Does God Draw Everyone? - WHO DID JESUS DIE FOR?

                                                   Does God Draw Everyone?

                                                 WHO DID JESUS DIE FOR?

Revelation 3:21 To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne

John 10:7 Then said Jesus unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep.

John 10:9 I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture

Romans 8:10 And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.

            The subject of salvation and being born again, is common enough throughout the church world, however concerning how this takes place and to whom it is available there are differing views.

            This is very important, as it speaks of how God moves on behalf of His creation, the work of Jesus in His suffering death, His resurrection, and those who He died for.

            I will mention here two very opposing mindsets that I know of on this subject and then turn the light onto the Word of God itself.

            No matter what any of us want to believe, have heard, or been taught, what matters is what God has to say.

            1. There are those who believe that God only draws to Christ, those who He knows will accept Him and serve Him. This is a common Calvinist belief, but there are probably a number of people who do not profess to be Calvinist who still hold to this belief.

            2. There are those who believe that God calls and draws all men to salvation. Those who hear His voice, believe, repent and surrender to Him, will be born again.

            To say that Jesus did not die for everyone, is a very weighty statement; a statement that, if accepted as truth, brings with it immense consequences.

            Evidently, there are those who believe that Jesus died for the 'sins' of the whole world but not for everyone, (or that is, every person.)

            However, sin is only sin, or that is, it is something that only exists, when an individual trespass against God and His Word; when a person disobeys. Sin is not an inanimate object. It is not a thing that you can pick up and hold in your hand. It is an action.

            Nonetheless, did Jesus actually die for everyone or only those who He knew would be willing to serve Him?

            Some may simply believe what they have been taught to believe, but there are those, like myself, who take very seriously such issues concerning our Lord and who want to do more than to have a strong belief or conviction. We want to know what the whole council of God is and do not appreciate hearing things said of our God that go against His Word or His character.

            But then, that being the case, we need to -

            2 Timothy 2:15 - 17 Study to shew thyself  approved unto God. a workman that needeth

            not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word truth.
            16 But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness.
            17 And their word will eat as does a canker:of whom is Hymenaeous and Philetus.

            How can we avoid 'vain and profane babblings? It is by studying and knowing what the Word actually says. By rightly dividing the Word of Truth, we will be less likely to be involved in uniformed and ignorant conversation, by adding our own ignorant ideas as facts.

            We are to  - Study, which, in the Greek is -  (Strong's) - [spoudazw] spoudazo, spoo-dad'-zo … to use speed, i.e. to make effort, be prompt or earnest:--do (give) diligence, be diligent (forward), endeavour, labour, study.

            In order to be - Approved =(Strong's) - Greek [dokimoV] dokimos,dok'-ee-mos … properly, acceptable (current after assayal), i.e. approved:--approved, tried.

            The reason is - so that we will be able to - Rightly Divide (which is) - (Strong's) - Greek [orqotomew] orthotomeo, or-thot-om-eh'... to make a straight cut, i.e. (figuratively) to dissect (expound) correctly (the divine message):--rightly divide.      

–    the Word of Truth

                                               Why is this important?

            Because there are verses of scripture, that at first glance, so to speak, seem to contradict each other. Of course, the truth is, they never do. All of God's Word agrees and is in harmony. Still, people who hold to differing points of view may use a scripture that seems to support their view and discount or reinterpret those that do not. It is, however, very valuable to get a view of the whole picture and an understanding of God's intention. If you are only looking at a partial picture, you may come to the wrong conclusion as to what the picture is supposed to be.

       WHAT DO THE SCRIPTURES SAY OF JESUS DEATH? WHO DID HE DIE FOR?

             Hebrew 2:9 But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the 
             suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God
             should taste death for every man.

            Here it is clearly stated and plainly set before us in the Word of God that -

                               JESUS TASTED DEATH FOR 'EVERY' MAN.

            To say that Jesus did not die for every man, is to say that this verse of scripture is either not true or not properly interpreted or understood. It is to say that -

            1 Jesus was made lower than the angels for the suffering of death.

            2 He was crowned with glory and honor.

            3 He, by grace (the divine influence of God) tasted death. - BUT – He did not do so for every man.

            This would be to say that most of the verse is true but not all of it.

            You may, however, have read other verses of scripture that seem to say something else, so let us go on.

           

            Mathew11:28  Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

            Here an invitation is given, by Christ Jesus, to ALL who labor and are heavy laden, to come to Him and He will give them rest. True rest comes through salvation. It is when all of our sins have been forgiven and washed away, that we find rest for our mind and soul.

             1 John 4:14 And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour 
             of the world. 

            Notice that the writer does not testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Savior of a portion of the world - but the world itself.

              1 Timothy 2:4 Who will have all men to be saved, and come to the knowledge of the
              truth.

            These verses tell us that Jesus did indeed die for 'ALL' men, not just a select number of people.

            The term 'Will have' (1Tim. 2:4), is, in the Greek (Strong's)... to determine ... i.e. choose or prefer (literally or figuratively); by implication, to wish, i.e. be inclined to (sometimes adverbially, gladly); impersonally for the future tense, to be about to; by Hebraism, to delight in:--... (be) will (have, -ling, - ling(-ly)).

            The word ‘All’ here is – (Greek) - pas pas …  all, any, every, the whole:--all (manner of, means), alway(-s), any (one), X daily, + ever, every (one, way), as many as, + no(-thing), X thoroughly, whatsoever, whole, whosoever.

              1 Timothy 2:6 Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.

            Notice again that it is said that Jesus gave Himself, not to be the ransom for a part of mankind, but for ALL.

            It is Jesus' will, His preference, His delight, for every man to be saved and He, in fact, gave Himself a ransom for ALL.

            Now, a person may be quick to say, that this actually means - ‘all’ who God pre-knew would accept Him and ‘all’ who He would call.’ But we have already read that He tasted death for ‘every’ man. Scripture speaks for itself. Therefore, if it were somehow a limited ‘all,’ that is, rather ‘all that,’ then this would need to be clearly stated somewhere in the Word of God. So, let’s look further.

             Revelation 22:17 And the Spirit and the bride say, Come, And let him that heareth say, Come.
             And let him that is a thirst come. And whosoever will, let him take of the water of life freely.

            Who is being invited here? 1. Him that heareth 2. Him that is athirst 3. Whosoever will

             2 Corinthians 5:14-15 For the love of Christ constaineth us; because we thus judge, that

              if  one died for all, then were all dead.

             15 And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves,

             but  unto him which died for them, and rose again.

We can base the truth that ALL men were dead, on the fact that Christ died for ALL. He did so, that they which live (by means of salvation) should not henceforth, (Greek [Strong’s]) - … any longer … hereafter… not any more) - live unto themselves, but rather live unto the one who died and rose again.   

            According to these verses, were all men dead in trespasses and sin? Yes. Did Jesus then, die for all men? Yes.       

            Now we come to a very interesting verse of scripture that reveals much.

             1 Timothy 4:10 For therefore we both labour and suffer reproach, because we trust in the
             living God, who is the Saviour of all men, specially of those that believe.

            The reason they labored and suffered reproach was because they trusted in the living God who was the Savior especially, or particularly, of those who believe - but also of ALL men. Do you, dear reader, hear what is said here? Jesus died for, that is, became the Savior of, or for, ‘all’ men. Those who would believe and those who would not. But He is especially the Savior of those who do believe.

            In other words, He is the Savior who is available to all mankind. What every man needs in order to be saved is available to all. But He actually saves those who accept that salvation.

Imagine a group of people who are on a raft in the ocean. Imagine they are there because the ship on which they were sailing has crashed into the rocks and sank into the sea. They are exhausted, dehydrated, and do not have long to live, when a huge ship arrives and not only welcomes them on board, but is willing to help them from the raft to safety.

            Now imagine that there are two men, who do not trust the captain of the ship that has come to save them. They think he may be a pirate or have some evil intent. So, they refuse to leave the raft. Was the ship there to save them all? Yes, the ship was there for the salvation of every one of them. Were all saved? No indeed.

            This is the context of the verse we just read. Jesus came as Savior to ‘all,’ but He would be the Savior of all those who would receive His salvation.

            Now what if the ship were to come to the rescue, but somehow the eyes of the ones who were not going to be willing to leave the raft, were blinded so that they could not see the ship and their ears were somehow deafened to the call from the ship or the sounds of the ship. And suppose that it was the captain of the ship himself wo had magical abilities to keep those certain men from seeing or hearing the help that had arrived. We could not say, in such a case, that the ship had come to save them all. The captain made certain that certain men did receive a call of salvation from the ship but not the others.

            If God does not draw ‘all’ men to salvation, then 1 Timothy 4:10 would not be true.

However –

1 John 2:2 And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.

Notice it does not say that Jesus is the propitiation for the sins of those who he pre-knew would serve Him wherever they are throughout the whole world. No, He said “the sins of the whole world.”

