Brother Protestant,
Please forgive me in my participation of your thread that got derailed. I started this one so you can pick up where we destroyed your original thread.
Yes, SG, the thread got hijacked!
As I was explaining before the thread was closed, our views of man and God are quite different from that of our detractors.
No matter the spins our opponents place on man’s will, the end result is the same:
Man ultimately, with or without God’s help (sufficient grace), has the power of free will for self-determining his eternal destiny.
Furthermore, they insist God would have it no other way.
Truth be told, their version of sufficient grace damns more men than saves them:
Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:
14 Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it (Matthew 7:13:14).
We, on the other hand, believe Scripture teaches the opposite.
Man’s will is inextricably tied to his fallen sin nature, and as such, holiness is vile and detestable to him.
The concept of a free will having perfect equilibrium to choose holiness over evil (or vice versa), is nowhere taught in Scripture.
In fact, man’s severe spiritual infirmities, coupled with his hating heart are more than sufficient biblical descriptions to prove man’s unregenerate sin nature’s absolute and complete spiritual impotence.
Yet our adversaries find in these vividly notorious descriptions no cause to reconsider their theory of free will.
What was God’s purpose in sending Christ?
The importance of this question cannot be overstated.
Once we discover the purpose of Christ’s mission, we can then evaluate its success or failure.
One of the prerequisite attributes of the true God is the power to accomplish all His purposes.
Men’s purposes often fail. God never fails:
‘My counsel shall stand, and I will accomplish all my purpose’ (Isaiah 46:10).
Failure is not an option for God.
Consider the fact that His wisdom and power are infinite, guaranteeing that He knows what to do and exactly how to do it in order to accomplish His ends.
So, what was God’s purpose in sending Christ?
For the Son of Man is come to seek and to save that which was lost (Luke 19:10).
Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many (Matthew 20:28).
And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name Jesus: for he shall save his people from their sins (Matthew 1:21).
And this is the Father's will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day (John 6:39).
It is clearly evident that Christ came:
1. To die for many
2. To save the lost
3. To save His people
4. To lose none given Him by the Father
Our opponents would have the purpose of the Father to have Christ die on behalf of all mankind.
There is a caveat. His death is only effective for those who believe.
Therefore, Christ was sent, not to actually and effectually save all mankind, but rather to offer the possibility of salvation, if men believe.
Thus, they now turn Scripture upside down by declaring:
1. Christ died for all men with the intention of saving all men
2. Christ offers salvation, upon the condition of faith
3. Depending on good and holy use of free will, man will be saved
4. Most for whom Christ died will not be saved, His blood being shed in vain
Can the reader discern the incongruity with Scripture?
Our detractors posit failure and impotence in God’s resume.
God tried His best, but it was not quite good enough to save all people.
There were obstacles too great for the all-wise, all-powerful God to overcome.
Our view of God, on the other hand, posits no defects in God or in His purpose to save.
Christ was sent to save only those given Him by the Father.
These sinners are called the Elect.
It is for those He died.
It is for those He prays.
It is those He effectually calls to faith, by the regenerating power of His Spirit accompanying the seed and water of the Word.
The Father never intended Christ to pay for the sins of those other than the Elect.
All that the Father gave Christ will be saved.
All others will be damned, according to the Father’s eternal, immutable will of good pleasure and purpose.
The God we worship cannot fail to save those He purposed to save.
Why He chose some and passed by others, He does not reveal.
As Christians we are duty bound to believe what He
has revealed in His Word.
Do you, the reader, believe?
