Sovereignty, Free Will, and Salvation - Moral Inability Part 2

Sovereignty

Free Will &

Salvation

God’s Sovereignty

and Salvation

Part 2

Review from Last Time

• What is God‘s sovereignty? • It is His absolute right to do all things according to his own

good pleasure.

• Is predestination a Biblical concept? • Without question, Scripture underscores God‘s work of

predestination in His creation.

• How does predestination work with salvation? • God predestines both the plan and the man/woman.

Why does God choose some for salvation?

www.confidentchristians.org

Why Does God Choose Some?

―Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, just as he chose us in Christ before the foundation of the world to be holy and blameless before him

in love. He destined us for adoption as his children through Jesus Christ, according to the good pleasure of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace that

he freely bestowed on us in the Beloved. (Ephesians 1:3–6)

―So then, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His

good pleasure. ‖ (Philippians 2:12–13)


The Father Has Chosen a Bride For the Son

In ancient times, a father always chose a bride for his son. And a price was always paid to the father for the bride. Scripture states that the Father has chosen a

Bride for His Son, with His Son paying the cost for his chosen Bride. And in the end, the Son gives everything back to the Father.

John 6

―All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who

comes to Me I will certainly not cast out. . . .

This is the will of Him who sent Me, that of all that He has given Me I lose nothing, but raise it

up on the last day. ‖ (John 6:37, 39)

John 17

―Jesus spoke these things; and lifting up His eyes to heaven, He said, ―Father, the hour has come; glorify Your Son, that the Son may glorify You, even as You gave Him authority over all flesh, that to all

whom You have given Him, He may give eternal life. ‖

(John 17:1–2)

1 Cor. 15

―But each in his own order: Christ the first fruits, after that those

who are Christ‘s at His coming, then comes the

end, when He hands over the kingdom to the God

and Father, when He has abolished all rule and all authority and power. ‖

(1 Cor. 15:23–24)

What are the core positions of how God predestines some for salvation?

1. Prescient position 2. Molinist position 3. Augustinian/Reformed position

The Prescient Position

Prescient ‗knowledge of things before they exist or happen‘; ‗foreknowledge‘;

‗foresight‘.

The prescient position says God does choose people for salvation, but his choice is based on His foreknowledge of what people will do. God

looks down through history, and knows in advance who will respond to the call of the gospel message and who will not. God chooses some based on

His knowledge of them responding to the call and them having faith. God‘s choice is conditional on a person‘s faith.


The Prescient Position

―For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren;

and these whom He predestined, He also called; and these whom He called, He also justified; and these whom He justified, He also glorified. ‖

(Romans 8:29–30)

―Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who reside as aliens, scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, who are chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, by the sanctifying work of

the Spirit, to obey Jesus Christ and be sprinkled with His blood‖ (1 Peter 1:1–2)


Peter Helps Us Understand Foreknowledge

―Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who reside as aliens, scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, who are chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, by the sanctifying work of

the Spirit, to obey Jesus Christ and be sprinkled with His blood‖ (1 Peter 1:1–2)

―Men of Israel, listen to these words: Jesus the Nazarene, a man attested to you by God with miracles and wonders and signs which God performed through Him

in your midst, just as you yourselves know— this Man, delivered over by the predetermined plan and foreknowledge of God, you nailed to a cross by the

hands of godless men and put Him to death. (Acts 2:22–23)

Same man, same word. Now, did God look time through time, see what Jesus was going to do, and then choose that plan of salvation?

No, foreknowledge means God knew the plan because He made and chose the

plan.


Important Point…

Those who argue for the prescient position say that God looks down through time to see who will choose Him and so He chooses

them. But this is a dangerous argument to make because…

It has God learning something.

God is omniscient and never learns anything.


The Molinist Position

Developed by the Jesuit Luis de Molina, the Molinist position is much like the

prescient view, although the concept of ‗middle knowledge‘ is what distinguishes it

from all other positions.

According to Molinism, God arranges the world as he chooses based on his middle

knowledge. God exercises sovereign control in the sense that he creates the person he

wishes to create and brings about the circumstances he wills, knowing just what choices all those persons will make in the

circumstances he has brought about.

