WHAT IS ARMINIANISM AND CALVINISM

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by David Velasquez on October 27, 2010 at 8:20am

Robbin

>>Questions in my mind from reading all the threads: Was Judas predestined to betray Christ?

Of course he was. But God did not create the evil in his heart for him to become the son of perdition. He was predestined not to receive God's grace, but his righteous judgment.

>>I believe I was with God and in God before He spoke me into existence

Sounds good but where is the scripture to support it. We were not with God. You were in the mind of God that is all.

>>Therefore, since I am spirit man with a living soul and an earthly body, I am outside of time too.
Again, it sounds good but we are not outside of time. We are not God. Only God is outside of time. You are a created being, yes we have the image of God, but we are not God. You are not eternal. You have a beginning; hence you are subject to space and time, which was created for us.

>>Our hard-drive was erased when we were sent through the matrix of our mothers' wombs.

Now, now you been watching too much Syfy. We had no hard-drive before being born. Give me 1 scripture that talks about this and the other stuff above.

>>Our entire Christian life is to remember what we knew and who we are when we were in Him.

Ok Sister I am seriously asking the following: If you believe you are right and you have biblical text to show me and teach me, I am all ears and do please excuse my silly sense of humor at times. I do not mean to be offensive; I just have a nerdy sense of humor. :) But seriously show me with the word where you are getting your concepts from.

Permalink Reply by David Velasquez on October 27, 2010 at 3:03am

Robert you said the following:

>>This may be seen as wrong but i've rewrote john 3 v16 inline with Calvinismist view, it seems somewhat less loving, possibly a touch negitive, but i hope it demonstrates the difference between God's teaching and mans wisdom.


Check these vids out and tell me what you think. they will only take 25 minutes

Permalink Reply by David Velasquez on October 30, 2010 at 8:59pm

Sojourner

>>Were we might not agree is that I believe I was presented with a choice of either accepting or rejecting God's gift for me

This is the turning point between the two schools of thought. One believes as you do, the other one believes that we freely and truly chose God, yet this happened after our heart was regenerated, quicken to life by the Spirit.

When Nicodemus asked Jesus how a man is born again in John 3, Jesus states 5 Jesus answered, "I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit. 6 Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit[b] gives birth to spirit. 7 You should not be surprised at my saying, 'You must be born again.' 8 The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit."

Jesus does not tell Nicodemus pray this way or is according to your will and decision but leaves us to ask, what in the world is He talking about - 8 The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit." What He is telling Nic is, look being born again is not up to you, but up to the Spirit that goes and comes as He pleases.

So election depends on human choice? Paul says here it doesn’t. We must first be made spiritual, "born of the Spirit" (John 3:6),

Physical Birth is neither the cause nor the beginning of life itself: rather is it the manifestation of a life already existent: there had been a Divine "quickening" before the child could issue from the womb. In like manner, the Holy Spirit "quickens" the soul, or imparts spiritual life to it, before its possessor is "brought forth"

John 6:63,65 (New King James Version)
63 It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life. 65 And He said, “Therefore I have said to you that no one can come to Me unless it has been granted to him by My Father.”

In His work of "quickening," by which we mean the impartation of spiritual life to the soul. "Regeneration is a direct operation of the Holy Spirit upon the human spirit. It is the action of Spirit upon spirit, of a Divine Person upon a human person, whereby spiritual life is imparted. THE HOLY SPIRIT Chapter 11

The unregenerate will is unable to believe. We have the ability to choose according to our desires before we are made alive by the Spirit, but we only desire self and life (the system of the world), before we are new creations. We have the capacity to do good and honorable things, but nothing of eternal value, nothing spiritual. We can do good works. But of no Spiritual significance. Even as Christians we can do things with the wrong motive and not get a reward for it.

"For as the Father raiseth up the dead, and quickeneth, even so the Son quickeneth whom He will" (John 5:21); "It is the Spirit that quickeneth: the flesh profiteth nothing" (John 6:63). All the Divine operations in the economy of salvation proceed from the Father, are through the Son, and are executed by the Spirit. Quickening is His initial work in the elect. It is that supernatural act by which He brings them out of the grave of spiritual death on to resurrection ground. By it He imparts a principle of grace and habit of holiness; it is the communication of the life of God to the soul. It is an act of creation (2 Cor. 5:17). It is a Divine "workmanship" (Eph. 2:10). All of these terms denote an act of Omnipotency. The origination of life is utterly impossible to the creature. He can receive life; he can nourish life; he can use and exert it; but he cannot create life. This initial work of quickening is entirely unperceived by us, for it lies outside the realm and the range of human consciousness. Those who are dead possess no perception, and though the work of bringing them on to resurrection ground is indeed a great and powerful one, in the very nature of the case its subjects can know nothing whatever about it until after it has been accomplished. When Adam was created, he was conscious of nothing but that he now existed and was free to act: the Divine operation which was the cause of his existence was over and finished before he began to be conscious of anything. This initial operation of the Spirit by which the elect become new creatures can only be known by its effects and consequences. "The wind bloweth where it listeth," that is first; then "thou hearest the sound thereof" (John 3:8): it is now made known, in a variety of ways, to the conscience and understanding.
http://www.pbministries.org/books/pink/Holy_Spirit/spirit_11.htm

>>I had a long journey to the Cross and believe the Spirit was prompting me along the way,but I resisted each time.I was very stubborn and lost in my rebellion,but I would never have denied Him.I did believe,but even though I believed,I still rejected His gift of love for me.What would have happened if my life had been cut short before I actually accepted?

Though man in his natural estate is spiritually dead, that is, entirely destitute of any spark of true holiness, yet is he still a rational being and has a conscience by which he is capable of perceiving the difference between good and evil, and of discerning and feeling the force of moral obligation (Rom. 1:32; 2:15). By having his sins clearly brought to his mind and conscience, he can be made to realize what his true condition is as a transgressor of the holy Law of God. This sight and sense of sin, when aroused from moral stupor, under the common operations of the Holy Spirit, is usually termed "conviction of sin"; and there can be no doubt that the views and feelings of men may be very clear and strong even while they are in an unregenerate state. Indeed, they do not differ in kind (though they do in degree), from what men will experience in the Day of Judgment, when their own consciences shall condemn them, and they shall stand guilty before God (Rom. 3:19). THE HOLY SPIRIT Chapter 13

The Word and Truth of God, the most important of all the means of grace, is not a means of regeneration, as distinct from conviction, conversion and sanctification. Under the guise of honoring the written word, many have (no doubt unwittingly) dishonored the Holy Spirit. The idea which seems to prevail in "orthodox" circles today is that all which is needed for the salvation of souls is to give out the Word in its purity, God being pledged to bless the same. How often we have heard it said, "The Word will do its own work." Many suppose that the Scriptures are quite sufficient of themselves to communicate light to those in darkness and life to those who are dead in sins. But the record which we have of Christ’s life ought at once to correct such a view. Who preached the Word as faithfully as He, yet how very few were saved during His three and a half years’ ministry?The parable of the Sower exposes the fallacy of the theory now so widely prevailing. The "seed" sown is the Word. It was scattered upon various kinds of ground, yet notwithstanding the purity and vitality of the seed, where the soil was unfavorable, no increase issued therefrom. Until the ground was made good, the seed yielded no increase. That seed might be watered by copious showers and warmed by a genial sum, but while the soil was bad there could be no harvest. The ground must be changed before it could be fertile. Nor is it the seed which changes the soil: what farmer would ever think of saying, The seed will change the soil! Make no mistake upon this point: the Holy Spirit must first quicken the dead soul into newness of life before the Word obtains any entrance. Do not all the unregenerate resist, and refuse to heed that Voice? How, then, is that opposition to be removed? Take an illustration. Suppose the window of my room is darkened by an iron wall before it. The sun’s beams beat upon it, but still the wall remains. Were it of ice, it would melt away, but the nature of iron is to harden and not soften under the influence of heat. How, then, is the sun to enter my room? Only by removing that wall: a direct power must be put forth for its destruction. In like manner, the deadly enmity of the sinner must be removed by the immediate operation of the Spirit, communicating life, before the Word enters and affects him.THE HOLY SPIRIT Chapter 11

"It Is said the Lord opened the heart of Lydia, that she attended unto the things that were spoken by Paul (Acts 16:14). Her heart was first opened in order for his words to have any effect or give any light to her. And this must be done by an immediate operation of the Spirit of God on her heart. This was the regeneration now under consideration, by which her heart was renewed, and formed unto true discerning like the single eye" (Samuel Hopkins, 1792).

Permalink Reply by sojourner on November 1, 2010 at 10:15pm

Hi David.
I won't cover all the points you present in your replies,in this post,but will later.

