He [God] does not predestinate individuals. God is like the loving father of a large family. He knows that at least some of His children will reciprocate His love, but He does not predetermine the number.Major error: The only passage that seems to be cited in support for this idea is Revelation 7. The error is quite simple. You do not go to texts that are not addressing a particular topic to defend that topic. Instead we ought to go to texts such as Ephesians 1 or Romans 8-9 or John 6.
Another major error is that the text assumes foreknowledge from a philosophical viewpoint, not a biblical one. It assumes that God knows all things but is passive in that knowledge. He doesn't know all things because of his decree, but instead knows all things because He takes in knowledge passively. He is the great predictor.
Another problem with foreknowledge is that the author/s quickly throw in other major doctrines such as predestination and election and foreordination. This is a tactic used by cults. They purposely confuse the reader by mixing terms without accurately defining them Biblically. In two paragraphs they mix all of these terms in such a way as to make the reader think they are all dealt with in a couple of texts of Scripture. Although all of these teachings are very interrelated, biblical definitions must be established. This they do not do.
Another major error is the assumption of the nature of man as having some kind of autonomous free-will. It is simply assumed throughout the article that men choose their own destinies. The idea that men are slaves of sin, dead in sins and trespasses, wicked and rebellious by nature is completely foreign to the author/s. They also overlook passages that directly speak to man's inability to choose God.
The Bible speaks of men being predestinated unto life. Jesus said in John 6 that all that the Father has given to Him will come to Him. He will then raise them and only the ones that were given to Him. This is the will of God, that Jesus loose nothing but raise them up on the last day. Jesus does this without fail.
If Jesus were given a group in which some or many failed to be raised on the Last Day, then He would be failing to do the work of God in salvation. Salvation is not dependent upon my choosing God, but upon God choosing me.
1 comment:
Covenant Theology is of great assistance here. If JWs and others properly understood the Covenant of Works as opposed to the Covenant of Grace, they might not make the mistakes they do. Or at least be one step closer to understanding the Biblical model of salvation by Grace Alone through Faith Alone in Christ Alone.
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