A message by my Pastor Ken Jacques, who is now in the presence of our Lord
Ye Will Not Come Unto Me
And ye will not come unto me that ye might have life. John 5:40
Introduction
Since the beginning of the church age, there has been controversy about the basis upon which God saves sinners. There are two extreme positions on this subject, and I reject both. The first is often called Arminianism, which places the responsibility for salvation ultimately upon the will of the sinner. That man is free and able to exercise his will to come to Christ or not is a key point of their doctrine. The second is often called Hyper-Calvinism (or extreme Calvinism), placing all responsibility for salvation in the hands of God, and that human will plays no part in the process. They believe God has already ‘chosen’ those who will be saved, and that those not chosen cannot be saved. This may be an oversimplification of a complex issue, but it will suit our purpose. Our text seems to contradict the doctrine of the Calvinists by placing the responsibility squarely upon the `will’ of the sinner. My conviction lies somewhere between the two extremes, and we will try to deal with this doctrine in this study. We will consider several scripture passages in the gospel of John. Notice the:
WITNESS to the SINNER
In our text, Jesus is preaching to unbelievers. In the preceding verses (32-39) John 5:32-39 [32] There is another that beareth witness of me; and I know that the witness which he witnesseth of me is true. [33] Ye sent unto John, and he bare witness unto the truth. [34] But I receive not testimony from man: but these things I say, that ye might be saved. [35] He was a burning and a shining light: and ye were willing for a season to rejoice in his light. [36] But I have greater witness than that of John: for the works which the Father hath given me to finish, the same works that I do, bear witness of me, that the Father hath sent me. [37] And the Father himself, which hath sent me, hath borne witness of me. Ye have neither heard his voice at any time, nor seen his shape. [38] And ye have not his word abiding in you: for whom he hath sent, him ye believe not. [39] Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me. He is removing the excuse of ignorance. These Jews had received ample witness that Jesus was the Messiah, and the Son of God. They had the witness of:
1. JOHN – In v.32-35, Jesus reminds them of the witness of John the Baptist `Ye sent unto John, and he bare witness unto the truth’.
2. JESUS’ WORKS – In v.36, he says `But I have greater witness than that of John: for the works which the Father hath given me to finish, the same works that I do, bear witness of me, that the Father hath sent me’. In the presence of this generation, Jesus had healed the sick, cast out demons and raised the dead. These were the marks of the ministry of Messiah as foretold by the prophets of old.
3. THE FATHER – In v.37, notice the words of Jesus `And the Father himself, which hath sent me, hath borne witness of me’. At his baptism in Jordan, the Father gave public approval of his Son.
4. SCRIPTURES – The final witness cited by Jesus is the scriptures. God inspired the prophets to write of the coming of Christ, and Israel had been thoroughly prepared by their message for his coming. Notice in v.38 he rebukes their unbelief, and then in v.39 appeals to the witness of the scriptures `Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me’.
It is clear that Israel had received sufficient witness as to the identity of Christ to have believed on him, and Jesus is holding them responsible for their own unbelief.
WORK in the SINNER
It is here that we must reconcile a ‘seeming’ difficulty with another passage of scripture. Consider the:
1. PROBLEM – In John 6:44, this same apostle writes the words of Jesus `No man can come unto me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him‘. Now, the Calvinist may ask, How do you reconcile this verse, which states the natural man is not able to come unto Jesus on his own, and our text which clearly holds men responsible for not being willing to come to him? Do we have a contradiction here? No, never! The Word of God is perfect and complete, and has no contradictions!
2. PLAN – The answer to this dilemma lies in John 12:32, where Jesus declares `And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me’. The plan of God is that thru the death, burial and resurrection of Christ, all men will be drawn to him. Yes, no man can come except he be drawn, and all shall be drawn. This means that all will be enabled to come to Jesus.
3. POWER – The agent of the Father in drawing men to Christ is the Holy Spirit. He works within the sinner’s heart to free the will of the sinner from bondage to sin, Satan and society, and blindness of heart.
4. PRINCIPLE – The Spirit frees the enlightened will, but does not force faith upon any sinner. At some point(s) in every sinner’s life, he is promised that his will shall be freed sufficiently to enable him to choose to come to Christ or not. It is then his responsibility to choose to believe. But when, how often and for how long does the Spirit draw and enable the sinner to believe? Only God, our creator knows for sure.
WILL of the SINNER
God has made it possible for man to choose belief or unbelief, but men respond differently to this freedom of the will. There are two possible responses to this opportunity, provided for us through the precious blood of Christ, they are either:
1. WHOSOEVER WILL’S – A few choose to answer the call of Jesus when he says Matt 11:28 `come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden’. Then in John 6:37 he says `and him that cometh unto me I will in no wise cast out’. All through the New Testament we find the invitation to come to Jesus in repentance and faith. In the last chapter of the Bible (Revelation 22:17) we hear ‘And the Spirit and the Bride say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take of the water of life freely’.
2. WHOSOEVER WILL NOT’S – What a mystery! That the sovereign creator of men is willing, because of his love for them, and for his own glory, to permit them freedom to choose to come to him or not! Why do men refuse? The Bible gives many reasons, but on the believing side of Calvary, it is hard to remember being so hard and unbelieving. Unfortunately, most take this path, and end up in the lake of fire. Not because they were chosen to go there for no reason, but because when given the ability to choose, then rebelled and went on their way without Christ!
Conclusion
We have tried in this study to touch on some of the most debated scriptures in this controversy. But there are many more, which in my judgment, confirm the conclusions above that Man is unable in his natural state to come to Christ, but through the finished work of Christ, and the drawing of the Father by the Spirit, his will is freed. By this he is enabled to choose faith or unbelief, and he bears the responsibility for this choice!
Whosoever Will – Philip Bliss
Whosoever cometh need not delay,
Now the door is open, enter while you may;
Jesus is the true, the only living way;
Send the proclamation over vale and hill,
Tis a loving Father calls the wanderer home,
Whosoever will may come.
Faith Baptist Church of Newborn GA 