This word ‘whole’ in the Greel (Strong’s) is – holos, hol'-os - a primary word; "whole" or "all", i.e. complete (in extent, amount, time or degree), especially (neuter) as noun or adverb:--all, altogether, every whit, + throughout, whole.

            An honest person can see that John was saying exactly what he meant. Jesus is the propitiation for the sins of the entire world, everyone, the complete amount. There is no exception given here.

                     2 Peter 3:9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness;
                     but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should
                     come to repentance.              

           

                   Isaiah 53:6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own                           way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.

            Will we hear the Word of the Lord? God did not lay on Christ the iniquity of only those who He knew would one day serve Him – but the iniquity of us ALL! Why should He have carried the sins of the people who God was not going to draw to Christ, and who He knew were not going to ever accept His salvation, if indeed, God was not going to draw all men to Christ?

2 Peter 2:1 But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false             teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that             bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.

            By His death and resurrection, Jesus bought, even those who were denying Him. He paid the price for their salvation whether or not they chose to receive it.            

            Acts 17:30 And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men                     every where to repent:

            Who does He command to repent? All men - everywhere.

            Titus 2:11 For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,

            What does it say brings salvation? The grace of God! And who has this grace appeared to?

                                                         ALL MEN!

What is this grace? - charis … graciousness (as gratifying), of manner or act (abstract or concrete; literal, figurative or spiritual; especially the divine influence upon the heart, and its reflection in the life; including gratitude):--acceptable, benefit, favour, gift, grace(- ious), joy, liberality, pleasure, thank(-s, -worthy).

So then, the divine influence on the heart, that brings salvation, has appeared to all men. And what does this word ‘appeared’ mean?

It is the Greek word ‘epiphaino,’ ep-ee-fah'-ee-no … to shine upon, i.e. become (literally) visible or (figuratively) known:--appear, give light.

The divine influence upon the heart has been made known to all men! Many times, the word ‘grace,’ is said to mean ‘unmerited favor.’ And while it definitely is not something we have earned, while it comes to us as a free gift, it remains the divine influence upon our hearts.

John 1:29 The next day, John seeth Jesus coming to him, and saith, Behold the lamb of 
God which taketh away the sin of the world

            1 John 2:2 And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for

             the sins of the whole world.

            Here are two verses of scripture that tell us that Jesus did indeed die for the sins of the whole world. These sins cannot be separated from the individuals who commit them. It is not saying that Jesus died for every type of sin, or every category of sin, but rather that He died for the sins themselves, which can only be 'sin' if they are committed by an individual. They are the sins that belong to individuals, for the writers say Jesus did not only die for 'ours' (possessive pronoun), or in other words, only the sins that belong to us, but also for the sins of the whole world, or the sins that belong to the whole world.

             (Jesus speaking) - John 12:32  And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto                 me.

(Jesus speaking) - John 6:44,45 No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.

45 It is written in the prophets, And they shall be all taught of God. Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me.

65 And he said, Therefore said I unto you, that no man can come unto me, except it were given unto him of my Father.

            The word 'draw' here is the same word used in both verses. This word has both a literal and figurative meaning.

Draw – helkuo, hel-koo'-o - or helko hel'-ko; … to drag (literally or figuratively):-draw. The first meaning drag, seems pretty forceful. It is probably more often thought of in the sense of drawing ones attention, though in a powerful way.

Here, we will approach this ‘drawing’ of God from the perspective that it is referring to being drawn to salvation. If that is the case then, consider what is said in verse 65.

Verse 65 tells us that no one is able to come to Jesus unless something is given to them of the Father.

            What does Jesus say, when speaking of Himself? He says that if He is lifted up from the earth, He will draw 'ALL' men to Himself. We know that He was both lifted up onto the cross and then up from the earth as He ascended into Heaven.

            Then we have a verse saying that no one can come to Jesus unless the Father draws him. And this was spoken after some had murmured and doubted Him. Thus, it may be thought that Jesus was explaining why these, and others, were doubting and not receiving Him; that it to say that it was because they had not been drawn by an irresistible compulsion of the Father. Yet, is that actually the point He was making? Notice what else the Savior said.

              John 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto                    the Father, but by me.

             

            So, two powerful statements have been made. No one can come to Jesus unless the Father draws him, and no one can come to the Father but by Jesus. The word ‘by’ here is vitally important.

By – (Strong's) -  Greek [dia] dee-ah' a primary preposition denoting the channel of an act; through …

            Jesus is the only way to the Father. He is the channel through which a person comes to the Father.           

            To find the truth, know it, and stand by it, it would behoove us to look at these verses and others and see why they do not contradict each other and what the full picture is meant to be.

            Is it Jesus who draws us, as he has said, or is it the Father who draws us to Jesus?

            In the verses we have just read we have certain facts

            1 Jesus said He would 'draw all men unto Himself.

            2 Jesus said that no one could come to Him unless the Father draws them.

            3 Jesus said that no man can come to the Father but 'by' Him. He is the channel through which we come to the Father

            4 No one can come to Jesus unless ‘it’ is given to him of the Father.

            So, what is being said? Jesus is going to draw 'all' men to Himself, but He can only do so if the Father draws them. There is something that the Father must ‘give.’ No one can come to the Father unless it is done 'by' Jesus, or that is, Jesus is the channel through which God draws them to Himself?

            Is that confusing? Does it sound like a bunch of mixing and twisting?

            Actually, the truth is a beautiful thing. So, take a deep breath and allow God to clear away any cobwebs from your mind. Hold on. A wonderful picture is about to unfold!

            The big issue in understanding the truth of this subject is to understand how it is that God draws any man to Himself and what it is that is ‘given’ by the Father. When these things are understood, much may be cleared up and a better understanding obtained.

            Some may believe that this 'drawing' of God is a powerful, supernatural conviction and/or wooing that takes place, in which the one being 'drawn' or pursued, is drawn as if by a supernatural magnet, that is actually the Holy Spirit. This may be thought to be something that is felt with every fiber of the person's being, including emotion, mind, and spirit. Thus, as mentioned before, it may be understood to be an irresistible compulsion.

            This may also be considered to be what is known as the conviction of the Holy Spirit, causing the person to suddenly be made completely aware of the presence of God and a powerful illumination by which they instantly realize their guilty condition and their need for God. Thus, a conclusion can be made that what is ‘given’ by the Father is this supernatural ‘conviction,’ or convicting ‘power.’

            So then, with this belief that God only 'draws' to Himself those who will serve Him, goes the belief that when one is 'drawn' by the Father, the person will definitely repent and surrender his life to Christ – because – God only convicts, in this manner, those He knows will receive Him.

            While all of this may be believed, it is not based on any clear statements in scripture. That is to say, the scripture does not define the ‘drawing of God’ as only this irresistible compulsion. Can we then say that this is, in fact, the one and only way the Father draws men to salvation, according to the scriptures?

            While I do believe this type of encounter with God can happen and be very real and powerful, what is important to this study is to see if this is borne out by the Word of God as the one and only means that men are drawn to God. And is this drawing reserved only for those who God the Father knows beforehand will accept Him?

            Since Jesus is the channel through which men come to God, let us go on to consider who and what Jesus is.

            (John 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto                   the Father, but by me.)

            So then, if no man can come to Jesus, except the Father draw him and no man can come to the Father but ‘by’ or through the channel of Jesus, let us consider how this can be. The first thing to establish as a vital truth, is what is said in John 10:30, concerning the Father and the Son.

                                      John 10:30 I and my Father are one.

            This connection and relationship of the Father and Son is foundational to understanding many things in the Word of God. It is definitely important to the issue we are looking at here.

            Jesus and the Father are so much a part of each other that one of the titles given to the Son is 'Everlasting Father.'

Isaiah 9:6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.

            While this may seem difficult to understand, we are told in the book of John, that Jesus (the Word) was with God (the Father) in the beginning when all things were made, and that without Him not one thing was made.

            John 1:1-3+11-12 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word              was God.

            2 The same was in the beginning with God.

           3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was madeJohn

           11 He came unto his own, and his own received him not.

          12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to                 them that believe on his name:

           

Revelation 19:13 And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called    The Word of God

            These verses speak of Jesus being the Word of God, even His name being 'The Word of God.' We see the relationship of the Father and the Son in Genesis, when God was creating all that is on the earth. It was a work done by the entire godhead. We know this because the word 'God', in the first chapter of Genesis is, in the Hebrew, 'elohiym - el-o-heem' plural of ''elowahh' (the singular form of 'God'.)

            Genesis 1:1 In the beginning God (Elohiym) created the heaven and the earth.

            Also we see God using the personal, plural pronouns – us and our – as He speaks, indicating that God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit who make up the one and only God, were together in Gen. 1:26 - And Elohim said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness

            The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit together make up one composite that is God. Now look at what is said of Jesus in Colossians.

            Colossians 2:9 For in him dwelleth all the fullness of the Godhead bodily.

            In Jesus dwells ALL the Fullness of the godhead 'bodily' or physically.

            Godhead = (Strong's) Greek [qeothV] theotes theh-ot'-ace ... divinity (abstractly): -- godhead.

