The Will of the Father

Articles

Edwin Crozier
07/05/15 - Salvation

The Will of the Father

Since the time of Augustine and then renewed within the Reformation, many have read John 6 to find a closed door of salvation. That is, the door is cracked only for those whom God primordially chose without reference to anything they did in life. In fact, those who did anything in connection to salvation only did so because God had already chosen them. The door of salvation is not open to anyone else because God didn’t choose them.

A surface walk through the text seems to support this (especially if you are reading it under the guidance of those who direct you to see it). After all, the ones who come to Jesus are those given by the Father (John 6:37) and no one can come to Jesus unless it is granted to them by the Father (John 6:66). Further, Jesus will lose none whom the Father has given Him (John 6:39). Additionally, no one can come to Jesus unless the Father draws him (John 6:44). If someone is telling you this means God chose some people before time to give to Jesus and because He has given them, they will believe and come to Him, it is hard not to see it that way.

However, if we back up and see what the text actually says and what parts of this teaching are added in by man, we will see a different message. In fact, a more comforting message.

Yes, John 6:37 says all the Father gives will come to Jesus, but that verse doesn’t say who the Father will give. Men supply the idea that the Father gives people He chose before time without reference to anything they do. If we keep reading the text, we see the ones who the Father gives to Jesus are actually those who look on the Son and believe in Him (John 6:40). The Father does not give people to Jesus who then by virtue of being given look on Him and believe. Rather, the Father gives to Jesus those who look on Him and believe. It is the Father’s will that these will be raised on the last day. Therefore, we can trust that if we look on Jesus and believe, He will raise us in the last day.

This actually ties in with what Jesus has already taught the people in John 6:25-29. He told them to quit working for the food that perishes, but to work for food that endures to eternal life. What is that food? Jesus Himself (cf. John 6:35). How do we work for that food? Believe in Jesus.

Many of those listening couldn’t come to Jesus because they didn’t believe Him. The Father only gives to Jesus those who believe Him. Therefore, many abandoned Jesus that very day. Jesus turned to the apostles and they refused to leave because they believed He is the Holy One of God and He has the words of eternal life. Because they believed, they were given to the Son and could come to Him. Granted, even in this text, it shows someone can abandon their faith and be lost (John 6:64, 70-71; see also 17:12). But be comforted. What this text says is if you believe Jesus, the Father gives you to Him and Jesus does everything within the Father’s will to keep you and raise you on the last day. Don’t lose sight of that.

Do you believe Jesus is the Holy One of God and His words are eternal life?