Thursday, February 02, 2006

To be taught by God

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Nice post, but I disagree. You fail to see that the text answers how the Father draws people to Jesus. In v. 45 Jesus says, "Everyone who listens to the Father and learns from him comes to me." Those that are drawn by the Father are those that listen to and learn from the teachings of Jesus for he speaks the words of the Father. These are the ones that come to believe in Jesus as opposed to those who will only believe if He does a miraculous sign. It is still a matter of choice, and Judas chose poorly.

# posted by Daniel Partin : 2/02/2006 9:13 AM

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Daniel is half-right. V45 does unpack the “how” of v44. But he’s wrong to suppose that this in any way negates the predestinarian force of v44. Rather, it reinforces v44.

The believers in view are not autodidacts. To be taught by God (v45) stands in contrast to the natural learning process.

The reason some do not hear is because they cannot hear, and they cannot because their ears are hardened (12:37-41). They are not his sheep (10:26).

Others hear because they are his sheep (10:3,5). Only those whom the Father gives to Jesus come to Jesus (6:37; cf. Chap 17).

The teaching in view (6:45) isn’t outward teaching, addressed to the ear, but inward teaching, addressed to the heart. It’s a metaphor for inner illumination or regeneration, having its background in Johannine pneumatology (1:12-13; 3:3-8; 1 Jn 2:20,26-27) and OT prophecy (Isa 54:13; Jer 31:31-34; Ezk 36:24-26).

Yes, Judas made a choice, and a poor choice at that. Reformed theology doesn’t deny that men make choices.

But that only pushes the question back a step. The question is what lies behind the choice. Sinners make sinful choice (3:6,19-20).

Our choices reflect our spiritual paternity: like father, like son—whether divine or diabolical (Jn 1:11-13; 3:20; 8:44; 1 Jn 3:8-10).

2 comments:

  1. Steve,
    Right on. This is same reason that Jesus several times said, "let those who have ears, let them hear." He wasn't speaking about whether they physically had ears, but whether they had the ability to hear and understand, being awakened (through the regenerating power of the Holy Spirit) to the truth. (see especially Mark 8).

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  2. I'm reasonably certain Daniel would also agree that all men without exception are drawn (the standard appeal to John 12:42). If that's true, then why isn't Daniel a universalist, since 6:45 says all who are instructed come?

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