The Bread Of Life Part 3
Eternity Online: John Edmiston (Editor)
(John 6:45 NKJV) "It is written in the prophets, 'And they shall all
be taught by God.' Therefore everyone who has heard and learned from
the Father comes to Me.
In the midst of His "bread of life" discourse Jesus makes this
amazing statement that "everyone who has heard and learned from the
Father comes to Me". This Jesus says is a logical corollary of the
statement "And they shall all be taught by God". Thus it seems
that God teaches us and when we learn what God teaches us we come to
Jesus. The whole idea of God teaching us seems very strange - does it
have a biblical basis or are we guilty of building a doctrine from a
verse?
Lets look at a very clear example of God teaching someone about
Jesus. Our example is the about-to-be-apostle Peter (Mat 16:15-20
NKJV) He said to them, "But who do you say that I am?" {16} Simon
Peter answered and said, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living
God." {17} Jesus answered and said to him, "Blessed are you, Simon
Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My
Father who is in heaven." Here Jesus states two things about Peter's
answer 1.) It was not taught to him "by flesh and blood". 2) It was
taught to Peter by "My Father who is in heaven". Thus God opened
Peter's eyes to who Jesus was. Jesus did not say to Peter "I am the
Messiah.." Peter realised it when his spirit was instructed by the
Spirit of God and his conscience awoke to the fact that Jesus was
"the Christ the Son of the living God.."
This mechanism is described in detail in Paul's opening teaching to
the Corinthian church. Lets look at it firstly the CONTENT is
sublime and unregenerate man cannot grasp it. (1 Cor 2:9-16 NKJV)
But as it is written: "Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, Nor have
entered into the heart of man The things which God has prepared for
those who love Him." {10} But God has revealed them to us through
His Spirit..... {14} But the natural man does not receive the things
of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he
know them, because they are spiritually discerned. {15} But he who is
spiritual judges all things, yet he himself is rightly judged by no
one.
Secondly the MECHANISM of revelation is from God's Spirit to the
regenerate human spirit. The Holy Spirit takes the things of God
(which only He knows) and reveals them to believers who have new
minds - the "mind of Christ". (1 Cor 2:10-16) " For the Spirit
searches all things, yes, the deep things of God. {11} For what man
knows the things of a man except the spirit of the man which is in
him? Even so no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of
God. {12} Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the
Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been
freely given to us by God. {13} These things we also speak, not in
words which man's wisdom teaches but which the Holy Spirit teaches,
comparing spiritual things with spiritual. ..... {16} For "who has
known the mind of the LORD that he may instruct Him?" But we have
the mind of Christ.
What then are the benefits of being taught by God? Firstly we are
taught by God Himself and find out the truth about Jesus Christ and
enter into salvation. Secondly we realise the wonderful things that
God has prepared for those who love Him. Thirdly we can even enter
into "the deep things of God" (1 Cor 2:10).
The teaching by God is so complete and so profound that the apostle
John could later write: (1 John 2:20,27 NKJV) But you have an
anointing from the Holy One, and you know all things..... But the
anointing which you have received from Him abides in you, and you do
not need that anyone teach you; but as the same anointing teaches
you concerning all things, and is true, and is not a lie, and just as
it has taught you, you will abide in Him.
The teaching of God's Spirit causes us to abide in Christ. That is
why Jesus refers to it in the midst of the bread of life passage. We
cannot eat of the bread of life unless the Holy Spirit helps us. We
cannot truly believe unless we are first taught by God. We cannot be
partakers of the life that is in Christ and its riches without the
Holy Spirit applying these things to our heart. We must be taught of
God if we are to believe and to "digest" the bread of life.
How can we know if we are being taught by God or by men? May I
suggest the following. Those who are taught only by men become
puffed up and argumentative , but those who are taught by God become
soft and gentle and loving. Those who are taught only by men become
experts, those who are taught by God become saints. Those who are
taught only by men see doctrine as supremely important, those who
are taught by God see Jesus as supremely important. I say "only by
men" because God has given the gift of "teacher" to His church. He
wants us to exhort and instruct each other "in the Spirit". A
spirit-filled teacher takes on the curriculum of the Holy Spirit not
the dogmatic tendencies of men. What is this curriculum? "(1 Tim
1:5-7 NIV) The goal of this command is love, which comes from a pure
heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith. {6} Some have
wandered away from these and turned to meaningless talk. {7} They
want to be teachers of the law, but they do not know what they are
talking about or what they so confidently affirm." The Christian
curriculum is one of maturing in love and integrity - not mastering
controversy! Lets make our personal agenda and our teaching agenda to
focus on loving one another in the power that comes through Jesus
Christ and to grasp the love of Christ!
Let's use Paul's prayer for the Ephesians as our closing prayer. May
the Lord strengthen you as you minister in His name this weekend!
Prayer:
(Eph 3:14-21 NKJV) For this reason I bow my knees to the Father of
our Lord Jesus Christ, {15} from whom the whole family in heaven and
earth is named, {16} that He would grant you, according to the riches
of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the
inner man, {17} that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith;
that you, being rooted and grounded in love, {18} may be able to
comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth
and height; {19} to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge;
that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. {20} Now to Him
who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or
think, according to the power that works in us, {21} to Him be glory
in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever.
Amen.
---------------------------------------------------------------
John Edmiston ([email protected])
Editor - Eternity Online Magazine http://www.eternity-magazine.org/
Cults, exegesis, bible teaching, Christian life and leadership.
For the thinking Christian!