Today’s devotion comes from John 6:59-66.
“These things He said in the synagogue as He taught in Capernaum.
Therefore many of His disciples, when they heard this said, “This is a difficult statement; who can listen to it?” But Jesus, conscious that His disciples grumbled at this, said to them, “Does this cause you to stumble? What then if you see the Son of Man ascending to where He was before? It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing; the words that I have spoken to you are spirit and are life. But there are some of you who do not believe.” For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were who did not believe, and who it was that would betray Him. And He was saying, “For this reason I have said to you, that no one can come to Me unless it has been granted him from the Father.”
As a result of this many of His disciples withdrew and were not walking with Him anymore.” John 6:59-66.
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Other doctrine believes in the goodness, wisdom, and free-will of man. But, it is still flesh.
Reformed Doctrine believes in the goodness, wisdom, and will of God. It is the Spirit.
“It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing; the words that I have spoken to you are spirit and are life.” Verse 63.
For other doctrine, it is a difficult statement that no one can come to Christ unless it has been granted to him by God the Father. Other doctrine thinks that it can come to Christ by its own goodness, wisdom, and free-will.
For Reformed Doctrine, it is understandable, even logical, that no one can come to Christ unless it has been granted to him by God the Father. Reformed Doctrine believes in what Scripture states about man summarized by “Total Depravity”.
“10 as it is written,
“THERE IS NONE RIGHTEOUS, NOT EVEN ONE;
11 THERE IS NONE WHO UNDERSTANDS,
THERE IS NONE WHO SEEKS FOR GOD;
12 ALL HAVE TURNED ASIDE, TOGETHER THEY HAVE BECOME USELESS;
THERE IS NONE WHO DOES GOOD,
THERE IS NOT EVEN ONE.” Romans 3:10-12.
“… you were dead in your trespasses and sins,” Ephesians 2:1.
Thus, Reformed Doctrine understands that man’s only chance for salvation is that it has been granted to him by God the Father summarized by God’s “Unconditional Election”.
Finally, consider that if other doctrine was true, namely that one could come to Christ by his or her own goodness, wisdom, and free-will, then many of the disciples would not have withdrawn and left Jesus. They saw many of Jesus’ miracles and heard Jesus’ teaching and otherwise observed Jesus Who was “full of grace and truth” and “the Light of the world” and in Whom was life and the fullness of God. See John 1:4, John 1:16, John 8:12, and Colossians 1:19.
But Scripture states: “And He was saying, “For this reason I have said to you, that no one can come to Me unless it has been granted him from the Father.” As a result of this many of His disciples withdrew and were not walking with Him anymore.” Verses 65-66.
Reformed Doctrine Daily Devotions 