Does my salvation rest on me or God?
Christ the Saviour (Pantokrator), a 6th-century encaustic icon from Saint Catherine's Monastery, Mount Sinai. NB - slightly cut down - for full size see here (Photo credit: Wikipedia ) No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him, and I will raise him up at the last day (John 6:44). The Augustinian doctrine of election is grounded in the fact that man is so sinful, so depraved in his fallenness, that apart from the irresistible grace of God not one could ever turn to Christ . In John 6:25–58, Jesus said, “No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him.” Jesus did not say some people can come, or only a few people; He said no one is able to come to Him. Absolutely no one can come unless God does something first. Notice that Jesus said “can.” Can means “is able,” while may means “has permission.” Jesus did not say that no one has permission to come to Him, or no one may come to Him. Jesus said that no one is able to come to him beca...