Except

EXCEPT

I. DEFINING EXCEPT

A. Webster's Concise Dictionary

Except --- 1. To leave or take out; exclude; omit. 2. To object; take exception; with to. With the exception of; save; but.

1. Informal But for the fact that; only 2. Archaic Unless

B. Old Testament ---Hebrew

1. 03884 luwle' {loo-lay'} or luwley {loo lay'} from 03863 and 03808; TWOT - 1085a; conj prep

AV - except 4, unless 4, If 3, had not 1, were it not 1, were it not that 1; 14

1) unless, if not, except

Genesis 31:42 “Except the God of my father, the God of Abraham, and the fear of Isaac, had been with me, surely thou hadst sent me away now empty. God hath seen mine affliction and the labour of my hands, and rebuked [thee] yesternight.”

2. 0518 'im {eem} a primitive particle; TWOT - 111; conditional part

AV - if, not, or, when, whether, surely, doubtless, while, neither, saving, verily; 43

1) if

1a) conditional clauses

1a1) of possible situations

1a2) of impossible situations

1b) oath contexts

1b1) no, not

1c) if...if, whether...or, whether...or...or

1d) when, whenever

1e) since

1f) interrogative particle

1g) but rather

Genesis 32:26 “And he said, Let me go, for the day breaketh. And he said, I will not let thee go, except thou bless me.”

3. 03808 lo' {lo} or low' {lo} or loh (De 3:11) {lo} a primitive particle; TWOT - 1064; adv

AV - not, no, none, nay, never, neither, ere, otherwise, before; 76

1) not, no

1a) not (with verb - absolute prohibition)

1b) not (with modifier - negation)

1c) nothing (subst)

1d) without (with particle)

1e) before (of time)

Joshua 7:12 “Therefore the children of Israel could not stand before their enemies, [but] turned [their] backs before their enemies, because they were accursed: neither will I be with you any more, except ye destroy the accursed from among you.”

Achan’s sin.

C. New Testament --- Greek

3362 ean me {eh-an' may} from 1437 and 3361;; conj particle 6,

whosoever not + 3739 5, but 3, if no 1, not 1, before 1; 60

1) if not, unless, whoever ... not

II. THE EXCEPT TO COMING TO CHRIST

John 6 :44 “No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.”

John 6:45 “It is written in the prophets, And they shall be all taught of God. Every man therefore that hath heard, and that hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me.”

Isa 54:13 And all thy children shall be taught of the LORD; and great shall be the peace of thy children.

“The Jews thought that they were all chosen by God, by virtue of their old birth.” (David Guzik)

“We like to feel as though we are in charge; and that we are giving ourselves to God. In truth, He calls and we come.” (David Guzik)

John 6:65 “And he said, Therefore said I unto you, that no man can come unto me, except (3362) it were given unto him of my Father.”

A. "I will come, if I am drawn then", says the sinner. "It is out of my hands."

How are we drawn?

1. Creation itself speaks of His presence.

a. Consider the Human body --- Ps 139:14 "fearfully and wonderfully made"

Think about the complexity of the human body and the complexity of behavior and communication.

What happens when a human child’s communication skills when he or she is

left alone when developing?

b. Consider the Heavens

Psalms 19:1 “The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork.”

Psalms 102:25 “Of old thou hast laid the foundation of the earth: and the heavens are the work of thy hands.”

Psalms 147:4 “He telleth the number of the stars; he calleth them all by [their]

names.”

I have heard that they estimate 40 sextillion stars in the universe. That is a 40 followed by 21 zeroes.

2. There is a longing in every man for something divine that only God can give-> zoe -> life

a. This can lead to salvation, which is God‘s design.

b. This can lead to damnation, if it gives rise to vain religions, superstitions, and spiritualism.

3. God draws men by teaching (v. 45).

a. Man is a rational creature, possessing amazing mental and moral powers and reasoning capabilities. HOP XII pg 121

b. God will not force, but draw; not compel, but persuade; all out of respect to man.

c. John 12:32 “And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me.”

The lifting and drawing power of the Word of God is the story of the Cross it declares and proclaims. It is that, and only that, that wins men and women. HOP