Denying Jesus: The Path to Restoration (John 21:1-19)

1. Denying Jesus: The Path to Restoration (John 21:1-19)

3. Two Types of Denial. * Those who deny Christ because of who he is.

4. 3 Then when Judas, his betrayer, saw that Jesus was condemned, he changed his mind and brought back the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and the elders, 4 saying, “I have sinned by betraying innocent blood.” They said, “What is that to us? See to it yourself.” 5 And throwing down the pieces of silver into the temple, he departed, and he went and hanged himself. (Matthew 27:3-5)

5. 9 if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. 11 For the Scripture says, “Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame.” 12 For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him. 13 For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” (Romans 10:9-13)

6. Two Types of Denial. * Those who deny Christ because of who he is. * Those who deny Christ because of their weaknesses.

7. 15 He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” 16 Simon Peter replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” 17 And Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven. 18 And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. (Matthew 16:15-18)

8. 41 The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak. (Matthew 26:41)

9. 10 For godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret, whereas worldly grief produces death. (2 Corinthians 7:10)

10. Denying Jesus: The Path to Restoration * The path to restoration recognizes that you cannot go back to your old life.

11. 18 While walking by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon (who is called Peter) and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen. 19 And he said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” 20 Immediately they left their nets and followed him. (Matthew 4:18-20)

12. * Remember that you are a new creation.

13. 17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. • (2 Corinthians 5:17)

14. * Remember that you are a new creation. * Put off the old self and put on the new.

15. 20 But that is not the way you learned Christ!— 21 assuming that you have heard about him and were taught in him, as the truth is in Jesus, 22 to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, 23 and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, 24 and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness. • (Ephesians 4:20-24)

16. Denying Jesus: The Path to Restoration * The path to restoration recognizes that you cannot go back to your old life. * The path to restoration is initiated by Jesus' response to our sorrow.

17. 31 Then Jesus said to them, “You will all fall away because of me this night. For it is written, ‘I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.’ 32 But after I am raised up, I will go before you to Galilee.” (Matthew 26:31-32)

18. * Remember that nothing can separate you from the love of God in Christ.

19. 38 For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. • (Romans 8:38-39)

20. * Remember that nothing can separate you from the love of God in Christ. * Remember God is not done with you yet.

21. 6 And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ. • (Philippians 1:6)

22. Denying Jesus: The Path to Restoration * The path to restoration recognizes that you cannot go back to your old life. * The path to restoration is initiated by Jesus' response to our sorrow. * The path to restoration is running to Jesus no matter how far you have fallen.

23. * Run to Christ when you fall, not away. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:9)

24. Denying Jesus: The Path to Restoration * The path to restoration recognizes that you cannot go back to your old life. * The path to restoration is initiated by Jesus' response to our sorrow. * The path to restoration is running to Jesus no matter how far you have fallen. * The path to restoration is Jesus reminding you of His power and calling.

25. 5 On one occasion, while the crowd was pressing in on him to hear the word of God, he was standing by the lake of Gennesaret, 2 and he saw two boats by the lake, but the fishermen had gone out of them and were washing their nets. 3 Getting into one of the boats, which was Simon's, he asked him to put out a little from the land. And he sat down and taught the people from the boat. 4 And when he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.” 5 And Simon answered, “Master, we toiled all night and took nothing! But at your word I will let down the nets.” 6 And when they had done this, they enclosed a large number of fish, and their nets were breaking. 7 They signaled to their partners in the other boat to come and help them. And they came and filled both the boats, so that they began to sink. 8 But when Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus' knees, saying, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord.” 9 For he and all who were with him were astonished at the catch of fish that they had taken, 10 and so also were James and John, sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. And Jesus said to Simon, “Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching men.” 11 And when they had brought their boats to land, they left everything and followed him. • (Luke 5:1-11)

26. * Remember that God’s gifts and calling are irrevocable.

27. 29 For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable. • (Romans 11:29)

28. * Remember that God’s gifts and calling are irrevocable. * Let God show himself strong in your weaknesses.

