When You Belong To Jesus | John 6:35–42

When You Belong To Jesus | John 6:35-42

Opening Remarks:

AM Series in John

John 6 is a high point in Scripture. Feeding of 5,000, Jesus walking on water, then Jesus making the first of His many “I Am” statements by saying, “I Am the bread of life.”

The problem is, the people don’t like His claim.

I’d like to begin our reading in Vs. 35 down through Vs. 42.

This passage is important because we get to hear from Jesus’ own lips what it means to belong to Jesus. It’s like nothing else you could belong to.

Title: “When You Belong To Jesus”

Pray

Introduction: There are few things harder than feeling like you don’t belong.

I remember moving to a new city as an 11 year old boy and feeling like an outsider.

My dad was a preacher in Abilene, Texas, and it seemed like we would be there for life. Our entire family on both sides, from grandparents down to all the cousins, lived in and immediately Abilene.

But then the Lord made it clear that we were supposed to move. My dad didn’t know where, so my first thought was “Maybe California” Because we had gone to Disneyland and I thought all of California was like Main Street USA at Disney.

Well, we ended moving to a place slightly different than California called Evanston, Wyoming. Not quite California weather. Definitely not Disneyland.

But we trying to make the best of it. The mountains were beautiful. It was an adventure. But the hardest reality came when school started in August of my 5th grade year.

That’s when I became desperately aware of the human need for a sense of belonging.

I came from a place where my entire family lived. I had gone to school with the same kids since Kindergarten. I never had to feel like an outsider.

But then I found myself in a school where all the other kids had been together since kindergarten.

I didn’t belong. They had inside jokes. They had memories. They had certain styles. They liked the same kinds of things.

And there I was, a Texas kid with an accent who just didn’t belong.

Now, I eventually found my place, but I can still feel it.

I think we’ve all felt, at times, what it’s like not to belong.

New school or new church or new job. Getting married and trying to fit in with your spouse’s family.

Those situations remind us how important belonging is.

If you’ve had a close friend group or been on a sports team, you’ve probably experienced it.

If you were in the military and part of a unit, you definitely have felt it.

Illustration: I was watching a group of young people that just finished basic training as they were about to get on airplanes this week.

They were all wearing their camo and carrying rucksacks. One of them told me they had just finished basic and were about to go to advanced training or whatever their next step was.

As I watched some of them get on different planes, they were hugging and saying goodbye and you could tell they had formed unbreakable bonds in the last couple of months.

I thought about how different that probably was than when they first met on day one. They didn’t even know each other. But that experience forged a lifelong relationship. A sense of belonging.

There are things we all belong to.

We’re all part of the human race, which is now over 8 billion. We belong to the human race.

Take that down to a national level, and most of us are American citizens, which is over 336 million. Many of us have a sense of patriotism when it comes to being in America.

If we go down to the state level, there are over 900,000 people in SD. We belong as South Dakotans.

In Sioux Falls, which was named the fastest growing city in the Midwest earlier this year, there are over 215,000, with over 300,000 in the metro. That’s a lot of people.

We find a sense of belonging in these things

But being an American or South Dakotan, as good as it is, that’s not what defines where God’s people belong.

In other words, your primary identity is not first about being an American.

Our primary identity and sense of belonging comes through our relationship with Jesus Christ.

As believers, we may live in the world, but that’s not where we belong.

We may be South Dakotans, but that’s not our primary identity.

We may live in Sioux Falls, but that’s not where we fit in.

Jesus Christ said that being a believer means you don’t find your belonging in the world.

Peter calls us strangers, pilgrims, sojourners. Meaning we have a citizenship in Heaven.

Understand, I’m not saying we don’t have a sense of purpose.

We have a purpose.

Our purpose is to glorify God.

Our task is to point people to Him.

Our fulfillment is found in becoming like Jesus Christ.

I have a strong sense of purpose as a believer here on earth. But I don’t find my sense of belonging here on earth.

And if you know Jesus Christ, you shouldn’t either.

If you’re a Believer, or are interested in becoming a Believer, or recently have become a Believer, I’d like to give you some truths about Belonging to Christ that He presents in this text.

I. Belonging isn’t automatic.

Some things you belong to automatically

Born = Human race

Born in America = US citizen

Born in South Dakota = Automatically part of the stubborn club

But some things you have to join. It’s not automatic

If you’ve ever tried to walk into Costco without a card, you’ve experienced this. You have to sign up and pay.

You don’t automatically become a student at Univ. of Sioux Falls just because you’re from Sioux Falls. You have to enroll.

People don’t become a member of a church simply because their grandpa was a preacher. You have to take the steps to join a church as a member. And that’s important, by the way, because that accountability and commitment allows you to serve, which is something everyone ought to do.

But let’s get even more specific - You aren’t part of the family of God simply because you were born in America or born into a Christian family. Vs. 35-37

Jesus doesn’t make anyone an automatic member. He doesn’t choose.

