By: Gen. Jim – 12/14/24
Pt.1
It is true! God has given humanity the choice to choose salvation or damnation. Let me begin with Deuteronomy 30:19,20: “This day I call heaven and earth as witness against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now CHOOSE life, so that you and your children may live and that you may love the LORD your God, listen to His Voice, and hold fast to Him. For the LORD is your life…” (Deuteronomy 30:19,20, The Hebrew-Greek Study Bible, NIV).
The Hebrew word for CHOOSE is “bahar”; to prove, try, select, distinguish. The term denotes taking a keen look (Isaiah 48:10). Something is deemed acceptable or judged to be excellent after it has been tested. Also signifies a careful, well thought out CHOICE (1 Samuel 17:40; 1 Kings 18:25; Isaiah 1:29; 40:20 etc.) Bahar often expresses CHOICES with eternal consequences (see Deuteronomy 12:5; 1 Samuel 10:24; 2 Samuel 6:21; 1 Kings 8:16; 1 Chronicles 28:5; Psalms 78:68, 135:4 etc.). But it must be understood, God has the right to select or reject of His previous CHOICES should the situation arise (see 1 Samuel 2:27).
“Bahar” is also spelled “bachar”, a prim. root meaning to try, select.
Here in Deuteronomy 30:15-20 we find the conclusion of the covenant service/public vows; the decision – FREE CHOICE – of the people. The CHOICES are nothing less than good over against evil, life against death – definite clear-cut. No gray areas, only black vs. white!
So it remains today dear Christians. We either CHOOSE Christ or Belial (see O.T./N.T. for Belial: 2 Corinthians 6:15 mentions him: “What agreement does Christ have with Beliar (or Belial)? Or what does a believer share with an unbeliever?” Beliar (New Oxford Annotated Bible/NRSV), an evil spirit in the intertestmental literature; under, or identified with, satan. [Note: In Paul’s first epistle to the Ekklesia at Corinth he mentions the Spirit of God dwelling in the believers – 1 Corinthians 3:16,17, the opposite of the spirit of Belial].
Paul writes, “Therefore (i.e. what he had written about Belial) come OUT from them and be separate from them (the ones who are in agreement with that evil spirit), says the Lord, and touch nothing unclean…” (v.17). Clearly a CHOICE!
A number of O.T. passages are quoted to urge separateness from the pagan world, e.g. Leviticus 26:12; Ezekiel 37:27; Isaiah 52:11; 2 Samuel 7:14 etc. Paul begins 2 Corinthians 7:1 with: “Since we have these promises… let us CLEANSE ourselves from every defilement of body and of spirit, making holiness perfect in the fear of God.”
Q. Can a believer’s spirit get contaminated? Belial means, worthlessness. How many churchites do we suppose are literally worthless, doing nothing for the kingdom of God or for one another?
Q. How many do you suppose there are that are sentimentally TOLERANT of the evils being pushed off onto/into the church today, namely the LGBTQ plus abominations? How may denominations/organizations are in league with Belial/satan, all the while claiming to be “Christian?” The church has a CHOICE! A deliberate CHOICE! To CHOOSE the Spirit of Righteousness rather than the spirit of evil.
Life – be it Christian or pagan – constantly urges choices upon us, in religion, in politics, civil/municipal/social etc. But we as His people, His covenant people, MUST CHOOSE even when it is unpopular/unpleasant: It will many times bring persecutions, prosecutions, even prison. Where a moral issue is involved, there can be NO hesitating – CHOOSE the good, reject the bad.
Consider This
“Whoever is against Me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters” (Matthew 12:30).
Q. Are we with Him? Jesus also said, “He that is not against us is for us” (Mark 9:40).
Back to Deuteronomy 30:19,20: Moses lays out the path: blessings or cursings – CHOOSE!
Verse 15 says, “See, I have set before thee this day LIFE and GOOD, and death and evil.” Since there were only two ways to walk in, one had to be THE ONE. “… to walk in… and keep his commandments and His statutes and His judgments, that thou (Israel) mayest live and multiply…” (v.16).
Here comes the warning: “But if thine heart turn away, so that thou wilt not hear, but shall be drawn away, and worship other gods, and serve them; (v.17); I DENOUNCE unto you this day that ye shall surely perish…” (v.18).
Death and evil are in the world – then and now, therefore choices must be made daily. One Bible scholar has said, “Were there no such thing as FREE WILL in man, who could reconcile these sayings either with sincerity or common sense? God has made the human will FREE, and there is no power or influence either in heaven, earth, or hell, except the power of God, that can deprive it of its FREE volition.” True! We have the power to CHOOSE or REFUSE, hence man/woman/child is accountable for their actions or lack of them.
God, in His creation WILLED that the human race should be free, and He formed his/her soul accordingly; and the Law and Gospel, the promises and precepts, the denunciation of WOE and the doctrine of eternal life, are all constructed on this ground; that is, they all necessarily suppose the FREEDOM of the “human will”: nor could it be “WILL” if it were not FREE, because the principle of FREEDOM or LIBERTY is necessarily implied in the idea of volition?
Deuteronomy 5:29 says, “O that there were such a heart in them (Israel), that they would fear Me (God), and keep all My commandments always, that it might be well with them, and with their children forever!” Read this entire chapter.
One Hebrew translation reads: “Who will give such a heart to them, that they may fear…” The truth was, time and time again God’s people – Israel – rejected Him and His voice (i.e. words). They refused to receive such a heart from Him. If they had not been such perfectly FREE agents, they could not have either used or abused their liberty.
God made humans with a “FREE” will. Had man/woman no free will, they could neither be rewarded or punished. Deuteronomy 29:4 states, “Yet the LORD hath not given you a heart to perceive, and eyes to see, and ears to hear, unto this day.” What did this mean? According to some scholars/critics, they read this verse interrogatively: “And hath not God given you a heart, etc.?” Because they suppose that He could not reprehend them for their non-performance of a duty, when he had neither given them a mind to perceive the obligation of it, nor strength to perform it, had that obligation been known. Either way one believes, the truth is, man was given a FREE WILL to choose. God gives good gifts to men but too often they abuse them, hence, grieving His Spirit, and abusing His grace. The N.T. tells us, “do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God…” (Ephesians 4:30), (verb, Greek Lupeo/“λνπέω”= to cause pain, grief, distress etc.). Ancient Israel grieved God; present Israel (aka Christianity) does the same. We were given a heart to perceive, see, hear, which can be abused. “O that there were such a heart in them (ancient Israel)…” (Deuteronomy 5:29).
Again, some scholars believe that Bible language is far more objective than the language of spiritual experience, which, they believe, tends instead to be more subjective in emphasizing the inner feelings or apprehension of God. I’ll leave their debate to themselves. You are fee to believe what you see/believe as truth.
John Calvin, in his Commentaries on the Four Books of Moses, ad loc), wrote, “Men are ever blind even in the brightest light until they have been enlightened by God.”
Up to this point Ancient Israel has been disobedient and has not understood what God was saying and doing.
We might ask, “How much truth is there in all this, seeing many Bible “experts” disagree? Does God deliberately frustrate understanding or withhold spiritual awareness at His own caprice? I.e. a sudden, impulsive change in the way He thinks or acts. We know God is God who changes not (Malachi 3:6), yet His word shows us that He can change His mind, not His character/Being. Bible scholars/theologians et al agree and disagree on theodicy (i.e. divine justice in allowing evil to exist). As per Deuteronomy 29:4, no doubt this was in part due to the simple weakening of the Hebrew causative verb, so that a mere outcome and an intended outcome were not always clearly distinguished. This partly underlies the angels willingness to quote Isaiah 6:9 with approval (see N.T. Luke 2:11) – the Gift Child called Emmanuel using the prophetic perfect, the prophet (Isaiah) sees Him as though He were already born – the “Mighty God” (i.e. El Gibor) is the strongest of these titles.
In Isaiah, “El” is always used of God and never refers to man. “Gibor” means “Hero.” Together they describe One who is indeed God Himself. “Everlasting Father” (Abiad) literally means “Father of Eternity,” or as one translation has it, “Time’s Father,” which means, Jesus, in real time/history, became the Father of His disciples, His children (see how many times the word “children” is used), start with Matthew 5:9 – all the N.T. authors.
Proverbs 1:29-31
“Because they hated knowledge and did not choose the fear of the Lord, they would have none of My counsel and despised all My reproof, therefore they will eat the fruit of their own way.”
