Sermon for Sunday, Sept 14th, 2025 at First Presbyterian Church at Unionville, NY (BPC)
Old Testament Reading:
[Psalm 73:23-28 ESV] 23 Nevertheless, I am continually with you; you hold my right hand. 24 You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will receive me to glory. 25 Whom have I in heaven but you? And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides you. 26 My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. 27 For behold, those who are far from you shall perish; you put an end to everyone who is unfaithful to you. 28 But for me it is good to be near God; I have made the Lord GOD my refuge, that I may tell of all your works.
New Testament Reading:
[Acts 4:5-12 ESV] 5 On the next day their rulers and elders and scribes gathered together in Jerusalem, 6 with Annas the high priest and Caiaphas and John and Alexander, and all who were of the high-priestly family. 7 And when they had set them in the midst, they inquired, “By what power or by what name did you do this?” 8 Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, “Rulers of the people and elders, 9 if we are being examined today concerning a good deed done to a crippled man, by what means this man has been healed, 10 let it be known to all of you and to all the people of Israel that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead–by him this man is standing before you well. 11 This Jesus is the stone that was rejected by you, the builders, which has become the cornerstone. 12 And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”
Gospel Reading:
[John 6:60-71 ESV] 60 When many of his disciples heard it, they said, “This is a hard saying; who can listen to it?” 61 But Jesus, knowing in himself that his disciples were grumbling about this, said to them, “Do you take offense at this? 62 Then what if you were to see the Son of Man ascending to where he was before? 63 It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh is no help at all. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life. 64 But there are some of you who do not believe.” (For Jesus knew from the beginning who those were who did not believe, and who it was who would betray him.) 65 And he said, “This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless it is granted him by the Father.” 66 After this many of his disciples turned back and no longer walked with him. 67 So Jesus said to the twelve, “Do you want to go away as well?” 68 Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life, 69 and we have believed, and have come to know, that you are the Holy One of God.” 70 Jesus answered them, “Did I not choose you, the twelve? And yet one of you is a devil.” 71 He spoke of Judas the son of Simon Iscariot, for he, one of the twelve, was going to betray him.
Sermon Text:
[John 6:68 ESV] 68 Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life,
Introduction
I felt a call to take a short break from our regularly-schedule programming on Matthew’s gospel to give a topical sermon based on a verse from John’s Gospel.
This is one of my favorite verses in the whole bible. John 6:68 – “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.” And I’ve been thinking about it here and there—on and off—for many years. So I’ve wanted to put together a sermon on it. Technically I gave a sermon on this passage 6 years ago (Oct 13, 2019) at this church. But today’s sermon is all new. And I hope you don’t mind be “guinea pigs” because my hope is that I might preach this same sermon later this year and next year when I speak about my mission work at a few other churches.
So we have John 6:68.
[John 6:68 ESV] 68 Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life,
This verse, I contend, holds the antidote to the problem of despair.
I. The Problem of Despair
A. SCHAEFFER AND THE ERA OF POSTMODERNSIM
A great interest of mine is 20th century American Presbyterianism, and especially some of the church leaders of that era.
One of those whom I find most interesting is Francis Schaeffer. You may remember some years ago in Sunday School we read the book “L’Abri” written by Francis Schaeffer’s wife Edith about their mission work in Switzerland. That is actually the place where Priscilla and I met many years later.
Well Francis Schaeffer—hosting travelers in his house and establishing a hospitality ministry there—found many people in great despair. This despair was caused by the philosophies of the time taking all meaning out of life. Schaeffer, in fact, was a very early observer noticing the rise of what is called post-modernism. Perhaps a better name for postmodern is relativism. You know that someone is infected with that view when they say things like “That’s true FOR YOU.” For them, truth is RELATIVE to the person. Each person gets to determine their own truth! How convenient.
Schaeffer noticed that relativism arising even in the 1960s.
I first came across relativism, or was first fully aware of it, in the year 2000 when I went to college at the very liberal University of Michigan. I didn’t know it was liberal. I just wanted to study engineering and go to football games. But talking with people there—talking to them about Christ—and expecting some push back or debate, I’d merely get the response “Christianity is true for you and that is good, but I believe something else.” Relativism. True for you, not for me.
Ultimately this relativistic postmodernist philosophy contends that there is no OBJECTIVE MORALITY AND THERE IS NO OBJECTIVE TRUTH.
