God’s Sovereignty & Man’s Will
The following are equally true Biblical doctrines:
- God sovereignly elects some sinners for salvation while passing over others,
- Man is held responsible for his belief or unbelief in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.
Man is Not a Robot
Man has a will and he is able to make choices for himself. For example, did not the last unbeliever you gave the Gospel to say “no thank you”? Did you, as a believer, not choose to say “yes” to the Gospel in the past?
God’s Sovereignty & Man’s Will
No man, woman, or child in Heaven or Hell is there by mistake. God is perfectly just in decreeing every person’s final destination.
The Will of an Unbeliever
A person in his natural estate will always spit the Gospel out of his mouth. Does this person freely choose this response? Indeed. God does not have to force an unbeliever to reject the Gospel. They do it naturally. Since it is their personal choice, God is righteous in sentencing them to Hell.
Ro 5:6, 8
For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly… but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
Jn 3:16
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.
The Will of a Believer
A person whose heart and nature (mind, emotions, will) have been supernaturally changed by the grace of God will always choose Jesus as Lord and Savior. Is this a free choice made by a believer? Yes. God never forces anyone to believe.
God’s Sovereignty & Man’s Will
The following are equally true Biblical doctrines:
- God sovereignly elects some sinners for salvation while passing over others,
- Man is held responsible for his belief or unbelief in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.
Man is Not a Robot
Man has a will and he is able to make choices for himself. For example, did not the last unbeliever you gave the Gospel to say “no thank you”? Did you, as a believer, not choose to say “yes” to the Gospel in the past?
The Will of an Unbeliever
A person in his natural estate will always spit the Gospel out of his mouth. Does this person freely choose this response? Indeed. God does not have to force an unbeliever to reject the Gospel. They do it naturally. Since it is their personal choice, God is righteous in sentencing them to Hell.
The Will of a Believer
A person whose heart and nature (mind, emotions, will) have been supernaturally changed by the grace of God will always choose Jesus as Lord and Savior. Is this a free choice made by a believer? Yes. God never forces anyone to believe.
Jn 3:16
For God so loved the world [aka “Jews and Gentiles” – Nicodemus thought only Jews were saved], that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.
God's Salvific Plan
This is not our burden. We just sow the seed of the Gospel. This is God’s business and God’s salvation. (Mt 13:1-9)
“We are not the Savior; we are the sower.”
Jim Merchant
What Are the Purpose and Results of Salvation?
- Godward: God is glorified
- Manward: man is justified, sanctified, and glorified
God’s Effectual Calling
There is a calling for believers only. (“for those who are called according to his purpose” - Ro 8:28)
