|
A Review of Martin R. De
Haan's Booklet:
God's Choice Or Ours?
Predestination & Election
Discovery Series
Radio Bible Class Ministries
"let God be true, but every man a liar; as it is
written, That thou mightest be justified in thy sayings, and mightest overcome
when thou art judged." [Romans 3:4]
NOTE: my comments are in black
and the original text under examination is in bold
blue print.
This booklet on predestination
and election "beats around the bush" - with story telling primarily -
until the last few pages. It is those final pages that will be examined here
since they get to the crux of the matter. In all fairness though, I wish to say
that while I strongly disagree with the conclusions - the interpretations of
scripture - made by Mr. DeHaan, he did make some good observations in places and
brought up various passages that are major points of contention between those
who have a man-centered gospel and those who have a Christ-centered Gospel. But
sadly, he doesn't understand the sovereignty of God nor what Christ actually
accomplished at Calvary as I point out, from scripture, below.
The Foreknowledge Of God
Bible scholars differ greatly
in their understanding of the Greek word translated "foreknew" in
Romans 8:29, "Those God foreknew He also predestined to be conformed to the
likeness of His Son."
Perhaps they differ because they
are trying to fit their translation into their man-centered free-will theology
rather than looking for the right translation that agrees with the rest of what
the Bible has to say about election, predestination and the sovereignty of God.
Some say it simply means
"to know beforehand," referring to people God eternally knew would
become believers.
The people who say the above need to take a good hard look at
Daniel 4:35:
"And all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as
nothing: and he doeth according to his will in the army of heaven, and among the
inhabitants of the earth: and none can stay his hand, or say unto him, What
doest thou?"
The idea that God merely knew who would choose Him (as if He is
only a bystander in the affairs of this world) is almost laughable. It indicates
that God, who created all things for His glory and His pleasure, is just sitting
around watching the "clock unwind". Yet scripture says He is
intimately and actively involved and in charge of what is happening and CAUSING
what is happening.
Romans 9:17 "For the scripture saith unto Pharaoh, Even for
this same purpose have I raised thee up, that I might shew my power in thee, and
that my name might be declared throughout all the earth. 18 Therefore hath
he mercy on whom he will have mercy, and whom he will he hardeneth. 19
Thou wilt say then unto me, Why doth he yet find fault? For who hath resisted
his will? 20 Nay but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God? Shall
the thing formed say to him that formed it, Why hast thou made me thus? 21
Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel
unto honour, and another unto dishonour? 22 What if God, willing to shew
his wrath, and to make his power known, endured with much longsuffering the
vessels of wrath fitted to destruction: 23 And that he might make known
the riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy, which he had afore prepared
unto glory"
Philippians 2:13 For it is God which worketh in you both to will
and to do of his good pleasure.
Others say it means
"chosen," that the people predestined for likeness to Jesus were
unconditionally chosen from before the beginning of time.
Well believe it or not, this is
also what GOD says it means...
If we bother to take the time to read the Bible thoroughly,
we will see who does the choosing, who does the accepting:
John 15:16 "Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen
you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that
your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name,
he may give it you."
John 15:19 "If ye were of the world, the world would
love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out
of the world, therefore the world hateth you."
2 Thes 2:13 "But we are bound to give thanks alway to
God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the
beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and
belief of the truth:"
Psalm 65:4 "Blessed is the man whom thou choosest,
and causest to approach unto thee, that he may dwell in thy courts: we shall be
satisfied with the goodness of thy house, even of thy holy temple."
Acts 13:48 "And when the Gentiles heard this, they were
glad, and glorified the word of the Lord: and as many as were ordained to
eternal life believed."
Because the Greek word in question can
only mean "to know beforehand" in Acts 26:5 and 2 Peter 3:17, many
believe it should be translated that way elsewhere. So Romans 8:29 would
mean that from eternity past God foresaw certain people as His own and
predestined them to become like His Son.
There is one tremendous flaw in this theory that God predestined
those He foresaw some goodness in (as alluded to in the next quote below). Salvation was not
based on what God FORESAW but on what Christ ACCOMPLISHED at Calvary. He went to
Calvary to pay a specific penalty - ransom payment - for HIS PEOPLE:
Matthew 1:21 "And she shall bring forth a son, and thou
shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their
sins."
Mark 10:45 "For even the Son of man came not to be
ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many."
But how much or how little His
foreknowledge of their character, conduct or choices had to do with His choices
is not revealed.
This is ridiculous. God knew that NO
unregenerated sinner would CHOOSE the Lordship of Christ. Why do so many not
understand the meaning of Romans 3:11...
Romans 3:11 "There is none that understandeth, there is
none that seeketh after God. 12 They are all gone out of the way, they are
together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one."
