EARNESTLY CONTENDING FOR THE
FAITH:
WHAT ABOUT CALVINISM?:
GOD'S WILL AND MAN'S WILL
(An Adobe PDF Version Of This File Is Available
Here)
(A WordPerfect Version Of This File Is Available
Here)
THE LORD JESUS CHRIST IS
GOD MANIFEST IN THE FLESH.
THAT IS WHY HE IS GOD. |
Do you know for a fact that if you were
to
die today that you would not go to hell?
If you do not know, click
here. |
| TULIPS MAKE FOR VERY BEAUTIFUL FLOWERS. |
BUT TULIPS MAKE FOR VERY UGLY FALSE DOCTRINE!
PREACHER, WHICH FIRE PIT DO YOU WANT TO JUMP INTO? |
TOTAL
DEPRAVITY
SATANIC |
UNCONDITIONAL
ELECTION
SATANIC |
LIMITED
ATONEMENT
SATANIC |
IRRESISTIBLE
GRACE
SATANIC |
PERSEVERANCE
OF THE SAINTS
SATANIC |
| GOD'S WILL AND MAN'S
WILL |
The depravity of man is a scriptural doctrine. The Calvinistic
doctrine of Total Depravity as taught by the Calvinists
themselves is not scriptural.
Martin Luther and Ulrich Zwingli were other "reformers" that
held very strongly to the doctrine of predestination to heaven
and predestination to hell. The logical conclusion of the
Calvinistic doctrine of predestination to hell is predestination
to sin. The Calvinist will tell you that since God predestined
men to hell, then he must have foreordained men to sin. The
Calvinist will tell you that God decreed the fall of Adam and
Eve in the Garden of Eden. The doctrine of Total Depravity
makes God the author of sin. The doctrine is based in the total
denial of the free will of man. The doctrine states that since
God foreknows all things, that he willed them to happen.
Therefore he wills both evil and good to happen. In
"The
Bondage Of Will", Martin Luther said: "The
question concerning the will and predestination of God, is
somewhat difficult. For God wills those same things which He
foreknows. (page 122 of the PDF version)". This statement by
Martin Luther contradicts the scriptures, but it well states the
doctrine of most Calvinists. Time after time Martin Luther
makes God the author of sin in
"The Bondage Of Will".
Martin Luther and the Calvinists believe that the will of man is
so bound by God that mankind is unable to respond to the gospel
without having first been regenerated and having their will
overcome by God. Martin Luther appeals to "Saint" Augustine at
least a dozen times in "The
Bondage Of Will" where this incredible statement
from page 34 of the PDF version is made:
| “What (you say) can be more useless than that this
paradox should be proclaimed openly to the world — that
whatever is done by us, is not done by Free-will, but
from mere necessity. And that of Augustine also — that
God works in us both good and evil: that He rewards His
good works in us, and punishes His evil works in us.” |
Martin Luther in his conclusion to his book
"The
Bondage of Will" made the following statement:
| I SHALL here draw this book to a conclusion:
prepared if it were necessary to pursue this Discussion
still farther. Though I consider that I have now
abundantly satisfied the godly man, who wishes to
believe the truth without making resistance. For if we
believe it to be true, that God fore-knows and
fore-ordains all things; that He can be neither deceived
nor hindered in His Prescience and Predestination; and
that nothing can take place but according to His Will,
(which reason herself is compelled to confess;) then,
even according to the testimony of reason herself, there
can be no “Free-will” — in man, — in angel, — or in any
creature! (page 203 of the PDF version) |
"The
Bondage Of Will" quite likely formed much of the
basis for John Calvin's doctrine of free will as put forth in
his "Institutes
of Christian Religion". John Calvin appealed to
Augustine 368 times in this work. Both Martin Luther and John
Calvin constantly appeal to the arch heretic Augustine of Hippo
to prove their unscriptural doctrines. The foundation of
Calvinism is built upon the destruction of the free will of man.
So what does the Bible say about the will of man? Does man have
a free will?
If man does not have freedom of will, then he is not a morally
responsible agent. If men and women do not have freedom of
choice, then they cannot be held responsible for, or declared
guilty of, sin. A declaration of guilt or innocence implies
that a choice was possible. Guilt (or innocence) without having
had a choice is an affront to the perfect justice of God. The
sovereignty of God and man’s free will are not conflicting
concepts. They are precepts that are clearly identified and
taught in Scripture. Both are copiously and firmly declared in
Scripture. Only a God that is truly sovereign can grant free
will. Only a God who has no fear of his subjects will grant
free will to his subjects. The will of man can only operate by
the grace of God. If freedom of choice (will) is denied men and
women by God, that makes God the author and cause of all sin.