In the realm of morality “anything goes.” The result is the rejection of Biblical laws and embrace of sexual deviancy of all sorts.
And then there is no objective truth—nothing to hang on to—so the result is meaningless, nihilism, and ultimately despair.
This false philosophy of postmodern relativism and its resultant despair really came to prominence and took hold of much of the world from about the 1980s through to the 2000s and even lingers around in our day.
B. TODAY’S DESPAIR
But, I contend, that today we are in a different era in the world. And there is a new form of despair. It is actually an old form, but it is back with a vengeance.
This despair comes from many causes, but, for the sake of simplicity, I’ll not two primary causes. “Economic despair” and “Loneliness and despair.”
1. Economic Despair
The first of these cause of despair in our modern world is economic despair.
Granted, there has always been times of economic challenges. My grandparents, and yours as well, went through the great depression. That was difficult time. And many look at today and say “we’re not in a depression,” “how hard can life be?” But yet there is much economic despair.
The problem affects most people, but is prominent more among young adults. The cutoff is about … well, people younger than me. I’m 43 years old. Just on the end of the Gen X generation. Following me are the “millennials” and the “Gen Z” generations.
And if you talk to a millennial or Gen Z’er you’ll find that they almost universally are in difficult economic situations, and those situations are largely out of their control. Almost every measure testifies to this. College costs are way up over the years. Health insurance is way up. And housing is entirely out of reach for most young adults.
And it doesn’t do much good to keep saying “try harder” to the younger generations. They have tried, and they can’t keep up — or can’t get ahead —, and it has lead to great despair. Suicide, drugs, escape into the virtual world, and all sorts of problems arise from this economic despair.
Recently the governor of my home state of Michigan, Gretchen Wilmer said something on this subject that to me is entirely tone deaf. She said to young adults:
“I know it’s hard to get ahead right now,” “But I promise you, no matter how hard life might get, there is always a way out and a way up.”
Her solution to economic despair? Basically, “try harder.” But this “solution” really is insulting to young adults and makes their despair worse when they hear her say, “there’s always way out and a way up.” It is as if she’s saying to say, “Hey dummy, why aren’t you successful yet, it’s so easy, you must be really lazy”
So there is economic despair. We must recognize that if we are going to understand the times.
Then there is another major form of despair in our times, that caused by loneliness.
2. Loneliness and Despair
As young adult home ownership is at record lows.
So is young adult marriage at record lows.
This is one evidence of the fact that loneliness is rampant.
And from this loneliness there is often great despair.
The causes of this loneliness are varied. It arise from the complexity of our modern society. It is affected by philosophies like Radical Feminism. It is exasperated by the internet and its many evil.
When I compare today’s world with that of historical eras, my conclusion is that modern society just ISN’T society. There are fewer and fewer places to interact publicly in the world. Whereas in eras past relationships leading to marriage began through friends, the church, the workplace, or even the bar, today (if a relationship happens at all) it if far more likely to started online. There are so few opportunities in “real life” to meet someone, that many go online using dating services. But even that has not solved the issue of loneliness.
I note all of this to show (1) that there is great despair especially among young adults, and (2) so that we may UNDERSTAND and not disparage. I must warn that we ought not be disparaging the younger generations, not understanding the circumstances they are in. The despair, frankly, makes sense. It is not primarily caused by a sudden infusing of LAZINESS, but it caused by various outside forces.
I’ve seen this despair – economic and relational – among the hikers who come to our trail ministry. Young adults, up to middle age, and usually men who have tried and tried and tried. But jobs aren’t working out, houses are out of reach, and relationship are not coming together. So they come hiking, not for a season but as a lifestyle, some never going “home.”
II. Escape from Despair
The causes of despair are varied, but THE SOLUTION IS THE SAME.
It is not Whitmer’s “try harder.”
And its not, God forbid, violence. You see this in the news with events like the murder of the United Health CEO. A man was upset about the healthcare system, and the denial of claims. His solution “kill the CEO.” That’s just not a good solution. But that is the proposed solution from the marxist-influence philosophy of our day. It is no longer the postmodern “you can have your own truth,” now it is the “might makes right” truth by power philosophy that leads people from despair to violent action.
I was shocked the other day talking with a young hiker. He too was concerned – despairing perhaps – of the financial condition of his generation. And do you know what he proposed. Kill the rich. It’s hard to know how to respond to that. It shows the utter depravity of the world today, that such “solutions” are considered and even VOICED!
