Post by Natalie on Jan 13, 2020 14:36:03 GMT -6
Jesus says (John 6:44-45) “No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him. And I will raise him up on the last day. It is written in the Prophets, ‘And they will all be taught by God.’ Everyone who has heard and learned from the Father comes to Me.”
No one can come without the Father drawing them, but it says “all will be taught by God”. Is there a contradiction in what Jesus is saying? I don’t think there is.
What if God draws all men, giving them the chance to come to Christ, but it is only those who listen (are taught by God, who hear the Father and learn) that are the ones that actually come?
Let’s look at what Jesus says:
John 12:32 “And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.”
John 3:14-15 “And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in Him may have eternal life.”
He draws all, but a person must believe!
What are some of the ways that God draws a person to Christ?
No one can come without the Father drawing them, but it says “all will be taught by God”. Is there a contradiction in what Jesus is saying? I don’t think there is.
What if God draws all men, giving them the chance to come to Christ, but it is only those who listen (are taught by God, who hear the Father and learn) that are the ones that actually come?
Let’s look at what Jesus says:
John 12:32 “And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.”
John 3:14-15 “And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in Him may have eternal life.”
He draws all, but a person must believe!
What are some of the ways that God draws a person to Christ?
He has revealed Himself to all: Romans 1:19 “For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. For His invisible attributes, namely, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made.” “The heavens declare the glory of God...(Psalm 91:1)
He gave all men a conscience: Romans 2:14-15 “For when Gentiles, who do not have the law, by nature do what the law requires, they are a law to themselves, even though they do not have the law. They show that the work of the law is written on their hearts, while their conscience also bears witness, and their conflicting thoughts accuse or even excuse them.”
God uses the Law to show us our sin. Romans 7:7 “...Yet if it had not been for the law, I would not have known sin...”
He uses the Holy Spirit to convict unbelievers: John 16:7-9 “Nevertheless, I tell you the truth; it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send Him to you. And when He comes, He will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgement: concerning sin, because the do not believe in Me.”
He uses His Word: Romans 10:14-17 “How then will they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in Him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without preaching? … For faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the Word of Christ.”
More specifically, the preaching of the Gospel: Romans 1:16 “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.” and Ephesians 1:13 “In Him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in Him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit.”
Why would God only draw some when 1 Timothy 2:4 says of God that He “desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth”?
God does draw all men, desires that all be saved, but a person has to choose Jesus.
He gave all men a conscience: Romans 2:14-15 “For when Gentiles, who do not have the law, by nature do what the law requires, they are a law to themselves, even though they do not have the law. They show that the work of the law is written on their hearts, while their conscience also bears witness, and their conflicting thoughts accuse or even excuse them.”
God uses the Law to show us our sin. Romans 7:7 “...Yet if it had not been for the law, I would not have known sin...”
He uses the Holy Spirit to convict unbelievers: John 16:7-9 “Nevertheless, I tell you the truth; it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send Him to you. And when He comes, He will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgement: concerning sin, because the do not believe in Me.”
He uses His Word: Romans 10:14-17 “How then will they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in Him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without preaching? … For faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the Word of Christ.”
More specifically, the preaching of the Gospel: Romans 1:16 “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.” and Ephesians 1:13 “In Him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in Him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit.”
Why would God only draw some when 1 Timothy 2:4 says of God that He “desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth”?
God does draw all men, desires that all be saved, but a person has to choose Jesus.