Thinking About Trains & Salvation

 

There are Bible truths, such as Election and the Trinity, that we should not expect to fully comprehend with our finite minds because our understanding is limited to time, space, and matter, and God created time, space, and matter and transcends time, space, and matter. For example, Scriptures clearly teach that God chose those that he knew would choose him, but nobody can choose God unless he chose them first; that sounds like a contradiction until you consider that God transcends time, space, and matter. (Incidentally, if you are lost, when you are being drawn and convicted of sin you need to obey the Gospel then and repent and believe on Jesus Christ and ignore the delusion that you can get saved when and where you choose. God is sovereign and saving faith is a gift from God; in other words, you do not have it unless God gives it to you.)

Also note that light comes from Scripture and not the Protestant Reformation or the Protestant Reformers. “The entrance of thy words giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the simple.” (Psalm 119:130) The Reformers did teach important truths, but we should test all things by God's Word and not Reformation teachings and traditions. “These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.” (Acts 17:11) “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” (2 Timothy 2:15) “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.” (2 Timothy 3:16)

Both the sovereign choice of God and the freewill of man are essential to salvation, and we invite error and misunderstanding when we emphasize one aspect to the exclusion of the other or read into the texts ideas that are not there. For example, the argument that the whole world would be saved if Christ died for the whole world is also contrary to Scripture; the blood atonement is sufficient to save the whole world, but it is only efficient to those who believe. (1 Timothy 2:5-6; 4:10; Hebrews 2:9; 1 John 2:2; 4:14)

Some use the doctrine of election to spiritualize disobedience, reasoning that personal evangelism or supporting missions works against the sovereign choice of God. But the sovereignty of God requires obedience to his commands, such as the commands to preach the gospel to every creature and occupy till he comes. (Mark 16:15; Luke 19:11-13; consider Ezekiel 3:18)

The relationship between the sovereign choice of God and the freewill of man in salvation can be compared to a railroad track. Consider that the rails are parallel and do not join, but both rails of a railroad track are essential for a train to move, and this is a good illustration of salvation. Even though the rails of a railroad track are parallel and separate, if you are standing on a railroad track on flat land and look to where the track meets the horizon the rails appear to meet just beyond the horizon; in salvation the sovereign choice of God and the freewill of man meet, without conflict or contradiction, somewhere in the mind of God, but we should not expect to understand that in our finite minds.

God chose believers to glorification and eternal life with God according to foreknowledge, but Scriptures never say that God chose anyone to go to Hell as unbelief is a work of man and not of God. God must do the saving for anyone to be saved, but those who die lost can only blame themselves.

 God’s Sovereignty and Man’s Responsibility

GOD’S WILLINGNESS and MAN’S UNWILLINGNESS 

Twin Truths: God’s Sovereignty and Man’s Responsibility (John 3:11-21)