I was again listening to Alistair Begg. It is a habit that is easy to get into. Today he said something that almost made me pull off the freeway and give him a call. He said, “Repentance is an Evangelical grace.” He said he was quoting the Westminster Catechism. He went on to explain that repentance is not something we do in order to get God to do something. For a few moments he stopped being a Bible preacher and became a Reform Professor. He got so carried away with what his books say that, in my opinion, he ignored what the Book says. If you want to listen, the pod-cast date is 2/10/11.
Think about this. If repentance is a gift that is only given to the elect, where does that leave the rest of humanity? I have a picture of a TV game show like “Let’s Make a Deal” or “The Price Is Right.” I see a mass of humanity jumping up and down yelling, “Me! Me! Pick me!” And I see the game show host walking around with his microphone and finally approaching one of the frantic jumpers. Or on “Let’s Make a Deal” when someone is called down I can just see them thinking in there mind, “Na, na, na, na, na, na, na. I got picked and you didn’t.”
How can this be a gospel of hope? To add to the mystery Begg later goes on and talks about how it is necessary to live the life because Hebrews says, “...without holiness, no man shall see the Lord.” That is the same verse my pastor, an Arminian, was preaching on last Sunday.
You can’t have it both ways. You can’t say that faith is a gift given to the elect and repentance is a gift given to the elect and then say you have to live right. As the TV AI used to say, “Does not compute.”
I do not in any way de-Christianize these brothers. I accept them as part of the family, even if they don’t accept me. My concern is not their lives because many of them live in obedience. My concern is that soul that is sitting around figuring that God will arbitrarily pick them, or not. And while they are waiting they might as well enjoy the fruits of sin.
Some things I don’t understand are mysteries. Some seem to be nonsense. Of course I am sure someone will quote something about the cross being foolishness to those who are not being saved.
I prefer my security to theirs.
homo unius libri
I've always felt that the predestination of the Bible is really just foreknowledge on the part of God. He chooses those who choose Him, and he knew from the beginning of time who would choose Him. Otherwise, why should ANYONE repent, since their fate is already sealed either way?
ReplyDeleteC.S. Lewis said something along those lines and I liked what he said. You are in good company. Maybe I will find it in my notes and share it. So many ideas, so little energy.
ReplyDeleteWhy would anyone do anything if all is predestined?
Grace and peace.