R*o
发帖数: 3781 | 1 by Dave Hunt
An Appeal for Open Discussion
God's foreknowledge, predestination/ election, human choice, God's sovereign
ty and man's responsibility are widely alleged to be mysteries beyond our ab
ility to reconcile. Therefore, some insist that these concepts should be acc
epted without any attempt at understanding or reconciling apparent conflicts
. The illustration is used repeatedly that as we approach heaven's gate we s
ee written above it, "Whosoever will may come," but once we have entered we
see from the inside the words, "Chosen in Him before the foundation of the w
orld." We respect the many church leaders who continue to offer such an expl
anation as though that were sufficient. There are, however, several compelli
ng reasons for not acquiescing to that popular position.
First of all, God intends for us to understand His Word rather than to plead
"mystery" over large portions of it. He has given it for our learning. Of G
od's Word, the psalmist said, "it is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto m
y path" (Psalms 119:105) and such it is intended to be for each of us today.
Peter acknowledged that there are "things hard to be understood" and warned
that Scripture is sometimes twisted, resulting in destruction to those who
do so (2 Peter 3:16). God never suggests that there is any part of His Word
that we should not attempt to understand fully. Inasmuch as many passages in
Scripture are devoted to the difficult themes we will address, we can confi
dently expect that the Bible itself will clarify the issues.
Second, the history of the church from its earliest beginnings has involved
sharp differences of opinion on many vital subjects, including the gospel it
self. Numerous destructive heresies have developed and have been vigorously
opposed. Neither Christ nor His apostles considered divergent views to be no
rmal or acceptable, but commanded the believers to "earnestly contend for th
e faith which was once delivered to the saints" (Jude 3). That command appli
es to us today.
Third, it hardly seems that our Lord would have us draw back from seriously
considering and understanding foreknowledge and election/predestination as w
ell as man's responsibility and how it all fits together in God's sovereign
grace. While we may never see the entire body of Christ in perfect agreement
, each of us is responsible to understand these issues as clearly as we are
able through diligent study - and to help one another in the process.
Finally, God calls upon us to seek Him in order that we may know Him, though
His ways and His thoughts are as far above ours as "the heavens are higher
than the earth" (Isaiah 55:8-9). Surely as we come to know God better we wil
l understand His Word and His will more fully. God is our Savior, and to kno
w Him is life eternal (John 17:3). Knowing God must include a deepening unde
rstanding of all He has revealed to us in His Word.
We are to live, as Christ said (quoting His own declaration as the I AM to I
srael through Moses in Deuteronomy 8:3), not "by bread alone, but by every w
ord that proceedeth out of the mouth of God" (Matthew 4:4). Solomon said, "E
very word of God is pure" (Proverbs 30:5) (emphases added). Then we must car
efully consider and seek to understand every word. |
|
