By Rev. E.A. Rayner, B.A.
(This sermon was preached in Wellington, N.Z., on 17th April 1977. It has been published in pamphlet form by Westminster Standard, P.O. Box 740, Gisborne, New Zealand)
“No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.” John 6: 44.
I wish to draw your attention as enabled tonight, to a verse you will find in the Gospel of John, chapter 6, verse 44. “No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day”. I would like to draw your attention particularly to the first part of the verse, “No man can come to me except the Father which hath sent me draw him”. We have here two of the great and fundamental truths of the Gospel of Christ, that is the sovereignty of God and the irresistible grace of God. Where grace is, it is sovereign and irresistible and this is something that is clearly set before us in this portion of the Word of God. We must also take careful note that the doctrine of the irresistible grace of God is taught throughout the Scriptures. It is not something that is isolated here, but something that we find in the teaching of God’s Word.
And, as it is a clear teaching of the Word of God, it is something that has always been held by the true church, whether we are thinking of the church in the Old Testament, or the New Testament church in the days of the Apostles, or the church at the time of the Reformation, or the church today. It is a doctrine that has always been held by the true church of God and it will continue to be held, because you see, the Gospel of Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever. When we are thinking of the Old Testament, we may say that the Gospel is there in the bud, but when we come to the New Testament we have there the Gospel in full flower. The same doctrines are taught throughout the Word of God and in the church in every age and generation. Irresistible grace is therefore set forth with clarity in the confessions and catechisms at the time of the Reformation after the darkness of the Middle Ages. Wherever the true church is this doctrine of the irresistible grace of God will always be held and taught.
Just as the teachings of the Saviour were rejected by the Jews of Christ’s day, so today we are not to be surprised if the professing church rejects this teaching, because of the prevailing apostasy. Many said then, “It is a hard saying, who can hear it?” So today many religious people express the same attitude. We need to be dogmatic today, although it is continually said we must compromise for the sake of unity. This is an age when truth is blurred, when distinctions are obscured, when black is made white and white is made black. So you see, we are to hold fast the form of sound words according to Paul’s exhortation to Timothy. We have in the Bible the faith which was once delivered to the saints and it is not for us to teach for doctrines the commandments of men. It is not for us to soften down the Word of God to please the itching ears of men, but to set forth the truth of God. That is what the Lord will bless to the salvation of souls and we cannot expect that sinners will be saved where the Word of God is not proclaimed faithfully.
In seeking to make a few remarks upon the words of our text I would draw your attention first of all to the need there is of the Father’s drawing. If there were no need of the Father’s drawing then the Father would not draw. We would not need to be drawn to Christ for salvation if we could come to Him in our own strength. God makes a willing people in a day of His power. Psalm 110 clearly states that.
In the second place we might go on to notice the nature of the Father’s drawing. What does that mean? What does that involve? What do we understand by the Father’s drawing?
Thirdly we may notice the result of the Father’s drawing. One who is
drawn by the Father comes to Christ as we see in our text, “No man can come to me except the Father which hath sent me draw him.”
First of all then we have the necessity of the Father’s drawing. This immediately draws our attention to man’s condition. What is man’s condition? If we are to understand what man’s condition is, it is no use looking to the ideas of men. It is no use looking to our own reasoning. We must go to the infallible guide — the Bible. It is the instrument which detects our true moral and spiritual condition. The Bible brings to our attention the fact that man is altogether corrupt. This is the doctrine known as Total Depravity and is one of the Five Points of Calvinism. In other words, if you look at all the aspects of man’s personality, in the light of God’s Word, you will see the corruption of sin. We must then conclude that man is altogether in need of being drawn by the Father. Paul tells us, writing under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, that man is dead in trespasses and sins. If a man is dead in trespasses and sins he is without life. Just as a doctor has various instruments to tell whether there is life in the body or whether death reigns, so we must apply the instrument that God has given us, which is His Word, to each faculty of the soul of man. Of course, we are not dealing with the physical aspect of man’s being, but we are referring to his personality. We are dealing with his soul and with spiritual matters. What we are to determine is whether there is a spiritual relationship between the soul and God.
