July 29, Evening

C. H. Spurgeon · Modern retelling

"All that the Father giveth Me shall come to Me." — John 6:37 · KJV

This declaration involves the doctrine of election: there are some whom the Father gave to Christ. It involves effectual calling: those who are given must and shall come; however stoutly they set themselves against it, they shall be brought out of darkness into God's marvelous light. It teaches the indispensable necessity of faith, for even those given to Christ are not saved unless they come to Jesus; there is no other way to heaven but by the door, Christ Jesus. Oh, the power in the words "shall come"! He does not say they may come if they will, but they "shall come." The Lord Jesus, by His messengers, His word, and His Spirit, sweetly and graciously compels men to come in and eat of His marriage supper — not by any violation of man's free agency, but by the power of His grace. I may sway another man's will, and yet that will remain perfectly free, because the constraint accords with the laws of the mind. Yahweh Jesus knows how, by irresistible arguments to the understanding, by mighty reasons appealing to the affections, and by the mysterious influence of His Holy Spirit, so to subdue the whole man that, once rebellious, he now yields cheerfully to His government, conquered by sovereign love. But how shall those whom God has chosen be known? By this: they willingly and joyfully accept Christ and come to Him with simple, unfeigned faith, resting upon Him as all their salvation and all their desire. Reader, have you thus come to Jesus?