Come Unto Me

[calledbyHisgrace]

A study on coming to Christ

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.

And ye will not come to me, that ye might have life.

No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.

For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.

But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.

For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

If ye know that he is righteous, ye know that every one that doeth righteousness is born of him.

But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.

That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.

He that is of God heareth God's words: ye therefore hear them not, because ye are not of God.

But ye believe not, because ye are not of my sheep, as I said unto you. My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand.

All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.

(Revelation 22:17, John 5:40, John 6:44, John 3:20, John 3:21, Ephesians 2:10, 1 John 2:29, 1 Corinthians 2:14, John 3:6-7, John 8:47, John 10:26-29, John 6:37)

 

[MartyF]

Random Scriptures Day!

2 Kings 20:1-6 NLT
About that time Hezekiah became deathly ill, and the prophet Isaiah son of Amoz went to visit him. He gave the king this message: “This is what the LORD says: Set your affairs in order, for you are going to die. You will not recover from this illness.” [2] When Hezekiah heard this, he turned his face to the wall and prayed to the LORD, [3] “Remember, O LORD, how I have always been faithful to you and have served you single-mindedly, always doing what pleases you.” Then he broke down and wept bitterly. [4] But before Isaiah had left the middle courtyard, this message came to him from the LORD: [5] “Go back to Hezekiah, the leader of my people. Tell him, ‘This is what the LORD, the God of your ancestor David, says: I have heard your prayer and seen your tears. I will heal you, and three days from now you will get out of bed and go to the Temple of the LORD. [6] I will add fifteen years to your life, and I will rescue you and this city from the king of Assyria. I will defend this city for my own honor and for the sake of my servant David.’”

 

[MB]

A scriptural invitation.

Mat 11:28 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
Mat 11:29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.
Mat 11:30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

MB

 

[Van]

Is the phrase "come to me" used to indicate repentance and faith (coming to put our trust in Christ) alone, or is the phrase also used to indicate a change in spiritual location (from being in Adam to being in Christ)?

Change in spiritual location indicated:

John 3:6-7
John 6:37
John 6:44
Ephesians 2:10
1 John 2:29

 

[calledbyHisgrace]

John 3:16-21 parallels coming to Christ with believing on Christ. The passage is "a scriptural invitation", but it also confirms that only those who "doeth truth" choose to come to Christ. Since, naturally, there is "none that doeth good, no not one" and "every one that doeth righteousness is born of him" my conclusion is that birth precedes belief.

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.
For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.
But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.

 

[Van]

Hi Called by Grace, I agree John 3:16-21 has in view "coming to put our trust in Jesus."

But here is an example (IMO) of the other usage.
(A loose translation of John 6:37)

All that the Father gives to Me,
will arrive within Me,
and the one transferred to Me,
I will not cast out.

And note no matter what translation you use, in order to not be cast out, the person has to have been put in by being given by the Father.

 

[calledbyHisgrace]

Coming to Christ indicates a movement toward Him, so in that sense it might be considered "a change in spiritual location". Any movement toward Christ is a movement away from Adam.
But I believe that there's a difference between being created in Christ and coming to Christ. I believe that the Father gave us to Christ when He created us in Christ (the new birth).

 

[David Kent]

Random Scriptures Day!

2 Kings 20:1-6 NLT
About that time Hezekiah became deathly ill, and the prophet Isaiah son of Amoz went to visit him. He gave the king this message: “This is what the LORD says: Set your affairs in order, for you are going to die. You will not recover from this illness.” [2] When Hezekiah heard this, he turned his face to the wall and prayed to the LORD, [3] “Remember, O LORD, how I have always been faithful to you and have served you single-mindedly, always doing what pleases you.” Then he broke down and wept bitterly. [4] But before Isaiah had left the middle courtyard, this message came to him from the LORD: [5] “Go back to Hezekiah, the leader of my people. Tell him, ‘This is what the LORD, the God of your ancestor David, says: I have heard your prayer and seen your tears. I will heal you, and three days from now you will get out of bed and go to the Temple of the LORD. [6] I will add fifteen years to your life, and I will rescue you and this city from the king of Assyria. I will defend this city for my own honor and for the sake of my servant David.’”

Random Scriptures Day!

2 Kings 20:1-6 NLT
About that time Hezekiah became deathly ill, and the prophet Isaiah son of Amoz went to visit him. He gave the king this message: “This is what the LORD says: Set your affairs in order, for you are going to die. You will not recover from this illness.” [2] When Hezekiah heard this, he turned his face to the wall and prayed to the LORD, [3] “Remember, O LORD, how I have always been faithful to you and have served you single-mindedly, always doing what pleases you.” Then he broke down and wept bitterly. [4] But before Isaiah had left the middle courtyard, this message came to him from the LORD: [5] “Go back to Hezekiah, the leader of my people. Tell him, ‘This is what the LORD, the God of your ancestor David, says: I have heard your prayer and seen your tears. I will heal you, and three days from now you will get out of bed and go to the Temple of the LORD. [6] I will add fifteen years to your life, and I will rescue you and this city from the king of Assyria. I will defend this city for my own honor and for the sake of my servant David.’”

Thank you for reminding us that God determined when Hezekiah would die.

• His decree who formed the earth
• Fixed my first and second birth;
• Parents, native place and time.
• All appointed were by him. John Ryland 1733-1825

 

[MartyF]

Thank you for reminding us that God determined when Hezekiah would die.

• His decree who formed the earth
• Fixed my first and second birth;
• Parents, native place and time.
• All appointed were by him. John Ryland 1733-1825

What?! This is Random Scriptures Day!

Jonah 3:6-10 NLT
When the king of Nineveh heard what Jonah was saying, he stepped down from his throne and took off his royal robes. He dressed himself in burlap and sat on a heap of ashes. [7] Then the king and his nobles sent this decree throughout the city: “No one, not even the animals from your herds and flocks, may eat or drink anything at all. [8] People and animals alike must wear garments of mourning, and everyone must pray earnestly to God. They must turn from their evil ways and stop all their violence. [9] Who can tell? Perhaps even yet God will change his mind and hold back his fierce anger from destroying us.” [10] When God saw what they had done and how they had put a stop to their evil ways, he changed his mind and did not carry out the destruction he had threatened.

 

[Van]

Coming to Christ indicates a movement toward Him, so in that sense it might be considered "a change in spiritual location". Any movement toward Christ is a movement away from Adam.
But I believe that there's a difference between being created in Christ and coming to Christ. I believe that the Father gave us to Christ when He created us in Christ (the new birth).

Well we are very close to agreeing, first we are transferred into Christ (the sanctification by the Spirit) and then once in Christ we are reborn. Outside of Christ we are spiritually dead, but when we are put in Christ we are made alive together with Christ, our regeneration also called our rebirth. We are then a new creation created for good works, and we are sealed in Christ with the Holy Spirit forever.

 

[MB]

Coming to Christ indicates a movement toward Him, so in that sense it might be considered "a change in spiritual location". Any movement toward Christ is a movement away from Adam.
But I believe that there's a difference between being created in Christ and coming to Christ. I believe that the Father gave us to Christ when He created us in Christ (the new birth).

Scripture please for the underlined above?
MB

 

[Van]

2Co 5:17 - Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.

Eph 2:10 - For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.

 

[kyredneck]

Random Scriptures Day!

They weren't 'random' to me. IMO, the OP assembled them rather systematically.

 

[Van]

Ephesians 2:10 addresses what happens to us after we are transferred into Christ. We are chosen to be transferred by the sanctification by the Spirit, based on God crediting our faith in the truth, 2 Thessalonians 2:13.

 

[MartyF]

They weren't 'random' to me. IMO, the OP assembled them rather systematically.

This response deserves another random scripture!

Jeremiah 18:1-10 NLT
The LORD gave another message to Jeremiah. He said, [2] “Go down to the potter’s shop, and I will speak to you there.” [3] So I did as he told me and found the potter working at his wheel. [4] But the jar he was making did not turn out as he had hoped, so he crushed it into a lump of clay again and started over. [5] Then the LORD gave me this message: [6] “O Israel, can I not do to you as this potter has done to his clay? As the clay is in the potter’s hand, so are you in my hand. [7] If I announce that a certain nation or kingdom is to be uprooted, torn down, and destroyed, [8] but then that nation renounces its evil ways, I will not destroy it as I had planned. [9] And if I announce that I will plant and build up a certain nation or kingdom, [10] but then that nation turns to evil and refuses to obey me, I will not bless it as I said I would.

 

[Van]

Coming to Christ indicates a movement toward Him, so in that sense it might be considered "a change in spiritual location". Any movement toward Christ is a movement away from Adam.
But I believe that there's a difference between being created in Christ and coming to Christ. I believe that the Father gave us to Christ when He created us in Christ (the new birth).

A movement toward Him is vague. Lets say the lost are "outside" of Christ and are in the "domain of darkness" also called being "in Adam." And lets say in that condition we do not trust Christ for salvation.
Now if we change our mental outlook, repent so to speak, and put our trust fully in Christ, we have moved toward Him mentally, but our spiritual location in Adam has not changed. So to separate the two very different "coming to Me" meanings, lets refer to (1) coming mentally to Him, or (2) coming spiritually to Him. Coming spiritually to Him refers to being transferred from the domain of darkness into the kingdom of His Son, and has nothing to do with changing our mental outlook.

These verses refer to coming spiritually to Him, and refer to God's action to set us apart or having set us apart in Christ.
John 3:6-7 We are born anew when we are set apart in Christ.
John 6:37 When we are "given to Christ" we are set apart in Christ.
John 6:44 When we are set apart in Christ we will be raised up on the last day.
Ephesians 2:10 When we are "created in Christ" we have been set apart in Christ.
1 John 2:29 We are born anew when we are set apart in Christ.

 

[calledbyHisgrace]

Van,

I agree that all of the verses you've listed refer to God setting us apart in Christ. In John 6:44 though, I believe that it's the drawing, rather than the coming that refers to the new birth. The sentence structure indicates that it's the Father's drawing that ensures that Christ will raise us up at the last day. I believe that this "drawing" is synonymous with the "calling" that Paul often mentions. I believe that God calls people through the gift of faith (conviction of the truth).

A passage that would probably work best to describe my view on this subject would be James 1:18-21:

Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures (created in Christ). Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath: For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God. Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls (coming to Christ).

By God's own will, we are born again with the word of truth (called according to His purpose). As we repent and receive the truth that God has given us, we move toward Christ.

 

[Van]

Van,

I agree that all of the verses you've listed refer to God setting us apart in Christ. In John 6:44 though, I believe that it's the drawing, rather than the coming that refers to the new birth. The sentence structure indicates that it's the Father's drawing that ensures that Christ will raise us up at the last day. I believe that this "drawing" is synonymous with the "calling" that Paul often mentions. I believe that God calls people through the gift of faith (conviction of the truth).

A passage that would probably work best to describe my view on this subject would be James 1:18-21:

Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures (created in Christ). Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath: For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God. Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls (coming to Christ).

By God's own will, we are born again with the word of truth (called according to His purpose). As we repent and receive the truth that God has given us, we move toward Christ.

Well we do not seem as close I had thought. Sorry, my mistake.

Here are some of our differing views:

John 6:44 No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up on the last day.

The sequence given is no one can come unless drawn, therefore first a person is drawn (attracted by persuasion) and then they can come (be transferred into) Me. Only those "in Christ" will be raised up.

If you cannot see that this is what it says, then nothing I might add would be seen as useful.

Calling is also used in more than one way, (1) to beckon or invite, (2) to name (I am called Van) and (3) to transfer spiritually, as in "called out of darkness in His marvelous light." In John 6:44, drawn refers to being called (invited) by the gospel. We are saved by grace through faith, thus our faith comes before we are transferred into Christ.

James 1:18-21 describes my view, we are born anew after we are transferred into Christ, and we are transferred into Christ after we believe in the gospel as determined by God.

 

[HankD]

The Spirit of Christ comes with redeeming power "son, thy sins be forgiven thee".

Ever since that day when His forgiveness flooded my body, soul and spirit the evil one and/or his minions have tried in vain to overthrow His unspeakable gift to me/us.

Satan (the father of lies) and his workers are insanely jealous of the children of God because He has forgiven their sins and freed them from sin's power which they presume is unavailable to them.

So there is another possible ingredient to the "calling" with the power of redeeming love and that is the persecution of the enemy which follows after we come to Him:

John 16
1 These things have I spoken unto you, that ye should not be offended.
2 They shall put you out of the synagogues: yea, the time cometh, that whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God service.
3 And these things will they do unto you, because they have not known the Father, nor me.

Not all but those whom He chooses will be persecuted (but comforted by His words).
Either way we can rejoice and glorify Him.

 

[calledbyHisgrace]

Van,
I think that we may have to agree to disagree on this Brother. I enjoyed the dialogue though!

HankD,

I definitely agree that we are called to suffer for His sake.