Our Life and Hope

I love History, as a subject and as an idea.  When I look at old things, the age of them amazes me.  To think that someone else, somewhere else, many many years ago, crafted, wore, and valued the item I’m looking at is incredible. Mankind is vastly outlived by its legacy. These items are not just items, they are products of an era, and their design and existence reflect the thinking, the fears, and the dreams of the times that produced it. They are a part of the bedrock that produced who we are and what we go through. Great men and women, secondary causes of the purposes of God through history, existed alongside them, held them and crafted them. One item in particular that amazes me and has lead me to praise God for his work, is Charles Spurgeon’s Bible on display in The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary’s library. In it are the very words made of the very ink on the very pages that our Lord inspired the great preacher with, as well as the beautiful and meticulous handwriting of Spurgeon written in the margins of the pages. When I look at things like these, the world around me fades and becomes a crafted vision of the past, where heroes and giants of the Faith and times work to form history. I imagine their fingerprints living out beyond their body, stuck to the silver, gold or wood, fingerprints that are slowly replaced by others.

Worth Dying For

This morning my wife was talking about the music on one of our local Christian radio stations. She wisely pointed out that there is a certain theme present in some of “popular” “Christian” music. The idea running through some popular KLOVE/WAY FM style music, is that, "Jesus died for you because you are worth dying for."

Jesus did not die for anyone because they were worth dying for, but those for whom Jesus died are now worth that death… What do I mean? Let me explain in the following.

John 6:44 and some necessary implications.

Jesus says,

“No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him. And I will raise him up on the last day” –John 6:44

No person on the face of the planet has the ability or desire to come to Christ unless the Father draws that person to Christ.

And when once the Father draws a person to Christ, what does Christ say that he does to that person? He raises them up on the last day.

Why does he raise them up on the last day?

He does so because, he has come to do the Fathers will, which is that he raise up every individual that the Father gives him.

“All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out. For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will but the will of him who sent me. And this is the will of him who sent me, that I should loose nothing of all that he has given me, but raise it up on the last day.”-John 6:37-39

Look carefully:

Fact1: No one is able to come to Christ unless they are drawn to him by the Father.

Fact2: Every single person who the Father gives to Christ, Christ will certainly raise up on the last day.

Consider this, if you are completely wedded to the idea that God must endeavor to save everyone equally because everyone deserves a “chance” and otherwise, he’s not “loving” or “fair.” Then you are forced into a position of absolute Universalism, where every person without distinction will be saved. Because if this drawing is universal, then the salvation that accompanies it must be universal.

Keeping in mind that (in light of such clear passages as Psa. 51:5; Psa. 58:3; Rom. 1: 18-25; Rom. 3:9-18, 23; Rom. 6:23; Rom. 8:7-8; Eph. 2:1-3 and Mat. 10:28, just to skim the surface), no one deserves a “chance” and if God gave to every man what the deserved, every man on the face of the earth would go immediately to Hell. And that if grace is grace, then it cannot be grounded in the merit or “worthiness” of the creature, so God is not obligated to be gracious to anyone in anyway at anytime, ever. Individuals only ever receive mercy or justice from God. No one will ever receive injustice.

Otherwise, you must conclude that God has mercifully worked to save a particular undeserving people in Christ. And this work he will certainly accomplish, because he is faithful to carry out to completion the good work he begins in a person.

“And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.” –Philippians 1:6

There is NO other option.

It must be the latter, and this work he has accomplished before the foundation of the world, because God chose us who are “faithful saints” in Christ before the foundation of the world.

“Even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love he predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will.”-Ephesians 2:4-5

However this work is obviously occurring in time, and God has always used means to accomplish his purposes. And God’s choosing of a particular people in Christ in no way removes the command for his people to continue preaching the Gospel. The Gospel is the means. It is the power of God for salvation.

