John 6:44 – Must I Wait For God To Draw Me?
John 6:44 reads, “No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him. And I will raise him up on the last day.” Many refer to this verse in an effort to support their man-made doctrine which says that only those whom the Lord “calls” in some mystical way can be saved. This devilish system of Calvinism teaches that man is totally passive and cannot do anything until God pas him with some special anointing, thereby enabling him to believe. Such an idea is foreign to the scriptures.
The next verse, John 6:45, reveals HOW God draws men unto Him. “It is written in the Prophets, ‘And they will all be taught by God.’ Everyone who has heard and learned from the Father comes to me.” The means or method by which God “calls” or “draws” all men is the Gospel. “ To this he called you through our gospel . . .” (II Thessalonians 2:14). There is no special, mystical anointing of the Holy Spirit. Paul said, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.” (Romans 1:16).
The preaching of the gospel is God’s power, his drawing power, to save (I Corinthians 1:18-21). Therefore, all men, at any moment, have the ability to respond to God’s gospel call. Alien sinners are saved by God’s grace when they respond in faithful obedience to the gospel (Matthew 7:21). God is always ready for men to repent and obey (Acts 17:30; 3:19).
Salvation is available for all men, not just a select few. Jesus died for every one (Hebrews 2:9). God is “. . .is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.” (II Peter 3:9). “who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.” (I Timothy 2:4). The invitation is open to all, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. There’s no such thing as waiting on God’s “special call.”
One cannot get to heaven any other way than by God’s way, which is obedience to the gospel call (Hebrews 5:9). Those who attempt to do so are counted as thieves and robbers. “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door but climbs in by another way, that man is a thief and a robber.” (John 10:1) God’s way is spelled out in the gospel. Men must believe and obey (Mark 16:16). Saving faith is alive, not dead, and proves itself by obedience to the gospel. It is a faith which works (James 2:14-26). “Faith alone” or “faith without works,” is no faith at all. The demons have faith.