Predestination

Dr. R.C. Sproul recently preached on the topic of predestination, a subject that has always been unpleasant to me, and to most people I think. I've always considered the concept of predestination to be at odds with man's free will (which is extremely important to each of us!),so that one cannot have both. But man's will is attached to his fallen nature, and therefore how could we choose God by our own will? We are a "slave to sin", (Romans 6:15). Only by His will can we be set free of that slavery. And as He sets us free we are able to respond in the affirmative to His invitation.

And it's not analogous to a drowning man to whom God throws a life-saving rope, but rather a dead man, already drowned (in the Fall). Dead men do not have the strength or desire to receive aid, but must be brought back to life first (Ephesians 2:5).

Add to that the fact that His choice to save someone has nothing to do with that person's inherent value or good deeds, past or future. Rather, it is according to "His good pleasure" (Ephesians 1), and it is good because He is good; not arbitrary or capricious or evil as man is wont to be. Otherwise we could not hope in Him.

This is a very difficult concept, because it demonstrates that He truly is the "author and perfecter of our faith" (Hebrews 12:2), and we can do naught but receive it (and that only by His grace) and give Him glory.

Dr. Sproul also explained that what is grace for us is justice for Christ, for He died for our sins with the promise that He would receive the purified Church as His bride, and each of us individually as His "brothers". The analogies aren't perfect because what's truly going on in the spiritual realm is complex and in many ways alien to our understanding.

One important note: it has been argued that predestination negates the usefulness of evangelism, but the fact is that God has commanded us to preach the gospel because He has chosen to save His elect through the preaching and evangelism of men. And He specifically does not tell us either who will be or who is made alive. We are like the wheat and tares in His parable (Matt 13:24-30); not to be separated until the Judgment. Therefore we do play a role, even though He must do most of it for us.

As you can see, my mind was changed, though it is still a very difficult concept for me. But if we are to worship a holy and infinite God, we can't be afraid of facing and accepting ideas that are beyond our understanding.