According to the “gospel of TULIP” the answer is in the affirmative. According to the Bible the answer is clearly “No”. There are some Christians (known as Calvinists) who sincerely believe that because God is sovereign, He sovereignly “elects” some for salvation and others for damnation. But that contradicts what is in the Bible: (a) that God will have ALL men to be saved, and come unto the knowledge of the truth, (b) that God is not willing that any should perish, but that ALL should come to repentance, and (c) that God now commands ALL men everywhere to repent.
THE SOVEREIGNTY OF GOD
There is no question whatsoever that the Lord God Almighty is a sovereign God and King, who sits upon His eternal throne. This means that God rules the universe and also God rules in the affairs of men. There are numerous Scriptures that assert these truths. [But you will not find the words “sovereign” or “sovereignty” in the King James Bible (to which we will look exclusively)].
Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice: and let men say among the nations, The LORD reigneth. (1 Chron 16:31)
For God is the King of all the earth: sing ye praises with understanding. God reigneth over the heathen: God sitteth upon the throne of his holiness. (Ps 47:7,8)
The LORD reigneth, he is clothed with majesty; the LORD is clothed with strength, wherewith he hath girded himself: the world also is stablished, that it cannot be moved. Thy throne is established of old: thou art from everlasting. (Ps 93:1,2)
Say among the heathen that the LORD reigneth: the world also shall be established that it shall not be moved: he shall judge the people righteously. (Ps 96:10)
The LORD reigneth; let the earth rejoice; let the multitude of isles be glad thereof… For thou, LORD, art high above all the earth: thou art exalted far above all gods.(Ps 97:1,9)
The LORD reigneth; let the people tremble: he sitteth between the cherubims; let the earth be moved. (Ps 99:1)
But our God is in the heavens: he hath done whatsoever he hath pleased. (Ps 115:3)
Whatsoever the LORD pleased, that did he in heaven, and in earth, in the seas, and all deep places. (Ps 135:6)
This matter is by the decree of the watchers, and the demand by the word of the holy ones: to the intent that the living may know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will, and setteth up over it the basest of men. (Dan 4:17)
And I heard as it were the voice of a great multitude, and as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of mighty thunderings, saying, Alleluia: for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth.(Rev 19:6)
THE GRACE OF GOD
While the sovereignty of God is unquestionable, the grace of God is also evident throughout all Scripture. And it is only, and purely, by the grace of God that sinners are saved and given the gift of eternal life. Also, the grace of God is available to all mankind, as we see in Titus 2:11; 3:4-7:
For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men… But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared, Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour; That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.
But you will never find the sovereignty of God in the same passages which speak of the grace of God. God’s grace extends to all men – all humanity – for the salvation of all. And the sole basis for the offer of salvation is the finished work of Christ in His death, burial, and resurrection. That is central to “the Gospel of the Grace of God”: But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God. (Acts 20:24)
But not as the offence, so also is the free gift. For if through the offence of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many. (Rom 5:15)
Moreover, brethren, we do you to wit [know] of the grace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia; (2 Cor 8:1)
For the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, whereof ye heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel; Which is come unto you, as it is in all the world; and bringeth forth fruit, as it doth also in you, since the day ye heard of it, and knew the grace of God in truth: (Col 1:5,6)
But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man. (Heb 2:9)
So we see in all these verses that the sovereignty of God does not enter the picture when the grace of God is presented. Furthermore, it is purely by the grace of God that Christ “tasted death for every man”. Meaning that when Christ died on the cross, He took all the sins of the world upon Himself, and paid the full penalty for those sins. Therefore He is called “the Lamb of God which taketh away the sin of the world” (John 1:29). As a result God offers the gift of eternal life freely to those who believe on the Lord Jesus Christ. And no one is excluded, unless they exclude themselves.
THE SOVEREIGNTY OF GOD
There is no question whatsoever that the Lord God Almighty is a sovereign God and King, who sits upon His eternal throne. This means that God rules the universe and also God rules in the affairs of men. There are numerous Scriptures that assert these truths. [But you will not find the words “sovereign” or “sovereignty” in the King James Bible (to which we will look exclusively)].
Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice: and let men say among the nations, The LORD reigneth. (1 Chron 16:31)
For God is the King of all the earth: sing ye praises with understanding. God reigneth over the heathen: God sitteth upon the throne of his holiness. (Ps 47:7,8)
The LORD reigneth, he is clothed with majesty; the LORD is clothed with strength, wherewith he hath girded himself: the world also is stablished, that it cannot be moved. Thy throne is established of old: thou art from everlasting. (Ps 93:1,2)
Say among the heathen that the LORD reigneth: the world also shall be established that it shall not be moved: he shall judge the people righteously. (Ps 96:10)
The LORD reigneth; let the earth rejoice; let the multitude of isles be glad thereof… For thou, LORD, art high above all the earth: thou art exalted far above all gods.(Ps 97:1,9)
The LORD reigneth; let the people tremble: he sitteth between the cherubims; let the earth be moved. (Ps 99:1)
But our God is in the heavens: he hath done whatsoever he hath pleased. (Ps 115:3)
Whatsoever the LORD pleased, that did he in heaven, and in earth, in the seas, and all deep places. (Ps 135:6)
This matter is by the decree of the watchers, and the demand by the word of the holy ones: to the intent that the living may know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will, and setteth up over it the basest of men. (Dan 4:17)
And I heard as it were the voice of a great multitude, and as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of mighty thunderings, saying, Alleluia: for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth.(Rev 19:6)
THE GRACE OF GOD
While the sovereignty of God is unquestionable, the grace of God is also evident throughout all Scripture. And it is only, and purely, by the grace of God that sinners are saved and given the gift of eternal life. Also, the grace of God is available to all mankind, as we see in Titus 2:11; 3:4-7:
For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men… But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared, Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour; That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.
But you will never find the sovereignty of God in the same passages which speak of the grace of God. God’s grace extends to all men – all humanity – for the salvation of all. And the sole basis for the offer of salvation is the finished work of Christ in His death, burial, and resurrection. That is central to “the Gospel of the Grace of God”: But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God. (Acts 20:24)
But not as the offence, so also is the free gift. For if through the offence of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many. (Rom 5:15)
Moreover, brethren, we do you to wit [know] of the grace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia; (2 Cor 8:1)
For the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, whereof ye heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel; Which is come unto you, as it is in all the world; and bringeth forth fruit, as it doth also in you, since the day ye heard of it, and knew the grace of God in truth: (Col 1:5,6)
But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man. (Heb 2:9)
So we see in all these verses that the sovereignty of God does not enter the picture when the grace of God is presented. Furthermore, it is purely by the grace of God that Christ “tasted death for every man”. Meaning that when Christ died on the cross, He took all the sins of the world upon Himself, and paid the full penalty for those sins. Therefore He is called “the Lamb of God which taketh away the sin of the world” (John 1:29). As a result God offers the gift of eternal life freely to those who believe on the Lord Jesus Christ. And no one is excluded, unless they exclude themselves.
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