Does God Play Favorites?
Romans part 13
Opening Video Clip - from Romans 8 to review for the message today.
Scripture Text: Romans chapters 9-11
Romans 9:1-33:
1I speak the truth in Christ—I am not lying, my conscience confirms it in the Holy Spirit—2I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart. 3For I could wish that I myself were cursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my brothers, those of my own race, 4the people of Israel. Theirs is the adoption as sons; theirs the divine glory, the covenants, the receiving of the law, the temple worship and the promises. 5Theirs are the patriarchs, and from them is traced the human ancestry of Christ, who is God over all, forever praised! Amen.
6It is not as though God’s word had failed. For not all who are descended from Israel are Israel. 7Nor because they are his descendants are they all Abraham’s children. On the contrary, “It is through Isaac that your offspring will be reckoned.” 8In other words, it is not the natural children who are God’s children, but it is the children of the promise who are regarded as Abraham’s offspring. 9For this was how the promise was stated: “At the appointed time I will return, and Sarah will have a son.”
10Not only that, but Rebekah’s children had one and the same father, our father Isaac. 11Yet, before the twins were born or had done anything good or bad—in order that God’s purpose in election might stand: 12not by works but by him who calls—she was told, “The older will serve the younger.” 13Just as it is written: “Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated.”
14What then shall we say? Is God unjust? Not at all! 15For he says to Moses,
“I will have mercy on whom I have mercy,
and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.”
16It does not, therefore, depend on man’s desire or effort, but on God’s mercy. 17For the Scripture says to Pharaoh: “I raised you up for this very purpose, that I might display my power in you and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth.” 18Therefore God has mercy on whom he wants to have mercy, and he hardens whom he wants to harden.
19One of you will say to me: “Then why does God still blame us? For who resists his will?” 20But who are you, O man, to talk back to God? “Shall what is formed say to him who formed it, ‘Why did you make me like this?’ “ 21Does not the potter have the right to make out of the same lump of clay some pottery for noble purposes and some for common use?
22What if God, choosing to show his wrath and make his power known, bore with great patience the objects of his wrath—prepared for destruction? 23What if he did this to make the riches of his glory known to the objects of his mercy, whom he prepared in advance for glory—24even us, whom he also called, not only from the Jews but also from the Gentiles? 25As he says in Hosea:
“I will call them ‘my people’ who are not my people;
and I will call her ‘my loved one’ who is not my loved one,”
26and,
“It will happen that in the very place where it was said to them,
‘You are not my people,’
they will be called ‘sons of the living God.’ “
27Isaiah cries out concerning Israel:
“Though the number of the Israelites be like the sand by the sea,
only the remnant will be saved.
28 For the Lord will carry out
his sentence on earth with speed and finality.”
29It is just as Isaiah said previously:
“Unless the Lord Almighty
had left us descendants,
we would have become like Sodom,
we would have been like Gomorrah.”
30What then shall we say? That the Gentiles, who did not pursue righteousness, have obtained it, a righteousness that is by faith; 31but Israel, who pursued a law of righteousness, has not attained it. 32Why not? Because they pursued it not by faith but as if it were by works. They stumbled over the “stumbling stone.” 33As it is written:
“See, I lay in Zion a stone that causes men to stumble
and a rock that makes them fall,
and the one who trusts in him will never be put to shame.”
Romans 10: 11-13: 11As the Scripture says, “Anyone who trusts in him will never be put to shame.” 12For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile—the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, 13for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
Romans 11:28-36: 28As far as the gospel is concerned, they are enemies on your account; but as far as election is concerned, they are loved on account of the patriarchs, 29for God’s gifts and his call are irrevocable. 30Just as you who were at one time disobedient to God have now received mercy as a result of their disobedience, 31so they too have now become disobedient in order that they too may now receive mercy as a result of God’s mercy to you. 32For God has bound all men over to disobedience so that he may have mercy on them all.
33 Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God!
How unsearchable his judgments,
and his paths beyond tracing out!
34 “Who has known the mind of the Lord?
Or who has been his counselor?”
35 “Who has ever given to God,
that God should repay him?”
36 For from him and through him and to him are all things.
To him be the glory forever! Amen.