That also would make God the biggest hypocrite in existence
since he would have sent Christ to the cross to pay the penalty
for something for which God himself was responsible. The
theology of John Calvin and Arthur Pink (and all other
Calvinists) that makes God either the author, or the cause, of
all sin is repulsive and is an attack upon the perfect holiness
of God. James 1:13-14 says:
James 1:13-14
13 Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of
God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither
tempteth he any man: 14 But every man is tempted, when
he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. |
If man does not have free will, then God has created a hopeless
state of confusion where men perish that God is not willing to
perish and yet he denies those that perish the free will to make
the choice that keeps them from perishing. Second Peter 3:9
says:
2 Peter 3:9
9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some
men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward,
not willing that any should perish, but that all should
come to repentance. |
When that hopeless state of confusion exists, God’s will,
foreordination, and foreknowledge come into conflict. This
results in a problem for which there is no solution unless one
of two situations exists. These are either: (1) God is the
author and cause of all sin, or (2) God has granted all men free
will. If God is the author and cause of all sin, then a myriad
of contradictions are set up in the Bible. The Cross would be
useless. The doctrines of atonement, justification,
propitiation, etc. would be farces.
One of the preeminent Calvinists, Arthur Pink, said that God’s
will is always done. Even a precursory reading of the
scriptures will reveal that that statement is an outrageous
contradiction of the scriptures. Why would the Lord Jesus
Christ teach men to pray that God’s will would be done in earth
as it is in heaven (Matthew 6:9-10, Luke 11:2)?
Matthew 6:9-10
9 After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which
art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. 10 Thy kingdom
come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.
Luke 11:2
2 And he said unto them, When ye pray, say, Our Father
which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom
come. Thy will be done, as in heaven, so in earth. |
It obvious from the sin of Adam and Eve in the Garden and all
the sin that follows that the will of God is not done most of
the time by most men and women. Sin is the failure of mankind
to do the will of God. In fact, I think we may say that the
origin of sin for mankind was when Adam and Eve sought to do
their own will rather than the will of God. Men and women
continue in sin because they continue to seek to do their own
will rather than the will of God. Christians seek to do their
own will when they jump into sin. The will of God for
Christians is their sanctification (1 Thessalonians 4:3). So,
why is it that Christians are not sanctified? It is because
they are doing their will and not the will of God. The battle
for the will of the Christian is best illustrated in Romans
7:14-24. We would strongly emphasize that this battle between
the will of the flesh and the will of the Spirit took place
after Paul was saved. This means the battle took place after he
was freed from the bondage of sin.
1 Thessalonians 4:3
3 For this is the will of God, even your sanctification,
that ye should abstain from fornication:
Romans 7:14-24
14 For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am
carnal, sold under sin. 15 For that which I do I allow
not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate,
that do I. 16 If then I do that which I would not, I
consent unto the law that it is good. 17 Now then it is
no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. 18
For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth
no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how
to perform that which is good I find not. 19 For the
good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would
not, that I do. 20 Now if I do that I would not, it is
no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. 21 I
find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is
present with me. 22 For I delight in the law of God
after the inward man: 23 But I see another law in my
members, warring against the law of my mind, and
bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in
my members. 24 O wretched man that I am! who shall
deliver me from the body of this death? |
Words and phrases relating to the human will occur thousands of
times in the Scriptures. If mankind had no free will it would
draw into question almost every “if” in our Bibles. “If” is
generally the word of choice. It occurs in our King James
Bibles 1,595 times. The problem is that the human will is
directed from a heart that is deceitfully wicked (Jeremiah
17:9).
Jeremiah 17:9
9 The heart is deceitful above all things, and
desperately wicked: who can know it? |
In every case where the word believe is used in Scripture (143
times) and believed (116 times) it involves pure human choice
(will) of one fashion or another. In addition to these, phrases
like “ye will not”, “would not”, “ye would not”, “if ye will
not”, “would none”, “would none of me”, “will not”, “if ye be
willing”, and “if ye will” are a recurring theme in Scripture.
The phrase “ye will not” in John 5:38-40 by Christ is a very
strong statement concerning human will and unbelief. Christ
said:
John 5:38-40
38 And ye have not his word abiding in you: for whom he
hath sent, him ye believe not. 39 Search the scriptures;
for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are
they which testify of me. 40 And ye will not come to me,
that ye might have life. |
Notice that Christ did not say that they could not come to him,
but that they will not come to him. Theirs was a willful act of
unbelief.
In the following verses, the phrase “will not” is a recurring
theme. This phrase occurs 363 times in our King James Bibles.
