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`They are of the world: therefore ... the world heareth them'.
`We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us'.
`He that is not of God heareth not us' (1 John 4:5,6).
This most vital and far reaching principle is expressed in parable form
in John's other writing, the Gospel. The sheep hear His voice.
`But ye believe not, because ye are not of My sheep ... My sheep hear
My voice' (John 10:26,27).
`All that ever came before Me are thieves and robbers: but the sheep
did not hear them' (John 10:8).
These are solemn words. They indicate that unless there be something
corresponding within, the work of the gospel will remain unheard. Something
similar is found in John 8.
`Why do ye not understand My speech? even because ye cannot hear My
word'.
`He (the devil) ... abode not in the truth, because there is no truth
in him' (John 8:43,44).
Again we read:
`By hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand' (Matt. 13:14).
`Who hath ears to hear, let him hear' (Matt. 13:9).
On the road to Damascus, Saul of Tarsus `heard a voice', but the men
which journeyed with him stood speechless, `hearing a voice' (Acts 9:4,7).
The record of Acts 22:9 says `They heard not the voice of Him that spake'.
This is no contradiction. Men may hear a sound, as in John 12:28 and 29,
without recognizing the words uttered:
`Then came there a voice from heaven, saying, I have both glorified it,
and will glorify it again'.
`The people therefore, that stood by, and heard it, said that it
thundered: others said, An angel spake to Him'.
It is very evident that these Scriptures countenance the idea suggested
above that there must be something within the spiritual ear, even as there is
in the physical ear, which responds to the vibration or message given.
For the moment we leave the matter there, but it is evident that most
serious issues are at stake if such should prove to be true. Hearing and
recognizing the Shepherd's voice is one of the essential signs of being a
`sheep', and this we find is true in present conversion and in future
resurrection.
`He that heareth My word, and believeth on Him that sent Me, hath
everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed
from death unto life' (John 5:24).
This very wonderful association between `hearing', `believing' and
`life' is expressed in verse 25 as follows: