EAT, DRINK, AND ENJOY ETERNITY (Outline)
August 10, 2008 --
PENTECOST 13 --
John 6:51-58
INTRO: Over and over and over again during his earthly ministry Jesus emphasized that man’s life does not consist in the abundance of things. The fact is Jesus often pointed out the very opposite. Jesus wanted believers to come to know, to understand, and finally wholeheartedly believe that their real treasure was in heaven. In heaven thieves cannot break in and steal, nor can moth destroy, nor does rust corrupt the believers’ treasure. It was often difficult for Jesus to focus the attention of people toward that which was truly valuable. It can be hard to put complete confidence in those things that one cannot see, feel, and/or touch. Isaiah expresses the Lord’s free invitation to enjoy eternity without cost. "Why spend money on what is not bread, and your labor on what does not satisfy? Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good, and your soul will delight in the richest of fare"(ISAIAH 55:2). Thus we have gathered together today to listen, to eat, and to delight in the richest of fare.
Our theme: EAT, DRINK, AND ENJOY ETERNITY.
I. Christ is our food and drink.
II. Christ is our eternal salvation.
I. CHRIST IS OUR FOOD AND DRINK
A. John chapter 6 opens with Jesus’ feeding the 5,000. People followed Jesus because of this miracle.
1. Now Jesus had to clearly, simply explain to the people he was more than a bread-King.
2. Verse 51a,c. Bread from heaven? His flesh for the life of the world? How could this be?
3. Verse 52. There was discussion and disagreement to what Jesus was really, truly saying.
B. Jesus preaches further, verse 55. Yes, they heard right. His flesh and blood = real food and drink.
1. Verse 56. Christ would live in those who would partake of Jesus. Verse 57a + the Father.
2. Certainly there were still questions. John chapter 1 = the Word became flesh and lived.
3. This is the real food every believer needs. This is the real drink every believer drinks.
C. Jesus wanted the people to focus on the spiritual not only the earthly. Jesus is God’s living Word!
D. The powerful word of God still changes the hearts of mankind today. Nothing more or nothing less. It makes no difference concerning the many words of preachers today. Our ideas to add to the power of God’s word do not matter. At times we become distracted. We are tempted to think we can make God’s word more powerful or more attractive to outsiders. God’s word alone is the most powerful weapon that you and I have to defeat every enemy that opposes God’s will. "When your words came, I ate them; they were my joy and my heart’s delight, for I bear your name, O LORD God Almighty"(JEREMIAH 15:16). Eat and drink and enjoy the saving power of God. God’s word is our food and drink, our joy and delight.
E. We seldom miss a meal for our daily living. Our physical well-being is something each one of us thinks about every day. Our spiritual nourishment is what we always need to remember. It is not always that easy. At times we skip our eating and drinking from the bread and water of life that is God’s word. Sin is alive and well and often distracts us. "The law was added so that the trespass might increase. But where sin increased, grace increased all the more, so that, just as sin reigned in death, so also grace might reign through righteousness to bring eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord"(ROMANS 5:20,21). God’s undeserved love is his gift to us to overcome sin. Eat and drink this food that is Christ.
F. These verses remind us of the sacrament of Holy Communion. (They are not a direct reference because Jesus has not yet instituted the Lord’s Supper.) Communion reveals a union with. There is a union of Christ’s very body and blood with the earthly elements. There is a union of believers with their Savior. There is a union of the believers bound by faith with other believers who believe the exact same things. This was not a new union. Christ is the real food and drink for believers of all times. Paul speaks of the Israelites wandering in the wilderness. "They all ate the same spiritual food and drank the same spiritual drink; for they drank from the spiritual rock that accompanied them, and that rock was Christ"(1 CORINTHIANS 10:3,4). We are modern-day Israelites wandering today. Eat and drink of the rock, Christ.
EAT, DRINK, AND ENJOY ETERNITY.
