Come and See

1. Read: John 1:43-46

2. About the Text:

1) We see in this passage the call of Philip.

2) Philip tells his brother Nathaniel that he has found the Messiah.

3) When Nathaniel questions him, Philip replies, “Come and see.”

4) We would do well to imitate Philip’s example today.

5) Often people are merely waiting for an invitation from us to learn more about the gospel.

6) We don’t have to be eloquent and polished professional speakers to talk to them.

7) The words of Philip to Nathaniel were sufficient in their day and in ours as well.

8) With these thoughts in mind, let’s see what we can say to others about the gospel.

3. Ref. to S, T, P, O, and A.

1. Psalm 66:5-7 “Come and see the works of God: he is terrible (or awe inspiring) in his doing toward (or on behalf of) the children of men. He turned the sea into dry land: they went through the flood on foot: there did we rejoice in him. He ruleth by his power for ever; his eyes behold the nations: let not the rebellious exalt themselves.”

i. The Psalmist expresses the wonderful works that God did for the children of Israel.

ii. God did these works on their behalf or for their benefit.

iii. These works inspired the Israelites to rejoice and give reverence to God.

2. Today we invite others to come and see the works of God on behalf of men as well.

i. We invite them to see God’s work of grace through his Son Jesus.

1) John 3:16

2) Romans 5:6-11 “For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life. And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement.”

ii. We invite them to see and understanding the work of God that is the Bible.

1) 2 Tim.3:16, 17 “All scripture is inspired of God . . . .”

2) 2 Peter 1:21 “For the prophecy came not in old time . . . “

3) The Bible is the work of God.

iii. We invite them to come and see the work of God in unfolding his plan for man’s salvation.

1) The great commission; Matthew 28:18-20; Mark 16:15, 16; Luke 24:47.

2) The book of Acts and the cases of conversion.

3) “What must I do to be saved?” Acts 2, Acts 9, Acts 16.

4) Hear, Believe, Repent, Confess, Be Baptized.

3. And so we say, “Come and see the works of God.”

1. Isaiah 66:18 “For I know their works and their thoughts: it shall come, that I will gather all nations and tongues; and they shall come, and see my glory.”

i. Isaiah goes on to talk about the glory of God as it would appear in the coming kingdom.

ii. Isaiah speaks regarding the role of the Gentiles in this kingdom as well.

iii. The language makes us think about the reconcilliation of Jews and Gentiles in the church through the blood of Christ.

iv. Ephesians 2:14-17 “For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us; Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace; And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby: And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh.”

2. We invite men to see God’s glory in His church.

i. Ephesians 3:20, 21 “Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.”

ii. This is the same church for which Christ died.

1) Acts 20:28.

2) Ephesians 5:25 “Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;”

iii. This is the church for which Jesus is the Savior. Ephesians 5:23 “For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body.”

3. We invite men to see God’s glory in his word.

i. 2 Corinthians 4:6 “For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.”

ii. Col.1:27 “To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:”

4. We invite men to see God’s glory in the cross.

i. Galatians 6:14 “But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world.”

ii. 1 Corinthians 1:23 ” But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness…. That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord”

5. And so we say, “Come and see the glory of God.”

1. John 1:43-46 “The day following Jesus would go forth into Galilee, and findeth Philip, and saith unto him, Follow me. Now Philip was of Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter. Philip findeth Nathanael, and saith unto him, We have found him, of whom Moses in the law, and the prophets, did write, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph. And Nathanael said unto him, Can there any good thing come out of Nazareth? Philip saith unto him, Come and see.”

2. They saw that he is the Son of God.

i. Matthew 14:32, 33 “And when they were come into the ship, the wind ceased. Then they that were in the ship came and worshipped him, saying, Of a truth thou art the Son of God.”

ii. Matthew 27:54 “Now when the centurion, and they that were with him, watching Jesus, saw the earthquake, and those things that were done, they feared greatly, saying, Truly this was the Son of God.”

iii. John 1:34, “And I saw, and bare record that this is the Son of God.”

iv. John 1:49 “Nathanael answered and saith unto him, Rabbi, thou art the Son of God; thou art the King of Israel.”

v. John 20:30, 31 “Many other signs . . . .”

3. We invite others to see the Son of God today as we live our lives.

i. John 15:4-8 “Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned. If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you. Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.”

ii. Galatians 2:20 “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.”

4. We can invite others to see the Son of God today through the people of God.

i. 1 Peter 2:9, 10 “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: Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.

ii. Romans 9:25, 26 “As he saith also in Hosea, I will call that my people, which was not my people; And her beloved, that was not beloved. And it shall be, that in the place where it was said unto them, Ye are not my people, There shall they be called sons of the living God.”

iii. We are God’s children, people, sons and daughters if we do the will of the Father.

iv. Phil.2:14-16 “Do all things without murmurings and disputings: That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world; Holding forth the word of life; that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither laboured in vain.”

5. And so we say, “Come and see the Son of God living within his people.”

1. One of the simplest things that we can say to others regarding the gospel is “Come and See.”

i. Come and see the works of God.

ii. Come and see the glory of God.

iii. Come and see the Son of God living in His people.

2. Invitation

i. If you are a Christian but have fallen away

1) Do you manifest the works of God in your life?

2) Do you glorify God in your life?

3) Do people see Christ living in you any more?

4) If not, then you need to repent this very day.

ii. If you are not a Christian this morning . . .

1) We want you to start showing in your life.

i) The works of God

ii) The glory of God

iii) The Son of God

2) You can start doing this by being obedient to the gospel!

i) Hear the word; Romans 10:17 “Faith comes by hearing . . .”

ii) Believe with all your heart; Hebrews 11:6 “For without faith it is impossible . . . .”

iii) Repent of your sins (Acts 17:30).

iv) Confess Jesus as the Son of God (Matt.16:16).

v) Be baptized for the remission of your sins (Mark 16:15,16).