            Keep the fact of the unity of the Father and Son in mind as we go on to consider more scriptures concerning how God draws men to salvation.

            Even the person who believes that the Father only calls certain people to salvation, will probably have no problem believing that He does this 'drawing' by the Holy Spirit, or that is, that the Holy Spirit is the means God uses to draw individuals to Himself.

            But if He can use one member of the Godhead, He can certainly use another, for the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are one composite, one God, the only true and living God. As a matter of fact, they work together in the accomplishment of the will of God.

            Jesus and the Father are so much one, that as seen above, Jesus even shares the title of 'Everlasting Father.'

            We have already seen that of Jesus it is said that He -

1 Is one with the Father

2 Has the fullness on the godhead dwelling in Him

3 Was with the Father in the beginning

4 Was part of the creating process

5 Is called - Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.

6 Is the truth

7 Is the life

8 Is the way (Channel of the act)

            The Holy Spirit does not by-pass Jesus in order to draw men to God.

            So then, no one can come to the Savior unless ‘it’ is given him of the Father. And what is ‘it’ that the Father gives? It is Jesus himself, the living Word of God, the Holy Spirit which was made available after the death and resurrection of Jesus, and the measure of faith.

Romans 12:3 … according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.

There is not one person, male or female, of any age, or at any time, who would have been able to come to Christ, if God had not given a measure of faith to us all, enabling us to believe in the Word of God, who is Jesus Christ, the only begotten of the Father. God gave Jesus to us and after His death and resurrection, He sent the Holy Spirit to us. Thus, what God gives us is His Son as Savior and the Power of the Holy Spirit. This is fact – absolute fact! This is not debatable. This is not open to individual opinion.

            When we think of the Father drawing men to salvation, we need to keep in mind that salvation is only found in and through the Son.

            Acts 4:10-12 Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of                    Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him                 doth this man stand here before you whole.

            11 This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the                corner.

          12 Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given             among men, whereby we must be saved.

            We cannot separate the Father and the Son in the work of salvation. The Father draws, but He does so through the Son. Look and see!

Isaiah 55:10-11 For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater:

11 So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it. 

Psalms 107:20 He sent his word, and healed them, and delivered them from their                               destructions

We have already seen in John, chapter one, that Jesus is the Word. Now we read how Jesus the Word, was sent from God the Father. He came and accomplished what He came to do. He did not return to the Father before accomplishing everything He was sent to do. Jesus, the Word, came and delivered them from their destruction. That is, He saved them. He healed them in every way.    

It is Jesus who ‘seeks’ us. It is Jesus, the Word, that we must receive and believe, in order to become a child of God.

Luke 19:10 For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.

We are drawn by the Spirit of God through the Word of God, who is Jesus Himself. This is what the Father has given us.

John 6:65 And he said, Therefore said I unto you, that no man can come unto me, except it were given unto him of my Father.

No one could come to Jesus for salvation had the Father not given us the ability to do so. And no one could come to Him had He not given His son, Jesus, the living Word, and had Jesus not sent the Holy Spirit after His resurrection. But as the rain came down from heaven and watered the earth, so the Word of God was sent from God and accomplished salvation for all men.

John 6:53,54+63 Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you.

54 Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day.

63 It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.

If you could have eaten Jesus actual flesh, it would not have profited you at all. But when you eat, or take inside of you, His Words, they are spirit and life. When you hear the Word of God, or read the Word of God, this is the thing that God has given for your salvation. The spirit gives it life and you have been given a measure of faith whereby you can choose to believe it and receive it. All of this is what the Father has given to draw you to Christ. Without what He has given, you could not come to Christ. But He has given it! He sent His Word, Jesus Christ.

Psalms 107:20 He sent his word, and healed them, and delivered them from their                                destructions.

Do you hear what is said? No one could come to Jesus, had the Father not sent Him to the earth as a man, given Him to bear our sins, given Him in death, given Him to purchase our pardon! And no one could have received Jesus as his Savior had the Father not given us a measure of faith!

Jesus was sent by the Father to bear our sins on the cross and defeat sin and death for us. The Father gave His son into the hands of sinful men to be lifted up on the cross so He could draw all men to Himself. He rose again and He sent the Holy Spirit who would make alive the Words that Jesus had spoken and would bring them back to our memory. The Father draws us to Christ by the Spirit who gives life to the words of Jesus.

John 14:26 But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.

What would the Holy Spirit do? Does it say He will only bring on a supernatural, irresistible conviction and urge that cannot be escaped, for those who He knows will accept Him? No! It says He will teach you all things. It says He will cause you to remember what? Whatsoever Jesus has said! His Words! Yes, those words that are both spirit and life!

           

            John 14:10 Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I             speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works.

            Amazing! Jesus is the Word, and yet the words that He speaks are of and from the Father! The Father dwells in the Son! Do you begin to get a glimpse of the relationship of the Father and Son, working together in the process of salvation? Indeed, not one person will ever come to Jesus unless he is drawn by the Father – the Father who will draw him through the means of His living Word, Jesus Christ, whom He has freely given for us all.  He said He would draw us to Himself if He was lifted up.  He was lifted up and He does draw us through His Word that is of the Father, for He is of the Father and is one with the Father!

            John 12:32 And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me.

           Isaiah 55:11 So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me            void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I                   sent it.

            We have already seen that Jesus is the Word. Here again is that verse that beautifully illustrates the unity of the godhead. Jesus, the Word, was sent from God. And that Word did not return to the Father without accomplishing what He was sent to do. He came directly from God, and their connection is such that it is illustrated by God saying that this 'Word' came from His mouth. Jesus expresses precisely, the heart and thought of the Father. He is the Word that proceeds from the mouth of God!

            Jesus was sent from the Father, to the earth, accomplished what He came to do, and prospered in the thing God sent Him to do.

            Sending Jesus was the work of the Father. Yet, Jesus chose to come. The Father draws us by His Spirit to the Word (Jesus). This Holy Spirit could not come to us until Jesus died and rose again. Then He was sent by the Father in Jesus' name.

John 14:26 But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name …

John 16:7 Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you.

If you look closely at these two verses, you may discover an astounding thing. You may see the very answer to the whole question of God’s drawing.  In verse 26 of chapter 14, Jesus says the Father is going to send the Holy Ghost, (the Comforter). Yet in verse 7 of chapter 16, Jesus says that He Himself is going to send the Comforter. What? Is this a contradiction? Not at all! Jesus did not send Him until the Father said to do so. They work on unison.

John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

2 The same was in the beginning with God.

3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.

4 In him was life; and the life was the light of men.

The whole process is a work of Elohiym, the godhead, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit!  You cannot come to Jesus unless the Father, who Jesus is one with, draws you. As the Father made everything that was made and not anything was made without the Son, for they are one, so when God draws it is through His son!

Another important fact -

            Jesus is both the Word (the living Word) and the seed referred to in the parable of the sower.

           When we read the parable of the seed that was sown, we are told that this seed is the Word of God.

            Luke 8:11 Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God

            And John tells us -

John 1:14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

           

                     JESUS IS THE SEED – HE IS THE LIVING WORD OF GOD!

            Jesus is the Word and the scriptures tell us that the seed that was sown is the Word of God. This means, then, that Jesus is the seed that is planted in the hearts of men.

            Why do I say He is the 'living' Word? -

            John 6:63 It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I                            speak unto  you, they are spirit, and they are life.

           2 Corinthians 3:6 Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter,            but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life.

         Matthew 13:37 He answered and said unto them, He that soweth the good seed is the Son of               man;

            The seed is the Word (Jesus) and Jesus sows the seed. He sows the anointed, living word which is the power of God unto salvation. Some falls on good ground, some on ground that is not good. But nonetheless it is sown for all. The Spirit gives life to that Word and it convicts the hearts of men.

            While Jesus brought us the New Testament by shedding His blood for us, He brought us more than a written word, but a spiritual word, or that is, His Word anointed by the Holy Spirit.

Luke 22:20 Likewise also the cup after supper, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood, which is shed for you

Luke 4:18 The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised,

            19 To preach the acceptable year of the Lord.

            The Word, who is Jesus, was anointed by the Father.

          John 6:63 It is the spirit that quickeneth; ... the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit,                and they are life.

            The words that Jesus gives are – spirit and life! They were spirit and life when Jesus was on earth speaking them and they are spirit and life when the gospel is spoken now in His name, which is His authority and power. His words have the power to save. These words proceed from the mouth of God! And He stands behind His word!

1 Corinthians 2:14 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.

            So, then Jesus is the Word and He was anointed by God. The words that He spoke were, and still are, Spirit and life.

            The Father draws men to Himself, through the word that comes from His mouth - Jesus Christ.

            To truly understand the words of God in the scriptures, a person must have the discernment of the Spirit, for the natural man will not be able to receive them.

            Now take a look at the parable of the sower, what it represents and what we can learn from it.

            Luke 8:11- Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God.

                           THE SEED IS THE WORD OF GOD

          Luke 8:5-8 A sower went out to sow his seed: and as he sowed, some fell by the way side; and              it  was trodden down, and the fowls of the air devoured it.