I. Christ is our food and drink.
II. CHRIST IS OUR ETERNAL SALVATION
A. Jesus wanted the people to focus on the spiritual – that living bread from heaven, verse 51.
1. This was a challenge. The 5000+ ate and were satisfied. Verse 58 manna was from heaven.
2. Manna only provided for a physical need for a short time. An entire generation still died.
B. Verse 53. Without Jesus they are lost, lost forever. Without Jesus there is no eternal salvation.
1. Jesus does not give up. He preaches and repeats so that God’s word would work in hearts.
2. Jesus, the living bread from heaven, provides a life that endures forever, verse 54.
3. Note that Jesus states that eternity is a present gift for believers: “has eternal life”.
C. Verse 58. Jesus repeats the promise of eternal life for believers. Christ is that eternal life.
D. Eat and drink and enjoy eternal life. Christ offers us his flesh as real food and his blood as real drink. Those who cherish this Word of God made flesh enjoy eternal life. Here on earth Christ is our life. And hereafter in eternity Christ is forever our life. "And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life"(1 JOHN 5:11,12). By virtue of hearing (or reading) God’s Word today you have life. The Word of God has been planted. God gives this word life. Life in the Son of God is eternal life. Enjoy!
E. Without God’s word you and I are lost. Without God’s Son we are lost. It is vitally important for us to hear God’s gospel message over and over again. It is vitally important because of our sinful, human nature. We cannot save ourselves. We cannot pay our way into heaven. We cannot pray our way into heaven. Nor can we obey our way into heaven. "No man can redeem the life of another or give to God a ransom for him--the ransom for a life is costly, no payment is ever enough--that he should live on forever and not see decay"(PSALM 49:7-9). Eternal salvation is far too costly for any sinner to pay the price. BUT the Lord Jesus Christ, our sinless Savior, has paid the price. Christ is our eternal salvation.
F. The days are growing evil. Judgment Day fast approaches. It is all the more reason for every believer everywhere to stand firm in the free gift of eternal salvation provided through Christ. Christ is our food and drink and eternal salvation. In Revelation the believer is given this encouragement. "He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes, I will give the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God"(REVELATION 2:7). On this side of heaven we (hopefully: joyfully and daily) partake of the Bread of Life. In heaven we will eat of the tree of life.
CONC.: Eat and drink and enjoy eternal life. Christ is our food and drink. Christ is our eternal salvation. Knowing this, believing this, and confessing these truths – what else do we really need? Yet, how often we neglect that one thing needful. Jesus has become flesh. He lived among us for a while and we have seen his glory (PLEASE read John 1). Now, today, the Word of God that is Christ himself is alive and well and living in hearts of faith. "For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, and you have been given fullness in Christ, who is the head over every power and authority" (COLOSSIANS 2:9,10). Jesus is not only the word of God in the flesh he is also God. The fullness of God is found in Christ. The fullness of Christ is found in the hearts and lives of every believer. This fullness of Christ is the ultimate authority over every power and authority. With the power of Christ we order Satan to get behind us. We direct the sinful world to get behind us. We command our sinful flesh to get behind us. All by God’s free grace that saves us and now strengthens us. EAT, DRINK, AND ENJOY ETER-NITY. We do since: Christ is our food and drink and eternal salvation. Amen. Pastor Timm O. Meyer
SERVICES: 1:00pm @ NCF Min.(Sat) / 12:00pm @ NCF Medium (Sun) / 9:30am @ Redeemer (Sun)
BIBLE STUDIES: TUES. -- 6:00pm (Min) + 7:30pm (Med) @ NCF /
10:55am @ Redeemer (Sun)
/ Sunday radio broadcast @ 9:05am on KQNK 106.7FM or 1530AM + www.kqnk.com
PENT. 13 readings:
ISA. 56:1,6-8;
ROMANS 11:13-15, 28-32;
MATT. 15:21-28;
(PSALM 133-134)
