Pilgrim,

Thanks for your reply!!

I did feel a bit uncomfortable with the view of the PRC. One sees eg. that unbelievers sometimes have very extraordinary gifts and in my opinion that also shows God's benevolence (to use your term) toward the unregenerate. However, because of the of the hardness of their hearts, this will actually "witness" against them on the day of judgement (Romans 1:18-22).

Would it be correct to say that God's benevolence toward the unregenerate is for the sake of His elect? I say this for two reasons: First, if God simply left the unregenerate to themselves and the full consequences of their sin, life for the elect would have been unbearable. Here I think of Matt. 24:22 : "And unless those days were shortened, no flesh would be saved; but for the elect's sake those days will be shortened." I realize that Jesus is talking about a specific time in history but can one also say that to some extent it applies to all of history?

Second, God also has His elect somewhere in the generations of the unbelievers and unregenerate. I think of Rahab and Ruth in the OT and eg. Lydia in the NT. There are so many present day examples as well of men and women coming to faith in our Lord Jesus who comes from a totally heathen background. Can one not say that God showed his benevolence to eg. Lydia's past generations because she is amongst the elect?

Is there therefore a much deeper reason for God's benevolence towards the unregenerate, ie. for the sake of Christ and His elect?

Johan

Last edited by Johan; Fri Jul 15, 2011 2:02 AM.