Ancient Israel HATED God’s knowledge, hence, they chose to reject it. This argues the deepest degree of intellectual and moral depravity. The verbs “hated,” “did not CHOOSE,” “would have none,” “despised,” are synonymous, revealing the antagonistic attitude of the fools to wisdom/knowledge and their counsel. (See Jeremiah 18:18). Since they rejected – by “FREE WILL” – God’s way and will, Israel would reap what they sowed (v.31). The ways and devices of men/women are here contrasted with wisdom’s counsel and reproof in the preceding verse.
Devices: Except in 22:20, “moecah” (Hebrew) is used in a bad sense in the O.T..
V.33 is the opposite of v.31,32: “But whoso hearkeneth unto Me shall dwell safely, and shall be quiet from fear of evil.”
Isaiah 1:19 speaks of being willing and obedient, verse 20 refusing and rebelling – a choice; Micah 6:8 speaks of what the Lord requires – a choice; Matthew 7:21,24 speaks of those who hears and does what God says – choice; Revelations 3:10-12 speaks of those who have kept God’s commands – choice!
I could go on and on citing texts for you. But I want to quote from early church fathers like Justin Martyr, Tation, Melito, Theophilus, Irenaeus, Clement of Alexandria (who has plenty to say as does others), Tertullian, Bardesanes, Hippolytus, Origen, (who has plenty to say; some quotes are long so I’ll condense them), Novation, Cyprian, Methodius, Lactantius, Arnobius, Disputation of Archelaus and Manes, all writing about angels/humans “Free will.”
Pt.2
Paul writes: “You, my brothers, were called to be FREE. But do not use your FREEDOM to indulge the sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love” (Galatians 5:13).
What Paul is implying is “freedom of CHOICE.” He also wrote, “It is for FREEDOM that Christ has set us FREE. Stand firm, then, do not submit to a yoke of slavery” (Galatians 5:1).
Again, “free will choice.” There are hundreds of texts contrasting “I will,” “I will not.” The heated debate between “free will” and “predestination” is ongoing. The debate over who and who is not the “elect,” over synergism (the doctrine that the human will can and must cooperate with the Holy Spirit in order for a person to be saved.
According to “s,” God’s grace is not irresistible. I’ve written and taught on all these over the years especially T.U.L.I.P., the 5 points of Calvinism (as opposed to Arminianism): Total depravity, Unconditional election, Limited atonement, Irresistible grace, and Perseverance of the saints = false doctrine!
Justin Martyr (100-165) wrote:
“In the beginning, He made the human race with the power of thought and of choosing… men are without excuse…” (160 A.D. 1:172);
“For if it is predetermined that this man will be good, and this other be evil, neither is the first one meritorious nor the latter to be blamed…. Unless the human race has the power of avoiding evil and choosing good by free choice…” (160 A.D., 1:177);
“… We maintain that each man acts rightly or sins by his free choice… the race of angels and men with free will, they will justly suffer in eternal fire the punishment of whatever sins they have committed” (1:190);
“It was God’s desire for both angels and men, who were endowed with free will… that if they choose the things acceptable to Him, He would keep them free from death…” (1:243);
“I have proved… men or angels are not made wicked… each is what he will appear to be through his own fault.” (1:269);
Tatian: (2nd century)
“Each, men and angels, were made free to act as it pleased… (they) are brought to perfection… through their freedom of choice.” (160 A.D., 2:67,68);
“We were not created to die… our free will has destroyed us…” (2:69,70);
Melito: (d.190 A.D.)
“… there is nothing to hinder you from changing your evil manner of life, because you are a free man.” (170 A.D. 8:754);
Theophilus: (2nd century A.D.)
“… God made man free, and with power of Himself.” (180 A.D. 2:105);
Irenaeus: (130-200 A.D.);
“Man… in respect similar to God, having been made free in his will, and with power over himself…” (180 A.D. 1:466);
“God has always preserved freedom and the power of self-government in man…” (1:480);
“… For God made man free from the beginning… to obey… voluntarily, and not by compulsion… He placed the power of choice in them…” (1:518);
“… men are of the same nature. They are all able to hold fast and to do what is good. On the other hand they have the power to cast good from them and not to do it…” (1:519);
“… For it is in man’s power to disobey God and to forfeit what is good.” (1:519);
“… Man is possessed of free will… and God is possessed of free will… God has preserved the will of man free and under His own control…” (1:519);
“Nor does God exercise compulsion upon anyone unwilling to accept the exercise of His skill… They have been created free agents and possessed of power over themselves.” (1:523);
“Those who believe, do His will agreeably to their own choice.. the disobedient do not consent to His doctrine… each person having a choice of his own and a free understanding.” (1:556);
Clement of Alexandria: (150-215 A.D.)
“We… have believed and are saved by voluntary choice.” (195 A.D. 2:217);
“Each one of us who sins with his own free will, chooses punishment. So the blame lies with him who chooses…” (2:226);
“It is by one’s own fault that he does not choose what is best. God is free of blame.” (2:300);
“… In no respect is God the author of evil. But since free choice of inclination originates sins… punishments and justly inflicted.” (2:319);
“We have heard by the Scriptures that self-determining choice and refusal have been given by the Lord to men…” (2:349);
“To obey or not is in our own power, provided we do not have the excuse of ignorance.” (2:353);
“Sin, then, is voluntary…” (2:362);
“The Lord clearly shows sins and transgressions to be in our own power by prescribing modes of cure corresponding to the maladies.” (2:363);
“Their estrangement is the result of free choice.” (2:426);
“It is not possible to attain it without the exercise of free choice…” (2:445);
“… perhaps the free will that is in us… Either way, it is not without eminent grace that the soul is winged, soars, and is raised above the higher spheres.” (2:464);
“Wisdom… rouses indeed our free will and allows faith. It repays the application of the elect…” (2:464);
“God’s will is especially obeyed by the free will of good men.” (2:517);
“Believing and obeying are in our own power.” (2:527);
“Nor will he who is saved be saved against his will, for he is not inanimate. But above all, he will speed to salvation voluntarily and of free choice.” (2:534);
Clement continues:
“Whenever, then, one is righteous – not from necessity or out of fear or hope – but from free choice…” (195 A.D. 2:544);
“Choice depended on the man as being free. But the fight depended on God as the Lord… For God does not compel.” (2:593);
“This is the mind of judgment of man, which has freedom in itself and self-determination in the treatment of what is assigned to it.” (2:595);
Clement of Alexandria finishes with, “If one chooses to continue in pleasures and to sin perpetually… let him blame his own soul, which voluntarily perishes.” (195 A.D., 2:604)
Alexander of Alexandria: (d.328 A.D.)
“Natural will is the free faculty of every intelligent nature, as having nothing involuntary pertaining to its essence.” (324 A.D., 6:299) (One can read his extended discussions);
Disputation of Archelaus and Manes:
“Since both sides admit that there will be a judgment, it is necessarily involved in that admission that every person is shown to have free will… in exercise of his own proper power of will…” (320 A.D. 6:206);
“All the creatures that God made… he gave to every individual the sense of free will… For our will is made to choose whether to sin or not to sin… For everyone is given liberty of will.” (6:204, 205);
“Rational creatures have been entrusted with free will. Because of this, they are capable of converting…” (6:189);
Arnobius: (d.330 A.D.)
“If your wisdom is so great that you consider the things that are offered by Christ to be ridiculous and absurd, why should He keep on inviting you? For His only duty is to make the enjoyment of His gift dependent upon your own free choice.” (305 A.D., 6:458);
Lactantius: (250-325 A.D.)
Since he put forth a long quote, I’ll shorten it: “He who gives commandments… He can impose upon men the necessity of obedience. Not by any constraint, but by a sense of shame. Yet, He should do it in a way to leave them freedom, so that a reward may be appointed for those who obey… for it was in their power to obey if they so wished… How will He refute and convict a man who alleges the frailty of the flesh as an excuse for his faults…” (304 A.D. 7:125);
Methodius: (d.311 A.D.)
“Some persons decide that man is not possessed of free will… but governed by unavoidable necessities of fate… For they make him out to be the cause and author of human evils.” (290 A.D., 6:342);
“To do good or evil is in our own power…” (6:343);
“Man was made a free will… on account of his capacity of obeying or disobeying God. For this was the meaning of the gift of free will.” (6:362);
“It is not that God deprives man again of free will. Rather, He wishes to point out the better way… God exhorts him to turn his power of choice to better things.” (6:362);
“… (God) does not give a command in order to take away the power that He has given. Rather, He gives it in order to bestow a better gift… I say that man was made with free will.” (6:362);
Origen: (185-255 A.D.)