“For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.”-Romans 1:16

Not because it is attractive to dead, God hating rebels (don’t forget, “among whom we all once lived”-Eph. 2:1-3) but because it is “foolish” to them, and “a stumbling block” and by this God will save some.

“For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.” -1 Corinthians 1:18

“For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, it pleased God through the folly of what we preach to save those who believe.” –Corinthians 1:21

“But we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles, but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.” -1Corinthians 1:23-24

Don’t you see, that the difference between those to whom the gospel is a stumbling block and foolish, and those to whom it is the power and wisdom of God, is the particular calling of God? And this calling, which has its foundation in the active foreknowledge and predestination of God, necessarily results in justification and glorification, so it cannot be a universal calling.

“For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed into the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.” –Romans 8:29-30

Likewise, every person, regenerate and non-regenerate alike, has a moral obligation because of who God is to recognize him as King and Lord and to turn from their willful sin against his holiness to repentance. God electing a particular people in Christ and working for their salvation, in no way removes this obligation from those whom he elects. They also must repent, and place their faith in Christ, because like the preaching of the Gospel, repentance and faith are the means by which God saves his people.

Lastly, this sovereign work of God does not undermine or ignore the truth of such passages as John 3:16. It is certainly true and always stands that any individual who turns to Christ in repentance and faith will find him to be a perfect savior. And this is what we must boldly proclaim! Whoever believes in Christ will not perish under the just wrath of God, but will have everlasting life. John 3:16 says everything about what will certainly occur when a person runs to Christ in faith, but is says nothing about who has the ability to run to Christ in faith. John addresses that elsewhere, namely in chapter 6, verse 44.

“No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him. And I will raise him up on the last day”

As believers we praise God that he is merciful and has not left us in our wickedness. We praise God that he has graciously caused us to love that which we once hated, namely himself. We praise God that he is now working in us to will and to do according to his good pleasure.

The Scriptures do not teach that God tries as hard as he can and fails with regularity.

The Scriptures do however, teach that God is Sovereign and mighty, and accomplishes ALL of his purposes.

“Declaring the end from the beginning

and from ancient times things not yet done,

saying, ‘My council shall stand,

and I will accomplish all my purpose.’” –Isaiah 46:10

Shouldn’t John 6:44 cause us to fall on our face and weep with joy at the mercy of the Lord? Praise God for his salvation purpose, which he is accomplishing in Christ Jesus.

Another instance of the shaping of our culture through the romanticizing of ridiculous notions.

So while my wife and I were browsing the New Release wall in Blockbuster deciding on a movie to rent, we come across this film to your left. "Ondine," starring Colin Farrell. The movie itself didn't really catch my eye, and it was my wife who pointed it out to me, specifically she pointed out the caption under the title.

"The truth is not what you know. It's what you believe."

And here you have yet another open and unapologetic shaping of American culture.

There are two main elements present here,

a) Objective Truths (Factual Knowledge)

and

b) Individual Perception of Given Objective Truths

The caption asserts that the truth is not found in the Facts (objective truths), rather it is found in how you perceive the Objective Truths.

This is ridiculous, and is at the heart of postmodernism in our culture.

When presented in a setting like the movie above, or set within certain parameters, it appears romantic, philosophical and deep. It is hardly romantic, barely philosophical, and as deep as the surface area of a penny. It's hogwash. It teaches us to say,

"I don't care if the doctor, my mom, the scale on the wall and that picture of me say I'm 5' 1", I sincearly believe with all my heart that I'm 6' 7", so the truth must be that I'm 6' 7"."

"The truth is not what you know. It's what you believe."

There is no longer in secular culture an objective standard for truth. Truth is whatever you want it to be. You believe I'm 5' 1", and thats true for you. I believe I'm 6' 7", and thats true for me. Were both right. You believe Yahweh is God and the Christian Scriptures are His Word, I believe Allah is God and the Muslim Scriptures are His Word. Were both right, both things are true. I don't care that Yahweh declares Allah to be a false god, and I don't care that Allah declares Yahweh to be a false god.

