JOHN 12:42–SOME BELIEVE AND DON’T CONFESS
March 21, 2019
2 MINUTE READ TIME
Hi. Are the rulers in John 12:42 who don’t confess believers?
Some teachers incorrectly teach these rulers aren’t believers because they don’t confess. These same teachers teach that these rulers were demonstrating a non-genuine faith.
John tells us that these rulers had believed in Christ. So far, we have seen that in John, there is a good reason to understand every reference to believing in Christ as a genuine offer or reception of salvation. This passage would be no different. So, these rulers were born-again believers, but because of their fear (not of death, but a loss of the favor of men), they were not willing to openly identify with Jesus.
The conduct of these rulers does not fulfill the conditions for discipleship stated elsewhere in the Gospels. They do not confess Christ publicly (Matt. 10:32-33), they are not willing to take up their cross or suffer for their identity with Christ (Luke 9:23b), and they are not willing to deny themselves the praise of men (Luke 9:23a).
We conclude that these rulers were saved, but in their new and immature state, they were not ready to advance into the commitments necessary to become disciples of Jesus Christ. The immature faith of untrustworthy believers is a subtle motif in John seen already in 2:23-25. The story of Nicodemus is another example. He goes from secret inquirer (John 3:1-4) to feeble defender of Christ (John 7:47-52), to full public identification with Christ (John 19:39-42). The parents of the blind man and Joseph of Arimathea also acted discreetly about their faith (John 9:22; 19:38).
This discipleship truth should be understood by many Christians around the world who experience the fear that comes from confessing Christ to their families and their communities. In many situations, their lives are at stake. We need to be careful not to impose a western Judeo-Christian society interpretation on this passage or on the actions of other believers who live in places hostile to Christians. God saves weak and fearful Christians. Courage is not a condition for salvation, but it is a condition for discipleship. Those who want to be true disciples will follow Jesus despite persecution and even their death.
SOURCES USED
Anderson, David R. Free Grace Soteriology: 3rd Edition. Grace Theology Press, page 188.
Bing, Charles C. Grace, Salvation, and Discipleship: How to Understand Some Difficult Bible Passages. Grace Theology Press, pages 128-129.