*OCTOBER 31st 1517: LESSONS FROM REFORMATION HISTORY* Pt.22nd
*THE STREAMS IN REFORMATION: REFORMED/ CALVINIST TRADITION*(I)
Previously, we established that God has not predestinate anyone for destruction. If he does, that will make him a wicked God by nature but we know he is not because he is a good God. Calvinists believe that those chosen for salvation cannot resist God's offer.
As a itinerant missionary evangelist, I have seen men reject God's offer of salvation willingly. I once preached to a Challa village head in Ghana who was sober while I preached. He said "everything you said is true and I know It is but I have gone too far( in idolatry) to quit. I will allow my wives and children to join the church"( paraphrase).
True to his words, he allowed his household join the church but he remained. However, as I preached, I knew the Spirit was convicting him and he confirmed it by saying he knew what I said is the truth but he exercised the power of free will and rejected Christ.
The Calvinists says the atonement of Christ is limited to those who elects for salvation not for all humanity. This puts a limit on those that can be saved. For me, this is going too far on the doctrine of predestination because we know from scriptures that the death of Christ is for all men to be saved.
*"The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, NOT WANTING ANYONE TO PERISH, but everyone to come to repentance*" (2 Pet 3:9 NIV).
If God wants all men to be saved and hasn't predestinate anyone for destruction, why are some still unsaved? Why have "all men" not accepted Christ? The answer is simple: choice/ free will. God gave every human on earth the power to choose what he wants.
Man is a free moral agent with a capacity to choose what he wants. If God could control men like robots, then, everyone will obey him perfectly because we would be constrained to do so.
Several scriptures illustrate this concept of man's ability to choose.
Deuteronomy 30:19 says, *"I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and curse. Therefore CHOOSE LIFE, that you and your offspring may live*" (ESV).
God did not force "life" on anyone. He is giving us an option to choose.
Joshua 24:15: *"And if it is evil in your eyes to serve the Lord, CHOOSE THIS DAY WHOM YOU WILL SERVE... But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord*" (ESV).
Revelation 22:17 says, *"The Spirit and the Bride say, 'Come.' And let the one who hears say, 'Come.' And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one WHO DESIRES take the water of life without price*" (ESV).
Rev 3:20 says, *"Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. IF ANYONE HEARS MY VOICE AND OPENS THE DOOR, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me*".
Genesis 2:16-17 made it clear that God gave Adam and Eve the freedom to eat from the trees of the garden but specifically commanded them not to eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, offering them a clear choice to obey.
*Predestination is not without man's responsibility. As much as God has done His part to save all men, man must yield to the Holy Spirit to be saved*".
Some may ask, why would God give us free will?
If God did not give man a free will, love and obedience will be coerced and not real. If we did not have the ability to reject God, then neither would we have the ability to truly love Him.