There is an underlying presumption or perhaps assumption in this thread that God "wills" or "predetermines" the preterition of the non-elect. The Bible doctrine of election focuses on the salvation of the saints, never the preterition of the non-elect.
It should go without saying that God’s sovereign will shall prevail in that nothing shall finally happen that He does not allow. However, it is a mistake to say that people will burn in hell because God has so predestined them. The ones who are lost for eternity will be in that condition on the basis of the fact that they have rejected, at a minimum, the general revelation that God has given concerning Himself through creation. No one will be lost who has not consciously rejected the knowledge of His eternal power and Godhead; they will have no excuse (Rom 1:18-20).
They are lost because they refused to come to Him that they might have life! Does their inherent depravity figure into that equation? Of course, but it is their rejection of light that leaves them in darkness. To argue that they could not have come to the light almost serves to remove from the lost any personal responsibility for their lostness. Scripture presents both sides as true – men are indeed dead in their trespasses and sin, but they are also fully aware, at some point, of a conscious rejection of what light they have received.
IT IS A SERIOUS MISTAKE TO BLAME THE PRETERITION OF THE LOST ON THE SOVEREIGNTY OF GOD! Yes, admittedly, God chooses not to intervene to the degree that they get saved, but their lost condition is a result of their determined rebellion against what light they have received, not His intervention to keep them lost.
Revelation makes it clear that even when men are clearly aware of the judgement of God, they will continue in their sin and refuse to repent, ultimately even blaspheming His holy name (Rev 9:20; 16:9,11,21).
To argue that the lost are aware of their "election" to preterition is argue on the basis of a flawed presumption. Biblically, they are not "elected" to preterition. Could a lost person believe that he was elected to preterition? Of course, but that does not make it so. Could they believe that and still continue in their lost condition, I believe that a lost person can be very aware of their eternal destiny and not only continue in that condition, but "have pleasure" in that continuance (Rom 1:32).
One final note, personal stories, examples, and illustrations are nice, but divine truth must be determined and evaluated on the basis of the Word of God ALONE – NOT stories, examples, illustrations, tradition, or church history, no matter how interesting or apropos they may seem!
It should go without saying that God’s sovereign will shall prevail in that nothing shall finally happen that He does not allow. However, it is a mistake to say that people will burn in hell because God has so predestined them. The ones who are lost for eternity will be in that condition on the basis of the fact that they have rejected, at a minimum, the general revelation that God has given concerning Himself through creation. No one will be lost who has not consciously rejected the knowledge of His eternal power and Godhead; they will have no excuse (Rom 1:18-20).
They are lost because they refused to come to Him that they might have life! Does their inherent depravity figure into that equation? Of course, but it is their rejection of light that leaves them in darkness. To argue that they could not have come to the light almost serves to remove from the lost any personal responsibility for their lostness. Scripture presents both sides as true – men are indeed dead in their trespasses and sin, but they are also fully aware, at some point, of a conscious rejection of what light they have received.
IT IS A SERIOUS MISTAKE TO BLAME THE PRETERITION OF THE LOST ON THE SOVEREIGNTY OF GOD! Yes, admittedly, God chooses not to intervene to the degree that they get saved, but their lost condition is a result of their determined rebellion against what light they have received, not His intervention to keep them lost.
Revelation makes it clear that even when men are clearly aware of the judgement of God, they will continue in their sin and refuse to repent, ultimately even blaspheming His holy name (Rev 9:20; 16:9,11,21).
To argue that the lost are aware of their "election" to preterition is argue on the basis of a flawed presumption. Biblically, they are not "elected" to preterition. Could a lost person believe that he was elected to preterition? Of course, but that does not make it so. Could they believe that and still continue in their lost condition, I believe that a lost person can be very aware of their eternal destiny and not only continue in that condition, but "have pleasure" in that continuance (Rom 1:32).
One final note, personal stories, examples, and illustrations are nice, but divine truth must be determined and evaluated on the basis of the Word of God ALONE – NOT stories, examples, illustrations, tradition, or church history, no matter how interesting or apropos they may seem!