Who Will Come to Jesus?
A.W. Tozer emphasizes that while God's invitation to salvation is open to all, it requires divine enablement and a genuine spiritual hunger to respond.
A.W. Tozer emphasizes that while God's invitation to come to Jesus is open to all, it is not without conditions. He warns against the church's tendency to dilute the gospel invitation, stressing that the term 'whosoever' is always accompanied by the necessity of belief and divine enablement. Tozer highlights that no one can come to Christ unless drawn by the Father, and that a genuine spiritual hunger must precede salvation. He reminds us that it is God who initiates the call, as seen in John 15:16, where Jesus states that we do not choose Him, but He chooses us.
Text
God's invitation to men is broad but not unqualified. The words "whosoever will may come" throw the door open, indeed, but the church is carrying the gospel invitation far beyond its proper bounds, turning it into something more human and less divine than that found in the sacred Scriptures. What we tend to overlook is that the word "whosoever" never stands by itself. Always its meaning is modified by the word "believe" or "will" or "come." According to the teachings of Christ no one will or can come and believe unless there has been done within him a prevenient work of God enabling him to do so.
In the sixth chapter of John, Jesus teaches as that no one can come of himself; he must first be drawn by the Father. "It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing," Jesus said.
Before any man or woman can be saved, he or she must feel a consuming spiritual hunger. Where a hungry heart is found, we may be sure that God was there first-"Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you" (John 15:16).
Sermon Outline
- I points: - Understanding God's Invitation - The Nature of 'Whosoever' - The Role of Belief
- II points: - The Prevenient Work of God - The Necessity of Divine Drawing - The Role of the Holy Spirit
- III points: - The Importance of Spiritual Hunger - God's Initiative in Salvation - The Relationship Between Choice and Divine Selection
Key Quotes
“The words 'whosoever will may come' throw the door open, indeed, but the church is carrying the gospel invitation far beyond its proper bounds.” — A.W. Tozer
“No one will or can come and believe unless there has been done within him a prevenient work of God enabling him to do so.” — A.W. Tozer
“Where a hungry heart is found, we may be sure that God was there first.” — A.W. Tozer
Application Points
- Recognize the importance of God's initiative in your spiritual journey.
- Cultivate a heart that seeks after God with genuine hunger.
- Understand that belief is a response to God's drawing, not merely a human decision.