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NASB | Romans 11:32 For God has shut up all in disobedience so that He may show mercy to all. |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Romans 11:32 For God has imprisoned all in disobedience so that He may show mercy to all [Jew and Gentile alike]. |
Bible Question: This verse troubles me...because if God really did shut up all in disobedience (so that he could show mercy on them), then how did we have the free will to sin? Were we consigned to disobedience through inheriting the old nature from Adam? If God had not consigned everyone to disobedience, is there a chance that some human beings might not have disobeyed? I realize that sounds like a silly question, but it points out the theological/philosophical issue of the verse. How can God be just if he has consigned all of humanity to disobedience? (Or, more to the point, how can the entire narrative of history be one in which we really did have the will to choose obedience or disobedience? How can we be blamed for our sin?) |
Bible Answer: Hi, Sherri. You wrote: "This verse troubles me...because if God really did shut up all in disobedience (so that he could show mercy on them), then how did we have the free will to sin?" Humanity has always had the free will to sin. As a matter of fact, as a result of the Fall, the unbeliever doesn't have a nature that allows her to do anything BUT sin (Romans 8:6-8). The Bible declares that theough Adam's transgression we were made sinners (Romans 5:19) and we are by nature "children of wrath" apart from Christ (Ephesians 2:3). Romans 3:10-23 gives the clearest picture of who we are by nature apart from Christ. "Were we consigned to disobedience through inheriting the old nature from Adam?" Exactly. Romans 5 compares Adam to Jesus Christ. Everyone who has ever lived was born "in Adam," so to speak. Our first parents, as our representatives, brought about a curse upon the whole human race as a result of their sin. We are born with a disposition against God. Just like I didn't choose to be born male, white, healthy, or American, I didn't choose to be born an enemy of God. It was the result of circumstances outside myself. However, we all live out that nature until some of the human race is transferred to God's kingdom, so that we are no longer "in Adam" but "in Christ." Read Romans 5 and notice the comparison between Adam's transgression and Jesus' perfect obedience. And lest we think this unfair that one man's transgression resulted in a condemnation for other human beings, it is important to remember that we played no role in the righteousness that was earned for us by Jesus Christ, either (other than committing the actual sins that He died for)! :) --Joe! |
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Questions and/or Subjects for Rom 11:32 | Author | ||
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Jewel | ||
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SherriSLC | ||
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dace | ||
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Reformer Joe | ||
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vume | ||
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Reformer Joe | ||
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DocTrinsograce |