These verses are expressions of human will resisting and
refusing to do the will of God. The words “will not ” are words
that indicate a choice is possible. Look at the following
examples:
Exodus 4:1,8-9
And Moses answered and said, But, behold, they will not
believe me, nor hearken unto my voice: for they will
say, The LORD hath not appeared unto thee. 8 And it
shall come to pass, if they will not believe thee,
neither hearken to the voice of the first sign, that
they will believe the voice of the latter sign. 9 And it
shall come to pass, if they will not believe also these
two signs, neither hearken unto thy voice, that thou
shalt take of the water of the river, and pour it upon
the dry land: and the water which thou takest out of the
river shall become blood upon the dry land.
Exodus 5:10
10 And the taskmasters of the people went out, and their
officers, and they spake to the people, saying, Thus
saith Pharaoh, I will not give you straw.
Exodus 9:30
30 But as for thee and thy servants, I know that ye will
not yet fear the LORD God.
Psalm 10:4
4 The wicked, through the pride of his countenance, will
not seek after God: God is not in all his thoughts.
Isaiah 30:9
9 That this is a rebellious people, lying children,
children that will not hear the law of the LORD:
Jeremiah 6:16-17
16 Thus saith the LORD, Stand ye in the ways, and see,
and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and
walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls. But
they said, We will not walk therein. 17 Also I set
watchmen over you, saying, Hearken to the sound of the
trumpet. But they said, We will not hearken.
Jeremiah 42:13
13 But if ye say, We will not dwell in this land,
neither obey the voice of the LORD your God,
John 4:48
48 Then said Jesus unto him, Except ye see signs and
wonders, ye will not believe. |
In each of the verses just cited, there is not one indication
that those involved could not have done the will of God. They
chose to do their own will instead.
The phrase “if ye will not” is used 19 times in the Scriptures.
Human will and God’s will and judgment has perhaps its strongest
presentation and contrast in Leviticus 26 where we see the
phrase “if ye will not” used four times, the word if is used
nine times and the phrase “will not”is used four times. The
phrase “if ye will not” is also used in Numbers 32:23, Numbers
33:55, Deuteronomy 11:28, 1 Samuel 12:15, Isaiah 7:9, Jeremiah
13:17, Jeremiah 22:5, Jeremiah 26:4, Ezekiel 20:39, Daniel 2:5,
Daniel 2:9, and Malachi 2:2.
Leviticus 26:14-42
14 But if ye will not hearken unto me, and will not do
all these commandments; 15 And if ye shall despise my
statutes, or if your soul abhor my judgments, so that ye
will not do all my commandments, but that ye break my
covenant: 16 I also will do this unto you; I will even
appoint over you terror, consumption, and the burning
ague, that shall consume the eyes, and cause sorrow of
heart: and ye shall sow your seed in vain, for your
enemies shall eat it. 17 And I will set my face against
you, and ye shall be slain before your enemies: they
that hate you shall reign over you; and ye shall flee
when none pursueth you. 18 And if ye will not yet for
all this hearken unto me, then I will punish you seven
times more for your sins. 19 And I will break the pride
of your power; and I will make your heaven as iron, and
your earth as brass: 20 And your strength shall be spent
in vain: for your land shall not yield her increase,
neither shall the trees of the land yield their fruits.
21 And if ye walk contrary unto me, and will not hearken
unto me; I will bring seven times more plagues upon you
according to your sins. 22 I will also send wild beasts
among you, which shall rob you of your children, and
destroy your cattle, and make you few in number; and
your high ways shall be desolate. 23 And if ye will not
be reformed by me by these things, but will walk
contrary unto me; 24 Then will I also walk contrary unto
you, and will punish you yet seven times for your sins.
25 And I will bring a sword upon you, that shall avenge
the quarrel of my covenant: and when ye are gathered
together within your cities, I will send the pestilence
among you; and ye shall be delivered into the hand of
the enemy. 26 And when I have broken the staff of your
bread, ten women shall bake your bread in one oven, and
they shall deliver you your bread again by weight: and
ye shall eat, and not be satisfied. 27 And if ye will
not for all this hearken unto me, but walk contrary unto
me; 28 Then I will walk contrary unto you also in fury;
and I, even I, will chastise you seven times for your
sins. 29 And ye shall eat the flesh of your sons, and
the flesh of your daughters shall ye eat. 30 And I will
destroy your high places, and cut down your images, and
cast your carcases upon the carcases of your idols, and
my soul shall abhor you. 31 And I will make your cities
waste, and bring your sanctuaries unto desolation, and I
will not smell the savour of your sweet odours. 32 And I
will bring the land into desolation: and your enemies
which dwell therein shall be astonished at it. 33 And I
will scatter you among the heathen, and will draw out a
sword after you: and your land shall be desolate, and
your cities waste. 34 Then shall the land enjoy her
sabbaths, as long as it lieth desolate, and ye be in
your enemies’ land; even then shall the land rest, and
enjoy her sabbaths. 35 As long as it lieth desolate it
shall rest; because it did not rest in your sabbaths,
when ye dwelt upon it. 36 And upon them that are left
alive of you I will send a faintness into their hearts
in the lands of their enemies; and the sound of a shaken
leaf shall chase them; and they shall flee, as fleeing
from a sword; and they shall fall when none pursueth.
