From Scripture Knowledge To Living Faith

What if deep Bible knowledge can still leave us blind to the One it reveals? We dive into Jesus’ startling words to religious experts who searched the Scriptures yet missed the living Word right in front of them. With Pastor Carl guiding us through John’s Gospel, we follow a trail of witnesses—the Father’s voice, John the Baptist’s testimony, the Messiah’s works, and Moses himself—all converging on a single claim: Jesus is the promised Christ who brings life from death.

We unpack why belief isn’t just about information. Jesus points to a heart issue: the pull of human honor can eclipse our hunger for God. Pastor Carl paints a vivid portrait of the God-man who chose the Father’s will in Gethsemane, lived as our representative, and fulfilled the signs foretold by the prophets. From baptism to miracles, each scene reveals both His divinity and His nearness—strength with tenderness, authority with mercy.

Then comes the gospel core. The incarnate Son lived sinlessly, laid down His life as the spotless Lamb, and rose to secure new life for all who trust Him. We explore how faith unites us to His death and resurrection, why baptism declares this reality, and how communion re-centers our hearts on grace rather than self-effort. Along the way, Pastor Carl issues a needed warning: do not make an idol of the Bible. Like a road sign, Scripture points beyond itself—to Christ. If we clutch the sign and miss the Rest, we lose the very life the Word offers.

Walk with us through John’s rich portrait of Jesus—God and man—who weeps at a grave, overturns exploitation, heals the broken, and calls us to follow. If you’ve felt stuck in head knowledge, this conversation opens a door to encounter: surrender the need for applause, receive the witness of Scripture, and come to the One who gives life. If this resonates, subscribe, share with a friend, and leave a review to help others find the hope we’re discovering together.

Come On Up is the radio ministry of The Mountain Cross in Waynesville North Carolina. To learn more about us please visit: TheMountainCross.com. 

Transcript

SPEAKER_01 0:05

Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob. He will teach us his ways, and we shall walk in his paths.

SPEAKER_00 0:13

Welcome to Come On Up, the radio ministry of the Mountain Cross in Waynesville, North Carolina.

SPEAKER_02 0:20

They know the scriptures, at least on a trivial level. They know all the stories and all the life applications, but they don't see that they all point to Jesus. And Jesus is saying if you really knew the word and let the word change you from the inside out, renew your mind, change your heart. Then you would read that and say, whoa, that's pointing to the Messiah. That's a picture of the Messiah. Whoa, I hadn't seen that before. That's the Messiah.

Jesus’ Will And The Father’s Will

SPEAKER_00 0:51

The religious teachers were honored for their deep knowledge of God's Word. They could effortlessly recite a whole chapter from the Old Testament books. But can you believe they totally overlooked all the hints in the Old Testament about Jesus? Can you believe they didn't see that the scripture was coming to life right before their eyes? Today, Pastor Carl invites you to embrace Jesus with an open heart. Invite him to reveal himself to you. Don't miss out on him, as those religious teachers did. And now, here's Pastor Carl.

