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God Is Just Too Big For A Box Jun 05 2009
"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have eternal life." "And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified." - John 3:16 and Romans 8:30
I am often asked, “How can we reconcile which is the right Scriptural doctrine? Election or free will? Calvinism or Arminianism?” Well, you can’t! They’re both right. I know that irritates the hang out of some of you folks, because you’re absolutely passionate that one is right over the other. But you really can’t completely reconcile them. They are both correct in so many of the theological points, but there is an obvious difference over election and free will.
God has shown He does play favorites. Romans 9 is clear on this. Study the stories of Jacob and Esau or His favoritism toward the Jews, His chosen people. At the same time, notice that Romans 10 clearly teaches about the free will we have to decide if we’re going to surrender and submit to God’s plan in faith. We just can’t reconcile these Scriptures in a way that makes perfect sense. But remember, when you try to put God in a box with a neat theological package that a man has developed, you really create a smaller God. Realize that sometimes there will be passages that seem to be in conflict with one another that actually aren’t. So when contemplating the theologies of the sovereignty of God and the free will of man, realize with wonder the greatness of God. Man will never be able to completely explain Him; God is too big to fit neatly into a man-made box.
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9 Comments
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Yes, report it NevermindYes, when we "put God in a box", we make Him into a no-God, into a limited creature like ourselves, which He is not (by definition)
Btw, spelling: Arminianism, not Armenianism.
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Yes, report it NevermindWell said! As a believer, this is one of the fascinating questions we get to ponder. Personally I go back and forth on the issue because there are times when I feel like God must have choosen me because my heart is to rotten to have allowed me to chose Him. Anyway - Bryant did an excellent sermon on the subject, the best I've ever heard. But for the life of me, I cannot find it in the sermon archives. Doh!
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Yes, report it NevermindThe ones that God has chosen WILL call on Him b/c the faith to believe is a gift from God so that no man can boast that he had anything to do with his salvation. Eph 2:8-9. We serve a sovereign God and our finite minds try to rationalize and reconcile free will and grace, but God is much bigger than that!
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Yes, report it NevermindI just don't see the contradiction in Romans. I find it perfectly consistent with other scripture. If you look at the book as a whole, Paul is preaching to the Christian "Jews" in Rome, and he is basically telling them it is God's prerogative to save who he chooses, not just those who were born as Jews. The Jews were complaining because they were God's "chosen" people, so Paul explained that it is not whether you are born a Jew that makes you right with God, but it is through faith. God knew before the foundation of the earth what the plan of salvation was. He knows the heart of every man and the choice they will make, but it is still our a free choice that we are responsible for.
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Yes, report it NevermindThis question came up in a high school English class (I won't say how many years ago but obviously it wasn't recently because such things would not be discussed in public school nowadays). Somehow as a teenager I had the insight to tell the teacher I thought somehow the two worked together. But later as an adult as I read more in the Bible I would bounce back and forth and always feel frustrated at some point with my conclusion. Then a wise pastor helped me understand basically what Bryant has written and I felt secure with the explanation and thankful for it to no longer feel like an issue to me. I hope it will not be a sticking point for anyone else. God bless you all and especially RFTH!
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Yes, report it NevermindWhen people see Romans 8, and other discourses by Paul on election, they make a great mistake if they presume that God creates robots. Two things I know that are absoulutely true: 1) God is Sovereign and He is in control. He's not "sitting around wringing his hands over who will say yea or nay". 2) Each person is absoulutely responsible for his/her decisions, including the most important one we ever make.
Spurgeon said that it was beyond our abiliy to comprehend and reconcile the doctrine of election with the free will of man, and that we should not let that keep us from the business of sharing the Gospel. What Bryant is saying today is much the same.
I like all of your comments, because they reflect Faith that comes from Grace.
I attended a recent conference of adament and brilliant "Calvanists".In a panel discussion the question was asked: "If someone truly wants to be among, is it possibe that they will not be?" (among the elect) I was delighted that every single theologian there said "NO". It would seem that there is a definite connection between "desiring God" and "Election".
That's good enough for me.
Thanks RFTH.
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Yes, report it NevermindI also like Ephesians 2:8-9
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Yes, report it Nevermindi just found this site,and am very happy i did.im not sure were to put it but here goes.my friend real good friend,has test from the doc coming back and it dont look to good.anyhow i wont go into details yet but can everyone there please pray for her health to get a healing she needs lots of prayer we pray together to.but cant hurt to have all yall praying to.love all gods children thank you kat.
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Yes, report it NevermindKat, you've found some "prayer warriors here. I do believe that there is also "button" to click for prayer requests that will really kick in an army.