Origen was a student of Clement of Alexandria, called “Father of Christian theology.” But reading his writings one will discover, as one scholar wrote, “Some of his teachings exhibit strained or unsound theological speculation.” You be the judge of what he wrote concerning “free will” (since there are so many quotes, I’ll quote only small sections of them): “This also is clearly defined in the teachings of the church, that every rational soul has free will and volition…” (225 A.D., 4:240);
“Every rational creature… is capable of earning praise and censure…” (4:256);
“It seems a possible thing that rational natures, from whom the faculty of free will is never taken away…” (4:272);
“Since those rational creatures themselves… were endowed with the power of free will, this freedom of the will incited each one to either progress, or else it reduced a person to failure through negligence…” (4:292);
“In the preaching of the church, there included the doctrine concerning a just judgment of God. When this teaching is believed… it incites those who hear it to live virtuously and to shun sin… are within our own power.” (4:302);
“… Moses, too, said: ‘I have placed before your face the way of life and the way of death. Choose what is good and walk in it’… God declares that it lies with us to keep what is commanded and that we will reasonably be liable to condemnation if we transgress.” (4:305);
“Let us observe now Paul, too, addresses us as having freedom of the will and as being ourselves the cause of ruin or salvation… (Origen quotes from Paul – lengthy quotes) one can look these up for your study. In much of Origen’s writings he argues against Gnostics (see my articles on these people), who said that human beings have ruined nature because of being created by the inferior Demiurge. These unbelievers taught that, because of being created “ruined,” salvation was a matter of grace and election by the Father of Christ Jesus. The Bible teaches that all men are born with a sin nature – not created with one but because of Adam/Eve’s sin: Jesus, the second Adam, came to take away the sins of the world via dying on the behalf of sinful humanity. Men are born with Adam the first’s nature. Jesus tells us in John 3:3,5 that men must be “born again,” i.e. born of the Spirit.
Origen continues:
“When a malignant power has begun to incite us to evil, it is quite within our power to cast the wicked suggestions away from us… similarly, when a divine power calls us to better things, it is possible for us not to obey the call. Our freedom of will is preserved in either case.” (4:332);
“A soul is always in possession of free will…” (4:337);
“… Scriptures… emphasize the freedom of the will. They condemn those who sin, and they approve those who do right…” (245 A.D. 9:419);
“You can always find evil men coming from wickedness to virtue…” (9:419);
“In the case of souls, it is our free will that furnishes the reason why one is great, little, or of middle (spiritually speaking)… it is our free will to increase our size, by advancing in stature…” (9:490);
“Would… God fill the minds of men with new ideas… removing the wickedness and implanting virtue? … Where, then, is our free will? …” (248 A.D. 4:498) End of quotes from Origen.
Novation: (d.257 A.D.)
“… He willed that man alone should be free. And lest an unbounded freedom would lead man into peril, He laid down a command… he was fore warned that evil would arise if man were to exercise his free will in contempt of the law… For he had in his own power that which he might choose to do.” (235 A.D., 5:612);
Cyprian: (d.258 A.D.)
“The liberty of believing or of not believing is placed in free choice (Cyprian quotes Isaiah); ‘And if you are willing and hear Me, you will eat the good of the land.’” (250 A.D. 5:547);
Tertullain: (160-230 A.D.)
“I find then, that man was constituted free by God. He was master of his own will and power… For a law would not be imposed upon one who did not have it in his power to render that obedience which is due to law. Nor again, would the penalty of death be threatened against sin, if a contempt of the law were impossible to man in the liberty of his will… Man is free…” (207 A.D. 3:300);
“As to fortune, it is man’s freedom of will… This will be the power of the grace of God… exercising its sway over the faculty that underlies itself within us: even the freedom of our will… free in its determinations.” (210 A.D. 3:202);
“You must necessarily correspond to the seed from which you sprang… our race and our sin, Adam, willed the sin which he committed.” (212 A.D. 4:51);
Bardesanes: (154-222 A.D.)
“… men are not governed like the plants and animals… in matters pertaining to their minds, they do whatever they choose – as those who are free endowed with power… of God.” (227 A.D., 8:726);
The following is taken from Hippolytus (170-236 A.D.) and will be the last for right now:
“… God does not make evil…” Some may bring up Isaiah 45:7, “I form light and create darkness, I make weal and create woe; I the LORD do all these things.” This is taken from the NRSV: “I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace and create evil…” (KJV). I’ve taught on this vs many times. “Evil” here is not “moral evil,” it is physical evil (Hebrew ra), which means calamity, pain, ruin etc.
Hippolytus continues:
“… man was a creature endowed with a capacity of self determination… brings forth what is evil… Since man has free will…” (225 A.D. 5:151);
“The word… summoned man to liberty through a choice involving spontaneity – not by bringing him into servitude by force or necessity.” (5:152);
“Christ Himself… could prove that God made nothing evil that man possesses the capacity of self determination. For man is able to both will and not to will. He is endowed with power to do both.” (5:152);
Part 3
As we have seen, not one early church father believed that some are predestined to heaven and some to hell as Calvinism teaches. In short, this false doctrine teaches that God hates some and loves others. It is true that God hates what men do but He did not create some for heaven (loves them) and some for hell (hates them).
T.U.L.I.P.
“T” stands for total depravity. Did God create man – body, soul, and spirit – Calvinism teaches, as a result of Adam’s fall, the entire human race is affected; all humanity is dead in trespasses and sins, hence, man is unable to SAVE himself. While there is some truth to this, not all said is true.
Jeremiah 17:9 tells us, “The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?” (NIV). The KJV says the heart is “desperately wicked,” or “incurably sick.” Romans 3:10-18 is used to prove “total depravity.” Paul says ALLare guilty – Jew/Greek (pagans), all are under the power of sin, not ONE is righteous. Basically men are too depraved, too wicked to seek after God, hence, God has to save man before man can repent and be saved!
Paul starts out with, “As it is written,” (v.10). Where is it written, “there is none righteous”? Well, Psalms 14:1-3 (reads). In these few verse we find the words “corrupt,” “vile,” “turned aside,” and “corrupt,” again. True, these scriptures emphasize the universality of sin – all have fallen short when compared to God (Isaiah 64:6, Romans 3:23), and are in need of His forgiveness and pardon. But I question, “Is man so depraved that he or she cannot repent?” One translation uses the word “unprofitable” (Romans 3:12 KJV; the NIV uses the word “worthless” the Amplified Bible uses the word “useless.” The Hebrew has it (neelachu), “they are putrid.” This is what the term “corruption/corrupt” means – infected and infectious, in need of God’s forgiveness and mercy. While it is true that man is in a state of total depravity the Bible does tell the lost sinner to SEEK, and ASK in order to find salvation. Is man too sinful to S/A? Really, now, how did I get saved? I, as a lost, depraved sinner sought forgiveness, I asked God/Jesus to save me. I did it as a sinner. I did not become a saved sinner first. No! I was saved by repenting.
Did not John the Baptist preach, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!” (Matthew 3:2); Did not Jesus preach, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”? (Matthew 4:17). Did not Peter do the same, “… Repent, and let everyone of you be baptized…” (Acts 2:38).
Calvinism teaches this:
“T” (1) Humans are like cadavers dead!;
(2) Humans can’t respond to God prior to regeneration;
(3) Humans are unable to believe and be saved;
(4) Regeneration precedes faith.
Wow!
“U”:
(1) God elects/selects those who would be saved;
(2) He did this in eternity past;
(3) He did not take into account anything about people;
(4) He selected a tiny percent to receive everlasting life;
(5) Those not elected will never, ever find salvation!
“L”: What is “Limited Atonement?”
(1) Christ Jesus did NOT die for ALL humanity;
(2) He only died for a few;
(3) We can only tell people that Christ died for a few, not ALL!
“I”: What is “Irresistible Grace?”
(1) All who are “elect” will be born again and will come to faith – even if they do not want to!;
(2) The “elect” are incapable of resisting God’s drawing (power);
(3) God only draws those whom He Himself has “selected.”
“P”: What is the “Perseverance of the Saints?”
(1) All the “elect” will persevere in the faith/good works/warfare until the END!;
(note: if someone does not persevere they will be eternally condemned (proving they were never saved);
(2) God only preserves (i.e. preservation of the saints) believers who persevere;
(3) Some believers are “elect” and others are not.
