John 6:37b "He who comes to Me, I will in no wise cast out."
The heart of Christ is to save sinners. Paul the Apostle in Romans 5:10 expounds on the extent of God’s love toward us even when we were sinners and the extent of Christ’s power to save us through His resurrection.
Paul put it this way: “For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.”
God’s grace toward us is beyond our ability to comprehend. It is divine! Therefore, when we as humans would give up on those who continue to sin against us, God in His divine grace & mercy does not give up.
He continues to exercise patience, His mercy is new every morning, He is long-suffering. He chose us before the foundation of the world, He sent His Son to die for us even when we were His enemies. He has already given us the greatest gift in His Son Who has paid the price for all our sin.
In Dane Ortlund’s book ‘Gentle & Lowly’ he describes the character of Christ and how Jesus deals with our sinfulness. In chapter 6 he quotes from John Bunyan’s book ‘Come and Welcome to Jesus Christ’ in which Bunyan deals with Jesus’ words from John 6:37 ‘whoever comes to me I will never cast out.’
The following is a few encouraging excerpts from that chapter exhorting the believer to continue to come to Jesus no matter how difficult the struggle with the flesh, the world or the devil. Jesus is waiting for you with welcome arms!
Bunyan lays out the typical excuses of the believer telling Jesus why we feel unworthy to come to Him with sin on our conscience. Listen to the conversation: “But I am a great sinner, say you. “I will in no wise cast out,” says Christ. But I am an old sinner, say you. “I will in no wise cast out,” says Christ. But I am a hard-hearted sinner, say you. “I will in no wise cast out,” says Christ. But I am a backsliding sinner, say you. “I will in no wise cast out,” says Christ. But I have served Satan all my days, say you. “I will in no wise cast out,” says Christ. But I have sinned against light, say you. “I will in no wise cast out,” says Christ. But I have sinned against mercy, say you. “I will in no wise cast out,” says Christ. But I have no good thing to bring with me, say you. “I will in no wise cast out,” says Christ.
(Ortlund comments) This promise was provided to answer all objections, and does answer them.
Sometimes, as here, (the) Greek uses two negatives piled on top of each other for literary forcefulness. “I will most certainly never, ever cast out.”
(Bunyan continues with our excuses) “No, wait”—we say, cautiously approaching Jesus—“you don’t understand. I’ve really messed up, in all kinds of ways.” I know, he responds. “You know most of it, sure. Certainly more than what others see. But there’s perversity down inside me that is hidden from everyone.” I know it all. “Well—the thing is, it isn’t just my past. It’s my present too.” I understand.
“But I don’t know if I can break free of this any time soon.” That’s the only kind of person I’m here to help. “The burden is heavy—and heavier all the time.” Then let me carry it. “It’s too much to bear.” Not for me. “You don’t get it. My offenses aren’t directed toward others. They’re against you.” Then I am the one most suited to forgive them. “But the more of the ugliness in me you discover, the sooner you’ll get fed up with me.” Whoever comes to me I will never cast out.
(Ortlund illustrates God’s grip on us) “Our strength of resolve is not part of the formula of retaining his good will. When my two-year-old Benjamin begins to wade into the gentle slope of the zero-entry swimming pool near our home, he instinctively grabs hold of my hand. He holds on tight as the water gradually gets deeper. But a two-year-old’s grip is not very strong. Before long it is not he holding on to me but me holding on to him. Left to his own strength he will certainly slip out of my hand. But if I have determined that he will not fall out of my grasp, he is secure. He can’t get away from me if he tried. So with Christ. We cling to him, to be sure. But our grip is that of a two-year-old amid the stormy waves of life. His sure grasp never falters. Psalm 63:8 expresses the double-sided truth: “My soul clings to you; your right hand upholds me.”
(My comments) Our grip on God may be loosely held, but His grip on us is everlasting. Keep coming to Him, keep crying out to Him, He hears you, He is near, He is able to save, to deliver, and will never cast out those who come to Him.
Paul put it this way: “For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.”
God’s grace toward us is beyond our ability to comprehend. It is divine! Therefore, when we as humans would give up on those who continue to sin against us, God in His divine grace & mercy does not give up.
He continues to exercise patience, His mercy is new every morning, He is long-suffering. He chose us before the foundation of the world, He sent His Son to die for us even when we were His enemies. He has already given us the greatest gift in His Son Who has paid the price for all our sin.
In Dane Ortlund’s book ‘Gentle & Lowly’ he describes the character of Christ and how Jesus deals with our sinfulness. In chapter 6 he quotes from John Bunyan’s book ‘Come and Welcome to Jesus Christ’ in which Bunyan deals with Jesus’ words from John 6:37 ‘whoever comes to me I will never cast out.’
The following is a few encouraging excerpts from that chapter exhorting the believer to continue to come to Jesus no matter how difficult the struggle with the flesh, the world or the devil. Jesus is waiting for you with welcome arms!
Bunyan lays out the typical excuses of the believer telling Jesus why we feel unworthy to come to Him with sin on our conscience. Listen to the conversation: “But I am a great sinner, say you. “I will in no wise cast out,” says Christ. But I am an old sinner, say you. “I will in no wise cast out,” says Christ. But I am a hard-hearted sinner, say you. “I will in no wise cast out,” says Christ. But I am a backsliding sinner, say you. “I will in no wise cast out,” says Christ. But I have served Satan all my days, say you. “I will in no wise cast out,” says Christ. But I have sinned against light, say you. “I will in no wise cast out,” says Christ. But I have sinned against mercy, say you. “I will in no wise cast out,” says Christ. But I have no good thing to bring with me, say you. “I will in no wise cast out,” says Christ.
(Ortlund comments) This promise was provided to answer all objections, and does answer them.
Sometimes, as here, (the) Greek uses two negatives piled on top of each other for literary forcefulness. “I will most certainly never, ever cast out.”
(Bunyan continues with our excuses) “No, wait”—we say, cautiously approaching Jesus—“you don’t understand. I’ve really messed up, in all kinds of ways.” I know, he responds. “You know most of it, sure. Certainly more than what others see. But there’s perversity down inside me that is hidden from everyone.” I know it all. “Well—the thing is, it isn’t just my past. It’s my present too.” I understand.
“But I don’t know if I can break free of this any time soon.” That’s the only kind of person I’m here to help. “The burden is heavy—and heavier all the time.” Then let me carry it. “It’s too much to bear.” Not for me. “You don’t get it. My offenses aren’t directed toward others. They’re against you.” Then I am the one most suited to forgive them. “But the more of the ugliness in me you discover, the sooner you’ll get fed up with me.” Whoever comes to me I will never cast out.
(Ortlund illustrates God’s grip on us) “Our strength of resolve is not part of the formula of retaining his good will. When my two-year-old Benjamin begins to wade into the gentle slope of the zero-entry swimming pool near our home, he instinctively grabs hold of my hand. He holds on tight as the water gradually gets deeper. But a two-year-old’s grip is not very strong. Before long it is not he holding on to me but me holding on to him. Left to his own strength he will certainly slip out of my hand. But if I have determined that he will not fall out of my grasp, he is secure. He can’t get away from me if he tried. So with Christ. We cling to him, to be sure. But our grip is that of a two-year-old amid the stormy waves of life. His sure grasp never falters. Psalm 63:8 expresses the double-sided truth: “My soul clings to you; your right hand upholds me.”
(My comments) Our grip on God may be loosely held, but His grip on us is everlasting. Keep coming to Him, keep crying out to Him, He hears you, He is near, He is able to save, to deliver, and will never cast out those who come to Him.
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