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Acts 4:27-38 Truly in this city there were gathered together against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, along with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel, to do whatever Your hand and Your purpose predestined to occur.
Note that the events surrounding the crucifixion, while perpetrated by evil men, were predestined to occur and were not random.
I have seen some Pelagians and Arminians who try to twist Scripture to promote this idea that somehow the participants in these events could have chosen otherwise, and by implication changed the entire course of history. The reason they do this is because they know that to admit otherwise is to submit to the idea that God is sovereign even over the evil acts of mankind that led to the death of His Son.
Reformed believers understand the concept of compatibilism, which is exhibited in these events. While mankind acts in accordance with their evil desires, God accomplishes His purpose through them, and His purpose is never thwarted. This concept is best reflected in the events of Joseph and his brothers selling him into slavery and how God used that event to preserve the nation of Israel from famine (Genesis 50), the use of Assyria to punish ancient Israel, even though God punished Assyria for doing it (Isaiah 10), and the crucifixion of Jesus Christ (Acts 2).
Note that the events surrounding the crucifixion, while perpetrated by evil men, were predestined to occur and were not random.
I have seen some Pelagians and Arminians who try to twist Scripture to promote this idea that somehow the participants in these events could have chosen otherwise, and by implication changed the entire course of history. The reason they do this is because they know that to admit otherwise is to submit to the idea that God is sovereign even over the evil acts of mankind that led to the death of His Son.
Reformed believers understand the concept of compatibilism, which is exhibited in these events. While mankind acts in accordance with their evil desires, God accomplishes His purpose through them, and His purpose is never thwarted. This concept is best reflected in the events of Joseph and his brothers selling him into slavery and how God used that event to preserve the nation of Israel from famine (Genesis 50), the use of Assyria to punish ancient Israel, even though God punished Assyria for doing it (Isaiah 10), and the crucifixion of Jesus Christ (Acts 2).
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Romans 3:10-18 is a clear statement with regards to total depravity or radical corruption.
Unconverted mankind is not able to respond to the gospel, nor will he, until God does a work of regeneration in his heart:
Romans 3:10-18 [SUP]10 [/SUP]as it is written:“None is righteous, no, not one;
[SUP]11 [/SUP] no one understands;
no one seeks for God.
[SUP]12 [/SUP]All have turned aside; together they have become worthless;
no one does good,
not even one.”
[SUP]13 [/SUP]“Their throat is an open grave;
they use their tongues to deceive.”
“The venom of asps is under their lips.”
[SUP]14 [/SUP] “Their mouth is full of curses and bitterness.”
[SUP]15 [/SUP]“Their feet are swift to shed blood;
[SUP]16 [/SUP] in their paths are ruin and misery,
[SUP]17 [/SUP]and the way of peace they have not known.”
[SUP]18 [/SUP] “There is no fear of God before their eyes.”
Unconverted mankind is not able to respond to the gospel, nor will he, until God does a work of regeneration in his heart:
Romans 3:10-18 [SUP]10 [/SUP]as it is written:“None is righteous, no, not one;
[SUP]11 [/SUP] no one understands;
no one seeks for God.
[SUP]12 [/SUP]All have turned aside; together they have become worthless;
no one does good,
not even one.”
[SUP]13 [/SUP]“Their throat is an open grave;
they use their tongues to deceive.”
“The venom of asps is under their lips.”
[SUP]14 [/SUP] “Their mouth is full of curses and bitterness.”
[SUP]15 [/SUP]“Their feet are swift to shed blood;
[SUP]16 [/SUP] in their paths are ruin and misery,
[SUP]17 [/SUP]and the way of peace they have not known.”
[SUP]18 [/SUP] “There is no fear of God before their eyes.”
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Romans 8:5-8 [SUP]5 [/SUP]For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. [SUP]6 [/SUP]For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace. [SUP]7 [/SUP]For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God's law; indeed, it cannot. [SUP]8 [/SUP]Those who are in the flesh cannot please God.
These verses speak to the state of the unconverted man. He is utterly unable to please God. He is hostile to God, and is an enemy of God. He CANNOT submit himself to the law of God. It is impossible. This speaks to inability, which is something that free willers deny.
These verses speak to the state of the unconverted man. He is utterly unable to please God. He is hostile to God, and is an enemy of God. He CANNOT submit himself to the law of God. It is impossible. This speaks to inability, which is something that free willers deny.
