If Jesus ever was determined about one specific thing, it was this. He wanted to do the Father’s Will above all other things. When our hearts are tender and we are walking in close fellowship with the Father, our goal will be the same. We see that the Father’s Will for us is to be saved. And when we are saved, we are secure in Christ’s hand. "All that he hath given me I should lose nothing." Thank the Lord it is not up to us to keep our salvation, but it is in the Lord’s hands. Jesus is the author and finisher of our faith.

John 6:40 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.

God wants all of us to be saved. And all that will come to Jesus will be. And the Father’s Will is for us to be saved, and for us to be resurrected in the first resurrection. When will that be? We believe it will be just prior to the beginning of the Tribulation period. Jesus will come in the rapture of the church, and all that are dead and saved will come out of the graves, and we that are remaining will also be taken up. And while the tribulation goes on for 7 years, we will be watching. And after the battle of Armageddon, Jesus will setup His Millennial Kingdom for 1,000 years and rule here on earth. At the end of the Millennial reign, will come the two judgements.

Mat 18:14 Even so it is not the will of your Father which is in heaven, that one of these little ones should perish.

2 Pet 3:9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

1 Cor 15:52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.

1 Cor 15:53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.

1 Cor 15:54 So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.

We can see clearly that by verse 40 that God entrusted Christ with the work of protecting our salvation. And I praise God that even Satan himself can not separate us from the love of God.

Rom 8:36 As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.

Rom 8:37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.

Rom 8:38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,

Rom 8:39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

 

II. Salvation is Wholly of God

John 6:44 No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.

We see that the Jews simply could not comprehend this teaching about Jesus being the bread of life. They knew of how God fed the Israelites with manna from heaven, but they could not relate to Jesus being the true bread sent down from the Father. They reason that Jesus is not from God… they know his earthly mother and father. But Jesus’s real father was not Joseph, but God.

Mat 1:18 Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost.

Mat 1:19 Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a public example, was minded to put her away privily.

Mat 1:20 But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost.

Mat 1:21 And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.

Mat 1:22 Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying,

Mat 1:23 Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.

Mat 1:24 Then Joseph being raised from sleep did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, and took unto him his wife:

Mat 1:25 And knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son: and he called his name JESUS.

No other person was ever born of a virgin… only Jesus. Jesus told them not to murmur among themselves… unless God drew them to Him, they would not be saved. This goes back to the election of God. It is difficult to understand, but salvation is truly wholly a total gift of God. Even the faith to believe has to be given to us after the Holy Spirit draws us to Christ. We still have to accept, but we have nothing to boast of. Salvation is a free gift from God.

John 6:46 Not that any man hath seen the Father, save he which is of God, he hath seen the Father.

Jesus did not come just after one preached that he would come. (John the Baptist.) But the scriptures testified all through the Old Testament that Jesus would come, and the prophets foretold who and where he would be born. But even with all this prophecy, they overlooked the suffering

Servant who loved them so much.

John 6:52 The Jews therefore strove among themselves, saying, How can this man give us his flesh to eat?

Who can we believe? Jesus was God Himself, manifested in the flesh. We can believe Him, and when he says that when we believe we have everlasting life, I believe Him. Everlasting does not mean until I balance my good works against my bad or get baptized, or do some other thing such as wash the disciples’ feet. We can work all of our lives, and still not be saved. But when we know Jesus as Savior, HE gives us the eternal life.

John 6:58 This is that bread which came down from heaven: not as your fathers did eat manna, and are dead: he that eateth of this bread shall live for ever.

We see some difficult things being taught here. It is crucial that we realize that this is symbolism, just like the "Living Water" that Jesus gave to the Samaritan woman at the well. We have religious groups teaching that when we partake of the Lord’s Supper, that the wafer of bread turns into the actual flesh of Christ and the wine (grape juice) turns into His blood. While both of the two symbolize the body and blood of Christ, they are not the literal body and blood of Jesus. As Moses proclaimed on Mt. Sinai years ago, "The life is in the blood." This has been proven scientifically, but it is for certain the truth regarding spiritual life. Without the shed blood of Christ, no one would have their sins forgiven. Just as those that ate of the manna in the wilderness and lived, all that "eat" of the bread of life will not perish. When they ate of the manna, it was temporal. But they that partake of Christ.. it is life eternal. Remember the 4th verse of John 1.. "In Him was life, and the life was the light of men." 

John 6:65 And he said, Therefore said I unto you, that no man can come unto me, except it were given unto him of my Father.

Jesus taught where ever he was. He went to the Jews in the Synagogue, and he preached the gospel in the mountains. We ought to be so ready to give an account of the hope that is within us where ever we may be. The disciples said that the teaching on the bread of life was a hard saying. Sometimes the things of God are difficult, but sometimes when we don’t understand, we just have to accept it by faith. The bible says that is impossible to please God without faith. Jesus tries to reason with them in simple terms, relating how that the spirit was the thing which brings forth truth. If all we listen to are things that pacify the flesh, what have we gained? Many today are gathering in churches and hearing "soft things" that will entertain. Sin will most likely not be mentioned, much less preached against. But if the Word of God is not proclaimed, Jesus is not glorified. If we don’t hate sin, how can we truly love God? We should hate the things God hates, and love the things He loves. And to do righteousness, to obey the commandments, to help our fellow brother and sister, and most importantly preach the Gospel… these are the things that glorify the Lord. Jesus explains that no man can come unto Him unless the Holy Spirit draws them. That is why we should preach the Gospel simple and plain, and not be surprised when many do not accept it. Many rejected Jesus Himself, and the reality is that no one will ever be saved without the leadership and drawing of the Holy Spirit. If we could, we could boast. But it is all of God.

John 6:71 He spake of Judas Iscariot the son of Simon: for he it was that should betray him, being one of the twelve.

It says that after this, many of the disciples went back and walked no more with Him. That is sad, but we need to never worry about the others. If we know Jesus, we need to be like Simon Peter. If all others turn back, we will still stay. Simon Peter said that he knew who Jesus was… the Christ, the Son of the Living God. Praise the Lord that God had opened their eyes to the truth. And Jesus said, "I have chosen you 12, and one of you is a devil." I heard teaching this week that Judas Iscariot would be the Anti-Christ, because he was called the "son of perdition." I don’t see how that makes a lot of sense, sense it talked about the power of the beast and Anti-Christ coming from Satan. (not being Satan.) Just as Judas Iscariot was not Satan himself, neither will the Anti-Christ be Satan. But what power the Anti-Christ will wield due to the Devil.