John 6:37 All that the Father gives me shall come to me; and him that comes to me I will in no wise cast out. I. THE STATES OF MIND WITH WHICH WE SHOULD COME. The previous part of the text need prove no stumbling-block. All it affirms is that those whom the Father gives do come to Christ. Put the two together and they affirm the absolute freeness of the Divine grace, and exhibit that grace as acting in concurrence with our voluntary powers. Salvation is neither arbitrary, mechanical, nor compulsory. We must corneal. With childlike and dependent trust. (1) The primary element of all true faith, which is the movement of mind and heart towards God, is simple reliance on the gospel testimony that Christ is all-sufficient for the purposes of salvation. (2) The great strength and stay of this faith is that it enables the soul to rely exclusively upon a personal Redeemer. (3) This absolute casting of ourselves on Christ is not offered as a permission, but as a positive command. 2. With chastened humility and godly sorrow, repentance and faith stand together in the gospel commission, and are always united in the experience of the faithful. "Going and weeping." The prodigal. 3. In the spirit of total self-renunciation. Leave self, righteousness, sin, etc., and come to ME. II. THE ENCOURAGEMENT AND CONFIDENCE we have in coming to Christ. 1. "Him that cometh" or is coming, in the very act of coming now. It is a constantly repeated act; alike necessary in regeneration and sanctification. This includes all of whatsoever country, church, condition, rank. (1) Hear it, ye young. There is a sense in which your coming to Christ may be too late, but there is none in which it can be too early. (2) Ye middle aged whom harassing cares disquiet. He will allow for everything but a refusal to come. (3) Ye aged. Perhaps the harvest is passed and ye are not saved. 2. "In no wise." (1) But I have stayed away too long. (2) I am a backslider. No matter. 3. Has Jesus ever cast any one out? No. (1) All the glorious perfections of His nature bend Him to welcome you. (2) The mighty price paid for your redemption. (3) The purpose and promises of God.Conclusion: Not to come is to be rejected; not to be saved is to be lost; there is no middle state. (D. Moore, M. A.) Parallel Verses KJV: All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.WEB: All those who the Father gives me will come to me. Him who comes to me I will in no way throw out. |