If we look at Romans 8:29 and Romans 11:2 in context, we will see plenty of
evidence for election by God's sovereign grace and zero evidence for election
being based on God looking into the future and seeing people accepting Christ:
Romans 8:28-33 - "28 And we know that all things work together
for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his
purpose. 29 For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to
be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many
brethren. 30 Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and
whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also
glorified. 31 What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us,
who can be against us? 32 He that spared not his own Son, but delivered
him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all
things? 33 Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God’s elect? It is
God that justifieth."
God foreknew that there are none that seeketh after God (Romans 3:11) and
knowing that, He had to select certain people from among the world He would
save, if He was going to have a people for Himself. God does the electing.
Sinners do no elect themselves to be saved.
Romans 11:2 "God hath not cast away his people which he
foreknew. Wot ye not what the scripture saith of Elias? how he maketh
intercession to God against Israel, saying, 3 Lord, they have killed thy
prophets, and digged down thine altars; and I am left alone, and they seek my
life. 4 But what saith the answer of God unto him? I have reserved to
myself seven thousand men, who have not bowed the knee to the image of
Baal. 5 Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant
according to the election of grace. 6 And if by grace, then is it no
more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then is
it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work. 7 What then? Israel hath
not obtained that which he seeketh for; but the election hath obtained
it, and the rest were blinded 8 (According as it is written, God
hath given them the spirit of slumber, eyes that they should not see, and ears
that they should not hear;) unto this day."
Note in verse 5 above, that election is according to grace, NOT according to
foreknowledge. If it was according to God's foreknowledge of our acceptance of
Christ, it would be according to works and not according to grace. Note also in
verse 7 that God blinded the rest. He did not intend for the rest to be saved,
only His elect. Does that sound unfair? Remember, "who hath known the mind
of the Lord, that he may instruct him?" (1 Cor. 2:16) and also "The
LORD hath made all things for himself: yea, even the wicked for the day
of evil." (Prov. 16:4). If God were to be fair, everyone would end up in
hell.
This interpretation of the word
foreknowledge leaves the mystery element in the divine election and human
responsibility question without diminishing either God's absolute sovereignty or
our genuine freedom.
The mystery is more for those who are yet unsaved and therefore
cannot understand God's plan of salvation....
1 Corinthians 2:14 "But the natural man receiveth not the
things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he
know them, because they are spiritually discerned."
The author's use of the phrase "our genuine freedom"
presupposes that man has "genuine" freedom, whatever that is. The use
of such a phrase also denies what Christ said in John chapter 8:
John 8:31 "Then said Jesus to those Jews which
believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples
indeed; 32 And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you
free. 33 They answered him, We be Abraham’s seed, and were never in
bondage to any man: how sayest thou, Ye shall be made free? 34 Jesus
answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is
the servant [1401] of sin."
When we look at the Greek for the word "servant" in
John 8:34, we see that the premise that man has freedom is a false premise...
1401 doulov doulos doo’-los, from
1210; noun
AV-servant 120, bond 6, bondman 1; 127
1) a slave, bondman, man of servile condition
1a) a slave
One thing we can say for sure is that all believers
have been "chosen according to [in harmony with] the foreknowledge of God
the Father" (1 Pet. 1:2).
A true believer can also be sure of who accepts whom,
who chooses whom. Also, the Greek does NOT mean, "in harmony
with". It means "according to." It is a preposition,
which "positions" our election in respect to God's foreknowledge.
Election And You
The declaration "He is
the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins
of the whole world (1 Jn. 2:2)) assures us that no one has been predestinated
for eternal condemnation.
This verse is no assurance if we
understand the passage correctly. John in his writings to the Church continually
refers to "all" and the "whole world" for a reason. He is
explaining that salvation is not just for the Jews. It has come to the
gentiles... the whole world. This has to be the case, otherwise no one would end
up in hell if their sins were atoned for. The question which must be asked
is, "What is the result of Christ's death?" Christ
spoke of hell and future judgment very frequently. If Christ died for all
the people Mr. DeHaan talks about in the above verses, why are they going to
hell? For example:
Matthew 5:29 "And if thy right eye offend thee, pluck it
out, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy
members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell."
Matthew 5:30 "And if thy right hand offend thee, cut it
off, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy
members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell."
Luke 12:4 "And I say unto you my friends, Be not afraid of
them that kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do. 5
But I will forewarn you whom ye shall fear: Fear him, which after he hath killed
hath power to cast into hell; yea, I say unto you, Fear him."
John 3:16-17 promises us,
"For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever
believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not
send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through
Him."
This is only half the story. The
author conveniently left out verse 18. Christ did not come into the world to
condemn the world because the world was condemned already...
John 3:18 "He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he
that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the
name of the only begotten Son of God."
It's predestined that all who
reject Christ will be judged.
It is predestined that ALL will
be judged. All have sinned (Romans 3:23). All are guilty (Isaiah 59:1-4).
