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Did God draw you to
Himself or was it something you chose to do out of your own “free
will”?
Jesus said to the
Pharisees that even though they studied the Scriptures, they were
nevertheless "unwilling to come to Me, that you may have
life" (John 5:40). He also said a few verses earlier that "The
Son gives life to whom He wishes [Greek = "wills"] (John
5:21), not to those who seek for Him. Paul tells us clearly that
"there is none who seeks for God" (Romans 3:11).
It seems to me that all men, the Pharisees, Sadducees, Gentiles, etc.
are made alive solely and completely of God's doing (John 3:27, 6:65; 1
Cor. 1:30). When Jesus said that "No one can come to Christ unless
the Father who sent Him draws him" (John 6:44), He did not
have in mind a gentle wooing or a coaxing. This word in the Greek, in
this form, means to forcefully drag, not attempt to persuade or
entice. It is the same verb used in James 2:6, Acts 16:19, and Acts
21:30 among others.
R.C. Sproul broke
John 6:44 down piece by piece the other day on the radio and made some
fascinating points. Let me mention up front here that Dr. Sproul is a
Calvinist and does not believe that God will save all but rather a
select group of people. All those that God does not choose to save,
according to Sproul, will end up in “hell” forever. While Marcy and
I would disagree with Dr. Sproul as to the ultimate end of all mankind,
he nevertheless has some wonderful insights into the workings of God
that we have found encouraging. Having said all that, here is his
assessment of John 6:44...
First, “No one”
means just what it says. It doesn’t mean some or most or a few. It
covers everyone. “Can” means to have the ability to do something.
“No one can” means that there isn’t a single individual who has
the ability to do something. “Come to Christ” is a metaphor for
being born again or being made a new creation by faith. “No one can
come to Christ” therefore means that there is not a person who has the
ability to place their faith in Christ that they might be born again or
made new in Him. “Unless” means that there is an exception to the
statement just made. “No one can come to Christ unless” tells us
then that there is not one person who has the ability to place their
faith in Christ that they might be born again or made new in Him except
for one condition. And what is that condition? “Unless the Father who
sent Him draws him”.
Having no ability to,
nor interest in, trusting in Christ willingly that we might have life,
Who are all men completely dependent upon for this event to occur? No
one can come to Christ unless the Father who sent Him forcefully
drags him, and drag He will all His creation to Himself because
of the cross. Jesus declared as a fact that "if I be lifted
up from the earth, I will draw all men to Myself. But He
was saying this to indicate the kind of death by which He was to
die" (John 12:32-33, NAS). You might then ask, “John are you
saying that all men are unwilling believers and go kicking-and-screaming
to God?” Yes and no. While there is an initial un-willingness, it is
apparent that He changes our tune in no-time flat. I believe that what
He uses to drag us to Himself is
the overwhelming power of His love,
mercy, and grace. He makes us willing by washing, immersing,
enveloping, and consuming us in His love and grace. Is there anything
more powerful than
His love?
Think about it. If anyone was dragged to God it was Saul of
Tarsus as he marched angrily toward Damascus. He was the example for all
those who would believe for eternal life. Was he unwilling to come to
Christ right up to the moment God shut down the road to Damascus? You
bet. But what was the power that overwhelmed him, overflowed toward him,
and made him a willing believer for which he praises God?:
"I thank him who has given me strength for this, Christ Jesus our
Lord, because he judged me faithful by appointing me to his service,
though I formerly blasphemed and persecuted and insulted him; but I
received
mercy because I had acted ignorantly in unbelief, and the
grace of our Lord overflowed for me with the faith and love that are in
Christ Jesus. The saying is sure and worthy of full acceptance,
that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners. And I am the
foremost of sinners; but I received mercy for this reason, that in me,
as the foremost, Jesus Christ might display his perfect patience for an
example to those who were to believe in him for eternal life. To the
King of ages, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory for
ever and ever. Amen" (1 Timothy 1:12-17, RSV).
So, did God draw you to Himself or was it something you chose to do out
of your own “free will”? Yes and no. I guess you could say that he
takes men and women who are unwilling and unable to come
to Him for life and make them willing and able by dragging
them to Himself through the love and grace and mercy that are in Christ.
And while presently only some have been made willing and able, there
will come a day when all will be made willing, able, and alive in
Christ, all to the glory of God.
Thank you, Lord, for dragging us all to Yourself!!! All glory,
honor, and praise truly belongs to you and you alone!!!
Grace and peace to
you always!
John
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