Let us look at the mind of man. Then let us take the instrument God has given to determine whether there is spiritual life in the mind. The result is clear. The carnal mind, says the Bible, is enmity against God (Romans 8:7). What does the Bible say about the understanding? It says that the understanding is darkened (Ephesians 4: 18). You may have plenty of understanding about the things of the world, but that does not mean that there is understanding about spiritual things. Again look at the will of man and from Scripture you see the bondage of the will because of spiritual death. The Saviour says, “Ye will not come unto me that ye might have life”. Now, there are many people today that say, “Oh yes, we believe in Total Depravity. We believe in the Apostle’s remark that man is dead in trespasses and sins.” Yet if you press them concerning the depravity of the will you will find that they reply, “No, man is free to choose what he wants.” Man is only free to choose according to his nature and as man has a sinful nature he will not choose that which is spiritual. He will not make choice of Christ by himself. He has no desire to make choice of Christ, because he sees no beauty in Him that he should desire Him. The sheep will eat grass and the lion will eat flesh, but what does the
sinner desire? He feeds on the mountains of vanity. He will not feed on Christ. If we examine man’s affections we see they are set on the pleasures of sin. Man is a lover of pleasure more than a lover of God. Why is it that man is so adverse to the worship of God? Why is His Word left unread? Why is the Bible a closed book left on the shelf, if indeed it is in the house at all? Why is it that people do not pray? It is because they do not know and do not love the Lord. This proves that man in his natural state is dead in trespasses and sins. It shows the need of the Father’s drawing, so that their affections may be set on things above. Why is it that people are continually immersed in the vain song of the pop star and live for drink and gambling? Again the answer is the same.
In spite of this man thinks well of himself. He looks to his virtues or qualities and gifts. Man has natural qualities and may perform various commendable duties and perhaps religious duties. Consequently the conclusion reached is that these certain commendable acts or duties give us acceptance with God. Man thinks he can buy his favour with God in this way. No one denies that he possesses these natural gifts, but what does he do with these natural gifts? He uses them for his own advantage and for his own prosperity. He seeks to wield these natural blessings, that God gave to him, to obtain the favour of his fellow men. He uses these gifts to obtain friends and to spread his influence. Thus he also concludes that by these various gifts and qualities he may not only gain the favour of man and his own advancement but also the favour of God. How ready he is to justify himself. Christ said concerning the Pharisees, “Ye are they which justify yourselves.” There was Paul going about to establish his own righteousness. How proud he was in his unconverted days. He was proud of his city. He was proud of his upbringing. His teacher was none less than Gamaliel. He was taught according to the most perfect manner of the Pharisees. How zealous he was towards God. He had a good opinion of himself and so he thought that God also had a good opinion of him. Men relying on their natural gifts or religious and moral duties have the same attitude as the Pharisee who prayed in the temple after this manner, “God, I thank thee that I am not as other men are.” But this is not the drawing of the Father, it is natural conceit and carnal presumption.
Once again man is so used to buying the things that he needs for his temporal use. If he wants a home, if he wants shelter, if he wants food or clothing, then he must work and earn his way. This is the way he is used to living and thinking. His whole outlook is channelled in this way. Then he tries to apply this outlook to spiritual matters. He thinks that because he
needs to buy his food and clothing that the same must be true when he comes to consider acceptance with God. He thinks he must buy his favour with God, with religious duties. The Bible however has something altogether different to tell us. “Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that has no money, come, buy, and eat” (Isaiah 55:1). He cannot pay for he has no money. He has nothing to offer God because he is a sinner and all his “righteousnesses are as filthy rags” (Isaiah 64:6). His sins have made him bankrupt so that he is in debt to God. God’s law has been broken and demands fulfillment or payment. Sinful nature has no ability to make this payment. Thus he must be drawn by the Father to Christ who has made the payment needed for sinners, for we are not redeemed by silver and gold but by the precious blood of Christ (1 Peter 1:18).
There is still another reason why man must be drawn by the Father. It does not matter who the preacher is. He may be the most famous of preachers such as Paul himself. If Paul stood here tonight and delivered the most powerful sermon, that would not have any effect upon sinners without the drawing of the Father. The Apostle acknowledges this, when he says, “Paul may plant and Apollos may water but the Lord giveth the increase”. There was Apollos, one who was eloquent and mighty in the Scriptures. He could expound the Word of God so clearly and forcefully. Still that would be of no use apart from the drawing of the Father. Some people may be drawn by eloquence but that is not sufficient. All must be drawn by the Father to Christ for salvation.