Molinism is not a compromise position between the prescient and Augustinian positions; rather, it is a variation on the

prescient view.


The Molinist Position

―Then He began to denounce the cities in which most of His miracles were done,

because they did not repent. ―Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the

miracles had occurred in Tyre and Sidon which occurred in you, they would have

repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. ―Nevertheless I say to you, it will be more

tolerable for Tyre and Sidon in the day of judgment than for you. ―And you,

Capernaum, will not be exalted to heaven, will you? You will descend to Hades; for if the

miracles had occurred in Sodom which occurred in you, it would have remained to

this day. ―Nevertheless I say to you that it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in

the day of judgment, than for you.‖ ‖ (Matthew 11:20–24)


The Augustinian/Reformed Position

The Reformed position (credited first to Augustine) does not deny God has foreknowledge nor that He has the

ability to know everything that could or will be. However, it holds to a different

view of predestination.

According to Reformed theology, from all eternity God knew His elect. For

reasons known only to God Himself, He elected some to salvation with there

being no condition whatsoever imposed on the individual. God chose some for

Himself and allows all others to continue in their freely chosen sin and eventually

experience His justice.



―When the Gentiles heard this, they began rejoicing and glorifying the word of the Lord; and

as many as had been appointed to eternal life believed. ‖ (Acts 13:48)

Notice: it does not say ―and as many as believed, God appointed to eternal life‖

―A woman named Lydia, from the city of

Thyatira, a seller of purple fabrics, a worshiper of God, was listening; and the Lord opened her

heart to respond to the things spoken by Paul. ‖ (Acts 16:14)

―For He says to Moses, ―I will have mercy on

whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.‖ So then it does not

depend on the man who wills or the man who runs, but on God who has mercy. . . . So then He has

mercy on whom He desires, and He hardens whom He desires. ‖ (Romans 9:15–16, 18)



―All things have been handed over to Me by My Father; and no one knows the Son except the

Father; nor does anyone know the Father except the Son, and anyone to whom the Son wills to

reveal Him. ‖ (Matthew 11:27)

―All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will certainly not

cast out. ‖ (John 6:37)

―Father, I desire that they also, whom You have given Me, be with Me where I am, so that they may see My glory which You have given Me, for You loved Me before the foundation of the world. ‖

(John 17:24)

―For this reason I endure all things for the sake of those who are chosen, so that they also may

obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus and with it eternal glory. ‖ (2 Timothy 2:10)

What is the primary difference between the prescient and Augustinian positions?

The first is primarily based on man‘s choice and the second in God‘s choice. The first is based primarily on the willing of

the unbeliever and the latter on the willing of God.


A Closer Look at the “Golden Chain”

―For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren; and these whom He predestined, He also called; and these whom He called, He

also justified; and these whom He justified, He also glorified. ‖

(Romans 8:29–30)

This passage is referred to as the ―Golden Chain‖ or ―The Order of

Salvation‖ (Ordo Salutis) by theologians. It is the primary versed used

by those who hold the Prescient view. But does it really support that position?


A Closer Look at the “Golden Chain”

―For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the

image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren; and these

whom He predestined, He also called; and these whom He called, He also justified; and these whom He justified, He also glorified. ‖

(Romans 8:29–30)

First, Paul doesn‘t say that foreknowledge is the basis of God‘s predestination; that their

salvation is based on them choosing God and responding to His call. This position is

imported into the text by Prescients. Paul simply says God predestines those He foreknew, which makes sense: God must

know people before He predestines them for salvation.


“Some” or “All”?

―Some of those whom He foreknew, He also predestined. Some of those He predestined, He also called; and

some of those He called, He also justified; and some of those He

justified, He also glorified.‖

―All of those whom He foreknew, He also predestined. All of those He

predestined, He also called; and all of those He called, He also justified; and all of those He justified, He also

glorified.‖


“Some” Fails the Test

1. If ―some‖ is used as a qualifier, then the Golden Chain becomes nonsensical. If God‘s predestination is based on Him knowing how people will respond to the call of the Gospel, then why predestine only some and call only some? This would have God predestining some who are not called

2. If some of the predestined are predestined without a call, then God could not be basing His choice on their response to His call. God can‘t have foreknowledge of a person‘s non-answer to a non-call.


