Featured No Man Can Come Unto Me, Except [John 6:65]

I agree that John 6 does teach us the intended meaning of the word 'draw.' Clearly it means to 'enable,' as that is the synonym he choses in verse 65:

65 He went on to say, "This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless the Father has enabled him."

Who hasn't been enabled? Is it ALL MANKIND from birth, as Calvinists teach or is it what Jesus taught:

"For this reason they could not believe, because, as Isaiah says elsewhere: "He has blinded their eyes and deadened their hearts, so they can neither see with their eyes, nor understand with their hearts, nor turn--and I would heal them." (Jn 12)​

For what reason could they not believe? BECAUSE THEY WERE BEING HARDENED!!!! They must be ENABLED to come. They must be grafted into the tree (Rm 11), like the Gentiles are... as Paul clearly explains:

For this people's heart has become calloused; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts and turn, and I would heal them.' 28 "Therefore I want you to know that God's salvation has been sent to the Gentiles, and they will listen!"​

The Jews are being hardened, NOT ENABLED, (cut off from the tree), the Gentiles are being enabled (grafted in) and so they "will listen" and respond.

 

Mat 23:37 Free will
O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, [thou] that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under [her] wings, and ye would not!


Acts 13:48(KJV) ---Election
"And when the Gentiles heard this [the Gospel], they were glad, and glorified the word of the Lord: and as many as were ordained to eternal life believed."


Both are taught and both are true.

 

Looks more like total depravity...not a "will which is free"

 

Those not given by the Father....the non-elect:thumbsup:

 

No, it is like the bible teaches, both.

 

There is no free will...so...no it does not.

 

Yes according to scripture there is.
40 And ye will not come to me, that ye might have life That is free will.

 

We are not going to be able to come to agreement here Fal. but thanks for responding:thumbsup: They were responsible to come,Jesus preached with love and compassion.Yet He explained ....ye will not.

Because He used the word will....you are taking it to imply that they had the ability to break free from bondage to sin,and to Satan, all on their own.John 8 explains what must take place first...

 

Your welcome. :smilewinkgrin:

 

This is an incorrect understanding of the Greek word for "granted" ("granted" NASB; "given" KJV) δίδωμι (didomi). The word does not mean to enable, it means to bestow upon, as a king would bestow honor to a subject (NAVES). It also means to grant permission. Passages where didomi is used in bestowing and granting permission: Mt. 13:11; Mk. 10:37; Lk. 1:74; 8:10; Lk. 12:51; Jn. 6:65; Ac. 2:19; 4:29; 5:31; 7:10; 7:25; 10:40; 11:18; 14:3; Rom. 15:5; Eph. 3:16; 2 Th. 3:16; 2 Ti. 1:9; et. al. The Father grants to the individual the permission to come to Christ. The same Greek word is used in John 6:37 "give." The Father not only bestows permission to the individual to come to Christ, he does the same for the Son. The Father grants to the Son those whom he grants to come to him.

 

We have stated our views....we are stating them from scripture....that is the best we can do.Thanks for not calling me names:laugh: We just see it a bit differently:thumbsup:

 

We now see dimly but one day we will see clearly.

 

I could not agree more. If you read my last post you would see that fits perfectly in with my explanation. God did not grant permission for the Jews to come to Christ, except for the remnant God gave to Christ to train as his apostles (and those closest to them). The rest were hardened, cut off, but the Gentiles are being grafted in and 'they will listen.'

 

Skan, where I think we disagree is in the efficacy of the Father "granting."

 

Rev 22:17
And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.

All have been granted to come and some will freely choose to accept.

 

Yes.

I believe God grants someone entrance by sending an invitation (i.e. wedding banquet analogy). In other words, the powerful gospel appeal is the enabling work of the Spirit. "The gospel is the power of God unto Salvation."

The problem is that when John 6 is happening the Jews are being blinded from the gospel truth (hardened), and only few chosen messengers are being granted these truths at that time. Jesus is speaking in parables to keep the Jews from repenting, but he is explaining the truth to his apostles. Why? To ensure his crucifixion and to allow room for the ingrafting of the Gentiles (Rm 11). After he is lifted up he sends the gospel to everyone, thus drawing all men to himself (Jn 12:32)

 

:thumbsup:

Correct. This WAS NOT the case at the time of John 6, however. At that time it wasn't granted to Israel to come as they were being blinded. Israel was being cut off while the Gentiles being grafted in.