The question of predestination did not become a serious issue in the Christian church until the time of Augustine (A.D. 354-430), the famous Bishop of Hippo in North Africa. Augustine opposed Pelagius, a British monk who taught that mans will can accomplish much toward his own salvation without the assistance of divine grace. Augustine argued that any change in fallen man is solely the work of Gods grace. Before the fall, Adam could do good because he had the help of grace. Since the fall, mans will can choose only sin. It is not possible for him to choose Gods will until grace is active in his life. God gives His grace only to the elect, the ones whom He decides should have His unmerited favor. Gods grace given to the elect is irresistible. A person who is predestined by God to salvation will receive His irresistible grace and will inevitably be saved. Those who are not so chosen by God are left in their perdition and will justly receive eternal damnation. Jacobus Arminius (1560-1609), the celebrated Dutch Reformed theologian, strenuously opposed the earlier Reformers doctrine of predestination.(9) He taught that God foresaw who would receive Christ and who would not. Each individual has been given the power to choose or to reject Christ. Those whom God foresaw would exercise their free choice by receiving Christ as Lord and Savior were predestined to salvation. Those whom He foresaw would reject Christ were predestined to eternal rejection. God does not will all things that happen. He had nothing to do with the origin of evil in the universe or in our world, and He does not will the sins of human beings. Nor does He will that anyone should be lost. His grace is given to those who choose to believe, and it is kept from those who choose not to believe. R.C. Sproul says, We ask about being fair. I dont think God owes it to anyone who doesnt want Christ to give them the desire to want what they need. He doesnt owe that to anybody. The problem is that if God does it for some, why doesnt He do it for all? I can only say to you that I have no idea why He doesnt do it for all. But this I do know and ask you to think about carefully: Just because He does it for some in no way requires that He do it for everybody else--because grace is never required. God always reserves this prerogative I will have mercy upon whom I will have mercy. Its not up to us to direct Gods mercy. (R.C. Sproul in Now, Thats a Good Question, © 1996 Tyndale). Emphasis added. 2 Timothy 2:10 So I am willing to endure anything if it will bring salvation and eternal glory in Christ Jesus to those God has chosen. 2 Thessalonians 2: 13 As for us, we can’t help but thank God for you, dear brothers and sisters loved by the Lord. We are always thankful that God chose you to be among the first[t] to experience salvation—a salvation that came through the Spirit who makes you holy and through your belief in the truth. 14 He called you to salvation when we told you the Good News; now you can share in the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. Romans 5:15 For God said to Moses, “I will show mercy to anyone I choose, and I will show compassion to anyone I choose.”[t] 16 So it is God who decides to show mercy. We can neither choose it nor work for it. 17 For the Scriptures say that God told Pharaoh, “I have appointed you for the very purpose of displaying my power in you and to spread my fame throughout the earth.”[t] 18 So you see, God chooses to show mercy to some, and he chooses to harden the hearts of others so they refuse to listen. Philippians 2:12 Therefore, my beloved, [t]as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, [t]work out your own salvation with [t]fear and trembling; 13 for [t]it is God who works in you both to will and to do [t]for His good pleasure.
Posted on: Thu, 15 Jan 2015 23:20:24 +0000