What We Believe
“T” = We are sinners, lost, but we CAN RESPOND to God without first being regenerated (just where in Scripture do we find this???);
“U” = Election is to serve/service, not to eternal destiny per se;
“L” = Christ Jesus died for ALL the world (John 3:16 et al), making ALL savable;
“I” = Humans can and do RESIST God’s call, grace and forgiveness;
“P” = Preservation is not guaranteed and is not required for preservation. It is a condition for ruling/reigning with Christ.
Think About These
“T” = Anyone can believe, not just a few;
“U” = No election to Eternal Life;
“L” = The Father sent the Son to die for the world;
“I” = Resisters will be eternally condemned;
“P” = Eternal security is independent of perseverance.
What Does Scripture Teach?
Jesus taught: “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one come to the Father except through Me” (John 14:6).
What did Jesus mean, “no one”? Did He mean only the “elect?”
To start, Jesus demands far more than intellectual or moral affinity for approach to God, one must be born again (John 3:3,5). Their ambiguous oracle perplexed the “religious” Nicodemus. He thought his position saved him. Wrong! He must be “born again,” for his first/natural birth was one of sin (original sin it is called). Some versions use “Born anew” or “Born from above” – the Greek phrase (γεννηθήναι άνωθεν) which means “begotten from above.” The adverb in Greek can mean “from the beginning,” “anew,” but the Aramaic (milleela) which would be translated by (άνωθεν), can mean only “from above,” i.e. “from God.”
If Jesus taught Calvinism He would have stated,“only the elect cometh unto the Father.”
Jesus taught in order to get to the Father, the seeker must go through Him – all; not just a select few! Calvinism teaches that John 14:6 is only for the “elect.” For the “non-elect,” Jesus is not the Way, Truth, and Life.
Try this one: “And He (Jesus) said to Him, ‘Go unto ALL the world and preach the gospel to every creature” (Mark 16:15). Then Jesus makes this statement: “He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned” (v.16). “He?” Or “the elect?”
Q. Is the “good news” just for the “elect” or for any and all who will believe/repent? The Good News is for ALL, not just the “few.”
Revelations 22:17 refutes Calvinism. The call to all is sounded – “COME! COME! … let him (not the few/elect) that is athirst COME!” Note the words, “Whosoever will,” meaning, ALL have the opportunity to receive eternal life.
Q. Can God get His will done through our free will? Isn’t He Sovereign enough? Does God make ALL man’s choices, even when it comes to salvation? How can we interpret Acts 16:30?
“… Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” We can see this is 2 ways:
1) “How am I to escape the consequences of this?” I.e. the prison guard asleep on duty and the prisoners coming out (v.26-29). But eternal salvation, according to Luke’s meaning (he wrote Acts) was not about consequence or reputation of the jailer, but about the “way of salvation” (reference v.17), which Paul has thus miraculously vindicated. The reply to “what must I do to be saved?” Was, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved…” (v.31). Was the jailer part of the “elect?”
And what are we to do with 1 Timothy 2:3,4 “… God… desires ALL men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.” “Knowledge of the truth” is a technical term in the Pastorals (2 Timothy 2:25, 3:7; Titus 1:11; even found in Hebrews 10:26). It is, according to the Bible scholars, the equivalent of “to be saved” or “to become a Christian.” “O Knowledge” here is by acquaintance or experience rather than knowledge by description. It is less abstract than personal. Thus “knowledge of the truth” amounts to the acceptance of a revelation of the received faith which is TRUTH! This Scripture clobbers Calvinism! – “Have ALL men to be saved.”
Various attempts have been made by commentaries, following Augustine, to tone down the assertion that God desires ALL men to be saved. We who disagree with Augustine/Calvin believe that the pursuing love of God knows no exceptions – God desires to SAVE even the worst!
And, for the record, what are we to make of 2 Peter 3:9? “… not willing that ANY should perish but that ALL should come to repentance.”
Was Peter referring to the “elect” only or to ALL men? The background was that of the coming destruction – sending the ungodly to perdition – the world deserves punishment – all are guilty. Peter writes that God does NOT want men/women/children to PERISH! God wants to offer grace to ALL, but not ALL will accept His grace via repentance. This text proves God has not “limited atonement.” It proves that He has never devised nor decreed the damnation of any soul, nor has He rendered it impossible for any soul to be saved either by necessitating him to do evil, that he/she might die for it, or refusing him/her the means of recovery, without which they could not be saved.
We Do Know…
God Himself created man with a free will to choose. Why do certain people refuse to believe this? It is a sin, I believe to reinterpret God’s word to fit our exegesis. God does determine things in accordance to our free will. If I CHOOSE to reject His desire for me to be saved, He has already determined that eternal separation will be the result. Is there something as a non free “free will.” (See Romans 9).
Q. Why would we choose an interpretation that makes God the author of evil and sin? Why will men be punished for evil things God chose for men to do? Isaiah writes about the Son “… that He may know to refuse the evil and choose the good” (Isaiah 7:15, repeated in v.16).
Why would Jesus give us the Great Commission (Matthew 28:19) if He has already chose His elect? It is His responsibility to save them, not ours, according to Calvinism. Isn’t Matthew 28:19,20 about WORLD MISSIONS? We could say, “Go ye therefore, and teach all ‘elect’…,” “Go ye therefore and make disciples of all nations.”
“Jacob I loved, Esau I hated”
Romans 9:13
How do Calvinists interpret this text? Scholars point out 4:
1) Literal or idiomatic?
2) Salvation or Service?
3) Individual or National?
4) Unconditional or Conditional?
#1 – God literally hated (despised)/rejected) Esau before he was born. This was before he actually did anything wrong. According to Calvinists, Esau = “non-elect.” This suggests that God literally HATES most of the unborn! In Calvin’s book 3, chapter 23, states this:
“… individuals are born, who are doomed from the womb to certain death, and are to glorify him by their destruction.” Wow!
He continued with, “Therefore, those whom God passes over, He condemns and this He does for no other reason than that He wills to exclude them from the inheritance which he predestines for His own children.” He continues: “Many professing a desire to defend the Deity from an individual charge admit the doctrine of election, but deny that not one is reprobated. This they do ignorantly and childishly, since there could be no election without its opposite reprobation.”
So…?
Jacob = unconditional salvation; Esau = conditional reprobation.
What does Deuteronomy 23:7 teach us? “You shall not abhor an Edomite, for he is your brother.” “Hatred,” as many see it means not literally but idiomatically (look up the word, idiom). We can take Jesus’ words in Luke 14:26 as not being literal. The Word does tell us what to hate/despise literally. (See 1 John 4:8/Psalms 145:9). I did a long study on the “Wrath of God” in which I go into the lit/idiom. “Hatred” can and is used in reference to “wrath.” We must be careful when we use Scripture literally or figuratively.
One theologian wrote concerning Romans 9:13, “Paul means to say that God loved Jacob and hated Esau, not as a consequence of the character of their lives but before their lives began that the course of their lives of the fortunes of their posterity was in each case itself the consequence of God’s previously conceived attitude of ‘hatred’ or ‘love.’”
He says they were intended quite literally by Malachi (see 1:2,3) and accepted quite literally by Paul. He believed Paul, in some degree, wrote hypothetically. This act of choosing Jacob was an act of pure grace and was not conditional upon either the merit of Jacob or the moral failure of Esau. We can agree or disagree. We can agree that God is absolutely sovereign, and is free to choose whom He will as the recipients of His favor. If God rejects some it is because He knows their hearts. God certainly does reject some (believers) for unrepentant sinning – yet, He is long suffering – cause will lead to effect.
Another Bible scholar wrote: “That God chooses some – and by consequence does not choose others – was a commonplace of Jewish thought. Some take issue with God’s selective action, e.g. why did He choose the Jews/Hebrews/Israelites to be His special covenant people? Some say that “election” is to responsibility, not to privilege we cannot, at least I cannot, fathom the motives and purposes which lie behind His choices. I can’t explain them. Scriptures teach that or suggest that man cannot save himself. To suggest that fallen man determines his own heavenly destiny – outside of God – is not found in the Book. Man can choose his destiny – hell – by neglecting to choose Christ as Savior. And for those who think they can gain heaven merely by works, without faith, are fools, (see Romans 9:31,32).
Salvation
Jacob (Israel) > Honorable use;
Esau (Edomites) > Common use
This is the way non-Calvinists see it. We would have no salvation if God did not select Israel, for the Savior comes through them (the covenant keepers), (see Genesis 25:23 concerning two nations). The “promise” was to come through Jacob, not Esau. Nations were commonly referred to by their patriarchal head, (see Genesis 36:43).