That has become a troubling doctrine in recent years.

There are many that believe God chooses who may or may not believe.

Some think that’s what Christ is saying here.

In vs. 37 He says, “All that the Father giveth me”

Some conclude that that means the Father only gives Christ certain individuals.

The doctrine is called Calvinism, and it rests on the conclusion that salvation or the opportunity for salvation is not for everyone.

Ephesians 1:3–6 “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.”

We can’t be afraid of texts like this. Here’s the truth: God did predetermine that His Son would have a people that would be considered His.

Now don’t get too nervous. I said God predetermined that there would be a people that would be saved and follow Christ and be called by His name and bring Him glory.

In fact, the Bible says that God had a plan before the foundation of the world for people to be saved through Jesus Christ and His death on the cross.

And, God knew that His creation would reject Him and sin, because He has perfect foreknowledge. That shouldn’t surprise us. He knows everything.

So God determined from before the foundation of the world that Jesus would die.

He knew that Jesus’ blood would be enough to cleanse the sin of all sinners.

And it was predetermined that God would have a people. And, listen carefully, it was predetermined who those people would be.

Okay, who would those people be?

Vs. 37 “All that the Father giveth me.”

“Okay, so who does the Father give to His Son?”

Look up in Vs. 35 - “Those that believe on me”

Look at Vs. 40 - “Every one that seeth the Son and believeth on Him may have everlasting life”

So who does the Father give the Son? Those that believe.

So here’s the extent of God’s predetermination:

He had a plan for sinners to be saved before the foundation of the world

His plan was that Jesus Christ would die and shed His blood to save sinners

He had a predetermined plan that He would have a people that He gives to Jesus Christ

And His predetermined plan was that anyone who would see the Son and believe on Him would be saved

Which means that anyone who hears the Gospel, senses conviction by the Holy Spirit about their own sin, then responds by believing in Jesus Christ as the only way of salvation, those are the ones that get to be His people.

Foreknowledge simply means that God put a plan in place,. Yes, He knows who’ll get saved, because He is omniscient. But knowledge doesn’t mean He chooses.

The qualification for belonging comes down to our choice of whether or not we believe.

Friend, it isn’t automatic just because you were born into a Christian family.

It’s not inherited on your mom’s side because your granddad was a preacher.

It’s not automatic membership.

But it’s also not an automatic rejection like some say it is.

What makes the difference?

Look at John 6:28-29.

Your choice to believe determines whether or not you become part of God’s family.

It’s not an automatic membership. But it’s also not an automatic rejection.

The choice is yours.

Which leads to the second truth about Belonging:

II. Belonging happens through belief.

Vs. 35 “He that believeth on me shall never thirst”

Vs. 40 “Every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life”

We’ve discussed the difference between intellectual assent and placing trust. Belief means you place your trust.

Illustration: I believe this chair can hold me if I sit in, but I don’t trust until I choose to sit in it.

It’s not enough to acknowledge Christ. Just this morning in my Bible reading, I read Luke 4:41 “And devils also came out of many, crying out, and saying, Thou art Christ the Son of God…they knew that he was Christ.”

It’s not enough to believe He is Christ. You must place your trust in Him for salvation.

Those that make that choice are the ones who get to belong.

But here’s the thing, that’s the only requirement. With Christ, anyone that comes in response to the HS conviction through the Gospel is welcomed with open arms.

If you come to Christ in belief, you will not be denied.

It doesn’t matter who you.

Or how bad your background.

There are no rejections to someone who believes. The Bible makes it clear.

The woman at the well would have been an automatic rejection by man’s standard.

Zaccheus was a hated tax collector who ripped people off. We would have said, “Hard pass.”

The thief on the cross basically had a deathbed confession. We would say, “It wasn’t real.”

The apostle Paul hunted and murdered Christians. We would be like, “I don’t think so.”

But God does not deny anyone who responds to the Gospel with belief.

Look at Vs. 44a.

Maybe you’re saying, “It’s like I’m being drawn, there’s something going on in my heart this morning. But you don’t know my background.”

Well, it doesn’t really matter what I know or don’t know. Jesus knows where you’ve been, and He still says, “Come”

The main point of this message today is this, “If you believe, you belong.”

If you respond to the conviction of your sin and say, “I place my trust and faith in Christ alone,” then you believe.

And if you believe, you belong. If you believe in Jesus, you belong to Jesus.

I think about Felix in the book of Acts. Paul preached the Gospel to him, and he was trembling. He was being drawn. But he didn’t believe. When the Gospel is preached, the HS makes it known “This is true” and you either believe or reject it.

The choice is yours. God already chose to say, “Those that believe belong.”

Now you must choose. It’s a matter of you choosing for yourself.

If you don’t believe, you don’t belong to Jesus.

But if you believe, you do belong to Jesus.

Don’t overcomplicated it this morning.

Belonging isn’t automatic.

Belonging happens through belief. If you believe, you belong.

