The Draw of Salvation

John 6:44 (ESV) … “No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him. And I will raise him up on the last day.”

Theologian, Gerald Borchert tells us that, “Salvation is never achieved apart from the drawing power of God, and it is never consummated apart from the willingness of humans to hear and learn from God. To choose one or the other will ultimately end in unbalanced, unbiblical theology.” [1]

Therefore, coming to Christ from the human side requires an action of human will and from the divine side an action of God’s will (6:44). It does not limit but rather defines the nature of the human will. The drawing power is God’s love, put forth in power (3:16) but not riding roughshod over anyone’s will. The fact is that the Father draws all people into the sphere of his love, though all do not respond. Those who do respond are regenerated and will be raised up by Christ at the last day for an eternity of bliss.[2]

[1] Gangel, K. O. (2000). John (Vol. 4, p. 126). Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman Publishers.

[2] Phillips, J. (2009). Exploring the Gospel of John: An Expository Commentary (Jn 6:43–44). Kregel Publications; WORDsearch Corp.