True Believers

Who are the true believers?

JOHN 6 BIBLE STUDY ◄
John 6:59-65 Synagogue of Capernaum

John 6:66-71 True Believers

JOHN 6:66 66 From this time, many of His disciples went back and walked with Him no more.

Were these "disciples" (John 6:66) true believers who lost their faith?
They may have thought they were true believers, but "from the beginning" they never were true believers: “But there are some of you who do not believe.” For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were who did not believe (John 6:64).

How is that different today?
It isn't. Today's "former Christians" may sincerely think that they used to believe in the Jesus of the Bible, but they never really did. And while the "disciples" (John 6:66) at least heard the true Gospel from Jesus - until it wasn't what they wanted to hear - most "former Christians" today never even heard the true Gospel of the Bible. Instead, they were told that if they accept Jesus, serve their church and give offerings to it, Jesus will give them earthly prosperity. When their lie is eventually exposed, the deceived brand both the deceiver and the Jesus they were taught frauds and want nothing more to do with either.

What must people hear about Jesus the first time?
The true Gospel of the Bible.

JOHN 6:67-69 67 Then Jesus said to the twelve, “Do you also wish to go away?” 68 Simon Peter then answered Him, “Lord, to whom will we go? You have the words of everlasting life. 69 And we have come to believe and know that You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”

What is peculiar about Peter's answer to Jesus' question?
He actually doesn't answer it, and by inference admits that they also found Jesus' words hard to take and may wish to go away, but really can't.

Why not?
While they don't yet grasp that Jesus is God the Son, they at least "have come to believe and know that" He is "the Christ, the Son of the living God” (John 6:69) who gives "everlasting life" (John 6:68).

How is this different from the message of other religions?
Many man-made religions have messages that have been crafted to maximize the ease of understanding and appeal to the earthly, fleshly desires of the people they hope to attract. The message of the Bible is different. Not all teachings of the Bible are easy for us to understand or accept. But if you think about it, it can only be so, since it was written by God to reveal Himself to us. There is no way that we creatures can completely understand the Creator of the universe. Some people decide that since they don't understand or like everything in the Bible, it isn't for them, and like the "disciples" above, turn away from Jesus. But others thank God for however much of the Bible He lets them understand, and cling to Christ, not because everything He says tickles their ears, but because He is the truth, died for us out of love, and has "the words of everlasting life" (John 6:68).

JOHN 6:70-71 70 Jesus answered them, “Did I not choose you, the twelve? And one of you is a devil.” 71 He was speaking of Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon, for he, one of the twelve, was going to betray Him.

Knowing that Judas is "was going to betray Him" (John 6:71), why did Jesus choose him as one of His twelve apostles?
See Son of Perdition.