SIN IS NO CAUSE OF REPROBATION - John Bunyan

There is a command to repent for sins. This command is heard by the non-elect- and many of them. Take a poll of the unsaved population of America and see how many of them have heard of John 3:16.

The non-elect are responsible for their rejection of Christ because it was their sins that blinded and darkened their hearts to the truth.

If I walked into a jail and set 10 prisoners free, the other prisoners might get indignant- "Why didn't he set us free?" but it was they who put themselves where they are.

When you strain at the concept of reprobation- you forget that man willfully sins and willfully rejects God. It doesn't matter what the circumstances are- and who God elects to save. Each man is still responsible for his own sins and his own fallen state.

 

True, sin is no cause for reprobation! People are damned for rejecting Christ and remaining in their sin! Reprobation is the term for determining in eternity past that some would be of the elect and others would be reprobated! Do you object to this plan of God, our most holy sovereign Lord of all the earth? Remember, we're little mud balls and He is the potter! As so stated in Romans 9, Who are you to reply against God? Does not the potter have power over the clay, from the same lump to make one vessel for honor and another for dishonor?
Most every problem of understanding goes back to either the depravity of man or the sovereignty of God. Men read in the bible what they want to see, not what is actually there as so stated!! Look at it closely, written with the finger of God!!

 

From the 1689 confession:

6. As for those wicked and ungodly men whom God, as the righteous judge, for former sin doth blind and harden; from them he not only withholdeth his grace, whereby they might have been enlightened in their understanding, and wrought upon their hearts; but sometimes also withdraweth the gifts which they had, and exposeth them to such objects as their corruption makes occasion of sin; and withal, gives them over to their own lusts, the temptations of the world, and the power of Satan, whereby it comes to pass that they harden themselves, under those means which God useth for the softening of others.
( Romans 1:24-26, 28; Romans 11:7, 8; Deuteronomy 29:4; Matthew 13:12; Deuteronomy 2:30; 2 Kings 8:12, 13; Psalms 81:11, 12; 2 Thessalonians 2:10-12; Exodus 8:15, 32; Isaiah 6:9, 10; 1 Peter 2:7, 8 )

 

But I thought one of the premises of Calvanism was that humans sin due to "instinct" or "nature". In other words, they are like animals, just following they're intrinsic desires. So they do not choose to sin. Why does God punish those who have no choice? Sounds very unfair.

 

Because of original sin we are spiritually DEAD, unable to choose or ask for help, until God in His great mercy touches our heart and calls us to Himself! We are totally unable to choose! There is none righteous, no, not one; There is none who understands; There is none who seeks after God. They have all turned aside; They have together become unprofitable; There is none who does good; no, not one. Rom 3:10-13
But then comes the good part in Eph 2:1-4 And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others. But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved)

Actually our belief and even our faith are gifts from Him who loved us and elected us!!
God is so good!!

 

There are so many who receive the testimony of God only so far as they can satisfactorily account for all the reasons and grounds of His conduct, which means they will accept nothing but that which can be measured in the petty scales of their own limited capacities.(quote,AW Pink, The Sovereignty of God in Reprobation, pg 81) He also explains that obviously if some are elected to salvation then some are not. Election indicates choice, as in some are chosen, some are not!! If God had willed their salvation would He not have vouchsafed them the means of salvation?

Joshua made war a long time with all those kings. There was not a city that made peace with the children of Israel, save the Hivites the inhabitants of Gibion; all the other they took in battle. For it was of the Lord to harden their hearts, that they should come against Israel in battle, that He might destroy them utterly, and that they might have no favour, but that He might destroy them, as the Lord commanded Moses. (Josh.11:18-20)
Prov 16:4 The Lord hath made all things for Himself; yea, even the wicked for the day of evil!
Also, regarding Pharaoh, Even for this purpose have I raised thee up, that I might shew My power in thee, and that MY name might be declard throughout all the earth! Rom 9:17
When God said in Matt 7:23 "Depart from me, ye that work iniquity, I never knew you", note that He said He NEVER knew you, meaning they had never been known by God.

If one has a hunger and thirst for God that is a good sign that God is drawing them to Himself and they must obey that summons!
Behold therefore the goodness and the severity of God!! Romans 11:22
In this book The Sovereignty of God by AW Pink he does a great job of explaining the significance of God's sovereignty in all areas of creation, salvation, reprobation, prayer, evangelism and well substantiates it all with scripture!
Blessings!

 

Please supply references where being "dead in sin" means being unable to choose or ask for help. I won't be holding my breath.

 

2BHizown,

But whetstone had this to say,

So do we sin by instinct or by choice? Again, it seems unfair that God would punish those who have no choice.

 

TCassidy,

You might be surprised.

 

TCassidy,

So lets just say it, "Humans are enemies with God by birth, not by choice". Again, sounds very unfair for God to punish those who have no choice in the matter.

 

Romans 8:7 "Because the carnal mind is enmity against God." Do you ask your enemies to help you? No. You hate them. Just as the sinner hates God. And, of course, the fallen man not only doesn't ask his enemy, God, for help, he doesn't even believe he needs help! He is convinced he is okay without God.

That flushing noise you just heard was your theory going down the tubes. </font>[/QUOTE]Rom 8:6 To set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace.
Who is doing the "setting"? Incurs the ability to set, no? Anything that has a calvinistic spin is what needs to be flushed.

 

So lets just say it, "Humans are enemies with God by birth, not by choice". Again, sounds very unfair for God to punish those who have no choice in the matter. </font>[/QUOTE]Humans are born in sin. If GOD was fair we would all be in hell.