No one can come to me unless the
Father who sent me draws him…
John 6:44
Why does it matter if God draws people to Jesus? Because the Bible tells us that no one seeks after God on their own (Rom 3:11).
If God didn’t draw people, nobody would believe the Gospel. No one would receive eternal life because they wouldn’t accept that Jesus’ death could save them and make them right with God.
In other words, it matters very much that God draws people
So, what does the word “draw” mean? What is God doing when He draws people?
Table of Contents
The Greek Word for Draw
According to the Strongest Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible, the Greek word used in John 6:44 is helkyo. It means to drag, draw, pull in.
According to Bible Hub, the Greek word in this verse is helkyse, which means to drag, draw, pull, persuade, or unsheathe.
According to Charlie Bing of Grace Life, the Greek word is elkuo and means draw, pull, or attract.
Bing points out that this Greek word is found five times in the New Testament, four of which are in the gospel of John. The literal uses of this word clearly mean drag or pull (Jn 18:10; 21:6; Acts 16:19), but the figurative uses in John 6:44 and 12:32 can better be understood to mean attract.
However, it’s also possible that God pulls people closer to Jesus when they hear the gospel without forcing them to come. They can, and many do, resist and pull away.
It should be noted that all three Greek words are variations of the Strong’s Greek 1670.
Jesus’ Work On the Cross
John 12:32 And when I am lifted up from the earth, I will draw everyone to myself.
Jesus being “lifted up” refers to His death on the cross. He is saying that His death means that people can have eternal life.
And they can have eternal life because He draws them to believe what His death accomplished for them.
However, eternal life is not guaranteed. In other words, salvation is not universal. The Bible is clear; one must believe (Jn 3:16).
Warren Wiersbe, in The Bible Exposition Commentary, puts it this way:
The phrase “all men” does not suggest universal salvation. It means “all people without distinction,” that is, Jews and Gentiles. He does not force them; He draws them (see Jn 6:44-45). He was “lifted up” that men might find the way (Jn 12:32), know the truth (Jn 8:28), and receive the life (Jn 3:14). The cross reminds us that God loves a whole world and that the task of the church is to take the Gospel to the whole world.
Weirsbe’s quote reminds me of another verse in John’s gospel: Jesus told them, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father but through me” (Jn 14:6).
When unbelievers hear what Jesus did for them, they have an opportunity to believe it because God is drawing them to Jesus, and Jesus is drawing them to Himself.
The Conviction of the Holy Spirit
John 16:8 And when he comes, he will convict the world of its sin, and of God’s righteousness, and of the coming judgment.
So, the Father draws us, not only through Jesus’ death on the cross but also through the Holy Spirit, who convicts us of our sin, God’s righteousness, and the coming judgment.
Jesus promised He would send the Holy Spirit. And He did so on the day of Pentecost after Jesus returned to heaven (Acts 2:1-4). The Holy Spirit lives inside of every believer.
The world’s sin is that it refuses to believe in Jesus. Belief in His saving work on the cross is absolutely necessary for eternal life.
Therefore, when a person is convicted of their sin of unbelief, the Father is drawing them to Jesus. And Jesus is drawing them through His atoning death.
Hearing the Gospel Message – Romans 10:14
Romans 10:14-15 But how can they call on him to save them unless they believe in him? And how can they believe in him if they have never heard about him? And how can they hear about him unless someone tells them? And how can anyone go and tell them without being sent? That is why the Scriptures say, “How beautiful are the feet of messengers who bring good news!”
Another way that God draws people is through them hearing the good news about Jesus. If they don’t hear what Jesus did for them, how can they believe it?
This means that believers must speak up and share the Gospel: that Jesus died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that He was buried and rose again on the third day according to the Scriptures (1 Cor 15:3-4).
He appeared to the disciples and then to five hundred fellow believers. He also appeared to James and all the apostles. And last, Jesus appeared to Saul (later known as the apostle Paul) on the road to Damascus (1 Corinthians 15:5-8; Acts 9:1-6).
Every time a believer shares the Gospel with an unbeliever, God, through the Holy Spirit, draws that person to Jesus. They are given an opportunity to believe and receive eternal life.
RELATED > > > > > Does God Want All People to Be Saved? – 1 Timothy 2:4
Final Thoughts
It’s clear from Scripture that God draws all people to Jesus. And He does it in several different ways:
- Jesus’ death and atoning work on the cross
- The conviction of the Holy Spirit
- Hearing the Gospel message
God draws people so they will be able to respond to Him. Since people will not seek God unless He seeks us first, He does that when He draws us.
He doesn’t force anyone to come to Him or believe in Jesus but enables us to choose freely. What have you chosen?
Hi there
The article beautifully elucidates the profound concept of God’s drawing power in bringing all people to Jesus, as described in John 6:44. It adeptly navigates through the theological intricacies, emphasizing God’s sovereignty in the salvation process while also highlighting humanity’s responsibility to respond to His call. As someone who has studied theology and biblical interpretation, I resonate with the article’s exploration of divine agency and human cooperation in the journey of faith.
Thank you, Troy, for your kind words. I am happy to hear that you also see God’s sovereignty in salvation and human responsibility to respond to His drawing.
God bless,
Lynn