God's Providence in Salvation
Welcome to our exploration of the Gospel of John, a majestic book that unveils magnificent trinitarian realities and the glorious completion of the Old Testament. Join us as we discover God's providence in salvation through Jesus, the bread of life.
The Glory of the Gospel of John
The Gospel of John stands as one of the most significant books in the New Testament. It was the most quoted book by the early church fathers and was central to almost every church council debate about the person and nature of Christ.
Written approximately 20 years after Paul's letters, John's Gospel provides a comprehensive 360-degree perspective of Christ's magnificent nature and salvation's accomplishments.
John's Gospel uniquely showcases the special relationship Jesus enjoys with his Father—a relationship that lies at the center of the eternal life God offers us.
Why John Wrote This Gospel
"These are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name." - John 20:31
John's purpose was clear: he wanted readers to believe that Jesus is the Messiah (the Christos, the Anointed One) that the Old Testament pointed to, and that He is the Son of God—the second person of the Trinity.
But John's vision goes beyond mere intellectual belief. He wants us to understand that salvation is participation in the life of God through Christ and fellowship with the Holy Trinity. This isn't just any kind of life—it's life bound up in God's very nature.
Our Journey Through John
1
John 1
The Word became flesh. "Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world."
2
John 2-3
Water into wine, cleansing the temple, and "For God so loved the world..."
3
John 4-5
Jesus and the Samaritan woman, healing of the paralytic, and Jesus's relationship with the Father.
4
John 6
Feeding the 5,000 and Jesus as the bread of life—our current focus.
Over the next four weeks, we'll explore the second half of chapter six, examining Jesus as the bread of life, union with Jesus through his body and blood, how the Spirit gives life, and God's sovereign choice in salvation.
Jesus: The Bread of Life
Jesus declares, "I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst." This is the first of seven powerful "I am" statements in John's Gospel, recalling God's self-revelation to Moses as "I am that I am."
By feeding the 5,000, Jesus recalls the Exodus when God provided manna in the wilderness. But while that bread gave only temporary life, Jesus offers eternal life: "I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever."
Jesus isn't just claiming to provide sustenance—He's claiming to be Yahweh himself, the God of the Old Testament now come in flesh to give eternal life.
The Father's Work in Salvation
The Father's Authority
The Father has set his seal on Jesus (v.27), declaring that Jesus bears His name and authority.
The Father's Purpose
The Father's work is that you believe in Jesus whom He has sent (v.29). He is the sender of the Son.
The Father's Gift
The Father gives people to the Son for redemption: "All that the Father gives me will come to me" (v.37).
The Father's Will
It is the Father's will that none be lost who are given to Jesus (v.39). They are secure—"No one shall pluck them out of my hand."
The Father's will is not merely a desire but an authoritative effect. What He desires, He accomplishes. His will is that Jesus be the center of attention and the focus of saving faith.
How the Father Draws Us to Jesus
Jesus reveals the Father's intimate involvement in drawing people to Himself: "No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him" (v.44).
This drawing is not coercion but a gracious engaging of the total person:
- The Father opens ears to hear
- The Father instructs the mind to understand who Jesus is
- The Father moves the heart to come to Jesus
When God unlocks our will, we are not coerced but freed to love Jesus as we were created to do. This is the work and grace of God.
The Call to Believe
"Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes has eternal life. I am the bread of life." - John 6:47-48
Within the context of God's providence comes a powerful appeal to believe. This creates a beautiful balance: confidence in God's providence with an "everyone, everywhere" appeal to faith.
We don't go to convert—that's God's work. We go to discover those whom God is already drawing. This gives us confidence as we share our faith, knowing the Father is working behind the scenes.
As Charles Spurgeon humorously noted: "If God would have painted a yellow stripe on the backs of the elect, I would go around lifting shirts. But since he didn't, I must preach 'whosoever will' and when 'whosoever' believes, I know then that he is one of the elect."
From Metaphor to Mystery
Jesus concludes this section with a statement that moves from metaphor to mystery: "I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. And the bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh."
What does it mean to eat Jesus' flesh and drink His blood? This mystery points to our union with Christ, which we'll explore in our next message.
The metaphor of bread represents life and sustenance, but the mystery of Christ's flesh and blood represents something deeper—our complete union with Him through faith. This is not about works or religious rituals. It's about believing in the name of Christ and receiving the life He offers through His sacrificial death and resurrection.
The Heart of the Redeemed
Is it not amazing grace that the Father himself would unstop your ears, patiently instruct your mind, and gently move you to Jesus in belief? Is it not wonderful assurance that Jesus received you just as you are and gives you life in his name?
The redeemed sing "Worthy is the Lamb who died for me." The redeemed give thanks for God's grace. If your heart is filled with gratitude for what Jesus has done, this is evidence of salvation.
If you haven't believed, believe today. There is no one who wants to believe that God will reject. You don't need to clean up your life first—Jesus meets you where you are and simply says, "Believe."