Desiring God from John 6:44-45
"They Will All Be Taught of God"
I watched a John Piper sermon tonight on John 6:44-45. Its been a couple of years since Ive listened to one of his sermons. I'm always thankful for his teaching. I owe John Piper for helping me to come to terms with the joy a Christian should have in Jesus. I learnt from him more about how to love the bible because it helps me to know God, which is really what the Christian life is all about. I guess thats why he called his ministry "Desiring God"...
Despite the controversy with John Piper being called a "Christian Hedonist", hours and hours of his sermons taught me an important truth - Desiring God is something that should come naturally for a Christian! That does not mean that we do not need to be encouraged in our faith, nor does it mean that we are always perfect in our desire toward God. But what it definitely does mean is that our love for God flows from the work of Christ both in us and on the cross. It comes from our "knowing" and "feeling" and having been affected by the Gospel. "We love because he first loved us" (1 John 4:19). We do not whip ourselves into loving Him so that He will accept us. Instead He has drawn us effectively in love (John 6:44), He has taught us Himself (6:45) and as a result we desire to be in relationship with Jesus and to trust Him.
That was an important lesson for me. Being "raised spiritually" within fundamentalist circles, it is not long before you become entrenched in a world of performance based Christianity. Bible reading, prayer and attending Church becomes something you should do to "please God". The measuring stick of a "Good Christian" becomes how well you fall in line with the expectations of the religious community or the standards of the pastor. Living out your sanctification by works, you occasionally remind yourself you were saved by Grace, yet quite honestly you are not convinced God really loves you at all.
The truth of the Gospel however sets us free from such "Christian" bondage. It gives us the freedom to enjoy God because we want to, not just because we have to. Now as I dwell on verses like John 6:44-45 I realize that God loved me before I ever read my bible. He was the one that drew me to Himself. Getting saved did not change his love for me. I do not have to start performing for Him to maintain my standing in his Grace. The foolishness of thinking that anything I do now should impress God (Galatians 3:3). Instead God impresses me by His mercy, because I know how much I need it - yet do not deserve it! His character therefore is wonderful and I am convinced of His love. For "he who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?" (Romans 8:32). In response, I want to love Him more and I am frustrated by my lack of faith in Him.
Piper's sermon is on the sovereignty of God in calling people to salvation. You can watch it here! John 6 is simultaneously one of the most glorious and yet the most offensive presentations of the Gospel Jesus ever made. He loses a lot of professing followers that day, yet his chosen disciples cannot leave Him, saying "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life?" (John 6:68). That is the result of the teaching of the Father.
