Because of the depravity or spiritual death of man ! 2
There is a parable by the Lord that Illustates that man by nature cannot and will not come to Christ unless he supernaturally compelled . Lk 14:16-23
16 Then said he unto him, A certain man made a great supper, and bade many:
17 And sent his servant at supper time to say to them that were bidden, Come; for all things are now ready.
18 And they all with one consent began to make excuse. The first said unto him, I have bought a piece of ground, and I must needs go and see it: I pray thee have me excused.
19 And another said, I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I go to prove them: I pray thee have me excused.
20 And another said, I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come.
21 So that servant came, and shewed his lord these things. Then the master of the house being angry said to his servant, Go out quickly into the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in hither the poor, and the maimed, and the halt, and the blind.
22 And the servant said, Lord, it is done as thou hast commanded, and yet there is room.
23 And the lord said unto the servant, Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled.
Now notice that by a simple call to the supper that men made excuses not to come, but notice when the Master commanded that the servant in Vs 21 to go and
BRING IN the Guest, it was different ! It was not up to the natural will of the guest, they WERE BROUGHT IN !
The words
bring in here in the greek is Eisago and means:
to lead in
to bring in,
The words mean
to cause to come
Its no longer up to the one being summoned to refuse, he or she must be caused to come, which is a blessing Ps 65:4
Blessed is the man whom thou
choosest,
and causest to approach unto thee, that he may dwell in thy courts: we shall be satisfied with the goodness of thy house, even of thy holy temple.
Now no doubt those in Lk 14:21 being lead in are those God has chosen, His Own Elect !
But now notice, there still was room for more guest, and the Master again told the servant to now go out and COMPEL them to come in Lk 14:23
And the lord said unto the servant, Go out into the highways and hedges,
and compel them to come in , that my house may be filled .
Folks, The Master is not leaving it up to anyone's freewill, its strictly what His Will is, compel them to come in until His House was filled !
Now the word compel here is to be noted, its the greek word Anagkazo:
to necessitate,
compel, drive to
, constrain by force, threats, etc.
by permission,
entreaties, etc.
by other means
This is a strong word and it basically means to bring them under your power and control and bring them in.
In fact its Illustrated here 2 Cor 5:19-20
19 To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.
20 Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did
beseech you by us:
we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God.
This " be ye reconciled" is actually a imperative, but its in the passive voice, the ones being beseeched are at the same time by the power of the Gospel, being turned to or brought in, or compelled !
Its an imperative being issued, not a asking or giving a choice, Just like the servant was commissioned by the Master to do Lk 14:23
23 And the lord said unto the servant, Go out into the highways and hedges,
and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled.
Yes, 2 Cor 5:20 Illustrates what is being told to do in Lk 14:23 !
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