Grace is Irresistible
John 6:37: All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out.In the photo above, Jazzycat is chasing a squirrel even though she has an all you can eat buffet available 24/7. The desire to chase this squirrel is irresistible because of her God given predator nature. There are several truths in John 6:37, including the eternal security of believers and election. However, let’s focus on the first half of this verse where Jesus states: “All that the Father gives me will come to me.” We know that all human beings do not believe and come to Christ and, from verse 35, we know that coming to Christ has the same meaning as believing in Christ. Those that believe in Christ and come to Christ have eternal life. Therefore, the Father gives Jesus people who will come and receive eternal life, and all (100%) will come. The inescapable conclusion is that God intervenes and plants an irresistible desire for some to come and believe, but He does not plant this desire in everyone. If it were not irresistible, then it would not be 100% effective. If it is 100% effective, then some do not receive this desire to come. Therefore, this intervention implants a saving grace that is irresistible and that is why Jesus said, “All that the Father gives to me will come to me.” Irresistible grace gives a sinner an irresistible desire to willingly come to faith in Jesus Christ. This grace is imparted during regeneration and that is why Jesus said, “You must be born again” (John 3:3) and Paul said that faith is a gift (Eph. 2:8). Just like Jazzycat has a God given nature and a desire to willingly be a predator, a born again sinner has a God given new nature and a desire to willingly come to faith in Jesus Christ.
Grace does more than make salvation possible: it actually saves sinners. Amazing grace. If God gives His grace to bring sinners to faith, it is logical that grace will carry them home (Romans 8:30).
This is part four of five parts of a series that originally ran at Bluecollar Team Blog on the doctrines of grace.
3 comments:
It is all God. The Lord owes no one, but He purposed in His heart to save a rebellious people, who wanted no part of His mercy.
We, so to speak, have spit in the face of God, and he comes to us, and instead of giving us what we deserve, which is eternal seperation, and holy judgement, He sends His Son, so that He can be spit upon, and then crucified.
Now the Holy One, says, if we take such a salvation for granted, then He will spit us out of His mouth.
Thanks brother for always giving us good posts to read, and to ponder.
He sends His Son, so that He can be spit upon, and then crucified.
Now the Holy One, says, if we take such a salvation for granted, then He will spit us out of His mouth.
Amen. That 'spit upon' really got me. How often we read about the crucifixion, to the point of almost taking it for granted. As just part of the story. We forget the humiliation, the suffering, the agony, the spat upon...
and how very high was that price paid for us, the so very unworthy. May we never ever cheapen the grace. The mercy. The price paid.
Thanks, brothers.
This is good, brother. Thanks. And your cat makes a great illustration.
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