"His not choosing them (the reprobate) was the fruit of His sovereign will; but His condemning them after death and in the last day is the fruit (not of their non-election, which was no fault of theirs, but) of their own positive transgressions." (Augustus Toplady).
In my last post I mention the strife that David brought upon his house through his sin. No doubt (some will say) "if David didn't sin, then this bloodshed would never have happened." and true this may be, but, it was predestined to happen, otherwise it wouldn't have taken place!
Who hath believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the LORD revealed? Isaiah 53:1.
That the word of Isaiah the prophet might be fulfilled, which he spake, Lord, who hath believed our report? And to whom hath the arm of the Lord been revealed? For this cause they could not believe, for that Isaiah said again, He hath blinded their eyes, and He hardened their heart; lest they should see with their eyes, and perceive with their heart, And should turn, And I should heal them. John 12:38-40 (RV).
It is said in no uncertain language that God chose to harden Jewish hearts (among others), and blind their eyes from seeing the truth as it is written in Scripture, truths, that had they been revealed to all prior to the cross, then the crucifixion would never have taken place, for it is written that had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. 1 Cor. 2:8. But! what then of salvation? for, apart from shedding of blood there is no remission. Heb. 9:22(RV). The Lamb slain from the foundation of the world (Rev.13:8) would never have been slain! and Satan would have defeated the eternal purposes of God, and none, bar none of the human race would be saved! The mind boggles! the mere thought of all of this is utterly preposterous!
On John 12:37-40, Augustus Toplady writes:
"Without certain prescience there could be no prophecy; and without predestination no certain prescience. Therefore, in order to the accomplishment of prophecy, prescience, and predestination, we are expressly told that these persons 'could not believe', they were not able; it was out of their power. In short, there is hardly a page in St. John's Gospel which does not, either expressly, or implicitly, make mention of election and reprobation."
I find it simply incredulous that many mature and intelligent (Bible believing?) Christians in our day will deny the Bible's clear teaching of predestination, and election. Man is a 'free' agent to do what he will, but 'free-will' as we are asked to believe it, is contrary to the plain teaching of Scripture. If man truly had 'free-will' (as they aver) how would any prophesied event in Scripture come to pass? Could there be a more sure word of prophecy (2 Pet. 1:19) if God left everything to the vagaries of man?
It matters not what I believe on all of this, it is not that I want the Bible to teach this, or that, per se. I only want to know the truth as it is taught in God's Book! And by reading through its pages; election and predestination (the causation of prophecy) leaps out of its sacred pages like a cat might jump off a hot tin roof!
Think on these things!
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