Commentary on the Gospel of John

                                 Chapter Twelve

                                                                                                                                               Verses 42-43

These verses relate that many of the chief rulers believed in Jesus, but they were afraid that the Pharisees would put them out of the synagogue. Joseph of Arimathaea and Nicodemus had to be among those chief rulers. John 19:38-42. A person becomes saved by grace when they believe in their heart that Christ has provided for their spiritual salvation through His death, burial, and resurrection for them personally. Romans 10:13; I Corinthians 15:1-4. Confession of faith is a good work, but no one can be saved by good works, only by repentance and faith in Christ's sacrifice for them. Luke 13:3; Ephesians 2:8-9. Repentance is a part of faith. Yet, the Bible (KJB) also teaches that a confession of faith is necessary for salvation by grace. Romans 10:8-11. Can there be a contradiction in this?

Jesus did teach that a person can make a false confession of faith. Jesus taught that there will be some people who will profess their faith in Him, but they will base their salvation on their own good works. Matthew 7:21-23. Jesus will dismiss them because He never knew them in a personal way. To be saved by grace, a person must trust in Christ alone for their salvation, commit their whole life to His service, and they must know Him in a personal way. The Bible (KJB) therefore teaches that a confession of faith is necessary for salvation because God always causes a person who believes in their heart, has committed their life to Christ, and whom He has already saved by His grace, to make a profession of faith at some time in their earthly life. God always causes a person saved by grace to do at least one good work which will demonstrate their salvation. Joseph of Arimathaea and Nicodemus made their professions of faith in Christ when they demonstrated their love for Him when they took His body from the cross to bury Him. They could not avoid making their professions of faith because God caused them to do it. This means that any person who fails to make a profession of faith in Christ alone as their Savior, or who tries to base their salvation on their own good works, then that person cannot be saved by grace. Those who truly become saved by grace will not be able to avoid making a profession of faith at some time in their earthly lives. A person's strong desire to be baptized in water indicates that that person has truly been saved by grace.

Both Jesus and the Apostle Paul taught that a person can have an empty faith. Matthew 13:20-21; I Corinthians 15:1. These persons acquire a temporary, superficial faith, but when they discover that they will be persecuted, or even just mocked, they quickly give up their false faith. Those chief rulers who would not confess their superficial faith because they were afraid of being put out of the synagogue were precisely those types who fail to commit their whole lives to Christ, and who do not become saved by grace. Christ knows exactly who His true believers are. John 10:25-27.