JOH 9:11 He answered and said, A man that is called Jesus made clay, and anointed mine eyes, and said unto me, Go to the pool of Siloam, and wash: and I went and washed, and I received sight.

>>As we have already pointed out, our Saviour again used the present circumstances to reveal the effect of saving grace bestowed upon the elect sinner—

>>As soon as saving grace, i.e., the Divine influence of the Spirit moves upon the heart, it is seen in the life of the saved sinner— his walk reveals his spiritual sight. Jesus said, "Go wash," he obeyed and came seeing.

JOH 9:8-11 The neighbours therefore, and they which before had seen him that he was blind, said, Is not this he that sat and begged?

9 Some said, This is he: others said, He is like him: but he said, I am he.

10 Therefore said they unto him, How were thine eyes opened?

>>Now see how beautifully the testimony of this man reveals the central theme of saving faith, i.e., that faith not only saves—it works!!

11 He answered and said, A man that is called Jesus made clay, and anointed mine eyes, and said unto me, Go to the pool of Siloam, and wash: and I went and washed, and I received sight.

>>The great fallacy with the religion of the Jews— which is still all to common yet today— is what might be called positional faith—

>>The whole foundation of the Jews' faith was based upon their position in God's covenant— as children of Abraham—

JOH 8:31-33 Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed;

32 And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.

33 They answered him, We be Abraham's seed, and were never in bondage to any man: how sayest thou, Ye shall be made free?

>>Their faith found its sole basis in their position in the covenant— without regard for the fact that living faith also works.

JOH 8:39-40 They answered and said unto him, Abraham is our father. Jesus saith unto them, If ye were Abraham's children, ye would do the works of Abraham.

40 But now ye seek to kill me, a man that hath told you the truth, which I have heard of God: this did not Abraham.

>>Satan's gospel based upon positional faith without works— is the teaching of our day— When Scriptures are taken out of context— many of the most blessed truths are taught as partial truths— thereby they are used to make a lie.

>>It is a most blessed truth that the righteousness of Christ is imputed to all His elect, and that they all enjoy the same position in Christ.

EPH 2:5-7 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)

6 And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:

7 That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.

>>However, when this positional faith is held in context it becomes apparent that faith not only saves— it works.

>>We are not saved "by" works but "unto" works

EPH 2:9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.

10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

>>Our position in Christ isn't altered by our practice, but our practice is altered by our position in Christ.

ROM 6:1-6 What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?

2 God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?

3 Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?

4 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.

5 For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:

6 Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.

>>Those who rest upon positional faith— boast of their sure position in Christ based upon

COL 3:3 For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.

>>However, when this blessed position all believers have in Christ is held in its context— it becomes so evident that faith not only saves— it also works.

COL 3:1-3 If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.

2 Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.

3 For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.

>>This same principle that faith not only saves, but also works is repeated in the verses which follow.

COL 3:4-10 When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.

5 Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry:

6 For which things' sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience:

7 In the which ye also walked some time, when ye lived in them.

8 But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth.

9 Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds;

10 And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him:

>>Our Saviour had proclaimed unto these Jews who were deceived by their positional faith that He was the light of the world— i.e., that Abraham's blessings were all found in Him.

JOH 8:56 Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw it, and was glad.

JOH 8:58 Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am.

>>What was the reaction to this truth by these proud, self-righteous, blind Jews who had only a positional faith?

JOH 8:59 Then took they up stones to cast at him: but Jesus hid himself, and went out of the temple, going through the midst of them, and so passed by.

>>All those who want to rest upon positional faith alone, i.e., upon the secret will of God— become all stirred up with a person in whom they see the obedience of faith in action

JOH 9:8-11 The neighbours therefore, and they which before had seen him that he was blind, said, Is not this he that sat and begged?

9 Some said, This is he: others said, He is like him: but he said, I am he.

10 Therefore said they unto him, How were thine eyes opened?

11 He answered and said, A man that is called Jesus made clay, and anointed mine eyes, and said unto me, Go to the pool of Siloam, and wash: and I went and washed, and I received sight.

>>When the true work of grace has been wrought in the soul, it cannot be hidden from the neighbours and acquaintances—

>>The change they will see is beautifully described in JOH 3:8 The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.

>>Even though the kingdom of God comes not with observation, yet the effects are evident unto the world— They do not realize that what they are seeing is Christ formed in you.

COL 1:26-27 Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints:

27 To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:

>>As Christ is formed in you, even the unregenerate world which lies in wickedness and sin, is compelled to acknowledge that regeneration is a real thing.

>>As the wicked witness that Spirit of Christ which reveals itself in our temperament— habits— the restraining of our lusts— God the Father is glorified

MAT 5:14-16 Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.

15 Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.

16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

>>The Father is glorified by the Spirit of Christ which reveals itself in the grace He bestows upon His own— by the restraint it places upon sin

MAT 5:13 Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.

>>Some said, This is he: others said, He is like him: but he said, I am he," JOH 9:9. How true to Christian character—

>>He did not say "I was he," but "I am he," when we are quickened into newness of life— we become a new creature in Christ— but the old man remains the same— this is the source of what we read in

GAL 5:16-17 This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.

17 For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.

>>This fact is what is so confusing to the world— They can still see enough in our attitude at times to recognize our old nature, and yet there is a new principle within which they cannot understand.

JOH 9:10 Therefore said they unto him, How were thine eyes opened?

>>Here we see how we are called upon to let our light shine— We will be called upon to openly profess wherein the change came.

>>Our text tells us his answer—

JOH 9:11 He answered and said, A man that is called Jesus made clay, and anointed mine eyes, and said unto me, Go to the pool of Siloam, and wash: and I went and washed, and I received sight.

>>Even though this man stood among those who had their hands full of stones to throw at Jesus— he was not ashamed to confess Him before them all.

LUK 12:8 Also I say unto you, Whosoever shall confess me before men, him shall the Son of man also confess before the angels of God:

>>This man not only confessed his Benefactor before the world, but he also confessed the reward of the obedience of faith.

JOH 9:11 He answered and said, A man that is called Jesus made clay, and anointed mine eyes, and said unto me, Go to the pool of Siloam, and wash: and I went and washed, and I received sight.

>>This man did not have great light— but he rightly understood the basic principle of saving faith as we can see from what he told those self-righteous Pharisees

JOH 9:31 Now we know that God heareth not sinners: but if any man be a worshipper of God, and doeth his will, him he heareth.

>>Such light which is the true "Light of the World" that directs the regenerate man in the obedience of faith is the greatest offense unto those who have only a positional faith.

JOH 9:34 They answered and said unto him, Thou wast altogether born in sins, and dost thou teach us? And they cast him out.

>>All true worship begins with attitude.

JOH 4:24 God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.

>>A right spirit (or mental disposition) of submission, and obedience of faith is the fruit of regeneration.

PHI 2:1-5 If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies,

2 Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.

3 Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.

4 Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.

5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:

>>Our text reveals a right attitude of submission, and obedience of faith as the evidence of regeneration.

JOH 9:11 He answered and said, A man that is called Jesus made clay, and anointed mine eyes, and said unto me, Go to the pool of Siloam, and wash: and I went and washed, and I received sight.