Attitudes and actions that garner God’s blessings
• What is this series about?
• An examination of 21 attitudes and behaviors
identified in the New Testament as “blessed”
• A look at Christian conduct and characteristics
that will enrich our lives with lasting joy
• A look at the condition of those who lack
these qualities
• Outline (John 20:24-31)
• Doubting Thomas
• Believing is seeing
• The blessing of believing without seeing
• The cursed life: the seeing unbelievers
• The challenge for us: believe the testimony
• Doubting Thomas (John 20:24-29)
• One of the 12 apostles, a witness of His works
• Not present when Jesus appeared alive to the others
• Refused to believe what he could not see & touch
• Do we struggle with that too?
• Don’t be too hard on Thomas though…
• When He saw Jesus, the evidence was undeniable
• He believed, He worshipped
• But Jesus pronounced a blessing on those who believe
without seeing
“Blessed are they who did not see, and yet believed”
• Believing is seeing (not the other way around)
• Faith is the conviction of things not seen (Heb. 11:1)
• We walk by faith, not by sight (2 Cor. 5:7)
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Faith in the identity of Jesus
Faith in His atonement on the cross
Faith in His resurrection
Faith in His authority
Faith in His commands/teachings
Faith in His second-coming
Faith in the testimony of the many witnesses
• Faith comes by hearing God’s word (Rom. 10:17)
Believing is seeing: spiritual sight of God at work, His
plan unfolding through the ages and in our own lives
• The blessing of believing without seeing
• Those who believe the testimony will overcome the
world (1 John 5:5-11)
• Believing without seeing leads to salvation (1 Pet. 1:8-9)
• Faith gives us hope (Rom. 8:24-25; 2 Cor. 4:18)
“A faithful man will abound with blessings” (Prov. 28:20)
• The cursed life: the seeing unbelievers
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John 6:36 – they saw Christ, but did not believe
John 15:24 – they saw Him and hated Him
2 Cor. 4:4 – they are blinded
John 9:39-41 – they remain in their sins
3 John 11 – they do evil
Heb. 11:6 – they cannot please God
Unbelievers today are those who refuse to believe the
evidence of testimony…they continue in the curse of
spiritual blindness
• The challenge for us: to believe the testimony
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Our faith is not built on ignorance…there is evidence!
John the baptizer testified (John 1:15,34)
Jesus’ works testified (John 5:36)
The Father testified (John 5:37)
The Old Testament Scriptures testified (John 5:39)
Disciples testified (John 12:17)
Holy Spirit testified (John 15:26)
12 Apostles testified (Acts 4:33)
Apostle Paul testified (Acts 18:5)
Be not ashamed of believing the testimony (2 Tim. 1:8)
“He who gives attention to the word will find good,
And blessed is he who trusts in the LORD” (Prov. 16:20)
• Summary
• Thomas refused to believe what he could not see…let
us learn from his example
• Faith is sight: Belief enables us to see God
• The cursed life: unbelievers are those who reject the
evidence, and they cannot please God
• Our challenge: to believe the evidence and live
accordingly, holy and faithful until death
“Blessed are they who did not see, and yet
believed”
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Believe in Jesus Christ (John 14:1; Acts 16:30-34)
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Repent of your past sins (Acts 17:30; 2 Peter 3:9)
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Baptism puts you into Christ (Romans 6:3-5; Galatians 3:27)
Baptism is for the forgiveness of sins (Acts 2:38; Acts 22:16)
Baptism saves you (1 Peter 3:21)
Be faithful until death (Revelation 2:10)
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Declare your belief that Jesus is God’s Son (Acts 8:37)
Receive Baptism (Matthew 28:19; Acts 2:41; Acts 8:12)
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Commit yourself to holy conduct (Acts 26:30; Titus 2:11-12)
Confess your faith (Matthew 10:32)
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That He died for your sins and was resurrected (1 Cor. 15:3-4)
Trust His grace and obey His commands (Hebrews 5:9)
Or face the retribution due to those who do not obey
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2 Thessalonians 1:8; Romans 2:8; John 3:36
Pray without ceasing…Practice what Jesus preached…Prepare for our next assembly