I've been listening to some sermons on sermonaudio.com and I came across a preacher by the name of Charles Lawson. He seems to be very passionate and devoted to preaching the truth of Gods Word. But I was surprised when he rubbished John calvin and others who believe in election.
He sighted a verse in Johns gospel, where Christ mentioned that He has sheep not of this flock. He quoted a few other scriptures to make the point that it's up to each individual to come before God in repentance and faith.
After listening to some debates on sermonaudio on the topic of predestination and there were compelling arguments on both sides, so I've been digging deeper into the topic and I'm finding that there's a big division in the Church over this matter.
I've found more scriptures which support predestination and election than those like "choose ye this day who you will serve" and the most popular one, John 3:16
Election doesn't seem fair, from a human stand point so maybe we weren't meant to go too deep into God's sovereign reason for electing some and not others. My brother said that a God who creates some, whom He knows won't be saved is an evil God. He said he could never believe in a God like that. He's a Roman Catholic and this has made him even more weary of my conversion to evangelical Christianity. He was already suspicious but this topic has infuriated him and turned him off ever coming to visit my Church.
He sighted a verse in Johns gospel, where Christ mentioned that He has sheep not of this flock. He quoted a few other scriptures to make the point that it's up to each individual to come before God in repentance and faith.
After listening to some debates on sermonaudio on the topic of predestination and there were compelling arguments on both sides, so I've been digging deeper into the topic and I'm finding that there's a big division in the Church over this matter.
I've found more scriptures which support predestination and election than those like "choose ye this day who you will serve" and the most popular one, John 3:16
Election doesn't seem fair, from a human stand point so maybe we weren't meant to go too deep into God's sovereign reason for electing some and not others. My brother said that a God who creates some, whom He knows won't be saved is an evil God. He said he could never believe in a God like that. He's a Roman Catholic and this has made him even more weary of my conversion to evangelical Christianity. He was already suspicious but this topic has infuriated him and turned him off ever coming to visit my Church.
Romans 9:19-20 addresses the man who has issue with God's justice being exercised, and not showing mercy. This man blames God and asks on the basis of Him only showing mercy to whom He wills, and not others "How can He then find fault with them?" (since He won't grant it to all it is "unfair!") as if mercy were an obligation on God. Yes, people make these demands on God.
We must tread cautiously here, He does do exactly this, and Paul says basically to mortal man "Who do you think you are to answer back to God???" and Paul continues his proof that God shows mercy to whom He wills, and none other in the following verses.
I realize these are hard truths, but I embrace them knowing God is both gracious, granting this to those who do not deserve it, granting mercy to whom He wills, and is just in withholding these as well. I also bear in mind that God is God and knows exactly what He is doing, and that there is no injustice with Him.
When we let Scripture be what it is in revealing God in all His glory, and accept this, we then see how very awesome (in it's true definition, not as it is overused and mitigated today) God really is.
God bless you brother.