Unless You Eat the Flesh

Unless You Eat the Flesh… John:52-59

Introduction: Early Church Persecution: 

Atheism

Incest

Cannibalism 

Not a Reference to the Lord’s Supper

Jesus isn’t making a reference to the — it is a reference to . 

Don Caron suggests that the Jews here were actually Jesus

Reasons we should not see this text sacramentally: 

A. Verses 40 and 54 parallel one another 

B.  The language in verses 53-54 would mean that the Lord’s Supper is essential to

C.  Taking this as a reference to the Lord’s Supper is too (Verse 63)

Not Watering Down the Truth for a False Sense of Unity and Peace

Illustration: The PCUSA ordination vows

The truth will always have those hostile to it and pure doctrine will always be opposed

“I would go so far as to affirm as a rule of Christian experience that strong teaching of strong doctrine will inevitably produce discord in some quarter.” ~ James Boice 

“Demonstrations of courage are all too rare in the world today, and so when you see even a vestige of courage, much less an open and continuing display of courage; our attention is drawn to it, precisely because it is so rare. There’ll be much more for us to consider about Russia and Ukraine. And of course, it’s a matter of life and death for so many in Ukraine right now. But we also have to understand that courage is required of every single human being in some context of life. And in our fallen complex, confusing, rebellious world today; courage sometimes comes down to knowing the difference between male and female, knowing that difference between the truth and a lie, and summoning the courage to say so.” ~ Albert Mohler

Peace at the cost of doctrinal does not honor God

What is Jesus talking about in these Verses? 

Jesus is saying that people must in him!

John 6:29

John 6:35

John 6:47

Eating and drinking stress the reality of and reliance on Christ that is involved in saving faith

“Do not think me blasphemous when I say that he must be as real and useful to you as a hamburger and french fries. I say this because, although he is obviously far more real and useful than these, the unfortunate thing is that for many people he is much less.” ~James Boice 

Illustration: Bride and Bridegroom

Christ’s faithfulness to us does not depend on our ability to keep the vow but on himself

The invitation: See what Christ has done for you and the vow that he has made and then repeat it — to come to him in faith — trusting in what he has done for you. 

John 5:56

Notice the word Abides

It defines the relationship between the members of the Trinity and our relationship with Christ

There is a abiding — I in Him and He is me

Because of this relationship we are and bear fruit

We take on characteristics (but he doesn’t take on ours)

Fruit is important but it isn’t the goal — the goal is

“The closer we stay to Christ, the more fruit we will bear. The more we wander out from the center and neglect the means of grace that He has given to us, the less fruit we will produce.” ~ RC Sproul