Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God's one and only Son.
Read it again... Whoever does not believe stands condemned already. Condemned already? To whom is Jesus referring? He was referring to those who were not chosen because there were obviously people who did not believe at that moment who would believe at a later time and they were not condemned already. In fact, because these future believers were chosen, their position in eternity was already sealed. How can I say that? Because Paul told us in Ephesians 1:4 that we, God’s Elect, were chosen in Christ before the foundation of the world. So obviously, even before God saved me, I wasn’t condemned already.
So at what point in their lives did these particular people, the people to whom our Lord is referring, acquire the status of condemned already?
Was it the point at which they rejected the Gospel after hearing it?
Nope, that would make God a respecter of persons in that He saves only those who first believe (Acts 10:34). That is based on the Law, something man is required to do first and is a work of the flesh (it must be, for his spirit is dead). It also does not explain the eternal destination of those who lived their entire lives and died without hearing the Gospel - and it was God that determined they would never hear it (Acts 17:26). But yet, as with each and every man, if they were not chosen they are destined for Hell. The Bible explains why, Arminianism does not.
Nope, that would make God a respecter of persons in that He saves only those who first believe (Acts 10:34). That is based on the Law, something man is required to do first and is a work of the flesh (it must be, for his spirit is dead). It also does not explain the eternal destination of those who lived their entire lives and died without hearing the Gospel - and it was God that determined they would never hear it (Acts 17:26). But yet, as with each and every man, if they were not chosen they are destined for Hell. The Bible explains why, Arminianism does not.
Was it the point at which they reached the age of accountability?
That’s not biblical and is only a point of belief with liberals and those who believe in decisional salvation. (Bible Truth #319)
That’s not biblical and is only a point of belief with liberals and those who believe in decisional salvation. (Bible Truth #319)
Was it at the point God rejected them, having NOT chosen them in Christ before the foundation of the world?
I say yes, and offer the following in support of my conclusion: there are people who at birth, or even at conception, are condemned already. Why? Because they were not chosen in Christ before the foundation of the world. The Arminian may ask, “Well then why did God even allow them to exist?” I can think of two reasons:
I say yes, and offer the following in support of my conclusion: there are people who at birth, or even at conception, are condemned already. Why? Because they were not chosen in Christ before the foundation of the world. The Arminian may ask, “Well then why did God even allow them to exist?” I can think of two reasons:
1) To show the riches of His glory to the objects of His mercy - that’s His Elect (Romans 9:23). How would we know how much God loved us and granted us countless blessings without us seeing His wrath delivered upon those who were destined to not believe? I say destined because if they were not chosen in Christ before the foundation of the world, they were destined to disobey the message and stumble over Christ (1 Peter 2:8).
2) God’s thoughts and ways are not ours (Isaiah 55:8-9). If you're a believer, when you get to glory, ask Him why there were those who were condemned already.
The hard truth and bottom line - Since there were some chosen in Christ before the foundation of the world (Ephesians 1:4), there were many NOT chosen. These are they who are condemned already, long before they were even born.
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