1500 years passed between Genesis 25:12 and Malachi 1:13. Scholars point out that the Lord expressed “hatred” for Esau is actually 1500 years after Esau had died, and it was in reference to his descendants, the Edomites.
So?
Is this “hatred” conditional or unconditional? What was the real reason why God loved Jacob and hated Esau? (See Malachi 1:2,3). God “hated” Esau so much that He countered their brag: “… they may build, but I will demolish. They will be called the wicked land, a people always under the wrath of the Lord” (Malachi 1:4). This statement was recorded right after the Edomites attacked Jacob/Israel. The prophet Obadiah stated, “… everyone in Esau’s mountains will be cut down in the slaughter. Because, of the violence against your brother Jacob, you will be covered with shame; you will be destroyed forever!” (Obadiah 1:9,10).
Part III
The Elect
I will now select one quote form Clement of Rome, Hermas, Irenaeus, Clement of Alexandria, Methodius, on “election.”
First, Colossians 3:12 states: “Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved put on tender mercies.” Peter has this to say: “To the pilgrims of the Dispersion… elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father” (1 Peter 1:2).
Clement of Rome:
“Day and night, you were anxious for the whole brotherhood, so that the number of God’s elect might be saved.” (96 A.D. 1:5)
Hermas:
“God removes the heavens… so that all things become plain to His elect, so that He may bestow on them the blessing which He has promise of them.” (150 A.D., 2:10);
Irenaeus:
“When the number is completed that he had predetermined in His own counsel, all those who have been enrolled for life will rise again.” (“Elect” implied), (180 A.D. 1:411);
Clement of Alexandria:
“… all having been called, those who are willing to obey have been named ‘the called.’ For there is no unrighteousness with God… proving that choice or refusal depends on ourselves.” (195 A.D. 2:32);
Clement mentions the word “elect” in 2:444; In 2:497 he mentions the words foreordained, adoption, predestined (2 times);
Methodius:
“When the predestined number of men will be fulfilled, men will afterwards abstain from the generation of children.” (290 A.D. 6:313) (Note: the words predestine or predestined means “elect” to the authors);
Predestination/Elect
The “elect,” according to early church fathers/Christians did not mean a tiny few who were predestined for heaven, while the larger majority were predestined for hell. (As Calvinists believe). The word “elect” is found in Matthew 24:24,31; Mark 13:22,27; Luke 18:7; Romans 8:33; Colossians 3:12; 1 Timothy 5:21; Titus 1:1; 1 Peter 1:2, 2:6; 2 John 1, 13. The Greek word is “eklektos” = chosen, from “eklegomai” = to select, make a choice, choose out etc.
“εκλεκτός” signifies “picked out, chosen from.” (From the world). God, who knows all things, those from the dead (i.e. lost world) before the foundation of the world or before times eternal (2 Timothy 1:9).
God did not just call/save us from the dead unto life, but we are saved/called to a life of consecration/dedication – both the will for man’s salvation and the means for its accomplishment (perfection, i.e. maturity). We were selected/elected to enter a “New World Order” being saved out of the “Old World Order” of death! Hence, we’re to work out/walk out our salvation (Philemon 2:12,13). We may be called but we have the free will to refuse. God desires ALL to be saved from death and enter into eternal life (2 Timothy 1:10). “Death” is not the goal of creation; everlasting life is.
The Source:
The source of our election in God’s grace, not our human will – our will must cooperate with His calling/election. (see Ephesians 1:4,5; Romans 9:11, 11:5,6).
“Elect” as a noun is “ekloge”, denoting a picking out, selecting (English = eclogue). Acts 9:15 is a good example: “… Go, for he (Saul/Paul) is a chosen vessel of mine to bear My name…” Saul of Tarsus (later, Paul the Christian) was “a vessel of choice.”
It is used 4 times in Romans 9:11 = “the purpose… according to election” is virtually equivalent to “the electing purpose”;11:5 = the “remnant according to the election of grace” refers to believing Jews, saved from among the unbelieving nation; so in v.7; in v.28 = “the election” may mean either the act of choosing or the chosen ones; the context, speaking of the fathers, points to the former, the choice of the nation according to the covenant of promise. In 1 Thessalonians 1:4, “your election” refers not to the Ekklesia/church collectively, but to the individuals constituting it; the Apostle’s assurance of their “election” gives the reason for his thanksgiving. So, Christian believers are to give “the more diligence to make their calling and election sure,” by the exercise of the qualities and graces which make them fruitful in the knowledge of God (see 2 Peter 1:10). (Note: for the corresponding verb “eklegomai”, see “choose”).
2 Peter 1:10 crushes the doctrine of the Calvinist that God chooses/saves, even if one does not wish to be saved. Once saved, they remain saved! Once saved, they can basically live like HELL and still go to Heaven! Yep! This is what they believe – one, once saved cannot become unsaved. Period!
Peter writes: “Therefore, brethren be even more diligent to MAKE YOUR CALL and ELECTION SURE, for if you do these things you will never stumble” (NKJV); the NIV reads the same. According to the Greek study Bible, the word “calling” (“klesis”) means situation, station in life. It comes from (Gk) kaleo, meaning “to call, invite, summon;” the word “election” (Gk.) is ekloge, “choice, selection.”
The word “sure” (Gk) is “bebaios”, “firm, steadfast, is used in relation to v.5-7 (injunction). I like the way the Amplified Bible has it: “… be all the more diligent to make certain about His calling and choosing you [be sure that your behavior reflects and confirms your relationship with God]; for by doing these things [actively developing these virtues], you will never stumble [in your spiritual growth and will live a life that leads others away from sin].”
What If?
What if the “elect” does not develop in moral virtues outlined in v.5-7? Are they SURE they will go to heaven? According to Calvinists, “Yep, sure will!” “No problem.” Look at the word “stumble” (Gk. “ptaio”); to cause to stumble, signifies, intransitively, used metaphorically in Romans 11:11, in the sense of Israel in regard to Christ, whose person, teaching, and atoning death, and the Gospel relating there to, were CONTRARY to all their ideas as to the means of righteousness before God (see Romans 9:32; 1 Peter 2:8);
Stumbling can and will lead into backsliding, if one does not make his/her walk SURE. But Calvinists don’t think so. Oh, no, they believe one can never “fall away” (see my many articles on the “if/then” clause = salvation is “conditional,” the very opposite of what the Calvinists believe.
Some translations use different words “stumble,” e.g. “offend,” “fall.” Jude 24 says God is able to keep you (us) from “stumbling” (R.V.), I see “fall” – 3 Gk. nouns; 16 Gk. verbs which include fall, fallen, falling and fell. The Greek word “ptaio” is used in 2 Peter 1:10, as already stated “to stumble” (R.V.), (A.V. = “to fall” as in (Gk.) “katabaino”, denoting “to fall down.” In Jude 24 – “stumbling” (NKJV), “falling” (RSV), the opposite of “aptaistos”, without stumbling, “SURE footed.” Some Greek words mean falling down or away (from the faith), not merely stumbling around.
How does one “make your calling and election sure” (1 Peter 1:10)? Note the word, “wherefore” in 1:10, meaning, seeing the DANGER of falling/stumbling = apostasy. Verse 8 Peter mentions the words “barren” and “unfruitful” – things Jesus spoke of, that will land one in Hell! (See if you can find those texts). Hint: Mark 11:21 is a good place to start.
If…
If the “elect” cannot “fall”/ “stumble” why does Peter write “… make your calling and election SURE!”? [Note: the Codex Alexandrinus has “consolation”]. Peter used “βεβαιαν” (Gk. firm/solid). According to Calvinists, man is incapable of doing anything – God does it ALL. Why would He call the elect into something that headed to be SURE, since their call was SURE already, i.e. heaven bound.
And, may I ask, why are we instructed to HOLD FAST/STAND FAST if we are chosen for heaven before the world was? Why are we instructed to lay hope upon the hope set before us? (See if you can find Scriptures to match these sayings). I thought HOPE was part of the Calvinists package. Peter tells us that we have the responsibility to “Add to you (our) faith, virtue, knowledge, temperance, patience, godliness, kindness and charity” (2 Peter 1:5-7). Note the word “if” in v.8: “For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful.. in Jesus Christ.” What “if” they believe/elect does not have these? What then?
