09-GOD'S DRAWING
Chapter Eight God’s Drawing
Calvinism teaches that no man can come to the Savior until God draws him, and God only draws the elect.
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.
We have studied the meaning of this verse in the chapter on Foreknowledge, and learned that God draws those who He foreknows will believe, not those who He predestinates to believe. (see notes on John 6:64-66) In this chapter, we will consider how God draws people to the Savior. I am not denying that God must draw people to Christ. Because of our nature it is true that God must initiate an influence in us before we will come to the Savior, but how does He do that? This question has already been partially addressed in the chapter on Free Agency. Let us return to that point in more detail.
7 Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you.
8 And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:
9 Of sin, because they believe not on me;
10 Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more;
11 Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged.
We have already seen the meaning of the words reprove and the world in chapter seven, we will now consider the ministry of the Holy Spirit in more detail.
Verse 9 - The Holy Spirit convilct the world of sin. Not only sin in general, but specifically the sin of rejecting the Jesus Christ as Savior. This is the sin that condemns a person to Hell. It is the only sin that God cannot and will not forgive. It is the only sin for which there is no remedy, yet faith in the Savior is the remedy for all sin.
Verse 10 - The word righteousness here is the Greek word dikaiosunē which means justification. The Holy Spirit shows the world that Jesus has reterned to Heaven because His work of atonement is completed. One of the utterances of Christ on the cross is "It is finished." The price of atonemant is paid, now justification can be offered to anyone who will believe.
Verse 11 - The Holy Spirit warns the world of impending judgment. Satan, the prince of this world, has already been judged. When did this happen? It happened on the cross of Calvary! Satan is a defeated foe and his judgment is sure. So it is for anyone who dies rejecting the Savior. This ministry of the Holy Spirit is one way that God draws people to the Savior, another way is through the preaching of the gospel
Romans 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.
Romans 10:13-14; Romans 10:17 13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
14 How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?
17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
1 Peter 1:23 Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever. The Word of God is the power of God unto salvation. The Greek word for power is dunamis, from which we get the English word dynamite. But the word means more than just power in a conventional way, it means miraculous power. This miraculous power can resurrect a spirit that is "dead in tresspasses and sin" unto a new life. God uses the influence of this power to draw people to the Savior.
Another way that God draws people is by the testimony of a Christian life.
Matthew 5:14-16 14 Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.
15 Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.
16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
Whether we realize it or not, when we profess to be a Christian, people watch us. God uses the things we say and do to influence our acquaintances. This is why we should always guard our testimony. God can use a godly Christian life to draw an unbeliever to the Savior. Also there is this:
1 Corinthians 7:13-14; 1 Corinthians 7:16
13 And the woman which hath an husband that believeth not, and if he be pleased to dwell with her, let her not leave him.
14 For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband: else were your children unclean; but now are they holy.
16 For what knowest thou, O wife, whether thou shalt save thy husband? or how knowest thou, O man, whether thou shalt save thy wife?
There are thousands of unbelievers who were drawn to the Savior through the godly influence of their believing spouse. There may be some of you reading these lines that are married to an unbeliever. You can take courage that your spouse is constantly being influenced by your life, whether they admit it or not. This is a great encouragement, but it cautions us to always be guarding our testimony because if you are not careful, you can be a negative influence also.
As stated before, there is no doubt that God must draw us to His Son, but He does not do so by forcing His grace on us. He lovingly urges us to come to the Savior using the methods shown above. Calvinism gives us a picture of a forceful, relentless God who pursues only a chosen few. In the Bible, we see a loving, encouraging, merciful God who will do everything necessary to provide redemption for all, but who also gives us all the free will to accept or reject His gift of salvation. God is not looking for robots or puppets, He wants us to receive the gift of eternal life of our own free will.