"The coming of the lawless one is by the activity of Satan with all power and false signs and wonders, and with all wicked deception for those who are perishing, because they refused to love the truth and so be saved.
Therefore God sends them a strong delusion, so that they may believe what is false, in order that all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness."
2 Thessalonians 2:9-12
"Yet, before the twins were born or had done anything good or bad—in order that God's purpose in election might stand: not by works but by him who calls—she was told, "The older will serve the younger." Just as it is written: "Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated."
What then shall we say? Is God unjust? Not at all! For he says to Moses,
"I will have mercy on whom I have mercy,
and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion." It does not, therefore, depend on man's desire or effort, but on God's mercy. For the Scripture says to Pharaoh: "I raised you up for this very purpose, that I might display my power in you and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth." Therefore God has mercy on whom he wants to have mercy, and he hardens whom he wants to harden.
One of you will say to me: "Then why does God still blame us? For who resists his will?" But who are you, O man, to talk back to God? "Shall what is formed say to him who formed it, 'Why did you make me like this?' " Does not the potter have the right to make out of the same lump of clay some pottery for noble purposes and some for common use?
What if God, choosing to show his wrath and make his power known, bore with great patience the objects of his wrath—prepared for destruction? What if he did this to make the riches of his glory known to the objects of his mercy, whom he prepared in advance for glory— even us, whom he also called, not only from the Jews but also from the Gentiles?"
Romans 9:11-24
in my own reason, Wesleyan-Armenianism makes sense. when i think about what i understand about who God is, and how things work, the only conclusion i come to is-- God wants everyone to be saved, and it's up to our free will to choose Him or to choose to run away from Him.
my assumptions about God lead me to think that predestination is bogus.
and then i read the Bible-- and all my understanding is shattered!
logic tells me that God calls everyone, and it's up to us whether we are saved.
but the Bible, not my logic, appears to be telling me that God creates some people for destruction, and even sends deception to people, so that they will be condemned.
it still doesn't totally jive with my logic,
but what is logic compared to the WORDS OF GOD?
humble me, God.
2 comments:
Hi Olivia,
I think you should read by friend's blog article on Libertarian Free Will
He believes in compatibilism, a view but forth by 18th Century preacher Jonathan Edwards that God's providence may be compatible with "limited" human free will. The basic idea is that God "persuades" or "woos" us to Himself, without coercion, but within His sovereign will.
He also has an article on Arminianism and Free Will.
oops that should have said "...put forth..."
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