29. 7 So to keep me from becoming conceited because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited. 8 Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me. 9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10 For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong. • (2 Corinthians 12:7-10)

30. Denying Jesus: The Path to Restoration * The path to restoration recognizes that you cannot go back to your old life. * The path to restoration is initiated by Jesus' response to our sorrow. * The path to restoration is running to Jesus no matter how far you have fallen. * The path to restoration is Jesus reminding you of His power and calling. * The path to restoration is loving Jesus.

31. Different Greek Words For Love * Five different words for love, each with a different connotation or emphasis. * Two of them are used in this passage. * agapaō- It is characterized by a concern, not for oneself, but for others. When God and Christ are said to love, agapaō conveys the idea of a deep, limitless compassion that is given through the supreme self-sacrificial actions of Christ on the cross in association with the mercy and kindness of God. * phileō is a verb synonymous with agapaō, which is also translated "to love," but not usually with that same sublime quality of unselfishness as indicated by agapaō, except perhaps when predicated of God. phileō indicates the action of "loving" as a strong desire to act, or to express affection to another person. Brotherly love, affection and friendship. Often mutual feeling.

32. * No matter the circumstance, love God with all of who you are.

33. 34 But when the Pharisees heard that he had silenced the Sadducees, they gathered together. 35 And one of them, a lawyer, asked him a question to test him. 36 “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?” 37 And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. • (Matthew 22:34-37)

34. * No matter the circumstance, love God with all of who you are. * Love Jesus first and foremost.

35. 37 Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. • (Matthew 10:37)

36. Denying Jesus: The Path to Restoration * The path to restoration recognizes that you cannot go back to your old life. * The path to restoration is initiated by Jesus' response to our sorrow. * The path to restoration is running to Jesus no matter how far you have fallen. * The path to restoration is Jesus reminding you of His power and calling. * The path to restoration is loving Jesus. * The path to restoration is serving His flock.

37. * When you fall love others out of love for Christ, not because of guilt or shame.

38. 34 But when the Pharisees heard that he had silenced the Sadducees, they gathered together. 35 And one of them, a lawyer, asked him a question to test him. 36 “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?” 37 And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. 38 This is the great and first commandment. 39 And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. 40 On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.” (Matthew 22:34-40)

39. 19 We love because he first loved us. 20 If anyone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen. 21 And this commandment we have from him: whoever loves God must also love his brother. (1 John 4:19-21)

40. 17 But if anyone has the world's goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God's love abide in him? 18 Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth. (1 John 3:17)

41. Denying Jesus: The Path to Restoration * The path to restoration recognizes that you cannot go back to your old life. * The path to restoration is initiated by Jesus' response to our sorrow. * The path to restoration is running to Jesus no matter how far you have fallen. * The path to restoration is Jesus reminding you of His power and calling. * The path to restoration is loving Jesus. * The path to restoration is serving His flock. * The path to restoration is following Jesus.

42. * Get up and follow Jesus’ Word.

43. 23 Jesus answered him, “If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. 24 Whoever does not love me does not keep my words. And the word that you hear is not mine but the Father's who sent me. • (John 14:23-24)

44. * Get up and follow Jesus’ Word. * Get up and follow Jesus’ no matter the cost.

45. 24 Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. 25 For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. 26 For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul? • (Matthew 16:24-26)

46. Denying Jesus: The Path to Restoration * The path to restoration recognizes that you cannot go back to your old life. * The path to restoration is initiated by Jesus' response to our sorrow. * The path to restoration is running to Jesus no matter how far you have fallen. * The path to restoration is Jesus reminding you of His power and calling. * The path to restoration is loving Jesus. * The path to restoration is serving His flock. * The path to restoration is following Jesus.

47. Response * If you have denied who Jesus is, come to Christ. * If you are in Christ, get up and press on.

48. 12 Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. 13 Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. 15 Let those of us who are mature think this way, and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal that also to you. 16 Only let us hold true to what we have attained. • (Philippians 3:12-16)