GOD'S WILL IN CHRIST

John 6:36-40 But I said unto you, That ye also have seen Me, and believe not. All that the Father giveth Me shall come to Me; and him that cometh to Me I will in no wise cast out, for I came down from heaven, not to do Mine own will, but the will of Him that sent Me. And this is the Father's will which hath sent Me, that of all which He hath given Me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day. And this is the will of Him that sent Me, that every one, which seeth the Son, and believeth on Him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.

Jesus had just completed teaching His plan of salvation to the Jewish multitude that had gathered around Him after coming to this area of Galilee near Capernaum. The main topic of His lesson was that He was the promised Messiah who was sent to earth to offer eternal salvation to those that accepted Him as the Christ, the Son of God. It is summarized in verse 35 preceding the lesson test, where Jesus said to them: I am the bread of life: he that cometh to Me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on Me shall never thirst. The New Testament doctrine, which Jesus established, is the soul sustaining bread and water of life.

In verse 30, which precedes the lesson text, the Jews that were in Jesus presence, desired a sign in order for them to see, and believe Thee. This alone proves that there were many men and women on that occasion that did not believe Jesus to be the Son of God. To these unbelievers, Jesus said that ye also have seen Me, and believe not. Indeed, they desired never to hunger or thirst, but they lacked obedience to the required commandment of believing. Although many did accept and believe that Jesus was the promised Messiah and the Son of God, those that required additional signs still believe not.

John described those that accept, believe, and follow Jesus in verse 37. He writes: All that the Father giveth Me shall come to Me; and him that cometh to Me I will in no wise cast out. First of all, this verse tells us assuredly that the power Jesus possessed, while He lived on earth, was given to Him by God, His Heavenly Father. It also tells us that Jesus Christ, and the salvation He established here on earth, is God's gift to all men and women of the world. In turn, those that choose to follow Christ are God's gift to His Son. This verse in no wise teaches predestination - God does not choose those that follow Jesus. Only those that come to Me - only those that accept and believe Jesus to be His Son and the Savior will God give the name Christian to be worn by His obedient children. All those that are drawn to accept and believe the Holy Spirit-inspired doctrine of Christ, whether taught directly by Him, or taught to us today through His inspired apostles, will, through God's mercy, be given the hope of eternal salvation. They that are given to His Son, become His Christian followers, and Jesus Christ will in no wise cast out. We have the assurance that no repentant sinner that becomes an obedient follower will be refused by the Savior.

Jesus came to earth in the form of a human infant that grew into a man - a human man. The nature of Jesus on earth was just as you and I; just as we too are earthly human beings. The mission that Jesus was to accomplish while on earth was not that of the human mind. Rather it originated before creation from the mind of our infinitely wise, compassionate Creator of all things that are possible for the human mind to comprehend. Eternal salvation of mankind was the will of God. As a human being, Jesus' will was restricted to that which the human mind could conceive. Therefore Jesus came down from heaven, not to do Mine own will, but the will of Him that sent Me.

Sent to accomplish the mission assigned to His Son, John writes that Jesus would surely carry out the plan of salvation for mankind, which God divinely designed, exactly to the letter - no exceptions, additions, or deletions. To that end, John quotes Jesus as saying this is the Father's will which hath sent Me, that of all which he hath given Me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day.Christ Jesus would firmly establish God's will, and it will remain in effect until the last day - the Day of Judgment. And God's will is that every one, which seeth the Son, and believeth on Him, may have everlasting life. To see Him, hear Him, witness His miracles, and accept Him as a Prophet of God, is not sufficient to inherit eternal life. One must believe Him to be the Savior, the Son of God, obey His will, and become His dedicate disciple. Then, and only then, will a believer have the hope of being raised up at the last day.