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Ephesians 2:1-6 2 And you were dead in the trespasses and sins[SUP]2 [/SUP]in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience— [SUP]3 [/SUP]among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body[SUP][a][/SUP] and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind.[SUP][b][/SUP] [SUP]4 [/SUP]But[SUP][c][/SUP] God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, [SUP]5 [/SUP]even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved—
Notice that unconverted mankind is DEAD in sins in trespasses, and must be made alive again (which is what regenerated or being born again or born from above means). A spiritually dead person is utterly unable to respond to God; that is why he must be made alive again (regenerated) in order to respond to God.
Notice that unconverted mankind is DEAD in sins in trespasses, and must be made alive again (which is what regenerated or being born again or born from above means). A spiritually dead person is utterly unable to respond to God; that is why he must be made alive again (regenerated) in order to respond to God.
We are all chosen in Christ. He died once, for ALL. Speaking of Paul:
... and “one God and one Mediator between God and men,
the Man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself a ransom for all. . .”
(1 Timothy 2:5-6) (Paul, again
)
Jesus was constantly inviting people in. It makes no sense to invite people if they have no choice in whether or not to respond. There are a number of "whosoever will" passages in Scripture. The invitation is open.
Matthew 7:24
Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them,
I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:
Matthew 10:32
Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will
I confess also before my Father which is in heaven.
Matthew 10:33
But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will
I also deny before my Father which is in heaven.
Matthew 12:50
For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven,
the same is my brother, and sister, and mother.
Matthew 16:25
For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and
whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.
Mark 3:35
For whosoever shall do the will of God, the same
is my brother, and my sister, and mother.
Mark 8:34
And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also,
he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny
himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.
Mark 8:35
For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall
lose his life for my sake and the gospel's, the same shall save it.
Luke 6:47
Whosoever cometh to me, and heareth my sayings,
and doeth them, I will shew you to whom he is like:
Luke 9:24
For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever
will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it.
Revelation 22:17
And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let
him that heareth say, Come. And let him that
is athirst come. And whosoever will,
let him take the water of life freely.
- Hebrews 7:26-27 states: “For such a High Priest was fitting for us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and has become higher than the heavens; who does not need daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifices, first for His own sins and then for the people’s, for this He did once for all when He offered up Himself.
- Hebrews 10:10 “By that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.”
- Hebrews 10:12 “But He, having offered one sacrifice for sins for all time, sat down at the right hand of God”
... and “one God and one Mediator between God and men,
the Man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself a ransom for all. . .”
(1 Timothy 2:5-6) (Paul, again
)Jesus was constantly inviting people in. It makes no sense to invite people if they have no choice in whether or not to respond. There are a number of "whosoever will" passages in Scripture. The invitation is open.
Matthew 7:24
Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them,
I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:
Matthew 10:32
Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will
I confess also before my Father which is in heaven.
Matthew 10:33
But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will
I also deny before my Father which is in heaven.
Matthew 12:50
For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven,
the same is my brother, and sister, and mother.
Matthew 16:25
For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and
whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.
Mark 3:35
For whosoever shall do the will of God, the same
is my brother, and my sister, and mother.
Mark 8:34
And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also,
he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny
himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.
Mark 8:35
For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall
lose his life for my sake and the gospel's, the same shall save it.
Luke 6:47
Whosoever cometh to me, and heareth my sayings,
and doeth them, I will shew you to whom he is like:
Luke 9:24
For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever
will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it.
Revelation 22:17
And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let
him that heareth say, Come. And let him that
is athirst come. And whosoever will,
let him take the water of life freely.
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Jeremiah 17:9 [SUP]9 [/SUP]The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?
This describes the total depravity and radical corruption of mankind.
Actually this verse is pretty important to me. God used it to show me that I was not a good person, and that I was deceiving myself into thinking that I was. He showed me that my mind was deceitfully wicked, and fooled even me into thinking I was a good person. It was at that moment that I was able to understand my sinful nature and to know I needed His grace and the atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ.
This describes the total depravity and radical corruption of mankind.
Actually this verse is pretty important to me. God used it to show me that I was not a good person, and that I was deceiving myself into thinking that I was. He showed me that my mind was deceitfully wicked, and fooled even me into thinking I was a good person. It was at that moment that I was able to understand my sinful nature and to know I needed His grace and the atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ.
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Matt 7:17-18 So, every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit. A healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a diseased tree bear good fruit.
