J.A. Matteson
He who genetically is predisposed to be tall is tall, and this is not his doing, it is determined. She who's DNA corresponds to blue eyes will have blue eyes, and this is not her doing, it is determined. Height and eye color are external markers of unseen influences within. "Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes has eternal life" (Jn. 6:47). What is Jesus saying? Is He suggesting that salvation ultimately depends on sinners, where God has done 99% of the work through sacrificing His Son on the cross, but that in a spiritually dead condition a sinner must generate faith while a child of wrath opposed to the things of God? If that is true then none could be saved. If that is true then sinners merit their salvation and it is no longer by grace and they have much to boast about. Or is Jesus making an observation of the outward influence of grace upon the heart? Yes, the effectual call of the Spirit regenerates the living dead whereby the are given the capacity to see, to hear, to respond to the gospel. As the hymn states, "I once was blind but now I see." A blind man lacks the ability to heal himself of his malady. Sinners lack the moral ability to respond positively to the gospel, although all are commanded to come to Christ and are without excuse. In this regard Jesus also states that "whosoever believes has eternal life" underscoring that God is impartial and grants salvation to Jew and Gentile alike...a big shock to the Jews. Therefore, faith is the external evidence of the unseen influence of grace upon the heart according to election, and so all who believe are the legitimate children of promise in the likeness of Isaac.
Copyright (c) 2013 Immutable Word Ministries ("...the word of our God stands forever." Isa. 40:8)