The Need For True Witnesses

Works, Baptism, And The Father’s Voice

You Search Scriptures But Miss Christ

Loving Jesus And Keeping Commands

Honor From God Versus Honor From Men

Moses Wrote Of Christ

The Gospel, Cross, And New Life

Communion And Surrendered Hearts

SPEAKER_02 1:34

You know, I remember in the garden when he's praying, he says, Not my will, Lord, but yours be done. Because as a man, he he certainly did not want to go through this crucifixion that was ahead of him. But as the God man, as the man that's surrendered to the will of the Father, he says, But your will is better. Your will is good. And he brings up the fact that, you know, he could do nothing of himself. As a man, he emptied himself. And yet he's filled with the Holy Spirit, and he does the will of the Father. He's empowered by God just like we can be. When we realize the works of our flesh can accomplish nothing, he without God can do nothing. But of course, how can he be without God? Because he is God. And that's where my gears start getting stuck. But the fact is he identified with us. And he realized the things that I do, he said, I do because of the Father, his will, the one who sent me. And if I bear witness of myself, my witness is not true. Now the way that's written, it sounds a little odd. But according to the law, if you're going to, you know, be a witness in a crime, you need two or three witnesses in order to collaborate what happened. If it's just one person giving their opinion versus the other person giving their opinion of how they saw it, you might have a conflict of an idea and it doesn't work. So it's not that he's saying that his witness is not true because he is the truth. And what he's saying is is right. But if it brought, if he if it was according to a court of law, he can't do this himself based on himself, right? So he needs other witnesses to bear witness to who he is. There is another who bears witness of me, and I know that the witness which he witnesses of me is true. Of course, he's talking about the Father. The Father bears witness of him, and he knows that the witness is true. You have sent John, and he has borne witness to the truth. There's another witness. Yet I do not receive testimony from men, but I say these things that you might be saved. He was the burning and shining lamp, that you were willing for a time to rejoice in his light. There is something about John that for a little while, at least some of the Pharisees were saying, Huh, there's something interesting about this fellow. Maybe the hand of God is upon him, and maybe he is speaking the truth. And they started considering some of the things that he said. But the Father gives them witness, John gives them witness, but he he doesn't need that testimony for himself. He knows who he is, and he's accomplishing the purposes. He says these things so that they might be saved. You need to know who Jesus is. Jesus doesn't need you, he doesn't need to defend himself. He's going through this for the sake of those listening. Because he wants those Phariseetical leaders to come to a true faith, to be saved, to move from death to life. Now that reminds me of something that he said in chapter 2. You remember this? Beginning of verse 24. But Jesus did not commit himself to them, because he knew all men and had no need that anyone should testify of man, for he knew what was in man. He didn't put his hope and his confidence in any person. His hope and confidence was in his father. But the things that he did were for the sake of man. And he came because he knew the heart of man. There was no man he could trust to do anything for him. Except for he would come and change them and empower them and make them usable in his hands. The whole point is he knows we are all sinners. We are all in need of a savior. And that's why he came. And the reason why he's going through this exercise with the Pharisees is not because he wants to defend himself, but because he wants to make himself known. That he wants eyes to be opened. And he wants life to come out of death. Verse 36, but I have a greater witness than John's for the works what the Father has given to me to finish. The very works that I do bear witness of me, that the Father has sent me, and the Father Himself who sent me has testified of me. You have neither heard his voice at any time or seen his form. Boy, that's offensive. You've never heard from God, and you've never seen God. I have, he's saying. And he's saying, you know, God gave witness about me, John has given witness of me, but I even have a greater witness, and it's the works of the Father. The things that God does, I am doing. The things that the Old Testament prophet said I would be doing as the Messiah, those things I am doing. And I am bringing these to your attention so that you would realize that I am the one you've been waiting for. Why are you fighting against me? Now do you remember when the Father Himself testified of Jesus? There were two times, but at this point there was only one. And that was right after he was at the time he was being baptized. In Luke chapter 3, verse 21, it begins, When all the people were baptized, it came to pass that Jesus also was baptized. And while he prayed, and by the way, why was he baptized? He was sinless. He didn't need to confess of any sin. He told John, We did this, so it would be right. It's the right thing to do. But why was it the right thing to do? Because Jesus came to represent us, and he was baptized in our stead, just like he was crucified in our stead. So he was baptized on our behalf. That's why he was baptized. And so while he prayed, the heavens were opened, and the Holy Spirit descended in bodily form like a dove upon him, and a voice came from heaven which said, You are my beloved Son. In you I am well pleased. Now I don't know how many people heard that. I've got to imagine there were some that heard that because he's referencing that time. And that, you know, that should be enough. I heard God speak myself about this person who is the Son, the beloved Son. I'm gonna follow, I'm gonna listen, I'm gonna obey this one that stands before me. But the Pharisees weren't there, were they? Verse 38. But you do not have his word abiding in you, because whom he sent, him you do not believe. Now he's not trying to be insulting, but that's a very insulting thing to say to the teachers of Israel, the ones who know the Old Testament Torah in and out, who to help people out added to it to make it even clearer. By adding hundreds of laws to the law and by keeping people in line. Don't do that, don't do that, don't do that. Jesus is saying, you don't even have the word in you. I mean, he goes on to say, you search the scriptures for in them you think you have eternal life, and these are they which testify of me, but you are not willing to come to me that you might have life. They know the scriptures at least on a trivial level. They know all the stories and all the life applications, but they don't see that they all point to Jesus. And Jesus is saying, if you really knew the word and let the word change you from the inside out, renew your mind, change your heart, then you would read that and say, Whoa, that's pointing to the Messiah. That's a picture of the Messiah. Whoa, I hadn't seen that before. That's the Messiah who is standing before them. And he's saying, if you would have the word abiding in you, you would believe in me. Because you'd see how it was all played, it was all spelled out. This is kind of along the lines of when Jesus tells his disciples, if you love me, you'll keep my commandments. And this isn't a guilt trip, you know. If you really did love me, then you'd do these things. It's the other way around. If you realize the love I had for you, and you accepted the gospel message that I've given, that if you become alive in me, because we love him because he first loved us, then the works of the Lord will be working in us, and we'll start doing the things that he commanded us to do because we are empowered by him to do them. It's a test to see if you're in the faith or not. If you love me, you keep my commandments. If you love me, you understand my commandments. If you love me, you understand my heart. If you love me, uh you have the might of Christ. And you love me by accepting the love that I had for you, believing in the message that I sent, putting your faith and hope and confidence in the finished work of the cross. Instead, you elevate the scripture, and this is a this is a danger, and especially maybe in churches like Calvary Chapel, where we we put so much emphasis on the word of God, we need