Subject: Two "wills" of God? |
Bible Note: Part Two Dear Tim, You wrote: On the other hand, there are many verses where people are asked orcommanded to receive. God commands us to do many things that we are unable to do. Mark 12:30 AND YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND, AND WITH ALL YOUR STRENGTH.' Matt 5:48 "Therefore you are to be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect." The fact of the matter is that without God's grace we can do nothing good. That is why heaven will be conspicuously empty of boasters. What I have been trying to prove is that calvinists have a very low opinion of mankind (including themselves) and a very high opinion of God. We do not contiually quote Calvin or any one of the reformers. Are appeal, ultimately, is always Scripture. The degree of corruption in Adam's race is far more radical than most evangelicals believe. And so I have posted just a few verses to prove our position is in harmony with the Bible. As you know there are many more unflattering verses I have not listed. I see Freewillism as a man centered theology. No matter what God wants, It is man who is the captain of his soul and the master of his fate. Salvation depends on man's will, and God can only try to save him. May I touch upon free will? What does it mean to you? Does it mean that man is a free moral agent. Free to do good or evil. Free to recieve Christ or reject Him. Is this what God says of man? Is unregenerate man free or is ruled by another? John 8:44 "You are of your father the devil, and you want to do the desires of your father. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth because there is no truth in him. Whenever he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own nature, for he is a liar and the father of lies. 1 John 5:19 We know that we are of God, and that the whole world lies in the power of the evil one. I've already quoted Eph 2:1,2 and there are others that I can cite if you wish that debunk the free moral agency of man. It seems a bit ironic that 1 john 5:19 contains the words "whole world", the same term that you love so well when it seemingly supports your position. I mean no ill will, but only mention it in passing. A bone of contention between us has been the arguement over whether or not God says that He has chosen to save some while not choosing to save others. Your conditon of belief being so stringent it has not been possible for me to present a single verse that meets your requirement. However, there are many truths in the Bible that may bededuced from the body of information that God has providentially made available in Scripture. But have no fear, I will respond, God willing. Due to the lateness of the hour and the dulling of my brain (which is not that sharp under the best of conditions) I bid you goodnight, Brother John Reformed |