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Chapter 52

“Doth this offend you?”

“These things said he in the synagogue, as he taught in Capernaum. Many therefore of his disciples, when they had heard [this], said, This is an hard saying; who can hear it? When Jesus knew in himself that his disciples murmured at it, he said unto them, Doth this offend you?”

(John 6:59-61)

John 6 is a record of the running controversy between the Lord Jesus Christ and lost religionists who wanted to eat the bread he alone could provide, but hated the doctrine he taught. After our Lord performed that great miracle of feeding 5,000 men with just five barley loaves and two small fish, the people began to flock to him in droves. But when he began to teach them the Word of God, when he began to preach to them the doctrine of the Gospel, they were offended. His doctrine was a stumbling stone and a rock of offense to lost religious people in that day; and things have not changed. The doctrine of Christ is still offensive to lost, religious men and women.

            We read in the Scriptures that when the Lord Jesus preached, the people who heard him became so enraged that they picked up rocks and tried to stone him to death. And I tell you plainly that any man who dares to preach the Gospel of Christ today, as the Master himself preached it, will meet with the same response among unregenerate religious people.

            In this chapter our Lord began his sermon in verse 26, where he rebuked the Jews, telling them that the only reason they followed him was that they wanted to see more miracles and eat more bread. The message ends in verse 58 with the promise of life eternal to all who trust the Lord Jesus Christ. After he brought his message, the people who heard him began to murmur. They said that’s too hard. — “This is a hard saying, who can hear it?” The Lord Jesus answered their quibbles by saying, “Doth this offend you?” Then he went on preaching, re-emphasizing what he had said before. He wanted to make sure they heard what he was saying (vv. 62-65).

            When He got done, the whole crowd left him, all 5,000 men, their wives, and their children. Our Lord was not a crowd pleaser. Then he turned to the twelve disciples who remained with him and said, “Will ye also go away?” They stayed; but the crowd left. The crowd was offended by the Gospel. Every god they worshipped, every altar they cherished, every hope they clung to was being destroyed by Christ’s doctrine. And they said, “We’ve heard enough of that. We will not listen to it anymore.” And they walked away from the Gospel and went to hell, clinging to the traditions of their Christless religion.

            The Gospel of the grace of God is just as offensive to unregenerate men and women today as it was to these people in John 6. It offended people then; and it offends people now. There is no way to make the Gospel inoffensive without denying it altogether. The Gospel of the grace of God will either bring people to Christ in repentance and faith, or drive them away from him in obstinate rebellion. It will either save those who hear it, or it will condemn them. But, blessed be God, the preaching of his free and sovereign grace in Christ will accomplish the purpose whereunto he sends it (2 Corinthians 2:14-16; Isaiah 55:11).

Seven Truths

I want to show you the doctrine of Christ, as it was preached by Christ himself in the Gospel of John. Later on in his second Epistle, John wrote, — “Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son” (1 John 9). Here are seven great foundation truths of the Gospel, which fell from the lips of the Lord Jesus Christ himself. It cannot be denied that these seven things are the doctrine of Christ. They were taught by him. John heard them. And being inspired by the Spirit of God to do so, he wrote them down for our learning and admonition. They are offensive to the world, but they are honoring to God and full of comfort and joy for his people. Here are seven things the Son of God taught when he walked and preached among men. And that which he taught, all who are his messengers in every generation faithfully teach as well.

1. Divine Sovereignty

Our Lord Jesus Christ preached the glorious sovereignty of God in the exercise of his grace.

“All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out. For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me. And this is the Father’s will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day. And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.” (John 6:37-40)

            Here we see God in his sovereignty. We see God’s will being done in the world. The Lord Jesus tells us that he came down here, appointed, delegated, set apart, and sent of God to accomplish his sovereign will. When the Lord Jesus Christ preached, he preached God on the throne as an absolute sovereign, who always does what seems good in his sight.

            I know that men hate God’s sovereignty. It offends them. It makes all men and women paupers before the great and glorious Lord God, who does what he pleases, when he pleases, with whom he pleases. — “None can stay his hand, or say unto him, what doest thou?” (See Isaiah 14:24, 26 and 27.) Anytime a preacher dares take the crown off man’s head and puts it where it belongs, on God’s head, the fur begins to fly. You can count on it. But every man who is called of God to preach the Gospel will do just that, regardless of cost or consequence.

