---

Faith without knowledge is mere fancy. For the want of knowledge the faith of the ancient Jews gave way in the wilderness. So here the nominal disciples went away because they did not know who He was from whom they went. To the apostles this knowledge gave stability to their faith and they remained.

I. THE TESTIMONY. That Christ was the Messiah.

1. The provision that is by this Christ could not be by any other.

(1)  His sacrifice is of eternal worth.

(2)  It eternally satisfies the soul.

(3)  It is the ground upon which all things work together for good.

(4)  We should labour by faith and prayer for this meat.

2. By partaking of this provision we shall never come to want. Away then with anxieties and fears.

3. To accept this provision is the counsel of God to man.

II. THE SONSHIP. Christ is the Son of God in a way no other can be.

1. Because He was born as no other was ever born.

2. Because He was a complex person — God and man.

3. Because of His infallible purity.

4. Because He embodies blessings which no other person ever did.

5. Because He included in His sonship millions of others.

III. THE NOTE OF DISTINCTION. "Living" in contrast to idols and false religions (Isaiah 26.). Because God never dies His people can never die.

IV. THE ASSURANCE OF FAITH.

(James Wells.)

---

---

KJV: And we believe and are sure that thou art that Christ, the Son of the living God.

WEB: We have come to believe and know that you are the Christ, the Son of the living God."