However, according to the good pleasure of God, Christ redeemed some by His
blood, removing the guilt from those elect sinners and placing that guilt on
Himself...
Revelation 5:9 "And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art
worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and
hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue,
and people, and nation"
Romans 14:10 "But why dost thou judge thy brother? or why
dost thou set at nought thy brother? for we shall all stand before the
judgment seat of Christ."
So at the Judgment, those whose guilt has been atoned for by
Christ, will be judged not guilty, but they will be "judged"
never-the-less.
No one ever needs to ask,
"Have I been elected?".
On the contrary, we are commanded
to ask, for that is part of what is referred to here:
2 Corinthians 13:5 "Examine yourselves, whether ye be in
the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that
Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?"
The proper question is,
"Have I accepted Jesus' atoning death for me?"
This is an irrelevant
question! Jesus died for whomever he came to save. The proper
question is: "Has Christ accepted me? Am I truly one of His? Has HE made me
a new creature in Christ? Has HE converted me?
Ephesians 1:6 "To the praise of the glory of his grace,
wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved."
Matthew 18:3 "And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye
be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the
kingdom of heaven."
If you have
acknowledged your sin, [if you] have believed that Jesus died for you and rose
again, and [if you] have committed yourself to a life of trust in and reliance
on Him, you are a member of His elect (chosen) body, the church (Rom. 10:9).
This is a man-centered gospel,
that depends on YOU the sinner, rather than on CHRIST the Saviour. This
man-centered gospel states that YOU need to acknowledge your sin (which you
can't do if you are spiritually dead). This man-centered gospel says that YOU
need to believe that Jesus died for you (which you don't know if you are not
saved yet - Christ did not die for you if you are not one of His elect). This
man centered gospel says YOU have to commit yourself to a life of trust in
Christ. The truth is, God works belief (trust) IN your heart, that Christ
died for your sins, once he has converted you. The truth is, Christ has
committed himself to the salvation and continuance of every real believer
who has received a new heart and a new spirit from God. God has caused
these to be so."...
Ezekiel 36:26 "A new heart also will I give you, and a new
spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your
flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh. 27 And I will put my spirit
within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my
judgments, and do them."
The truth is, you are a member of Christ's elect (chosen) body,
the church, if and only if:
1. God chose you from before the foundation of the world:
Ephesians 1:4 "According as he hath chosen us in him before
the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him
in love: 5 Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus
Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will"
2. Christ therefore has PAID for your sins:
1 Peter 3:18 "For Christ also hath once suffered for sins,
the just for the unjust , that he might bring us to God, being put to death in
the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit"
What you do with
Jesus now determines whether you will bow before Him in joy or despair,
whether your destiny will be heaven or hell.
Wrong. Salvation is based on what Christ did on the cross.
It is what Jesus has done with you which determines where you will
spend eternity. The question for you dear reader is, did He suffer and die
for YOUR sins? How do you know? Do you bear the fruit and marks of a true
Christian? Do you believe and preach a man-centered gospel or an entirely
Christ-centered Gospel?
The good news is,
"Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved" (Acts
16:31).
This is true, but in a certain way only. Those who believe in
the Lord Jesus will certainly be saved. But they are not saved BECAUSE they
believe. They believe because they have already become saved by a supernatural
WORK OF GOD who enabled them to properly believe in Christ when He put His
spirit in them...
John 6:29 "Jesus answered and said
unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath
sent."
God's heart is for everyone
when He promises, "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be
saved" (Rom. 10:13).
This is another truism in the sense of Acts 16:31 above.
Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord, calls on Him because they are saved,
not to become saved. They will be among the saved in glory. A dog barks because it is a dog, not to become a dog.
A sheep says "baa baa" not to become a sheep but because it IS a
sheep. Believers continually call on their Lord and His holy name, BECAUSE they
are indwelt with His spirit and it has become their nature to call upon Him who
died for them. But to say that God's heart is for everyone is to call God a
liar. For it is He who said:
Romans 9:15 "Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have
mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion."
Psalms 5:5 "The foolish shall not stand in thy sight: thou
hatest all workers of iniquity. 6 Thou shalt destroy them that speak
leasing: the LORD will abhor the bloody and deceitful man."
Psalms 11:5 "The LORD trieth the righteous: but the wicked
and him that loveth violence his soul hateth. 6 Upon the wicked he shall
rain snares, fire and brimstone, and an horrible tempest: this shall be the
portion of their cup."
In conclusion, let me say that we need to be very wary of any
and all preachers, teachers, and "Christian" ministries. Many
are way off on issues as fundamental as this issue of election and
predestination - this question of who is in charge of salvation, God or man? It
is crucial that all true believers be like the Bereans of Acts 17:11, examining
the scriptures, proving all things, testing the spirits, and earnestly
contending for the faith.
Ray Kane
|
