Do you know and understand the drawing of God? To whom are those who are saved? The elect. This is not disputed. That God only draws some, creating a desire in them to respond in faith to Jesus is clear, yet many do not believe this.
Consider 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."
In context, Jesus had just finished doing a miracle and feeding thousands from only a few fish and pieces of bread. He then tells the crowd in v26, "Truly, truly, I say to you, you seek Me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate of the loaves and were filled." They missed focusing on the Savior because of their temporal desire for food. Jesus then goes on to tell them that this food they desire perishes, but they should work for the food which brings eternal life. How? By believing in Jesus. "Working" shows it is not merely a faith which produces nothing, but a life which is working towards Christ.
He then goes on to say in v37 that all the Father gives to Him, will come to Him. What is the context? Eternal life! Here we learn very plainly that those who are called of God, or elect, WILL come to Christ and will be saved, that is "raised up on the last day" as the end of v37 says.
The problem for many, is that they say, 'wait a minute, I thought a person must believe and that God's will is for all to be saved'? Yes, that too is true, but God doesn't effectually call all men in the same manner, else all men would be saved. We must let the tention of scripture remain, while not rejecting that which we do not yet understand. For our lack of understanding does not make something untrue. If a two year old does not understand how it is possible that a cold oven could all of a sudden burn him with fire, it does not mean that oven's no longer get hot!
The people then understand this problem, and upon hearing that Jesus has said He has come down from Heaven, start to grumble. Jesus then gives us v44 (which I started this post with) and tells them "Everyone who has heard and learned from the Father, comes to Me". Now ask any preacher, does everyone they teach about the things of God become saved? No. So what does Jesus mean. In context, this again is referring to those who have believed. Who are those who believe? The elect. Why? Because "of all that the Father has given me [Jesus] I lose nothing." v37.
Still not understanding? v64 "But there are some of you who do not believe". Judas was in the crowd, as were many other people who just wanted a miracle and did not want to taste the bread of heaven and receive eternal life. Jesus was trying to tell them, you can't take salvation, you must receive it. For something to be received it must be given. v65 "For this reason I have said to you, that no one can come to Me unless it has been granted him from the Father." This is the dicotomy of election and it is clear as day.
Do you believe the Bible? All of it? Then you must believe, and TEACH others ALL of it. Not just the parts you like. The passage then goes on to say in vv66-67, "As a result of this many of His disciples withdrew and were not walking with Him anymore. So Jesus said to the twelve, "You do not want to go away also, do you?" Peter then says, "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have words of eternal life." The Bible only presents two options here. Believe and live according to the teaching of the Bible, or turn away and follow Christ no more.
ARE YOU SAVED?
ReplyDeleteSalvation is a past reality: We have been saved by the death of Jesus Christ. While we were still sinners, Jesus’ death canceled the bond that stood against us (Colossians 2:14). In other words, the guilt of original sin has been wiped away.
God pardoned our sins. But being pardoned isn’t the same as being holy. Being pardoned gives us back our freedom to choose the road to holiness, to walk the narrow path. Right now, today, we are being saved. Grace is wooing us down the narrow path. We are becoming holy. Salvation is an ongoing event.
We can easily verify salvation as an ongoing event—just look at the world around us. If salvation was a past event, then Mother Theresa and Pope John Paul II would be a dime a dozen.
Instead, they shine like stars in the darkness. The world is a cultural and spiritual battleground—a collision between the culture of life and the culture of death.
This, however, is nothing new. St. Paul described man’s predicament in these terms: "What happens is that I do, not the good I will to do, but the evil I do not intend. But if I do what is against my will, it is not I who do it, but sin which dwells in me" (Romans 7:19-20).
Whether you’re St. Paul, Pope John Paul II, or living in St. Paul, the reality is the same: We are being saved because grace has not yet fully transformed every area of our mind, emotions, desires, and will into the mind, emotions, desires, and will of Christ.