Jesus Left The Door Open

What Did Jesus Do?

Jesus said to the Twelve, “Do you want to go away as well?”
John 6.67


There's plenty of debate over the matter of whether or not someone can “lose” their salvation. I don't intend at this time to enter that debate, but I will say I feel very sorry for anyone who goes through life constantly worrying if somehow they'll mess up and forfeit their place in the Father's House (The truth is, we've all messed up, and will continue to mess up-we're fallen! If getting into heaven required us to be perfect the Father's Mansion would be a very empty place.) The point is, some may look at the interchange between Jesus and the Apostles in John 6.66-71, and claim it proves that one can lose salvation.

Yes, many who had been following Jesus turned back when they couldn't make sense out of statements like, “Whoever feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life.” (John 6.54) I'm not sure that the turning back suggests that all, or even any, of those who no longer trooped after the Lord, “lost” anything. And I certainly don't believe that salvation is granted only when we completely understand everything the Father and Son said and did. God's ways are mysterious, and I fully expect to be saying, “Ah, now I get it!” when I get to heaven. (see 1 Corinthians 13.12 for Paul's explanation the state of our knowledge “now” and “then”) The thing is, following Jesus isn't like being part of a cult, the Lord is no demagogue who compels by coercion, neither does he bar the door to prevent anyone from departing.

It's like this, when someone truly comes to Jesus they are in fact brought to the Son by the will of the Father through the working of the Holy Spirit. And coming to Christ one realizes that he, and he alone has the one thing we most desperately need—“the words of eternal life.” (John 6.68) When the Spirit reveals this to someone, and they recognize the absolute truth of this fact, they quickly conclude, as did Peter, that there is not any other person or place to go to. So Jesus has no need to lock the door, the sheep of his flock are not captives, but they are captivated by his grace, love, and mercy.

The unbarred door does allow for those who follow Jesus, yet not by faith, to turn and walk away. Some of these the Father may well ultimately bring to salvation in and through the Son. Others will never be saved. Certainly, there was one who was chosen by the Lord who was not there for salvation, at least not his own. Judas Iscariot was indeed one of the Twelve, but he was chosen in order that he should fulfill his calling as Christ's betrayer (John 6.71). When Judas ultimately walked out the door he went straight to the chief priests to find out how much they would pay to get Jesus into their hands (see Matthew 26.14-16).

Jesus left the door open because he knew not all who followed him would stay the course. Indeed, on the night of his arrest, all the apostles would flee the scene. Yet the open door allowed for Peter and the others to return, and it has remained open for all of us as well. Fully confident that he will not lose even one whom the Father gives him, Jesus has no reason whatsoever to lock the door, for all who know that Christ alone has the words of eternal life, and who believe that he is the Holy One of God, never want to be anywhere else but with him.


S.D.G.

Jim
www.jimwilkenministries.org
Marion, NC
PS 37.4