1/14/07

Evangelism and the Free Will of Man

 Rom 9:9-18

[9] For this is the word of promise: "At this time I will come and Sarah shall have a son."   [10] And not only this, but when Rebecca also had conceived by one man, even by our father Isaac  [11](for the children not yet being born, nor having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works but of Him who calls), [12] it was said to her, "The older shall serve the younger."   [13] As it is written, "Jacob I have loved, but Esau I have hated."   [14] What shall we say then? Is there unrighteousness with God? Certainly not! [15] For He says to Moses, "I will have mercy on whomever I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whomever I will have compassion."   [16] So then it is not of him who wills, nor of him who runs, but of God who shows mercy. [17] For the Scripture says to the Pharaoh, "For this very purpose I have raised you up, that I may show My power in you, and that My name may be declared in all the earth."  

[18] Therefore He has mercy on whom He wills, and whom He wills He hardens.

1. Our evangelistic efforts, in and of themselves, do not bring about the salvation anyone.  Salvation is accomplished by the working of the Holy Spirit in concert with the truth of God’s Word.

2. Faith is not a self-generated exercise.  Faith is the gift of God, not of works lest any one should boast.  As a fallen creature, no one seeks after God, no one is able to do good, God is the furthest thing from one’s desires and therefore, would not have any reason to seek Him in faith.

3. God gives faith to those He has chosen.  God does not give faith to those who have earned it, shown a kind of righteousness in their living, or have shown a more proclivity toward God.  Again, Romans 1 and 3, Ephesians 2 and many other scriptures show that there is no righteousness in man enough for God to grant salvation.

4. Those who come to faith in Christ are those to whom God has regenerated (given new birth) through faith in Christ.  Faith is the fruit of regeneration, not the basis of regeneration.  Therefore, if one cannot or will not be generated based upon personal goodness or righteousness, who, then, can be saved?  Those of whom God has chosen.

5. Man cannot be saved on the basis of his free will, since in his unregenerated state his only will stands in opposition to the will of God as “children of wrath.”  In his sinful state, his only choice, and his only ability is to willfully sin.  It is only after his regeneration that man has the ability to choose for God.  The regenerated man may still choose not to obey, but until he is born again, he cannot nor will he choose to obey.

6. Evangelism, therefore, is not our expertly designed presentation of the gospel.  We must come to the place of realizing that neither the method used, nor the sincerity used, nor any other thing opens a person’s heart to Christ.  Only those who have had their hearts quickened by the Holy Spirit have the desire or the ability to respond to the gospel. 

7.  God’s election cannot be based upon “His looking down the corridors of time and seeing that we would desire Him.” 

      [12] it was said to her, "The older shall serve the younger."   [13] As it is written, "Jacob I have loved,

      but Esau I have hated."   [14] What shall we say then? Is there unrighteousness with God? Certainly not!

      [15] For He says to Moses, "I will have mercy on whomever I will have mercy, and I will have com-

      passion on whomever I will have compassion." [16] So then it is not of him who wills, nor of him

      who runs, but of God who shows mercy. 

If there was any point in the Scriptures where God could have revealed His purpose in election as being based on what someone might do in view of their future actions, no better place could it have been expressed.  Rather, the Word makes it clear that this is the work of God.  The Word emphatically denies that election is a result of the work of man, foreseen or otherwise.  It is the purpose of God according to His election that we see here.  The Apostle declares that salvation is “not of him who wills.” 

 Not only did Paul make this clear, but the Apostle John did as well in John 1:13: “who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.” 

 How are we to come to terms with this?  Is God unjust?  No.  We must understand that God’s decision in election or in choosing you or me, when He has chosen to not choose someone else, was not a random, “pick of the lottery” type deal.  He has chosen us for His good pleasure.  His choosing us was to satisfy the longings of His own heart toward His glory.  In choosing to show you and me mercy, is He unjust?  No.  In choosing to show justice to those whom He has not chosen, is He unjust?