Foreword: This is a new section on this blog entitled Question and Answers (QnA). I will post from time-to-time questions from brothers and sisters that I am in regular communication with concerning biblical topics, and followed by my response. Firstly, the answers are not extensive. Second, anyone can put in his views on the topic via comments, whether one agrees or not, but I must insist that we ‘disagree agreeably’ and no ad hominems please. Third, the object is to stir us further into our study in the Word of God. Hopefully, by God’s grace, the Holy Spirit will illuminate the Scriptures to us that we may behold the greatness and glory of our wonderful God through His Son, our Lord Jesus Christ.
EmmausTrekker
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A brother who frequents Christianster website and joins in discussions of specific bible topics passed on this comment from pastor John MacArthur, followed by a question from one of the bloggers of the post concerning the comment. Some words are in Pilipino (national language of the Philippines) and I have placed the English translation in italics.
J MacArthur says!
Salvation is by the elect, predestined, purpose of God. Damnation is by the unbelief of men. Now you say, “How do you resolve that?” I don’t resolve that! I can’t resolve that. But, I know God is perfect and He resolves it perfectly and that’s the best we can do with it. So, what do we do? When we’re saved, who do we thank? God. And when men go to hell, who do we blame? Them. You say, “I don’t understand that.” That’s right. And neither do I. The implications are this: if I’ve been saved, I praise God, I rejoice, I thank him; and when I go to an unbeliever, I don’t say, “Are you elect?”–like Spurgeon said, pull up their shirt-tail and see if they have an “E” stamped on their back. I go to them and I say, “You’ll be damned by your unbelief” and I plead with them to “believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and you shall be saved.” And I leave the resolution to God.
Question: Kuya (older brother) is this a right statement? Salvation is by the elect, predestined, purpose of God. Damnation is by the unbelief of men. Kasi may nag question sa post na eto (Because there is a question on this post)…. sabi nya (he said) is unbelief of men is out of sovereignty of God?
My Reply: Well, if the question is unbelief of men is out of the sovereignty of God? It’s a two-part question I suppose:
- Did God have a “control” over the entry of unbelief? The answer is YES.
- Is God to blame? – NO. The answer is not based on His sovereignty alone but also on the wise counsel of the sovereign God. Because God is perfectly wise in all He does, therefore He cannot be blamed even if He is sovereign over men’s unbelief.
This is one of the many seeming paradoxes on the doctrine of God. I used the word ’seeming’ because there are really no paradoxes in the Scriptures altogether. But they only seem paradoxes on this side of heaven as our sin-marred minds are finite.
When Job said in chapter 42:2 “I know that you can do all things, and that no purpose of yours can be thwarted,” it tells us of God’s sovereignty in all things at all times. But 42:3 tells us of our problem: “who is this that hides counsel without knowledge?’ Therefore I have uttered what I did not understand, things too wonderful for me, which I did not know.”
So, yes the bible teaches us that God is an absolute monarch (sovereign Lord) and yes, the bible teaches us that we are responsible for our damnation as well if we do not repent. The farthest we can go based on Scripture is the fact that when Adam sinned, then we all sinned. The message of repentance and forgiveness in Jesus Christ is preached. We also know that unless God regenerates man, he will not believe Christ. If a particular man is sent to hell because of his unbelief, and since we know that God alone can regenerate this man but He did not do so, we only have Paul’s answer in Romans on the question: ‘is God to be blamed?”…
19 You will say to me then, “Why does he still find fault? For who can resist his will?” 20 But who are you, O man, to answer back to God? Will what is molded say to its molder, “Why have you made me like this?” 21 Has the potter no right over the clay, to make out of the same lump one vessel for honorable use and another for dishonorable use? 22 What if God, desiring to show his wrath and to make known his power, has endured with much patience vessels of wrath prepared for destruction, 23 in order to make known the riches of his glory for vessels of mercy, which he has prepared beforehand for glory— 24 even us whom he has called, not from the Jews only but also from the Gentiles? – Romans 9:19-24
In the end, man can only blame himself for his sin, never God; for to blame God is already the manifestation of man’s being lost in sin.
Hope this helps.
Amen on your reply to the question brod Ten.
Glad to know that you’re safely home with your family. Keep on studying and may God prosper you in the grace and knowledge of His Son, our good Lord Jesus Christ.