            When I declare that God is sovereign, I mean that God really is God. Everything is determined by him, everything depends upon him, and everything is absolutely governed by him. The will and purpose of God is absolute and irresistible. God’s will determines all things and rules all things. Everything depends upon the will of God. Christ died by the will of God (Acts 2:23, Hebrews 10:1-14). Paul tells us that God “worketh all things after the counsel of his own will” (Ephesians 1:11). James says, “If the Lord will, we will live and do this or that” (James 4:15). John tells us, regarding the kings, princes, and nations of the world that “God hath put in their hearts to fulfil his will” (Revelation 17:17). When Paul wrote to the Corinthians, he said, “I will come to you shortly, if the Lord will” (1 Corinthians 4:19).

            And when I say that God is sovereign, I am telling you that God almighty always saves sinners on his terms (Isaiah 45:22). If you are saved, you are saved because it pleased the Lord to save you. “It pleased the Lord” to make you his people (1 Samuel 12:22). “It pleased the Lord” to bruise his Son in the place of his people (Isaiah 53:9). “It pleased the Lord” to put all the fulness of grace and glory in Christ (Colossians 1:18). “It pleased the Lord” to reveal his Son in you (Galatians 1:15). “It pleased the Lord” to save sinners by the preaching of the Gospel (1 Corinthians 1:21).

            Seminaries and Bible colleges deny God’s sovereignty. Preachers everywhere oppose it. Men who hate God hate it. But the Son of God preached it! “Doth this offend you?” It offends you only if you want to be God yourself.

2. Total Depravity

Remember, I am showing you the doctrine of Christ specifically as the Apostle John was inspired by God the Holy Spirit to present it in his Gospel narrative. Here in the Gospel of John, specifically in this 6th chapter, we see the Lord Jesus Christ openly preaching the total depravity and inability of man (John 6:44). He’s preaching to lost people about divine sovereignty, total depravity, election, and limited atonement!

“No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.” (John 6:44)

“When Jesus knew in himself that his disciples murmured at it, he said unto them, Doth this offend you? [What] and if ye shall see the Son of man ascend up where he was before? It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, [they] are spirit, and [they] are life. But there are some of you that believe not. For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were that believed not, and who should betray him. And he said, Therefore said I unto you, that no man can come unto me, except it were given unto him of my Father.”

(John 6:61-65)

            Our Lord preached God on the throne and man in the dust. He preached God exalted and man abased, God high and man low. Man was not always low; but sin has made him so. Ever since our father Adam fell in the garden, the sons of Adam have been wallowing in the mire of depravity. And Christ preached it that way. He said, “No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him.” My Lord put man in a spiritual grave, unable to rise by his own strength, declared him an impotent thing on a cripple’s bed, unable to walk, and on a blind man’s stool, unable to see.

            Men and women everywhere tell us we should not teach and preach these things, because they offend people. I am fully aware of that; but I would rather offend man than offend God. And when we preach and teach these glorious doctrines plainly and openly, we are following a good example. This is the doctrine of Christ. Is it not?

            To preach free-willism and decisionism is to deceive the souls of men. Man can no more save himself than the demons of hell could save themselves. No man can ever be saved except by the omnipotent mercy, irresistible grace, and sovereign will of God. — “Salvation is of the Lord” in its planning, in its purchase, in its performance, in its preservation, and in its perfection.

            “Doth this offend you?” If it does, it offends you only because you think you are good

3. Unconditional Election

The Lord Jesus Christ preached God’s free, sovereign, eternal, unconditional election of some to salvation and eternal life in Christ. We just read that in verses 64 and 65. Because He knew from the beginning that they would believe not, the Savior says, — “Therefore said I unto you, No man can come unto me except it were given unto him of my Father.” It is the Son of God who said, “Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you” (John 15:16).

            Election is a humbling doctrine, for it takes salvation completely out of man’s hands. — “Ye have not chosen me.” Election is a clearly revealed and very prominent Bible doctrine. (Ephesians 1:3-6; 2 Thessalonians 2:13-14). And election is a most blessed and comforting doctrine. It is our election that secures us from the delusions of antichrist (2 Thessalonians 2).

4. Blood Atonement

Our Savior preached blood atonement (John 6:54-57). People in his day resented the preaching of blood atonement as much as they do in our day. But he still preached it. The Son of God preached redemption by the blood (John 3:14-16).