         6 And some fell upon a rock; and as soon as it was sprung up, it withered away, because it                   lacked moisture.

         7 And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprang up with it, and choked it.

         8 And other fell on good ground, and sprang up, and bare fruit an hundredfold. And when he               had said these things, he cried, He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.

            Notice that the seed was sown not only on the ground which God knew would bear fruit but on both good and bad ground. Why was the parable presented this way? Why did the sower not sow only on the ground which He had prepared and knew to be good? The parable was meant to represent truth, not misrepresent it.

              Luke 8:11-12 Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God.

             12 Those by the way side are they that hear; then cometh the devil, and taketh away the word               out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved.

            Notice that it does not say that some of these heard but were not drawn of God and so were incapable of being saved. Rather, the Word entered their heart alright, but the devil came and took that word from their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved. In other words, had that word stayed in their heart they might have believed and been saved.

            13 They on the rock are they, which, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these                     have no root, which for a while believe, and in time of temptation fall away.

            Here are those who hear the Word (Jesus) and receive it with joy. These both believe and receive, but in time of temptation they fall away.

             14 And that which fell among thorns are they, which, when they have heard, go forth, and are              choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to perfection.

            Speaking of this same parable and same situation, Matthew said it like this. -

           Matthew 13:22 He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and             the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh                       unfruitful.

            These also heard and received, but cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches choke that word so that the one who received became unfruitful.

            15 But that on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the             word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience.

            Notice again that it does not say that the good ground are those who God draws, but rather those who in an honest and good heart, keep that word once they receive it. That word which they heard was anointed. It already had power. It was already the power of God unto salvation. It was Jesus the living Word. Some who received it kept it and bore fruit, some did not.

           

Romans 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.

                        WHAT IS THE POWER OF GOD UNTO SALVATION?

            It is the preaching of the cross!
         It is the gospel of Jesus Christ. - This is the drawing force! - This is how God calls and draws men to salvation!

            No man comes to the Father unless the Father draws them and no man comes to the Father but by Jesus, the living Word!

            If all who heard the call would have responded and drew near to God, He would in turn have drawn near to them. If they would have put their hands in the water of the Word, they would have been washed.

James 4:8 Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners;                 and purify your hearts, ye double minded.

            Matthew 13:15 tell us that those who not only heard and received, but who also kept it, brought forth fruit with patience - because they believed. Because their heart was honest and good, they kept hold on the truth, the way and the life.

            This seed is not just the written word or letter, for it does not kill. Rather the same seed that was received on the good ground, or that is, by those who received it and brought forth fruit, is the same seed that some received and yet turned away from later on. It was the living Word, anointed by the Holy Spirit with the ability to give life to those who would receive it. Life was in that seed!

            When a seed is planted it must be watered or it will not bring forth fruit. The water that gives life to the seed, God's Word, is the Holy Spirit.

         John 7:38-39 He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow             rivers of living water.

           39 (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy             Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.)

            John 4:10 Jesus answered and said unto her, If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that             saith to thee, Give me to drink; thou wouldest have asked of him, and he would have given                  thee living water.

            Notice that Jesus told the woman that if she would have asked of Him, He would have given her living water. He did not say if the Father had drawn you, you would have received. The 'drawing' was already taking place by Jesus the living Word of God.

            (Speaking of God's people, His church) it is said - Ephesians 5:26 That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,

            'Sanctify,' in the Greek is, (Strong's) [agiazw] hagiazohag-ee-ad'-zo from [agioV] - hagios 40; to make holy, i.e. (ceremonially) purify or consecrate; (mentally) to venerate:--hallow, be holy, sanctify.

            How does God sanctify, or that is, make His church holy? How does He cleanse it, or that is take away it's sins? By the washing of water – BY - THE WORD!

            The water is the Holy Spirit and he works by and through the Word of God, Jesus Christ!

            Let us look further now, into the Word of God and see if we can learn more about this 'drawing' that is done by the Father.

               John 1:12 But as many as received him (Jesus), to them gave he power to become the sons                   of God, even to them that believe on his name:

            'As many as,' in the Greek is, (Strong's) - hosos, hos'-os by reduplication from ... as (much, great, long, etc.) as:--all (that), as (long, many, much) … where withsoever, which, X while, who(-soever)

           What does it say is required in order to receive power to become sons of God?

            RECEIVING - which will only happen if you believe. Notice that 'if' they received, they were given this power. It does not say 'if' they were drawn. Why? The thing that was made available to them to receive, was the Word, or the seed of God, which had life in it. The anointed Word of God has drawing power. If they were willing to receive this seed, they would receive the life-giving power that is in that seed.

            He who believes on Him, out of his belly will flow rivers of living water.

            Who does it say received this power?

            As many as – or that is, all that, or whosoever received Him.

            If these are the ones who were 'drawn by God, how were they drawn?

John 10:7 Then said Jesus unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep.

John 10:9 I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture

           Revelation 3:20-21 Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and                   open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.
           21 To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame,                and am set down with my Father in his throne

            Here we see that Jesus, who is the Word that has proceeded from the mouth of God, is also the door to salvation. In order to get to the Father you must come through the door, which is Jesus. (John 14:6 Jesus saith ... no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. [through the channel of Jesus Christ])

            And yet the scripture tells us that Jesus stands at the door and knocks. How can He knock on Himself? Because He is the Word of God as well.

            If someone knocks on your door it 'draws' your attention. It causes a response. You will either open the door, speak through the door, or refuse an outward response. But inwardly you will respond, because the knocking is heard and gets your attention. Jesus knocks. He draws attention to Himself, His Word, through the Holy Spirit.

           

            John 10:2 But he that entereth in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep.

            John 10:4 And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep                       follow him: for they know his voice.

           John 10:9 I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and                   out, and find pasture.

           John 10:11 I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.

           John 10:27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:

            Although Jesus is the door, He is also the shepherd who enters in 'by' the door. It is His voice that is heard when He comes through the door. Jesus draws our attention to Himself (knocks) through the anointing of the written Word.

            Here is that word 'by' again. V. 9 – “…by me if any man enter…” By - (Strong's) -  Greek [dia] diadee-ah' a primary preposition denoting the channel of an act; through …

            How does Jesus, the shepherd enter in? Through the channel of the door. Jesus speaks to us through His Word and by that Word we hear and learn His voice. And this is the voice that comes from the mouth of God. If we know His voice, His Word, we will be able to reject lies of the enemy that do not agree with Jesus the Word.

            John 10:11 I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.

            Now, listen carefully to the words of scripture.

Titus 1:3 But hath in due times manifested his word through preaching....

He ‘manifested’ His Word!

         Manifested, in the Greek is (Strong’s) – phaneroo, fan-er-o'-o - from … to render apparent (literally or figuratively):--appear, manifestly declare, (make) manifest (forth), shew (self).

            How did he make His Word apparent? Through preaching!

           Cor. 1:21 For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased                God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.

            Save them how? By the drawing of God? Yes, but how? By the foolishness of preaching!

            So, the 'door' Jesus the Word, is opened and Jesus comes to us through that Word as He gives life (which He is – the life and the way and the truth) to that Word. How is that Word heard? Through the preaching of the gospel.

            We hear it. Jesus gives life to it. If we believe and receive, we are receiving the WORD of HIS POWER.

              Hebrews 1:3 Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and              upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat                  down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;

            This is not just a powerful word but specifically the WORD of ‘HIS’ POWER. This Word is of His power. This WORD of HIS POWER is what upholds all things!

            Luke 4:32 And they were astonished at his doctrine: for his word was with power.

            John 4:41 And many more believed because of his own word.

            Why did many believe? What was the reason? Because of His own word! But they had to be drawn of God. YES! And they were! They were drawn through the Word of God, the door on which the good shepherd knocked and drew their attention!

            The means by which the Father draws men to salvation is through the avenue of His son, the living Word, which is heard by the preaching of the gospel. This gospel is the POWER of GOD unto salvation. It is the living Word that is preached. It is the seed that is sown which already has ‘life’ in it. It is the WORD of HIS POWER! We are begotten with the word of truth, which is Jesus!

         James 1:18 Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of             firstfruits of his creatures.

            Begat us how? With the word of truth!

            We should never underestimate the Word of God. Not the written letter alone, which can be misused, misrepresented, and twisted. But the pure, unadulterated, anointed Word of God. The Word of His Power. For through it, God speaks, is heard, is believed, and men are given the power to become His sons and daughters.

            The Father 'draws' men by the gospel, which is the anointed Word – Jesus Christ.

          Romans 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto             salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.

            What is the power of God unto salvation? It is the gospel!

            Power = (Strong's) – Greek [dunamiV] dunamis, doo'-nam-is from [dunamai] ... force (literally or figuratively); specially, miraculous power (usually by implication, a miracle itself):--ability, abundance, meaning, might(-ily, -y, -y deed), (worker of) miracle(-s), power, strength, violence, mighty (wonderful) work.

