By: Robert Serreyn

Question? Is John 12:39 & 40 suggesting predestination?

(John 12:39,40) Therefore they could not believe, because that Esaias said again,
(40) He hath blinded their eyes, and hardened their heart; that they should not see with their eyes, nor understand with their heart, and be converted, and I should heal them.

Answer: NO,

To understand what V39 an 40 are speaking about lets look at some other verses.

V32

And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me.

NOTICE: Will draw all men unto me.

(2 Peter 3:9)

The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

NOTICE: Not willing that any should perish.

In Verses 30 to 40 the Apostle John is NOT SAYING that some are slected to be saved and others are not (predestinated), What he is saying is BECAUSE OF UNBELIEF their minds (hearts) have become hardened and REFUSE to believe just like in Isaiah’s day.

(Matthew 13:14,15) And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Esaias, which saith, By hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and shall not perceive: (15) For this people’s heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them.

God DOES NOT hamper a person’s ability to believe.

In fact if you read V42 & V43 of John Chapter 12 MANY of the Chief Rulers DID BELIEVE on Christ, BUT they were more concerned about what man thought then letting others know (confess) that they DID BELIEVE Christ was the Messiah who was going to be crucified and die as payment for their sins.

(John 12:42,43) Nevertheless among the chief rulers also many believed on him; but because of the Pharisees they did not confess him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue: (43) For they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God.

People since the fall of Adam and Eve have REFUSED to trust in Jesus Christ ALONE for their salvation.

NOTICE: in Matthew Chp.13:15 “Their eyes they have closed” (THEY chose to NOT TO BELIEVE by their OWN free will).

Christ DRAWS ALL MEN THROUGH THE GOSPEL, and is NOT WILLING that any should perish.

(1 Corinthians 15:1 -4) Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; (2) By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. (3) For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; (4) And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures.

(Romans 10:17) So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

Satan WANTS people to think that their Good Works are a necessary part of their salvation or let them think that God saw something a little more special about them and chose them to be saved.

(John 8:44) Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.

The Bible states in John 1:12

(John 1:12) But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name.

God WANTS EVERYONE to go to heaven and as John 1:12 says But as many as received him, that means to believe on Christ and his payment on the cross for your sins ALONE.

EVERYONE CAN BE SAVED if they just place their TRUST ALONE in Christ.

The MOST IMPORTANT thing to know IS Jesus Christ as savior, just simply believe that Jesus Christ went to the cross and DIED and shed his blood, was BURIED and three days later RESURRECTED from the dead to pay for your sins.

-Christ DIED for you – Romans 5:8

-Christ PAID your sins in full – 2 Corinthians 5:21,1 Peter 2:24

-BELIEVE (Trust In Completely) in Christ ALONE as the complete payment of sin for salvation – John 3:16, Acts 16:31, Ephesians 2:8,9

“For the wages(payment) of sin is death (eternal torment in hell); but the GIFT(salvation) of God is eternal life THROUGH Jesus Christ our Lord”. Romans 6:23

IT IS THAT SIMPLE – THE GOSPEL TRUTH