to be careful not to make the Bible an idol. Where we we know scripture in and out, and we can debate with people, we can put them in their place, but we miss Jesus. May we not miss Jesus because Jesus is the living word. The Bible points to him. If we get stuck on the words on these sheets of paper and don't let them point us to Jesus, we're in the same place that these Pharisees were in. I told you the rest stop analogy, right? When you're going down the road and you need to go to the bathroom and you see rest stop two miles. You don't get off the road and start hugging the side. Oh, I found the rest stop. No, it points you to the rest stop. The word points us to Jesus. Let's not get stuck in some false pride about how well you know the Bible if you don't know Jesus. We need to know Jesus and we need to let Him bring the Word alive in our life. There's a lot to ponder there. I'll let you pray about that. Verse 41. I do not receive honor from men, but I know you. You do not have the love of God in you. I don't come here to get honor for men. I don't need honor because I am self-existing. Just like I have life within myself, I don't need anybody else. The Father, the Son, and the Spirit are doing just fine for eternity without us. And yet, in their great love, they brought us in. They created us and they made us part of their creation. So he doesn't need to receive honor from men, but but you need to honor me for your sake, not for my sake. I know that you do not have the love of God in you. I have come in my Father's name, and you do not receive me. If another comes in his own name, him you receive. A lot of false teachers that come along that we grab a hold on to because there's something about what they say and the things that they say that just resonates and makes us excited and gets us off track and we miss Jesus. That will happen soon, in a fantastic way, if that's the good word to use, when the Antichrist comes. The Antichrist will look like Jesus, will talk like Jesus, will do miracles like Jesus. People will think this is Jesus. They will also think he's the Messiah, coming Messiah of the Muslim faith. And he's also the coming Messiah of the Hindu faith. And he will encapsulate all these together and will go, oh, it all worked out real well because we all believed in the same God. And they will be deceived because it's not true. The one who is real, the one who is true, the one who the word that you you hold on to that is precious to you, that you protect, you've missed me in it. They speak of me, and you don't receive me, and so you don't really know the Father either. How can you believe who receive honor from one another and do not seek honor for the one that comes from the only God? There he's touching on another issue. Why is it that you don't believe these things? It's not because you don't know them, it's not because it hasn't been spelled out in front of you, but it's a heart issue. You don't want to. You like the accolades of men, you like the respect from others, you you like the idea of bringing people to God, and but but you also like the idea that oh, I am a man of God and I help people to see God. And Jesus is saying, you don't even know God. And he's I got to imagine he's saying this with a voice of compassion. You don't even know God. You're supposed to be my representatives to the world, and you don't even know me. Do you think that I shall accuse you to the father? There is one who accuses you. Moses, in whom you trust. Moses. Later on, in another uh conflict with the Jewish leaders, they'll say, our father Moses. We're we're we're sons of Moses. Which was respectful because Moses was the one that brought the law. The law brought us into fellowship with God, at least as far as we could tell. Moses showed us the way. Moses was the prophet of God. He he spoke with God, and God brought him the words to share with his people. We're sons of Moses. And Jesus is saying, Look, I don't need to say anything to accuse you to my father. The one that you put your hope in, Moses speaks against you. For if you believed Moses, you would believe me. For he wrote about me. But if you do not believe his writings, how will you believe in my works? And you can feel a little frustration in the Lord. Look, I've laid it all in front of you, I've given you messengers, and you twist everything that has been given to you, and so you do not recognize the one who was sent for your good. Where did he get this from? Well, in Deuteronomy chapter 18, the beginning of verse 18, Moses is sharing what the Lord told him to the people. And he told the people, I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their brethren. So there will be one coming that's like you, a man. And I will put my words in his mouth. This man will come from your brethren, from among this nation of Israel. And I will lift him up, and I will put my words in his mouth, and he shall speak to them all that I command him, and it shall be that whoever will not hear my words, which he speaks in my name, I will require it of him. In other words, you you will be judged based on if you believe his words or not, if you recognize him or not. And that brings us to a time of communion where we ask that same question. Do we recognize who Jesus is or not? Do we recognize the works that he's done or not? I trust that we here in this room have come to a saving faith in Jesus Christ. If we have not, that is our first step. If you have not come to a face, a personal relationship with Jesus, this is your first step to recognize that he is who he said he was. He is God who came to earth as a man, as a boy, as a baby. It's the incarnation. When God became a man, entered into his own creation, lived the life as a man in our place. He came to be our representative. He lived a sinless life because his father was not Adam, his father was the father God. And so he was the only man that ever lived without sin. And because he lived a faithful life and never fell into sin, he was pure and spotless, like a lamb, ready for sacrifice. And he sacrificed himself on the cross. He says, I do, nobody takes my own life, but I lay my own life down for the people. He died on the cross and he took our sin, your sin, my sin, and the sin of all the world upon himself on that cross. And if God, who's holy and pure, takes upon sin, and the Bible talks about he became sin on our behalf, what does that do for us? We become free. We have no longer a penalty for our sin. And he rose again on the third day to secure new life for anyone who would believe. And when we believe in God, we go through an exercise in the spiritual realm where we are crucified with Christ. We are buried, our sin is buried, and then we come to life, new life in Him. It's no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And then the first thing we should do as believers after that point is to do a physical baptism, to declare this faith that you have now had in the Lord and what has happened to you, that you've moved from death to life. Your old man is dead, and your new man is alive. Life. When we remember what he's done in that situation, it helps us to focus on what we need to focus on. Looking to him, the author and finisher of our faith. Not to try to be good enough to please him now that he saved us. That's what happened to the Galatians. But to continue to put our faith and our trust and our hope in him. Because it's so easy to get distracted from this truth. That's why he says to come together and do this in remembrance of me. And then, of course, at that last supper, he initiated this communion feast when he took the bread and he pointed and he said, This represents my body, which is broken for you, my perfect body. I became a physical man. And then he took the wine and he he opened it and he represented that this is my blood that is shed for you. Do this in remembrance of me. This causes you to be free from your sin. It washes you white as snow. I want you to sit and think and pray and meditate on what the Lord has done for us, to remember the goodness of God, and to acknowledge that all these things that Jesus was talking to the Pharisees about apply to us too. Do we know Jesus? Do we recognize the ways that He's revealed Himself to us? Do we submit to Him? Or do we try to make our agenda to go forward? Or are we willing to lay down our agenda and say, Lord, not my will, but your will be done? Take that time to spend with the Lord and to thank Him for His goodness and His grace towards you, to remember what He's done for you. And as a result, may we leave here today empowered to continue on to do His work. Amen.

