose which we have repeated every Sunday in John? "Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name" (John 20:30-31). After the first of his signs, his disciples believed. When Jesus was doing more signs during the feast, many were believing in his name. That’s exactly what verse 23 says.

John 2:23
Now when he was in Jerusalem at the Passover Feast, many believed in his name when they saw the signs that he was doing.

This is the whole purpose of why John wrote about the signs. He wrote them down, so that we would believe. This is exactly what John described. People saw the signs and they believed! How about you? Here’s my first point.

1. Do You Believe in Jesus? (verse 23)

This is the whole reason why I’m preaching through John. I’m seeking to open up John’s writings to convince you to believe in Jesus, that you might have life in his name. Here in verse 23, we see that

John 2:23
many believed in his name when they saw the signs that he was doing.

We don’t know what these signs were. I suspect that many of them were healing signs. That’s what most of the signs in the gospel of John are: healing signs. The healing of the official’s son who was sick to the point of death (John 4:46-54), the healing of the paralytic who hadn’t walked for 38 years (John 5:1-9), giving sight to the blind man (John 9), and raising Lazarus from the dead (John 11).

Perhaps some of these signs that Jesus was performing were like some of the other signs that Jesus did. We know that Jesus turned water into wine. We know that Jesus fed 5,000 people. We know that he walked on water. Perhaps there were needs of the people that Jesus met in a unique way. Now, anything we imagine would be speculation at best. But Jesus was doing signs and the people were believing.

As we preach through the gospel of John, you will hear about the signs and John’s purpose is that you would believe. 1. Do You Believe in Jesus? (verse 23). Do you identify yourself as a Christian?

In some regards, I’m not sure that there is anyone here who would say they don’t believe in Jesus. If you didn’t believe in Jesus, you probably wouldn’t be here this morning. You would be off doing something that you would think more important than coming to church on Sunday morning. If you profess to believe in Jesus, if you identify as a believer in Jesus, welcome to 69% of America! According to one statistic, about 20% of Americans attend church on a regular basis.^[2] So, you are part of the 69% of American who professes to be a Christian and you are part of the 20% of Americans who actually make church attendance a priority. I trust that most everyone of you this morning would answer affirmatively. “Yes, I believe in Jesus.” But our test this morning has another question to ask us:

2. Does Jesus Believe in You? (verse 24)

Look at verse 24.

John 2:24
But Jesus on his part did not entrust himself to them, because he knew all people

In other words, Jesus didn’t go the way of the crowds, trusting that they had good intents for his life. In fact, he knew all people. and he knew that in a few short years, they would turn on him. and crucify him.

Though many were believing in Jesus, Jesus wasn’t believing in them. I say it this way because this word (in verse 24) translated, “entrust” is the same word translated in verse 23, “believed.” It’s the word translated “believe” throughout all of the book of John. It's the Greek word,  (pisteuo). It’s a super-common Greek word in the New Testament, as the New Testament often speaks about faith and belief. It’s used here in verse 23 and in verse 24. So, let me read verses 23 and 24 using the word “believe.” (This isn’t exactly what the verse says, but it does help to give you a sense of the repetition of this word).

John 2:23-24
Now when he was in Jerusalem at the Passover Feast, many believed in his name when they saw the signs that he was doing. But Jesus on his part did not “believe in them,” because he knew all people.

Now, when I talk about Jesus, “believing in you,” I’m not talking about Jesus looking deeply into your soul and believing in your goodness, that you are going to fulfill some need of his. No, I’m simply talking about Jesus’ perception of you. Does he believe that you believe? This is really the big application of my message today. How does Jesus identify you?

See, it’s not whether you identify yourself as a believer in Jesus. Anyone can do that. Anyone can say that they believe in Jesus. The Muslims say that they believe in Jesus. To them, Jesus is simply another prophet. The Mormons say that they believe in Jesus. To them, Jesus was the firstborn spirit child of God. See, it’s not whether you identify yourself as a believer in Jesus, but whether Jesus identifies with you as a believer. You might identify as a believer, but your self-identification might not be rooted in reality, any more than your pronouns are based in reality. That’s why I’m asking you this morning what Jesus thinks about you? Does Jesus believe in you?

Here in verse 24 Jesus did not believe in those who were “believing” in him. This is common in the book of John. We will frequently find those who “believe” in Jesus, but Jesus doesn’t believe in them. For instance, let’s look at one example in John, chapter 6. I invite you to turn there. The chapter begins with Jesus feeding the 5,000. So miraculous was the sign that the crowds believed in him. Look at John 6:14. "When the people saw the sign that he had done, they said, 'This is indeed the Prophet who is to come into the world!'”

