1)
Scripture does not say God "constituted" humankind, but Romans 5:19 says God made humankind "sinners."
To be made a sinner, while having not done anything good or evil (Romans 9:11) must mean to be made with the consequence of sin, corruption so they are predisposed to sin, and separation from God, conceived in the realm of darkness.
Calvinism makes God the author of sin, because God ordains (predestines) whatsoever comes to pass. But in the next sentence, Calvinism says God is not the author of sin. So OTOH, God predestines every sin, yet does not predestine every sin.
Behold the cognitive dissonance of Calvinism.
1) If a person is unable to seek God, are they sinning when not seeking God?
2) If a person is punished for not seeking God, are they punished because God made them unable to seek God?
3)
Thus the "T" of the Tulip is unbiblical, because it removed human responsibility for sin.
Who would embrace this irrational and unbiblical twaddle?
If God “predisposed” mankind to sin as a consequence of the fall (and everyone sinned and is separated from God), what was the basis for God determining the consequences of the fall?
And why are you asking me? It's your position as a Calvinist, not mine.
Do not Calvinists believe that as a result of Adam's sin mankind was rendered unable to even confess its depravity and unable even to simply believe the gospel?
And who is it that set those consequences of the fall if not God? Was it not God that ordained the thorns and thistles, and the pain of childbearing? And is it not God that so constituted mankind after the fall as to be unable to even believe?
Is it not God that predestinates and foreordains every little last element?
Sin causes a separation from our Holy God.
To be made sinners refers to our condition at conception. Mark 7:21 illustrates the corruption of our soul/spirit.
In short the basis for God causing the consequence of the Fall is His Holiness and Justice.
1) Scripture does not say God "constituted" humankind, but Romans 5:19 says God made humankind "sinners." To be made a sinner, while having not done anything good or evil (Romans 9:11) must mean to be made with the consequence of sin, corruption so they are predisposed to sin, and separation from God, conceived in the realm of darkness.
Calvinism makes God the author of sin, because God ordains (predestines) whatsoever comes to pass. But in the next sentence, Calvinism says God is not the author of sin. So OTOH, God predestines every sin, yet does not predestine every sin.
Behold the cognitive dissonance of Calvinism.
1) If a person is unable to seek God, are they sinning when not seeking God?
2) If a person is punished for not seeking God, are they punished because God made them unable to seek God?
3) Thus the "T" of the Tulip is unbiblical, because it removed human responsibility for sin.
Who would embrace this irrational and unbiblical twaddle?
I think we're talking past each other here.
Our point is that in that in the Calvinist system God is unjust, unlike in the non-Cal system. Here's why:
men don't ultimately go to hell for the sins they do - they ultimately go to hell for rejecting the cure which is Christ.
So, yes, even in the non-Cal system, men inherit a fallen sinful nature with a propensity to sin, but that doesn't guarantee their damnation since they remain free to simply believe on Christ.
However, in the Calvinist system, they inherit something (inability to see their condition and believe the gospel) which guarantees their damnation.
You have agreed God has “constituted” mankind with a sin nature as a result of the fall that condemns them without Christ.
You state your position is different from the Calvinists because mankind still has the ability to respond to the gospel with “free will” while the Calvinists say they are unable unless God intervenes to make them able.
The Calvinists will say everyone God has chosen will hear the gospel and be saved.
You say mankind will go to hell for rejecting Jesus, not for sin.
So, what happens to those who never hear the gospel or the name of Jesus? They never get the chance to accept or reject: they still have a sin nature as a result of God “constituting” them with a sin nature and are separated from God:
Scripture gives the example of pharaoh, and says God hardens whom He will harden and have mercy on whom He will have mercy.
In that context, the “hardening” is not to prevent Pharaoh from salvation (which appears to me the point you are trying to make) but to accomplish God’s will in bringing the Hebrew people out of slavery with mighty miracles.
Scripture also speaks of the Jewish people (generally not totally) being blinded to the truth of the gospel so that by their rejection the gospel would go to the Gentiles until the fullness comes and the “veil” is lifted.
Again, the emphasis is on God accomplishing His will.
I do not believe anyone is seeking God without intervention of God Holy Spirit so I reject the idea that Calvinism teaches God “hardens” people (non-elect) to keep them from accepting Christ.
Now, I have answered your question directly, will you answer mine?
What happens to those folks that never hear the gospel or the name of Jesus if people only go to hell for rejecting the gospel?
I’m glad we agree about the “hardening” of Pharaoh. I don’t know what all “Calvinists” believe, but I would be surprised if “many, many” believe God hardens the heart of the non-elect that are desiring salvation to keep them out.
I did ask you in another thread about those who never heard. If I remember, your answer was vague.
Would you please tell me again and elaborate somewhat more directly, particularly how it relates to how God has “constituted” mankind after the fall?
Sure, I said God doesn’t harden the non-elect that are desiring salvation to keep them from being saved because no one seeks God for salvation unless God intervenes in their lives. All elect will be saved, whether Jew or Gentile.
As far as the Jews and the “blindness” to the gospel, again this is to fulfill God’s plan that the gospel goes to the Gentiles, not that God is keeping any particular person from salvation. All elect will be saved, whether Jew or Gentile, and no one seeks God for salvation unless Holy Spirit intervenes in their lives.
It’s not just that the gospel, Christ and Him crucified, was rejected. The gospel is rejected so violently and throughly by Israel that it goes to the Gentiles.
There were many schools of thought in first century Judaism, but all were debated from the standpoint they were part of the Jewish faith.
The violent rejection of a “crucified Messiah” eventually displaced Christianity from being accepted as part of Judaism, both by Jewish leaders and by the Roman government.
And so, the purpose of God sending the gospel to the Gentiles was accomplished.