Thesis: Does God play favorites with people’s lives and choose some for eternal life and others for eternal judgment and even eternal death? Does God only call his favorites to serve Him in the Kingdom and anyone who wants to but is not His favorite is not allowed to be apart? A proper understanding of the Bible tells us that “God does not want anyone to perish and that all have been called to be apart of the Kingdom of God!”
Opening Illustration: From Evan Almighty – the movie clip scene expresses why God chooses people to be saints and why God chooses certain individuals for specific calls of service to His Kingdom. The clip is from sermonspice.com.
Introduction:
When I read chapters like Romans 9-11 and hear how many have used this section of Scripture to build misguided teachings that have lead many astray in their walk with the Lord it grieves my Spirit. So I think first of all we have to approach this section of Scripture with God’s wisdom and insight and even admit that we cannot always totally understand the ways of God. Listen to this reality check from Greg Gibson from his website Jesussaidfollowme.org:
Our Finite, Human Brains Can’t Fully Understand the
Supernatural, Divine, Infinite, Omniscient Mind of God
If we could fully understand God with our finite, human brains, then He would have to be like us, and therefore not worthy of human worship. When trying to contemplate the One Who existed eternally, and Who made the universe, we shouldn’t be surprised if He tells us that His thoughts are bigger than ours...
"Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth?... therefore I have uttered what I did not understand, things too wonderful for me, which I did not know" (Job 38:1-42:6)
"Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain it." (Ps. 145:6)
"His understanding is unsearchable." (Is. 40:28)
"My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways, ...says the Lord. As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, & My thoughts than your thoughts." (Is. 55:9)
"Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and His ways past finding out! For who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has become His counselor?" (Rom. 11:33-34)
"I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent. Where is the wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the disputer of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of this world?" (1 Cor. 1:19-20)
When we come to difficult passages such as these texts in Romans we need to look to God for wisdom and insight. We need to ask the Holy Spirit to illuminate our minds to what the Lord is saying through Paul to each of us today. Sometimes in hard to understand sections of Scripture it is wise to concluded that we cannot always figure out God or His higher ways and that’s okay because we are told to trust Him and have faith in goodness.
I have read through these verses in Romans 9-11 many times and even sat through Bible College Courses which have thoroughly explained the many ways people interpret these texts. One question surfaces in my mind more than any other as I read it again – it is, “Does God play favorites?” After proposing this question another question floods into my mind, “Does God pick certain people to be saved while deciding that others can never be saved?” Then I think well if He does that then – “He is not real loving is He?” Then another thought explodes in my mind which says but, “God’s Word says that He is no respecter of persons!” Now my mind starts to smoke a little bit because these verses seem to contradict each other? Right – be honest they do – it can seem so confusing!
So what do we do with sections like Romans? I was taught to make sure that when you hit difficult teachings in Scripture you pray about the interpretation and search throughout the Bible for understanding. So today we are going to seek with the help of the Holy Spirit to make sense of this text and learn some valuable spiritual truths. So before we do this forget all the other teachings you have heard on this section of Romans and open your hearts and minds with me for a short period of time. If you do not agree with my attempt to explore the insights found here you can always go back to your old ones.
I. What is Paul saying in Romans 9:14-18?
a. Larry Sarver from sermoncentral.com sermon “Is God Faithful and fair?” states this about this difficult section of Scripture:
i. Was God being unfair in blessing one person or nation and not the other? Was God being unfair in blessing the Gentiles with the Gospel while hardening the hearts of Israel against the Gospel? As verse 14 says, “Is God unjust?” The answer is “not at all!” The Scriptures themselves say that God can show mercy to anyone he chooses and that no one is owed blessings. No one has the right to complain that they did not receive enough mercy or that another person received too much mercy. If I in my kindness decide to give $1,000 away to total strangers, no one can complain because I give some people $20 while giving other people $200.00. Why not? Because no one was owed anything, everything they got was an undeserved gift. God shows mercy to all people (Romans 11:32) but he does so when and how he chooses. God’s choice of who he will bless, whether Israelites or Gentiles, “does not depend on man’s desire or effort (works) but on God’s mercy.” (vs. 16)
b. Paul uses historical illustrations to make his point that God can choose to reach the Gentiles with the Gospel if He so desires! Why? Because He is God.
i. He first uses the illustration of Jacob and Esau – God choose one over the other to carry on the line of the Messiah.
