Does John 6:44 suggest that God chooses who will be saved? Immediate Context Verses 37–40 frame Jesus’ discourse: the Father “gives” people to the Son, the Son “receives” them, and none are lost. Verse 45 cites Isaiah 54:13: “They will all be taught by God.” The draw-teach-come sequence roots salvation in Father-initiated revelation fulfilled in Christ. Biblical Witness To Divine Initiation • Ephesians 1:4-5 – chosen “before the foundation of the world.” • Romans 8:29-30 – foreknown, predestined, called, justified, glorified. • Acts 16:14 – “The Lord opened” Lydia’s heart “to respond.” These texts confirm that saving faith originates in God’s purposeful action. Biblical Witness To Universal Gospel Offer • 1 Timothy 2:4 – God “desires all men to be saved.” • 2 Peter 3:9 – He is “not willing that any should perish.” • John 12:32 – Jesus will draw “all.” The same Scripture that affirms election also proclaims universal invitation, showing no contradiction in God’s character or purpose. Harmonizing Sovereignty And Responsibility Scripture holds two truths in tension: 1. God sovereignly enables faith (John 6:44; Philippians 1:29). 2. Humans are accountable to repent and believe (John 3:16-18; Acts 17:30). Since all are enslaved to sin (Romans 3:10-18), divine drawing is essential; yet the repeated biblical commands to believe indicate genuine, culpable human response. Early Church Interpretation • Augustine: “Those who are drawn are made willing by grace.” (In Ioann. Tract. 26) • Chrysostom: God draws “by revealing to them His love.” Patristic voices recognized both the necessity of grace and the reality of human will, long before later theological systems crystallized. Philosophical And Behavioral Considerations From behavioral science, genuine choice presupposes enabling conditions. Divine drawing supplies the cognitive and moral illumination fallen humans lack (2 Corinthians 4:4-6). Thus, God’s action restores, not negates, authentic human agency. Philosophically, an eternal, omniscient Being choosing to save does not violate libertarian freedom if the will, once liberated, freely loves the Good it now sees. Evangelistic Implications Because God must draw, prayer is indispensable. Because the gospel is offered to all, proclamation is obligatory. Ray Comfort’s approach—presenting law to awaken conscience, then offering grace—mirrors John 6’s pattern: revelation precedes response. Answer To The Question John 6:44 teaches that coming to Christ is impossible without the Father’s efficacious drawing; in that sense, God’s choice precedes and enables human faith. Yet, when read alongside the full counsel of Scripture, this divine initiative coexists with a sincere universal invitation and genuine human responsibility. God chooses to save, and humans must choose to believe—realities perfectly harmonious in the biblical worldview. Key Cross-References John 6:37-45; John 12:32; Romans 8:29-30; Ephesians 1:4-5; Acts 16:14; 1 Timothy 2:4; 2 Peter 3:9; Isaiah 54:13. |
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