## Without the Savior

## John 6:16-21

The passage we just read is preceeded by the familiar story of Christ feeding the 5000. It is at the climax of Christ's popularity as a preacher. At this point, multitudes are flocking to Christ, hoping to either have a iracle performed for them, or else, at least, to see a miracle performed by Him.

John 6:2 says a GREAT MULTITUDE followed Him. John 6:15 says they were going to attempt to force Him to become their king. THAT'S SOMETHING! We have all heard of people who tried to force their way into power or prominence. HERE, THE PEOPLE WERE GOING TO ATTEMPT TO FORCE CHRIST TO BE KING, EVEN IF HE DIDN'T WANT TO BE! He was VERY popular. But, by the time this chapter is finished, the popularity is over. No one, except the disciples were left to follow Christ. Popularity is a fleeting thing! If you base your life on the popular thing, guaranteed, you will be in for a roler coaster ride!

Anyway, this story is one of the very last events in the life of Christ,while He was still considered popular to the multitudes. I have given the message the title WITHOUT THE SAVIOR.

The story begins with the disciples out, in a boat, without the Lord. That is never a good position to be in! Without the Lord.

I. Notice, while they were without Christ It Was Dark. v 17

- There is nothing as dark as being without Jesus!
- He is the true light that lightens the world!
- In heaven, there is no need of the sun, because Christ is the light of it!
- He is a literal light!
- So, to be without Christ, a person is really in the dark.

A. There is no hope.

1. All the hope of heaven and earth rests upon the person of Christ.

a. He gives us the hope of a purposeful life.

b. He gives us the hope of forgiven sins.

c. And He gives us the hope of an eternal home in heaven.

2. Take away Christ, and all a person has to hope in is whims and wishes.

3. With Christ, there is a solid hope, based on the fact that Jesus died and rose again!

B. There is no truth.

1. All that is Christ is true, alll that denies Christ is false.

2. The educators of the world, the scientists and great scholars, are ever learning...

3. But without Christ, never coming to the knowledge of the truth.

C. There is no direction. (JOHN 14:6) "JESUS SAITH UNTO HIM, I AM THE WAY, THE TRUTH, AND THE LIFE: NO MAN COMETH UNTO THE FATHER, BUT BY ME."

1. Jesus provides directions in life.

2. He also provides the only directions to heaven.

3. You take away Christ and a person is really in the DARK!

II. Without Christ the Winds Blew. vs 18

Wind is an "invisible thing" that holds great power. You can't see it. Yet you can feel it. And if it is strong enough, it is as dangerous as anything this world knows.

A. The winds of doubt and fear: you can't see doubt and fear, but you sure can feel them. And when they are strong enough, they can cause great problems.

1. Imagine a person, lost, without directions, and in the absolute dark.

2. At first, some doubts begin. "I don't know if I can find my way out of this."

3. And then the fears begin, "I am going to die!"

B. That is exactly what happens to a person without Christ.

1. There are the doubts. "Is there really life after death? Is there really a hell? Will I go there?"

2. Pretty soon, panic sets in because Christ is the answer to all of these and multitudes of other concerns.

C. The troubled sea speaks of the turmoils of life we face.

1. Without Christ life is hard.

2. There are many difficulties we must face alone.

But notice with me now, what happened to the disciples when Christ came:

IV. When They Saw Christ - They Were Afraid. v19

I have found that many people are afraid when they first find out about Christ! The first time they hear Jesus preached. The first time they are invited to accept Christ as Saviour. A lot of people are afraid!

A. They are afraid of the changes they might need to make.

1. Most of us know we do things we shouldn't do.

2. And most of us would like to forget that we do them!

3. We are afraid to have to try to quit.

4. We know that no wrong habit, no sin practice, none of that gives up easily in our lives!

5. We are afraid that we will have to change those habits and sinful practices, and that will not be easy to do!

6. Jesus will desire us to "go and sin no more", but He also gives us the grace to change as Time goes by.

B. They are afraid to face death and hell.

1. Jesus brings us face to face with the fact that we are going to die someday.

2. He doesn't let us get away with the fact that we are sinners.

3. He tells us straight out that after we die we face the judgment.

4. And He goes on to tell us that our sin will send us to hell if not forgiven!

5. None of that is pleasant news, and often we are afraid to face it!

C. They are afraid of what others will say.

1. I wonder how many people are in hell today because they were afraid of what their friends would say if they became Christians?

2. I have met many today who are not Christians for that very reason!

3. "I want to go to hell, that is where all my friends will be." -- a foolish person

D. They are afraid of the commitments that Christ will ask us to make.

1. Salvation is more than just forgiveness of sins.

2. Salvation calls for us to make a committment to the Savior.

3. When the disciples first saw Christ coming to them, they were afraid!

V. When They Knew It Was Christ, They Received Him Into The Ship.

A. Jesus Christ is God!

1. That means He is all mighty!

2. He is able to do anything he desires to do.

3. He is able to all things, but most importantly...

4. Jesus is able to forgive sins, rescue a lost soul, and give each one who comes to Him eternal life!

B. Jesus Christ is Good.

1. That means that the One who holds all knowledge and all power plans to use it for all good!

(ROM 8:28) "AND WE KNOW THAT ALL THINGS WORK TOGETHER FOR GOOD TO THEM THAT LOVE GOD, TO THEM WHO ARE THE CALLED ACCORDING TO HIS PURPOSE."

2. Think about that! When we receive Christ into our life, He promises that ALL THINGS WILL WORK TOGETHER FOR GOOD!

3. Whenever there is a storm in your life, He'll use it for good.

4. Whenever there is a problem in our life, He will turn it out for good!

VI. When They Received Jesus In, They Were Safe On The Land. v 21

When Jesus the moment you let Christ into your life, three things happen:

A. You are safe from the storms.

1. That does not mean no more storms will come.

2. Nor does it mean you won't suffer some in this body from them.

3. But it means that none of those things can hurt you eternally.

4. And none of them will be used for anything BUT your good!

B. You are secure from your sins.

(1 JOHN 2:1) "MY LITTLE CHILDREN, THESE THINGS WRITE I UNTO YOU, THAT YE SIN NOT. AND IF ANY MAN SIN, WE HAVE AN ADVOCATE WITH THE FATHER, JESUS CHRIST THE RIGHTEOUS:"

1. As soon as we receive Christ into our life, He becomes our advocate before the throne of heaven.

2. As Christians, we ought to quit our sins.

(TITUS 2:12) "TEACHING US THAT, DENYING UNGODLINESS AND WORLDLY LUSTS, WE SHOULD LIVE SOBERLY, RIGHTEOUSLY, AND GODLY, IN THIS PRESENT WORLD;"

3. But we are not perfect, and when we fail, Jesus is there to make things right with God the Father!

C. You are Settled in heaven.

(EPH 2:6) "AND HATH RAISED US UP TOGETHER, AND MADE US SIT TOGETHER IN HEAVENLY PLACES IN CHRIST JESUS:"

1. This verse is all written in the present tense.

2. It does not say that we will some day sit together with Christ.

3. It says we are already sitting together in heavenly places in Christ.

4. The very moment we ask Christ to save us, our place in heaven is already settled!

Without Christ it is dark The winds are blowing and the seas are rising. With Christ it is safe secure and settled. Which would you rather be?

With Christ or without Him; it makes all the difference in where we will spend eternity. Jesus Christ is God and He is good, why wouldn't you receive Him? Every fear you have about Christ will be settled if you will only come to Him in faith and ask Him into your life! He won't force His way into your life! YOU must choose to ask Him in!