The Highway Forums General Discussion Theology Discussion Forum Predestination

It would appear that you are confusing "logic" with "fairness", which are two entirely different things. "Logic" you can view as being "cogent", i.e., it isn't contradictory. "Fairness" deals with the aspect of the judicial, e.g., rendering judgments of law. So, God's truth is both logically and His dealing with men is fair (just).

The crux of the issue in this matter of the freedom of the will is the source of the will's ability to choose those things which pertain to God and salvation. It is a moral depravity which the Scriptures teach and which Calvinism simply echoes. The doctrine is sometimes and rightly referred to as "Total Inability" rather than "Total Depravity", which is often wrongly understood to mean that the image of God with which man was originally created in was totally lost in the Fall. If that were the case, the doctrine would then be called, "Utter Depravity". But in truth, man is more than capable of deprovement. What the "total" means is that the depravity which man was cursed with as punishment of the Fall encompasses all of his being, mind, emotions and will. Therefore, man is totally incapable of even desiring God and thus man will not (cannot) will those things which are required of him in the matter of salvation.

Returning to the matter of "hearing, responding, etc." to the Gospel and the source of the ability to do so, Calvinism is the only system which accredits fallen man's ability to hear and respond to the Gospel to God alone. If man is as spiritual dead (aka: incapable) of inclining himself to the things of God, then it is logically impossible that he could be capable of willing to respond to God. The Scriptures teach that man is dead in sin and trespasses, hating God and all that is good from conception. And therefore, it takes a supernatural sovereign act of God to "recreate" the soul; regenerate, make alive, effect new birth, etc., which is a radical change of the sinner's very nature. In regeneration, one's inclination is changed from hating God to loving God, from loving sin to hating sin, from being boastful and proud to being humbled and cognizant of his/her total helplessness. In the end, the Scripture says and Calvinism again echoes, the secret and sovereign work of the Holy Spirit in regeneration creates the ability of man to respond and infallibly so.

Said with extreme brevity, "Common Grace" has nothing whatsoever to do with salvation. It is the benevolence of God toward all men in His providence where He sustains life through various means and gifts men with finite "reflections" of His own attributes, e.g., in the area of intelligence, artistry, etc. Titus 2:11 is speaking specifically of salvific grace, i.e., the grace that redeems men from judgment, from darkness to light, from death to life. The CONTEXT provides the answer and the passage is speaking of the appearance of the Lord Christ (aka: salvation in Him) which was made apparent to all men in His physical appearance and in the Gospel. Thus, there is a universal aspect to this salvation in that it is not restricted to any particular race, color, gender, etc. But it also has a very limited focus as can be seen from the "we" in the next verse (see v.12).

For a thorough dealing with this text see here: An Exegetical Study of Titus 2:11 by Dr. Gary Long.

I found this quote from a Calvinistic supporter refuting David Hunt’s “What God is This?” (which -no surprise- attacked the Calvinistic view)

The Gospel (offer), i.e., the call for all men to repent of their sins and cast themselves wholly upon Christ and His saving work is universal. The "message" is to be proclaimed to every man, woman and child on every corner of the earth. For among those sinful inhabitants of the earth are those whom God has eternally predestinated to salvation and elected them to be reconciled to Him in His Son. It is not for us to know for God has not revealed the details of His decree to save in regard to who those individuals are. What we do know is that ALL men are sinners and by nature under the just wrath and condemnation of God. And, it is only through belief in His Son that any are to be saved. "Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God [preached/read]". The preaching of the Gospel is the means by which God has also decreed that men are to be saved. That is a point you would do well to always remember! God not only decrees the end but also the means to accomplish that end. <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

PS. We don't choose an understanding of a biblical doctrine according to which one makes us feel "comfortable". We embrace the truth as it appears in God's infallible Word and then conform every part of our being to it regardless of how abrasive or obnoxious it might seem to us and our own predispositions. <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

Let me also add this for you: What Love is This? a review of David Hunt's book by Pastor Steven J. Cole. <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/rolleyes2.gif" alt="" />

In His grace,