“All” also Defeats the Prescient Position

―For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren; and these whom He predestined, He also called; and these whom

He called, He also justified; and these whom He justified, He also glorified. ‖

(Romans 8:29–30)

Is the call above an inward or outward call? Does everyone get the call? If ―all‖ is used

then either a person must embrace universalism OR admit that there is an inward call, performed by God on a person, that not everyone gets because those who are called

are justified.

This means the foreknowledge view of the Prescients is dealt a death blow because it

says God predestines an inward call – He is doing something in the hearts of only those

predestined so they will respond.


The Prescient view disrupts the Order of the Chain

―For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren; and these whom He predestined, He also called; and these whom

He called, He also justified; and these whom He justified, He also glorified. ‖

(Romans 8:29–30)

The Prescient view says God knows those who will respond to His call and choose Him

and so therefore He chooses them. This means predestination would come after

calling because God would need to put out a call, know who will response, and then choose them. But the Golden Chain specifically has calling after predestination meaning that the call that goes out is the effectual call of God and not a generic all to salvation. Further we are justified by faith. Yet the Prescients say people exhibit faith first, which is also out of

order in the chain.


The Interpretation of the Golden Chain

―For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren; and these whom He predestined, He also called; and these whom He called, He also

justified; and these whom He justified, He also glorified. ‖ (Romans 8:29–30)

The Reformed view says the Father knew His chosen ones from all eternity and fore-loved them. All these that He foreknew He also predestined to be a Bride for His Son. He then effectually called them, justified them through the death of

Christ, and glorified them to spend eternity with Him.

But doesn‘t the Bible say that God wants everyone to be saved?


The “Big Two” Verses

―This is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.‖

(1 Timothy 2:3–4)

―The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to

repentance.‖ (2 Peter 3:9)

Does God will or desire things that don‘t happen?


Two Possibilities

1. There is a power in the universe greater than God‘s that is frustrating Him by overruling what He wills.

2. God wills not to save all, even though He is willing to save all, because there is something else that He wills more, which would be lost if He exerted His sovereign power to save all.


Possible Ideas for Option 2

1. The Arminian answer is that God values human self-determination and the possible love relationship more than saving all people via His efficacious grace

2. The Reformed position is that God doesn‘t save all so as to show His glory in mercy and grace (cf. Rom. 9) and that God receives all the credit for salvation


The “Big Two” Verses

―This is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. ‖ (1 Timothy 2:3–4)

―The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward

you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance. ‖ (2 Peter 3:9)

Note that NEITHER answer is found in the context of either 1 Tim. 2 or 2 Pet. 3, but BOTH affirm there are different wills in God. We must look elsewhere to find the answer to the dilemma.

Let‘s start by examining the various wills in God.


Three Possible Wills in God

1. Decretive will - this form of God‘s will describes something that absolutely will happen and is unstoppable / irresistible (e.g. creating the universe; calling of Paul)

2. Prescriptive will – this describes something God morally prescribes for all, but may be disobeyed (e.g. the ten commandments)

3. Dispositional will – that which pleases or delights God (e.g. not delighting in the death of the wicked)


Examples of the Wills of God in Action

The Hardening of Pharaoh‘s Heart

First we see: ―Then the Lord said to Moses, ―Go to Pharaoh and say to him, ‗Thus says the Lord, let My people go, that they may serve Me‘‖ (Exodus 8:1). And then: ―The Lord said to Moses, ‗When you go back to Egypt see that you perform before Pharaoh all the wonders which I have put in your power; but I will harden his heart so that he will not let the people go‖ (Exodus 4:21) . Even the debate of whether Pharaoh hardened his own heart in some of the cases cannot

avoid the clear example of the prescriptive and decretive wills of God.