The very next verse tells us that the crowds wanted “take him by force to make him king” (John 6:15). They believed in Jesus! They believed in his power! They wanted to be ruled by him as their king! But Jesus didn’t entrust himself to them either. "Perceiving then that they were about to come and take him by force to make him king, Jesus withdrew again to the mountain by himself" (John 6:15). The plans of the people were not the plans of God.

So Jesus left them and walked on water to the other side of the sea (which is another story for another day). The next day,

John 6:24-26
When the crowd saw that Jesus was not there, nor his disciples, they themselves got into the boats and went to Capernaum, seeking Jesus.

When they found him on the other side of the sea, they said to him, "Rabbi, when did you come here?" Jesus answered them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, you are seeking me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate your fill of the loaves."

Yes, they saw the signs that Jesus did. Yes, they believed that Jesus was “the Prophet who is come into the world” (verse 14). And so, they were seeking him! They followed him across the sea! But Jesus discerned that their faith was motivated by their own self-benefit, in providing them with bread, not in Jesus as the Savior of world.

This, by the way, is the faith of many. Many believe in Jesus for what he can do for them. Many believe in Jesus, because (they think) he promises a better life, because (they think) he promises material prosperity, because (they think) he promises physical healing, because (they think) he promises a better life, because (they think) he promises a sense of belonging, because (they think) he promises a path for self-improvement, or in this case in John chapter 6, because (they think) he promises bread that will satisfy.

When you follow Jesus for what he can provide for you, you will equally abandon him when he fails to provide what you think he ought to provide. In John, chapter 6, when Jesus begins to tell them what following him really means, many of them left Jesus. Look at chapter 6:60.

John 6:60-66
When many of his disciples heard it, [that is, some of the hard truths that Jesus was preaching]

When many of his disciples heard it, they said, “This is a hard saying; who can listen to it?” But Jesus, knowing in himself that his disciples were grumbling about this, said to them, “Do you take offense at this? Then what if you were to see the Son of Man ascending to where he was before? It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh is no help at all. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life. But there are some of you who do not believe.” (For Jesus knew from the beginning who those were who did not believe, and who it was who would betray him.) And he said, “This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless it is granted him by the Father.” After this many of his disciples turned back and no longer walked with him.

This is amazing! Here are people seeking and following Jesus. They are identified as “his disciples” (verse 60). Yet "many of [these] disciples turned back and no longer walked with him" (John 6:66). Jesus discerned that any faith that they had wasn’t genuine at all. I love how this story ends. It ends with Peter, explaining true faith.

John 6:66-69
After this many of his disciples turned back and no longer walked with him. So Jesus said to the twelve, “Do you want to go away as well?” Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life, and we have believed, and have come to know, that you are the Holy One of God.”

This is the posture of the genuine believer in Jesus. Where else can we go? You have the words of eternal life. Even when many disciples of Jesus were leaving, Peter said, “we have believed.” “We have believe that you are the Holy One of God.” As Jesus is true and genuine, so also are his followers!

 John 6:70-71
Jesus answered them, “Did I not choose you, the twelve? And yet one of you is a devil.” He spoke of Judas the son of Simon Iscariot, for he, one of the twelve, was going to betray him.

When Jesus chose the 12 disciples, he didn’t believe in Judas.

John 6:64
But there are some of you who do not believe.” (For Jesus knew from the beginning who those were who did not believe, and who it was who would betray him.)

That’s why Jesus didn’t entrust himself to the many who were believing in him at the Passover Feast (John 2:24). Because, he knew “from the beginning who those were who did not believe” (verse 64). So the question here isn’t so much if you profess to believe in Jesus or if you identify as his follower. It’s whether Jesus knows that your faith is genuine. Or, as I have asked it, 2. Does Jesus Believe in You? (verse 24). Because, not all of those who identify as believers in Jesus does Jesus identify as believers in himself. Not all professing Christians are genuine Christians. The judgment of Jesus is perfect and he knows. Turn back to John, chapter 2. Look again at verse 24.

John 2:24-25
But Jesus on his part did not entrust himself to them, because he knew all people and needed no one to bear witness about man, for he himself knew what was in man.

Here’s my third and final point:

3. Jesus Knows You. (verse 25)

Jesus knew all people (verse 24). He knew what is in man (verse 25) and he knows you. Jesus knows your true identity. If you self-identify as a Christian this morning, Jesus knows how true it is. "He knows all people.” This comes with two reactions. To those who are hypocrites and falsely profess their faith in Jesus, it comes with fear.

As J. C. Ryle says, “They may deceive men, but they cannot deceive Christ. They may wear a cloak of religion, and appear, beautiful in the eyes of men. But the eyes of Christ see their inward rottenness, and the judgment of Christ will surely overtake them, except they repent.”^[3] Now, to those who are genuine in their faith, the fact that Jesus knows all about us comes with peace. Again, as J. C. Ryle says, “A real Christian may be weak, but he is true. When cast down, He can say, “Lord, I am a poor sinner, but I am in earnest, I am true. You know all things: You know that I love you.”^[4] So, which side of this equation are you on this morning? The end of John chapter 2 is call for all of us who identify as Christians to take stock in our lives, to think and pray about how Jesus identifies us.

