On Sunday, April 19, 2015, Pastor Joe Troutman preached “Abiding in Christ, Christ Abiding in You,” from John 6:48-59.
Introduction–This passage lends itself to easy comparisons with the Lord’s Supper, and in fact, it is a proof text for the Roman Catholic doctrine of transubstantiation.
Protestants disagree with the RC view, but how are we to understand what Jesus means when he says we are to feed on his flesh and drink his blood if he isn’t talking about the Lord’s Supper?
We feed on him by believing in him, and thereby are united to him.
Proposition–Everyone who believes in Jesus Christ feeds upon Jesus Christ, and so is eternally united to Jesus Christ
1. The Bread Is My Flesh
The context of this discussion is the Passover Feast, so when Jesus says in verse 51 that the bread he has been talking about is his flesh, he is making reference to himself as the Passover Lamb, “who takes away the sin of the world” (John 1:29).
Just as the Israelites ate the flesh of the lamb after it was sacrificed, so we are to eat the flesh of Jesus Christ our Passover Lamb, who was sacrificed to atone for our sins. But how?
2. Believing Is Feeding
Comparing verse 40 to verse 54 helps us to understand what Jesus means when he says we need to feed on his flesh.
Verse 40: “…everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.”
Verse 54: “Whoever feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.”
D.A. Carson: “The only substantial difference is that one speaks of eating Jesus’ flesh and drinking Jesus’ blood, while the other, in precisely the same conceptual location, speaks of looking to the Son and believing in him.” (The Gospel According to John, Pillar New Testament Commentary, p. 297.)
St. Augustine: “Believe, and you have eaten.” (In Johannis evangelium tractatus xxvi. 1)
3. In Christ/Christ in Us
Food that is eaten becomes a part of a person—“You are what you eat” has some truth to it. Eating food provides insight into what it means to have Christ in you and you in Christ.
Just as the death of plants and animals is necessary for humans’ physical life, so the death of Jesus Christ was necessary for humans’ spiritual life.
The only way to live forever is to eat of the Bread of Life, and the only way to eat that bread is to believe in the One whom God has sent, Jesus Christ.
Listen to “Abiding in Christ, Christ Abiding in You” (John 6:48-59) at mcopc.org.
On Sunday April 26, 2015, seven principles for interpreting the Ten Commandments were reviewed: the biblical rule, the inside/outside rule, the two-sided rule, the rule of categories, the “Am I my brother’s keeper rule, the law of the tables, and the rule of love. Finally, each of the Commandments was read and briefly discussed. 
Mid-Cities Presbyterian Church Library 
The Words of Eternal Life (John 6:60-71)
The Word who is God is the Bread of Life who has the words of eternal life. There is no one else to whom we may look for salvation.
1. Taking Offense–Jesus’s Bread of Life discourse and his claim that eternal life only comes by eating his flesh and drinking his blood offends his multitude of disciples. Perceiving their offense at his words regarding the purpose of his descent, he confronts them with how much more offense they will take at his ascent to the cross, in his resurrection, and to the Father’s right hand in heaven.
2. Unbelieveing Disciples–How could disciples of Jesus turn away from following him? Because they followed by the power of the flesh rather than by the power of the Spirit. They had not been truly drawn by the Father to come to Christ in faith. The falling away of the multitude evidences the distinction between the visible and invisible church. The visible church can only discern the credibility of one’s profession of faith. The election of members of the visible church is presumed until evidence to the contrary surfaces.
3. I Chose You–Jesus asks the Twelve whether they would also depart in order to test their commitment to him. Peter speaks for the group, reaffirming their confession of faith in him as the only source of eternal life. Peter’s inconsistency gives us hope in our own inconsistency.
The Twelve can take no credit for their resolve to follow Jesus, because he actually had actively chosen and personally called on them to follow him. Only Judas would prove to not be a member of the invisible church, if you will. He followed for three years, yet was unable to draw himself to Christ by faith. Judas traveled with Jesus, lodged with him, served him, saw his miracles and heard his teachings, yet never believed.
Why did Jesus choose Judas, then? Scripture is not explicit on the reason why. But part of his foreordained humiliation on earth was to be betrayed by one close to him. Christ sympathizes with the sorrow of betrayal and hatred by close associates. He has expreienced such betrayal before you, and for you.
Jesus’s hard and offensive words would only serve to add to his earthly humiliation. He is the Offensive Word calling us to turn to him, for there is no other way to be saved but by repentance and faith which you cannot muster, but are the Father’s means of drawing you to Christ.
Listen to “The Words of Eternal Life” (John 6:60-71) at mcopc.org.
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