Bible Question: Most American evangelicals believe that one is free to believe the Gospel or not believe the Gospel. My question is this a consious decision, or a reaction based on the spiritual state of their hearts? |
Bible Answer: Hello hobbs, As you likely know, this question will likely move quickly to a debate of the doctrine of election which the forum already contains numerous posts on and need not be repeated needlessly. I'm not sure I agree with your statement that "most American evangelicals believe that one is free to believe the Gospel or not...." but without stats it's not a provable point anyway. If you do have stats to support that statement those would be interesting to see. In any case, because the doctrine of election has been one of personal struggle for me to grasp, I have relied on a couple of simple, straightforward statements in Scripture. John 14:3 KJV 6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. John 6:44-45 ESV 44 No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him. And I will raise him up on the last day. 45 It is written in the Prophets, 'And they will all be taught by God.' Everyone who has heard and learned from the Father comes to me. Who can come to the Father unless through Christ? No one according to Scripture. Who can come to Christ unless he is drawn by the Father? No one according to Scripture. Who can resist God if he/she is called by God? Perhaps the meat of your question. My belief as I understand the Scriptures is that no one can or in any case, no one will; "Everyone who has heard and learned from the Father comes to me." Ephesians 2:8 (ASV) 2:8 for by grace have ye been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; Any faith that is a product of my free will to believe is not a saving faith as I understand Scripture; but only that faith which is "the gift of God" is a true saving faith (lest it be called my own work). It's true that Scripture says that "...whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." (John 3:16); but it also says that whosoever believes does so through the faith that has been given by God "as a gift". I believe that Scripture teaches that God's act of creating men was very deliberate. I also believe that His act of saving some is very clearly, just as deliberate. Hope this helps. God bless, Jeff |