Always accepted.

I have access to an online Bible programme that provides me with more than sixty English language versions/translations of the Bible! That is not counting I don't know how many versions in other languages - I am usually concerned only with the four French translations!

Normally, in this blog, I use the RSV - the version to which I was introduced when I was accepted as a student at the Bible Training Institute in Glasgow, 'way back in 1966! However, I sometimes check out a different version. In preparing this post, I wanted to look at some well-known words of the Lord Jesus - "All that the Father gives Me will come to Me; and him who comes to Me I will not cast out."  (John 6:37) However, I found the the wording used in the NCV (New Century Version, 2005) to be more relevant! In that version, the verse reads: "The Father gives Me the people who are Mine. Every one of them will come to Me, and I will always accept them."

In this verse and the verses to follow, we find the Christ using a marvellous teaching technique. Several times He makes a general, generic, statement, but He then quickly advances from the general and impersonal, to the particular and personal.

Note that at the first, Christ tells of an abstract gift to Him from the Father of an entire group, ("the people") that would come to Him for salvation. This is in itself a wonderful truth, for the Lord Jesus highly values this gift from His Father: "I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of My hand. My Father, Who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of My Father’s hand." (10:28-29). The entire group "will come" to Him - those chosen "in Him before the foundation of the world," (Eph.1:4).

 

But - returning to the RSV! -  the Saviour switches in mid-sentence from general to specific: "him who comes to Me I will not cast out" a concrete statement of the effect of this work on an individual. We are part of a group, without doubt, but also each one of us, individually, is His precious child.

 

The passage continues in the same vein. "And this is the will of Him Who sent Me, that I shall lose none of all those He has given Me, but raise them up at the last day." (6:39). Again, the impersonal passes into the personal, "For My Father’s will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in Him shall have eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day." (v. 40).

 

From the mass of created mankind, many have come to Christ for salvation. But each one who has believed and been granted everlasting life has great individual worth in the eyes of the Savior. "The good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep. . . . . I am the good shepherd; I know My own and My own know Me, " (10:11, 14).

Remember then, that while God loves all of His human creatures, His love is totally focused on each individual. How can He achieve that? Because He is God! He is focused on you, and longs to have you respond to His love, with the love of your own heart. As I have shared, many times, before, that involves a recognition, and confession, of your sins (all that offends Almighty God) and your sinfulness (your propensity to sin); an acceptance that you will never be able to gain salvation by any other means; and a commitment to follow the Lord Jesus for the rest of your mortal life.

The "whosoever"/"whoever" in John 3:16 is singular - Jesus died for you!

The Christian's Prosperity

One of the phenomena of the 20th century church, that continues today, is what is referred to as "the prosperity gospel". The basic premise is that if we give more to God (through the particular "ministry"!), then He will "reward" us abundantly. Of course, that is not an offering from a grateful heart, but an investment! Father God is not in that business!

However, the disciple of Jesus does know prosperity, even if not always of a financial nature! Paul writes to the Ephesian believers: "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places," (1:3; emphasis added).

Yes, our blessings are spiritual rather than material - and spiritual blessings last! Of course, given our high position in the Christ, it follows that the Father would provide whatever is necessary to accomplish His purposes in and for us.  

The "Beatitudes" of Matthew 5:3-12 (please read!) provide a good illustration. Each "blessing" is designed to meet a need or fulfil a desire of God's "chosen" (Eph.1:4). The poor, meek, and persecuted are given ownership in the kingdom. The mournful are given God's special comfort. Those who hunger for righteousness are filled. The merciful will obtain mercy, the pure in heart will see God, and the peacemakers are identified as God's children. The longings of our souls and characters are all met by God.

 

The practical needs of "knowledge and discretion." are met, too (Eph.1:8). Wisdom is knowledge focused toward useful application, and prudence is the ability to develop successful activities based on wisdom. The Word of God is the source of wisdom (Deut.4:1-6; Prov.1:1-6) and is inspired of God to be "... profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work." (II Tim.3:16-17).

 

Furthermore, "He has made known to us in all wisdom and insight the mystery of His will," (Eph.1:9). "kept secret" in the days of the Old Testament prophets (see Rom.16:25-26), it is now made clear to us so that "through the church, the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known to the principalities and powers in the heavenly places. " (Eph.3:10). These spiritual resources are available for every believer "for the common good." (I Cor.12:7). Let us pray that we do not waste these resources like the "wicked and slothful" servant in the parables of the talents and the pounds (Matt.25:26; Luke 19:22).