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Election and Free Will
Here are some verses that seem to support free will;
2 Peter 3:9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is
longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to
repentance.
Romans 10:9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine
heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
John 1:12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even
to them that believe on his name:
Here are some verses that seem to support election;
Romans 8:29 For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image
of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.
2 Thessalonians 2:13 But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of
the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of
the Spirit and belief of the truth:
Colossians 3:12 Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies,
kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering;
I want to be sensitive to your experiences. It should not be surprising that those who have been
ill-treated by one group would hold a reflexive antipathy towards the beliefs of that group.
In attempt to resolve what can appear to be contradictions, people have made several suggestions over the years.
1. God’s foreknowledge. This makes use of God’s existence outside of time to propose that since
God knows what people will chose, he makes his choice consistent with what people will
choose. I find it difficult to support this view as it tends to diminish God to the status of observer.
2. Three Populations. This view declares that there exist some people who cannot be saved (the
tares, vessels made for destruction, and children of the devil). This is a variant on the elect/nonelect distinction in that a further distinction is made between unsaveable/those who do not chose
God/those who are saved. It is difficult to support this view even though it appears to satisfy the
differentiation between those God foreknew and those he did not (Romans 8:29), it requires the
existence of life that is not of God. This does expand the available categories from
accepting/rejecting to accepting/rejection/not caring.
3. Open Theism. This view emphasizes God’s will as flexible and open to all sorts of
possibilities. This view can accommodate man’s free will but often at the expense of God’s will.
I think a better picture of the relationship between God’s will and man’s will can be seen here;
1Ki 19:13-18 And it was so, when Elijah heard it, that he wrapped his face in his mantle, and
went out, and stood in the entering in of the cave. And, behold, there came a voice unto him, and
said, What doest thou here, Elijah? And he said, I have been very jealous for the LORD God of
hosts: because the children of Israel have forsaken thy covenant, thrown down thine altars, and
slain thy prophets with the sword; and I, even I only, am left; and they seek my life, to take it
away. And the LORD said unto him, Go, return on thy way to the wilderness of Damascus: and
when thou comest, anoint Hazael to be king over Syria: And Jehu the son of Nimshi shalt thou
anoint to be king over Israel: and Elisha the son of Shaphat of Abelmeholah shalt thou anoint to
be prophet in thy room. And it shall come to pass, that him that escapeth the sword of Hazael
shall Jehu slay: and him that escapeth from the sword of Jehu shall Elisha slay. Yet I have left
me seven thousand in Israel, all the knees which have not bowed unto Baal, and every mouth
which hath not kissed him.
It seems to me that God has very specific plans. He patiently invites us to participate in
accomplishing his will. However, if we fail or reject this invitation, God’s plans will still be
accomplished.
Another illustration can be seen in God considering exterminating all of Israel and making a new
nation from Moses (similar to what happened with the flood).
Romans 9:18 Therefore hath he mercy on whom he will have mercy, and whom he will he
hardeneth.
The picture of God’s will as certain and inviolate is firmly established.
Isaiah 55:10-11 For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not
thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the
sower, and bread to the eater: So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not
return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing
whereto I sent it.
However, we may not be able to fully grasp it.
Isaiah 55:9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways,
and my thoughts than your thoughts.
It also seems that much is left on the shoulders of man;
Romans 1:20 For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen,
being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they
are without excuse:
There are verses that touch on the interplay of man’s will and God’s;
Proverbs 16:9 A man's heart deviseth his way: but the LORD directeth his steps.
We can see a little of this with Jonah;
Jonah 1:17-2:1 Now the LORD had prepared a great fish to swallow up Jonah. And Jonah was
in the belly of the fish three days and three nights. Then Jonah prayed unto the LORD his God
out of the fish's belly,
Jonah was one tough cookie if he could wait three days and nights inside a fish before crying out
to God. However, we have an example of an encounter between God’s will and man’s and God’s
will was accomplished.
I see in the example of the individual Jonah a similarity with the collective conflict with Israel.
Israel was uninterested in the new covenant that Jesus offered and his kingdom. However, God
will allow circumstances when they (like Jonah) will be very much interested in following his
will.
