"Be Not Faithless, But Believing..."

John 20:24-29 (Resurrection Sunday Morning)       April 20, 2003 AM
A. The call Jesus addresses to Thomas is the same call to each of us: Be not faithless, but believing.
B. For this reason, Jesus appeared after His resurrection. Not with the rest, Thomas did not believe.

"BE NOT FAITHLESS, BUT BELIEVING"

I. Thomas' Unbelief

A. The Scripture tells us very little about this disciple of Jesus:

1. There are three incidents recorded in John about Thomas

2. Each of them teaches something about this regenerated, believing child of God.

B. But it is not Thomas' character that is important; it is his unbelief

1. This is the importance of Jesus' words: "Be not faithless, but believing...

2. Thomas' unbelief was closely related to three weaknesses that come out in his life:

a.

b.

c.

3. Thomas was a disciple without joy, a man without faith in the resurrection—"most miserable"

II Thomas' Faith

A. The risen Lord appears again powerfully to work faith in His beloved disciple

1.  Again, on the "Lord's Day" (first day of the week), Jesus appears to the assembled disciples.

2. The risen Lord Himself worked faith in Thomas.

3. In tender patience and kindness, the Lord addresses Thomas in his weakness.

B. Thomas believes, responding with the beautiful confession: "My Lord and my God!"

1. He believed!

2. He confessed!

IlI Our Faith

A. Easter Sunday, 2003, calls us to believe Jesus' resurrection—without having seen Him as did Thomas.

1. Not on your own terms.

2. Jesus works faith now by His word: "Faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God."

3. Believing, we confess with word and deed: "My Lord and my God."

B. "Blessed (the Greek means "joyful, happy") are those who have not seen, and yet have believed."

1. Thomas was blessed—richly blessed. Oh, the man was a happy man, believing in His Lord!

2. But we are blessed too, who embrace this risen Lord. He's Lord; He's God. He's risen!