John 8:23–24

Christ in his answer doth not meddle with their perverse humours, but goeth on to confirme what he had said. And, 1. He pointeth out the reason and ground of his sad sentence, to wit, their original disposition, which is corrupt and earthly, and contrary to his, ver. 23. and this also is a cause of their ignorant mistake of their own danger. 2. From this he inferreth, that he had justly said they should die in their sinnes, seeing they would not by faith embrace him, who only could apply a remedy to their evils, ver. 24. Whence learn, 1. It is not enough that wicked men be convinced of their evil deeds, unlesse they also study their original condition, and know that their evil practices do not flow only from a present tentation, or from evil breeding and education, but are the fruits of their natural corruption; Therefore doth Christ point out this to these Jewes. 2. Albeit man before the fall, was raised up to enjoy a spiritual life and communion with God, yet by the fall, he is cast down, and hath his original from beneath and favours only of the world and of things therein: for, so much doth he intimate to these Jewes, Ye are from beneath, ye are of this world, 3. Albeit Christ did take on our nature, yet he is altogether free of the sinne and corruption thereof, being divine in his original and way of conception, and in his condition, holy and separate from sinners; Therefore saith he, I am from above, I am not of this world. Where he doth not deny the truth of his humane nature, but disclaims all communion with sinne and the corruption of flesh and blood. And albeit it be said of his Saints also that they are not of this world, Joh. 15.19. and 17.16. Yet it is true of Christ in a singular manner, for he is absolutely unspotted by nature, they are so only by regeneration, and in part, and comparatively in respect of others. 4. As the study of Christs divine original and condition, is a glasse wherein men may study the vilenesse of their own condition; so it is a sad evidence of separation from Christs company, so long as men retain a total disconformity to him: for these ends doth he point out these two in their contrariety, ye are from beneath, I from above. See Rom. 8.29. 5. Men continuing in their corrupt original, without renovation from heaven, cannot expect life eternal, but will perish in their sinnes; for, he draws this from the former discourse, by way of conclusion, I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sinnes. 6. Albeit death be the desert of all sinne, and God do daily threaten sinners with it; Yet all this admits of the exception of faith in Christ: And as this only (and nothing else) can come betwixt the sinner and deserved wrath; so even the grossest of sinners shall not perish, if they turne and fly to Christ: And when sinners do not this, their unbeliefe renders their case desperate and incurable. Therefore is this threatning propounded with this exception, even to these malicious Jewes, If ye beleeve not that I am he, ye shall die in your sinnes. 7. It is not sufficient for preventing the due desert of sinne, that men do pretend to faith in the Messiah, unlesse they do acknowledge and embrace him as he reveals and offers himselfe; for, this Christ requires, as absolutely necessary, that ye beleeve that I am he, where he meets with their faire pretences of beleeving in the true Messiah, and sheweth, that unlesse they embraced him for the Messiah, how contemptible soever he seemed to be, all these pretences would not avail them.