Subject: Hebrews 6:6 explained |
Bible Note: Dear Tim, Thanks for your careful consideration of my post. Too many times, I respond before fully apprehending the thoughts of the writer (these lessons inhumility are no fun at all!). I'll get to your points sraightaway. 1) To what does the excemption clause of John 17:12 refer? Was Judas lost or not? My resonse is YES Judas was lost but he was never saved. I'll explain: "but Christ’s distinguishing Judas from those that were given him (for ei meµ is adversative, not exceptive) intimates that the truth and true religion ought not to suffer for the treachery of those that are false to it, 1 Jn. 2:19." (M. Henry Bible Commentary) The NASB translates ei meµ as except. The King James uses but. This may weaken your premise which is based on the word except. I don't consider this to be a small point, for if Henry is indeed correct, your contention is made on a flawed interpretation. My second point is that Jesus immediately labels Judas as "the son of destruction". I am not clear on why Judas is called by this term. It implies a state of being to me. When did Judas begin to reflect this title? We have no indication from scripture, except that whenever he is mentioned it is as a thorough-going rotter! When was he ever presented to us as an ardent lover of Christ? Never! Thirdly, we cannot overlook the fact that Judas was lost for a particular reason which was so that Scripture might be fulfilled. That can mean but one thing (please don't faint); Judas was preordained to perish. What else could it mean? One final point comes to mind. Why would God send His son to die for people He already knew were doomed? Would it not have been kinder to not have created them at all? Just a thought. 2) Can God's will for our lives be impacted by our choices? For instance, can God desire someone to be saved and that person not be saved? NO. God is soveriegn over all his creation. He has an eternal pupose that He will unfailingly accomplish. The Westminster Confession Chapter 3 - Of God's Eternal Decree 1. God from all eternity did by the most wise and holy counsel of his own will freely and unchangeably ordain whatsoever comes to pass: yet so as thereby neither is God the author of sin, nor is violence offered to the will of the creatures, nor is the liberty or contingency of second causes taken away, but rather established. Act 15:18 Known unto God are all his works from the beginning of the world. Heb 6:17 In the same way God, desiring even more to show to the heirs of the promise the unchangeableness of His purpose, interposed with an oath, Eph 3:11 This was in accordance with the eternal purpose which He carried out in Christ Jesus our Lord, Eph 1:11 also we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to His purpose who works all things after the counsel of His will, Tim, I've gone on too long and better sign off. Two questions. Of what benefit is the new creation if it can be cast aside like a garment? What do we have that we have not been given by God? One more question and I promise to close my mouth. God was not obliged to save anyone, if out of pure mercy He chose to save some and let others contiue in rebellion, how would that be unfair? Thanks Tim, John Reformed |