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I R R E S I S T I B L E
G R A C E
John 6:37
"ALL that the Father GIVETH ME SHALL COME TO ME; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out."
This verse indicates that God, the Father, has given a certain people to Jesus. It also indicates that every single one of them will come.
John 6:44
"NO MAN CAN COME TO ME, EXCEPT THE FATHER WHICH HATH SENT ME DRAW HIM; and I will raise him up at the LAST DAY."
This verse indicates that only those whom God has DRAWN to Christ can come to Him. The word DRAW, which can also be translated into DRAG, is the same word that is used in drawing a net of fish, John 21:6,11. The fish do not put themselves into the net nor can they resist the net as Peter drags it ashore. This Greek word DRAW is a FORCIBLE DRAWING of men to or from a place. For example:
Acts 16:19
"and DREW them into the market places unto the rulers."
Acts 21:30
"and DREW him out of the temple."
James 2:6
"and DRAW you before the Judgement seats."
Such is the IRRESISTIBLE DRAW OF THE LORD.
Romans 8:29
"For whom He did FOREKNOW he also did PREDESTINATE [to be] conformed to the image of his son."
The word FOREKNOW is not referring to what GOD KNEW, for God KNOWS EVERYTHING. It is referring to WHOM GOD KNEW. GOD FORELOVED WHOM HE KNEW, SO HE CHOSE THEM TO BE SAVED.
John 3:8
"The wind (SPIRIT) bloweth where it listeth (DESIRES) ..."
People have no choice in the FIRST BIRTH (PHYSICAL). They also do not have any choice about the SECOND BIRTH (SPIRITUAL). It is foolish to speak of anybody refusing to be BORN AGAIN. They must be BORN FROM ABOVE. I use BORN FROM ABOVE because the same Greek work was translated 2 times as AGAIN and 5 times as FROM ABOVE. A translation of this same Greek work was most likely left out of Gal. 4:9. After reading the following verses which translation is better?
John 3:3
"Except a man be born ( AGAIN - FROM ABOVE), he cannot see the kingdom of God."
John 3:7
"Ye must be born (AGAIN - FROM ABOVE)."
John 3:31
"He that cometh (FROM ABOVE - AGAIN)is above all."
John 19:11
"Thou couldest have no power against me, except it were given them (FROM ABOVE - AGAIN)."
James 1:17
"Every good gift and every perfect gift is (FROM ABOVE - AGAIN)."
James 3:15
"This wisdom descendeth not (FROM ABOVE - AGAIN)."
James 3:17
"But the wisdom that is (FROM ABOVE - AGAIN) is first pure."
Such is the IRRESISTIBLE GRACE OF GOD, it comes
FROM ABOVE.
If God really wants someone to be saved, is there anyone powerful
enough to resist his will?
Matthew 16:18
"I WILL BUILD MY CHURCH; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it."
If we look at LAZARUS in the tomb we will get a clear picture. Christ stands outside the tomb and says; "LAZARUS, COME FORTH." Now is Jesus HOPING that Lazarus would WILL to come forth? NO! Would Lazarus remain in the tomb if he didn't so will? NO! Lazarus CAME FORTH because Christ also GAVE HIM A WILL and INCLINED IT with the desire and ability to respond to Christ's command.
If we believe that man can resist God's will to save those whom he plans to save, effectively we have arrived at a gospel of GRACE + WORKS. For we are declaring that God has done what he must do and now it is UP TO US to take action, to accept him, to do a WORK OF BELIEF, that will complete God's salvation plan. If this is true then we can receive credit, for this action is ours.
Any salvation plan or doctrine that includes EVEN THE SMALLEST WORK on our part is not the salvation plan of the Bible.
It is taught today that all you have to do is RECEIVE CHRIST, RECEIVE the HOLY SPIRIT. It does state in John 1:12 that; "but as many as RECEIVED HIM, to them gave he power to be come the sons of God." But we also read in John 3:27 "John answered and said, A man CAN RECEIVE NOTHING, except it be given him from heaven.
When you receive the warmth of the sun, must you do anything. NO! It must be GIVEN FROM ABOVE.
IRRESISTIBLE GRACE is the SAVING of the ELECT, the CHOSEN, from before the world began, WHOM GOD LOVED.
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