John 6:25-71
This powerful reproduction of a rather decisive set of scriptures has for me a curiously strong spirit about it. And the Savior himself said as much after he delivered this passage to the multitude: "It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life." (vs. 63, emphasis added)
There is a phrase and a relationship that is concerning to me from this passage. Christ said: "No man can come unto me, except it were given unto him of my Father." (vs. 65) He makes similar statements twice prior to this in verses 37 & 44.
The first passage states that "All that the Father giveth me shall come to me." (vs. 37) This idea is reinforced in the other two passages of scripture, suggesting that unless God the Father chooses you through some random lottery of fate, that you cannot come unto Christ (at least, that is how some faiths would interpret this). Now on verses 44 and 65, there is a Joseph Smith Translation that clearly explains that this selection is not a matter of fate but rather the result of obedience to the Father's will: "No man can come unto me, except he doeth the will of my Father who hath sent me." (JST John 6:44) But even without the translation, there is another way of looking at these statements of the Savior's. Knowing that a loving Heavenly Father does not play games of chance with His children, even if there was no Joseph Smith Translation, these passages could have tremendous significance in teaching the importance of coming unto the Father in prayer so that it may be given to us to come unto Christ. As with all spiritual blessings (faith, hope, charity, etc.), our Heavenly Father has always had one qualifying provision in place, and it is that we ask for the blessings that we seek.
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There is another blessing that comes with diligent study of this passage of scripture. Because it is harder for the natural man to comprehend this passage of scripture, it becomes an exercise in spiritual exertion to comprehend the true spirit of these verse. That very exercise though, however, is a reconditioning of spiritual muscle (so to speak) that causes me to consider more profoundly my prayers and to subsequently draw closer to Father. It is noteworthy for that particular reason, in that it requires a greater degree of pondering or of spiritual attention, that I find this passage of scripture to be of particular significance.
This powerful reproduction of a rather decisive set of scriptures has for me a curiously strong spirit about it. And the Savior himself said as much after he delivered this passage to the multitude: "It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life." (vs. 63, emphasis added)
There is a phrase and a relationship that is concerning to me from this passage. Christ said: "No man can come unto me, except it were given unto him of my Father." (vs. 65) He makes similar statements twice prior to this in verses 37 & 44.
The first passage states that "All that the Father giveth me shall come to me." (vs. 37) This idea is reinforced in the other two passages of scripture, suggesting that unless God the Father chooses you through some random lottery of fate, that you cannot come unto Christ (at least, that is how some faiths would interpret this). Now on verses 44 and 65, there is a Joseph Smith Translation that clearly explains that this selection is not a matter of fate but rather the result of obedience to the Father's will: "No man can come unto me, except he doeth the will of my Father who hath sent me." (JST John 6:44) But even without the translation, there is another way of looking at these statements of the Savior's. Knowing that a loving Heavenly Father does not play games of chance with His children, even if there was no Joseph Smith Translation, these passages could have tremendous significance in teaching the importance of coming unto the Father in prayer so that it may be given to us to come unto Christ. As with all spiritual blessings (faith, hope, charity, etc.), our Heavenly Father has always had one qualifying provision in place, and it is that we ask for the blessings that we seek.
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There is another blessing that comes with diligent study of this passage of scripture. Because it is harder for the natural man to comprehend this passage of scripture, it becomes an exercise in spiritual exertion to comprehend the true spirit of these verse. That very exercise though, however, is a reconditioning of spiritual muscle (so to speak) that causes me to consider more profoundly my prayers and to subsequently draw closer to Father. It is noteworthy for that particular reason, in that it requires a greater degree of pondering or of spiritual attention, that I find this passage of scripture to be of particular significance.
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