Drawn by God

"For this reason I have told you that no one can come to me unless it is granted by the Father." - John 6.65

This verse speaks a very simple truth: God must change our hearts; we will never this thing on our own. As a matter of fact, one of the things that I teach often about the gospel is this: if you can wrap yourself around it without a work of the Holy Spirit, then it's something less than the true gospel. It's not that it's necessarily "bad news". It's simply not good enough news. It may be partially true, but it's not the whole truth.

We need the Holy Spirit to draw us to the right relationship with God, but we needn't make it about predestination. We are drawn by God into lives of faith and repentance, and it's his kindness and love that do that. Predestining one group of people for eternity in hell is one of the least loving (or just) things I can think of.

Many of Jesus' disciples left him because they were trying to think their way through this rather than letting God change their hearts (Jn 6.60,66). Peter's declaration in 6.69 stands out by contrast; that's what gives it tremendous meaning and significance. Peter isn't intellectualizing this. He has received the gift that the Holy Spirit holds out for all of us: the desire and ability to let go and be drawn into the Mystery that transforms.