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NASB | Romans 1:20 For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse. |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Romans 1:20 For ever since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through His workmanship [all His creation, the wonderful things that He has made], so that they [who fail to believe and trust in Him] are without excuse and without defense. [Ps 19:1-4; Eph 2:10] |
Subject: Is God somehow responsible? |
Bible Note: Greetings Lionstrong! It is good to hear from you my friend! I pray that you and your family had a great Christmas and a promising start to the new year! I want to address your verses by first noting that they do not explicitly fulfill my challenge. My challenge was to produce a verse which says the opposite of 2 Peter 3:9 (which says that God desires to save all). Thus, I am looking for a verse which explicitly states that "God does not desire to save all". The passages you quote can be used to infer such, but are not explicit and can be understood in another way as well. So, on to the verses (Mt. 13:10-15, Mk. 4:10-12, and Jn. 12:37-41). All of these passages are based upon Is. 6:9-10. Is. 6:9-10 refers to the judgement brought upon Israel because of her dispobedience. The interesting thing about Is. 6:9-10 though is that it does not express God's permanent judgement upon Israel, but a temporary one (See Is. 6:11-13). So, I don't see in these passages an expression of God's desire 'not to save' any, but an expression of God's temporary judgement upon Israel for their unbelief. In this case, Israel's rejection of Christ. But, even this rejection is part of God's plan for Israel, as we see in Rom. 9-11. In particular, Rom. 10:12-21 seems to discuss this very issue: "For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile?the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, 13 for, ??Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.? 14 How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? 15 And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written, ??How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!? 16 But not all the Israelites accepted the good news. For Isaiah says, ??Lord, who has believed our message?? 17 Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ. 18 But I ask: Did they not hear? Of course they did: ??Their voice has gone out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world.? 19 Again I ask: Did Israel not understand? First, Moses says, ??I will make you envious by those who are not a nation; I will make you angry by a nation that has no understanding.? 20 And Isaiah boldly says, ??I was found by those who did not seek me; I revealed myself to those who did not ask for me.? 21 But concerning Israel he says, ??All day long I have held out my hands to a disobedient and obstinate people.?" So, does Paul say in these verses that God has chosen not 'to save' some of Israel. No! Rather, he says that those who were 'hardened' (Rom. 11:7-10) can still be grafted in if they do not continue in their unbelief (Rom. 11:23). In fact, God has worked all of this so that He might have mercy on all (Rom. 11:32). So, in answer to your question, while it may be debated whether the hardening was caused by God or by their unbelief (Calvin believed the former, while Berkouwer believed the later), it is clear from the context that this judgement is not God's final word on the destiny of Israel. Even those described, can still turn and believe. Your Brother in Christ, Tim Moran |