1. The words he uses are one I have loved and one I have hated – Paul notes that this decision was made before they were born by God.
a. The truth is Paul is pointing out that God knew that Esau would sell off his birth right before he even did it!
b. God knew that Esau would make the wrong choice long before he did it.
c. The question could be asked “How?” – The Bible tells us that God is all knowing – omniscient.
i. The truth is God is not limited by time like we are. – Scripture continually moves into the future to tell God’s people what is going to happen.
ii. Just read Revelation – God knows what will happen in the future and He came move through time.
1. He knows what happens in the future and He knows who will make the right choices because of this supernatural ability.
2. We in our limited knowledge struggle with this concept of God and Paul gives us a reality check and asks us, “Who do we think we are to judge why God does what He does?”
3. He does not answer to us for what He does – we answer to Him for what we are suppose to do.
ii. Second he notes an instance to Moses that He will do what He knows is the right thing to do to others – God knows who deserves mercy and who does not and he will decide by the way they live their lives and were there heart is.
iii. He then recalls the situation with Pharaoh and how God hardened His heart after Pharaoh first choose to hardened it against God and His people.
1. See Exodus 8:15: 15But when Pharaoh saw that there was relief, he hardened his heart and would not listen to Moses and Aaron, just as the LORD had said.
2. Quest Study Bible on page 88 gives us good insight about this situation that Paul references in Romans 9:
a. Who Hardened Pharaoh’s heart?
i. If Pharaoh was judged as the consequence for his own free will, we’d have no problem; he got what he deserved. But was Pharaoh merely a pawn in God’s hands? The Bible seems to suggest that the events-and even his response to them-were not entirely Pharaoh’s doing. It describes the hardening of Pharaoh’s heart at different times: 1). In a neutral sense (Exodus &:13-14; 8:19): 2). As an act of Pharaoh’s own choice (Exodus 8:15) and 3). As an act of God’s sovereignty (Exodus 9:12). While several passages describe God as the one hardening Pharaoh’s heart, nine other references indicate that Pharaoh hardened his own heart or that circumstances may have helped harden him (7:13,14,22;8:15,19,32;9:7,34,35). It was not until the sixth plague that God explicitly hardened Pharaoh’s heart (9:12), after several occasions where Pharaoh may have resisted God so much that at last he found himself unable to change. Old Testament writers apparently saw no contradiction in both God’s and Pharaoh’s simultaneous involvement. To them, Pharaoh’s condition could be the result of both his own free will and God’s sovereign plan. Pharaoh was not the hapless victim of God’s action, however, God did not drag him against his will kicking and screaming, into disobedience. Pharaoh did, in fact, willfully oppose God. Ultimately, Pharaoh was responsible for oppressing the Israelites as well as for his own unbelief. At the same time, on another level, God was also at work, Moses, writing years after the events, could say confidently that God was at work even in Pharaoh’s hard heart”.
T.S. – Getting a proper understanding of the whole Bible is essential in understanding tough texts like this one. One of the major teachings that emerged out this text came from a man named John Calvin who about 500 years ago left the Catholic Church and penned the theology known as “Calvinism.” The Presbyterian Church really adopted his theology in the beginning and many adhere to it today. But it is hard to find a true 5 point Calvinist today in the Body of Christ. He coined the term, “The Doctrine of Predestination or Election.” It’s important to know that Calvin never started another church or denomination and his writings and teachings have impacted many denominations across the world today. So what does it mean to be predestined according to Calvin’s view point? Has the course of our life already been decided by God before we where ever born? Has God determined the fate of all men in advance and there is nothing any of us can do about it? What about free moral choice do we really have it? Why were we born? Does God have a plan for each of us that we must follow? If so, what is it? We will seek to answer these questions along with others that may arise as explore his teaching.
II. How does John Calvin’s teaching on Predestination compare to all of Scripture?
a. Calvin’s teaching on predestination is revealed by the acrostic TULIP which is revealed below and we need to look at the 5 points and see if they align with Scripture (The Chart is from: http://www.bible.ca/calvinism.htm).