God must will in one sense what He does not will in another sense.


Other Examples of God’s Hardening

―But Sihon king of Heshbon was not willing for us to pass through his land; for the Lord your God hardened his spirit and made his heart obstinate, in order to deliver him into

your hand, as he is today. ‖ (Deuteronomy 2:30)

―There was not a city which made peace with the sons of Israel except the Hivites living in Gibeon; they took them all in battle. For it was of the Lord to harden their hearts, to meet Israel in battle in order that he might utterly destroy them, that they might receive no mercy,

but that he might destroy them, just as the Lord had commanded Moses. ‖ (Joshua 11:19–20)

―And He was saying to them, ―To you has been given the mystery of the kingdom of

God, but those who are outside get everything in parables, so that while seeing, they may see and not perceive, and while hearing, they may hear and not understand, otherwise they

might return and be forgiven.‖ ‖ (Mark 4:11–12)

―Just as it is written, ―God gave them a spirit of stupor, Eyes to see not and ears to hear not, Down to this very day‖ (Romans 11:8)

―For this reason God will send upon them a deluding influence so that they will believe

what is false, ‖ (2 Thessalonians 2:11)



The Death of Christ

It was not the prescriptive will of God that Judas, Pilate, Herod, the Jewish leaders, and the Roman soldiers would betray, mock, lie about, and

brutalize/murder Jesus. But Isaiah 53:0 says: ―Yet it was the will of the LORD to crush him‖ and Acts 2:23 states: ―this Man, delivered over by the

predetermined plan and foreknowledge of God, you nailed to a cross by the hands of godless men and put Him to death.‖




The War Against the Lamb

―And the ten horns which you saw, and the beast, these will hate the harlot and will make her desolate and naked, and will eat her flesh and will burn her up with

fire. For God has put it in their hearts to execute His purpose by having a common purpose, and by giving their kingdom to the beast, until the words of

God will be fulfilled‖ (Revelation 17:16–17) . God sovereignly directs the Antichrist and unbelievers to war against Christ, which He prescriptively wills no

one do.



God’s Will in areas of Sin/death

―Do I have any pleasure in the death of the wicked,‖ declares the Lord God, ―rather than that he should turn from his ways and live? ‖

(Ezekiel 18:23) Vs.

―But they [the sons of Eli] would not listen to the voice of their father, for the Lord desired to put them to death.‖

(1 Samuel 2:25)

God evidently willed the death of Eli‘s sons in one sense while not desiring the death of the wicked in another sense. The

dispositional will is seen in the first verse and the decretive will in the second.


Let’s Return to The “Big Two” Verses

―This is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. ‖

(1 Timothy 2:3–4)

―The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to

repentance. ‖ (2 Peter 3:9)

Question: Which will of God is in vogue in the above verses? It cannot be the decretive will of God or everyone would be saved. It could be the prescriptive will of God, but seems odd in that, in a moral sense, God ‗forbids‘ people to perish. The best application is that this is God‘s dispositional will. In the same sense that He does not delight in the death of the wicked, God takes no pleasure in people rejecting Him.


The Analogy of the Courtroom

In the same way that a righteous judge carries out his duty to sentence criminals to punishment but does not have any gleeful

delight in doing it, God also carries out justice against sinners, but His dispositional will is that no one be lost. While a dispositional

desire is for everyone to be saved, there is a higher purpose why all are not.


So What is God’s Higher Purpose?

Respect for human freedom or God‘s glory and purpose?


So What is God’s Higher Purpose?

We‘ll have to tackle this in the next lesson…

Conclusions

• Why does God predestine some for salvation? • It is in accordance to his own good pleasure.

• What stance on predestination appears most tenable? • Between the prescient, molinist, and Augustinian positions,

the Augustinian/Reformed stance appears more reasonable from a Biblical standpoint.

• But doesn‘t God desire all to be saved? • Answering requires that we understand the various ‗wills‘ in

God. The full answer to this question will be given next time.

God’s Sovereignty

and Salvation

Part 2

Sovereignty, Free Will, and Salvation - Moral Inability Part 2

Spiritual

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