37 And they shall fall one upon another, as it were
before a sword, when none pursueth: and ye shall have no
power to stand before your enemies. 38 And ye shall
perish among the heathen, and the land of your enemies
shall eat you up. 39 And they that are left of you shall
pine away in their iniquity in your enemies’ lands; and
also in the iniquities of their fathers shall they pine
away with them. 40 If they shall confess their iniquity,
and the iniquity of their fathers, with their trespass
which they trespassed against me, and that also they
have walked contrary unto me; 41 And that I also have
walked contrary unto them, and have brought them into
the land of their enemies; if then their uncircumcised
hearts be humbled, and they then accept of the
punishment of their iniquity: 42 Then will I remember my
covenant with Jacob, and also my covenant with Isaac,
and also my covenant with Abraham will I remember; and I
will remember the land.
Numbers 32:23
23 But if ye will not do so, behold, ye have sinned
against the LORD: and be sure your sin will find you
out.
Numbers 33:55
55 But if ye will not drive out the inhabitants of the
land from before you; then it shall come to pass, that
those which ye let remain of them shall be pricks in
your eyes, and thorns in your sides, and shall vex you
in the land wherein ye dwell.
Deuteronomy 11:28
28 And a curse, if ye will not obey the commandments of
the LORD your God, but turn aside out of the way which I
command you this day, to go after other gods, which ye
have not known.
1 Samuel 12:15
15 But if ye will not obey the voice of the LORD, but
rebel against the commandment of the LORD, then shall
the hand of the LORD be against you, as it was against
your fathers.
Isaiah 7:9
9 And the head of Ephraim is Samaria, and the head of
Samaria is Remaliah’s son. If ye will not believe,
surely ye shall not be established.
Jeremiah 13:17
17 But if ye will not hear it, my soul shall weep in
secret places for your pride; and mine eye shall weep
sore, and run down with tears, because the LORD’S flock
is carried away captive.
Jeremiah 17:27
27 But if ye will not hearken unto me to hallow the
sabbath day, and not to bear a burden, even entering in
at the gates of Jerusalem on the sabbath day; then will
I kindle a fire in the gates thereof, and it shall
devour the palaces of Jerusalem, and it shall not be
quenched.
Jeremiah 22:5
5 But if ye will not hear these words, I swear by
myself, saith the LORD, that this house shall become a
desolation.
Jeremiah 26:4
4 And thou shalt say unto them, Thus saith the LORD; If
ye will not hearken to me, to walk in my law, which I
have set before you,
Ezekiel 20:39
39 As for you, O house of Israel, thus saith the Lord
GOD; Go ye, serve ye every one his idols, and hereafter
also, if ye will not hearken unto me: but pollute ye my
holy name no more with your gifts, and with your idols.
Daniel 2:5,9
5 The king answered and said to the Chaldeans, The
thing is gone from me: if ye will not make known unto me
the dream, with the interpretation thereof, ye shall be
cut in pieces, and your houses shall be made a
dunghill. 9 But if ye will not make known unto me the
dream, there is but one decree for you: for ye have
prepared lying and corrupt words to speak before me,
till the time be changed: therefore tell me the dream,
and I shall know that ye can shew me the interpretation
thereof.
Malachi 2:1-2
And now, O ye priests, this commandment is for you. 2 If
ye will not hear, and if ye will not lay it to heart, to
give glory unto my name, saith the LORD of hosts, I will
even send a curse upon you, and I will curse your
blessings: yea, I have cursed them already, because ye
do not lay it to heart. |
In other than Daniel 2:5,9 none of these Scriptures even
remotely indicate that it was a matter of could not. In Daniel
2:5,9 it was obvious that the Chaldeans could not because they
had neither the mind of God or the direct revelation from God
that was latter given to Daniel.
Perhaps some of the most tragic narratives in Scripture use the
phrases “would none” and “ye would not”. These two phrases are
used 13 times in our King James Bibles. We quote10 of these
here including Deuteronomy 1:26, Deuteronomy 1:43, Deuteronomy
8:20, Psalm 81:11-15, Proverbs 1:23-33, Isaiah 30:15, Jeremiah
29:19, Matthew 23:37, and Luke 13:34.
