Joh_8:47 - Self-Righteous Lost Sinners Do Not Hear God

14. John 8:47 - Self-Righteous Lost Sinners Do Not Hear God.

“He that is of God heareth God's words; ye therefore hear them not, because ye are not of God.”- John 8:47 In examining the reasoning of the exponents of election concerning this verse, they assert that because the ones spoken of were “not of God”--that is, not chosen by God to believe--they could not hear God's Word. In other words, it was impossible for them to believe because they were not elected of God to be saved.

Let us examine John 8:1-59.  Jesus went into the temple in John 8:2 and did not leave the temple until John 8:59.  This is important to recognize as we find in John 8:3 He is addressing the scribes and the Pharisees:

“And the scribes and Pharisees brought unto him a woman taken in adultery…”

It is important to recognize that He is addressing the scribes and the Pharisees. These are the self-righteous hypocrites, their character being completely exposed in Matthew 23:1-39.  Christ revealed to them that He was God in human flesh, their Messiah.  Let us notice John 8:24 :

“I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins.”

If they rejected Him as Savior they would; therefore, “die in their sins.” Then Christ stated in John 8:45 :

“And because I tell you the truth, ye believe me not.” The reason they “believed not” was that they wanted to justify themselves. We find this substantiated in Luke 16:14-15 where we read:

“And the Pharisees also, who were covetous, heard all these things: and they derided him (Christ). (14) And he said unto them, ye are they which justify yourselves before men; but God knoweth your hearts...” (15)

God did not infringe upon their free will.  They refused to believe because they were self-righteous and would continue to justify themselves before men.  In other words, they were too righteous to need a Savior.  We might also point out that it would have been purposeless for Christ to walk to or waste any time with them if they were already elected to be lost.  God's will is still that:

“All men should honor the Son (Christ), even as they honor the Father.” - John 5:23

All one has to do to find the proper interpretation of John 8:47 is to read the entire eighth chapter of John.  Again, may I emphasize the reason they “believed not” was because they wanted to justify themselves.  This was their choice, their free will and the reason behind rejecting Christ.  No, God did not elect them to be lost and it is false to say it was impossible for them to believe.  God gave them the choice as His will is stated in John 5:23 :

“That all men should honor the Son…”

They chose to reject God's will by their own free will.