J.D. said:
I've seen many people defend the idea that people can be "drawn" to God by "seeing" how much He loves them. Stories of the cricifixion, some of them embelished, are given to cause people to feel sorry for what their sin did to Christ. One would think that the "Passion of Christ" movie would have brought world-wide revival.
But it didn't. And neither has all the stories of a weak, pitiful Christ done it.
Why? Because the hardened, reprobate, unregenerate, non-elect sinner, the more passionately the Gospel is preached the sillier it is, or, the more superstitious it seems.
Everyone assumes that "drawing" means "wooing". Have you ever "wooed" water from a well?
The only way anyone can repent and believe is when God's Spirit enters the heart and changes it. This doesn't happen by invitation. The natural man does not welcome God's Spirit. Man shuns Him.
I wonder sometimes if folks have witnessed as much as I have (speaking as a fool, trying not to boast). My experiences with hard hearts is what has driven me to scripture to seek answers. I garauntee you that I know people that will not respond to the Gospel, no matter what good works are done for them, no matter how lovingly it's presented, no matter how dire the warnings.
Are these people "drawn" to Christ? How about Herod, when was he "drawn" to Christ. How about Hitler? And Stalin? And Nero, when was Nero drawn to Christ?
They were no more drawn to Christ than a stump.
So what did Christ mean by "draw all men to me"? It's clear from the immediate context that he meant "men of all nations and types". What do we find precedent to Christ's declaration? Who were the men that said "Sir, we would see Jesus"? They were Greeks. The crucifixion of Christ signified the opening of the door of faith to the whole world of nations and people, not just the Jews. This is the context, and it's the only way that the "drawing" makes sense. The Gospel went out into the whole world, and people of all kinds were "drawn", and saved to God's glory.
well of course, When Jesus was talking to Nicodemus about Moses lifting up the serpent in the wilderness (representing Jesus on the cross), He was talking about being born again of the Spirit. read it:
John 3:
1: There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews:
2: The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him.
3: Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.
4: Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born?
5: Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.
6: That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
7: Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.
8: The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.
9: Nicodemus answered and said unto him, How can these things be?
10: Jesus answered and said unto him, Art thou a master of Israel, and knowest not these things?
11: Verily, verily, I say unto thee, We speak that we do know, and testify that we have seen; and ye receive not our witness.
12: If I have told you earthly things, and ye believe not, how shall ye believe, if I tell you of heavenly things?
13: And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven.
14: And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up:
15: That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.
16: 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.