Deuteronomy 1:26,43
26 Notwithstanding ye would not go up, but rebelled
against the commandment of the LORD your God: 43 So I
spake unto you; and ye would not hear, but rebelled
against the commandment of the LORD, and went
presumptuously up into the hill.
Deuteronomy 8:20
20 As the nations which the LORD destroyeth before your
face, so shall ye perish; because ye would not be
obedient unto the voice of the LORD your God.
Psalm 81:11-15
11 But my people would not hearken to my voice; and
Israel would none of me. 12 So I gave them up unto their
own hearts’ lust: and they walked in their own
counsels. 13 Oh that my people had hearkened unto me,
and Israel had walked in my ways! 14 I should soon have
subdued their enemies, and turned my hand against their
adversaries. 15 The haters of the LORD should have
submitted themselves unto him: but their time should
have endured for ever.
Proverbs 1:23-33
23 Turn you at my reproof: behold, I will pour out my
spirit unto you, I will make known my words unto you. 24
Because I have called, and ye refused; I have stretched
out my hand, and no man regarded; 25 But ye have set at
nought all my counsel, and would none of my reproof: 26
I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when
your fear cometh; 27 When your fear cometh as
desolation, and your destruction cometh as a whirlwind;
when distress and anguish cometh upon you. 28 Then shall
they call upon me, but I will not answer; they shall
seek me early, but they shall not find me: 29 For that
they hated knowledge, and did not choose the fear of the
LORD: 30 They would none of my counsel: they despised
all my reproof. 31 Therefore shall they eat of the fruit
of their own way, and be filled with their own devices.
32 For the turning away of the simple shall slay them,
and the prosperity of fools shall destroy them. 33 But
whoso hearkeneth unto me shall dwell safely, and shall
be quiet from fear of evil.
Isaiah 30:15
15 For thus saith the Lord GOD, the Holy One of Israel;
In returning and rest shall ye be saved; in quietness
and in confidence shall be your strength: and ye would
not.
Jeremiah 29:19
19 Because they have not hearkened to my words, saith
the LORD, which I sent unto them by my servants the
prophets, rising up early and sending them; but ye would
not hear, saith the LORD.
Matthew 23:37
37 O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the
prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how
often would I have gathered thy children together, even
as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye
would not!
Luke 13:34
34 O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, which killest the prophets,
and stonest them that are sent unto thee; how often
would I have gathered thy children together, as a hen
doth gather her brood under her wings, and ye would not! |
Then we have the phrase “why will ye” that is used in Ezekiel
18:31 and Ezekiel 33:11.
Ezekiel 18:31
31 Cast away from you all your transgressions, whereby
ye have transgressed; and make you a new heart and a new
spirit: for why will ye die, O house of Israel?
Ezekiel 33:11
11 Say unto them, As I live, saith the Lord GOD, I have
no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the
wicked turn from his way and live: turn ye, turn ye from
your evil ways; for why will ye die, O house of Israel? |
What do all these impassioned pleas in Psalms 81:11-15, Proverbs
1:23-33, Ezekiel 18:31, Ezekiel 33:11, Matthew 23:37, and Luke
13:34 from the Lord our God do for the Calvinistic doctrine of
irresistible grace?? They prove that the Calvinistic doctrine
of irresistible grace is not Scriptural. Men and women – saved
and lost – do resist the grace of God. Why is it stated that
God is longsuffering ten different times in the Bible. It is
even stated that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation (2
Peter 3:15). If God’s grace were irresistible in salvation, he
would not need to be longsuffering! How many times have the
elect resisted the grace of God in salvation? On a more
personal level, how many times did you and I resist the grace of
God in salvation before we were saved? How many times do
Christians resist the sanctifying grace of God in their lives?
The phrase “would not” is also used quite frequently in the
Bible. God was constantly having heartaches and problems with
Israel because they would not. Take a look at Judges 2:17, 2
Kings 17:13-14, 2 Kings 18:11-12, 2 Chronicles 24:18, Isaiah
28:9-13, Jeremiah 13:11, Ezekiel 20:8, and Zechariah 7:8-13.
Judges 2:17
17 And yet they would not hearken unto their judges, but
they went a whoring after other gods, and bowed
themselves unto them: they turned quickly out of the way
which their fathers walked in, obeying the commandments
of the LORD; but they did not so.
