Live 4 The LORD

All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will never cast out. does this mean some are not given to jesus

The passage "All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will never cast out" from John 6:37  raises questions about God's will, human free will, and salvation. The Church Fathers, such as St. Augustine and St. John Chrysostom, have offered interpretations of this verse that provide a deeper understanding of its meaning.

Here's an exploration of the different facets of this verse:

Interpretation by Church Fathers

• St. John Chrysostom: This verse emphasizes that Jesus does everything for the sake of those who are saved . He explains that when Jesus speaks of raising up on the last day, it is not merely about resurrection, which even the ungodly will experience, but about a particular kind of resurrection to good things . Chrysostom suggests that those who do not believe in Jesus are transgressing the will of the Father, who desires to save humanity . He also notes that faith in Jesus requires an impulse from above and a soul that is receptive to revelation .
• St. Augustine: According to Augustine, those who are foreknown, predestined, called, justified and glorified by God are already considered children of God, even before they are born again . These individuals will undoubtedly come to Christ, because, as Jesus says, "All that the Father gives me will come to me, and him that comes to me I will not cast out" . Augustine emphasizes that perseverance in good until the end is also a gift from God, given only to those who will not perish . He explains that "shall come to me" means "shall believe in me," clarifying that the Father's gift enables belief .

Relationship between God's Will and Human Free Will

• Divine Grace and Human Choice: While the Father draws people to Jesus , human choice is also necessary . Whether one is willing to be taught and to believe is a matter of personal choice . Faith in Jesus is not ordinary but requires a revelation from above and a well-ordered soul to receive that revelation .
• Teachability: Those who are teachable by God come to the Son because they have heard and learned from the Father through the Son .

Assurance of Salvation

• Acceptance: Jesus states that He will never cast out anyone who comes to Him  . This indicates that those who come to Jesus, through the Father's will, are assured acceptance and salvation .
• Eternal Life: The Father's will is that everyone who sees the Son and believes in Him may have eternal life, and Jesus will raise them up on the last day . Jesus came to give eternal life to those who believe in Him, ensuring they are raised on the last day .

In summary, the verse from John 6:37 indicates that God the Father plays an active role in drawing people to Jesus, and those who come to Jesus will never be rejected. While God's grace is essential, human free will and the choice to believe are also necessary for accepting this gift of salvation.

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