THE ELECT WILL HEAR AND BELIEVE
John 6:38-47

Henry Mahan


These Jews had seen Christ, heard Him, and witnessed the great miracles, which He performed; yet they believed not! But their unbelief and the unbelief of men today shall not defeat the purpose of God in Christ. For according to Verse 37, it is certain that the Father has chosen a people in Christ, given them to Christ, and made Christ their surety, substitute, and redeemer (John 17:1-2; Eph. 1:3-5; II Thess. 2:13). It is certain that the Father has ordained the means by which they shall be quickened, called, and believe on Christ (I Peter 1:2, 23; James 1:18; I Cor. 1:21). It is certain that those chosen, called, and justified shall come to Christ and shall never perish (Rom. 8:29-30; John 10:24-29).

(Vs. 38) Christ was on earth in the flesh to do the Father's will! The will of the Father and the will of the Son are ONE; for "I and My Father are ONE" (John 10:30). But the Son is speaking as THE SERVANT (Isa. 42:1-4). The design of God in redemption is to have a new heaven and a new earth wherein dwelleth righteousness, to have a holy people (all like Christ) to populate that new creation, and to judge and destroy all things contrary to Himself; this Christ came to do! This Christ shall do! (Isa. 53:10-11.)

(Vs. 39) Eternal election and eternal predestination guarantee eternal preservation. "The last day" is the end of this world as we know it and the beginning of eternity. Our Lord declares it to be the sovereign will of God that all elected by the Father, redeemed by the Son, and called by the Spirit shall be raised from the grave to eternal glory and that NOT ONE shall be lost. Our salvation, security, and resurrection rest not upon anything in us now done by us, but upon the Father's choice and the Son's obedience and sacrifice! (Phil. 3:10-11, 20-21).

(Vs. 40) This verse speaks of the same people referred to in Verses 37-39 – the elect! But election is not salvation; it is UNTO salvation. Christ was the Lamb slain before the foundation of the world; but Christ MUST come to earth and die. Even so, the elect are chosen to life; but they must all HEAR the gospel, SEE by faith Christ as their righteousness, sanctification, and redemption, and BELIEVE on Him with a sincere heart (John 3:18, 36: Rom. 10:13-17; I Thess. 1:4-6).

(Vs. 41-42) These religious Jews were given to murmuring as those in the wilderness. Murmuring is complaining through anger, unbelief, and impatience against what they saw and heard. In this case they were offended because He said, "I am the true bread which came down from heaven." They knew, to some extent, what He was saying as indicated in John 10:30-33. But they knew nothing of His virgin birth; for they said, "Is not this the son of JOSEPH?" How can He be the Son of God? (Matt. 1:20-23: Luke 1:30-35). Men ascribed unto Him all that they could apart from Divine revelation – "John the Baptist, Elias, or one of the prophets" (Matt. 16:13-17). Only anointed eyes see Christ the Son of God!

(Vs. 43-44) The Lord Jesus knew their thoughts and their hearts, He knew their unbelief and rejection (Isa. 53:1-3). The following words reveal the depth, the extent, and the inability of human depravity. "No man" (regardless of his intellect, ancestry, or environment) "can" (is able in himself, has the ability or will or inclination of himself to) "come to me" (believe on Me, receive Me, or trust in Me) "except the Father which sent Me" (for the Father loveth the Son and hath given all things into His hands. The Father planned and purposed redemption, gave it to the Son to accomplish, and sent Him into the world to finish it) "draw him" (this drawing is the quickening, awakening, and calling of sinners to life and faith in Christ by the Holy Spirit and the Word of God; I Cor. 2:7-14). The Holy Spirit effectually convicts men of sin, reveals the Lord Jesus Christ to them, and they come to Christ willingly, lovingly, and obediently, being made willing (Psalm 110:1-3).

(Vs. 45) It is written in Isaiah 54:13, "And all thy children shall be taught of the Lord." Those drawn to Christ do not come blindly and ignorantly; they are "taught of God." The Spirit of God through the Word of God (Rom. 10:17), preachers of the gospel (Eph. 4:10-13), and Divine revelations teaches sinners their need of Christ and the sufficiency of Christ (John 16:8-15). Every person who hears the way of life will come to Christ. These verses clearly reveal the DESIGN of grace, the MEANS of grace, and the RESULTS of grace.

(Vs. 46-47) No one should suppose that the Father must visibly appear and teach or call a sinner. To hear and learn of the Father is not to hear His audible voice nor to see Him, for the essence of God is invisible. Christ has seen the Father, and "he that hath seen Me hath seen the Father;" but the revelation of grace and life is by the Spirit and the Word. He that hears the gospel with the heart and believes on the Lord Jesus has eternal life (1 John 5: 10-13).


Henry Mahan
Ashland, Ky.

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