Revelation 12:13-17 And when the dragon saw that he was cast unto the earth, he persecuted the
woman which brought forth the man child. And to the woman were given two wings of a great
eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness, into her place, where she is nourished for a time,
and times, and half a time, from the face of the serpent. And the serpent cast out of his mouth
water as a flood after the woman, that he might cause her to be carried away of the flood. And
the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed up the flood which
the dragon cast out of his mouth. And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make
war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the
testimony of Jesus Christ.
Zechariah 12:10 And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of
Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications: and they shall look upon me whom they have
pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness
for him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn.
It may not be valid to compare the redemption of Israel with the redemption offered individuals.
However, it can still be interesting to observe comparative dynamics. God’s initial plan was to
call out for himself a nation that would be used to reach all the people on earth. Israel made
herself useless because of her idolatries. God chastened Israel with the Babylonian captivity, after
which idolatry was not practiced by Israel again. When Jesus came to offer the new covenant and
the kingdom, Israel was mostly disinterested. The temple was destroyed and Israel scattered for
2,000 years (the time of the gentiles). The return of Israel to Jerusalem sets the stage for the final
event where a fleeing remnant of Israel will be supernaturally protected by God for three and a
half years at the end of which at the return of Christ, a nation will be born in a day. This will
complete the redemption of the nation of Israel.
It is interesting to note that in the verse in Zechariah that God “pours out” the “spirit of grace and
supplications”. I see this as a finishing touch, compatible with the “new heart” that had been
promised;
Ezekiel 36:26 A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will
take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh.
We know that all of Israel will be saved;
Romans 11:26 And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the
Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob:
We also know that many in Israel will not be saved;
Daniel 12:2 And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to
everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.
It seems to me that the “all” of Israel that shall be saved are the “all” that are left.
I see in the end times state of Israel those who flee (as stated in Matthew 24:15) as self selecting.
They will not flee unless they trust in the promise of protection given by Jesus. They are saved by
faith. In a way, it is like a premature sheep and goats judgment. The “new heart” and “new spirit”
they get I see as similar to our process of sanctification and gifting in that they are saved by faith
but made more suitable for ministry through the granting of additional endowments.
This was a sort of long winded excursion into consideration of a small example of the relation
between God’s will and man’s. I cite this as a background to consideration of something I
observed on your wall.
John 6:44 No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will
raise him up at the last day.
John 12:32 And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me.
I can understand the appeal (especially for someone mal-treated by Calvinists) to mitigate the
exclusivity aspect of the John 6 verse. I am somewhat hesitant to equate the Father drawing with
the Son drawing. It may be the same, but I am reluctant to rush into such an assertion particularly
when I am not understanding what occurs with “drawing”.
I see a resonance between the words of Jesus and a condition called “being of the truth”.
John 18:37 Pilate therefore said unto him, Art thou a king then? Jesus answered, Thou sayest
that I am a king. To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should
bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice.
I can see an attraction that could constitute a “drawing” by way of this resonance. However, it
still does not answer how someone becomes “of the truth”. Is it a choice or is it a result of an act
of God. On the act of God side we have;
Hebrews 12:2a Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith;
Truth seems integral to salvation;
2 Thessalonians 2:10 And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish;
because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.
It is difficult to find a verse that clearly shows people rejecting truth as a matter of choice. It
seems there is an inverse relationship of truth with iniquity.
Proverbs 16:6 By mercy and truth iniquity is purged: and by the fear of the LORD men depart
from evil.
John 3:19 And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved
darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.
This is further established by describing a helpless entanglement in sin as the “default” condition
of mankind.
Romans 6:16 Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye
are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?
The crux for me is that it seems that those ensnared and lost in sin do not have what I would
consider the ability to make an informed or free decision. However, it does seems that each
individual is held responsible;
Romans 1:20 For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen,
being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they
are without excuse:
All of this brings me to the state where I cannot clearly see free choice and I cannot clearly see
absolute election. Since I see the bible as absolutely true, I have to conclude that I am lacking the
information or ability to understand (perhaps both). However, I do not see my lack of
understanding as an impediment to salvation.
Over the years I have encountered many people in the Christian world who declare various things
about God as if they have finally figured God out (sort of like putting God in a box). Theologians
and seminary graduates seem particularly vulnerable to this condition. As a result, I am wary of
inadvertently falling into the same pattern. This is one of the reasons I want to make sure that I
have a clear understanding of something before I advance a position. Even then, I want to be
open to additional information or understanding.
Do you know anyone else that would take this long to say, “I’m not sure”.
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