Tuesday, July 12, 2011

Bible Truth #51 - John 12:32

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

It would seem Jesus is saying that He will literally draw every man to Himself; however, you must read the verse in CONTEXT. Some of the following is taken from The Potter’s Freedom authored by Dr. James White.

John 12 tells of the final events of Jesus’ public ministry. After this particular incident He goes into a period of private ministry to his apostles right before He goes to the cross. These are the final words of the Lord’s public teaching, and are prompted by the arrival of Greeks who are seeking Jesus (John 12:20). This important turn of events prompts the teaching that follows. Jesus is now being sought by non-Jews, Greeks, i.e. GENTILES. It is when Jesus is informed of this that He says, The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. (John 12:23)

This then is the context that leads us to Jesus’ words in verse 32. The hour didn’t come until the Gentiles came seeking Him. Since there are no contradictions in God’s Word, the meaning of “all men” in John 12:32 is clear - “all men” means “all kinds of men,” or “some of all types” - that He will draw some men from both the Jews, and the Gentiles. And in fact, just about everywhere you see “world” used in this context, it means some people from both people groups - Jews AND Gentiles, including John 3:16.

Jesus said in John 6:44 that those the Father draws, He will raise up. EVERY - SINGLE - ONE. No ifs, ands, or buts. This confirms that Jesus in verse 32 above was NOT saying He would draw every single person who ever lived or will live because most Christians will agree that Jesus will NOT raise up everybody.

If the Arminian will insist that “all men” means every human who has ever lived then he will have to show me the Scripture that supports the theory that explains how the hundreds of millions of people who lived before Christ were drawn. I am sure it doesn’t exist.

Another point that refutes that theory is the Greek word used to arrive at “all men” is pas (Strong's G3956), and in the context of salvation without any other qualifier, it means “some of all types,” NOT “each and every.” The Greek word for “each and every” is hekastos and it is never used in the context of salvation or the atonement. Depending on the context, pas can be used individually (each, every, everyone) or it can be used collectively (some of all types).

Now back to “kinds of men.” Paul even made that clear in Romans 1:16 - the Gospel of Christ is the power of God unto salvation for everyone who believes, to the Jew first, and then the Gentile. The Gospel is NOT the power of God unto salvation for everyone, but ONLY for everyone who believes. Different men writing, but the same God is inspiring both.

Now please don’t jump on Romans 1:16 as proof that we have a choice, i.e. everyone who believes. I agree that all who hear the Gospel have a choice. But the fact is I have proven over and over that a lost man will NEVER believe because he will always love darkness, he hates the Light and WON’T come into the Light (John 3:19-20), every imagination of his heart is only evil, continually (Genesis 6:5), he is enmity against God and CAN’T please Him (Romans 8:7-8), he CAN’T understand anything from the Holy Spirit because it is foolishness to him (1 Corinthians 2:14).

Only a man WITH the Holy Spirit is able to understand, and a man WITH the Holy Spirit is a saved man.

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