"....yet this happens after our heart was regenerated,quickened by the Spirit."

We both agree that we freely and truly choose God,however,your above comment seem to suggest that I and others,claim to do so without being guided to the foot of the cross,by God's Spirit? This is not so,as we who come to freely and truly choose Jesus,experience the miracle of new birth at salvation,and the life changing effect it has on our lives.
The discussion between Jesus and Nicodemus(Jn'3:4-21) is one of the most enlightening,concerning what it means to be 'born again.' I believe Nicodemus had faith borne out of an earnest desire for truth.He saw the light in Jesus,but as yet,did not understand it.The disciples of Jesus certainly had faith,but like Nicodemus they could not yet fully understand who Jesus is (Jn'14:9,10).Although they had faith,they were not born again in spirit,as they had yet to receive the indwelling of God's Spirit,sent by Jesus after His ascension:

Acts 2:4 " And they were filled with the Holy Ghost,and began to speak with other tongues,as the Spirit gave them utterance."

Peter was transformed by the Spirit of God,from a man who denied his Lord,through fear,to one who loudly proclaimed Him,through faith and the empowering of the Holy Spirit:

Acts 2:21 " And it shall come to pass,that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved."
Acts 2:38 " Then Peter said unto them,Repent,and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins,and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
39) For the promise is unto you,and to your children,and to all those that are afar off,even as many as the Lord our God shall call."
Acts 2:41 " Then they that gladly received his word were baptized:and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls."

What a transformation from the fearful Peter to this man of God speaking with the power and authority of the indwelling Spirit! About three thousand souls saved.Amen! Although 'all' were called,and although the promise was (and I add 'is') for them (be baptised every one of you),their children and 'all' those that are afar off,not all received.This Jesus alluded to in the parabel of 'the great supper (Luke 14:16-24).' All are called,and those that are chosen are they that accept/receive with gladness.All are selected,and those that accept/receive are the elect.The promise is for all,but not all will receive the promise,simply because they refuse to receive.
" The wind blows were it pleases." The Holy Spirit is not restricted to move in any particular way,neither is it necessary for us to understand how He moves,in order for Him to move.

I would like to return to the subject of the origin of evil,and may touch on it later bro.

Many thanks for the replies David.You give me plenty to think on.

God bless.

Sojourner.

Permalink Reply by RoyW on November 2, 2010 at 3:04am

Sojourner,

I read this in your response to David:

We both agree that we freely and truly choose God,however,your above comment seem to suggest that I and others,claim to do so without being guided to the foot of the cross,by God's Spirit? This is not so,as we who come to freely and truly choose Jesus,experience the miracle of new birth at salvation,and the life changing effect it has on our lives.

Jumping in here without knowledge is a little dangerous. I'm not sure exactly what your reference is but one thing I can see in this reference is there is undoubtedly much difference of opinion how one gets to this place. If you feel that you freely choose God by your own volition and will, this would be a stark contrast to what I see presented in Scripture.

What must happen before a man can choose God? He first must believe. Believing means to me that he is already saved. Would you agree that a man cannot choose until he first believes? I hear people talking about a prayer that goes like this, "God, if you are really out there, reveal Yourself to me." Will hope save a man? What does it take for salvation to take place? It takes faith. A man cannot choose God without that faith. The prayer, "God if You are out there," does not save us. It is an act of God that saves us. He must reveal Himself to man. That happens through this newborn experience. A rush of faith permeates the soul and the individual is saved.

The Armenian believes that God will reveal Himself just enough to allow man to make a choice. This is called prevenient grace. I think this is what you believe. Prevenient grace gives man just enough faith to go ahead and by his own free will choose or reject God. I know it is somewhat more complicated than that but that is the gist of it. I personally don't agree with that concept. I can't see how a man can choose God until he believes. That faith must be given him. He has no way to produce that within himself. This is the process I see in the post by David above talking about the good soil. Before the man can truly believe, he must be born again.

I'm not sure what you are saying when you are saying that you and David agree that we freely choose God. What I see is that by the time the man gets to the place of choosing God, the process is already over. Man has done nothing. God has done everything. Is it possible to resist that act of God?

To me, here is the issue: Can a man choose God before he truly believes in Him and in His Son. I do not see how that is possible. The prevenient grace idea is the best explanation I have found as an alternate solution. However, I still cannot see that. It takes faith to be saved and faith is simply not something that man has the ability to generate. You cannot choose what you don't already believe in. Otherwise, your salvation experience is not a blind leap of faith, it is a blind leap of hope that just happened to pan out.

