John’s Intent, Spurgeon’s Advice

The Gospel of John holds two things in tension. On one hand, the purpose of the Gospel is that its readers would believe, as John says clearly in Chapter 20, verse 31: 

… these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.

On the other hand, we find teachings that are incredibly hard for unbelievers to handle, such as what Jesus says in Chapter 6, verse 65:

This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless it is granted him by the Father.

Jesus said this twice already, 

Verse 37: All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out.

Verse 44: No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him. …

So John has written so that we readers believe, even as he tells us that only those drawn by the Father will believe. You would think if he was really trying to persuade people that he’d leave that second part out! But John knows better.

Spurgeon does, too. 

In his classic book, The Soul Winner, Charles Spurgeon admonishes pastors not to mistake evangelistic endeavors to require we leave out the doctrines of the gospel. He writes, 

Teach gospel doctrines clearly, affectionately, simply, and plainly, and especially those truths which have a present and practical bearing upon man’s condition and God’s grace. … He who sent us to win souls neither permits us to invent falsehoods, nor to suppress truth. (22–23)

I consider the whole Gospel of John an evangelistic endeavor, and I consider “effectual calling” to be a gospel doctrine, and so, true to the apostle’s intent, and taking Spurgeon’s advice, I’m going for both this Sunday. Pray for the sermon, that the Father would draw the lost and secure the saved!