Page 223 - Way of Life Encyclopedia of the Bible Christianity. Based on the King James Bible

ELECT

responsible to respond to the light that they have that God’s blinding of Israel was not a matter of sovereign
they might be given more light (Acts 17:26-27). election but it was because they first hardened their own
Romans 9:23-24 does not mean that God calls only a hearts. Consider Eze. 12:2; Mt. 13:15 and Acts
certain pre-chosen elect group to salvation. “And that he 28:25-27:
might make known the riches of his glory on the vessels Ezekiel 12:2 -- “Son of man, thou dwellest in the
of mercy, which he had afore prepared unto glory, even midst of a rebellious house, which have eyes to see, and
us, whom he hath called, not of the Jews only, but also see not; they have ears to hear, and hear not: for they
of the Gentiles.” One has to read that into the language are a rebellious house.”
of the verses. The Calvinist claims that verse 24 refers to Ezekiel says the cause for Israel’s blindness is her
“effectual calling,” which is a term that describes the own rebellion.
“irresistible calling of the elect,” but this is adding to Matthew 13:15 -- “For this people’s heart is waxed
God’s Word, which is a great error. The Bible plainly gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and THEIR
states that God has called all who will come to Christ. EYES THEY HAVE CLOSED; lest at any time they should
God calls through the gospel (2 Th. 2:14) and the see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and should
gospel is to be preached to every creature (Mk. 16:15). understand with their heart, and should be converted,
God calls “whosoever will” (Ro. 10:13; Re. 22:17). God and I should heal them.”
calls every one that believes on Christ. “And this is the
will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Matthew says Israel closed her own eyes and that is
Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: the reason they were not converted. There is no
and I will raise him up at the last day” (Jn. 6:40). sovereign reprobation here.
God’s salvation even of the Jews was not a matter of Acts 28:25-27 -- “And when they agreed not among
“sovereign” election but was based on an individual’s themselves, they departed, after that Paul had spoken
faith in His Word. “But Israel, which followed after the one word, Well spake the Holy Ghost by Esaias the
law of righteousness, hath not attained to the law of prophet unto our fathers, Saying, Go unto this people,
righteousness. Wherefore? Because they sought it not by and say, Hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand;
faith, but as it were by the works of the law. For they and seeing ye shall see, and not perceive: For the heart
stumbled at that stumblingstone; as it is written, of this people is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of
Behold, I lay in Sion a stumblingstone and rock of hearing, and THEIR EYES HAVE THEY CLOSED; lest
offence: and whosoever believeth on him shall not be they should see with their eyes, and hear with their
ashamed” (Ro. 9:31-33). ears, and understand with their heart, and should be
converted, and I should heal them.”
Romans 10 leaves no doubt about this; the promise of
salvation proves that it is not God’s arbitrary or Again, Acts says Israel closed her own eyes lest she
“sovereign” choice (Ro. 10:8-13). Note the words be converted. There is no support for the Calvinist
“whosoever” and “all.” Would God mock sinners by doctrine of sovereign reprobation here.
promising them salvation if they believe in Christ and 7. Calvinism goes back to the “church fathers” for
then only enable those who were sovereignly elected to authority instead of strictly to the New Testament
actually exercise such faith? apostles and prophets.
God’s sovereignty does not mean that His will is always Calvin freely acknowledged that his authority was
accomplished in man. “But to Israel he saith, All day long Augustine. Consider the following quotes:
I have stretched forth my hands unto a disobedient and “If I were inclined to compile a whole volume from
gainsaying people” (Ro. 10:21). See also Mt. 23:37: “O Augustine, I could easily show my readers, that I need
Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, no words but his” (Institutes, Book III, chap. 22)
and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often “Let Augustine answer for me…” (Ibid.)
would I have gathered thy children together, even as a “[Augustine is the one] we quote most frequently as
hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye being the best and most faithful witness of all
would not!” God has made man in His image. Man is antiquity” (Institutes, Book IV, chap. 14)
not a robot. He can exercise his will in saying no to God, “Augustine is so wholly with me, that if I wished to
and man has said no to God and has resisted God from write a confession of my faith, I could do so ... out of
Genesis to Revelation. If God’s sovereignty means that his writings” (Calvin, “A Treatise on the Eternal
His will is always done, this world would make no Predestination of God,” trans. by Henry Cole, Calvin’s
Calvinism, Grandville, MI: Reformed Free Publishing,
sense! It is God’s will, for example, for every believer to 1987, p. 38; cited in Laurence Vance, The Other Side of
“Be ye holy; for I am holy” (1 Pe. 1:16), but we know all Calvinism, 1999, p. 38).
too well that this is not always the case and is never the
case perfectly.

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