To The Blind He Gives Sight
Categories: Sermon Outlines, Topical Sermon OutlinesSUBJECT: Salvation
TITLE: To the Blind He Gives Sight
PROPOSITION: In this sermon we will examine the statement, “To The Blind He Gives Sight.” He does this because there is, 1) A Need–the blind need to see, 2) A Name–only He has this authority, 3) A Notion–the blind who see will tell others, 4) A Nation–the blind who see will believe and worship together, and 5) A Night–an eternal blindness is coming for those who do not see.
OBJECTIVES: Each listener should be able to 1) state the need to see, 2) state the authority of the one who causes us to see, 3) state why we tell others about this opportunity, 4) state the bond of our being together in worship, 5) state the ultimate fate of those who refuse to see.
AIM: I want to impress upon each hearer that God wants all men to be saved and to come to the truth. To help the congregation become more evangelistic.
INTRODUCTION:
1. Read: John 9:1-3
2. About the Text:
1) While walking down the road, the apostles come across a blind man.
2) They ask why this man was born blind.
a. The current philosophy of the day was that if something was wrong with you, then either you or someone you know did something wrong to merit your problem.
b. Jesus rejects this philosophy and says that there is a greater purpose at work here.
3) Jesus says that this man was born blind to show the works of God.
4) The story of this blind man and his subsequent journey is fascinating.
5) There are several things that we can learn from this man in this story that can be applied to us today.
6) Let us study together, “To the Blind, He Gives Sight!”
3. Ref. to S, T, P, O, and A.
DISCUSSION: To the blind he gives sight because there is . . .
I. A Need–The blind need to see.
1. Read John 9:6, 7
1) Jesus knew that he could heal this blind man.
2) Jesus made clay out of his own spittle.
3) He anointed the blind man’s eyes with this spittle.
4) He told the blind man to go wash in the pool of Siloam.
5) The blind man, wanting to see, went and washed in the pool.
2. The blind need to see today as well!
1) The blind are those who are in sin/darkness. “And I will bring distress upon men, that they shall walk like blind men, because they have sinned against the LORD: and their blood shall be poured out as dust, and their flesh as the dung” (Zephaniah 1:17).
2) God has promised to “Open the eyes” of the blind.
a. God prophesied through Isaiah that the blind would see. “Thus saith God the LORD, he that created the heavens, and stretched them out; he that spread forth the earth, and that which cometh out of it; he that giveth breath unto the people upon it, and spirit to them that walk therein: I the LORD have called thee in righteousness, and will hold thine hand, and will keep thee, and give thee for a covenant of the people, for a light of the Gentiles; To open the blind eyes, to bring out the prisoners from the prison, and them that sit in darkness out of the prison house.” (Isaiah 42:5-7).
b. This prophecy is quoted throughout the New Testament as being fulfilled in Jesus Christ. (Luke 2:32, Acts 13:47; Acts 26:23).
3) Jesus IS the light of the world and those who are blind today may see through his power! “Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life” (John 8:12).
4) But just as the blind man obeyed Jesus and went and washed in the pool of Siloam to receive his sight, those who want sight today must obey Jesus as well. He is the author of eternal salvation “unto all them that obey Him.” (Hebrews 5:9).
5) If the blind man had refused to go wash, where would he be today?
3. Are you someone who needs to see today?
II. A Name–Only Jesus has the authority to do this.
1. Read John 9:3-5
1) Jesus came to manifest the works of God and show His authority over all things.
2) This one miracle alone proved that he was the Son of God.
3) As such, He and he alone has divine claim.
4) He is THE one, true, light of the world.
2. Jesus is the only one who has authority today as well.
1) He owns the name which is above all names. “Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” (Philippians2:9-11).
2) It is only through His name through that salvation is offered. “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.” (Acts 4:12).
3) He has been given all authority in heaven and earth and he commands us to take the light of the gospel to the blind. “And Jesus came to them and spake unto them, saying, All authority hath been given unto me in heaven and on earth. Go ye therefore, and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them into the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit: teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I commanded you: and lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world.” (Matthew 28:18-20).
