By Gary Ray Branscome
The Bible plainly tells us that God is
solely responsible for our salvation, our will and works play no part in it
whatsoever. At the same time, the Bible plainly tells us that those who are
damned bear the sole responsibility for their damnation.
The argument that God chooses to damn
some by not choosing to save them is as silly as claiming that the governor
sentences people to prison by not choosing to pardon them. The truth is that
those in prison are in prison because of what they did, and those in hell are
in hell not only because of what they did, but because they rejected every
attempt that God made to bring them to salvation.
The words, “They are
all estranged from me through their idols,” tell us that those who worship
idols cut themselves off from God (Ezekiel 14:5). The words, “To
Israel He says, All day long I have stretched forth my hands to a disobedient
and obstinate people,” tell us that even those who outwardly worship God
often fight against Him by justifying sin and doing what they know to be wrong
(Romans 10:21). The words, “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the
prophets, and stone those who are sent to you, how often I longed to gather
your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you
would not!” tell us that God
actively seeks the salvation of those who resist Him (Matthew 23:37). And, the
words, “
Speaking in a parable, Jesus said, “The
kingdom of heaven is like a certain king, who prepared a wedding banquet for his
son, And
sent forth his servants to call those who were invited to the wedding: but they
would not come. Again, he sent forth other servants, saying, Tell
those who have been invited… all things are ready: come to the wedding. But
those who made light of it went their way… and the rest seized his servants,
mistreated them, and killed them… He then said to his servants, The wedding is ready, but those who were invited were not
worthy. Therefore / Go out into the roads and country lanes, and compel them to
come in, so that my house may be full / For many are called, but few are chosen”
(Matthew 22:1-14, Luke
Those who limit atonement make God responsible for both the
salvation and damnation of souls. Those who make salvation depend on man’s
choice make man responsible for both the salvation and damnation of souls. In
contrast, the Bible tells us that God is solely responsible for the salvation
of souls, and men are solely responsible for their own damnation.
GRACE
ALONE