John. 6:44: "No-one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him..." Is this irresistible grace?

Recently we've been reconsidering many of the things we thought we understood regarding doctrine and faith. We have begun to question certain beliefs, church structures, and practices of the western church. Too often we have discovered what we think are unbiblical doctrines and activities. This causes us concern. We have deemed this our “Rethink.”

Our questions include, how did we arrive at our doctrines? Does the Bible really teach what we think it teaches? Why do churches do what they do? What is the biblical basis of church leadership structure? Why do certain traditions get entrenched?

It's easy to be spoon fed the conventional wisdom, but it's an entirely separate thing to search these things out for one's self. In the past we have read the Bible with these unexamined understandings and interpreted what we read through those lenses. We were too lazy about our Bible study, assuming that pastors and theologians were telling us the truth, but we rarely checked it out for ourselves.

Therefore, these Rethinks are our attempt to remedy the situation.

We should note that there is more than one way to interpret doctrine, more than one way to think about the faith, and more than one way to read the Scriptures. We would not suggest that our way is the only way, or the right way; we are not Bible scholars. But we believe that one doesn't need to be in order to rightly divide the Word of God.

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Some Christians believe that God has already chosen who will be saved, and since this is pre-ordained, these fortunate people must and shall be saved. If one is predestined, one cannot avoid it. This is taught by Calvinism, roughly represented by the Acronym, TULIP:

• Total Depravity
• Unconditional Election
• Limited Atonement
• Irresistible Grace
• Perseverance of the Saints

We have discussed various aspects of Calvinism quite often in our blog. As we considered Calvinistic claims about the Bible we came to the conclusion that Calvinism is a flawed understanding. We do not place it outside the bounds of orthodoxy, however. We simply believe there are better ways to understand these things.

Further, we believe these doctrines are minimally important. They have little bearing on holiness, serving others, being a worshiper, generosity, or any other aspect of Christian living. We consider them to largely be an intellectual exercise. 

Nevertheless, since Calvinists work hard to promulgate their doctrines, we find it necessary to give answer. Today we intend to examine a proof text used by Calvinists to bolster their doctrine that those who are predestined to be saved (Unconditional Election) and cannot resist their eventual salvation (Irresistible Grace).

Here's the verse:

Jn. 6:44 No-one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him, and I will raise him up at the last day.

It is certainly true that only those drawn by the Father can come to Jesus. This implies Irresistible Grace as the the Father draws them. 

Let's look at the word "draws." The Greek word is helkýō – induce (draw in), focusing on the attraction-power involved with the drawing. So the Father uses His "attraction power" towards the unsaved to "induce" them to come to Jesus. To "induce" means simply to persuade. But remember we're looking for the "irresistible" part. 

The same word is also used in Jn. 12:32:

But I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to myself.

So both the Father and the Son engage in helkýōis, drawing. Notice that this particular use of helkýōis refers to "all men."

Let's pause a moment. If Calvinism is correct that the Father's drawing in Jn. 6:44 results in the inevitable saving of a man, then the drawing is irresistible. Being drawn is salvation. Thus, salvation is irresistible.

But Jesus said in Jn. 12:32 He will draw all men to Himself, so if the drawing must result in salvation then the inescapable conclusion is the drawing will result in the salvation of all men. But all men will not be saved. Therefore, the drawing cannot be irresistible, and it is not inevitably unto salvation.

Therefore, the drawing done by the Father in Jn. 6:44 and Jesus in Jn. 12:32 is  not connected to predestiny. The logic is inescapable.

What is the drawing, then? It is the attractive actions of God to bring a man closer, that he might believe and be saved. This in fact is the very definition of grace, the desire of God to lean towards and be close as He makes a way to cross over from death to life.

Simply, some who are drawn will come, and some will not.