·      God’s Blood (Acts 2028)

·      Holy Blood (Exodus 30:10)

·      Precious Blood (1 Peter 1:18-20)

·      God Spilt Blood (Zechariah 13:7)

·      Saving Blood (Romans 5:9)

·      Effectual, Sin- Atoning Blood (Hebrews 1:3; 9:12)

            And the Son of God preached that his blood effectually made atonement for and redeemed a particular people called his sheep (John 10:11, 15, 25). The Lord Jesus Christ did not shed his blood in vain (Galatians 2:21). Our Redeemer preached salvation by blood atonement. Nothing but the blood could satisfy the justice of a holy God. Nothing but the blood can wash away my sin. There is no hope for sinners but the precious blood of Christ.

            “Doth this offend you?” If it does, it offends you only because you have some other hope, only because you have made for yourself a “refuge of lies.”

5. Effectual Calling

The Son of God preached the effectual call of God the Holy Spirit. — “It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life” (John 6:63). We preach the Gospel to all who hear us, calling all to Christ. But that general call of the Gospel is of no benefit to any who hear the Word preached, except it be made effectual in the heart by God the Holy Spirit in the effectual, irresistible call that brings chosen, redeemed sinners to the Savior (Psalms 65:4; 110:3).

All who are privileged to hear the Gospel preached are called externally by the preaching of the Gospel; but those who are saved, “the called,” have been called internally, effectually, and irresistibly by God the Holy Spirit. “The called” are like the Thessalonian saints. Their election, redemption, and calling are made manifest by the fact that the Word of God has come to them, not in word only, but in the power of the Holy Ghost[1]. Salvation comes to chosen, redeemed sinners in the experience of grace by the almighty, irresistible, effectual call of God the Holy Spirit.

            It is this call of which David sang, when he said, “Blessed is the man whom thou choosest, and causest to approach unto thee.” This is the call the Apostle Paul was talking about when he said, “God separated me from my mother’s womb, called me by his grace, and revealed his Son in me.” Paul was talking about this internal, effectual call when he wrote to Timothy. — God “hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began, But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel: Whereunto I am appointed a preacher, and an apostle, and a teacher of the Gentiles” (2 Timothy 1:9-11).

            “Doth this offend you?” If it does, it offends you only because you have never been called.

6. Certain Perseverance

And our Lord Jesus Christ preached the preservation and perseverance of every believer (John 10:27-30). Sheep are weak, helpless, defenseless creatures. They have no strength to withstand their enemies. If they are lost, they cannot find their way home again. If sick, they cannot fight off their disease. If threatened, they cannot run fast enough to escape danger. If attacked, they cannot defend themselves.

            The only security sheep have is in their shepherd. If their shepherd is wise, good, and strong, they are secure. If the sheep survive, if they live and flourish, the honor belongs to the shepherd. If the sheep perish, the blame belongs to the shepherd. It is the shepherd’s responsibility to keep the sheep. Knowing these things, those who are the Lord’s sheep rejoice to hear him say, “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand. I and my Father are one.”

            The doctrine of our Lord in this text is very plain and obvious. We who believe are Christ’s sheep: weak, helpless, defenseless creatures. And the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, is our Shepherd, wise, good, and strong. Because Christ is our Shepherd, we are secure in him. This is what the Son of God, our dear Shepherd, says concerning all his sheep. — “They shall never perish!” With those words, the Son of God declares the absolute, infallible, unwavering security of God’s elect in himself.

“Once in Christ, in Christ forever,

Nothing from Him our souls can sever!”

            Doth this offend you?” If it does, it offends you only because you think you can save yourself.

7. Salvation Full and Free

The Lord Jesus Christ preached salvation full and free to all who believe, to all who trust him.

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.” (John 3:16-18)

“He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.” (John 3:36)

“All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.” (John 6:37)

            Salvation is in Christ. Salvation in Christ is free. This salvation that is in Christ is unconditional. And it is an everlasting, eternal salvation. The Son of God says, “Him that cometh unto me I will in no wise cast out.”

            “Doth this offend you?” If it does, it offends you only because you refuse to be saved by free grace alone. This is the doctrine of Christ. If it offends you, it offends you because you do not know or trust the Lord Jesus Christ. If Christ’s doctrine is your doctrine, be certain, child of God, that you do not assist those who oppose his doctrine in any way.

“Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son. If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed: For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds.” (2 John 1:9-11)

Don Fortner

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