R.C. Sproul

Now let's look at that.

What does it teach explicitly?

It explicitly says something about human ability to respond to Jesus, to come to Jesus.

And Jesus begins with a statement that we would classify in logic as a universal negative.

No man.

And it says, it uses next the word can't.

We know there's a difference in our language between can and may.

It's one of the ones we mix up all the time, and mothers are forever correcting their children when they say, can I go outside and play this afternoon?

Mother says, I'm sure you can.

The question, however, is not can you, but the question is may you.

Are you allowed?

You certainly have the ability to go outside and play this afternoon, but what you're asking me is for my permission.

And so there's that difference between can, which refers to ability, and may, which refers to permission.

This text is dealing with ability.

No man can, no man is able to do what?

To come to me, Jesus says.

Now, let's just take that one.

No man is able to come to Jesus unless, right?

There's something that has to happen before anybody can come to Jesus.

And what is that something that has to happen?