In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will,
Here Paul actually speaks of something many Christians want to ignore - God's Plan, or His purpose.
In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan [Yes, the PLAN] of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will, Hmmm, it seems the plan has nothing to do with our choice and everything to do with God’s will, THAT’S the plan. Because it’s clear to those who have eyes to see and a heart that perceives that it is God who works out everything IN CONFORMITY with the purpose of HIS WILL. THAT’S His plan. To work out and make sure that everything CONFORMS with the purpose of His will, NOT man’s “free will” - of which no evidence exists in His inspired, infallible, inerrant Word. A man is a slave to sin or a slave to righteousness (Romans 6:17-18) and slaves have no free will - they do what their master requires of them.
Paul is also writing that God doesn’t sit back and let things occur by happenstance. In other words, there is no “permissive will” here either. God WORKS OUT everything... I don’t see even a hint of God “allows” something to happen. This is a verse that supports Romans 8:28 - To them that love God (Christians), we know that all things work together for good... (I rearranged the wording to better convey what the verse actually says. All things do NOT work together for good FOR Christians, but TO Christians. (See Bible Truth #61)
And please don’t overlook the word EVERYTHING. It doesn’t say everything except when man says no. It is God’s PLAN that most aren’t chosen and can do nothing but say no, or never hear the Gospel to start with. (Romans 9:22; Acts 17:26) It is NOT God’s plan to give every man the ability and let him decide to believe or not.
God is sovereign and that’s why I understand why the Arminian may not see it. I didn’t even see it until God revealed it to me through the Holy Spirit (John 16:13). But the Truth is there (it’s always been there), for those who have eyes to see and ears to hear. I pray God will give you, the reader of this blog, those eyes and ears, enabling you to see the Truth (Deuteronomy 29:4), because unless God gives a man spiritual eyes and ears, he will NEVER see or hear. That is why Jesus said many times, he who hath ears let him hear (Matthew 11:15; 13:9; 13:43; Mark 4:9; 4:23; 7:16; Luke 8:8; 14:35) because only saved people have spiritual eyes and ears.
Bottom Line: We become children of God NOT by human decision (John 1:13).
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.