Lets all just,

And so by seeking to "find truth" we loose it. We have no objective standard for morality or truth, and we have no logic, Truth can be "Truth" and "Not Truth" at the same time and in the same way.

There you have it, another, albeit small instance of the shaping of our culture through the romanticizing of ridiculous notions, Foolishness.

The Bread of Life

The Bread of Life

A brief look at John 6:25-40

The passage we’re looking at sits smack in the middle of chapter 6. Jesus having begun his public ministry has been traveling, preaching and doing miracles. After traveling through Samaria to Galilee, he heals an official’s son, and the blind man by the pool Bethesda and has the Jews wanting to kill him for speaking blasphemy. He explains to them the authority he has as the Son of God, and speaks of the great witness to the truth of his person. Now in Chapter 6, Jesus has crossed the Sea of Galilee, and celebrated Passover with the crowd that was following him by multiplying the loves and fish that a boy there had. That night after having retreated to the mountain by himself, Jesus meets his disciples on the Sea on their way across to Capernaum. After finding out that Jesus left in the night, the crowd follows him across to Capernaum. In our passage, they find him, and we will see closer what occurs.

Once again, keep in mind, Jesus has just fed the 5000, and what is taking place occurs on the heels of this sign that Jesus has done.

25-26:

“When they found him on the other side of the sea, they said to him, “Rabbi, when did you come here?” Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, you are seeking me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate your fill of the loaves.” (vv:25-26)

“Signs”

The word here translated “signs” is the greek σημεῖα (sēmeia) from σημεῖον (sémeion). σημεῖα is a plural noun in the accusative case and neuter gender. Strong’s gives the definition as, “Neuter of a presumed derivative of the base of semaino; an indication, especially ceremonially or supernaturally -- miracle, sign, token, wonder. “ With the following NASB usage: distinguishing mark (1), miracle (2), sign (35), signs (39) It indicates a miracle viewed as a proof of divine authority and majesty. Hence it leads the attention of the viewer away from the deed itself to the divine Doer of the deed. So while the sign itself is at work in the physical realm, it often illustrates a principle that is operative in the spiritual realm. See: Multiplication of loaves (6:14, 26, 30) points to Christ as the bread of life (6:35). Opening the eyes of the blind man (9:16) points to Christ as the light of the world (9:5). That is, light in the realm of the spiritual (9:39-41). The physical raising of Lazarus (11:47; 12:18) points to Christ giving spiritual life (11:23-27)

Jesus tells the crowd that has followed him across the sea, that they have followed him, and come looking for him based on the superficial and temporal aspect of what he did when he fed the gathered 5000.

While there may have been true believers present in the crowed that followed him, and surely his disciples were present, Jesus is here speaking to unbelievers. So we see this as a rebuke, and as a warning.

The unbelievers, being those who have not been regenerated by the Spirit of God, as all true believers have been (Ezekiel 36:26-27; John 3:3, 5-6; 1 John 5:1), and who do not thereby understand spiritual things (1 Corinthians 2:13-14), do no not see beyond the sign itself to what it signifies. They see all of the physical, but understand none of the spiritual. So they come to Jesus seeking the sign itself, that is the physical bread and physical nourishment, not the truth the sign points to, which is the body of the Messiah, which broken for and consumed by the believers, gives spiritual nourishment and spiritual life.

27:

“Do not labor for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of man will give you. For on him God the Father has set his seal.” (v27)

So Jesus rebukes them for working, yearning and laboring for physical food which like our bodies, is here today and gone tomorrow, and rots away. Rather, they ought to yearn for Jesus and work for the Spiritual food of his body, which endures to eternal life. Notice also that Jesus that he will give himself for those who believe and will believe in him.

Physical bread (The sign)	Jesus’ body (Spiritual bread, the thing signified
·Feeds the body	·Feeds the spirit
·Gives temporary life to the body	·Gives everlasting life to the spirit
·Needs to be broken and eaten over and over again	·Needs be broken once and never again

“For on him God the Father has set his seal.”