2 Kings 17:13-14
13 Yet the LORD testified against Israel, and against
Judah, by all the prophets, and by all the seers,
saying, Turn ye from your evil ways, and keep my
commandments and my statutes, according to all the law
which I commanded your fathers, and which I sent to you
by my servants the prophets. 14 Notwithstanding they
would not hear, but hardened their necks, like to the
neck of their fathers, that did not believe in the LORD
their God.
2 Kings 18:11-12
11 And the king of Assyria did carry away Israel unto
Assyria, and put them in Halah and in Habor by the river
of Gozan, and in the cities of the Medes: 12 Because
they obeyed not the voice of the LORD their God, but
transgressed his covenant, and all that Moses the
servant of the LORD commanded, and would not hear them,
nor do them.
2 Chronicles 24:18-19
18 And they left the house of the LORD God of their
fathers, and served groves and idols: and wrath came
upon Judah and Jerusalem for this their trespass. 19 Yet
he sent prophets to them, to bring them again unto the
LORD; and they testified against them: but they would
not give ear.
Isaiah 28:9-13
9 Whom shall he teach knowledge? and whom shall he make
to understand doctrine? them that are weaned from the
milk, and drawn from the breasts. 10 For precept must
be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line,
line upon line; here a little, and there a little: 11
For with stammering lips and another tongue will he
speak to this people. 12 To whom he said, This is the
rest wherewith ye may cause the weary to rest; and this
is the refreshing: yet they would not hear. 13 But the
word of the LORD was unto them precept upon precept,
precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line;
here a little, and there a little; that they might go,
and fall backward, and be broken, and snared, and taken.
Jeremiah 13:11
11 For as the girdle cleaveth to the loins of a man, so
have I caused to cleave unto me the whole house of
Israel and the whole house of Judah, saith the LORD;
that they might be unto me for a people, and for a name,
and for a praise, and for a glory: but they would not
hear.
Ezekiel 20:8
8 But they rebelled against me, and would not hearken
unto me: they did not every man cast away the
abominations of their eyes, neither did they forsake the
idols of Egypt: then I said, I will pour out my fury
upon them, to accomplish my anger against them in the
midst of the land of Egypt.
Zechariah 7:8-13
8 And the word of the LORD came unto Zechariah, saying,
9 Thus speaketh the LORD of hosts, saying, Execute true
judgment, and shew mercy and compassions every man to
his brother: 10 And oppress not the widow, nor the
fatherless, the stranger, nor the poor; and let none of
you imagine evil against his brother in your heart. 11
But they refused to hearken, and pulled away the
shoulder, and stopped their ears, that they should not
hear. 12 Yea, they made their hearts as an adamant
stone, lest they should hear the law, and the words
which the LORD of hosts hath sent in his spirit by the
former prophets: therefore came a great wrath from the
LORD of hosts. 13 Therefore it is come to pass, that as
he cried, and they would not hear; so they cried, and I
would not hear, saith the LORD of hosts: |
The problem for the nation of Israel
in these Scriptures and throughout the Old Testament was not
that they could not, but that they would not.
Then we have the expressions “if ye be willing” and “if ye will”
in Isaiah 1:16-20 and Psalm 95:7-11 (see also Hebrews 3).
Isaiah 1:16-20
16 Wash you, make you clean; put away the evil of your
doings from before mine eyes; cease to do evil; 17 Learn
to do well; seek judgment, relieve the oppressed, judge
the fatherless, plead for the widow. 18 Come now, and
let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins
be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though
they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool. 19 If
ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the
land: 20 But if ye refuse and rebel, ye shall be
devoured with the sword: for the mouth of the LORD hath
spoken it.
Psalm 95:7-11
7 For he is our God; and we are the people of his
pasture, and the sheep of his hand. To day if ye will
hear his voice, 8 Harden not your heart, as in the
provocation, and as in the day of temptation in the
wilderness: 9 When your fathers tempted me, proved me,
and saw my work. 10 Forty years long was I grieved with
this generation, and said, It is a people that do err in
their heart, and they have not known my ways: 11 Unto
whom I sware in my wrath that they should not enter into
my rest. |
Why would God want to reason with someone who had already been
unconditionally elected (reprobated) to hell (Isaiah 1:18)? In
fact, how could God reason with someone who lacked the ability
to exercise free will? Reasoning indicates the possibility of
alternative outcomes from different choices. If there is no
free will, there is no alternative for choice. If there is the
commandment to “harden not your heart”, then there must be the
option to harden, or not to harden heart.
In contrast to all of these is the Biblical expression of “could
not”. The phrase “could not” is used 115 times in the Bible and
is used in the context of a discussion about salvation three
different times. These three different times occur in John
12:39, Acts 13:39, and in Hebrews 3:19.
