John 12:47–48

The fourth argument is taken from the sad judgement abiding all unbeleevers and rejecters of him, and his doctrine; For which end, he appealeth them to the judgement of the last day; Declaring, that however in his first coming, his errand was not to judge, but to offer salvation and mercy to the world; Yet they should be judged in the last day; And though there were no other witnesse, yet his Word preached should be a sufficient testimony against them, at that time. For further clearing of what is said of the end of Christs coming, compare, Chap. 3.17. Only it is to be marked, that this argument strikes mainly against the wicked unbeleevers, and not the other sort, save in so far as by continuing in not confessing of him when he inculcates that duty upon them, they prove themselves never to have been sound beleevers.

From verse 47. Learn, 1. Not only rich promises and gracious offers, but even sharp threatnings are a mean appointed of God to stir up men to embrace the Gospel; Therefore is the argument subjoyned to the rest here. 2. Albeit the Gospel be glad tydings of joy, and contain cordials and remedies against all the curses and threatnings of the Law; Yet it contains also threatnings against despisers, as terrible as any threatning of the Law; as here we see. 3. Whatever be the judgements to come on these who hear not the Gospel, yet their danger is by far greatest, who hear and obey not; for, this threatning is against them who hear Christs words. See Chap. 15.22. 4. Not only are they guilty of sin, and liable to judgement, who having the opportunity, yet will not hear, or who hearing, do persecute; But even they also who hearing, will not beleeve nor give credite to what hath been said, and close with it accordingly; for, the threatning goeth out against them who hear and beleeve not. 5. Such is Christs mercy and long suffering, that when men do not beleeve on him, yet he will essay them with mercy and leave them roome for repentance and faith; for, saith he, I judge him not, to wit, as yet, and I came to save the world. Albeit the unbeleever be already condemned by the sentence of the Law, Joh. 3.18. and doth carry his dittay in his bosome with him, yet the full sentence and execution is not past at first, but he is yet waited on. 6. Albeit Christ be alwayes Judge of the world, yet in his first coming, he laid aside the person of a Judge, and took on the office of a Mediatour and Saviour, to offer and purchase mercy; for, I judge him not; for, I came not to judge the world. but to save the world. 7. In Christs first coming his proper errand was, and the nature of his work tended, to save sinners; So that if it be an occasion of condemnation to any, they have themselves and their own corruptions to blame, in that they stumble at, and do abuse their own mercy; for, it is held out here as Christs proper errand, not to judge the world, but to save the world.

From verse 48. Learn, 1 Christ and his doctrine are inseparable, and as the one is entertained, so is the other; for, rejecting him is joyned with not receiving his words. So that where the Word hath no place, he is rejected. 2. Whatever use men may seem to make of Christs Word, yet none are beleevers thereof, but they who so hear, as to receive and admit it into their hearts, and Christ in it; for, so, not to beleeve, ver. 47. is expounded, he rejects me, and receiveth not my words. 3. It is not their sin who are studying to beleeve and yet are kept wrestling under the power of unbelief, that Christ will bring into judgement; but the sin of these who care not to beleeve; for, such are to be judged here, who reject me, &c. 4. It is a sad plague on wicked unbeleevers who hear the Gospel, that their unbelief is joined with disdain to Christ, and contempt of his Gospel and grace; and that Christ will so judge of it; for, so Christ calls it here, he that rejecteth me (with contempt and disdain, choosing other things before me, as the Word imports) and receiveth not my words, not accounting them worthy to have any place with him. 5. Albeit sin be not soon punished; yea, albeit Christ be the Mediatour of sinners; yet such as despise him, he will not keep them from judgement; for, such a man hath one that judgeth him, whereby is meant, not so much that the Father doth judge them, though the Son at his first coming, do not, as that certainly they will not escape a Judge and judgement, as is after cleared. See Prov. 11.2. Eccles. 8.11, 12. 6. However the Lord deal with men here, and however in his forbearance they may escape judgement; Yet they will not escape the judgement of the last day, which will sadly enough compense all delayes; for, he shall be judged in the last day. 7. Albeit in the day of judgement, wicked men will be called to an account for all their sins against the Law; Yet the contempt of the Gospel will be their saddest dittay; for, he that rejecteth me, the word that I have spoken shall judge him, that is, the Word of the Gospel delivered by Christ, in whose mouth soever it be, though it will have its own peculiar weight against these who heard him, that he came and spake it himselfe. 8. Though all other witnesses against a wicked man were gone; yet the Word preached will stand up against him, as a witness and dittay in the great day: for, the word shall judge him in the last day. It shall be a witness of what was offered, and make up a dittay against him for his contempt, upon which Christ shall pronounce sentence. 9. The Word of God is so sure and infallibly, that Christs sentence in the great day (when heaven and earth shall passe away) shall proceed according to the verdict and testimony thereof; for, the word that I have spaken, shall judge him in the last day. Christ will pronounce then according to what it sayeth now, and that as well in favours of beleevers, as against unbeleevers.