The Father has given the son authority and certified through John the Baptist, the many other works and signs, his own word and the Scriptures that Jesus is the real Messiah, the Son of God. (See also 5:30-47)

28:

“Then they said to him, “What must we do, to be doing the works of God?””(v28)

They still don’t get it! Their thought here seems to still be in regards to some physical action, they are still looking for something to do, like a law or laws to obey.

They are asking, “What do we have to do to do God’s kind of work, that will make us live forever?”

29:

“Jesus answered them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent.” (v29)

Jesus continues to tell them the physical aspect of the spiritual truth. Saying that God’s work that you must do, is believe in him (Jesus) who God has sent.

30:

“So they said to him, “Then what sign do you do, that we may see and believe you? What work do you perform?””

They now ask Jesus to prove his legitimacy.

Saying, “How do we know that we should believe you? Give us a sign, do a miracle to prove to us that you are telling us what God wants us to hear.”

This really shows the truth of their hardheartedness in the fact that they have given no care for and show no understanding of the signs Jesus has already performed. Specifically speaking, the one done no less than a day earlier, namely the feeding of the 5000, which as John McArthur says, and I agree, “is proof enough.”

31:

“Our fathers ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written, “He gave them bread to eat.””(v31)

To justify their asking for a sign and to give an example, they say that Moses gave them bread from heaven as a sign during the time of their fathers.

Saying in effect, “Jesus, you gave us bread from bread that was already in existence, and for only 5000[1], while Moses fed the whole nation of Israel. Furthermore, this bread came straight out of heaven. So if you are better than Moses, give us a better sign, out do Moses.”

32:

“Jesus then said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, it was not Moses who gave you the bread from heaven, but my Father gives you the true bread from heaven.” (v32)

Jesus corrects their misunderstanding of Nehemiah 9:15 which they quoted from, and tells them that it was never Moses who gave the bread; God gave the bread from heaven. And God also gives the true bread that is, the actual bread that was signified by the sign of the physical manna in the wilderness.

33:

“For the bread of God is he who comes down from heaven and gives live to the world.” (v33)

Furthermore, he continues to explain to them that the manna their fathers ate in the wilderness was only a type. That is, a picture or a foreshadowing of Jesus as the Christ. While the Manna from heaven was a type, Jesus was the antitype, the fulfillment of the picture. And is the actual bread from heaven, which gives spiritual life to the world. That is, mankind.

34:

“They said to him, “Sir, give us this bread always.” (v34)

Again, they completely misunderstand Jesus’ spiritual meaning, and think he is talking about physical bread baked in an oven that will give eternal life to the person who eats it. So, they ask Jesus to give them this special kind of “eternal life-bread.”

Notice the striking parallel between this statement and the one made by the Samaritan woman at the well. Her situation is much the same in that Jesus was telling her of his being the Living Water, something spiritually significant that she could not see. And she says to him,

“Sir, give me this water, so that I will not be thirsty or have to come here to draw water.” (John 4:15)

35:

“Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst.”” (v35)

So Jesus tells them very plainly,

“I am the bread of life.”

Whoever comes to him, that is believes in him, will never hunger or thirst spiritually.

Like physical bread physically fed the Israelites in their sojourn in wilderness while they waited for God to reveal the Promised Land, Jesus spiritually feeds the true Israelites (The children of promise, believers [Romans 9]) while they are sojourning in the wilderness (This physical world), waiting for the revealing of the true Promised Land of Heaven.

Note that here believing in Jesus is defined as coming to him

36:

“But I said to you that you have seen me and yet do not believe.” (v36)

In the spirit of v26 and recalling what he said there, Jesus is saying that they have merely seen but not understood or believed. Just like how they saw the feeding of the 5000, but had no understanding of or belief in what it signified. All they have done is see outwardly, but not understand or believe inwardly. And the blame for unbelief and failure to understand is placed squarely on them and their hardheartedness.

