This Verse Has Been Thrown Around A Lot:

John 6:44 No one can [2] come to Me unless the Father who sent Me [1] draws him; [3] and I will raise him up at the last day.


Here -- same passage, same lesson -- this seems to be Jesus teaching on it: John 6:40 - "And this is the will of him that sent me, [1] that every one which seeth the Son [drawn], and [2] believeth on him [come], may have everlasting life: [3] and I will raise him up at the last day."

Now some "drawn" don't "come." That's John 6:36 - "But I said unto you, [1] That ye also have seen me [drawn], and [2] believe not [didn't come]." Following the parallel then, these wouldn't be raised in the last day, right?

At any rate, we can now see that "drawing" is not always "effectial" and that "coming" = believing, right?


I know -- Isaiah 40:28 will object that, rather than give his/her long explanations following the citation, I insert numbers and interpretation into the verses. Ya know, it just seems simpler that way. :type:
skypair

 

OK, Amy -- Let's try parallelling the parallels:

Now follow the numbers:

[1] draws = sees;

[2] come = believes;

[3] raise him up... = raise him up...

I'm sure there's a way that you still can't see it. This is for anyone who still takes your objection seriously.

skypair

 

First this: Does this not fit the pattern established by the other verses? If they "come," do they NOT believe?

The real question raised by this verse is "How are believers "given" to Christ?" It is not as the Reformers teach -- by "election."

And here is the answer: In the strictest sense (and in the only sense understood in the OT), a person must have the "righteousness of God" (JUSTIFICATION) before they are "given" to Christ. In the OT, this "plays out" very clearly -- those saints are not "given" to Christ until the postrib "resurrection of the just." This would be true even as Christ spoke here to His disciples.

We take our justification before God for granted because we receive it and SANCTIFICATION (being indwelt by the Holy Spirit) at the same time. We are, indeed, "resurrected" as "just" through repentance from sins and are immediately indwelt by the Spirit, sanctified. And, in fact, when Jesus says they "will come," He is speaking about the future of many listening to Him at that moment! They won't die and wait until the resurrection of the just --- they will believe and not be cast out (into sheol?).

So we see that "coming" is that moment when we believe on Christ.

It's the "And if I be lifted up..." that tells us that all men will both be drawn and see. Do you disbelieve Jesus?

Paul is breaking down "come" into 2 factors: 1) believing that He is and 2) believing that He is the Rewarder of them who diligently seek Him. Do you see that "believe" is the subject of both stipulations?

Exactly -- so John 6:44 is not given in a vacuum as y'all seem to aver. There is context which I am bringing to bear on your "snippet" and considering.

skypair