            What is the force, the miraculous power, and the mighty (wonderful) work of God unto salvation? The gospel of Jesus Christ! Brother, and sister, do not let anyone tell you that you need something more that the living Word of God to draw you to salvation! Do not wait in hopes of some irresistible thing to take hold of you as if by force, compelling you to act. Do not be looking for an emotion more powerful than any you have ever experienced. The living word has both power and life in it. When you believe and receive you may feel emotions more powerful than you’ve ever known. But that is not mentioned in scripture as evidence of salvation. The Bible says believing the Word of God brings salvation. What did Jesus preach?

               Matthew 4:17 From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of                  heaven is at hand.

                               He preached repentance! What did the apostles say?

              Acts 16:31 And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy                house.

This believing is -

Believe – pisteuo, pist-yoo'-o - from …; to have faith (in, upon, or with respect to, a person or thing), i.e. credit; by implication, to entrust (especially one's spiritual well-being to Christ):--believe(-r), commit (to trust), put in trust with.

            This is more than mental assent. This is an action word. It is not only believing the fact of Jesus as Savior but acting on that faith and entrusting yourself to Him, giving Him your all.

     THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST - IS THE POWER OF GOD UNTO SALVATION

                         This then is the force by which men are drawn to God!

                             Always keep in mind that the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit are one composite being. As they worked together in the creation of the world and all that is in it, they work together in the new birth, creating sons and daughters of God.

                             The Father is the Everlasting Father and yet His Son is called the same. And all that they do, is done with the power of the Holy Spirit.

            We have the choice to believe the gospel when we hear it, or to harden our hearts and quench the Holy Spirit that gives life to the Word.

             Hebrews 3:8 Harden not your hearts, as in the provocation, in the day of temptation in the                  wilderness:

             Hebrews 3:15 While it is said, To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts, as in                the provocation.

             1 Thessalonians 5:19 Quench not the Spirit.

            How can one quench the Spirit if He has not been calling or drawing us? The Spirit draws, but it is up to us to respond and receive or to quench Him.

            1Cor. 1:21 … it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.

            How does it say that God saved them? Was it by an overwhelming magnetism alone that only happens to a few select individuals? The Bible says it happened by the foolishness of preaching! It was by the hearing of the Word.

            As a matter of fact, it is by hearing the Word of God that faith comes

            Romans 10:17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

            Faith comes when we hear and, our ability to truly hear comes by the Word of God (Jesus).

Revelation 3:20 Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the   door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.

            If any man – any man who chooses - hears God's voice as He stands at the door (which is Jesus the Word) and will open that Word and let Jesus come in through it, then God will come in to him and sup with him.

            How does God draw man to salvation?

2 Thessalonians 2:13 Whereunto he called you by our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.

            Called you how? - God calls by the gospel, the living Word which is His power unto salvation.

            Yes, this is how He calls us. This is how He draws us. We are called 'by' the gospel itself. This gospel IS the power of God unto salvation!

                         IT IS THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST!

            And so, the verses in Mark, chapter 16 make sense.

          Mark 16:15-16 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to                     every creature.

          16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.

            The call is to go out to every creature. Then those who will believe will be able to receive. Notice that it does not say – ‘Go into all the world, preach the gospel and he that becomes drawn by God by a unique magnetism, will be saved. NO! It says, he that believes and is baptized.

2 Thessalonians 2:13-14 But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth:

            He chose you How? - through sanctification – and - through belief in what? - the truth, which is the gospel!

            James 4:8 Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye                            sinners;and purify your hearts, ye double minded.

            When a man believes the gospel and draws near to God, He in turn draws near to them, sanctifying them, or that is, setting them apart from the world to be His own, through the work of the Holy Spirit (who is also God). He also does this sanctifying by means of their believing the truth of the gospel that is given to them.

              14 Whereunto he called you by our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus                   Christ.

            CALLED YOU HOW? - By the gospel! TO WHAT END? "the obtaining of the glory of Jesus Christ!"

            Those who were 'chosen' were the ones who had been 'called' by God through the gospel of the apostles. These were not pre-chosen to be the only ones called. For we know that the seed, which is the Word, was sown out to all. And Jesus said that He stood at the door – which is Himself, the living Word, and said that if 'any man' will open, He would come in.

            However, God knew from the beginning who would believe and receive Him, so those who he knew would come, he chose.

            Imagine a man deciding to form a football team. Seeing a group of boys who he knows, playing in a field, he calls out to them. “I am forming a football team. All of you who want to, come join the team!”

            Some of the boys immediately cry out, “Awesome! I will play!” Some hesitate, considering how much time it will take, whether they think their parents will allow it etc. But then they too come running. Some others simply say “Naw, I wanna do somethin' else.”

            The call was made to all. All had equal opportunity to choose. The man, however, already had a good idea which boys were likely to accept His offer, because he knew them all personally. These he had already written down on a piece of paper and next to their names he had noted which positions he would like them to play.

            Still, he made the offer to all of the boys. He had already chosen team members based on what he knew they would do, not the reverse. He did not only call and give opportunity to the ones he knew would be willing to join the team. As the boys ran up to him, if they were to ask, “May I be on your team,” he might well answer, “Yes I have chosen you for particular positions already.”

            Notice the verse above says - “Whereunto he called you by our gospel.

            Called = (Strong's) – Greek [kalew] kaleokal-eh'-o … to "call" (properly, aloud, but used in a variety of applications, directly or otherwise):--bid, call (forth), (whose, whose sur-)name (was (called)).

            How did God call? By the gospel that they preached to them! Could we possibly say that God Himself was calling them in such a way as to even refer to calling aloud and calling forth, and not believe this was 'drawing' them? Is the calling of God the drawing of God?

            And it was this gospel by which He called them, that had the power to make them sons of God.

           John 6:33-37 For the bread of God is he which cometh down from heaven, and giveth life                   unto the world.

            Again, we see that Jesus is said to be the one who came down from heaven and the one who gives life. Here He is also calling Himself 'the bread of God. Bread is food. It is something you eat and take inside of you.

            He is the 'bread' that gives this life to whom? The world.

            34 Then said they unto him, Lord, evermore give us this bread.

            35 And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never                          hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.

            Notice the responsibility was on the hearer. If they were hungry and would come to Him, He would fill them so that they would never again hunger or thirst. This goes along with James 4:8

             James 4:8 Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye                             sinners;and purify your hearts, ye double minded.

            Draw nigh = (Strong's) – Greek [eggizw] eggizo eng-id'-zo ... to make near, i.e. (reflexively) approach:--approach, be at hand, come (draw) near, be (come, draw) nigh.

            If we will draw near, or that is, approach, come near to God, then He will draw near to us. We are told to cleanse our hands and yet we know we cannot cleanse ourselves. But we can come near and put our hands in the water and be cleansed with the washing of water by the word. It is the water that does the cleansing, but it is up to us to put our hands in the water. What is this water? - (Ephesians 5:26 That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,)

            36 But I said unto you, That ye also have seen me, and believe not

            Seen = (Strong's) – horao; prop. to stare at … (by impl.) to discern clearly (phys. or ment.), by extens. to attend to; by Hebr. to experience; pass. to appear: - behold, perceive, see, take heed.

            These had 'seen' Him and not believed nor received Him. They had experienced the physical presence of Jesus in whom dwelled the fulness of the Godhead. They had heard the words he spoke. Yet, they did not believe.

            We must understand that the reason the preaching of the gospel is the power of God unto salvation, is because it is the act of giving the living Word, Jesus Christ, who is one with the Father.

            Jesus, the seed, had been sown and it had fallen on their ears. It had drawn their attention. They were drawn by Jesus who is the only way to the Father and yet not believed and would not receive. God had drawn them through His son, the living Word.

            John 1:11-13 He came unto his own, and his own received him not.

            Here we see Jesus coming to those of His own and yet not being received by them.

         12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to                them that believe on his name

         13 Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor the will of man, but of God

            Can we say that Jesus came to His own, even though the Father was not going to draw them, and they did not receive Him? I think not, since the scriptures we have read tell us plainly that Jesus is the way to the Father. He came to them and 'as many' -

            as many = (Strong's) Greek hosos hos'-os ... as (much, great, long, etc.) as:--all (that), as (long, -many, much) (as), how great (many, much), (in-)asmuch as, so many as, that (ever), the more, those things, what (great, -soever), wheresoever, where withsoever, which, X while, who(-soever).

            These probably did not even comprehend what spiritual birth was. Nicodemus, who came to Jesus by night in John chapter 3, did not know what it meant to be born again. Yet, God Himself willed for souls to be saved, even before He created mankind. He willed it before the foundation of the world. But those who believed, received.

            Now consider

           

            Mark 4:7 And some fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up, and choked it, and it yielded                 no fruit.

            Mark:19 And the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other                    things entering in, choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful.

             John 6:37- All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will                 in no wise cast out.

            Some may view verse 37 as indicating that the Father only gives Jesus those he chooses to draw to salvation and that He does not draw all men. But reading on we see differently.

