How to live forever - John 6:41-71
This is a sermon by Peter Birnie from the Riverside Church service on 19th October 2025.
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John 6 v 61-69 “How to live forever”
(Slide 1) As we come to God’s word today, and particularly in view of the baptisms that we will shortly do, it is great to be reminded so clearly that our faith is not at all in ourselves but all in Jesus, who he is, what he has done for us. I want to use the same illustration all the way through this short sermon;
1) Eternal life is a supernatural work (v61-63)
Picture: child belted into a car-seat, furious because they cannot get themselves out. What I want us to see firstly is that sin has made us like that little child. It has chained us up, it has left us helpless to get ourselves out of our prison (in fact the bible says it is even worse - sin has made us spiritually dead). What that means is that if we are going to be saved, if we are going to be free from sin, if we are going to have eternal life, something more powerful than ourselves needs to be at work, or in other words, (Slide 2) Eternal life is a supernatural work (v61-63).
In v63 Jesus declares that “The flesh counts for nothing” – we CANNOT contribute to our salvation (not that we shouldn’t do good but it doesn’t save us). We CANNOT earn our way to God. We CANNOT do anything that would mean we gain eternal life for ourselves. Eternal life is a work of God’s Spirit in us rather than a work of our flesh.
(Slide 3) V61 “Does this offend you?” Jesus asks his disciples - The message that our flesh (human efforts to be good) counts for nothing for salvation and it is Jesus’ flesh and blood that is needed, offended many of the people who had been following Jesus up until that point (v60 “who can accept it?), and now v61 the 12 themselves were “grumbling.” The news that we can do nothing to gain eternal life does offend us, but that idea that all our good deeds would be like a toddler fidgeting in a car-seat is true whether we like it or not – the disciples have seen lots of miracles already, but they are going to be absolutely clear that eternal life is supernatural when they see the crucified, dead, buried, then risen Jesus ascending back to his Father.
So yes, be offended by the news that we are helpless because of our sin … but we are not to stay offended, instead we are to be humbled and then we are to be full of joy because Jesus says “The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to you – they are full of the Spirit and life.”
(Slide 4)The loving God is the Life-Giver. God created everything by simply speaking. His word brought life. And now Jesus says that his words are full of the Spirit and life. Yes, sin in Genesis 3 brought death where life had been and left us helpless and trapped. But the Genesis 1 God is right there in front of the disciples in John 6 and his words bring eternal life. This is such humbling yet wonderful news (Slide 5).
2) Eternal life is God’s work (v64-66)
Picture: child trapped in car-seat, furious, but a parent offering to free them but the cross child refusing help.
(Slide 6) V64 “Yet there are some of you who do not believe.” As we have gone though John’s gospel, again and again we have been confronted with Jesus’ command and invitation to believe. Many times now we have repeated that believing isn’t simply some sort of feeling of conviction but rather it is a trusting response to what Jesus says is true. Believing is to take Jesus at his word. Believing is us as little creatures, little specks of dust given life by the eternal God, accepting that God knows better than we do and so God is to be King of our lives, believing is following and continuing to follow King Jesus. So how come, even with Jesus (God in flesh) standing in front of them, proclaiming spirit-filled life-giving words to them, that many people still refuse to believe. Jesus’ next words explain this; (Slide 7) “This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless the Father has enabled them.”
It is so important to understand this. Those of us getting baptised today, those of us who have been Christians for years already – there is no part of the salvation that God has worked for us, no part of the eternal life Jesus has given us, that we can claim as our own work. A baby trapped in a car-seat doesn’t actually get close to just how helpless our sin has made us. If we have come to Jesus it is because God has drawn us to him, out of his love and grace. We didn’t deserve it, we haven’t earnt it, but there it is, God is love and he has transformed our lives. Let that fill you with peace and joy.
3) Eternal life is only in Jesus (v67-69)
(Slide 8) And as it fills many of us with joy (because we know Jesus as our friend and saviour already), I hope what it might do as well is to make some of us here quite jealous – whenever one of my kids get a lovely treat from somebody else, the others try sometimes to be happy for them but it is only natural that they would love to have that blessing as well. If you aren’t a follower of Jesus yet, be jealous of what those around you have, be envious of those getting baptised because they are so privileged. Lets go back to our illustration
Picture the child now freed by their parent from the car-seat, delighted to be able to run around and enjoy life as it should be.
(Slide 9) V67 “’You do not want to leave too, do you’, Jesus asked the twelve.” Are the 12 disciples going to let their offense at their own helplessness and their complete need for Jesus cause them to reject Jesus? Are they going to be like the stroppy toddler refusing help and staying trapped? (Slide 10) V68-69 “Simon Peter answered him; Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We have come to believe and to know that you are the holy one of God.”
Eternal life is only in Jesus. Why are you sitting here this morning? You might have loads of answers to that, loads of explanations. But here is a really exciting thought. Perhaps you are here right now because God is drawing you to Jesus. Presenting you right now with Jesus’ words full of the Spirit and life. Believe. Trust Jesus. Accept his gift. Come and follow him and be free both now and for eternity.
Main Illustration: The toddler in the car seat
1) Eternal life is a super-natural work (v61-63)
The toddler trapped in the seat and cannot get out
- V63 “The flesh counts for nothing”
- V61 “Does this offend you?”
- The Loving God is the LifeGiver
2) Eternal life is God’s work (v64-66)
The toddler trapped in the car seat and refusing help
- V64 “Yet there are some of you who do not believe.”
- V65 “This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless the Father has enabled them.”
- God acts out of his love and grace; let this fill you with joy and peace
3) Eternal life is only in Jesus (v67-69)
The toddler freed from the seat by parents and now running around enjoying life as it should be
- V67 “’You do not want to leave too, do you?’, Jesus asked the twelve?”
- V6869 “Lord to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We have come to believe and to know that you are the Holy One of God.”
God draws people to Jesus. What a God. Believe and follow!
Memory verse: John 6 v 68
“Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.”
Life Group Questions:
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