The flesh profits nothing

It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life. But there are some of you who do not believe." For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were who did not believe, and who would betray Him. And He said, "Therefore I have said to you that no one can come to Me unless it has been granted to him by My Father."  John 6.63-65

People make religion far too difficult. Religion becomes all about doing this and doing that or not doing this or not doing that. Religion makes a relationship on God dependent on something we do or don’t do.

Now don’t get me wrong, God does expect His people to act in certain ways, but that is a result of, not a way to a relationship with. But more on that elsewhere.

Man has always tried to fix things with God by doing things. We think that if we meet all the regulations and rituals and rites surely God will be happy and we will be okay for eternity. People have done kinds of silly and ridiculous things to earn eternal life. We all can see images of those people who will self-flagellate or have themselves crucified to make God happy. Not everyone is that dramatic. Some people think by joining a church or being baptised or taking communion or going to confession of tithing or being a good guy will earn them points with God and maybe, just maybe, there will be enough points at the end to get them through the Pearly Gates.

But Jesus makes it clear here – only the Spirit gives life – doing the things of the flesh is of no profit. He said that hearing and obeying His words gives life, nothing else.

Why would He say that? Why would He write off all that human effort?

Because He knew what was coming. He knew that there was a price for sin and that man could do nothing about it. He knew His future. He knew that all that could be done was going to be done by Him on the cross. As the only Perfect One He was the only one who could pay the sin debt.

We know that that He accomplished that. We now know that He paid the sin debt for all of us. We know that there is nothing we can do to improve on it. We know that if there was anything we could do He died for nothing.

His words are clear – ‘I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.’

I know for a fact that there is nothing I could ever do in my flesh to placate a perfect holy God. Praise God that through the finished work of Christ on the cross the Spirit can and will give life.