This verse points clearly to the total depravity or radical corruption of unconverted mankind. He is a diseased tree that cannot bear good fruit. He needs to become a healthy tree in order to bear good fruit. The old nature cannot produce healthy fruit. The new nature bears good fruit. The issue is the heart; it needs changed so that good fruit is borne.
It's not a simple reformation; it's a total heart transplant.
This verse points clearly to the total depravity or radical corruption of unconverted mankind. He is a diseased tree that cannot bear good fruit. He needs to become a healthy tree in order to bear good fruit. The old nature cannot produce healthy fruit. The new nature bears good fruit. The issue is the heart; it needs changed so that good fruit is borne.
It's not a simple reformation; it's a total heart transplant.
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John 3:19-21 [SUP]19 [/SUP]And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.
Notice that unconverted mankind loves darkness and hates light. This speaks to the total depravity or radical corruption of unconverted mankind.
Notice that unconverted mankind loves darkness and hates light. This speaks to the total depravity or radical corruption of unconverted mankind.
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John 8:44 you are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father's desires.
John 8:47 Whoever is of God hears the words of God. The reason why you do not hear them is that you are not of God.
John 8:34 Jesus answered them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who practices sin is a slave to sin."
Note the following points:
1. Those who are unsaved are children of Satan, spiritually, and their will or desire is to do evil.
2. The reason they don't hear God's words is they don't belong to him.
3. Those who practice sin are slaves to sin. Rather than having free will, like free-willers claim, the unsaved are enslaved
to it. How much freedom is there in slavery? None. But, somehow free willers claim these individuals can respond to
God anyways.
John 8:47 Whoever is of God hears the words of God. The reason why you do not hear them is that you are not of God.
John 8:34 Jesus answered them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who practices sin is a slave to sin."
Note the following points:
1. Those who are unsaved are children of Satan, spiritually, and their will or desire is to do evil.
2. The reason they don't hear God's words is they don't belong to him.
3. Those who practice sin are slaves to sin. Rather than having free will, like free-willers claim, the unsaved are enslaved
to it. How much freedom is there in slavery? None. But, somehow free willers claim these individuals can respond to
God anyways.
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Romans 8:28-30 [SUP]28 [/SUP]And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good,[SUP][a][/SUP] for those who are called according to his purpose. [SUP]29 [/SUP]For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. [SUP]30 [/SUP]And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.
Notice these points:
1. God is sovereign and works all things to his will.
2. Salvation is about God's purpose, and the focus is not on the benefit to mankind.
3. Predestination is based on foreknowledge. In Reformed theology, foreknowledge is about God fore-loving the person.
Arminians claim that foreknowledge is based on God's knowledge of man's choice, but this is not coherent. Notice
that the object of foreknowledge is people, and not foreknowledge of events.
4. Notice that salvation is spoken about in past tense. It is as good as accomplished in God's mind, from foreknowledge to
glorification (the resurrection).
5. Notice that the goal is to conform the redeemed to the image of Christ, so sanctification is implicitly referenced here and
is not missing.
6. Notice that "all things" work to the good of those who love God. Many deny that bad things work to the good of those who
love God, but this is not Scriptural. Even things we perceive as bad are good, such as illnesses, deaths, and sufferings.
Notice these points:
1. God is sovereign and works all things to his will.
2. Salvation is about God's purpose, and the focus is not on the benefit to mankind.
3. Predestination is based on foreknowledge. In Reformed theology, foreknowledge is about God fore-loving the person.
Arminians claim that foreknowledge is based on God's knowledge of man's choice, but this is not coherent. Notice
that the object of foreknowledge is people, and not foreknowledge of events.
4. Notice that salvation is spoken about in past tense. It is as good as accomplished in God's mind, from foreknowledge to
glorification (the resurrection).
5. Notice that the goal is to conform the redeemed to the image of Christ, so sanctification is implicitly referenced here and
is not missing.
6. Notice that "all things" work to the good of those who love God. Many deny that bad things work to the good of those who
love God, but this is not Scriptural. Even things we perceive as bad are good, such as illnesses, deaths, and sufferings.
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John 8:47 Whoever is of God hears the words of God. The reason why you do not hear them is that you are not of God.
Note that the inference is that those who do not hear the works of God are not his sheep. That is why they don't understand the salvation message. They may understand it logically but they don't really have the spiritual eyes to understand it. Is it their fault that they don't have spiritual eyes?
Note that the inference is that those who do not hear the works of God are not his sheep. That is why they don't understand the salvation message. They may understand it logically but they don't really have the spiritual eyes to understand it. Is it their fault that they don't have spiritual eyes?
