Alan Dale Gross
Well-Known Member
"WHY MAN IS RESPONSIBLE?"
"The question is, then, how can man be responsible for his actions when all that he does has been Ordained and Decreed of God? This is not a new question. It is at least as old as the New Testament, and probably much older.
"Paul anticipated this question from his readers when he penned the wonderful ninth chapter of Romans.
"He said. "Thou will say then unto me, Why doth he still find fault? For who withstandeth his will."
And Paul's reply was: "Nay, but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God?
"Shall the thing Formed say to Him that Formed it, Why didst Thou Make me thus?
"Or hath not the Potter a right over the clay,
from the same lump to make one part a Vessel unto Honor, and another unto Dishonor."
"Paul's mentioning of this question and his reply show conclusively that Paul taught the Absolute Sovereignty of God. Indeed his preceding words clearly teach it. Paul made the reply that he did because he anticipated the question as coming from an objector. When it comes as a reverent inquiry, it deserves more detailed consideration. Paul's reply had to be brief because his time and purpose would not permit a lengthy discussion. Our time permits and our purpose demands a fuller discussion.
"Man is Responsible for his actions,
notwithstanding the fact that God has Decreed all that Comes to Pass, for at least three reasons:
"1. God's Decree Concerning Sin is Not Causative but Permissive, Directive, Preventive, and Determinative.
"God Decreed that sin should come in the world, for Reasons that are fully Known only to Him, but He decreed that it should come by man's own Free Choice. God does not compel man to sin, but He allows it.
"Man, and not God, is the Efficient Cause of sin; and for that reason man is Responsible.
"Before passing it needs to be remarked that no objections can be brought against the statement that God Decreed that sin should come into the world that cannot be brought against God's actual Permission of sin, unless the objector takes the position that God was powerless to prevent the entrance of sin. This would be a denial of God's Omnipotence and Sovereignty, and would render the objector unworthy of consideration here.
"God's Omnipotence and Sovereignty teaches us that whatever God Permits He Permits because He Wills to do so. And since God is Immutable, His Will has always been the same. What He Wills at any time He has Willed from all Eternity. Therefore, His Will Equals His Purpose and His Purpose Equals His Decree.
"2. The Law of God and Not His Decree Fixes Man's Duty and Responsibility.
"The Law of God is man's Guide and Standard. This is God's Revealed Will. God's Decree is His Secret Will. Man has nothing to do with this except to know and acknowledge the facts concerning it. "
"The secret things belong unto Jehovah, our God;
but things that are Revealed belong unto us and to our children Forever,
that we may do all the Words of this Law" (Deut. 29:29).
"3. The Motive Back of Man's Sinning Makes Him Responsible."
"Why does man sin? Is it because he always wants to do the Will of God? No, never so.
"Why did men crucify Christ? Was it because they believed that God had sent Him to die as a Sin-Bearer? No.
"It was because they hated Him. They crucified Him through wicked motives.
"It is in this way that man always sins. Sin proceeds from man's love of darkness (John 3:19)."
From: HUMAN RESPONSIBILITY.
NEW THREAD: How can Man be Responsible for not fully Obeying the Law of God
and for not Receiving the Gospel when it is said he is unable by Nature to do either?
"The question is, then, how can man be responsible for his actions when all that he does has been Ordained and Decreed of God? This is not a new question. It is at least as old as the New Testament, and probably much older.
"Paul anticipated this question from his readers when he penned the wonderful ninth chapter of Romans.
"He said. "Thou will say then unto me, Why doth he still find fault? For who withstandeth his will."
And Paul's reply was: "Nay, but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God?
"Shall the thing Formed say to Him that Formed it, Why didst Thou Make me thus?
"Or hath not the Potter a right over the clay,
from the same lump to make one part a Vessel unto Honor, and another unto Dishonor."
"Paul's mentioning of this question and his reply show conclusively that Paul taught the Absolute Sovereignty of God. Indeed his preceding words clearly teach it. Paul made the reply that he did because he anticipated the question as coming from an objector. When it comes as a reverent inquiry, it deserves more detailed consideration. Paul's reply had to be brief because his time and purpose would not permit a lengthy discussion. Our time permits and our purpose demands a fuller discussion.
"Man is Responsible for his actions,
notwithstanding the fact that God has Decreed all that Comes to Pass, for at least three reasons:
"1. God's Decree Concerning Sin is Not Causative but Permissive, Directive, Preventive, and Determinative.
"God Decreed that sin should come in the world, for Reasons that are fully Known only to Him, but He decreed that it should come by man's own Free Choice. God does not compel man to sin, but He allows it.
"Man, and not God, is the Efficient Cause of sin; and for that reason man is Responsible.
"Before passing it needs to be remarked that no objections can be brought against the statement that God Decreed that sin should come into the world that cannot be brought against God's actual Permission of sin, unless the objector takes the position that God was powerless to prevent the entrance of sin. This would be a denial of God's Omnipotence and Sovereignty, and would render the objector unworthy of consideration here.
"God's Omnipotence and Sovereignty teaches us that whatever God Permits He Permits because He Wills to do so. And since God is Immutable, His Will has always been the same. What He Wills at any time He has Willed from all Eternity. Therefore, His Will Equals His Purpose and His Purpose Equals His Decree.
"2. The Law of God and Not His Decree Fixes Man's Duty and Responsibility.
"The Law of God is man's Guide and Standard. This is God's Revealed Will. God's Decree is His Secret Will. Man has nothing to do with this except to know and acknowledge the facts concerning it. "
"The secret things belong unto Jehovah, our God;
but things that are Revealed belong unto us and to our children Forever,
that we may do all the Words of this Law" (Deut. 29:29).
"3. The Motive Back of Man's Sinning Makes Him Responsible."
"Why does man sin? Is it because he always wants to do the Will of God? No, never so.
"Why did men crucify Christ? Was it because they believed that God had sent Him to die as a Sin-Bearer? No.
"It was because they hated Him. They crucified Him through wicked motives.
"It is in this way that man always sins. Sin proceeds from man's love of darkness (John 3:19)."
From: HUMAN RESPONSIBILITY.
NEW THREAD: How can Man be Responsible for not fully Obeying the Law of God
and for not Receiving the Gospel when it is said he is unable by Nature to do either?
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