For this reason – John 6:64-65

For this reason – John 6:64-65. I am jumping ahead in my verse by verse exegesis to John 6:64-65 because these are the verses that give the answer to Jesus’ words in John 6:37, 44-45. I will start with verse 65 first.

For this reason

John 6:65 (NASB) 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.”

John 6:65 (NASB) 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.”

Here in John 6:65 Jesus is giving a clear reason He said, “No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him,” and “All that the Father gives Me will come to Me.” In John 6:65 Jesus begins his saying with a preposition of causation.

It is for this reason or because of the truth that Jesus had just said.

Unbelief

John 6:64 (NASB) “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.

John 6:64 (NASB) “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.

Unbelief is the reason Jesus gives for the failure of a person to come to Jesus because the Father does not grant unbelievers to Jesus.

Jesus’ knowledge

Jesus knew from the beginning .

John 6:64 (NASB) “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 .

John 6:64 (NASB) “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 .

Jesus had intimate knowledge of the unbelief of the unbelievers. It did not surprise Him that Judas would betray Him even though Judas did not leave Him in John 6 as did the crowd and the Jews. Judas stayed with Jesus even though he was an unbeliever. Judas had plans to advantage himself. But Judas was never given to Jesus by the Father. Why? Judas was never given to Jesus by the Father because Judas was not a follower of the Father from the beginning. Judas was not a believer.

No unbeliever is given to Jesus

Unbelief is the sole reason Jesus made His statement about the Father not granting people to come to Jesus. Those who did not believe the Father did not fear God. Those who did not believe the Father did not obey God. Those who did not believe the Father did not believe the Scripture, and they did not come to Jesus. Everyone who readily came to Jesus in faith already had been prepared by believing the message of the Father through John the Baptist.

John 1:7 (NASB) He came as a witness, to testify about the Light, so that all might believe through him .

John 1:7 (NASB) He came as a witness, to testify about the Light, so that all might believe through him .

The message of repentance and faith was crucial to preparing people to give to Jesus. Those who believed were those who repented of their sins, and they received the baptism of John. God set up the testimony of John so that all might believe through John’s message of repentance and faith. And because John was the forerunner of Jesus, no unbeliever would ever be granted entrance to come to Jesus.

A challenge for Calvinists

1. Since Jesus showed that unbelief was the reason the Father did not grant people to come to Jesus, can you show from the context in John 6 where the Father gave unbelievers to Jesus?

2. Can you explain why believing was the condition for coming to Jesus if coming to Jesus was unconditional?

A word to Calvinists

I appreciate the Calvinists who visit my blog. My intent is to provide a focus on Scripture and the inspired words of Jesus that may be outside of your mindset in Calvinism. I do this because I care, and I want to see us come together in unity in Jesus.