Donate And Join The Fellowship

SPEAKER_00 24:07

You've been listening to the teaching of Pastor Carl from the Mountain Cross on Come On Up. We're in the Gospel of John, and there's much to explore in this exciting book of the Bible. Jesus does all kinds of miracles in the book of John, such as turning water into wine and raising Lazarus from the dead. These were signs that he was far more than human. He's God. However, Jesus didn't shy away from expressing his humanity on earth either. When his friend had died, he was sad and he cried. He experienced righteous anger, seeing people abusing and defiling the temple while taking advantage of the poor. He cleared out the temple area with a cord of whips and showed his authority. But he was also tender with children and compassionate to those who were considered outcasts. This is the juxtaposition of the book of John. Jesus was both God and man, and you get to fully appreciate it more and more by reading this rich book of the Bible. If you're enjoying the teaching on Come On Up, would you consider helping us get the word out to others? Simply visit themountaincross.com/slash donate. It's a safe and secure way for you to give online. The Mountain Cross meets Sunday mornings at 10 at the Smoky Mountain Cinema in Waynesville, North Carolina. If you are nearby and don't have a church home, we'd be delighted to have you join us this weekend. And be sure to come on up to the mountain with us next time as we seek to learn more from the Lord through His Word. Come On Up is sponsored by the Mountain Cross, a Calvary Chapel fellowship.