T Total hereditary depravity Babies inherit the sin of Adam and are totally depraved and therefore unable to respond to the gospel message of Christ.
U Unconditional election (or predestination) God had a master list of those who will be saved and those who will go to hell before creation in Gen 1:1. The list is unchangeable.
L Limited atonement Christ did not die for all men but only those on the "saved list"
I Irresistible grace God sends the Holy Spirit only to those on the saved list which removes their depraved nature inherited from Adam and creates within them a saving faith in Christ. The Holy Spirit thereafter guides them directly to understand and correctly interpret the Bible.
P Perseverance of the saints A child of God once saved, cannot be lost.
b. Does the Bible teach that we inherit the sin nature from Adam and from our parents?
i. Total hereditary depravity - Spiritual consequences of sin cannot be transmitted from father to son but only falls on the one who committed the act see Ezek 18:1-4; 18-20; Jer 32:29-30.
ii. Exodus 32:31¬-33, In this passage, Moses wanted to receive the punishment for someone else’s sin. In verse 33, the one who sinned is removed from the book, not the one whose parents have sinned.
iii. We will be judged only by our own actions according to following passages Mt 12:36-37; Rom 2:6; 2 Cor 5:10; 1 Pe 1:17.
iv. Isa 59:1-2, "Your sins have separated you from your God" not Adams sin!
v. Sin is committed by individually breaking God’s law according to 1 Jn 3:4 (Infants have done nothing) .
vi. Where is one Bible verse that says we will be condemned and judged for the sins of another person?
vii. If we carefully explore these verses we soon discover that Adam’s sin is not literally passed down into each new born baby. It is true that Adam’s sin has negatively impacted the world we live in but I will not be judged for Adam’s sin but for my sins.
c. The Bible does teach predestination, but it is not a Calvinistic Predestination:
i. Bible predestination is where God pre-determined, not the identity of the saved, but the characteristics of the saved.
ii. When you study the Scriptures it becomes clear that saints have certain character traits that reveal who they are – righteousness, humble, holy, produce fruits of the Spirit with their lives (ect.)
iii. I am not opposed to the teaching of predestination, for the Bible does teach it. However, Calvin’s view of predestination is entirely different than what I discover as I search the Scriptures.
iv. Let’s look at the following chart from the website: http://www.bible.ca/calvinism.htm).
What is foreknown by God in these Bible Verses?
Text Personal Identity? Character, purpose & plan?
Eph. 1:3-4
1 Cor. 2:7
Rom. 8:29-30
v. The Bible also tells us that God is not a respecter of persons see Acts 10:34; Rom 2:11-12; 1 Peter 1:17.
vi. The Bible tells us that God does not want anyone to perish but all to be saved: Tit 2:11; 1 Ti 2:3-4; 2 Peter 3:9.
vii. The Word of God paints the Devil as an enemy to the saved and to be concerned that he does not lead you astray but if we are predestined then should not worry about him because he could never get our name off the saved list see 1 Peter 5:8 So why should we beware of the Devil if we are predestined?
viii. Our eternal destiny (heaven or hell) is based entirely upon personal choices we make in life. Our salvation and eternal destiny is based upon our own freewill. If we end up in hell, we can only blame ourselves not God! (This section is based from http://www.bible.ca/cal-T-refutation.htm).
d. Is it a Biblical teaching that once you are saved your always going to be saved no matter how you live your life after salvation?
i. Jesus said in his own words in Matthew 24:4-14: “4Jesus answered: “Watch out that no one deceives you. 5For many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will deceive many. 6You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. 7Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. 8All these are the beginning of birth pains. 9“Then you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of me. 10At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other, 11and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people. 12Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, 13but he who stands firm to the end will be saved. 14And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.”