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John 6:43 Jesus answered them, "Do not grumble amongst yourselves. No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him, and I will raise him up on the last day".
Note:
1. No one is able to come to God unless the Father draws him. This is speaking of moral inability, which is total depravity
or radical corruption.
2. The Greek word for draw is helko. It is the same Greek word used in James 2:6 concerning the rich dragging the poor
into the courts. This does not imply a gentle plea.
3. Note that all who are drawn are raised up on the last day. This obviously refers to the resurrection of the just. No one is
lost.
Note:
1. No one is able to come to God unless the Father draws him. This is speaking of moral inability, which is total depravity
or radical corruption.
2. The Greek word for draw is helko. It is the same Greek word used in James 2:6 concerning the rich dragging the poor
into the courts. This does not imply a gentle plea.
3. Note that all who are drawn are raised up on the last day. This obviously refers to the resurrection of the just. No one is
lost.
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I Corinthians 2:14 The natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not
able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned.
Note that those who are unsaved (the natural man) are not even able to accept spiritual truth. They do not spiritually accept, understand and know the things of God. They do not have access to this knowledge on a spiritual level.
This is total depravity or radical corruption. Until God changes this situation, they can no more respond to God than a blind man can see a sunset.
able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned.
Note that those who are unsaved (the natural man) are not even able to accept spiritual truth. They do not spiritually accept, understand and know the things of God. They do not have access to this knowledge on a spiritual level.
This is total depravity or radical corruption. Until God changes this situation, they can no more respond to God than a blind man can see a sunset.
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John 6:36 But I say to you that you have seen me and yet do not believe. All that the Father gives me will come to me and whoever comes to me I will not cast out.
Notice that the giving precedes the coming, so this refutes the notion that free-willers have regarding election being based upon the person's own choosing of God. In fact, this won't happened due to Romans 3:11...no one seeks for God.
It may seem like someone seeks God and finds him, but the reason they are seeking is because they are being drawn. It is not due to some inherent characteristic in them that makes them less rebellious and self-willed than the next person.
Notice that the giving precedes the coming, so this refutes the notion that free-willers have regarding election being based upon the person's own choosing of God. In fact, this won't happened due to Romans 3:11...no one seeks for God.
It may seem like someone seeks God and finds him, but the reason they are seeking is because they are being drawn. It is not due to some inherent characteristic in them that makes them less rebellious and self-willed than the next person.
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John 6:35 Jesus said to them, "I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst.".
According to Arminians, those who come to Christ can lose their salvation, which would imply that they would be subjected to spiritual hunger and thirst again.
John 6:38-39 For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will, but the will of Him who sent me. It is the will of Him who sent me, that of all that He has given me I lose nothing, but raise it up at the last day.
According to Arminian theology, Christ could fail to do the will of his Father by failing to bring those that have been given to Him to glorification.
It is true that Judas was "lost" but he was never a true believer. John 6:64-65 plainly says that Judas was going to betray him, and that he never truly believed anyways:
John 6:64-65 [SUP]64 [/SUP]But there are some of you who do not believe.” (For Jesus knew from the beginning who those were who did not believe, and who it was who would betray him.) [SUP]65 [/SUP]And he said, “This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless it is granted him by the Father.”
He was called the "son of perdition" and was doomed to destruction all along. Scripture is plain about that.
His situation is another one that causes free-willers to squirm as it refutes their idea that God wouldn't use someone like that, but obviously he was doomed to destruction from the start.
According to Arminians, those who come to Christ can lose their salvation, which would imply that they would be subjected to spiritual hunger and thirst again.
John 6:38-39 For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will, but the will of Him who sent me. It is the will of Him who sent me, that of all that He has given me I lose nothing, but raise it up at the last day.
According to Arminian theology, Christ could fail to do the will of his Father by failing to bring those that have been given to Him to glorification.
It is true that Judas was "lost" but he was never a true believer. John 6:64-65 plainly says that Judas was going to betray him, and that he never truly believed anyways:
John 6:64-65 [SUP]64 [/SUP]But there are some of you who do not believe.” (For Jesus knew from the beginning who those were who did not believe, and who it was who would betray him.) [SUP]65 [/SUP]And he said, “This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless it is granted him by the Father.”
He was called the "son of perdition" and was doomed to destruction all along. Scripture is plain about that.
His situation is another one that causes free-willers to squirm as it refutes their idea that God wouldn't use someone like that, but obviously he was doomed to destruction from the start.