Biblical Reflection: God's Will, I Should Lose Nothing - John 6:39-40
Jesus declared: "And this is the WILL OF HIM who sent me, that I should LOSE NOTHING of all that he has given me, but raise it up on the last day. For this is the WILL of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.” (John 6:39, 40)
Jesus will lose nothing of all the Father has given him. How many people will Jesus lose of all those the Father has given Him? None of them, he says. And He further promises they will be among those in the resurrection of the righteous at the last day. Jesus declares this is GOD'S WILL and unless one thinks they can thwart God's will (an impossible supposition) or that God can reverse His promise, then the only biblical conclusion we can reach is that Christ graciously preserves all whom He saves. It would be presumptuous to say God can go against his own promise and will. In fact, to believe that one can lose his/her salvation is to say Jesus is not enough ... which is an attempt to strike or cut down the very root of the very gospel itself. Those who think they can add to Christ's work are in danger of the heresy Paul describes in Gal 3:3: "Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh?" If you think grace is not enough but you must maintain or contribute toward your just standing before God, then you have not understood the gospel at its very heart. But the good news of the gospel is that Jesus did it. He provided EVERYTHING we need for salvation including a new heart which believes and perseveres to the end. Praise the Lord (• John 6:38-40, 63-65 • John 10:28-29 • Romans 8:28-39 • Philippians 1:4-6 • Philippians 2:12-13 • 1 John 2:19 • Heb 10:9-10, 14)
"Even Roman Catholics believe that salvation is by grace... that is not the issue...and never has been ... the issue is that salvation is by grace ALONE. In other words, Jesus is not only necessary but sufficient to save us to the uttermost."
The Bible declares that there are only two conditions which human beings find themselves: Those who are 1) in the flesh, and those who are 2) in the Spirit (John 3:6). Jesus explains that those who are in the flesh "can do nothing" (John 6:63)... and "nothing" here in the context of HIs words includes the utter inability to exercise faith in Jesus Christ. How do I know? Emphasizing this very truth, the very next words of Jesus are “This is why I told you that no one can COME TO ME unless it is granted him by the Father.” (John 6:65) This demonstrates that the necessity of being "in the Spirit" before coming to faith in Jesus is not something up for debate among Christians but is an established truth of the Bible. No one can come to faith in Jesus while still in the flesh but must be made alive, quickened, regenerated. Therefore whoever disregards this, disregards not man but God, who gives his Holy Spirit to you.
by J. C. Ryle
I recently commented on Facebook that our greatest danger is not from without (Satan, the world) but from within ... and a long-time visitor and commenter on our Facebook page (who holds to synergistic doctrine) critiqued the statement with the following objection:
1. BEWARE OF TRUSTING TEACHERS OF RELIGION
If the concepts of right and wrong are simply a matter of personal choice, we must abandon any idea of declaring moral judgments on the ideas and actions of others. A relativist cannot rationally object to genocide, torture, rape, female circumcision, racism, sexism or slavery if those actions are consistent with another person's moral understanding of what is right and good. When they declare some action as wrong we must honestly ask them, what standard is he/she appealing to that makes it binding on anyone else?
Visitor: Is God willing to prevent evil, but not able? Then he is impotent. Is he able, but not willing? Then he is malevolent. Is he both able and willing? Then where does evil come from? Is he neither able nor willing? Then why call him God?" Why don't we talk about the old testament?. Why don't you explain to me all the stories of the old testament. Oh wait that's right we don't talk about the old testament because it's full of rape, murder, slavery, homophobia, & god murdering people &making people sacrifice their Children. And why is it not in the 10 commandments that we shall not rape or own people as slaves. Please Rape all you want & treat humans & women as if they were dirt but don't say the lord's name in vein or he'll get upset.