The other day I was reading John 6 for my personal devotions. I’ve had quite a few conversations about the free offer of the gospel. Often, I find people putting logic over revelation in the discussion. They think the logical conclusion of what is commonly called Calvinism is that the gospel is not offered freely to all. I’m not interested in recapping the arguments. Sometimes people mean something different from what has commonly and historically been meant. They apply that “devilish reason” (as Luther called it) to it and come away thinking it means God is confused and willing the salvation of reprobate.
Back to John 6. Beginning in verse 22 Jesus is addressing the crowd that has found him in a synagogue. So, we have the same discourse and the same audience for the comments we find that some would find in direct conflict.
28 Then they said to him, “What must we do, to be doing the works of God?” 29 Jesus answered them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent.”
He’s been encouraging them to seek the bread that leads to eternal life. He is saying these things precisely because they are seeking him for another miracle like the feeding of the 5,000. They want food, not life. They ask what work they should be doing. He tells them to believe in him, the one God has sent. Jesus tells an audience, that is not seeking eternal life, that has no interest in the gospel, to believe in him.
But Jesus continues with one of the more “Calvinistic” statements he makes. John’s gospel is full of them, so it is not a mistake.
35 Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst. 36 But I said to you that you have seen me and yet do not believe. 37 All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out.
Once again he freely offers the gospel: “whoever comes to me … whoever believes in me ….” They have seen Jesus, and seen him perform miracles, and yet they did not believe in him. Is Jesus lying? Will he refuse to say someone who comes to him? Will he refuse to save someone who believes in him? Not likely.
The only ones that take him up on this offer, who come and believe, are those the Father gives to him. They will come to him, and Jesus will never cost them out. Jesus believed in the doctrine of election. But this did not stop him from issuing the “whoever” statements. Nor should it stop us from issuing the same statements though we affirm the doctrine of election. There is no logical inconsistency here. All men everywhere are commanded to repent. We are to call them to repentance. Only those the Father has given to the Son, those who are drawn by the Spirit, will actually come. We are to focus on making the gospel known, not stressing on whether or not the people we speak to are elect. What is revealed is for us. Can we agree on that?
Cavman Considers 
Leave a Reply