Sovereignty
A friend wanted me to make a statement on how the sovereignty of God would allow for free will. What follows may or may not get at the answer his question.
I must begin by saying that I do not believe that God's sovereignty and human freedom are mutually exclusive ideas. Scripture can be found to support both. My question for those who doubt this would be, how does the sovereignty of God hinder free will?
I do not think that one can deny the sovereignty of God and still claim to be Christian.
In my opinion: In order for God to be God, then God must be sovereign. In order for human to be human, then humanity must be free.
I believe that I am supported by the great theologian John Wesley in the 11th section of the sermon The General Spread of the Gospel when he said:
"You know how God wrought in your own soul, when he first enabled you to say, 'The life I now live, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.' He did not take away your understanding; but enlightened and strengthened it. He did not destroy any of your affections; rather they were more vigorous than before. Least of all did he take away your liberty; your power of choosing good or evil: He did not force you; but, being assisted by his grace, you, like Mary, chose the better part. Just so has he assisted five in one house to make that happy choice; fifty or five hundred in one city; and many thousands in a nation; -- without depriving any of them of that liberty which is essential to a moral agent."
Without God's grace we cannot be saved. Without human participation, God's grace will not save. Human participation is grace-empowered and not coerced.
The grace and sovereignty of God enables human responsibility; it does not override human responsibility.
The main problem that I have with reformed theology is that in their empasis on predestination (whether that be single or double) is their apparent denial of human responsiblity.
I believe that instead of spending time debating the issue of predestination versus free will that we should live our lives for Christ. We need to live lives that bring glory to God in all that we do.
Whether or not we are predestined to salvation/damnation or have free will to choose/reject Christ we are morally responsible for our actions.
I must begin by saying that I do not believe that God's sovereignty and human freedom are mutually exclusive ideas. Scripture can be found to support both. My question for those who doubt this would be, how does the sovereignty of God hinder free will?
I do not think that one can deny the sovereignty of God and still claim to be Christian.
In my opinion: In order for God to be God, then God must be sovereign. In order for human to be human, then humanity must be free.
I believe that I am supported by the great theologian John Wesley in the 11th section of the sermon The General Spread of the Gospel when he said:
"You know how God wrought in your own soul, when he first enabled you to say, 'The life I now live, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.' He did not take away your understanding; but enlightened and strengthened it. He did not destroy any of your affections; rather they were more vigorous than before. Least of all did he take away your liberty; your power of choosing good or evil: He did not force you; but, being assisted by his grace, you, like Mary, chose the better part. Just so has he assisted five in one house to make that happy choice; fifty or five hundred in one city; and many thousands in a nation; -- without depriving any of them of that liberty which is essential to a moral agent."
Without God's grace we cannot be saved. Without human participation, God's grace will not save. Human participation is grace-empowered and not coerced.
The grace and sovereignty of God enables human responsibility; it does not override human responsibility.
The main problem that I have with reformed theology is that in their empasis on predestination (whether that be single or double) is their apparent denial of human responsiblity.
I believe that instead of spending time debating the issue of predestination versus free will that we should live our lives for Christ. We need to live lives that bring glory to God in all that we do.
Whether or not we are predestined to salvation/damnation or have free will to choose/reject Christ we are morally responsible for our actions.
posted by Justin at 10/22/2006 12:30:00 PM
5 Comments:
"The grace and sovereignty of God enables human responsibility; it does not override human responsibility." Justin
I agree . . . but it seems God withholds grace from some and gives some to others. What do you think it means in John 17:22 that Judas was doomed to destruction?
It only seems that God withholds grace from some and gives to others because you accept the idea of irresistable grace.
If one were to accept God's grace as resistable, then those who appear to have been overlooked by God are simply resisting the grace God makes available for all of humanity.
I read John 17:22 (in fact I skimmed all of John 17) and I do not see what you are referencing. Is it possible you wrote the wrong verse down?
17:12 not 22, sorry
If human participation is important in ordered to be saved by God's grace what about those who haven't heard the gospel or babies of believers who die at birth? Or even young children who don't understand the gospel or salvation. Does human participation get excluded and God is allowed by his grace to save those if he wishes?
I think what is forgotten in this discourse is the fact that fallen man will never seek God, will never see their own depravity, if God does not send His Holy Spirit to convict and convince men of sin. Romans Chapter 8 & 9 speaks of those questioning, is God unfair? or unjust? Romans 9:20 speaks expressly, O man, who art thou that repliest against God?
He worketh all things after the counsel of His own will, (Eph 1:11). And in Epehsians 1:5, it says he predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of His will.
Post a Comment
<< Home