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God chose some for salvation for His own glory. God saved a remnant for Himself chosen by grace for His good pleasure. There was nothing in the remnant that compelled God to choose them. He chose them to demonstrate His love, mercy, and grace. The remnant chsoen by grace are also described as vessels of His mercy.
While these things are true, this model leaves out the most important thing, which is that God created us out of love, and he desires to have fellowship with us. It is primarily about relationship, and your formulation leaves out anything related to this!
Jesus was clear that “It is the Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom”. “Fear not, little flock”. I am all for the glory of God, but like the rest of the “solas”, His glory is not alone. He wants to make us a part of His glory, as He is glorified IN His angels and saints.
We shouldn’t be asking why God didn’t choose the entire human race to rescuse from their condemned condition because we all know God has the power and ability to do that.
This is odd. Why should we not ask God? Why would God give us the ability to ask “why” but then we should not use it? Scripture is clear that, if anyone lacks wisdom, he should ask of God, who gives a generous supply.
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We should be in awe that God would save one sinner by the sacrifice of His Son. Why would God even save one of His enemies by the infinite cost of His Son? The Bible clearly teaches predestination and election of sinners.
Yes, we should be in awe of His salvation. But if God wanted us to be in the “dark” about His salvation, He would not have chosen to reveal Himself to people from the beginning. I agree about the predestination and election, but I think there is more to the story. At least, the Apostolic Teaching makes it clear that there is.
In love 5 he predestined us [2] for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ,
This is the part that Calvanism appears to step over. He chose us in “love”. Not just for His glory, but so that He could have fellowship with Him. Also, He could have saved people for HIs glory as slaves, but no, He has made us sons. This is about filial relationship. It is family. Your formulation above sounds so cold and distant.
according to the riches of his grace, 8 which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight 9 making known [3] to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ 10 as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth.
He did not have to “lavish” grace, either. He could have given just enough, and not “poured it on”. This passage clearly indicates that He wants to make known His will and purpose. Yet, you say, “we should not ask why”. Something is contradictory here.
He did not have to unite us to Himself, either, in order to glorify Himself.
We are all free to choose what we desire. Why don’t most people choose Christ?
Is this really Calvin theology? Why does Sandusky, whose theology clearly emanates from the Calvanistic tradition, say tht we cannot choose anything but sin, until we are regenerated?
Because they do not find the biblical Jesus Christ to be desirable. People in their fallen condition, love the darkness instead of the light (universally).
Catholicism does teach that fallen humanity is inclined toward darkness. However, we are not dependent upon “the biblical Jesus”. Since we have the Real Presence, we find that people flee from Him because, as you say, they enjoy sin. Jeuss did not intend for the world to know HIm only through His written word, but primarily, through the lives of those He has saved.
I think this is one of the major factors in the Reformation. The people did not see Jesus in the clergy, or the practices of those who claimed to be His.
Calivnism just has better bibilical insight why most do not freely choose Christ.
Better? According to whose standard? Better to you? Better than those who wrote the scripture?
We know that the command to repent and believe in the Lord Jesus Christ is a universal command given to each and every human being (including Mary).
If this is true, then why does God command people to do something that he will not give them the grace to do?
You cite Jn 3:16, which is clear that God saves us because He loves those He created. Yet, the formulation you gave says nothing about love.
Please explain what Catholics mean by free will, and their own ability to come to Christ in their fallen nature. I suspect our disagreement is not free will, but resistible and irresistible grace.
May I say that I appreciate you asking this, instead of telling us what we believe.
The Catholic conception is not that different, because Catholicism teaches that we are unable to come to God of ourselves. We can only come if the Father draws us. In Latin theology, this drawing grace is called “pre-venient”, meaning, prior to our coming. It corresponds to what you have stated as God’s command that all repent and believe. The difference,I think is that Catholics believe that God wants all men to be saved, and to come to the knowledge of the truth, and that some refuse. If this has to do with “irresistible grace”, then you are right. We believe that God allows people to thwart His intention for themselves.
Those are errors concerning the translation of the book from German to English only.
