https://www.facebook.com/sing.f.lau/posts/10217807520475191
November
21, 2020
#two_distinct_comings
There
are two distinct comings to Christ
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."
TWO
distinct comings are spoken of:
- The
first coming involves the complete number of God's elect: 'all that the Father
giveth me shall come to me.' Note the simple present tense "giveth" -
this speaks of the Father's ongoing work of effectual calling individual elect.
This is distinct from "all which he (Father) hath given me...." That
means that not a single elect will fail to come to Christ in this manner. This
is the coming to Christ as the effect of the effectual call of God, by His
Spirit and the eternal Word. It is this effectual call alone that guarantees
ALL that the Father GIVES to Christ (in the effectual call out of the state of
sin and death to that of grace and salvation) shall come to Christ, shall be
united to Christ. God, by Him sovereign almighty power, does the calling, and
each elect is called out of the state of sin and death, brought to
righteousness and eternal life in Christ Jesus.
John
6:45 "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." [This coming is true of every elect... since every elect is
taught of God at effectual calling].
Heb
10:15 "Whereof the Holy Ghost also is a witness to us: for after that he
had said before,16 This is the covenant that I will make with them after those
days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds
will I write them."
- The
second coming in the same verse deals with each individual child of God - whom
God Himself has drawn and united to Christ in the effectual calling - who do
hear the gospel call and come to Christ. The words 'him that cometh to me I
will in no wise cast out' are obviously said to encourage and comfort those
weary, heavy laden, and hesitating souls to personally and consciously draw
nigh to Christ and rest in Him. If these words refer to each elect being drawn
to Christ by the sovereign act of God, then these words of comfort and
assurance are rendered incomprehensible and meaningless.
There
are two comings: the coming to Christ by the effectual call of God, and the
coming to Christ through the gospel call of a preacher.
Of
the first coming, each and every elect of God will come unto Christ through
God's sovereign act of effectual calling. John 6:45 speaks of the same.
Of
the second coming, each and everyone who hears and believes the gospel comes to
Christ through faith in Him.