1. Jesus makes it clear that we need to make sure that we are not deceived by false prophets or imposters! This address is to the followers of Jesus and he warns them to be on their guard because he who becomes deceived will not be able to stand until the end. The ides is that those who are believers ca be deceived and fall away from God and His ways and therefore they will not make it into Heaven.
ii. He also reaffirmed this idea in Matthew 7:13-23: 13“Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. 14But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it. 15“Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. 16By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? 17Likewise every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. 18A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. 19Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them. 21“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’ 23Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’”
1. Once again Jesus warns the listeners – His followers to make sure that they are not deceived by the imposters in the church. He says plainly that there will be Christians who have confessed Jesus as their Lord but do no live in accordance with His Word because they are deceived by the enemy. The result of their deception and rejection of the way of Truth will result in their being denied entrance into Heaven and instead be banished to Hell.
iii. James 5: 19-20 also highlights that a person can lose their salvation: “19My brothers, if one of you should wander from the truth and someone should bring him back, 20remember this: Whoever turns a sinner from the error of his way will save him from death and cover over a multitude of sins.
1. John Bevere from his book Driven by Eternity states this about this text, “The first point to notice is found in the words, ‘Brethen, if anyone among you.’ James is not talking to people who just think they are Christians. He is speaking of a believer who wanders from the truth is called a sinner. This doesn’t mean he is now no longer born again; rather, he is in habitual sin and needs to return to obedience. However, if he persists in his wandering ways, James makes it clear the result will ultimately be death to the soul (a lost soul), if there is no turning back to God (repentance). Proverbs confirms this by saying: ‘A man who wanders out of the way of understanding shall abide in the congregation of the spirits (of the dead)’ (Prov. 21:16, AMP, emphasis mine). Proverbs confirms Jame’s word’s by showing the final abode of a man or woman who wanders from the ways of God without turning back to righteousness is the assembly of the dead, which is Hades, and eventually the Lake of Fire” (Driven By Eternity, pages 109-110).
iv. The book of Revelation 3:1-6 also helps us see if this teaching is supported from Scripture: 1“To the angel of the church in Sardis write: These are the words of him who holds the seven spirits of God and the seven stars. I know your deeds; you have a reputation of being alive, but you are dead. 2Wake up! Strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have not found your deeds complete in the sight of my God. 3Remember, therefore, what you have received and heard; obey it, and repent. But if you do not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what time I will come to you. 4Yet you have a few people in Sardis who have not soiled their clothes. They will walk with me, dressed in white, for they are worthy. 5He who overcomes will, like them, be dressed in white. I will never blot out his name from the book of life, but will acknowledge his name before my Father and his angels. 6He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”
1. The Book of life is referenced eight times in the New Testament. We learn from these references that those not recorded in the Book of Life will be cast into the Lake of Fire on Judgment Day.
2. The Apostle John says that only those recorded in the Book will be allowed entrance into the Holy City!
3. But in this part of Revelation Jesus reminds the church of Sardis that if they do not repent and awake from their sinful ways then they will discover that their names will have been erased or blotted out of the Book of Life.
a. John Bevere from his book Driven by Eternity notes this about this text: “The only way to have your name erased from the Book of Life is for it to originally be there. Only those who have been truly born again through faith in Jesus Christ are recorded in the Book of Life. The unbelievers and even the deceived, who never truly walked with Jesus, were never written in this book, so their names cannot be blotted out. He is speaking to those ‘in the family’ (pages 110-111).
v. We have another text to look at to see once you are saved you are always saved let’s look at Hebrews 6:4-6: “1Therefore let us leave the elementary teachings about Christ and go on to maturity, not laying again the foundation of repentance from acts that lead to death, and of faith in God, 2instruction about baptisms, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment. 3And God permitting, we will do so.4It is impossible for those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, who have shared in the Holy Spirit, 5who have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the coming age, 6if they fall away, to be brought back to repentance, because to their loss they are crucifying the Son of God all over again and subjecting him to public disgrace.”
1. Notice the qualifications of this person who has walked away from God and His Word:
a. This individual at one point in their life had been enlightened by God and had tasted the Heavenly gift which is Jesus.
b. They have also been filled with the Holy Spirit.
c. They have experienced the goodness that comes from God’s Word and been recipients of its power.
i. Most likely this would be the gifts of the Holy Spirit and the presence of God’s anointing.
2. John Bevere adds this thought about Hebrews: “From the list we can see this would not include baby Christians, but seasoned believers” (113).
