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NASB | John 3:16 ¶ "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | John 3:16 ¶ "For God so [greatly] loved and dearly prized the world, that He [even] gave His [One and] only begotten Son, so that whoever believes and trusts in Him [as Savior] shall not perish, but have eternal life. |
Subject: why would God withhold the gift of faith |
Bible Note: Greetings John! Just for the sake of clarity my friend, may I address your last paragraph? You wrote: "The inabilty of man (due to his own lack of desire for Christ) is witnessed to by Jesus in John 6:44 "No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up on the last day." (Notice that the one drawn comes "believing", for he is also raised up on the last day!)" Notice what John 6:44 does not say: 1) Verse 44 does not mention 'beleiving' or 'faith'. 2) Verse 44 does not say that the one drawn will come, but that the one who does come will be raised up. 3) Verse 44 does not specify who or how many are drawn. This is one of those examples where I think more is read into it then is actually there. Your take on it seems to be: "Those who are drawn will come and will be raised up...". But, the verses actually says, "No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him, and I will raise him up at the last day." You have continually asked me how a spritually dead person could respond to Christ. I think that the answer is found by tying John 6:44 and 12:32 together. No one is able to come unless God draws them. When Christ was lifted up, He drew all men to Him. Those who come, will be raised up on the last day. I know you don't agree with that last paragraph, and I really don't want to debate all of that again. But, I am curious as to whether you see what I mean about John 6:44. It seems that to me that a lot of things which are not specifically stated in the verse are being read into it. Your Brother in Christ, Tim Moran |