We may now go on to notice in the second place, the nature of the Father’s drawing. Because of the desperate wickedness of man the nature of this work is a gracious one. If it is a gracious work it is also sovereign. It is of God’s sovereign good pleasure that sinners are saved from this corruption and made willing in a day of God’s power, for the heart is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked. That is the testimony of the Bible concerning the heart of man. If the Father draws such to Christ then He is displaying grace and showing mercy to people that were deceived, proud, rebellious and hostile against the truth in their sinful condition.
The nature of the Father’s drawing is seen in the great power that is manifested. Now we know that in the creation of the world great power was manifested and so that is also true of the new creation, when the soul is created anew in Christ Jesus. The Lord is He who creates a clean heart and renews a right spirit and this is altogether of the power of God. It is by the grace of God and by the power of His Spirit that one is created anew.
It is not by any influence of the world. It is not by any influence of men. It is not by the influence of gracious men and of good men, but according to the power of God. We see what a wonderful thing it is when a child is born. So in the Word of God we see that those who are Christians in truth are born again. When a person is born again he has a new will, new desires, new interests, a new appetite, and new affections. Those things that he delights in now he had no regard for in his unconverted days. So, “It is not by might nor by power but by my Spirit saith the Lord.” When people say they are not interested in such matters, that is because of the enmity that is in the heart by nature. But when the Lord deals in mercy and when the Father draws the soul to Christ there is a new appetite.
The Father’s drawing makes those who were enemies to God by wicked works, the friends of the Lord. Saul of Tarsus showed the utmost enmity against the Lord and against His people. He had no time at all for the gospel of Christ and yet when the Lord met with him on the Damascus Road we see the difference. What a difference was also made when the three thousand at Pentecost were converted. They were Jerusalem sinners who had desired the death of Christ. But they were brought to this, “Men and brethren, what must we do to be saved”. Instead of being like ravening wolves as they were before the crucifixion, they were brought to repentance. Christ had prayed for them, “Father forgive them for they know not what they do.” These beautiful words were fulfilled on the day of Pentecost in a large measure. Many of those who desired the crucifixion of Christ were pardoned and forgiven. What power! What grace!
The drawing of the Father changes those who strayed morally and who went far and wide from the moral law of God, not only in their hearts but also in their outward life. Among the Corinthians, Paul tells us there had been fornicators, idolators, effeminate and abusers of themselves with mankind. He says, “Such were some of you; but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified.” There was the woman of Samaria, one who had five husbands and yet we see that by the grace of God she was changed. She was a different person. She no longer lived according to her former lusts, a life of disobedience and rebellion against God. We see how the covetous are made liberal. There was Zacchaeus feathering his own nest; advancing his own cause at the expense of others. The lust of greed is that which operated in his heart and controlled his whole life. Yet because of the drawing of the Father he was made liberal. When Christ met with him he restored fourfold that which he had taken falsely from other people. Again the ignorant are enlightened. This can be seen when we read the
accounts of mission work. Paton, missionary to the New Hebrides, went to preach the gospel to headhunters who were given over to the grossest heathen practices and darkness. By the power of the gospel there were multitudes who were saved by the preaching of this famous missionary. Christ, by the gospel, shines into our darkened hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
The Father’s drawing delivers us from the power of the world. How the world is like a magnet. It makes such demands upon us that we in our natural condition must conform to its standards and philosophy. The world demands that we must live according to its dictates, to its pattern of life and to its outlook. The world wields the big stick and it says, “How dare you be different”. How hard it is to go against the philosophy, the practices and the social patterns it sets forth. How hard it is to be different from your work-mates and from your friends, or from worldly relatives who may try to keep you from the gospel of Jesus Christ. But when the Father draws us we overcome the world. It is because the love of Christ constrains us.
Thirdly when the Father draws, sinners come to Christ. Use is made by the Holy Spirit of the law of God in the first place. The law is used to drive sinners from all false refuges. By the law is the knowledge of sin. People today want to hear smooth things. Preach the gospel, yes, but do not mention the hard things. That will put people off, and drive them away. The very opposite is the truth. Where the Word of God is blessed, it is by the law that there is the knowledge of sin. It is by the law of God that every mouth is stopped and all the world becomes guilty before God. We like to hide behind various sinful refuges. We betake ourselves to the covenant of works, and hide behind our works or duties. What does the Lord do but drive us away from these false refuges. Whatever refuges of lies we take ourselves to, when the Lord deals in mercy He drives from every false hope. It is a mercy to be delivered from a false foundation for eternity. If we think that we are going to be accepted by God because of what we do or what we are, we are mistaken. The Lord delivers us from a sense of false security. The security of Nicodemus, the ruler of the Jews, was his religious position and knowledge. He was a master in Israel, but when he came to Jesus by night he was taught that he must be born again. Jesus said, “Except a man be born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.” Nicodemus had to be shown his ignorance, even though he was a master in Israel, for he did not understand the very basic essentials of the truth.
