Subject: What is Free Will? |
Bible Note: Blessings Brother Tim! - You said: "The whole argument of Romans 9 is not to exclude people, it is Paul's attempt to show that God is just to include people." And so Pharoah was (unchosen, de-selected, hardened) for (inclusion, exclusion) what??? Paul was saying that God chooses, period... and by the way, Gentiles, lucky you! You've been chosen! He juxtaposes chosen people with unchosen people, individuals and groups. To your statement: "God is just to include people"... If God is only just, then we are all doomed. If we are saved, it is only God's mercy that saves us, not His justice. Clearly, in Romans 11:30-32 God selects and deselects groups (meaning salvation) to serve His sovereign will, just as He did with individuals such as Pharoah, Jacob, Esau, Paul and many others. If I took your position to the extreme (which I know you don't), we end up with universalism... that God's grace and mercy were sufficient to save all men, and who are we to say that some won't be saved?... Isn't God's love infinite? I believe that Romans 9 is saying very directly that God's sovereignty is above all. We are all sinners and deserving of death. God chooses to save some (maybe many) but it is purely His call as to who is chosen, according to His divine will. I believe that Romans 11:30-32 supports this... the One doing the "binding" in verse 32 is who (God/man)? Blessings Curt |