Now, the solution to despair, the same in Schaeffer’s time as in ours, is the solution that has always been.
The solution is Christ.
And that solution is TIMELESS and TIMELY.
A. A TIMELESS SOLUTION
Despair is not a new problem.
See what Solomon wrote in Ecclesiastes:
[Ecclesiastes 2:20-23 ESV] 20 So I turned about and gave my heart up to despair over all the toil of my labors under the sun, 21 because sometimes a person who has toiled with wisdom and knowledge and skill must leave everything to be enjoyed by someone who did not toil for it. This also is vanity and a great evil. 22 What has a man from all the toil and striving of heart with which he toils beneath the sun? 23 For all his days are full of sorrow, and his work is a vexation. Even in the night his heart does not rest. This also is vanity.
So despair is something that people long affected man.
But the solution has also always been there.
Solomon’s solution to despair is to not bounce around looking for meaning in “life under the sun”—or worldly pursuits—and to instead find enjoyment in the blessing of God and indeed in God himself; in the fear of the Lord.
That same solution to despair is in our Westminster Catechism. We ought to orient our lives around God. “The chief end of man is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever.”
The solution is timeless. It is Christ.
And the solution is timely
B. A TIMELY SOLUTION
It is timely – Because WHERE ELSE would contemporary modern man go?
Lord to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.
This verse has brought me back COUNTLESS times from the edge of despair and doubt.
It is Simon Peter who says this to Christ. I often get confused thinking it was John, but that’s just because it is in John’s Gospel. It is Peter who says it. And it is great that Peter is the one, for he makes so many other mistakes in judgement and obedience, for him to hit the nail on the head here is just wonderful. And he hits the nail on the head with a sledgehammer!
“Lord to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.”
This is not a defeatist but a victorious idea. Victory over sin and death itself through the grace of God and the shed blood of Jesus Christ on the cross, known to us through faith.
There are many competing religious, philosophical ideas, and political ideas in our world. It can be overwhelming to consider all of the options. But these options — outside of Christ — lead only to despair, meaninglessness, and hopelessness. Our hope is built on nothing less than Jesus’ blood and righteousness.
“Lord to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.”
We are always prepared to give a reason for the hope that we have because Christ is Risen.
This is a timeless message but it is also timely.
It applies to each and every generation.
And it applies to this generation.
Go to Christ.
Go not halfheartedly but wholeheartedly.
Go not halfway but all the way.
III. Christ Alone
When Peter says “YOU have the words of eternal life,” it is clear that he understand that CHRIST ALONE has the words of eternal life.
There is no other option but to turn to the Lord. Or, we could say the other options are dead options, while Christ is Risen!
So we are to choose wisely.
On the one had there is death, despair, nihilism,
On the other there is Christ, eternal life, joy, meaning, and purpose.
So the call is to repent; turn away from the evil philosophies of the world and look to Christ in faith.
The solution to despair is purpose. You need purpose. But all the purposes of the world are limited. We need one that is greater. And the greatest purpose is the glory of God.
The answer is not to tell those in despair to cheer up because of their own intrinsic greatness.
I’m here to say: Don’t look within. Don’t follow your heart. Your heart is deceitfully wicked.
Follow Christ. He alone has the words of eternal life.
And the maze of contradictions and resultant despair can be done away with as we trust in the Lord.
Isn’t that a simpler life?
And a better life?
It is a difficult life at times. No doubt Christianity is difficult. That’s what the people saw, but Peter realize that EVEN IF IT IS HARD it is true, and it is ETERNAL LIFE.
In each and every situation we should say, like Peter, “Lord to whom shall we go, you have the words of eternal life.” Our whole lives ought to be guided by the words of Christ, and our whole heart ought to trust in Christ, who is the very Word of God.
Do not despair, trust in Jesus Christ for your salvation in this life and in the world to come.
Let us conclude with those words of the Psalmist we read earlier:
[Psalm 73:23-28 ESV] 23 Nevertheless, I am continually with you; you hold my right hand. 24 You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will receive me to glory. 25 Whom have I in heaven but you? And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides you. 26 My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. 27 For behold, those who are far from you shall perish; you put an end to everyone who is unfaithful to you. 28 But for me it is good to be near God; I have made the Lord GOD my refuge, that I may tell of all your works.
Let us pray.