Of Those Who Believe Not

“But there are some of you that believe not. For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were that believed not, and who should betray him.” John 6:64

At this time, Jesus was teaching in the synagogue in Capernaum, and He told them, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you.” That was taken as a hard statement for many of the hearers, and they turned away. Even the twelve were confused. Of course, we can understand today more clearly what Jesus meant. He wasn’t being literal, but then again, I wouldn’t be so quick either to consider his statement symbolic only of our taking communion. No, what we must learn from what Jesus said is that He is our life; our Bread; our daily manna. Even as man can not live without food and water physically, man cannot live spiritually; hence, without drawing daily our portion from the flesh and blood of the Son of God for it is His life that courses through our veins. The true believer is a partaker in His life. As Paul exclaimed, “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.” Galatians 2:20

As for what Paul said, that was as hard a statement as what Jesus taught in Capernaum because what Paul said of himself is also demanded from us: we are to die to ourselves so that Christ could live through us. In fact, both statements mean the same and have resulted in millions turning away. Why is that true? Because those who may be intrigued from a distance for personal benefit, and then draw nigh to Christ, learn the cost and cannot surrender all. As was true of the rich young man, whom Jesus told to sell everything that he had and give to the poor, countless millions weren’t and aren’t willing to go that far. Of those whom Jesus spoke in this instance, I believe that Jesus referred to them when he said, “Many are called, but few are chosen.” Matthew 22:14

It is interesting too that it was said that Jesus knew from the beginning those who would not believe Him. Over the years, I have witnessed some who were considered faithful disciples, but who later left. I’m sure that some of my acquaintances felt I was among them. However, what they did not understand is that God, who sees the end from the beginning, knows His own, even as Christ’s sheep know His voice. I praise God that His mercy persevered in my case, and today I willingly give my all to Him, complete in His assurance; His Spirit testifying within me that I am His and He is mine. However, those that Jesus spoke of in this passage were likely not  among the elect because they ultimately betrayed Him, as Judas Iscariot; and were among the masses throughout history that cried and still continue to cry ‘crucify Him!’ Golgotha rises in many darkened hearts, as even a torn veil still covers many eyes.

As for my mention of the elect, I say this knowing that some of my brethren do not subscribe to the divine election and predestination of Christ’s saints. They tend to account for those who at first believed, and later backslid, as committing the unpardonable sin. In 2 Timothy 4:9,10 Paul mentioned Demas as one who left because of his love for the world. Nonetheless, I am not quick to judge on this point because I believe in the perseverance of the Saints; that is, whom God elects shall never be taken from Christ’s hand. However, since I introduced this subject, I’ll tell you that I hold to the teachings of John Calvin, the reformers and the Westminster Confession of Faith. That does not mean that I don’t find the teachings of Arminius intellectually honest inasmuch as he believed that if man had the free will to believe in Christ, they could later change their minds. I suppose some people could have subsequently changed their minds time and time again. However, that is not the image of the sign of the fish that I imagined from Scriptures: people forever flip flopping at the bottom of Peter’s boat. To make matters  even more unbelievable, I cannot understand the doctrine behind those that believe in free will but say that they cannot lose their salvation. Nonetheless, I’ll leave that discussion for another day.

Let me conclude by saying that whatever you imagine the cost of following Christ, Jesus was not lying when He said, “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” (Matthew 11:28) It is the one called Satan, the father of lies, that has so darkened the minds of this world. As a result, many simply cannot understand, because it surpasses all knowledge and human understanding, what joy and peace is found in being ‘Christ’s flesh and blood’ even when facing the many expected trials and difficulties that will come. All I can say is that coming to experience what I’ve shared in this blog is like standing in front of a picture where you try to make sense of an unrecognizable shape, which others readily recognize, but you can’t. Then someone, in this case God Himself, comes and illumines a particular feature in the frame  and suddenly, amazingly the image comes alive! You see it!

That’s the revelation of grace and light that comes with election. Intellectual assent is merely agreeing that you see it.

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