The concept of God drawing people to salvation is found throughout Scripture. Here are some key things the Bible teaches about how God draws people to be saved:
1. All people are sinful and separated from God
The Bible is clear that all human beings are sinful by nature (Romans 3:23) and are alienated from God because of their sin (Colossians 1:21). On our own, none of us seeks after God or desires relationship with Him (Romans 3:11). We are lost, blind, and dead in our transgressions (Ephesians 2:1-3). So God must take the initiative to reconcile us to Himself.
2. God draws people through the gospel message
God draws people to salvation by presenting the gospel message to them. This includes sharing the facts about who Jesus is and what He accomplished through His sinless life, death on the cross, and resurrection from the dead (1 Corinthians 15:3-4). God uses the proclamation of this good news to open people’s eyes to the truth and draw them to put their faith in Christ (Romans 10:14-17).
3. The Holy Spirit convicts people of sin
A key part of how God draws people is through the convicting work of the Holy Spirit. Jesus said the Spirit would convict the world of sin, righteousness and judgment (John 16:8). As people hear the gospel, the Spirit works in their hearts to help them recognize their sinfulness and need for a Savior. He draws them toward repentance and faith.
4. God opens people’s hearts to respond
The Bible makes it clear that people will not respond to the gospel on their own (1 Corinthians 2:14). So God Himself must open people’s hearts to heed the gospel message and be saved. This is what happened with Lydia in Acts 16:14. As Paul preached the gospel to her, the Lord opened her heart to respond positively.
5. God draws people to Himself
Jesus said “No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him” (John 6:44). So God the Father takes the initiative to draw people to Jesus. He does this by enabling them to respond willingly and freely to the gospel call. They do not come against their will but because God has worked in their hearts (Philippians 2:12-13).
6. God’s drawing is resistible
An important thing to note is that while God draws people to Himself, He does not force anyone against their will. The Bible shows people resisting and rejecting God’s appeals (Acts 7:51; Proverbs 1:24). God woos and urges but does not coerce. His drawing can be resisted by continued unbelief and hardness of heart.
7. None would be saved apart from God’s drawing
Left to themselves, all people would persist in sin and unbelief (Romans 3:11). So God in His grace takes the initiative to draw people and enable them to come to Him. Salvation is entirely His work from first to last (Jonah 2:9; Ephesians 2:8-9). Unless God draws us, awakens our hearts, and gives us new life, none would be saved.
8. God’s drawing is personal and individual
The way God draws people is personal and tailored to each individual. Jesus said, “when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself” (John 12:32). God meets us where we are and draws us to Himself through conviction of sin, revelation of Christ, and the gospel call.
9. God’s drawing results in salvation
God’s drawing does not fail to accomplish its intended purpose. Jesus said, “All that the Father gives me will come to me” (John 6:37). Everyone the Father draws eventually comes to salvation. They hear Christ’s voice, follow Him, and receive eternal life (John 10:27-28).
In summary, God draws people to salvation by externally presenting the gospel message to them and internally working in their hearts to convict them of sin and open their eyes to the truth. This gracious drawing results infallibly in salvation for all who are appointed to eternal life.
10. We should pray for God to draw people
Since it is God who draws people to salvation, we should be diligent to pray that He would draw more and more people to Himself. We can ask Him to send out more laborers to proclaim the gospel (Matthew 9:38). And we should plead with Him to convict and open hard hearts, just as Lydia’s heart was opened in Acts 16:14. Salvation is God’s work, so we must continually look to Him in prayer.
11. We should proclaim the gospel as God’s means of drawing
While prayer is vital, God has also ordained that the gospel proclamation will be the means He uses to draw people to salvation. Since “faith comes from hearing” (Romans 10:17), we must faithfully preach the gospel far and wide. We can have confidence that as we bring the message, God will use it to draw many to repentance and eternal life.
12. God draws all types of people
The Bible shows that God does not just draw certain types of people. He draws men, women, young, old, rich, poor, moral, immoral – people from every nation and background. His saving call goes out to all, and anyone who hears and responds will be saved (Revelation 22:17). No one is beyond the reach of God’s drawing power.
13. We cannot earn or merit God’s drawing
One thing that is clear in Scripture is that there is nothing we can do to earn or merit God’s drawing. Salvation is entirely by His grace and initiative. There is no one who seeks God on their own or does good works to get His favor (Romans 3:10-12; Ephesians 2:8-9). We can only humbly wait for Him to graciously draw us.
14. God draws us for His glory
Why does God draw some people and not others? Scripture does not answer this specifically. But it does make clear that God does all things for His own glory and praise (Ephesians 1:3-6). The salvation of sinners supremely showcases the riches of God’s grace. He draws people to magnify His great name.
15. God’s drawing is a call to respond
When God draws us, this should move us to immediate action. We must repent and believe the gospel (Mark 1:15). His drawing is a call to come to the light, follow Christ, and gain eternal life while there is still time (John 12:36). Today is the day of salvation – we must not harden our hearts but wholeheartedly obey the gospel call (Hebrews 3:7-8).
In conclusion, God in His grace takes the initiative to draw sinful people to salvation. He does this externally through the gospel message and internally by convicting hearts and opening eyes to the truth. This wooing can be resisted but does infallibly result in salvation for some. Our response must be humble prayer and faithful gospel proclamation, trusting God to use it to draw many lost sinners to saving faith for His glory.
