By: General James Green — Sept. 24, 2023
“No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me DRAWS him; and I will raise him up at the last day.” – Jn. 6:44, NKJV
“… Work out your own salvation with fear & trembling; for it is God who works in you both to will & to do for His good pleasure.” – Phil. 2:12, 13, NKJV
What we understand by Scripture is that God DRAWS us, by His Holy Spirit, unto Himself, in order to give us the wonderful gift of eternal salvation: once one accepts this gift, he or she must WORK OUT their own salvation in real time.
Jesus made some pretty astounding statements in His day. Take, for example, this one: “Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, & the truth, & the life. No man comes to the Father EXCEPT through Me.’” – Jn. 14:6 One could say “That is egotistical!” The question I present: “Do we believe what Jesus said?”
Acts 4:12
Peter in the book of Acts says: “Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is NO OTHER NAME under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”
Peter believed what Jesus said. Paul obviously agreed with Jesus & with Peter when he penned 1 Tim. 2:5: “For there is one God & one mediator between God & men, the Man Christ Jesus.” The author of Hebrews agrees with Jesus, Peter & Paul when he penned: “And for this reason He is the Mediator of the new covenant, by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions under the first covenant, that those who are called may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance.” – Heb. 9:15, NKJV
Just what does this mean? First, the Old Testament was never intended to be rested in, but to prepare for the institutions of the New Testament gospel. The Old Testament institutions were but imposed until the time of reformation (Heb. 9:10). These were never designed for a perpetuity, but only till the better things provided for the people of God: animal blood was replaced with the blood of Christ Jesus. The blood of Christ redeems persons from their transgressions committed against the law or the first testament. One’s Confession/repentance makes the New Testament effectual.
[Note: The moral laws were meant to be perpetual].
So…
By & through one’s confession/repentance one is saved _ there is salvation only in the One who paid the price: Jesus Christ the Lord became the WAY, the TRUTH, & the LIFE.
Hermas
Hermas (1st or 2nd century) was the author of an allegorical work entitled the Shepherd. It is said that Origen believed the author to be the same person referred to by Paul in Romans 16:14. Hermas wrote: “A man cannot otherwise enter the Kingdom of God than by the name of His beloved Son” (c. 150, 2:48) In 2:18 he wrote: “open your heart to the Lord, believing that you can be saved by no other name than by His great & glorious name.”
Other early Church Fathers/authors like Justin Martyr, Irenaeus, Clement of Alexandria, Origen, Cyprian, Methodius, Lactantius, Arnobius, et al. agreed. In the Apostolic Constitutions (compiled c. 390, sec 7.449, 2.29, 2.36 & 2.55) we find this: “By believing in Him (Christ) you will live. But by disbelieving, you will be punished. For he that is disobedient to the Son will not see life.”
Draw:
John 6:44 uses the word DRAW, which means: (Greek, helkuo) “to drag” (lit. or fig), akin to (Gk.) haireomai, “to take for oneself,” i.e., “to prefer:” – “choose,” (Strong’s Concordance).
W.E. Vine’s Expository Dictionary of N.T. Words says “draw: (as used in Jn. 6:44) differs from suro (Greek), i.e., “to drag, haul,” like the use of a fishing net, (see Jn. 21:8; or violently dragging persons along, Acts. 8:3, “haling;” 14:19, R.V., “dragged,” A.V., “drew;” 17:6; Rev. 12:4, A.V., “drew,” R.V.
Vine uses helko, i.e., “draw him” (Jn.6:44) is seen in the metaphorical sense of helko, to signify drawing by inward power, by Divine impulse. He composes Jn. 6:44 with Jn. 12:32: “And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will DRAW all persons to myself.” -NKJV. (see Jn. 3:14)
God will not nor has not “DRAGGED” sinners unto Himself – He draws them in a loving manner.
