Whose Decision Is It?

Q

I recently read John 6:64-65 and the following question came into my mind, which I would like you to clarify if for me. If God knew in the beginning that some people will not believe Him even if He sent Jesus, then why did He create those people? I mean isn’t it unfair for those people to get the wrath of God?

A

John 6:64-65 reads,

Yet there are some of you who do not believe.” For Jesus had known from the beginning which of them did not believe and who would betray him. He went on to say, “This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless the Father has enabled him.”

Knowing the future is not the same as controlling it. Each human is born with the absolute and free choice to accept or reject the Lord’s death as a full pardon for their sins. Otherwise John 3:16 and John 6:40 can’t be true. Jesus knew who would accept Him and who would reject Him, but it wasn’t His decision, it was theirs. He just knew what their decision would be.

When He said that no one could come to Him unless the Father enabled them, He meant that the faith to believe is a gift from God and is not of ourselves (Ephes. 2:8-9). In Matt. 7:7-8 He said that everyone who asks for it receives it and in Romans 10:13 Paul wrote that all who call upon the name of the Lord will be saved. 2 Peter 3:10 and 1 Tim. 2:1-4 both tell us God wants everyone to be saved. But it’s not His choice, it’s ours.