              38 For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me.

             39 And this is the Father's will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I                        should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day.

             40 And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth               on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day

            Seeth (Seeth the Son) is, in the Greek (Strong's) [qewrew] theoreotheh-o-reh'-o ... to be a spectator of, i.e. discern, (literally, figuratively (experience) or intensively (acknowledge)):--behold, consider, look on, perceive, see. Compare [optanomai] - optanomai 3700.

            What is the Father's will? That all who sees, - to be a spectator or who beholds, looks on or perceives – Jesus, and meets one requirement – BELIEVES ON JESUS – may have everlasting life.

            God preordained that all those who would believe on the Son by the hearing of the gospel, would be given the power to become the sons of God. Who does God choose to become His sons? All those who hear, see, and believe! This is His choice! Those who say yes to the drawing of the Holy Spirit, through Jesus the Word, the Father gives to His Son.

           41 The Jews then murmured at him, because he said, I am the bread which came down from                 heaven.

42 And they said, Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? how is it then that he saith, I came down from heaven?

           43 Jesus therefore answered and said unto them, Murmur not among yourselves.

           44 No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise              him up at the last day.       

            The message is the same. These men might have murmured and doubted because He said He was the bread that came down from heaven. But they would get to God no other way than to be drawn by the Father through the only channel or pathway to Him, and that was Jesus the one who was speaking to them. He was telling them the gospel and if they would not believe, even when the Father drew them through that living Word, His Son, then there would be no other way for them to get to the Father. Jesus was and is, the only way and the life. And he was the one who would raise them up to eternal life at the last day.

           45 It is written in the prophets, And they shall be all taught of God. Every man therefore that                hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me.

           46 Not that any man hath seen the Father, save he which is of God, he hath seen the Father.

            Seen (Strong's) = Greek [oraw] horaohor-ah'-o properly, to stare at ... i.e. (by implication) to discern clearly (physically or mentally); by extension, to attend to; by Hebraism, to experience; passively, to appear:--behold, perceive,

            Hath heard = (Strong's) – akouoak-oo'-o a primary verb; to hear (in various senses):--give (in the) audience (of), come (to the ears), (shall) hear(-er, -ken), be noised, be reported, understand.

 47 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life

           

            Who would God teach? All! Then, everyone who paid attention, understood and believed would have everlasting life.

(Jesus speaking) - John 8:24 I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye             believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins.

            You die in your sins, not because the Father did not draw you through the avenue of His Son, the living Word, but because you would not believe.

           John 8:46 Which of you convinceth me of sin? And if I say the truth, why do ye not                               believe me?

            Jesus Himself asked these questions. He asked them why, if He were telling them the truth, did they not believe Him. Had it been because the Father had not drawn them, then surely, He would have known that better than they would. He would not need to ask.

            To the contrary, the Father had drawn them by Jesus who was anointed with the Holy Ghost and power; - the gospel of Himself - the truth that was Himself, the living Word, the gospel. Now it was up to them to believe and receive or to harden their hearts and walk away.

            Hebrews 3:7-8  Wherefore (as the Holy Ghost saith, To day if ye will hear his voice,

            If you will what? His voice!

        Hear – (strong's) akouoak-oo'-o, a primary verb; to hear (in various senses):- give (in the) audience (of), come (to the ears), (shall) hear(-er, -ken), be noised, be reported, understand.

            8 Harden not your hearts, as in the provocation, in the day of temptation in the wilderness:

            What does the Word tell us here? The Holy Ghost Himself says – IF you will hear His voice! It is your choice to turn a deaf ear or to listen. It is up to you to resist, harden your heart, or believe and receive. It is up to you! His voice has gone out. It has called and the Holy Ghost has drawn, now it is up to you not to harden your heart as the children of Israel did.

          Acts 7:51 Ye stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy             Ghost: as your fathers did, so do ye.

            This very amazing and informative verse speaks of those who were resisting the Holy Ghost. Oh, He was calling and drawing alright. He spoke through the gospel of Jesus the anointed one, but they were stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, and they resisted.

            Stiffnecked = (Strong's) – sklerotrachelos sklay-rot-rakh'-ay-los ... hardnaped, i.e. (figuratively) obstinate:--stiffnecked.

            Heart = (Stong's) – kardiakar-dee'-ah ... (Latin cor, "heart"); the heart, i.e. (figuratively) the thoughts or feelings (mind); also (by analogy) the middle:--(+ broken-)heart(-ed).

            Ears = (Strong's) – ousooce apparently a primary word; the ear (physically or mentally):--ear.

             2 Timothy 3:1-2+8 This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.     

             2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud,                                               blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,

             8 Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of                     corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith.

            Here the writer warns of unholy men who had corrupt minds who always resisted the truth. Who is the truth and the way? Jesus! With their ears, they heard the gospel that was the power of God unto salvation, but they resisted.

            This one truth needs to be firmly established. The gospel is not just written words. It is anointed by the Holy Ghost. It is Jesus the living Word. To resist the gospel is to resist the Holy Spirit of God and Jesus Himself.

                James 4:7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

            It was the devil who tempted Eve to sin. It is the devil who has tempted each of us to sin. We have heeded his voice and been bound in sin. We have been offered the 'Way' and the 'Truth,' by which we can obtain eternal life

         Romans 5:1 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord             Jesus Christ:

            The word 'through' here, is the same word as translated as 'by' that we have looked at earlier.
            Through– (Strong's) -  Greek [dia] dee-ah' a primary preposition denoting the channel of an       act; through …

            We see so many scriptures agreeing and bearing out this truth, that our peace, our salvation comes through the channel of Jesus Christ, and is dependent on our having faith in Him based on the gospel which we hear, which is the good news of the work he did for us in His death and resurrection. It is contingent on our believing and not quenching the Holy Ghost as he is drawing us through the gospel.

              1 Thessalonians 5:19 Quench not the Spirit.

           The drawing of God is not something that cannot be resisted, nor does it only happen to pre-determined individuals.

            1 Corinthians 15:1-2 Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached                     unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand;

           2 By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have             believed in vain.

            Saved by what? The gospel that was preached – which you believed and received. But even this must be kept in memory so that you do not believe in vain.

                     YES, IT IS THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST! 

           1 Corinthians 1:18-21 For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but                   unto us which are saved it is the power of God.        

           19  For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the

           understanding of the prudent.

           20 Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God                made foolish the wisdom of this world?

           21 For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God                   by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe. 

           

                 HOW ARE WE ABLE YO RECEIVE AN INHERITANCE?

         Acts 20:32 And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is              able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified.

        Wow! Did you catch it? The WORD of His grace. Grace, being that divine influence on the heart, we might say, The Word, Jesus Christ that is the divine influence on your heart. Or – His Word which influences our heart, is able to build us up. And that Word is able to give us an inheritance.

          Romans 3:24 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ                       Jesus:

          Romans 5:1 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord                    Jesus Christ:

The erroneous doctrine that says our believing does us no good unless the Father draws us, overlooks the facts of scripture that bears out the fact that faith comes by ‘hearing’ the living Word (Jesus) and that ‘hearing’ comes by that very Word. That Word is the word of God’s power. There is enough power in the Word of God, in the true gospel, to draw any man to the truth so that he can, if he will and will not resist the Holy Spirit that is in that Word, - he can believe and receive!

Romans 10:17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

           2 By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope             of the glory of God.

            1 The word of grace is able to give us an inheritance

            2 We are justified by faith (in the gospel.)

            3 By Jesus, we have access – by faith – into grace

            We have access into this free gift and divine influence - by faith. Our faith, then is the avenue to the divine influence and free gift of salvation.

            Access = Greek [prosagwgh] prosagoge, pros-ag-ogue-ay' … admission:--access

           By = Greek [ek] ekek or ex ex a primary preposition denoting origin (the point whence action or motion proceeds), from, out (of place, time, or cause; literal or figurative; direct or remote):--after, ... by (the means of), exceedingly ..., (because, by reason) of, off (from), on, out among (from, of), ... through, X unto, X vehemently ....

        It is through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus that we are justified freely by the divine influence of God. How do we access this divine influence? By faith! By believing! We believe the Word of God that is Spirit and life. The Spirit of God anoints His Word. It draws us and we believe and receive. We then are given access to the divine influence to continue to influence our lives, leading and guiding us in the path of righteousness.

                  How did they believe? Through grace –    

            This grace does come to us freely because of what Jesus did for us out of His love for us. But it includes the divine influence of the holy Spirit and its reflection in our lives.

            Who has this grace appeared to? ALL MEN!

Titus 2:11 For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,

            What does it do? IT BRINGS SALVATION! And it comes freely!

            How does this happen? BY THE DIVINE INFLUENCE UPON THE HEART - GRACE!

            ALL MEN receive that divine influence upon their heart through the hearing Word of God (Jesus).

            Matthew 11:15 He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.

You choose. If you have ears that want to hear, you can hear!

Luke 8:8 … And when he had said these things, he cried, He that hath ears to hear, let him hear

           Ephesians 2:7 That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in                 his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.