Some things an unbeliever might do would include things like:
1) "I think I will go to church and hear what all this stuff is I am hearing about God."
2) "I think I will pick up this Bible and see if I can find God."
3) Choose to listen to the witness explaining his experience in finding God.
4) Check to see if there is a God that could get you out of the mess you have gotten yourself in.
5) I think you are getting my point.

What he can't do is choose God. He cannot do that by his own volition or will. Before he does that he must believe and in order for that to happen, God must have already done a work in his dead soul.

Roy

Permalink Reply by sojourner on November 2, 2010 at 8:58am

Hi Roy.

Just to dispel a little confussion brother : ) Sometimes I'm not very clear,I know: (

I was responding to David's comments below:

"This is the turning point between the two schools of thought.One believes as you do,the other believes that we freely and truly chose God,yet this happened after our heart was regenerated,quickened to life by the Spirit."

My point was that we don't simply,coldly choose God.but are called out to by His Spirit,are led by His Spirit to the cross,and receive His word with gladness,just as those approx'3000 did on hearing the words of Peter (Act 2:41).
Think about those Three thousand.Were they all followers of Jesus before His ascension? I doubt it,as they were both local and from outside of Jerusalem:

Acts 2:8 " And how hear we every man in our own tongue,wherein we were born?(9) Parthians,and Medes,and Elamites,and the dwellers in Mesopotamia,and in Judea,and Cappadocia,in Pontus,and Asia,(10) Phrygia,and Pamphylia,in Egypt,and in the parts of Libya about Cyrene,and strangers of Rome,Jews and proselytes,(11)Cretes and Arabians,we do hear them speak in our own tongues the wonderful works of God."

Brings to mind "...every nation,and kindred,and tongue,and people (Rev'14:6).What knowledge of Jesus could the mass of these people have,other than the words of Peter? The pure,simple Gospel of Christ crucified,received by hearts with gladness.Were they saved before or after hearing these words?
None of us have faith of ourselves,but it is the gift of God (Eph'2:8),as are all things good (James 1:17).A beautifull example of faith:

Matthew 9:20 " And behold a woman,which was diseased with an issue of blood twelve years,came behind him,and touched the hem of his garment.
21) For she said within herself,if I may but touch his garment,I shall be whole.
22)But Jesus turned him about,and when he saw her,he said,Daughter,be of good comfort;thy faith hath made thee whole.And the woman was made whole from that hour."

This poor woman,classed as unclean by Jewish tradition (Lev'15:5),desperate for healing,having tried all other means with no money left to explore further help(Mk 5:26),thought herself so unworthy that she sneaked up behind the Lord,and not wanting to physically touch Him (she was unclean),touched the hem of His garment,because she had faith enough to believe that by doing so she would be healed (Mt'9:21).

I don't define myself as either Calvinist or Arminian,and neither do I define myself by what I'm not.I'm simply a Christian.Did you know that Spurgeon (although holding to some Calvinist doctrine) did not class himself as a Calvinist,but as a Christian?

Well my brother,that's enough from me for now,and I look forward to your thoughts on the above,as always.

God bless.

Sojourner.

Permalink Reply by David Velasquez on November 5, 2010 at 6:47am

Sojourner,

From page 7, first part:

>>We both agree that we freely and truly choose
Yes! Amen. You believe you can resist the work of the Spirit when it’s internally calling you. I do not.

>>Your above comment seem to suggest that I and others, claim to do so without being guided to the foot of the cross, by God's Spirit?

Oh no my brother, I understand Arminianism very well. I was an Arminian for 10 years of my 16 in Christ and didn’t even know it Ha-ha I understand that we rather not have such levels or camp affiliation, but bear with me for the sake of the discussion. I understand that you give God all the Glory and all the praise. In a nut – shell this is what I believed before and what I believe you believe now:
The part of the family who believes that we choose God (by exercising our free will or liberty to choose) and not that God chooses us apart from our decisions, have constructed a theology that makes our choice for God, not a work. They firmly believe that it was God who initiated the process by Grace and through the work of the Spirit one is giving an opportunity to choose or deny Christ. Hence the whole process is credited to God. The faith to believe (saving faith) is not believed to be a work, but a surrendering to the work of the Spirit.