Jews Lost Their Election!
It is true. The Jews rejected the call to become the living epistles in the kingdom of God/Christ. They were already a called/selected people (under the old covenant (law), but Jesus came to call them into His NWO, which the nation refused. They LOST their election. Romans 11:7 says “Israel has not obtained what it seeks; but the ELECT have obtained it, and the rest were blinded.” The “elect” here refers to the few Jews who accepted Jesus as Messiah/Savior – they CHOSE Christ and Christ accepted them. They did this with their free will – they repented of their sins (as lost Jews/sinners), they were not first saved then they confessed Christ as Calvinism teaches.
We find, therefore, that the Jews who do not these things (also converted Gentiles) shall fall; and thus we see that there is nothing absolute and unconditional in their election.
The Codex Alexandrinus, and 9 others, with the Syriac, Erpen’s Arabic, Coptic, Aethiopic, Armenian, later Syriac with an asterisk, the Vulgate, and Bede, have,“That by (your) good works ye may make your calling and election firm.” This clause is found in the ed. of Colinaeus, Paris 1534 A.D.; and has been probably omitted by more recent editors on the supposition that the ed. does not make a very orthodox sense.
Let it be said, “good works” alone, without faith, will not purchase heaven: we need both.
Some scholars say “Be the more zealous,” has essentially the same force as “make every effort” (found in some translations in 2 Peter 1:5). They point out that the employment of the aorist imperative of the Greek verb “σπουδάζω” (“to exert one’s self,” or “be the more zealous”) emphasizes the urgency of the issues. CALLING and ELECTION, though effective, require stabilization by man’s self exertion. Christ CALLS/ELECTS but man/woman must CONFIRM!
If, according to Calvinists, our C/E is secured/settled before the world was, why do the “elect” need to do anything to make their calling SURE? Seems to me there is a lot of room for doubt and unbelief.
When Paul uses the words “… He… predestined to be conformed to the image of His son…” (Romans 8:29). V.30 we find the words predestined, called, and justified. Paul thinks of foreknowledge and predestination as activities of God in causing men/women to be CONFORMED, the divine aspiration/desire of God for the saved.
Even if one does not believe in once saved always saved, the Bible clearly lays out for us the “WAY.” if you have doubts about your life in Christ, put some effort into your walk in order to confirm your call and election. Peter tells us, “give diligence (i.e. “be even more diligent”) to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall.” As stated, some versions use different words for “fall,” e.g. “stumble,” “make a slip” as Moffatt reads. Most say this means more than slipping but falling away.
Some believe it refers to the danger that threatens the blind and forgetful believer (see v.9). We know v.9 refers to blind/ “τυφλός” as a psychological/spiritual blindness rather than a physical condition (see Revelations 3:17 where “tuphlos”/ “τυφλός” = “blind” is used, some as in 2 Peter 1:9: “tuphlos” is from “tuphoo”, meaning to inflate with self-conceit: – high-minded, prideful. We get it!
How many have been destroyed by pride? Mental and spiritual blindness. Jesus said of the Pharisees, “.. they are BLIND leaders of the BLIND…” (Matthew 15:14). The “religious” were as blind as the Jewish people in His sight. (See also 23:17,19,24,26; John 9:39-41; Romans 2:19 et al.). The corresponding verb means to darken the mind in the sense of blunting discernment (John 12:40; 2 Corinthians 4:4; 1 John 2:11 et al).
Peter uses the word “shortsighted” (v.9), NKJV; the RSV uses “nearsighted.” The word translation, “shortsighted is really the participle of the verb meaning to blink the eyes, or turn them away from the light, or reduce vision by screwing up the eyes.
Q. Is it possible to fall (away from the faith) when one becomes BLIND… because they have taken their eyes off the Christian path and onto the non-Christian path? The chance of falling away is real. I’ve seen too many do it! When we close our eyes to our call and election, and refuse to keep our eyes, minds, and hearts stayed upon Christ it will eventually cause one to lose out.
Paul writes concerning the hidden things of shame, craftiness, handling the word deceitfully in 2 Corinthians 4:2. he says that he (and others) had renounced them, which means he was not walking in blindness as others he writes about in his epistles. He makes his point in v.4, “… the God of this world hath BLINDED the minds of them which believe not…” (v.4). Do you think satan will never try to BLIND the eyes of believers? He was writing to believers here. Jump ahead to 11:3,4 where he fears that the serpent – who beguiled Eve – could and would do the same to the Corinthians. He warned they could receive “another spirit,” which would seduce them. If we would be honest we would see that large portions of the Christian church have willingly opened the doors to the Serpent/satan, hence, BLINDNESS! The Jewish nation – which thought itself to be RIGHTEOUS – was BLIND to the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Only a handful in the beginning had their eyes opened. This over time grew to a larger number.
How many calling themselves “Christian” are literally blind to the WAY – Truth – LIFE in Christ, preferring their way to His way? Many as I write this are on the edge of destruction. Money, power, position, and popularity have destroyed many ministers. Today’s WOKE church is a sham and a shame. It embraces the whole LGBTQ plus abominations, abortion, it reverences the rich and powerful, the popular, celebrate the celebrities (which live horrid, ungodly lives!) of the screen, sports, music etc.. They make the mind impervious to the humility of Jesus the Lord.
With All This Said
Part IV
With all this said and done, are we to believe that God predestinates some to Heaven “tiny elect” / and MOST to Hell? … without man’s free will being exercised?
Acts 4:27,28: “The Gentiles and the people of Israel, were gathered together to do whatever your hand and your purpose DETERMINED before to be done.”
Adam Clarke’s commentary and critical notes read thus concerning the above Scriptures: v.27: There is a parenthesis in this verse that is not sufficiently noticed: it should be read in connection with v.28, thus: “For of a truth against the holy child Jesus, whom thou hast anointed, (for to do whatsoever thy hand and thy counsel determined before to be done), both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and people of Israel, were gathered together.”
It is evident, Clarke says, that what God’s hand a counsel determined before to be done was not that which Herod, PP, the Gentiles, (Romans,) and the people of Israel had done and were doing; for, then, their rage and vain counsel would be such as God Himself had determined should take place, which is both impious and absurd; but these gathered together to hinder what God had before determined that His Christ or Anointed should perform; and thus the passage is undoubtedly to be understood.”
This is one theologians’ take on predestination Paul writes: “For He chose us in Him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in His sight. In love He predestined us to be adopted as His sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with His pleasure and will” (Ephesians 1;4,5 RSV). The verb “chose” (v.4) is the translation of the Greek word “exelexato”, meaning “chosen out of.” In this context, it signifies that at one particular time (post), God chose individuals for salvation (see Matthew 24:31; Luke 18:7; Romans 8:33; 2 Timothy 2:10; James 2:5 et al.). “Predestined” (v.5) in the rendering of the verb “proorisas”, “to determine before hand” (Acts 4:28; Romans 8:24, 9:11; 1 Peter 1:2,20 et al).
God never chose or predestined individuals for heaven or hell, only to be holy and blameless. That was/is His will. 1 John 2:2 makes it clear that Jesus is the propitiation for our sins, and also for the sins of the WHOLE world _ ALL who repent will be forgiven; ALL who are forgiven must walk/work out their own salvation.. until the END! God’s invitation – “I stand at the door and knock” – to believe in Christ and be saved is extended to ALL (John 3:16-18,36, 6:37; 10:9; Acts 10:43 et al.). Everyone who hears the “Good News”) is responsible to either accept or reject Christ. If one perishes in his/her sin, they are condemned as a result of their wrong choice: God did not predestine them for hell.
Acts 2:23 speaks of God’s “determined purpose and foreknowledge.” True, the Father did determine that His only Son would die for the sins of the world. Acts 2:23, this single verse, shows us the evidence of both the Father’s foreknowledge and man’s culpability. The Father delivered up His son – Jesus – and men chose to murder Him, leaving them with the responsibility for their hateful act!!
Romans 8:29 makes it plain that God predestined the called to be conformed to Jesus’ image. They were not called for unconditional salvation: conformity will involve cutting (sword) and burning (fire). To believe one can live like HELL and still go to HEAVEN is a real DELUSION! Yet Calvinism teaches it.