John 12:37-43
37 But though he had done so many miracles before them,
yet they believed not on him: 38 That the saying of
Esaias the prophet might be fulfilled, which he spake,
Lord, who hath believed our report? and to whom hath the
arm of the Lord been revealed? 39 Therefore they could
not believe, because that Esaias said again, 40 He hath
blinded their eyes, and hardened their heart; that they
should not see with their eyes, nor understand with
their heart, and be converted, and I should heal them.
41 These things said Esaias, when he saw his glory, and
spake of him. 42 Nevertheless among the chief rulers
also many believed on him; but because of the Pharisees
they did not confess him, lest they should be put out of
the synagogue: 43 For they loved the praise of men more
than the praise of God.
John 12:37 indicates that those called out in verses
38-43 had many opportunities to repent and believe.
Yet, they did not believe. Some of the Jews, including
the chief priests and Pharisees, sought to murder
Lazarus and stir up other trouble (see John 12:9-19).
They could not believe because they had already rejected
the Lord Jesus Christ. They had hardened their own
hearts.
Acts 13:38-49
38 Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren,
that through this man is preached unto you the
forgiveness of sins: 39 And by him all that believe are
justified from all things, from which ye could not be
justified by the law of Moses. 40 Beware therefore, lest
that come upon you, which is spoken of in the prophets;
41 Behold, ye despisers, and wonder, and perish: for I
work a work in your days, a work which ye shall in no
wise believe, though a man declare it unto you. 42 And
when the Jews were gone out of the synagogue, the
Gentiles besought that these words might be preached to
them the next sabbath. 43 Now when the congregation was
broken up, many of the Jews and religious proselytes
followed Paul and Barnabas: who, speaking to them,
persuaded them to continue in the grace of God. 44 And
the next sabbath day came almost the whole city together
to hear the word of God. 45 But when the Jews saw the
multitudes, they were filled with envy, and spake
against those things which were spoken by Paul,
contradicting and blaspheming. 46 Then Paul and Barnabas
waxed bold, and said, It was necessary that the word of
God should first have been spoken to you: but seeing ye
put it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of
everlasting life, lo, we turn to the Gentiles. 47 For so
hath the Lord commanded us, saying, I have set thee to
be a light of the Gentiles, that thou shouldest be for
salvation unto the ends of the earth. 48 And when the
Gentiles heard this, they were glad, and glorified the
word of the Lord: and as many as were ordained to
eternal life believed. 49 And the word of the Lord was
published throughout all the region. |
The context of Acts 13:39 is the preaching of the gospel to the
Jews in the synagogue at Antioch in Pisidia. Verse 39 is a
simple statement that the Jews there could not be justified by
the law of Moses. They were obviously being given the
opportunity to repent. Otherwise, the warning of verses 40 and
41 would be useless. The Jews rejected the offer of salvation
(verse 46) and Paul preached the gospel to the Gentiles the
following Saturday. A contrast is set up in this chapter of
Acts between a group of Jews who refused to believe and a group
of Gentiles who were obviously willing and eager to believe.
Acts 13:48 will be discussed in a study on unconditional
election. Now let us read Hebrews 3:7-4:11:
Hebrews 3:7-4:11
3;7 Wherefore (as the Holy Ghost saith, To day if ye
will hear his voice, 8 Harden not your hearts, as in the
provocation, in the day of temptation in the wilderness:
9 When your fathers tempted me, proved me, and saw my
works forty years. 10 Wherefore I was grieved with that
generation, and said, They do alway err in their heart;
and they have not known my ways. 11 So I sware in my
wrath, They shall not enter into my rest.) 12 Take
heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil
heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God. 13
But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day;
lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of
sin. 14 For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold
the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end;
15 While it is said, To day if ye will hear his voice,
harden not your hearts, as in the provocation. 16 For
some, when they had heard, did provoke: howbeit not all
that came out of Egypt by Moses. 17 But with whom was he
grieved forty years? was it not with them that had
sinned, whose carcases fell in the wilderness? 18 And to
whom sware he that they should not enter into his rest,
but to them that believed not? 19 So we see that they
could not enter in because of unbelief. 4:1Let us
therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of
entering into his rest, any of you should seem to come
short of it. 2 For unto us was the gospel preached, as
well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit
them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard
it. 3 For we which have believed do enter into rest,
as he said, As I have sworn in my wrath, if they shall
enter into my rest: although the works were finished
from the foundation of the world. 4 For he spake in a
certain place of the seventh day on this wise, And God
did rest the seventh day from all his works. 5 And in
this place again, If they shall enter into my rest. 6
Seeing therefore it remaineth that some must enter
therein, and they to whom it was first preached entered
not in because of unbelief: 7 Again, he limiteth a
certain day, saying in David, To day, after so long a
time; as it is said, To day if ye will hear his voice,
harden not your hearts. 8 For if Jesus had given them
rest, then would he not afterward have spoken of another
day. 9 There remaineth therefore a rest to the people
of God. 10 For he that is entered into his rest, he
also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from
his. 11 Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest,
lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief.
