Todd Akin, An American Hero

Congressman Akin,  An American Hero

Congressman Akin’s statement  “the female body has ways to try to shut the whole body down” has ironically been shown to be scientifically accurate after all. This does not dismiss or condone his mis-articulation but emphasizes Hans Selye’s non-judgmental “destresse” draw tight.

Scientists at Tufts University have identified and detailed how stress hormones can “wreak havoc on the uterus and fetus”. It seems a hormone Corticotropin-releasing hormone is secreted in reaction to stress, triggering contractions.

Studies demonstrate CRH hormone is produced in the placenta and uterus as well as other areas of the body. Corticotropin releasing hormone specifically targets mast cells abundant in the uterus. Under stress CRH is released causing mast cells in the uterus to secrete substances that increases the probability of miscarriages.

These findings support the fact that disease is more biopsychosocial than physical.

Traumatic stress of a forcible rape could initiate spontaneous abortion as a homeostasis mechanism.

Stress is a French word, destresse, meaning to draw tight. The father of stress, Hans Selye defines stress as “the non-specific response of the body to any demand placed on it.”

Is a forcible rape stressful? Dr. Ann Burgess has identified multiple components of Rape Trauma Syndrome (RTS) which results from damage to brain circuitry. The syndrome  affects the emotions, behavior, cognition and family interrelationships. There are causal relationships between the stress of rape and depression, dissociation, phobias and somatoform disorders.

I am not condoning the congressman’s statements but find in his mis-articulations a bit of irony. Let me be clear. Rape is reprehensible and never legitimate. No woman who has been sexually assaulted would find comfort in the Tufts findings.

The real issue here is not about congressman Akin’s misstep in articulation. It’s all about politics.

Representative Akin became a straw man for the Democrats.

Congressman Akin clarified his position on abortion with these statements.

"As a member of Congress, I believe that working to protect the most vulnerable in our society is one of my most important responsibilities, and that includes protecting both the unborn and victims of sexual assault.  In reviewing my off-the-cuff remarks, it's clear that I misspoke in this interview and it does not reflect the deep empathy I hold for the thousands of women who are raped and abused every year.  Those who perpetrate these crimes are the lowest of the low in our society and their victims will have no stronger advocate in the Senate to help ensure they have the justice they deserve”.

Leftist hate response to Todd’s clarification was fast and furious. Their hate comments exposed a fundamental truth about progressives that we have known for some time. They are in bondage to absolutist ideologies and agendas that are promoted with methods just short of tyranny. Their desire is to politicize every aspect of life.

 “. . . there is no less grave a danger that the fundamental rights of the human  person will be denied and that the religious  yearning which arise in the heart of every human being will be absorbed once again into politics.”  Veritatis Splendor

The initial moral-ethical response of a righteous people was justified. However, righteous people are forgiving people and the same virtues of being righteously indignant would favor righteous forgiveness.

More light was shed regarding the character of both Republicans and Democrats than on the character of the Missouri congressman. As his misstatements were being “absorbed into politics” the hypocrisy of the liberals were highlighted. Hypocrisy because progressives have no value for a baby’s life.

Consider abortions where a baby’s limbs are pulled apart or the lungs injected with saline to suffocate the child with salt solution. If anyone desires to see the horrific realities of an abortion, of which I decline due to the graphic realities, simply go on-line. If seeing scissors inserted into a baby’s skull and the baby’s brains sucked out doesn’t bother you I’m sorry for you. May God help us.

Congressman Akin is vilified for his pro-life positions. However, consider the alternatives that our progressive friends offer. Obama has voted infanticide to be “legitimate”. He has said it is “legitimate” [in principle] to kill babies that have been born after a botched abortion. Abortion is the ultimate expression of the “female body shutting down the whole body”.

I’m writing this post asking the question, where was support for congressman Akin? What ought to have happened and the reality of what actually happened are a sad commentary on the Grand Old Party. Quoting Wittaker Chambers ,”The great failing of American conservatives is they do not retrieve their wounded”. The republicans were intimidated by “kratos” [brutish] of the democrats. Demo = people;  Crats (Krats) [ brutal sense] hence “democrats”.

For the courage of his convictions, the honorable congressman Todd Akin is my hero. He needs no defense as he has done nothing wrong. We do not punish a child for spilling milk nor do we punish a representative for mis-articulating. I believe representative Akin would be supremely qualified to be our president.

Wrongness has been exposed by the GOP for failing to support the congressman. In trying to unite the party they have divided the party. David (Psalm 133) states that where there is unity, there the Lord commands a blessing. We sacrificed a blessing by abandoning our own.

“If we divine a discrepancy between a man’s words and his character, the whole impression of him becomes broken and painful; he revolts the imagination by his lack of unity, and even the good in him is hardly accepted”.  [Charles Horton Cooley]

Congressman Todd Akin has given us his precise views of abortion. His views are consistent with a belief life begins at conception.  He is pro-life and his record has been consistent with pro-life principles. The response by Republican overlords to Todd’s mis-speak has been shameful.

Consider a meeting, 1994, Orlando, Florida. One hundred forty professors of religion signed the document, “Judgment Day at the White House: A Critical Declaration Exploring Moral Issues and the Political Use and Abuse of Religion”. Paragraph 4.

 “We maintain that in general there is a reasonable threshold of behavior beneath which our public leaders should not fall, because the moral character of a people is more important than the tenure of a particular political or the protection of a particular political agenda. “

  

It seems the GOP had no remembrance of the Judgment Day Declaration.