Clement of Alexandria wrote:
“He, then, who faultlessly acts the drama of life that God has given him to play, knows both what is to be done and what is to be endured.” (195 A.D. 2:541);
Tertullian wrote:
“We have been predestined by God, before the world was, to (appear) in the extreme end of the times. And so we are trained by God for the purpose of chastising… the world.” (198 A.D. 4:23);
Mark M. Felix wrote:
“… For what else is fate than what God has spoken of each one of us? Since He can foresee our constitution, He determines also the fates for us, according to the deserts of the qualities of individuals. Thus, in our case, it is not the star under which we are born that is punished. Rather, the particular nature of our disposition is blamed.” (200 A.D. 4:195);
Methodius wrote:
“God is good and wise. He does what is best. Therefore, there is no fixed destiny.” (290 A.D. 6:343);
Apostolic Constitutions (compiled in 390 A.D. 7:452)
“Even the Jewish nation had wicked heresies… There are the Pharisees, who ascribed the practice of sinners to fortune and fate.”
This article has been about “free will.” I will end it with the doctrine of synergism, the human will can and must cooperate with the Holy Spirit of God. According to this doctrine/belief, “grace” is not irresistible, the “I” in Calvinism’s T.U.L.I.P (is false teaching).
Irresistible Grace
I will show you what some early church fathers/Christian beliefs teach.
So, again, “Irresistible Grace” = all who are “elect” will be born again and will come to the Christian faith. They have NO CHOICE whatsoever! The “elect” are incapable of RESISTING God’s drawing/calling! God only draws/calls the “elect” to Himself – all others will remain in a LOST, HELL BOUND condition. Yep! This is what they believe and teach – which is not found in the Bible of course.
Romans 2:6,7,8: “Who will render to each one according to his deeds: eternal life to those who by patient continuance in doing good seek for glory, honor, and immortality; but to those who are self seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness – indignation and wrath.”
Is Paul writing about unbelievers (pagans) and believers (Christians) or is he writing about believers only?
It is plain that God will give to every man – be they Christian or not – what he/she deserves. He will reward/punish all. V.7 = those who seek for glory/honor/immortality will receive eternal life; v.8 = those who are contentious/do not obey the truth, will receive wrath or Hell!
“P” (“perseverance” of the saints) means that ALL the “elect” will persevere in faith and good works. I once had it out with a minister of a very large church in Sacramento, California over the issue of “once saved always saved.” One of his members came to us for deliverance (demon problems!). His pastor got angry and stated that the members of his church were saved/secure forever. Well, this young man was not. He literally begged us for help (at this time we were openly working in deliverance, casting out demons). His sister, who also worked with my wife at the largest training center (medical center in Sacramento and surrounding areas), and also member of the largest church where her demonized brother attended. To make a long, sad story short, this young man committed suicide! The pastor told me coldly that his salvation was secure and he did not have demon problems – for he himself led him to Christ; yet the boy was backslid, on drugs etc and needed help. Was he saved eternally according to Scripture? NO! According to churchianity, yes! Although his name was on the church roll, he was in the world doing damnable things when he murdered himself.
Calvinism believes that some believers are the “elect” and some are not. The “elect” will persevere in the faith… although some of the “elect” are truly backslid in heart!!!
Wrongdoing, be it done by believer or by sinners, it will bring retribution. How many in church la la land are in reality headed to Hell… believing they are headed to Heaven? If one does not conform to God’s will/desire, wrath, fury, and indignation awaits them, no matter if they wear the title “elect.”
Again, Paul writes about the present/future state of the believer: “Moreover… I declare to you the gospel… by which also you are saved, IF (note this word: see my articles on the “if”/ “then” clause – posted) you hold fast that Word which I preached to you – unless you believed in vain” (1 Corinthians 15:1,2).
There were some apostles at Corinth who denied the resurrection (v.12). These 3 basics of the Gospel is:
1 – Christ dying for our sins;
2 – Buried (put in tomb);
3 – Rising from the dead.
These 3 doctrines are to be “held fast” to. If one believes these (repentance always comes before salvation – we repent, the Father forgives, we become newborn again creatures) he or she is considered an N.T. Christian (and water baptism after one repents). Our completed salvation depends upon the foundational 3, plus repentance/baptism.
Paul lays out the basic 3 in 1 Corinthians 15:3,4. Christ was predestined to fulfill these. If one denies these, he/she falls from grace, no matter how much they may believe “once saved always saved.”
Hermas wrote:
“The man who has the Lord in his heart can also be lord of all, and of every one of these commandments. However, as to those who have the Lord only on their lips, whose hearts are hardened, and who are far form the Lord – the commandments are hard and difficult.” (150 A.D. 2:29).
We can rightly say that there are genuine born again believers, those not born again but are calling themselves “Christian,” and those who once were saved but stumbled, fell, and remain in a back-slidden state (some may still say they believe, but do not, or they have become totally reprobate (see my articles on OSAS).
Concerning what Hermas wrote, “whose hearts are hardened,” Hebrews 3:7,8,15 deals with this: “Do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion…” (v.8);
“Today, if you will hear His voice, do not harden your hearts.” The Greek word is “skleruno”, to indurate, i.e. render stubborn; from “skleros”, hard and tough, harsh, severe, fierce against.
Before the author penned v.7,8,15 (Hebrew 3), he wrote in v.6, “But Christ as a Son over His own house; whose house we are, IF we hold fast the confidence… unto the end.” What? Why are we instructed to hold fast (onto) Him/Word if we’ve already been predesignated to do so? According to Calvinism we cannot LET GO!! One translation uses the words, “confidence and pride in our hope.” I do not like the word “pride” added. The RSV has, “hold on to our courage and the hope of which we boast.” The Amplified Bible has, “hold fast our confidence and sense of triumph in our hope in Christ.” Even the Living Bible refutes Calvinism: “… And we Christians are God’s house – he lives in us! – If we keep up our courage FIRM to the END…”
So, what IF we let go of our confidence, our hope? As many have done? Can one HARDEN his/her heart once saved? What is the author getting at when he uses the word “harden not your hearts?” (v.7,8,15). And the word “if” is used in v.6,7,14,15, “per chance.”
Hebrews 3 deals with the rebellion of ancient Israel – once God’s covenant people. The point of the sermon (chpt. 3) is an analogy between the author’s generation and that which of old had wondered in the wilderness. That generation had been given law, delivered from Egypt, yet hardened their hearts (see Exodus 17:17), by rebellion they doomed themselves. The author warns his present generation (of N.T. believers), “Take heed… lest there be any of you an EVIL HEART of UNBELIEF, in DEPARTING from the Living God” (v.12). “Departing?” (Check out 4:11; 10:25, and 12:15). Ponder them – believe them.
Hermas continues with his take on synergism,
“To those whose hearts He saw would become pure and obedient to Him, He gave power to repent with the whole heart. But to those whose deceit and wickedness He perceived, and seeing that they intended to repent hypocritically, He did not grant repentance.” (150 A.D. 2:41)
He adds, “If you bear His name but do not possess His power, it will be in vain that you bear His name.” (2:48).
Clement of Alexandria adds:
“God ministers eternal salvation to those who cooperate for the attainment of knowledge and good conduct. Since what the commandments direct are in our own power, along with the performance of them, the promise is accomplished.” (195 A.D. 2:536).
Clement continues: “A man by himself working and toiling at freedom from passion achieves nothing. But if he plainly shows himself very desirous and earnest about this, he attains it by the addition of the power of God. For God conspires with willing souls. But if they abandon their eagerness, the Spirit who is bestowed by God is also restrained. For compulsion. But to save the willing is that of one showing grace.” (2:597)
He is saying that man’s/God’s Spirit must work together – not apart.
Back to Hebrews. This epistle is constantly sounding the Battle Cry against the evil of falling away. “Evil” and “unbelieving” are synonymous. In short, a deceived mind, a hardened heart, unbelief can and does lead to APOSTASY! Hebrews 3:12 uses the words, “departing from the living God,” which means to apostatize, abandoning the faith entirely. One can’t do this unless one was a true believer in the beginning. God’s warning to the Christians, through the author of Hebrews, is to ENDURE to the END! (v.14). Our spirit must cooperate with God’s Spirit – we work/war together, not apart.
Consider!
Hebrews 3:15 uses the phrase, “harden not your hearts.” He speaks – do we hear? Do we perceive what the author is saying about what happened to Israel because they did not want to hear his voice (fig. or lit). The ones who rebelled were BLESSED! Really? No! They “fell in the wilderness” (v.17). Worse, they did not enter into God’s rest, i.e. Canaan = Promise land. Heaven is the New Israel’s promise land. UNBELIEF will keep us out (v.19).