            How does the Father show us the exceeding riches of His grace? - Through Jesus Christ. The divine influence of God, the holy Spirit, works through Jesus Christ the Word (gospel of Jesus Christ).

            Romans 10:11-16 For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.

            Here is that word 'WHOSOEVER' again.

           12 For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is                    rich unto all that call upon him.

Hold on! ALL that call on Him? I don’t have to wait to see if I am one of the ones God will draw? No! You call on Him and He will hear! You draw nigh to Him and He is going to draw nigh to you! You hear His word and it will draw you! It is the word that comes right out of the mouth of God and it is powerful! It is the power of God!

            13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

            14 How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they                     believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?

            Notice the question. How are they going to believe on Him when they haven't 'heard' of Him?

          Does it say, when they have not been drawn? No! It says that they must hear in order to believe. Hear what? His Words!

            John 6:63 It is the spirit that quickeneth; ... the words that I speak unto you, they are                          spirit, and they are life.

            Praise be to God! It is the words OF JESUS, that are spirit and life! It is the Spirit that quickens (makes alive).

            15 And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet              of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!

            16 But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our                   report?

            Some heard the living Word and still did not believe.

            Ephesians 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the                  gift of God

            The gift of salvation is free and so is the divine influence upon the heart (grace). Yet grace can be received in vain, as also the Spirit of God can be quenched.

            2 Corinthians 6:1 We then, as workers together with him, beseech you also that ye receive not             the grace of God in vain

            Do not receive the divine influence of the Holy Spirit which is called grace – in vain!

            So, we are called or drawn through the gospel into the grace of Christ. If we believe - that is- have faith, then we receive or enter into grace.

            Galatians 1:6 I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of              Christ unto another gospel:

            Who called them? Was it not the Father, through the channel of Jesus Christ, the Word that proceeds from the mouth of God? And called them to what? Into the grace, that divine influence of the Holy Spirit!

            And yet some had been called by God and were soon removed from Him to another - what? - another gospel. The gospel of Jesus Christ is the power of God unto salvation and yet they left the one who had called them and went another way.

            When the gospel is preached, it is Jesus the Word that is preached. When the good news that Jesus has been lifted up from the earth through His death and resurrection is heard the living Word draws man to believe. If he believes, then he receives the divine influence and is drawn by the Father unto Himself. And the Father gives those who believe and receive to His Son.

            If they would have drawn nigh to God, when Jesus drew them by His Word, His gospel, by believing His living Word (Jesus Christ) then by their faith, they would have had access to God the Father who is one with the Son, and to that continuing divine influence, which is grace.

              Ephesians 1:7 In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins,                        according to the riches of his grace;

             Ephesians 2:5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened (made us alive) us together                 with  Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)

   Ephesians 2:10 …by grace are ye saved

            How are you saved? By grace, the divine influence of God, which is freely given to those who believe.

            Now notice these steps -

            Colossians 1:4 Since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus, and of the love which ye have to              all the saints,

            First there was faith in Jesus who is the way to salvation; the voice of truth.

            Colossians 1:5 For the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, whereof ye heard before in                  the word of the truth of the gospel;

            Where did they hear of this hope? In the word of truth – Truth of what?  Truth of the gospel

           

           Colossians 1:6 Which is come unto you, as it is in all the world; and bringeth forth fruit, as                 it doth also in you, since the day ye heard of it, and knew the grace of God in truth:

            They knew the divine influence of God that was freely given. And this hope which they heard of in the gospel, came not only to them but also in all the world. But for those who believed the gospel, grace was received. They then 'knew' the grace of God, His free gift, and His influence on their hearts – in truth.

            As was spoken in Deut. So, it is yet today. God sets before us life and death but it is up to us to choose.

          Deuteronomy 30:19 I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set                    before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy               seed may live:

          Matthew 23:37 O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which             are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen                      gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!

            Jesus was willing to have gathered them close, but they chose not to come.

John 6:37 All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.

           

            Who is it that the Father gives to the Son? All those that come to Him. All who come by faith, through the living Word; all those who draw nigh to God. And everyone who - Romans 10:13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

                                           EVERY MAN!

                     God also reveals the truth of His existence through nature.

Romans 1:20 For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen,   being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:

            Notice it does not say that their excuse for not turning to Him was that God did not draw them. Rather it says they are without excuse, because even the invisible things of God are clearly seen by the things God has made.

            Nature itself tells man the truth that God exists. Even those things that we cannot see with our eyes, can be seen and understood by the things of nature which God made. But not only can the fact of God's existence be seen by nature, but even His eternal power and the Godhead.

            Nature itself gives man a clear reason to believe.

            How do we know that we are 'in' Christ? We know because we keep His Word and His love is perfected in us, not because we felt some sensational drawing.

            1 John 2:5 But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby                    know we that we are in him.

             John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever                  believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

            Whosoever = (Strong's) - Greek [paV] pas pas ... all, any, every, the whole:--all (manner of, means), alway(-s), any (one), X daily, + ever, every (one, way), as many as, + no(-thing), X thoroughly, whatsoever, whole, whosoever.

            Believeth = NT – Greek [pisteuw] pisteuo pist-yoo'-o ... ; to have faith (in, upon, or with respect to, a person or thing), i.e. credit; by implication, to entrust (especially one's spiritual well-being to Christ):--believe(-r), commit (to trust), put in trust with.

            Matthew 11:28 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

            Hebrews 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must             believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him

Proverbs 1:24 Because I have called, and ye refused; I have stretched out my hand, and no man regarded;

 Romans 10:6-11 But the righteousness which is of faith speaketh on this wise, Say not in thine             heart, Who shall ascend into heaven? (that is, to bring Christ down from above:)

7 Or, Who shall descend into the deep? (that is, to bring up Christ again from the dead.)

 8 But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach;

 9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that     10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made   unto salvation.

11 For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.

            Righteousness, which is of faith speaks! And what does it say?

            It says that - something is near to you. It is in your mouth. It is in your heart. What is it?

            It is the Word which the apostles preached.

                                       What was the Word that they preached?

            They preached that if you confess the Lord Jesus Christ - and - if you believe in your heart that    God hath raised him from the dead, you shall be saved.

            Why? Because it is with the heart that a man believes unto righteousness - and - it is with the mouth that confession is made unto salvation.

            The scripture had already said that - 'Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.'

            The man who truly believes the Word of God that he hears, and admits that it is true, will act on that Word, repent and be saved.

            Why? Because that Word is the power of God unto salvation. God will draw that man through His Word, through the grace, or that divine influence upon his heart.

                               CHOOSE YOU THIS DY WHOM YOU WILL SERVE

           

 Revelation 22:17 And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come.     And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.

Mark 16:15 And he said to them.”Go into all the world and proclaim the godsel to the whole creation.

Death Has No Hold - Comfort One Another With These Words

Death Has No Hold – 1 Thessalonians 4

Acts 2:24 Whom God hath raised up, having loosed the pains of death: because it was not possible that he should be holden of it.

Holden – (Strong’s) – krateo, krat-eh'-o - to use strength, i.e. seize or retain (literally or figuratively):--hold (by, fast), keep, lay hand (hold) on, obtain, retain, take (by).

Death could not hold Jesus and it cannot hold us. When you are gluing something, you want it to be able to ‘hold,’ or stick tightly. When we think of death in this sense, in the sense of being able to hold on to us or retain us, we know that this is impossible, because Jesus has defeated death.

            Death is a word that we use a lot even in life, because death means the ending or dissolving of something. It means separation. So, we say things like ‘My faith has died, our love has died, my hope has died, the relationship died, my ambition died,” etc. The wonderful thing is that for the child of God there is no kind of death, whether mental, emotional or any other sort that has the power to hold onto us when God chooses to remove its power and free us from its hold!

            Absolutely no kind of death can hold on when God frees us from it. God has power and gives victory over all death. He is the restorer of life.

            But what about physical death? Most Christians believe that death cannot hold them forever, that in fact, when they die their spirit goes to be with the Lord and that in the resurrection they will have a new body and live eternally. But what about our connection to our loved ones after death? Will those relationships be dead forever? Will that matter to us? Does it matter to God? Or are we only to care that we will be with God and not be concerned with those who have gone before, finding all satisfaction in being with and praising God?

            A whole book could be written about such things, but for now, I want to zone in on one particular portion of scripture that tells us so much and holds so much comfort. Scriptures where a treasure seems to have been hidden form many for a long time.

I have heard this portion of scripture read from different pulpits when the preacher was going to preach on the rapture. It wasn’t until my husband and little daughter had gone to be with the Lord that I read these verses in context and saw what I had never heard taught in my life. There it was, said so plainly written, and yet I had never seen it. The apostle Paul had said plainly for us to comfort one another with what he was saying.

1 Thessalonians 4:18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words.

 But no one had ever comforted me with these words. Perhaps, however, I can obey and comfort you.