3. The result of their walking away from the truth is they are lost!
T.S. – As we have looked at the 5 points of Calvinism’s doctrinal teaching of Predestination we see that they do not completely align with the whole teaching of the Bible. The sad truth is this teaching by Calvin gave many a license to sin in the church and I believe that many have found themselves before the Judgment seat of Christ and then discovered to late that they were deceived.
III. Does God chose His favorites and then call them Saints or does God look at a person’s life and their choices and then call them Saints?
a. The thought re-surfaces in my head again, “Does God Play Favorites or does God choose those who align with His Word?”
i. I have always hated it when people play favorites! And I especially hate it when I am not one of the favorites!
1. Can you relate to what I am saying!
2. You may be thinking, “It’s okay to play favorites as long as I am one of the favorites!” But no one likes it when someone plays favorites and you are left out of the loop.
3. Story: Growing up my mom never played favorites! She was so careful to treat us kids with equal love and respect. But my Grandmother did and it always bothered me. She loved my older brother and my cousins more than she cared for me. I do want to say that she did not mistreat me but she definitely gave the others more attention, more perks and more things than she did me and it bothered me. When I asked my brother about it one time he said, “She never did that she was good to all of us!” I suppose he just never realized it because he was on the inside! But the truth is she played favorites and I noticed that she did and if hurt my feelings.
a. When I experienced the hurtful emotions that accompanied my early years with my grandma playing favorites it reminded me that God would never do such a thing to someone He loves.
b. It’s against His nature to love one and then reject someone else based on predetermined idea of fate.
c. So why does Paul say that God hates some and loves others – God shows mercy on some and not to others?
i. The bottom line is this man has a free-will and they have the ability to choose to live for God and accept His truths or to reject the ways of God and His Word.
ii. God has predetermined what a Saint is to look like and act like and if a person chooses to forsake.
iii. The treatment that we receive by God is based upon the condition of our hearts toward God and His way.
iv. If we choose to live a life of sin then God cannot love that which is sin because it is in opposition to the way of love.
b. A few weeks back I addressed briefly the subject of the Doctrine of Election or the Doctrine of Predestination and today we have looked deeper into this teaching:
i. So once again what does it mean to be “Predestined” by God? Does God choose some of the people who will be born today in America to love and then does he choose some others who will be born today to hate- forever?
1. Sproul tries to explain it this teaching this way: Unconditional election means that "our final destination, heaven or hell, is decided by God not only before we get there, but before we are born. It teaches that our ultimate destiny is in the hands of God" (R.C. Sproul, Essential Truths of the Christian Faith, p. 161). God did not base His choice on anything in man. He did not choose those whom He foreknew would choose Him, but based His choice upon Himself and His holy purposes only. http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Delphi/8449/uncon.html
a. I have to ask myself does this sound like a God who is love?
b. By the way I do believe in some of what he says but I believe there is more to it than just this simple explanation. I do not believe God would predestine some people to death – because Peter told us in the Word earlier that “God does not want any to perish!” Jesus himself said the same thing. So it does not align with the whole counsel of God that some would be born to be condemned and God made them that way.
c. The Bible tells me that we are made in the image of God and that means when we are born we are created to be good and holy but the problem arise when we choose to reject God and His way and choose the nature of the enemy.
2. There is another website that I discovered that seeks to explain the Doctrine of Election and Predestination this way http://geneva.rutgers.edu/src/christianity/predest.html -
a. This page discusses the way in which human responsibility interacts with God’s responsibility. A proper balance here is critical to the Christian life. If human responsibility is overemphasized, Christianity turns into legalism, without an appreciation for God’s power active in our lives. If God’s responsibility is overemphasized, Christianity turns into fatalism, losing the emphasis on obedience to God and service to others. Both of these problems have occurred at times.
i. I really like what this writer has to say and I really believe it all comes back to taking a balanced approach to this subject.
ii. We need a proper balance of free-will and God’s interaction in the world.
c. The Christian orthodox position maintains both of the following points discussed about God’s interaction in the world and man’s freewill in their lives about God and people’s destiny:
i. As I look at Scripture God is in charge both of history in general and of our lives personally.