How many have missed their predestinated destiny though unbelief/disobedience, we’ll never know. Destined to be His Bride Army, yet failing to hear and obey. Ancient Israel did not enter what was destined to be theirs (see Numbers 12).
HEAR and FEAR! (4:1). We must hear and fear lest we miss the promise. Full and complete salvation is conditional folks. There are conditions to meet. God’s word is no mimeographed notice published indiscriminately for all who may chance to read. No! It is a very personal invitation, written/addressed to us. Duty is not a mere command that floats above us in the air. No! It seeks out you/me and comes to us with our names inscribed on it. Mine says, James M. Green – this is me!
How did Paul describe ancient Israel? “But with MOST of them God was not pleased, for their bodes were scattered in the wilderness. Now these things became our examples, to the intent that we should not lust after evil things as they also lusted. And do not become idolaters as were some of them… nor let us commit sexual immorality, as some of them did… nor let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed by serpents, nor complain, as some of them also complained, and were destroyed by the destroyer – all these things happened to them as examples and they were written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world (ages) have come” (1 Corinthians 10:5-11).
OK. What do we see here?
1 – lust
2 – idol worship
3 – sexual immorality
4 – tempting Christ
5 – complaining
Q. Do you think God has changed His mind about His people’s conduct?
Origen wrote a lengthy exposition on synergism. He quotes from Paul’s epistles and from Psalms 127:1, a song of Ascents of Solomon: “Unless the LORD builds the house, they labor in vain who build it…” Paul in his epistle to the Corinthians wrote, “Therefore… be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord” (1 Corinthians 15:58). Paul taught that man and his free will must work with the Holy Spirit, not alone. The word “vain” (Greek “kenos/kevos”) means “empty, with special reference to quality” (see also Acts 4:25, 1 Corinthians 15:10,14; Ephesians 5:6; Colossians 2:8; James 2:20). The N.T. has other Greek words for “vain” such as “mataios”, “mataioo,” “kenoo,” “maten,” “doreon,” “eike” etc. – adjectives, verbs, and adverbs.
Origen begins with Psalms 127:1 (Hebrew word for “vain” is “shav” or “show,” meaning “moral guile, idolatry, uselessness, false, lie etc.”):
“Unless the Lord builds the house, they labor in vain who build it…! This is not said to persuade us against building. Nor does it teach us not to keep watch… Rather, it shows that what is built without God is built in vain… yet, it is understood that something had also been done by human means… the human desire is not sufficient to attain the end… for these things are accomplished only with the assistance of God. Therefore, it is appropriately said that ‘it is not of him who wills, nor of him who runs, but of God who shows mercy.’” (225 A.D., 4:322).
Origen goes on to write:
“I planted, Apollos watered; and God gave the increase…” (quoted from 1 Corinthians 3:6,7). We could not correctly assert that the production of full crops was the work of the farmer, or of him that watered. Rather, it is the work of God (with man)… In the matter of salvation, what is done by God is infinitely greater… For that reason I think, it is said that ‘it is not of him who wills, nor of him who runs, but of God, who shows mercy’ (quoting from Romans 9:16). For if that statement means what they (Gnostics) imagine it means… then the commandments are unnecessary… it would be in vain that Paul himself blames some persons for having remained upright. It was in vain that he enacted laws for the churches… However it was not in vain that Paul gave such advice, censuring some and approving others.” (225 A.D. 4:322, 323).
He finishes up with, “The apostle in one place does not purpose that becoming a vessel of honor or dishonor depends upon God (reference to Romans 9:21). Rather, he refers everything back to ourselves, saying, ‘If, then, a man purges himself, he will be a vessel to honor, sanctified, fit for the Master’s use, and prepared for every good work…’ (reference to 2 Timothy 2:21: the NKJV uses the word “cleanses” not “purges;” both meaning the same).
He continues, “Elsewhere, he does not even purport that it is dependent upon ourselves. Rather, he appears to attribute everything to God, saying, ‘the potter has power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel to honor and another to dishonor’ (Romans 9:21).
… Much debate has been raised over Romans 9. I’ve read my share over the years.
Origen continues:
“… since his statements are not contradictory, we must reconcile them… our own power – when separated from… God – does not enable us to make progress… And these observations are sufficient to have been made by us on the subject of free will.” (225 A.D. 4:328);
“Those who hear the word… proclaimed are filled with power. They manifest this both by their dispositions and their lives… However, others are altogether empty, even though they profess to believe in God through Jesus. Not possessing any divine power, they have only the appearance of being converted to the Word of God.” (248 A.D., 4:424).
Fin
In finishing this article, I would like to read Romans 9:16 (as quoted by Origen): “So then it is not of him who wills, nor of him who runs, but of God who shows mercy” (NKJV). The Amplified Bible reads: “So then God’s choice is not dependent on human will, nor on human effort, but on God who shows mercy [to whomever He chooses – it is His sovereign gift”].
Is Paul preaching Calvinism? Man has no say-so, no free will to choose? Willeth: Greek, “etheleo,” meaning “to determine choose, desire etc.” The Amplified Bible says, “So then God’s choice is not dependent on human will, nor on human effort, but on God who shows mercy [to whomever He chooses – it is His sovereign gift].”
Most Bible scholars believe that making or continuing any body of men the peculiar people of God, is righteously determined; not by the judgment, hopes, or will of men, but by the will of wisdom of God alone. (Note: we can find in Scripture where man’s will and God’s will clashed! E.g. Abraham “willed” that Ishmael be blessed; Isaac “willed” Esau over Jacob; Esau “willed” that he received the blessing, not Jacob etc.).
God is the one who chooses, but, He does not, did not predestinate some for heaven and some for hell. God’s choice, even if arbitrary is not unjust (Romans 9:14-29). We do not understand (fully) why God chooses certain people over others. Why did He choose Israel over all the tribes/nations?
This article is about free will/predestination. God’s supremacy raises the question of man’s free will. The doctrine of predestination has inspired endless debate. Paul was dealing with a religious issue, not a philosophical one. He points to God as omnipotence: to suggest that man can determine his/her own destiny wither merit or demerit seemed to him to call in question God’s effective supremacy.
We may note Romans 9:17,18 where God hardened Pharaoh’s heart, (see Exodus 9). the hardening of his heart is described in 3 ways:
1 – “The Lord hardened the heart of Pharaoh” (Exodus 7:13, 9:12). What? Isn’t this immoral?;
2 – “The heart of Pharaoh was hardened” (Exodus 7:22; 9:7);
3 – “Pharaoh hardened his heart” (Exodus 8:15, 32).
Ah, God only worked upon his already hardened heart: “But when Pharaoh saw that there was respite, he hardened his heart, and hearkened not unto them (Moses and Aaron); as the Lord had said” (Exodus 8:15); “And Pharaoh hardened his heart at this time also, neither would he let the people go” (Exodus 8:32).
This hardening was the mere effect of his self-determining obstinacy. He preferred his gain to the will and command of the Lord, hence, God made his obstinacy the means of showing forth his own power and providence in a supereminent degree. Let us not imagine that the Lord is so bound by general laws of men, that He cannot violate them. Who knows the mind of God to instruct Him?
So, God has given men a free will, but this free will must not operate outside the will of the Giver. Men and God are to work together. Let us remind ourselves what Philemon 2:13 says: “For it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure” (see Hebrews 13:21). God does not work His will in us unless we allow Him to do so. We can shut out the Holy Spirit, quench the Spirit (1 Thessalonians 5:19). True, men can and do work outside God’s will, for they have a free will to do so, but it gives God no pleasure. And it is true that man must “work out their own salvation” (Philemon 2:12). Can v.12 and 13 be reconciled? To speak in the same breath about saving yourself and being saved, working and being worked in, seems like doubt talk; but such paradoxical DT is the only language in which all sides of the gospel can be expressed. Paul’s insight is profound when he combines inextricably the “working of man” and the “working of God,” BOTH to WILL and to WORK in the saving process. Man is not saved unless man agrees (in his/her will) to be so. God does not FORCE salvation. We work for Him and with Him. God does not make moral demands without giving man the will to do them. He does not save us first so as we can repent. No! Man, with the Holy Spirit’s influence over us, is able to repent.
All Paul’s epistles center around his twofold working of man’s/God’s will.
Let us not forget “That God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself…” 2 Corinthians 5:19. Jesus did not work alone – He was filled with the Holy Spirit (as a man).
It is His will that men be saved, and what we must rely on is not our own deserving or poor endeavor but this redeeming will of the Lord Jesus.
Amen.