Song of Solomon
In the Septuagint (Greek Old Testament) Song of Solomon 1:4, & Jer. 31:3 uses DRAW/DRAWN in a “love” manner: the NKJV reads: “Draw me away!” -Song of Solomon 1:4. The prophet Hosea uses “drew” in like manner: “I drew them with gentle cords, with bands of love…” Here is the crux of the matter of salvation: once the LORD/Lord “draws” us with tender love, will we respond to His calling/drawing by saying YES!? Song of Solomon 1:4 goes on to say, “we will run after you,” i.e., the Beloved. How many have been called, chosen, yet refused God’s invitation to salvation?
Some believe that God chooses/calls some for salvation & others for damnation. This is totally false! Jn. 6:44 says, “… the Father who sent Me draws him.” Some believe & teach that some are pre-destinated for Heaven no matter how in the HELL they live… no repentance needed. HA! Get serious here. God does not DRAG one against his/her will; the choice is optional. Helkuo/Helko is used in Jn. 18:10, of drawing a sword; in Acts 16:19; 21:30, of forcibly drawing men or from a place; so, in James 2:6, A.V., “draw,” R.V. “drag.”
Q. How is a person drawn? St. Augustine answers, “Trahit sua quemque viluptas;” a man is attracted by that which he delights in, a man/woman/child can run after, but are not forced to follow. We who have received salvation felt this DRAWING, at least I did. I knew I was a sinner that needed help!
Q. Does God draw or do we feel the need of change & seek Him? “He,” say the rabbins, “who desires to cleave to the holy & blessed God, God lays hold of him, & will not cast him off.” (see Synops. Sohar. pg. 87). The best Greek writers use the verb in the same sense of alluring, inciting, etc.
I believe that people do not came to Christ strictly on their own initiative. We may think we do but it is the Father drawing us. I love the way the Amplified Bible words John 6:44: “No one is able to come to Me unless the Father who sent Me attracts & draws him & gives him the desire to come to Me…”
What About Mt. 11:12?
“From the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, & the violent take it by force.”
What About Lk. 13:24?
“Strive to enter through the narrow gate, for many, I say to you, will seek to enter & will not be able.!”
The same Jesus who spoke Jn. 6:44 also spoke Mt. 11:12 & Lk. 13:24. Matthew speaks of how the Kingdom of heaven suffereth VIOLENCE & the VIOLENT take it by FORCE. A bit aggressive!
Does the LORD/Lord draft people into His Army?… “Join up” or be drafted! Join or go to jail! Remember those days here in good ol’ USA during the Vietnam conflict? Uncle Sam demanded recruits! Didn’t we read where God calls, lovingly, to those whom He has chosen (Mt. 20:16 “… For many be called but few chosen.” I think God calls but few heed His call, thus He takes the few who respond. Those who do not obey the call of the Gospel, & believe in Christ Jesus, shall not inherit eternal life. Was Matthew thinking of the ancient Romans custom of recruiting their armies? Among the celebrated people, no one was FORCED to serve his country in a military capacity; and it was the highest honor to be deemed worthy of thus serving. Rome recruited her armies by volunteers… the works of the Abbe Mably, that the honor of being CHOSEN to serve in the wars should be the reward of the accomplishments shown by the citizens in the Campus Martius, that the soldier should have a reputation to save; and that the regard paid him, in CHOOSING him to serve, should be the pledge of his fidelity & zeal to discharge his duty. Thus, many are called by preaching of the Gospel, but few are found who use their advantages in such a way as to become extensively useful in the Ekklesia – and many in the Ekklesia, i.e., “Church Militant” behave so ill as never to be admitted into the “Church Triumphant!”
Matthew 11:12 in the Amp. Bible reads: “And from the days of John the Baptist until the present time the Kingdom of Heaven has endured violent assault, and violent men seize it by force (as a precious prize) – a share in the heavenly Kingdom is sought for with most ardent zeal & intense exertion.”
God calls; men respond.
Men (& women) cannot enter the Kingdom of God unless first repenting. Jesus preached repentance (Mt. 4:17) as did John the Baptist (Mt. 3:2) along with Peter (Acts 3:19).
Jesus makes His & His Father’s will known in Mt. 11:28, 29, 30 – “COME UNTO ME, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn of Me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For My yoke is easy, and My burden is light.”
