Subject: Is Limited Atonement Bibical? |
Bible Note: Dear Charis, part 2 Regarding your statements: “Jesus Himself is the stumbling stone to those who do not believe… Because they did not pursue it by faith, but as though it were by works.” and “Some may want the credit for 'choosing' Jesus, feel it was their 'decision' that saved them. They may even feel they have the ability to maintain this grace. Yet I know that Jesus initiated my salvation, and the victory is His alone! “ To choose as you have described is to wrap it in humanism, where the “choice”, definitely, remains in the realm of works not faith and is repulsive. I believe the truth of what you are saying can in part be found in Luke 13:26-28, “then you will begin to say, "We ate and drank in Your presence, and You taught in our streets.' But He will say, "I tell you I do not know you, where you are from. Depart from Me, all you workers of iniquity.' There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when you see Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, and yourselves thrust out.” I know that you are correct in observing that some “want the credit for choosing.” And I feel that wanting/taking credit means that a) one does not understand who God is and what His great Mercy and Grace is all about, b) one is making a purely intellectual choice, which changes nothing on the spiritual and supernatural level and I could go on, but will not. The Luke 13 scripture describes a scene where people who have all the appearances of religion (even appear to be as an Abraham, Isaac, or Jacob) but they mistakenly think that THEIR choice and maintenance of grace, is what sustained them, and, therefore, “want the credit.” I do NOT believe that the power of salvation is in “my choice,” although I do believe that God requires it of me. It is humbling to me that God would go to all this trouble to generously require a choice on my part, even though he could do otherwise, per His sovereignty. The concept of choice is not to be used for disobedience, which is inherent in “wanting credit.” However, those that use the concept in just the way that you and I both find abhorrent are the ones that will find themselves “thrust out.” They will look like an Abraham, but as many of the Calvinistic writings say, no one will know until death ("No man," writes Christopher Ness, "may judge himself a reprobate in this life, and so grow desperate; for final disobedience (the only infallible evidence of reprobation) cannot be discovered till death." ('An Antidote Against Arminianism,' p. 51). As a matter of personal observation, there are those in all Christian traditions, which regardless of their words and/or works to the contrary are “choosing” in that ineffectual, arrogant way which is an abomination to God and, indeed, will carry “many souls to hell” as Spurgeon puts it. But as you have experienced, and I believe all TRUE believers experience, I can be no other than I am now. I cannot reject Him. And as you, I have spent time contemplating my rejection, my resistance. Even in my most dreaded moments, I am compelled by a God that loves me, showers mercy and grace upon me and yes, allowed me to come to a saving knowledge of Him through Christ Jesus. ALL credit goes to Him. I truly do understand the rationale for believing that a choice by man somehow demeans the belief in the Sovereignty of God. But because I believe in the Sovereignty of God, I cannot believe that my “interpretation” as others might call it or my belief in free will can undo the Will of God, nor can it keep me away from His Irresistible Grace. Sincerely by His Grace, Charlene |