3. Do you recognize the power to see in this great name?
III. A Notion–The blind will tell others of the work of God in their life.
1. Read John 9:8-34
1) Notice the neighbors of this man ask about him.
2) He tells them what happened.
3) They take him to the Pharisees.
4) He tells them what happened.
5) He says that Jesus is a prophet.
6) He says that Jesus is one whom God hears.
7) He says that Jesus is a worshipper of God.
2. Those who have been blind and now see WANT to tell others of the work of God in their life.
1) The apostle Paul recognized this.
a. “For so hath the Lord commanded us, saying, I have set thee to be a light of the Gentiles, that thou shouldest be for salvation unto the ends of the earth.” (Acts 13:47).
b. “But rise, and stand upon thy feet: for I have appeared unto thee for this purpose, to make thee a minister and a witness both of these things which thou hast seen, and of those things in the which I will appear unto thee; Delivering thee from the people, and from the Gentiles, unto whom now I send thee, To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.” (Acts 26:16-18).
2) The apostle John recognized this.
a. “In him was life; and the life was the light of men. And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.” (John 1:4, 5).
b. “That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world. He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not. He came unto his own, and his own received him not. But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.” (John 1:9-13).
3. Do you want to tell others of how Christ helped you to see?
IV. A Nation–The blind who now see want to believe and worship God.
1. Read John 9:35-38
1) The blind man who now sees is found by Jesus.
2) Jesus asks him if he believes on the Christ.
3) The former blind man wanted to know who he was so he could believe.
4) Jesus said it was him.
5) The former blind man said that he believed.
6) The former blind man then worshipped him.
2. Those today who have accepted Christ’s will in their lives were formerly blind, but now they see and they seek to believe and worship the Christ as His people.
1) They are the holy nation of God. “But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light.” (1 Peter 2:9).
2) They are His people whom He established in the mountain. “And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the LORD’S house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it. And many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem. And he shall judge among the nations, and shall rebuke many people: and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks: nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.”
3) They are His kingdom. ” Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son.” (Colossians 1:13).
4) The kingdom is the church. “And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven…” (Matthew 16:18,19).
5) This is where God is glorified today! “Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.” (Ephesians 3:21).
3. Is your fellowship with the blind who now see?
V. A Night–The night of darkness is coming for all who will not see.
1. Read John 9:4
2. Read John 9:39-41
1) Jesus spoke of the night that is coming.
2) There will be no more work for Him in that night.
3) He spoke of those who refuse to accept sight from him.
4) He came to judge them.
a. That they which see may not see.
b. That they which see may be blind.
5) The Pharisees were among these.
3. There is a night coming for those who remain in blindness today.
1) These are the blind who lead the blind. ” Let them alone: they be blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch.” (Matthew 15:14).
2) They claim to “see” now, but they do not see. “For this people’s heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them.” (Matthew 13:15, Acts 28:27).
3) These will end up in a place of utter darkness where there will no longer be any sight.
a. “And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” Matthew 25:30.
b. “And the angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, he hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day. . . . Raging waves of the sea, foaming out their own shame; wandering stars, to whom is reserved the blackness of darkness for ever.” (Jude 1:6, 13).
c. “These are wells without water, clouds that are carried with a tempest; to whom the mist of darkness is reserved for ever.” (2 Peter 2:17).
4. Do not be caught blind at His coming! He gives sight. Will you receive it today?
CONCLUSION:
1. To the Blind He Gives Sight because there is
1) A Need
2) A Name
3) A Notion
4) A Nation
5) A Night
2. Invitation
1) If you are a Christian but have fallen away
a. Have your turned your eyes away from him?
b. Turn back those eyes that you may see the light once again.
2) If you are not a Christian this morning . . .
a. You are in darkness.
b. Being in darkness is no different than being blind.
c. Will you come to His light today?
d. You can have His light in your life and be no longer blind, but seeing!
a) Hear the word; Romans 10:17 “Faith comes by hearing . . .”
b) Believe with all your heart; Hebrews 11:6 “For without faith it is impossible . . . .”
c) Repent of your sins (Acts 17:30).
d) Confess Jesus as the Son of God (Matthew16:16).
e) Be baptized for the remission of your sins (Mark 16:15,16).