Man’s Moral and Natural Ability, Part 7

In John 6:65, Jesus said, “Therefore, I have said to you that no one can come to Me unless it has been granted to him by My Father.”  

Last time, we looked at the

1.  Universal negative:  “No one.”

2.  Universal Ability:  “Can”

And now –

3.  The Necessary Condition – “Unless”

A necessary condition is something that must happen before something else can happen.  Jesus is saying, “No one can possibly come to Me, unless something happens that makes it possible for him to come to Me.”

What would this necessary condition be?  Jesus tells us – “It must be granted to him to come to Me by My Father.” In other words, “the ability for anyone to come to Me is a gift from My Father.” Man does not have the ability to come to Jesus, unless God grants to him that ability.  When God the Father grants certain people such ability, it is a gift from God the Father to God the Son.

Therefore, original sin makes it impossible for man on his own to come to Jesus. It is not within man’s natural fallen nature to do so. If anyone does come to Christ, that person comes as a result of having Divine assistance.

Now here is the kicker question: Does God give this divine ability to come to Christ to ALL men?  The answer is no, He does not. Some say God does. Those who say so make God appear weak and less than sovereign.  If God gave to all men the divine ability to come to Christ, you can be certain that all would come.

The Bible states, “To whom (not all) God foreknew (chosen beforehand in love), He also predestined (to choose beforehand) – Rom. 8:29. 

After making such a statement in John 6:65 about no one can come to Me unless it has been granted by the Father, the next verse says, “As a result of this many of His disciples withdrew, and were not walking with Him anymore." Jesus showed in visible fashion the calling and election of God. Those not granted by the Father, left. Those who were granted to come to Christ by the Father remained.

Jesus then said to the twelve: “Don’t you want to go as well” (v. 67)?  Through Peter, they chose to stay.  Then Jesus made this profound statement: “Did I Myself not choose you. . .?” (v. 70).

You see, those whom God chooses, will come to Him and remain. Those who are not chosen will withdraw and walk with Him no more or not come at all.

Now here is something else worth pointing out. Jesus said, “Did I Myself not choose you, the TWELVE, and yet one of you is a devil?” 

Here’s another study coming down the pike:  Double Predestination. In verse 70, Jesus choosing involved two groups for two purposes:  One group was chosen to eternal life and to serve His purposes on earth.  The other chosen not to be granted eternal life and to serve His purposes on earth (Judas).  God choice in purpose involves both the elect and non-elect.  God in His sovereign ability is able to choose and use the non-elect to accomplish all His desires and purposes. Judas was handpicked and chosen by God to be Christ’s betrayer!

You ask, “Isn’t that unfair of God?”

Of course not. You see, God is all about two things:  Mercy and justice. By not choosing Judas unto eternal life, he got what he deserved – justice. By choosing the eleven, they got what they do not deserved – mercy.

Don’t make the mistake by thinking that God owes everyone mercy.  He does not. The very essence of mercy is that it is given to only a chosen few.  If mercy was given to everyone, it would not be mercy. 

Do you show mercy to everyone? No one does. We choose to show mercy and compassion to only a few whom we choose to. On a higher level, so it is with God.  Mercy is not a right that ought to be given to all.  It is a gift to be handed to a few.  This is what makes mercy so special both to give and to receive. 

Judas did not receive something He did not deserve.  He got what was coming to him – justice.  Everyone who is born is under God’s wrath. God, in His sovereign will, chooses to give as a gift, mercy to some and to not give it to others. The latter group simply gets what they deserved.

If you are a believer, saved and chosen by Christ, this ought to humble you completely and removed from your heart all manner of complaining and negativity.  You, for some reason known only to God were chosen to be given the gift of mercy.  This does not make you any better, but it does make you special.

End of Part 7