Arminians and Calvinists don't like arguing with me, generally speaking (If you don't know what they are, basically there's a large debate at the center of the church between the Philosophies of Free Will and God's Sovereignty; if you've never heard either term, or really understand why they're arguing, I envy you!). Personally, I think both got it right, and both got it wrong. You see, the Bible allows for both sides: God invites people to change and return to Him (from the very beginning we see it, such as the choice of Eden and as God pleaded with Cain), but God is also Sovereign (for example, in Job, even Satan must attend God when He is taking an account from the angels). God knows what will happen, and yet He sends prophets, His Son, Apostles and preachers to plea to and for those in rebellion.
Why do I say all of this? Because God is not a divine dictator. All of us are born in to rebellion against Him. We are; the fact is we rebel against our original design (it is what the Bible calls sin). The Designer has every right to scrap us, as we do with cars, homes, computers, phones and everything else we deem worthless. Yet this is not what God does.
The Law dictates that the penalty for sin is death, and cursed is anyone who hangs from a tree for their sin. While we were in rebellion, yet His enemies, yet sinners, God sent His Son to live a life in complete obedience to His will (which He did), who died as a substitute for sinners, taking the wrath of God and punishment for our rebellion by being nailed to a tree; you see, He became sin, He took our punishment, and His life was offered, and accepted as our ransom. He paid the price for our rebellion on the Cross. And because of the Cross, Jesus rose on the third day, Death has lots its sting!
We too shall rise some day, alive eternally, but we also can live a life, here and now, in the newness and resurrection of Jesus Christ. He sent us His Holy Spirit (the third person of God), to dwell inside of us, to interpret and guide us, that we may live a full and abundant life, no matter if we're in war or peace, famine or plenty, calm or in a storm. And it comes from an invitation. God gives all the chance, knowing that many will reject Him, and in the end, it is by the law through our own actions, or in the Righteousness of Christ we will be weighed. God is not a Tyrant, He knows whose are His, yet His invitation is open to all. The question truly is, does your heart belong to Him or not? Romans 10 Brothers, my heart's desire and prayer to God for them is that they may be saved. For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge. For, being ignorant of the righteousness of God, and seeking to establish their own, they did not submit to God's righteousness. For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.
For Moses writes about the righteousness that is based on the law, that the person who does the commandments shall live by them. But the righteousness based on faith says, “Do not say in your heart, ‘Who will ascend into heaven?’” (that is, to bring Christ down) “or ‘Who will descend into the abyss?’” (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead). But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” (that is, the word of faith that we proclaim); because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. For the Scripture says, “Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame.” For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him. For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!” But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed what he has heard from us?” So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.
But I ask, have they not heard? Indeed they have, for
“Their voice has gone out to all the earth, and their words to the ends of the world.”
But I ask, did Israel not understand? First Moses says,
“I will make you jealous of those who are not a nation; with a foolish nation I will make you angry.”
Then Isaiah is so bold as to say,
“I have been found by those who did not seek me; I have shown myself to those who did not ask for me.”
But of Israel he says, “All day long I have held out my hands to a disobedient and contrary people.”
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