            Before Paul described the rapture in 1 Thessalonians chapter 4, he prefaced his discourse with some very important words. We find these words in verse 13. Listen closely to what he has to say. – 13 But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.

            He begins by saying that there is something he wants us to know and not be ignorant about. It is something concerning those who are ‘asleep.’ This is a term used to describe those who are born again and die physically. It is an appropriate word, since those who belong to Christ when they die, will one day be getting back up just as a person wakes after sleep.

            So, Paul does not want us to be ignorant of something concerning those we love who have died. And he wants us to have the information he is about to give so that we will not sorrow in the way that others sorrow when their loved ones pass because they do not have the hope that Paul wants us to know is ours.

            So then, the very topic of Paul’s discourse is a hope that believers should have concerning their loved ones who go to heaven before them. And he goes on to lay out for us, in a step by step fashion what is going to happen that is our ‘hope.’ Take a careful look. Here we go -

1 Thessalonians 4:13 But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.

14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.

Verse 14 begins with telling us that if we believe that Jesus both died and rose again ‘even so,’ or in like manner, Jesus is going to bring those who ‘sleep’ in Him – with Him at the time of the rapture!

Yes! Did you know this about the rapture? Look and see!

This is very important to the message Paul is giving, but far too often it is overlooked. What does he mean, Christ will bring them with Him? Let’s consider the answer to this before going on to see the next steps in what Paul is saying is going to occur.

            We are told in - 2 Corinthians 5:8 We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.

            So then, Paul is telling us that when Jesus comes, God will be bringing our loved ones ‘with’ Him. It is their spirit that is ‘with’ Him even while the body is in the grave. But when the Christ appears in the clouds, our loved ones (their spirits) will be ‘with’ Him.

… even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.

            In the Greek, ‘even so’ actually means - Even so (Strong’s) = houto, hoo'-to… in this way (referring to what precedes or follows):--after that, after (in) this manner, as, even (so), for all that, like(-wise), no more, on this fashion(-wise), so (in like manner), thus, what.

In the same way that Jesus died and rose again, God is going to bring those who sleep in Jesus with Him. When Jesus died, His spirit went to His Father, but for Jesus to rise from the dead, His spirit had to re-enter His body.

Now watch!

15 For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.

This word ‘prevent,’ is important to the message Paul is giving. The meaning of this word is nothing like the meaning we give it in the English language. Perhaps the King’s English, when the Bible was being translated used this word differently that we do today. But in the Greek it comes from the word – phthano, fthan'-o and it means (Strong’s) - … to be beforehand, i.e. anticipate or precede; by extension, to have arrived at:--(already) attain, come, prevent.

Those of us who are alive at the time of the Lord’s coming are not going to precede, or go up to the Lord, before or ahead of those who have been asleep. Now Paul goes on to explain the steps to what is going to take place. And when we see what he is telling us, we should be comforted.

16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:

            Our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, is going to descend from heaven. Those who have been ‘asleep’ will be brought (their spirits) with Him. There will be a shout, with the voice of the archangel. There will be the trump of God, and when this happens something wonderful and amazing is going to take place. Those who were physically dead are going to rise. BUT WAIT – not rise into the air as one might think if they do not look closer. NOT YET! And this is vitally important to the information Paul is explaining that he does not want us to be ignorant of! As a matter of fact, this word ‘rise’ here is a very different word than what is used when we are said to be ‘caught up’ into the air. This word ‘rise’ is translated from the Greek word – anistemi, an-is'-tay-mee - … to stand up (literal or figurative, transitive or intransitive):--arise, lift up, raise up (again), rise (again), stand up(-right).

This is the same word used in Matthew 20:19 speaking of Jesus ‘rising’ from the dead, before He ascended to the Father.

Matthew 20:19 And shall deliver him to the Gentiles to mock, and to scourge, and to crucify him: and the third day he shall rise again.

On the third day, Jesus came out of the grave. His body rose and stood up again. Now we are being told that when Jesus comes with a shout, the voice of the archangel and the sound of the trumpet, our loved ones are going to stand up again as He did. Now hold on! Their bodies could not stand up alive once again unless their spirits, that had been in heaven with the Lord, re-entered their bodies. This is why God brings them with Jesus when he comes! That spirit returns to his body. When that happens, they are going to stand up again- first- or before the next thing happens. What is that?

17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.

First, they stand up alive once again and THEN – OH! THEN! – those who were already alive when Jesus comes – shall be caught up! But caught up how? TOGETHER WITH THEM! Do you see what is being said?

Paul wants us to know that when the trump of God sounds and the dead in Christ rise out of their graves there is going to be a blessed reunion and we are not going to be caught up into the air to meet the Lord before nor after our loved ones. But we are leaving earth – TOGETHER – to meet the Lord in the air.

This was important enough for the apostle Paul to want us to have this information and not be ignorant of these facts. Sure, he does describe the rapture in these verses, but his point, the thing he did not want us to be ignorant of, had to do with those who had died before us. He wanted us to know something that would be a comfort to us concerning them.

Look! Jesus is coming in glory! He is coming for His church! But when He comes, He will bringing the spirits of those who have gone before us so that they can rise out of their graves alive, well and changed to immortality.

1 Corinthians 15:51-52 Behold I show you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed.

52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.

How often have we read these words, but at the same time, been totally unaware of the fact that when the dead rise from their sleeping places, and are changed to immortality as we will be, that God has planned for us to go with them - together – to meet the Lord? It seems that Paul, as well as our heavenly Father, understood the love we have for each other and the importance of the relationships He has given us. He does not take it lightly. So, Paul makes point to let us know that when the Lord comes, our relationships do not become unimportant nor our love for each other lose its value. God gives us the love we have for our family members and all our precious each others. He gave that love and is able to preserve it. This love we have for each other is God given love and not even death can defeat that love.

So, Paul wants us to know that when our Lord comes, we will be reunited with our loved ones and go with them to meet the Lord in the air.

Together with them we will be caught up, which in the Greek is – harpazo, har-pad'-zo - … to seize (in various applications):--catch (away, up), pluck, pull, take (by force).

17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.

The steps –

1 - Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God

2 - them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.

2 -and the dead in Christ shall rise first: - the spirit re-enters our loved ones and they stand up alive once again and changed to immortality.

3- After our loved ones rise from the dead, we and they – together – will be seized, taken by force, by the power of Almighty God, and taken to meet the Lord in the air!

But I believe there is more that Paul wanted us to know! After telling us that we would be caught up to meet the Lord ‘with’ our loved ones, he went on to say - “so shall we ever be with the Lord.”

The very first meaning given for the word ‘so’ in this verse – “so shall we ever be with the Lord,” is ‘in this way.

In the Greek, the word ‘so’ is -  (Strong’s) - Houto, hoo'-to, … in this way (referring to what precedes or follows):--after that, after (in) this manner, as, even (so), for all that, like(-wise), no more, on this fashion(-wise), so (in like manner), thus, what.

            I believe Paul is telling us that in this way, or that is to say - together- we will ever be with the Lord. Or in other words, when we are with the Lord forever, we will also be with our loved ones. God chose to cause our loved ones to come to life again changed to immortality. He chose to change us to immortality. And He chose to reunite us with our loved ones and cause us to leave earth ‘together’ to meet our Lord in the air. And together we will be with Him eternally.

            We had a temporary separation from those who died before us, but we will be with them, with the Lord, forever and nothing will separate us again. God is reunite us even before we are caught up into the air in the rapture.

            And Paul said we were to comfort one another with these truths.

18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words.

Wherefore or therefore, because of or in light of the information Paul just gave, we are to comfort one another with these words.

Wherefore – Greek – hoste, hoce'-the - … so too, i.e. thus therefore (in various relations of consecution, as follow):--(insomuch) as, so that (then), (insomuch) that, therefore, to, wherefore.

https://www.dictionary.com/browse/wherefore  wherefore  - 2 for that cause or reason: - noun  3 the cause or reason:

YES! When we read these verses of scripture, we should rejoice in the message that there is going to be a rapture! But the very point of Paul’s discourse was to tell us something about our loved ones and our reuniting with them, alive and well, and being caught up to our Lord ‘with’ them, and remaining ‘with’ them in the presence of the Lord forever. He wanted us to know these things because this is a hope that unbelievers do not have. It is a comfort and hope we are to have and hold onto! And it is a knowledge we are to share with each other to comfort each other’s hearts.

When a loved one dies, our hearts are broken. But we need never use the term ‘lost’ as though to say that we have ‘lost’ that person. We have not lost them. We know where they are and are going to be with them again. We might sorrow with the thought of all the long days and nights we think are ahead for us without them near us. But while we are thinking such thoughts and bearing the accompanying pain, our Lord could appear with that shout, that voice of the archangel and the sound of the trumpet. It could be this very day! We have no guarantee that we will be living many days away from our loved ones. We might see them today.

But if not today, we only need to today, live one day at a time, and live it bringing glory to our Lord, knowing it could be the last day before we see our Lord face to face and are caught up into the air ‘with’ those who have gone before. So, let us praise Him today for what is coming at any moment!