Friday, July 5, 2013

Predestination

Romans 9:19-24

19 
You will say to me then, “Why does he still find fault? For who can resist his will?”
 20 But who are you, O man, to answer back to God? Will what is molded say to its molder, “Why have you made me like this?” 21 Has the potter no right over the clay, to make out of the same lump one vessel for honorable use and another for dishonorable use? 22 What if God, desiring to show his wrath and to make known his power, has endured with much patiencevessels of wrath prepared for destruction, 23 in order to make known the riches of his glory for vessels of mercy, which he has prepared beforehand for glory— 24 even us whom he has called, not from the Jews only but also from the Gentiles?

Among Christians, predestination has always been a hot topic. On one side there are many people that would argue that there is no such thing as free will, and that those who are predestined will go to heaven no matter what they do in this life.

On the other side of the issue there are those who assert that coming to faith is a choice, and that God does not choose who goes to heaven whatsoever. Discussion of this topic has been the focus of conversation between Calvinists and Southern Baptists in recent weeks, so I hope I can shed a little light on this controversial issue.

Throughout the Scriptures, no one comes to faith, or follows Jesus for that matter, without God first calling them. In fact, in 1 Corinthians 12:3 we are told that no one can even declare that Jesus is Lord without the Holy Spirit. The problem this presents for those who solely believe in free will is that the Holy Spirit is a gift given from God, just like faith. Thus, if you believe in God it is because God himself has given you the faith to do so.

While it is clear from Scripture that predestination is true to a degree, it does not make free will any less Scriptural either. Every single person on this earth has free will, and every single time we all choose to sin. No one chooses God, unless God actively intervenes in their life.

Why then does God give faith to some and not to others? I don't have an answer, and the only answer I have found in Scripture is the one posted above from Romans 9. We are God's creation, and he can do whatever he wants with us. Who are we to put the God of the universe on trial.

Do you agree, disagree, or have any ideas why God only gives faith to some? Post a comment below and share your thoughts!

1 comment:

  1. I do agree that God chooses to grant faith and repentance to some but not others; we will never know why, except that it is ultimately for His glory. God is glorified in both his acts of mercy and judgement.

    We are currently studying the doctrine of man's will from the London Baptist Confession of Faith and here is one explanation that I find very helpful. There are 4 states of Man's Will: 1) The state of Innocency (only applicable to Adam and Eve before the Fall), 2) The state of Degeneration (applicable to every person born after the Fall), 3) the state of Regeneration (applicable to believers after coming to faith in Christ), and the state of Glorification.

    Natural man does have a will to make choices, but his will is limited by his sinful nature, so he cannot on his own desire or please God. Here is a good article on the subject: "Man's Will, Free Yet Bound" by Walt Chantry: http://www.monergism.com/thethreshold/articles/onsite/freewill_chantry.html

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