John 6:36-40

November 17, 2013 One of the obstacles I had to face this week is being so familiar with this text. That sounds a little strange, and I suppose it is, but this is one of those Doctrines of Grace proof-texts. One reason we study verse-by-verse is because we dont want to deal in proof-texts; we want to study the whole word and see what it means when its all taken together. And so, while its easy to prove Grace with this verse, I think its more necessary right now to understand the context: why did He say this to these people at this time? It almost comes off as an insult. Why would Jesus waste time talking to people who dont believe and, therefore, wont be saved? Why bother telling them they cant come if they really cant and wont? And so weve got to pull our noses away from the page a little and consider the book as a whole. John writes so that we will believe and have everlasting life (20:31). A recurring element throughout these first six chapters has been Jewish unbelief. He came to His own but they rejected Him. He gave signs and they only asked for more. He identified Himself directly and it made them angry. They have seen His miracles and heard His teachings yet they refuse to believe: But I said unto you, That ye also have seen me, and believe not. This sort of seems like a failure doesnt it? I mean, God takes on flesh in the likeness of a man; He comes all the way from heaven to be the Messiah and no one really believes. But compare this to Romans 9:6-8Not as though the word of God hath taken none effect. For they are not all Israel, which are of Israel: 7Neither, because they are the seed of Abraham, are they all children: but, In Isaac shall thy seed be called. 8That is, They which are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God: but the children of the promise are counted for the seed. The Jews dont believe, but so what? Its not as though Gods word has failed. Israel is not physical Israel. These verses arent an insult to the crowd; they are words of comfort for us. Will God save His people? If many are lost and the road to destruction is wide, has God in any way failed? No!
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All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out. Think about what this verse really means: All that the Father gives me. Who, how, why, and when did the Father give to the Son?

Lets look at a few verses and find the answers all through them: Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: 4According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: 5Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, 6To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved. 7In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace; 8Wherein he hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence; 9Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself: 10That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him: 11In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will: 12That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ (Eph. 1:3-12). And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; 2Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: 3 Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others. 4But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, 5Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) 6And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: 7That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. 8For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9Not of works, lest any man should boast. 10For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them (Eph. 2:1-10). These words spake Jesus, and lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, Father, the hour is come; glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify thee: 2As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him. 3And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent. 4I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do. 5And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was. 6I have manifested thy name unto the men which thou gavest me out of the world: thine they were, and thou gavest them me; and they have kept thy word.

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Now they have known that all things whatsoever thou hast given me are of thee. For I have given unto them the words which thou gavest me; and they have received them, and have known surely that I came out from thee, and they have believed that thou didst send me (Jn. 17:1-8). Who did the Father give to the Son? It was those who were created for this purpose. How did the Father give to the Son? It was by union with Christ and by covenant according to His promise. Why did the Father give to the Son? To give life to those He loved from everlasting. When did the Father give to the Son? It was those? It was before the foundation of the world. Gods plan and purpose are both right on track! These, it says, shall come to me. Look at the certainty here. Its not that they may come or might come; they shall come. Its indicative, not subjunctive. He that entereth in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. 3To him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out. 4And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice (Jn. 10:2-4). And it goes two ways. All the Father gives will come; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out. Hes here to do the will of the Father. He wont lose any and He wont turn any down.
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For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me. This plan is one from eternity and it is unchangeable. Look again at John 17:4, and see that He says the work is finished even before going to the cross! How can He say that? Because His work is John 17:6: to manifest Gods name to those given to Him! Hes not begging for someone to return His love; Hes fulfilling the plan:
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And this is the Fathers will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day. 40 And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.

The Fathers will has two parts: that (1) the Son should lose nothing and (2) everyone which sees and believes will live and be raised. Lets close with a few thoughts: #1- God assures our salvation as it is entirely His will and work from beginning to end. #2- God calls His sheep and guarantees our salvation so we have confidence in preaching the simple gospel. #3- God glorifies Himself and receives all the honor and worship. And after these things I heard a great voice of much people in heaven, saying, Alleluia; Salvation, and glory, and honour, and power, unto the Lord our God: 2For true and righteous are his judgments: for he hath judged the great whore, which did corrupt the earth with her fornication, and hath avenged the blood of his servants at her hand. 3And again they said, Alleluia And her smoke rose up for ever and ever. 4And the four and twenty elders and the four beasts fell down and worshipped God that sat on the throne, saying, Amen; Alleluia. 5And a voice came out of the throne, saying, Praise our God, all ye his servants, and ye that fear him, both small and great. 6And I heard as it were the voice of a great multitude, and as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of mighty thunderings, saying, Alleluia: for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth. 7Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready. 8 And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints. 9And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, These are the true sayings of God (Rev. 19:1-9). newgracebaptistchurch.wordpress.com