I have been thinking about what I have heard so many many times articulated by people and by my former pastors - "God is a Gentleman, He will not force Himself on you". No he is not! That is why the Gospel is so good.
I tell you why God is not a Gentleman. He does not need to consult me if I wanted a gift, he does not ask for my approval, he does not ask if I like to be saved, he does not negotiate, he does not bargain. He does what is good and has no regard for people's opinion. Proof? Read Romans 5:8
but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
Christ died, took the blows of God that was meant for me/you before you/we were born. He asked no one if this was a good idea. He does what is good. We do not even know what is good for us, so Jesus comes to save.
In Arminianism (modern Evangelicalism/Pentecostalism) as well as in Roman Catholicism, it was possible for no one to be saved. In the first, it was possible for no one to decide to give their lives to Jesus. In the second, it was possible for every one not to use the the infused grace for one's justification. In Calvinism, Jesus did not die for the whole world, "whole" does not mean whole (it really means some). In Lutheran theology, Jesus died for all. So how come not all are eventually saved? Because of faith, Scripture says not all have faith (2 Thess 3:2), but not because Jesus did not save. God does what is good - provide a sacrifice, a gift for sins. If He consulted us first before He acted, we would have debated, argued and quibbled. Finally we would have said "No Thanks, I am not so bad, I can do it".
4 comments:
I have leading a bible study at my church on the book of Ephesians. One thing I noticed is that Paul never views God as passive, but active. Paul states the we are dead in our transgressions (Eph 2:1) and it is God who makes us alive (Eph 2:4-5) and give us salvation and faith due to his grace. We have at best passive, more likely hostile to God. Paul go one to repeat this same thing 2 more times in Ephesians.
I am glad that God is not a gentleman. Otherwise, I would still be dead in my sins.
Steve,
Praise God, he actually saved us and his salvation is for all sinners, as many as would believe that forgiveness is found in Christ.
I too am glad he was no gentleman. I am glad he was not so "nice" to be polite (pun intended).
Lito
One thing that I have come to learn is that our salvation is not based on a proposition, but a declaration. God declares me to be righteous and just before him based on what Christ has accomplished on the cross. It then is by faith that God gives me can I accept this. In John 3:16, God acts first and all man can do is respond to what God has done in Christ. Before John 3:16, Jesus clearly states that the new birth is outside of ourselves but due to water (Baptism) and the spirit (Holy Spirit).
Right the objective always precede the subjective. If we want the subjective to happen, declare or proclaim ie preach the Gospel.
Amen.
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