(Article for publication week of 7-3- AD 2014)
For several
weeks we have been writing to you concerning the principle acts of faith. The
reason we are doing this series is to show from the scriptures what true saving
faith is, for there is a faith which is not saving (James 2:19, Acts 8:13-23).
Dear reader, is your professed faith true saving faith? I will ask each of you
to examine yourselves and ask yourselves, "is my faith any different from
the faith of devils and unregenerate men?"
We have shown so
far three principle acts of faith- receiving Christ (John 1:12) ,coming to
Christ (John 6:35), and resting in Christ (Matthew 11:28). These are principle
acts of faith, if not exactly synonymous with faith. Next to be considered is
feeding on Christ. In our text Christ describes Himself as "the bread of
life." Now, we know and understand that Christ was not saying that He is literally
a piece of bread. Christ is not literally a "door" as he described
Himself in John 10:9. These and other such expressions are illustrative of the
wonders of Christ's Person and Work. When Christ describes Himself as the bread
of life, He is telling us that He is food for the soul. As natural bread is the
"staff" of natural life (that is real bread made from old timey wheat
that is nor hybrid or genetically altered), so Christ is the staff of spiritual
life to His people. Christ likens Himself to bread because He nourishes and
sustains the souls of His people.
We also know and
understand that Christ was not saying that we are to literally eat Him, as the
papists vainly imagine and teach by the superstitious lie of
transubstantiation. When Christ says that believers are to eat Him as the bread
of life, He is simply saying that we are to spiritually ingest Him for
spiritual life ( see again John 6:35 and compare).
It is Christ the
living bread that sustains the souls of believers. Those who feed upon Him
shall live forever. They can never be lost nor fall finally away and lose their
salvation, for they live by their faith in Christ. "The just shall live by
faith." Without the living bread, we would shrivel and die and perish
forever. The Lord Jesus Christ
satisfies our souls, as bread satisfies the hungry body.
Now, Christ says, "if any man eat of this bread,
he shall live forever." Poor sinner, that is an invitation wide enough to
include you if you are spiritually hungry. Sadly, most people prefer to stay in
the hog pen like the Prodigal son and live off swine's food. But in the
Father's house there is plenty of bread and more than plenty. Why don't you
quit eating the husks this world offers and believe on Christ by feeding upon
Him as living bread?
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