Finally got back on after some server issue I guess...
@marks I did some more review.
After a little more time and thought in prayer on your proposal I still cannot buy into it. Here's why..
Jesus does not now perform the primal function of God’s plan for salvation that initiates the process, to seek him out and open hearts. Jesus performs the sealing process for salvation. Jesus was his perfect sacrifice for all men not both the creator of the sacrifice and the sacrifice himself. Jesus cannot usurp his Father’s most native function of drawing people to himself as even Jesus shall return the Kingdom back to his Father after all the work is completed. It is the Father's heaven and domain, ultimately, not Jesus who shall always give the Father glory.
Jesus does not perform all the choosing of all peoples today, or since his immortality, or even before when after he was risen from the dead by his Father, or as Jesus was resurrected as a rebuilt temple of his Father in 3 days.
These are other reasons.
1. There is no explicit scripture suggesting that the Father gave his son authority for choosing anyone to salvation. Scripture does however say that the Father does the choosing and electing. As is in my OP.
2. Authority in the biblical sense means one is authorized to perform certain tasks or functions established by the one spiritual leader, the one that is truly responsible for them. Since the Father is that leader and source of all works, and all spirits he is still ultimately responsible and must authorize such a drastic change as choosing those to be saved. There is no scripture to support it. He has always chosen and there is no Biblical precedence set for him authorizing salvation to others including his Son.
3. Jesus is authorized all types of functions for all believers and their sustainment, given by the Father and over all men, on earth for the Father’s purpose. He is also in charge of all heavenly creatures and functions. This is what is meant by ‘all authority is given to me on earth and in heaven.’
4. Those scriptures saying explicitly that the Father chose folks to election, of salvation, no matter how ‘loose’ or imprecise the language, should be upheld and takes precedence over any implicit assumptions suggested by yourself.
5. Jesus is the shepherd of his flock of sheep and gathers them from all over the world today. He does not make them sheep and also gathers them to his fold. Then he is more that a shepherd and the head of the body of believers.
6. With your logic that cannot be inspired by the spirit of Christ, Jesus is the creator and gatherer. He is now just not the mediator of his flock or body, he now replaces the Father and is the mediator between himself and himself – the Father is taken out of the loop. He is now not just the high priest, he is now not just the high priest he is also the Father of spirits, as the Father, the only one that deserved glory and true adoration and worship.
7. I believe that if Jesus truly mean in context that he draws all to him from the world it is because his Father first chooses them from all the world for him as the Father has always done since creation, before Christ.
And there is much more…I’ll stop here
I’ll stick to my OP in its current state.
Your truth is yours, not mine Mark
I will leave you with this scripture:
(Joh 17:1) These things spoke Jesus, and lifting up his eyes to Heaven, he said: Father, the hour comes. Glorify Your son, that the son may glorify you,
(Joh 17:2) even as You gave him
authority over all flesh, so that he should give eternal life
to all whom (YOU the Father- my emphasis) You have given him.
The Father still does ALL the choosing and giving souls to Jesus I’m afraid and Jesus seals the deal with his spirit indwelt in ones’ heart for salvation and eternal life. The Father chooses the soul and the other gives the soul eternal life. They work together as one spirit.
BL: In John 12:32b Jesus draws all
believers to himself by his own immortal spirit after they receive his spirit in their hearts. They hear his 'voice' as his body and flock. It's has nothing to do with Jesus, after his resurrection by the Father, to suddenly acquire authority and perform the role of the Father's function of election....all believers are drawn to Jesus' spirit present within each believer...cannot make it much clearer
I'n done here with this thought for now...
Blessings,
APAK