All Christ's Will Come

There are some statements in the Bible so provocative, so plain, that we are compelled to believe them, ignore them, or deny them. They defy attempts to explain them away or re-interpret them according to our traditions. They are so clear, so potent, that we must either confess the passage is true or the Bible is entirely false.

John 6:37 is such a passage. There Jesus announces, “All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out.” You may be thinking, ‘But we must preach the gospel to them!’ That is certainly true; the gospel is God’s means of drawing men to salvation (John 6:44-45; Rom. 10:13-17). But do you believe what Jesus said, that some are foreknown by God (Eph. 1:4; Rev. 13:8), given to Christ (John 17:6), who will inevitably come (John 10:16; Acts 18:10), being effectually drawn (Acts 13:48; 16:14), and being united with Christ (John 15:16) will never be separated from him (John 10:28-29)?

John 6:37 is a passage that will either trouble us or comfort us, perhaps both at different points in our spiritual journey. The success of the gospel in saving souls does not depend on our ingenuity or persuasiveness. It depends on the sovereign and eternal purpose of a gracious and loving Savior who does whatever he pleases in heaven and on earth (Psa. 135:6). “The Lord knows those who are his” (2Tim. 2:19). Praise God that he knew those of us who are believers, that we heard the Shepherd’s voice and came when he called (John 10:27). Thank God that more will do so until all those foreknown, predestined, called, and justified are, in the end, glorified (Rom. 8:28-30).

This passage and others like it which speak of God’s eternal, electing purpose, are actually a great incentive to evangelism. If I thought the salvation of any soul hung on my persuasiveness, I would fear to ever share the gospel. But I know the gospel is guaranteed to succeed. Christ’s sheep will hear his voice. They will recognize his doctrine (John 7:17). They will repent, believe, and come. So do not fear either rejection or your own inability. The gospel is God’s power to save, and save it will, because the Lord who reigns decreed it. -JME

Trusting God's Sovereign Purpose

Romans 8:28 is a text that has comforted many believers for two millennia. Its words speak comfort to those who are suffering, who long to be free of a fallen world where sin and death still seem to reign. Paul reminds us, “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.” This passage rests on the unshakeable foundation of God’s sovereignty: his rule and authority over everything in life.

What does it mean to trust God’s sovereignty in our suffering? First, it means to believe that no matters our circumstances, the Lord’s will shall be done. The Psalmist assures us, “Our God is in the heavens; he does all that he pleases” (115:3) and again, “Whatever the LORD pleases, he does, in heaven and on earth, in the seas and all deeps” (135:6). As believers we are “predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will” (Eph. 1:11). We trust that God’s purpose will be accomplished no matter what befalls us in this life.

Second, it means to believe that nothing, not even Satan, can come against us without God’s permission. Satan could not attack Job within God’s explicit allowance (Job 1-2). The demons cannot even enter pigs without Jesus’ say so (Mark 5:1-20). We may not know why the Lord allows certain things to come upon us at certain times, but we can know he is still in control of it.

Third, it means to believe God’s ultimate purposes are for our good. He uses suffering to conform us more fully to the image of Christ (Rom. 8:28-29; 2Cor. 4:16-18). Adversity may overtake us, but it will not overcome us (Rom. 8:31-39). God’s glory will eclipse everything that has come before (Rm. 8:18). Therefore, we do not lose heart. Believer, trust in the Lord! -JME

Jesus is LORD

There is a remarkable statement in John 12:37-38 concerning the deity of Jesus. The text says:

“Though he had done so many signs before them, they still did not believe in him, so that the word spoken by the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled: ‘Lord, who has believed what he heard from us, and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?’”

It might be easy to overlook this comment by John if the Old Testament context is not known. The quotation in verse 38 is from Isaiah 53:1. What is truly remarkable about the original quotation and its New Testament application to Jesus is the word used to describe the ‘Lord’ in the passage.

           

There are two Hebrew words in the Old Testament commonly translated Lord in our English Bibles. The first is Adonai which means lord, master¸ or ruler. This word is properly translated Lord in our English Bibles, but it is not the word that appears in Isaiah 53:1. The second Hebrew word commonly translated LORD is Yahweh which is the covenant name of God. This is his actual name, not merely a description of his role, character, or power. Our English Bibles usually translate Yahweh as LORD (all capital letters) because the Jews considered this name so sacred they dared not pronounce it but would substitute the word Adonai when reading aloud. Yahweh is the name of God which appears in Isaiah 53:1, and it is this term that makes the quotation in John 12:37-38 so important.

Jesus is Yahweh. Some people think of Yahweh as the Father alone, but actually Yahweh is the covenant name of the one true God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. All three persons of the Godhead are one God, and that one, triune God has revealed himself as Yahweh. So the Father is Yahweh, so is the Holy Spirit, and so is the Son of God, Jesus Christ. We worship Yahweh (Psa. 106:1), the one true God (Deut. 6:4), maker of heaven and earth (Exod. 20:11). This worship belongs not only to the Father but also to the Son (and the Holy Spirit). John 12:37-38 clearly establishes that Jesus Christ is Yahweh. -JME

Rejoicing in the Lord Always

All of us are tempted at times to be discouraged and distressed by the circumstances of our lives. Twenty-four hour news and the ability to witness tragedy, violence, and loss around the world can quickly rob us of our peace and a feeling of security. The day to day struggle to pay bills, finish tasks, maintain relationships, and satisfy commitments can also frustrate and even depress our emotions.

In the midst of earthly and inner turmoil, the apostle Paul commands, “Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice!” (Php. 4:4) But how can we rejoice when so many things are bad? How can we celebrate when the circumstances of our life are not good? If we are to take this passage seriously and honor what it says, we need to bear in mind three things.

First, the instruction is a command, not a suggestion. God’s people are to be governed, not by how they feel, but by what the Lord has said. We cannot excuse our failure to rejoice in the Lord by saying we do not feel like doing so. There are no degrees of compliance with this passage. We either obey what it says or we do not.

Second, rejoice is a verb of action, not feeling. Paul does not say feel happy; he says rejoice. I can celebrate the great truths that lie behind his instruction regardless of how I feel. Even when I am sad, distressed, or suffering in great pain, I can choose to rejoice.

Third, the command is to rejoice in the Lord, not in the temporal circumstances of our lives. Most often we rejoice in all the wrong things: our health, our happiness, our family, our success, our pleasures. But if these are the reason for our rejoicing, joy will frequently elude us. We will not always be healthy or happy, but who God is, what Christ has done, and what He has promised is unchanging. The Lord’s work and worth will never fail. It does not depend on what is happening in my life. I am instructed to find my joy in eternal truths, not earthly circumstances.

“Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice!” Remind yourself of the gospel every day. Never forget who is in control and what He has done to save you. Celebrate that truth forever. -JME