So - although to me logically a choice qualifies as a work to you it doesn't. I know tons of Christians who believe that, who love and serve God,

Blessings beloved

Permalink Reply by David Velasquez on October 30, 2010 at 11:45pm

Sojourner

>>Were we might not agree is that I believe I was presented with a choice of either accepting or rejecting God's gift for me

Every born again child of God was presented with an irresistible choice to make. We freely and willingly chose God, because He had predestined us for salvation. The thousands that choose God without God regenerating their hearts are not saved and the proof is in their unchanged lives, yet they confessed Christ as Lord and Savior, walked to the altar and repeated a prayer. Then there are others who are sobbing, who answered the called of the preacher, but the preacher can't even get them to repeat the prayer because they are sobbing as they for the first time see their depravity, for they have been awaken, quickened by the Spirit.

Predestination means that our final destination, heaven or hell, is decided by God before we are even born and that is what our flesh just can't take. “The doctrine of election isn’t fair.” “Doesn’t God give us free will?” “What about John 3:16?” “Why would God save some and not all? Those are the arguments that come up against election and predestination.

The cardinal point of the Reformed doctrine of predestination rests on the biblical teaching of man’s spiritual death. Natural man does not want Christ. He will only want Christ if God plants a desire for Christ in his heart. Once that desire is planted, those who come to Christ do not come kicking and screaming against their wills. They come because they want to come. They now desire Jesus. They rush to the Savior. The whole point of irresistible grace is that rebirth quickens someone to spiritual life in such a way that Jesus is now seen n his irresistible sweetness. Jesus is irresistible to those who have been made alive to the things of God. Every soul whose heart beats with the life of God within it longs for the living Christ. All whom the Father gives to Christ come to Christ (John 6:37).”—R.C. Sproul

All Christians, Armenian or Calvinist, face the question of why God doesn’t save everyone when he could, being a sovereign God. Even though God could, he doesn’t owe salvation to everyone. God’s mercy is voluntary. All of us deserve death and the fact that some of us receive salvation is a blessing. Until God makes us alive, we are spiritually dead. Not very ill, but dead to Christ. So, our salvation can only come if God initiates it. Without this rebirth no one will come to Christ, but all who are reborn will come to Christ. Unless God makes people alive, they remain dead. “Salvation is of the Lord”

Permalink Reply by Carla on November 1, 2010 at 1:12pm

David,

This from your post above:

He will only want Christ if God plants a desire for Christ in his heart

This verse tells us that Eternity is planted in the human heart...not only some, but all people.


Ecc 3:10 I have seen the burden God has laid on men.
Ecc 3:11 He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the hearts of men; yet they cannot fathom what God has done from beginning to end. NIV

Ecc 3:10 I have seen the task which God has given the sons of men with which to occupy themselves.
Ecc 3:11 He has made everything [fn] appropriate in its time. He has also set eternity in their heart, [fn] yet so that man will not find out the work which God has done from the beginning even to the end. NASB

This really caught my attention from the NIV 'Yet they cannot fathom what God has done from beginning to end.'

My thoughts.. :Just because they cannot fathom it, does not mean God has not placed the desire in their hearts for Eternity.

Blessings, Carla

Permalink Reply by RoyW on November 1, 2010 at 1:25pm

Good one, Carla, I'm anxious to see David's reply. It certainly doesn't seem to fit what we see in light of the Enlightenment, does it?

Permalink Reply by David Velasquez on November 1, 2010 at 7:32pm

Carla,

Those are actually some of my fav verses in scripture they helped me understand why I was seeking answers. Scientist and philosophers have a great hunger to explain their surroundings and so it was with me growing up. I collected National Geographic’s and while other kids played video games, I was watching the Learning Channel. Eternity is in the hearts of every man, in different degrees.

When I read these verses I was amazed of how the word describes the human condition so perfectly. Here was the explanation for my desire to know and to learn, but by no means was I seeking to die to self or to die to the world. These verses helped me see that God has made men for himself, for His eternal purposes and nothing but God can fill the void. It also told me why I got frustrated with the theories of man, God has shrouded His creation in mysteries too great for finite man to comprehend, yet He has place eternity in our hearts. There is no human being that does not ponder the big questions:

What is this all about? Why am I here? Is there a God? Stuff movies, songs, art and books are made of. All those things come from God placing eternity in our hearts.

Thanks for asking beloved.

Permalink Reply by David Velasquez on October 31, 2010 at 12:11am

Sojourner,

>>The question on evil is a tough one and can be very difficult for people to grasp,but here's my thoughts on it: God did not create evil because God cannot create evil,as He is Holy and pure in love and goodness.A Kingdom divided against itself cannot stand.

