For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son. (John 3:17-18)
God desires that everyone be saved. But not everyone is. Not everyone receives the faith of Christ. We can’t know why this is. We can only appreciate the gift of faith we receive out of Christ’s saving love.
Our faith ancestor, John Calvin, has been over the years critically evaluated for the doctrine of “predestination”. This doctrine has been understood and explained in various ways. Simply put, Calvin ( and many others in the Reformed tradition) sees in Scripture evidence that God is charge of salvation, that saving faith is a gift from God. There is nothing we can say or do to get into heaven. We all deserve to be eternally punished for our sin, but God shows mercy on those whom God has chosen to show mercy.
While salvation is limited to those with faith in Christ, God calls out to everyone. We can’t blame God for not accepting everyone into heaven. Calvin put it this way –
“No man is excluded from calling upon God, the gate of salvation is set open unto all men: neither is there any other thing which keepeth us back from entering in, save only our own unbelief” (John Calvin)
As you consider the gift of salvation, are you grateful to God or are you resentful that not everyone receives it?
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1 comment:
good reminders, hope your sunday went well!
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