Whosoever Will

In John 3:16 and other passages, there is a statement of fact made to the effect that whosoever will, may believe on Christ and experience the eternal realities of God and heaven forever.

What precious promises are these to those who have trusted in Christ! Since no man can know who those are who were ordained to believe, until they believe (Acts 13:38), the gospel minister preaches the gospel to every creature, commanding all men everywhere to repent and believe on Christ; giving the assurance that those who do will live with God forever.

But the careful Bible student must ask himself this question: Who will believe on Jesus and be saved? In John 1:12-13 we are plainly told that believing on Christ and receiving Him is not, "Of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God."

In Romans 9:16, it plainly declares that election has nothing to do with, "Him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that showeth mercy."

This dilemma is cleared up in Philippians 2:13, where we are shown that, "It is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of His good pleasure."

Only those who have been sovereignly touched by the hand of God and born of His Spirit (John 3:3-6) will come to Christ (John 6:37).

Luke 22:66-67 And as soon as it was day, the elders of the people and the chief priests and the scribes came together, and led him into their council, saying, Art thou the Christ? tell us. And he said unto them, If I tell you, ye will not believe.

John 6:37 All that the Father giveth me shall come to me