This verse is very important because it states in a few words two of the most important teachings in the Bible. The first is that God has given certain ones to Christ and that all those whom He has given will be saved. The other is the teaching of man's responsibility. In order to be saved, a man must come to the Lord Jesus by faith. God does choose some people to be saved, but the Bible never teaches that He chooses some to be damned. If anyone is saved, it is because of the sovereign grace of God. But if anyone perishes forever, it is by his own deliberate choice. All men are condemned by their own sinfulness. If all men went to hell, they would only be receiving what they deserve. In grace, God stoops down and saves individual people out of the great mass of humanity. Does He have the right to do this? He certainly does. As Sovereign of the universe, God deals in grace, justice, righteousness and love, never doing anything unjust, but often showing favor that is completely unmerited.

Just as the Bible teaches that God has elected certain persons to salvation, it also teaches that man is responsible to accept the gospel. God makes a universal offer—that if a man will believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, he will be saved. God does not save men against their will. A person must come to Him in repentance and faith. Then God will save him. No one who comes to God through Christ will be cast out.

The human mind cannot reconcile these two teachings. However, we should believe them even if we cannot understand them. They are biblical teachings and are clearly stated here.

—Believer's Bible Commentary