1 Kings 19:1-8; Ephesians 4:17-5:2; John 6:35-51

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,

Once a Christian, always a Christian, right? The perseverance of the saints? Once you are baptized, then you have nothing to worry about? All of these are common sentiments in our “Christian” society today. However, these all couldn’t be further from the truth. We know well that being baptized into the Christian faith doesn’t prevent someone from falling away from faith later in life. So too, just because you have set foot in a church at one point in life, doesn’t immediately make you a member of the church eternal.

But if this is the case, then what do we do with Jesus’ promises? Does Jesus lie to us about protecting and preserving us in the faith? Absolutely not! As we continue to read through John 6 this week, we hear this particular promise from Jesus, “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,” John 6:39. Jesus won’t forget or lose one of his dear children. He won’t let us “slip through his fingers.” For he holds us close that he may “raise [you] up on the last day.” For this is the role of faith, the bread of life, which Jesus gives. It connects us to Jesus so that he may never lose us.

Faith, however, is a tricky thing. It’s something we struggle to wrap our minds around. For we’re told that faith isn’t something we do. God alone gives faith. It’s only by God working in us through the Holy Spirit that we believe. Just as Jesus says, “No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him,” John 6:44. Yet, Scripture also testifies that the fault for unbelief lies solely with man. God seeks and desires to draw all people to himself, but God also allows this call to be resisted or refused. Man may walk away from God’s call and reject the very bread of life which God gives. 

We must come back to Jesus’ promise, however. For this is no little thing. Jesus indeed, holds on tightly to his saints, those who are redeemed by faith alone. For God provides the means by which his saints persevere. Jesus who is the bread of life, comes to his saints regularly through these means to feed and nourish them that they may be strengthened into life everlasting! For Jesus gives his flesh and blood to us on the cross, that the Father may draw our eyes to him. We may see our sins crucified there and have faith born in us by the Holy Spirit. Furthermore, God regularly comes down for us and welcomes us into his presence that this faith may grow and bloom. By Word and Sacrament, God grants us perseverance in the faith that nothing may pull us out of his arms, not even death itself. For Jesus will come again and raise us, all who believe, unto eternal life!

Pastor Sorenson

Prayer:

Gracious Father, Your blessed Son came down from heaven to be the true bread that gives life to the world. Grant that Christ, the bread of life, may live in us and we in Him, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen!