Featured Rebuttal of an Article on Jn. 6:44 by Dr. Flowers

There is a clear contextual development of this theme. In verses 1-27 there were those who came to Christ to see miracles. There were those who came to Christ to seek power by making him king. There are those who came to Christ to seek food. It is upon this introduction of seeking food that Jesus introduced the idea of coming to Christ by faith for eternal life (v. 35). Those he is talking to he denies they believed on him (v. 36) but all the father gives him shall come to him in faith (vv. 37-39) or will believe on him for eternal life (v. 40). Hence, the immediate preceding context define this coming to Christ as coming to him in faith for eternal life. That is why the last phrase of verse 44 refers to the resurrection of beleivers and why verse 45 says all that drawn in the sense defined by the prophets will come to him in faith for eternal life. This coming to him in faith for eternal life is continued in the context of partaking of him by faith METAPHORICALLY by eating and drinking of him (vv. 47-71).

 

No problem, apology accepted.

I am not conveying Calvinism, but simply exegeting scripture according to its context and according to the meaning of words used by Christ. If you think not, then please point out in my exposition of this scripture and its context where you think I misrepresent what he is saying, and make sure you give solid reasons why you think that which are based on this text and context.

 

Jesus is "the way" and salvation is not only a point in time which obtains heaven but a progression in growth which determines circumstantial blessings and punishments in this life and rewards and position in the life to come.

 

The problem with just quoting this text to support a position is that this text is the closure point in a preceding context that defines and limits those who will come to him in faith. Notice that verse 36 is in direct contrast to verse 40. Here are a people in verse 36 who saw and did not believe in him whereas in verse 40 we have a seeing and believig people. Verses 37-39 provide the explanation of this difference. Those who saw and did not believe in verse 36 are those who had not been given by the Father to the Son because ALL whom the Father gives to the do come to him in faith and NONE coming to him in faith shall be lost. Hence, "everyone" that seeth and believeth in the son are those the Father gave to the Son - vv. 37-39.

Moreover, being given is the cause while coming is the consequence. This is proven three different ways in verses 37-39. First, in verse 37 "given" is present tense' while "shall come' is future tense showing being given precedes coming.

Second, in verses 38 being given occurred not only prior to coming, but prior to Christ coming to earth as Christ came to earth because the father had already "given" (v. 39) a people to save. Hence, the time of being given occured before the incarnation of Christ.

Third, in verse 39 Jesus uses the perfect tense verb translated "given" which grammatically demands the action of being given was a completed action at some point in time (before the incaranation - v. 38) and stands completed up to the time Christ is speaking.

So, if one just jerks verse 40 out of its context, then it has no context to determine what he means by it. However, if you interpret this verse in its context then it flatly contradicts the design and intent of those who jerk it out of its context. So, Ran's take is contextually inaccurate and abuses the text when used according to Christ's train of thought.

However, that is not the reason Christ gives for why they do not come to him in faith. He says people who do not come to him in faith is because the Father never gave them to him (v. 64-65). This is the case with false professors and those who come for other reasons.

No, God is not responsible for the "condition" of the ground (heart) because the condition of man's heart is due to sin and God is not responsible for sin. God is responsible for changing the ground, or plowing it up and planting the seed and causing it to grow. In the parable of the four soils, the only soil that Jesus calls "good" and the only soil that brought fourth crops that could be harvested is the fourth soil and the explanation immediately follows that gives the whole credit to God for that soil production.

Thank you, it is hard to get to know a person through black and white print but if we met I think you would like me and I probably would like you also.