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Notice the phrase “could not” in Hebrews 3:19. The reason they
could not enter into the rest (salvation) of the Lord was that
they willingly dwelt in unbelief because they hardened their own
hearts. The Bible clearly indicates that it was an action of
their will whereby they refused to enter into the rest of God.
The basis for entering into God’s rest was not unconditional
election or irresistible grace, but rather belief (faith). It
is clear that they resisted the grace of God because it was
God’s will and desire that they enter into His rest. Yet they
provoked (Hebrews 3:8,15,16) and tempted Him (Hebrews 3:9). In
doing so, they rejected the grace of God. It was not that they
had not been offered a genuine offer of salvation because
Hebrews 4:2 indicates that the offer was genuine. There is no
unconditional election, limited atonement, or irresistible grace
there! The reason that they could not enter into the rest of
the Lord was because the word of God did not profit them because
it was not mixed with faith. Faith is always an act of free
will. If it were not an act of free will, it could not be
called faith. The terms “unbelief” and “believed not” occur five
times in this short passage of Scripture and is identified as
the cause of the “could not”. Their “would not” came before
God’s “could not”. They chose to rest in their works rather
than the finished work of God (Hebrews 4:10).
I have a sovereign God, but He is not the capricious god of
Calvinism. He is omnipotent. He is omnipresent. He is
omniscient. He set the conditions and provided the means for
the salvation that he has so graciously and mercifully given
me. I was given light from the word of God (John 1:9). I was
convicted of my sin by the Holy Ghost (John 16:7-8). I was
drawn to Christ by Christ (John 12:32). I was regenerated by
the Holy Ghost (John 3:3-8) and granted repentance unto eternal
life (Acts 11:18). Hallelujah! I looked (John 3:13-16) and now
I live by the power of Christ that dwells in me (Galatians
2:20) None of these benefits of salvation were granted unto me
until I exercised faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. None of the
events that were, are, or that could be pleasing unto God
following my faith were a work of my flesh. They were strictly
a work of God (Philippians 2:13). Regardless of what Calvinism
teaches, by Scriptural definition, faith is not a work
(Ephesians 2:8-9). If faith is a work, then we may as well cast
Romans chapter 4 and Galatians chapter 3 out of our Bibles.
John 1:9
9 That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that
cometh into the world.
John 16:7-8
7 Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for
you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter
will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him
unto you. 8 And when he is come, he will reprove the
world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:
John 12:32
32 And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw
all men unto me.
John 3:3-8
3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I
say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see
the kingdom of God. 4 Nicodemus saith unto him, How can
a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second
time into his mother’s womb, and be born? 5 Jesus
answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man
be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into
the kingdom of God. 6 That which is born of the flesh is
flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7
Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born
again. 8 The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou
hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it
cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is
born of the Spirit.
Acts 11:18
18 When they heard these things, they held their peace,
and glorified God, saying, Then hath God also to the
Gentiles granted repentance unto life.
John 3:13-16
13 And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that
came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in
heaven. 14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the
wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: 15
That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but
have eternal life. 16 For God so loved the world, that
he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth
in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
Galatians 2:20
20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet
not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now
live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God,
who loved me, and gave himself for me.
Philippians 2:13
13 For it is God which worketh in you both to will and
to do of his good pleasure.
Ephesians 2:8-9
8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not
of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9 Not of works,
lest any man should boast. |
We deserve hell. We can take no credit for God's having allowed
us to exercise faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Faith is
submitting our will to God's will believing that he will do
what he says he will do.
We close this study by stating that we can only come to
salvation when we submit our will to the will of God. The act
of submitting to the will of God is an act of freewill.
Otherwise, how could we, or why would we, be commanded to
repent? Further, how could we be commanded to “obey the gospel”
if there is no choice in obedience? Believing in and worshiping
God is all about submitting our will to God's will. The reason
that we do not have more worship in the house of God today is
that Christians will not submit their will to the will of God.
Worship is all about yielding to the mighty hand of the
convicting power and leadership of the Holy Ghost of God that he
might bring glory to the Lord Jesus Christ through us. When we
reach that point, we can, and will, worship God in the beauty of
holiness. When we respond to the Holy Ghost of God, we will
worship the Lord Jesus Christ.
Take the opportunity to respond
to God and he will respond to you.
GLORY TO HIS NAME! HALLELUJAH! |
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