John 6:36-40

John 6:36-40 But as I told you, you have seen me and still you do not believe. All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never drive away. For I have come down from heaven not to do my will but to do the will of him who sent me. And this is the will of him who sent me, that I shall lose none of all that he has given me, but raise them up at the last day. For my Father’s will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day.

One of the amazing benefits of studying scripture precept upon precept, line upon line is finding such incontrovertibly clear statements as those from Jesus in today's passage: whoever comes to me I will never drive away. In numerous situations, Jesus emphatically revealed that God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. (John 3:16) Some individuals, even Christians, believe this message too simplistic, unworthy of acceptance by sophisticated or more knowledgable people. Surely, the message must include additional requirements, grace plus a few extras that learned people have added to the good news that make more sense to the rational mind. Our pastor talks about the Pharisaical Spirit that so easily enters the church and begins to make religious judgments such surely Christians should be good and do good things according to a predetermined list of righteous requirements that this person feels he or she has mastered. Certain items often make the list: performing acts of penance for your sins, undergoing physical or psychological pain, suffering for your wrongdoing, feeling guilty to atone for your sins, facing hardship because God is getting even with you, facing depravation and the absence of pleasure, and experiencing a lack of human contact as a consequence of your wrongful deeds. The list of punishments has no end.

We may say we believe in grace alone and God's loving kindness, but how often do we say or hear words such as, "What goes around comes around," or "He's only getting what's coming to him," or "Maybe now she'll learn her lesson," or "You, know what, I don't actually feel all that sorry for him; he's just getting what he deserves." We say all that and more when we feel justified in our judgmental attitudes; yet the Bible tells us to love one another and not to rejoice in the sorrows of others. We know Christ wept over Jerusalem who stoned God's prophets, and as He shed those tears, He said He wanted to gather them under his arms as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings and they would not. Is that condemnation or is that love, amazing love, the love or a Father for his ever wayward children? Even when God realized in the Old Testament that evil was in the heart of mankind continually, He persevered with his salvation plan. Yet today, we might join with Paul saying, O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you? Are ye so foolish? Having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh? (Galatians 3:1 & 3 KJV) They started the race by grace but sought perfection through the works of the law.

Obviously, Christians should be lights in a dark world. By faith we should reckon ourselves dead to sin and alive to God through the power of the cross by the power of the same Spirit that raised Christ from the dead. Many scriptures tell us how to accomplish this walk of faith such as Paul's instructions in Ephesians, Colossians, Galatians, and Romans. This is just one such passage: If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. (Colossians 3:1-3 KJV) Just as there were signs following Christ's earthy ministry, others should see Christ in us, our hope of glory; they should see a difference in us and want what we have. We should shine like stars in the universe. (Philippians 2:15)

We should do good works such as feeding the poor, providing shelter for the needy, and caring for the sick. We should avoid gossiping, judging, and criticizing people. We should encourage, help, and even offer financial assistance without thought of repayment to people with trials, difficulties, and burdens in life. We definitely should not use inappropriate or vulgar language to fit in or be acceptable to our worldly friends or get drunk or show off to get undue attention. We should always be kind, gentle, patient, and loving, and apologize when we are not. If someone needs to apologize, it should be us, even if we think we are more in the right than the other person. WE SHOULD. . . But the "should's" will not earn us eternal life, only God through Christ can do that because Christ paid the price for our sins at Calvary, and the price He paid was enough then, now, and forever. Put your trust in him today. Stop trying to be good and just fall before him, accept him as Lord of all, as your Savior and King. Pick up the cross and follow him. Cease from your labors and trust in his complete sacrifice. Repent and be baptized. He will give you joy, real joy, wonderful joy and raise you up at the last day.

(Note: Although breakfast was prepared early this morning, we lacked time for a final edit because Dad rushed off to Men's Bible study; then we attended a granddaughter's basketball game; followed by birthday cake with another little sweetheart. Life is good but often full and very blessed.)