Which leads to the third truth:

III. Once you Belong, it’s permanent.

Once you believe, you belong, and you belong forever.

Vs. 39-40

A. Jesus Never Loses One

This is teaching the doctrine of eternal security.

“You Baptists…Just teach that doctrine so you can sin all you want without worry.”

But hold on, there are two things about that:

1. Jesus taught a parable in Luke 7 about a man forgiving two people - one he forgave a huge some and the other he forgave a small sum.

So Jesus asks Peter, “Which of them will love him most?”

And Peter said, “I suppose that he, to who he forgave most.”

And Jesus said, “You’re right.”

If you believe in partial forgiveness, you’ll practice partial love.

But if you believe in complete forgiveness, you’ll practice complete love.

Meaning, I don’t believe that eternal security makes for less committed Christians. I believe it makes you more committed.

2. Paul said in Romans 6:1, “What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid.”

If someone uses eternal security as an excuse to sin more, they are carnal and out of God’s will.

Eternal security isn’t a Baptist doctrine, it’s a Bible doctrine.

3. Some might say, “What about those who make a profession of faith and go back into sin?”

First, the Lord knows and I’m not the judge because I can’t see the heart.

Second, I believe if someone leaves the faith and never comes back, that is more likely an indication that they never were genuinely saved, not that they were saved and lost it.

“How can you say that?” Because Jesus said, “I never lose one.”

In fact, it’s so sure, that Jesus says…

B. Belonging Means Resurrection

Vs. 39 - He doesn’t lose them, He raises them.

Vs. 40 - “I will raise him up at the last day.”

Vs. 44b - “I will raise him up at the last day.”

Vs. 54 - “I will raise him up at the last day.”

He’s definitely making a point. This is sure. Permanent. Guaranteed.

What does that mean? Even if we die on earth, we will be raised to have eternal life in Heaven.

Because believing is permanent.

It’s so certain, that you couldn’t miss the resurrection if you wanted to.

Illustration: I always set multiple alarms on Sunday mornings because I normally have important tasks to fulfill.

But even with all of my back up alarms, something could go wrong and I’d miss it.

I could sleep so hard that I don’t wake up.

My phone could die and the alarm doesn’t go off.

There’s no guarantee in life, no matter how hard you try.

But there is a guarantee with Jesus, and you don’t have to try.

Once you believe and belong, you will go through the resurrection.

Listen, death is no fun. We all know that.

Many of our lives have been impacted by it.

We have a funeral service this afternoon for a former member of Eastside Baptist Church, Lillian Peterson.

But even though death is hard, if you belong to Jesus, you can’t possibly miss eternal life.

Many here will miss Lillian Peterson. Her family will.

But she placed her faith in Jesus Christ as a girl, which means she is guaranteed eternal life. You talk about security.

Fully guaranteed. Like a warranty or a loan. Except this guarantee is backed by the promises of the Father.

Song, “Now I belong to Jesus, Jesus belongs to me. Not for the years of time alone. But for eternity.”

So here’s the summary:

1. Belonging is not automatic.

2. If you believe, you belong.

3. Once you belong, you belong for good.

Sounds pretty good, doesn’t it?

So everyone believes, right, because it just makes sense. I wish.

Look at Vs. 41.

The Jews murmured at the words of Jesus.

“Who does this guy think he is? We know his family! We watched Him grow up! And He claims to be the bread of life. What a joke.”

How sad. And what’s worse is, even though they had the excuse of knowing His family, that didn’t change the Father’s requirement for salvation.

Excuses don’t mean you avoid the requirement.

It doesn’t matter what excuse you use. There is no excuse that would cause God to, “Okay, that one I get. You don’t have to believe.”

Friend, you can trust in your baptism, but bypassing God’s plan of Christ’s death on the cross means you miss eternal life.

You can trust in your good works, but that’s not God’s plan.

You can say you have good intentions, but that leaves out Jesus.

You cay say, “The church is full of hypocrites.” But that doesn’t mean you get a free pass.

You must believe to belong.

Either you accept the bread of life or you turn it away.

Bro. Sam Davison said it this way, “You can use every excuse, but the bottom line is, between now and when you die, you must trust Christ or you go to Hell.”

Conclusion:

The way I see it, there are a few categories of people here:

1. Those that don’t belong to Christ

If the Father is drawing you and you feel compelled, make the choice. It’s that simple. Don’t reject it like these Jews did.

2. Those who belong to Christ but don’t belong with His people

Being a part of a church. You say, “Isn’t belonging to Christ enough?” Not according to the NT. He died for the church. That’s His plan for our growth. That’s how you serve Him.

Find a Bible preaching church and get involved.

3. Those who belong to Christ but try to belong with the world

As a believer, your identity is with Christ, not the culture. But too many of God’s people find their sense of belonging out there rather than with Jesus. That’s not your citizenship. You won’t be satisfied there.

If you want to belong, turn to Jesus Christ.