1. We are unable to come to know and serve Him on our own power or ability – The Holy Spirit is involved in this whole process. We are completely dependent upon His decision to save us, and His divine work in our lives to transform us and make us new creatures in Christ.
a. But we also have a say so in whether we will allow Him to do a divine work in our lives or not.
2. One preacher said it this way, “Sometimes Christians so emphasize God’s responsibility that they lose sight of the need for our lives to be transformed, and for us to be active in working with others.”
a. The truth is there is a responsibility placed on every individual when it comes to eternal truth.
b. We can choose to accept it and live by it or we can choose to reject it and live self-centered lives.
d. We all have the choice to make responsible decisions with our lives.
i. This applies to the spiritual dimension of our life and to the physical dimension in our life.
1. For example: I can choose to live a healthy lifestyle or not. I can choose to eat junk food all day and suffer the consequences of weight gain and complications later in my life. But when I get heart disease, or diabetes I cannot blame God for my health problems because I choose to destroy my own body. I can also choose to quit smoking or keep smoking but I cannot blame God if I get Lung Cancer because I choose to smoke. My aunt could not figure out why she got Emphysema but she smoke two packs or more of cigarettes a day. She died at an early age because she chose to smoke. It was not God’s fault that she died of this disease she chose her path and paid with her life.
a. The same principle of life applies to the spiritual dimensions of it. You can choose to reject the council of God’s Word and choose to hate instead of love and forgive. You can choose to live by the sinful nature of the fleshly nature and the result will be it will kill you spiritually.
b. The truth is we do not always make the right choices and therefore we experience the cause and affect of our poor choices and our good choices in life. I have seen many who do not take responsibility with their lives and others pay the price. I have seen family members who choose a path that is wrong and I see the hurt and the pain that it causes in the lives of other family members. Their choices whether good or bad impacted the others in their families.
i. The Word says that we will be judged by God for how we respond to Him, and how we dealt with each other in this life.
ii. There is a day of reckoning coming for all of us!
c. This same preacher said, “Sometimes Christians so emphasize human decision that they lose sight of our dependence upon God. Christianity then becomes a demanding moral code, but it loses contact with Christ’s work to redeem people who are unworthy of it.”
i. The truth is there is to be a dependence on God.
ii. We need His intervention in our lives and we must have it to be able to deal with eternal truth.
iii. All of us need the help that God can provide in our lives but Jesus said “Knock and the door will be open to you!” In other words ask for help from God and he will answer you cry for help! Why? Because He is your Heavenly father and he responds to his children when they cry for help!
e. DAVID C. PACK gives us some good insight with these thoughts about his view of the Doctrine of Predestination and why he struggles with it.
i. He challenges us to think about this teaching, “Is this true? Is this what the Bible actually teaches when it makes reference to predestination? Did God actually pre-plan every sin, every act of immorality and every crime that has ever been committed? Is God the author of every war—every act of civil disobedience—every divorce—every suicide—every murder? Did God pre-plan every rape—every act of child abuse—every lie ever told—every time one chooses to cheat on his income taxes? Understand. If God has already charted the course, in advance of everything that will ever happen, all acts of sin and unrighteousness cannot be excluded. Now turn the coin over. Has God predetermined which people will obey Him? Has He decided in advance who will be righteous—and thus who will become Christians and ultimately be saved? If this is true, we must at the same time consider whether He has also decided who will be lost. And can the “lost” not choose to repent and be saved? Can the saved not fall back into, by choice, the way of life that will cause them to be lost? These are important questions. Is anything missing? Yes, a great deal has been completely overlooked from the pages of the Bible. It is time to answer this important question. We have clearly seen that predestination does not mean that God has determined the fate of all human beings in advance—that the entire course of their lives has been decided for them. It does not mean that all human beings who have ever lived were chosen to be either lost or saved.”
1. David strikes to the heart of the issue and helps us to see that God who is Love never produces that which is evil! It’s against His nature and character to do so. So to say that God pre-destined people that He created to sin is against his character and nature.
