by John Hendryx
ANSWER: What the Bible teaches, and I hope you would agree, is more important than our feelings about the way we think things should be. And perhaps to your surprise, Calvinists would agree with you that the Bible teaches that everyone has a choice, BUT because men love darkness and hate the light (John 3:19,20) they are naturally hostile to God and think all spiritual truth to be foolish (1 Cor. 2:14), they will CHOOSE willingly to reject Him. We (all of us) do so voluntarily. God would therefore be just if He chose to save no one and leave everyone to their own boasted free will. But instead God is merciful and chooses to save many ill-deserving folk on earth. As soon as you think God is somehow obligated to save you then your salvation is no longer of mercy.
So men receive one of two things in this world, justice or mercy, but no one receives injustice. If anyone is in hell it is because they deserved it and chose to go there willingly. Left to ourselves that is what we all would choose and deserve. That is why we need grace to believe. Our own hearts are hard as stone. God must change our hearts if we are to believe (Deut. 30:6; Ezek. 36:26; John 6:63,65) and that is what the Bible teaches. Are you saying that a man can come to faith in Jesus of his own free will apart from grace? Where do you find this in Scripture?
courtesy of
DENNIS FISCHER MINISTRIES
Worldwide Chaplaincy Services