Let me here say that if one were to ask, “So if it’s my fault for not believing, does that mean that if I accept Jesus with a believing heart, I get the credit for believing?”

The answer is strongly, No.

God gets the credit because He has saved you, for His great name, not yours. God gets the glory for your belief and actions, not you.

Salvation is ever by grace and faith is ever the work of God in the heart of the blind unbelieving sinner.

After addressing the truth of man’s responsibility for his sin and unbelief, Jesus immediately affirms Gods sovereignty in saving men.

37:

“All that the Father gives me will come to me and whoever comes to me I will never cast out.” (v37)

Not only is belief the work of God that people do, bringing people to belief is the work of God that God does.

William Hendriksen said it well, “A person cannot be saved unless he comes to Jesus and he cannot come unless he is given (cf. especially 6:44) but “all that” is given will certainly come.”

So this is an explanation to the unbelievers, and encouragement to God’s children. Brothers and sisters, be encouraged that you have been loved while you were yet in open rebellion against God, and that the Lamb slain before the foundation of the world bore your sin in his body on the tree, and removed your rebellion from you. The Father has given you as a present of love to his beloved Son, quickening your heart by the work of his Spirit, and by his goodness has lead you to repentance and faith, transferring Jesus’ righteousness to your account. Take Joy that you have not been left to your own devices! Take joy that as you have been given to Jesus, you will never be cast out from him!

“All that”

“All that” in v 37 sees the elect as a unity. They are all one people. See also 6:39; 7:2, 24; 1 John 5:4

38:

“For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will but the will of him who sent me.” (v38)

All that the Father gives will certainly come, and all who come will never be cast out!

The reason this is completely certain is because it is God’s will that it occur. Don’t however think that the will of the Father and the Son ever clash, see the contrary taught in 4:34; 5:19; 17:4.

In light of the Jewish unbelievers who would have questioned the authority of what Jesus said, this means that whenever they oppose Jesus’ will, they are also opposing the will of the father.

39-40:

“And this is the will of him who sent me, that I should loose nothing of all that he has given me, but raise it up on the last day. For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.” (vv39-40)

And the will of the Father is that Jesus loose none of those whom he is given, and that he raise all of them up at the last day. Jesus both welcomes and guards those given to him by the Father.

“In these [John 6:37-39, 10:28; Rom. 8:29, 30, 38; 11:29; Phil. 1:6; Heb. 6:17; 2 Tim. 2:19; 1 Pet. 1:4, 5; etc] and many other passages Scripture teaches a council that cannot be changed, a calling that cannot be revoked, an inheritance that cannot be defiled, a foundation which cannot be shaken; a seal that cannot be broken, and a life that cannot perish. Everyone who with the eye of faith sees in Jesus the Son of God, and who, accordingly, believes in him, has everlasting life.” -William Hendriksen.

After this our passage, the Jews are all the more irritated and still do not understand. After rebuking their murmuring, Jesus in v44 again explains beautifully the sovereignty of God in saving a people for himself, and the resulting security those believers have. So Jesus continues to explain all the more and all the more clearly that his body and blood are the spiritual nourishment and cleansing, which came down from heaven and gives eternal life to those who feed on it, that is, believe in him.

Well, Taylor, William and Ashley, I thoroughly enjoyed the conversation the four of us had over this text, and I’m encouraged by your insights, and the great desire you all have to study Scripture, and sharpen each other. I have surely been sharpened, and blessed. I’ll be praying for you in the future that you will see and understand, and fall more and more deeply in love with Jesus the great lover of our soul. I hope this that I’ve written will be helpful to you all, and to those who may read it online who were not with us at the time.

Everything, absolutely everything for the glory of God,

Matthew

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[1] Probably around 20,000, as 5000 was only the count of the men, if women and children were present, most say the count would have been close to 20,000 eating people.