2. James states in his second chapter that favoritism is forbidden by the Word of God:
a. James 2:1-13: 1My brothers, as believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ, don’t show favoritism. 2Suppose a man comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring and fine clothes, and a poor man in shabby clothes also comes in. 3If you show special attention to the man wearing fine clothes and say, “Here’s a good seat for you,” but say to the poor man, “You stand there” or “Sit on the floor by my feet,” 4have you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts? 5Listen, my dear brothers: Has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom he promised those who love him? 6But you have insulted the poor. Is it not the rich who are exploiting you? Are they not the ones who are dragging you into court? 7Are they not the ones who are slandering the noble name of him to whom you belong? 8If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, “Love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing right. 9But if you show favoritism, you sin and are convicted by the law as lawbreakers. 10For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it. 11For he who said, “Do not commit adultery,” also said, “Do not murder.” If you do not commit adultery but do commit murder, you have become a lawbreaker. 12Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom, 13because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment!
b. James 1:12-18: Tells us that God does not do evil! He even explains why evil things come onto people in this life! Listen to what he says: 12Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him. 13When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; 14but each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed. 15Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.16Don’t be deceived, my dear brothers. 17Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. 18He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of all he created.
f. I found a great article which addresses the question “Does God Play Favorites? On page 1562 in the Quest Study Bible: Listen to what it says:
i. The whole Bible teaches that God is fair and just (Psalm 11:7). It also states that God does not take pleasure in the death of the wicked (Ezek. 18:23), but that he wants all men to be saved (1 Tim. 2:4). Therefore, the idea of God’s purpose in election (v. 11) raises some hard questions, such as “How can God choose some and pass on others?” People have attempted to explain God’s election in several ways. Some hold the view that God elects some to be saved because he knows beforehand that they will choose to accept Christ (8:29). Their election, according to this view, is based on God’s foreknowledge (Arminianism). Others conclude that God, in his wise and sovereign will, chooses some but not others for reasons we cannot understand. His selection may seem unfair, but that is simply because we have limited perspective. Humans, bound in sin. Do not naturally seek God (3:11), but when God’s grace comes to the elect, it frees them to choose God (Calvinism). Still others emphasize that God elected Jesus, his Son, and that all those who are in Christ by faith share in that corporate election. What about Pharaoh (vv. 17-18)? While the Bible clearly states that God hardened Pharaoh’s heart (v. 18; see Exodus 9:12), it also records Pharaoh’s own decision to harden his heart (Exodus 8:15). The mystery of how God works in election is not easily resolved. Difficult questions continue to confound us. In the end we may need to confess that our understanding is limited, that we may be missing some key part of God’s plan that would allow us to understand election better (page 1562, Quest Study Bible).
1. I believe this article put a balance view of this subject and enlightens our heart to the fact that in this life there is to be an interaction between God and Mankind. God is in complete control and we can choose to align ourselves with Him or not.
2. God has chosen the course of salvation – God has chosen who will get to Heaven – The Saints.
3. God has designed and implemented the path to Heaven and it is narrow but it is walk-able if we chose to walk it. It’s our choice to make!
4. God chose the way now it is our choice to walk that way!
Conclusion:
The reality check is we have a choice to work along with God in His divine plan for the world or to reject His plan:
Will you follow the lead of Joshua who said, “As for me and my household we will serve the Lord?” Or will you follow the leading of Satan and chose to go against the ways of the Lord and continue to live in sin? He made a choice what will your choice be?
Here is another question of the day “Saint” -- “Who are you to talk back to God and to question why He does what He does? Who do you think you are to question God and His choices? Are you God?”
Let’s look at a few more questions to ponder as we struggle to understand this chapter of Romans:
Do you think you are better than God?
Do you think that you know more than God does?
Do you think you are more powerful than God?
Do you think you are more holy than God?
Do you think you can fool God?
Do you think you are wiser than God?
Do you think you are superior to God?
Do you think that God answers to you?
Do you think that you can love better than God?
Did you create the world and everything in it?
Did you some how become greater than God?
Altar Call: God has chosen the path to Heaven “Jesus” – He has created its route – he has built the highway to Heaven – (He chose to do this!). He now gives you a choice to step onto His highway to Heaven or to step off. It’s your choice but your choice will determine your eternal destiny! So what path will you choose? God has already made His choice and He will not change His mind!