Why I don't say, "God did not cause the calamity, but he can use it for good"

Many Christians are speaking this way about the murderous destruction of the World Trade Towers on September 11, 2001. God did not cause it, but he can use it for good. There are two reasons I do not say this. One is that it goes beyond, and is contrary to, what the Bible teaches. The other is that it undermines the very hope it wants to offer.

First, this statement goes beyond and against the Bible. For some, all they want to say, in denying that God "caused" the calamity, is that God is not a sinner and that God does not remove human accountability and that God is compassionate. That is true - and precious beyond words. But for others, and for most people who hear this slogan, something far more is implied. Namely, God, by his very nature, cannot or would not act to bring about such a calamity. This view of God is what contradicts the Bible and undercuts hope.

How God governs all events in the universe without sinning, and without removing responsibility from man, and with compassionate outcomes is mysterious indeed! But that is what the Bible teaches. God "works all things after the counsel of his will" (Ephesians 1:11).

This "all things" includes the fall of sparrows (Matthew 10:29), the rolling of dice (Proverbs 16:33), the slaughter of his people (Psalm 44:11), the decisions of kings (Proverbs 21:1), the failing of sight (Exodus 4:11), the sickness of children (2 Samuel 12:15), the loss and gain of money (1 Samuel 2:7), the suffering of saints (1 Peter 4:19), the completion of travel plans (James 4:15), the persecution of Christians (Hebrews 12:4-7), the repentance of souls (2 Timothy 2:25), the gift of faith (Philippians 1:29), the pursuit of holiness (Philippians 3:12-13), the growth of believers (Hebrews 6:3), the giving of life and the taking in death (1 Samuel 2:6), and the crucifixion of his Son (Acts 4:27-28).

From the smallest thing to the greatest thing, good and evil, happy and sad, pagan and Christian, pain and pleasure - God governs them all for his wise and just and good purposes (Isaiah 46:10). Lest we miss the point, the Bible speaks most clearly to this in the most painful situations. Amos asks, in time of disaster, "If a calamity occurs in a city has not the LORD done it?" (Amos 3:6). After losing all ten of his children in the collapse of his son's house, Job says, "The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away. Blessed be the name of the LORD" (Job 1:21). After being covered with boils he says, "Shall we indeed accept good from God and not accept adversity?" (Job 2:10).

Oh, yes, Satan is real and active and involved in this world of woe! In fact Job 2:7 says, "Satan went out from the presence of the LORD and smote Job with sore boils from the sole of his foot to the crown of his head." Satan struck him. But Job did not get comfort from looking at secondary causes. He got comfort from looking at the ultimate cause. "Shall we not accept adversity from God?" And the author of the book agrees with Job when he says that Job's brothers and sisters "consoled him and comforted him for all the adversities that the LORD had brought on him" (Job 42:11). Then James underlines God's purposeful goodness in Job's misery: "You have heard of the endurance of Job and have seen the outcome of the Lord's dealings, that the Lord is full of compassion and is merciful" (James 5:11). Job himself concludes in prayer: "I know that You can do all things, and that no purpose of Yours can be thwarted" (Job 42:2). Yes, Satan is real, and he is terrible - and he is on a leash.

The other reason I don't say, "God did not cause the calamity, but he can use it for good," is that it undercuts the very hope it wants to create. I ask those who say this: "If you deny that God could have 'used' a million prior events to save 5,000 people from this great evil, what hope then do you have that God could now 'use' this terrible event to save you in the hour of trial?" We say we believe he can use these events for good, but we deny that he could use the events of the past to hold back the evil of September 11. But the Bible teaches he could have restrained this evil (Genesis 20:6). "The LORD nullifies the counsel of the nations; He frustrates the plans of the peoples" (Psalm 33:10). But it was not in his plan to do it. Let us beware. We spare God the burden of his sovereignty and lose our only hope.

All of us are sinners. We deserve to perish. Every breath we take is an undeserved gift. We have one great hope: that Jesus Christ died to obtain pardon and righteousness for us (Ephesians 1:7; 2 Corinthians 5:21), and that God will employ his all-conquering, sovereign grace to preserve us for our inheritance (Jeremiah 32:40). We surrender this hope if we sacrifice this sovereignty.

Strengthening Your Confidence in Christ Our King,

Pastor John Piper

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