The VIOLENCE Matthew 11:12 speaks of denotes a strength, & vigor, & earnestness of desire & endeavor, in those who followed John’s ministry.
As for me, when I was called on Dec. 6, 1971, I was strongly opposed by demon forces – “Don’t Do It!!!” – but the “call” was one I could not & did not RESIST! I fought all kinds of emotions before I repented; I fought all manner of evil forces ever since that day. Christianity is WAR! Matthew shows us what fervency & zeal was required of all those who desire to make heaven their home & Christianity their Faith.
Luke 13:24: “Strive to enter by the narrow door – force yourselves through it – for many, I tell you, will try to enter & will not be able.” – Amp. Bible The Father calls; Jesus is that “Door,” the ones called must choose. Simple.
STRIVE! (Greek, ago̱nízomai = “to struggle. i.e., (fig.) anguish: – agony,” (from agon), “a contest, an effort. or anxiety: – conflict, contention, fight, to compete for a prize, to contend with an adversary, labor fervently, strive.” The Bible speaks of the “World,” the “devil” & the “flesh” as being enemies of the Kingdom of God/Heaven.
There are those who seek – wish & desire; but they do not strive, hence, they do not get in, (see Mt. 7:13, 14). It says that: “…the narrow gate is contracted by pressure – & the way is straitened & compressed that leads away to life, & few are they who find it.” (Amplified Bible, see also Jer. 21:8 & Deut. 30:19).
Luke 13:25 tells us, “When the master of the house is risen up, & hath shut the door, & ye begin to stand without, & to knock at the door, saying, ‘Lord, Lord, open unto us;’ & he shall answer & say unto you, ‘I know you not whence ye are.’
These sayings applied to the Jewish nation, whom Jesus called unto to REPENT & be SAVED but they refused, hence 70 A.D. Wrath came upon them; the few who repented were spared. This principle applies to all people of all nations whom the LORD/Lord calls. (see Mt. 7:21-23; also see our website jesuscallstoall.com for prophetic Words of the Spirit dealing with these subjects). Let it be said & believed that the LORD/Lord will not always strive with man.
Back to Mt. 11:12 & Lk. 13:24
Irenaeus (c. 130-200; Bishop of the Church at Lyons) wrote:
“The Lord declared that the Kingdom of Heaven was the position of ‘the violent.’ He says, ‘the violent take it by force.’ By ‘the violent,’ He means those who by strength & earnest striving are on the watch to snatch it away on the moment… This able Wrestler, therefore, exhorts us to enter the struggle for immortality. He does this so that we may be crowned, & so we may deem the crown precious – for it is that which is acquired by our struggle… Since then, this power has been conferred upon us. The Lord has taught & the apostle has commanded us even more to love God, so that we may reach this for ourselves by striving after it.” (c. 180, 1.520).
Clement of Alezandria (c. 150 – 215) wrote: “The ‘violent who storm the kingdom’ are not persons who are argumentative in speeches. Rather, they are said ‘to take it by force’ because they continue in a right life & in unceasing prayers. They thereby wipe away the blots left by their previous sins.” (c. 195, 2.448).
He goes on to write: “The Kingdom belongs pre-eminently to the violent. They reap this fruit from investigation, study, discipline, so that they may become kings” (c. 195, 2.515). This theme he continues with, “The Kingdom of Heaven does not belong to sleepers & sluggards.”
I say AMEN to that! He continues: “Rather, ‘the violent take it by force.’ For this alone is commendable violence to struggle with God & to take life from God by force. And He knows those who persevere firmly, or rather violently, & He yields & grants. For God delights in being conquered in such things.” (c. 195, 2.597).
Tertullian (160 – 230, a Christian writer in Carthage, N. Africa, who wrote numerous apologies, works against heretics, & exhortations to other believers) writes: “Offering up prayer to God as with united force, we wrestle with Him in our supplications. God delights in this violence!” (c. 197, 3.46.).
One thing is for sure, one must accept, repent of his/her sins, before they can enter the Kingdom of God/Kingdom of Heaven. Some of us may struggle with the decision to change the course of our lives while others may not find it hard to do so.