I know that there are plenty of people in the church, who are merely playing the game called, “Christianity.” They profess a faith in Jesus, but when it comes down to it, they don’t really believe in him. Jesus knows the heart of all of us. I know that there are plenty of people in the church, who are struggling greatly in their faith. They profess a faith in Jesus, but they struggle with their sin. They hate their sin and they long for the joy of salvation. Jesus knows their heart. Which are you? Jesus knows your true identity. Rest in that.

This passage also calls for us to think our society as well. In Christian America (and around the world, I suppose), there is a great tendency to rejoice in how others identify themselves to be. An evangelist goes to some place and preaches a sermon and at the end calls everyone to bow their heads and close their eyes. Then, he says, “With every eye closed this morning, if you want to believe in Jesus this morning, raise your hand.” After acknowledging those who raised their hands, the preacher closes the service, thanking God for the new life that has been given and for the souls that have been born again and of the increase of numbers in heaven! Essentially, the preacher guarantees heaven for those who merely raised their hands. However according to the statistics of the survey that was given three years ago, there’s only a small chance that each of them will show themselves to be genuine believers. But in our society, many rejoice in those who identify themselves as Christians, giving them a false hope of heaven in the process.

It’s tricky! Certainly, we want to embrace the one who prays the sinner’s prayer. “Dear God, I know that I am a sinner, and I ask for Your forgiveness. I believe that Jesus Christ is Your Son, and I believe that He died for my sin and that You raised Him to life. I trust Him as my Savior and follow Him as Lord from this day forward. Amen.” This is a great prayer and we want to embrace all who pray such a prayer. Yet, according to the words of Jesus, there are four kinds of soil. The first one rejects the truth, but that one isn't saying the sinners prayer. There are three others who are praying that prayer. There's the rocky soil, the thorny soil, and the good soil. The thorny and rocky soils may endure for only a little time, then fall away. It's only the good soil that lasts. But in our zeal and hope of their eternal life, we will often identify them falsely. Not only that, we give assurance to them and we help them and we push them on! Then they forsake the church and go away deceived because we identified them as a Christian and Jesus never did.

Spiritually, we are no different than those in authority in the schools who work very hard to affirm those who are confused about their gender. To the confused boys, they affirm, “It’s OK. You are a girl trapped in a boy’s body. “I will use your pronouns. “I will call you a she.” The same thing is happening to the destruction of that boy. I believe in many ways it's to the destruction of the one who then gets false assurance, assured by those in authority that what they did was a good thing. It's tricky because we want to embrace that, but Jesus teaches us in the parable of the soils to wait. Don't give false assurance. Let the spirit give assurance. Wait and see whether God is working in their life and then rejoice!

When people who have prayed a prayer and we affirm them as they have identified, as believers in Jesus, when all the time they don't really follow Jesus, they're just going to be another statistic because the church has falsely identified them. Let us identify people as Jesus does. Let him do the identifying because he knows everyone. Let us be slow to identify other followers of Jesus.

These things can be life-changing because this is what transformed my world. I went to a secular college and I believed my first three years of college that anyone who professed Jesus at one point were going to be with us in heaven! Even if they weren't so committed now, they were okay because they prayed the prayer and Jesus died for them and they were at church. And I was treating them as okay. Until I heard Matthew 7 preached. “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.'" (Matthew 7:21-23).

I realized then there are many professing Christians out there who have no part in Christ at all. We need to see and discern that. We need to be gracious and rejoicing with hope and encouraging them. But these things can be life-changing. Are you a believer in Jesus? Does Jesus believe in you? Because he knows.

This does have an implication on how we do ministry. Let's do ministry as Jesus did. Many believed when they saw the signs but Jesus wasn't entrusting himself to them because he knew. Let's be innocent as a dove but wise as a serpent to walk rightly in this world. Don't give false assurances to people. When you see fruit, commend the fruit. Rejoice in what God is doing in their life. But don't give false assurances. Let us issue upon people a true identity of who they are.

This sermon was delivered to Rock Valley Bible Church on August 25, 2024 by Steve Brandon.
For more information see www.rockvalleybiblechurch.org.

[1] https://www.arizonachristian.edu/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/CRC_AWVI2021_Release06_Digital_01_20210831.pdf.
 
[2] https://www.churchtrac.com/articles/the-state-of-church-attendance-trends-and-statistics-2023.
 
[3] J. C. Ryle, Expository Thoughts on John, volume 1 (Carlisle, PA: The Banner of Truth Trust, 1987), 108.

[4] Ibid.