'No One Can Come Unless Granted by the Father' — Effectual Calling? (John 6:64-65)

Calvinist Claim

Some Calvinists connect v.65 back to v.63 ("the Spirit gives life; the flesh profits nothing") to argue that the inability to come to Jesus is rooted in man's unregenerate fleshly nature. The "granting" by the Father is then equated with regeneration — God must first make a person alive before they can believe.

Non-Calvinist / Provisionist Response

1. The Grammar Connects v.65 to v.64, Not v.63

"For this reason" (διὰ τοῦτο) in v.65 points back to the immediately preceding statement — the unbelief described in v.64. The Lexham Discourse Greek New Testament marks the emphatic Points in v.64 (unbelief) and v.65 (granting by the Father) as the paired focus of the passage. Verse 63 is a Counterpoint (lesser emphasis) that provides background.

2. The Reason for Inability Is Unbelief, Not Unregenerate Nature

Jesus says "for this reason" — pointing to the unbelief He just identified. The inability is connected to the crowd's refusal to believe what God had already revealed (cf. John 5:38, 44, 46-47), not to an abstract state of spiritual death requiring regeneration.

3. "Granted by the Father" = Teaching/Revelation, Not Regeneration

The "granting" in v.65 echoes the "drawing" of v.44, which Jesus defined as teaching in v.45. The Father grants by revealing Himself, teaching, opening hearts. Those who refuse to learn from the Father (v.45) are not granted further revelation.

4. Jesus' Foreknowledge Is Not Causation

"Jesus knew from the beginning who they were who did not believe" (v.64). This is omniscient foreknowledge — Jesus knew who would reject Him. But knowing is not causing. The text does not say Jesus or the Father determined they would not believe; it says He knew they would not.

5. Peter's Confession Shows the Pattern Works

Peter says "we have believed" (perfect tense) — the disciples had responded to Jesus' words in faith. They were the ones who heard and learned from the Father (v.45). The unbelievers walked away because they had not believed Moses (John 5:46), not because God withheld regeneration.

Key Question

If "for this reason" in v.65 connects to v.63 rather than v.64, why does Jesus insert the statement about unbelief in v.64 between them?