While it is true that a man is driven from every false refuge there is also the other aspect of effectual calling. There must be gospel drawing too. A
person is not coerced; not dragged against his will. After the law has done its work the sinner is drawn to Christ, as He reveals Himself a Saviour of sinners, most necessary and suitable. The good news of Christ is manifested and when the Lord is lifted up He will draw all men unto Him. “And I,” says Christ, “If I be lifted up will draw all men unto me.” Christ is lifted up as One who came to seek and save the lost.
Christ is lifted up in His Person. The manifestation of His glory in His Person draws sinners to Him. Who is Christ? A good man? Many set forth Christ as a good man and nothing more. But regarding Christ’s divine nature, He is the brightness of the Father’s glory and the express image of His Person. He is God manifest in the flesh. When thinking of the human nature of Christ we refer to the perfection of His human nature. It is revealed to us in Scripture that He is without spot or blemish. The human nature of Christ is thus quite unlike the rest of human nature. He has done all things well. Christ is perfect without the least trace of sin, original sin or actual transgression. His virgin birth ensured that there was no original sin transmitted. He was “conceived in the womb of the virgin Mary, by the power of the Holy Ghost and born of her yet without sin.” The disciples were beholding the glory of Christ who did no sin, neither was guile found in His mouth. “We beheld His glory, the glory of the only begotten of the Father full of grace and truth” (Jn 1:14). Now, if the Lord is lifted up in the glory of His Person and in the glory of His finished work; His redemptive work, poor sinners are drawn to Christ to receive and rest upon Him alone for salvation. It has been said that Christ’s soldiers are volunteers. In the old days in Britain, the navy was replenished by press gangs going around, taking and forcing men into the navy. As far as Christ’s soldiers are concerned they are volunteers because they are drawn by His preciousness. Those drawn to Christ see beauty in Him that they should desire Him, when He is revealed in His glory as mediator and when He is revealed in His suitability as Saviour. He is the chiefest among ten thousand and the altogether lovely One. He becomes all our salvation and all our desire. The love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Spirit.
Now just leaving our subject at this time I want you to consider two things. First of all we need not think that we have come to Christ if we think that we can come to Him without the drawing of the Father. Dr Kennedy preached a sermon on this text and in that sermon he says that we have never been to the school of Christ if we have passed over this first and basic lesson. If you think that you can come to Christ in your own strength; by your own ability, you have passed over this lesson. This is
said that you might realise that in yourself there is no good thing; there is no ability to save yourself and that you need the drawing of the Father.
Now the other thing I want to leave with you tonight is this. Do you see that nothing will do, but the drawing of the Father? Do you feel your inability, grieve over your inability and feel very conscious of your inability? Is this something that disturbs you? Is it your prayer and desire that the Lord would quicken you? The Psalmist could say, “My soul cleaves to the dust, quicken me according to thy Word.” Your soul cleaves to the dust too. You are conscious of your deadness. You are conscious of your carnality. It is something you wish to be rid of. You feel the straitness of the gate and the narrowness of the way and unbelief is a burden to you. It may be that you are being drawn by the Father and you are coming through the strait gate into the narrow way. As another you say “I believe; help thou mine unbelief.” Now, if the Father has brought you this far, He will continue to draw you and lead you in His everlasting way. If the Father has begun to draw you to Christ, then where He begins the good work He will perform it till the day of Jesus Christ. You realise there is no rest except you rest in Christ. There is no peace for you but what Christ gives. He is all your salvation and all your desire. Here in the promise you see Jesus beckoning you on. He is calling you to Himself. “Him that cometh unto me I will in no wise cast out.” “Come unto me,” He says, “All ye that labour and are heavy laden and I will give you rest.” What precious words we have here. May the Father so draw you to Christ this night that you might rejoice in Him, having no confidence in the flesh. “No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.” May God bless His Word.