John 6

Verse 37:

You can’t assume that the Father is giving someone to the Son arbitrarily.

Arbitrary: random or unconditional

OR is He telling them: “He would give to the Son those who have faith in the Father.”

What is Jesus’ Main point so far in the book of John?

“I and the Father am one”

“If you believe in the Father you should believe in me”… right?

Therefore, those who believe in the Father, will be given to me. And will believe me / honor me / follow me

So those who have faith in the Father, He’ll GIVE me… they’ll “come to me” It’s not the FATHER’s unconditional choice as to whether or not you come to Christ… it’s yours! And yours alone.

“All that the Father GIVES Me will come to me.”

Not “Has Given”

This is Present tense.

“All that the Father IS NOW GIVING ME”

Is Jesus saying “All of you who will believe in me have already been given to me? In the past tense?” NO! That would be silly.

Not “Has Given” … He gives

Then how is the Father giving?

He’s giving the ones who are believing / seeking / pursuing / who have been taught by the Father and have accepted that teaching.

Those are the ones presently being given to Jesus.

Also remember that the Gentiles aren’t quite in view here yet.

Jesus came to His own… “His own knew Him not” remember?

So Jesus came first to the Jews / house of Israel

He’s speaking to a Jewish audience.

Is John writing this to teach Calvinism / Determinism?

Is he trying to discourage you in saying you might not be part of the elect?

NO! He’s encouraging you to believe and trust in Jesus

SO…

“All that the Father gives me” … or “Those who have listened and learned from the Father,” will be given to the Son. And they will come.

Verse 39:

Calvinist reads it:

The sovereign will of him who sent me is that all whom he has effectually chosen / unconditionally chosen and given to the Son through irresistible grace.. THOSE are the ones He wont lose, and he’s gonna raise them up on the last day.

Provisionist Lenses:

“This is the will of my Father” … That all who believe (ie. listened and learned from the Father) are given to me… and I’m not going to lose a single one… I’m going to raise them all up… I’m gonna save ALL that the Father gives me, by grace through faith.

There is nothing in this verse that is “uniquely” Calvinistic… it just depends on how you read the verse.

Verse 40:

Everyone who what?

Everyone who was effectually chosen before the foundation of the world? No.

Everyone who… (read)

Verse 44:

These people don’t understand.

They are looking for signs / food / potluck

They think the words of Jesus are blasphemy

So what this verse MEANS is:

You WILL NOT understand me… follow me… trust me… believe in me… unless the Father draws you.

Unless you’ve been taught by the Father and you understand who I am.

If you’re just some random person… I’m just babbling. You won’t get it.

But if you come from the FATHER… then you will believe in Me

Verse 45:

Who is “They?”

Those who come!

Who are the ones who come to Him?

The ones who have listened and learned from the Father.

Because they have listened and learned from the Father:

The Father draws them… GIVES them to the Son, and those are the ones He’s going to raise up on the last day

Remember the Context:

Jesus is speaking to hardened Jews, that HAVEN’T been learning and listening from the Father, for the most part. And therefore wont be drawn to Him!!

What about the word “Draw?”

Means Dragged… or dragged to a point or place.

But even then you have to decide what to do

Nehemiah 9:30 ““However, You bore with them for many years, And admonished them by Your Spirit through Your prophets, Yet they would not give ear. Therefore You gave them into the hand of the peoples of the lands.”

Israel is being drawn by God and they REFUSED!

So even if God “draws” … we still must “come” as we see in John 6. Those who look to Him / believe in Him

I believe that God draws EVERYONE!

With His light / creation / conscience / messengers… to a point of decision. Am I going to trust Jesus or not?

Drawing gets a man “TO” Christ… Faith gets a man “IN” Christ

Read Your Bible or Die:

You have to come to the point, where you know that if you don’t read and consume this book… you will die.

Reading the Word can be tough. Even for Bible scholars… its a challenge and a decision we have to make every morning to pick up that book! … what whats the other option? Die.

My dad had a buddy.. Aaron, who battled with longhaul covid for months. Every day… he hurt / struggled / fought for every breath he had. He is alive today. Because it was either fight for another day / minute / breath… or die.

Verse 51:

Great verse concerning atonement

It is a provision for all… but it’s only beneficial for those who are partaking of it!

The bread that comes down from heaven (Jesus) is only beneficial to those who believe and come to him in faith