Supporting representative Akin would be reasonable. It’s clear that politics, even with Republicans, trump morality. Liberals have no problem gaining the presidency at the expense of virtue as they are enslaved by ideology. Are Republicans pursuing enslavement by agenda and moral passivity as well?

Introducing Sovereignty

Our second president, John Adams, made this profound statement, “It is religion and morality alone which can establish the principles upon which freedom can securely stand. The only foundation of a free constitution is pure virtue”.

Christians are taught faith and temperance are virtues.

“And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue: and to virtue knowledge; And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness love”. II Peter 1:5

“Only a virtuous people are capable of freedom. As nations become more corrupt and vicious they have more need of masters.” [Benjamin Franklin]

“Sell not virtue to purchase wealth, nor liberty to purchase power.” [Benjamin Franklin]

“It is hopeless to offer Christianity as a vaguely idealistic aspiration of a simple and consoling kind; it is, on the contrary, a hard, tough, exacting and complex doctrine, steeped in a drastic and uncompromising realism.” [Sayers]  Creed or Chaos? P.31

Our elitist Republican friends were not looking through the lens of virtue but a political lens, ignoring conscience.

“How can they be sovereigns of the nation if they are not sovereigns of themselves”?  [Michael Novak, The Causes of Virtue”, l994]

If Republican leaders lay aside their respective consciences for political advantage they will lose all advantage. Our consciences tell us that congressman Akin is a good man, of good character and reputation, honorable and deserving of support.

“Calvin wrote four centuries ago, the turbulent state of the world deprives us of our judgment”. In such days there is inexpressible comfort in the sovereignty of God. The world has not been abandoned to old and relentless hate, nor has it been given over to the totalitarianism of man or devil. God’s counsel still stands and He still does all His pleasure. It is still true, surely as I have thought, so shall it come to pass; and as I have purposed, so shall it stand” (Isaiah 14:24) [John Murray on “The Sovereignty of God (Part II)].

Republicans

Our nation is at a crossroads. We are allowing politics to become our God. We are grabbing the reigns of politics tighter and tighter when we need to loosen.  The sphere of politics are in God’s sovereign domain. He alone discharges by appointment. God alone directs and sustains all institutions, events and happenings. He alone binds and loosens. He alone establishes and tears down. He alone sets the boundaries.

Discarding representative Akin for political expediency was immoral. It demonstrated a repudiation of God’s sovereignty in the affairs of man. Are Republican overlords so arrogant as to believe they can override the counsels of God? God honors genuineness. He desires more than a verbal assent to His sovereignty.

Consider the sovereignty of God in the 2008 election. Any number of issues should have kept Obama off the ticket. Obama sat under the ministry of Jeremiah Wright who preached hate against America for twenty years. It wasn’t until Obama took office that Michelle Obama confessed to liking America.

Obama’s family history indicated he and members of his family had a penchant for communism. Instinctively we sensed something amiss with this man and were confident voters would reject his leadership when vetted. I firmly believed Obama held to the tenets of a totalitarian system as described by Karl Dietrich Bracher.

Ø  Absolute exclusive ideology.

Ø  Legalized terror justified by chiliastic promises

Ø  Control of the state and society by means of force

Ø  Forming of a “new man”.

Ø  Negation of further conflicts

Ø  Suppression of opposition in favor of ideo-political unity and technological efficiency.

Ø  The irrational equation of oligarchial leadership of the interests of the whole.

Ø  Absolute rule instead of leadership.

Ø  Bureacratic control of economic life by means of centralized government.

Ø  Complete control of the media and all relevant instruments of coercion.

However, the man was not vetted and the more realization that Obama aspired to the above tenets the more America seemed charmed and in awe. Smitten by what I call jawbone politics. Jawbones can destroy nations. Obama, attractive, charismatic and if given a teleprompter, a decent speaker; qualities that would lead people to ignore the trite things such as world view, ideo-politcal thought, value of life, limits of government and governing skills.

If God, in His sovereignty, could move a nation to accept a socialist with totalitarian leanings, could He not sovereignly guide a political party through a misarticulation?

 “ . . . and He does according to His will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth: and none can stay His hand, or say to Him, What doeth thou?” Daniel 4:35.

On acknowledging the sovereignty of God John Wesley wrote to Wilberforce,

“Unless God has raised you up for this very thing, you will be worn out by the opposition of men and devils. But if God be with you.  who can be against you? Are all of them together stronger than God? O be not weary in well-doing!  Go on, in the name of God and in the power of His might, till even American slavery shall vanish away”.

Conclusion

Congressman Todd Akin was right in not stepping down from his campaign. I believe Todd to be a virtuous man with moral excellence. I am sorry for the deluge of unwarranted hate mail Todd received; however, as far as eternity  judgments Todd is the winner.

Republicans are at a crossroads. Either we believe God is in the affairs of man or man determines his own destiny. Either we are united and receive God’s blessing or divided and receive his judgments. Either we accept God’s sovereignty and proclaim as the apostle Paul, “I am sure of this . . .” or we fight God’s counsels and struggle with political realities, patching, blaming, accusing and trying to fix the irreparable.

Congressman Akin, in a moment of time, did not articulate precisely what he felt but the Republican elites articulated precisely how they felt and I’ve taken notice. Those I once respected have lost my respect. They rejected kindness and gentleness and forgiveness in favor of self serving political gain.

Thank you congressman Todd Akin for being my hero.

                                                                                                              

Ref: WebMD/how-stress-causes-miscarriage

Theological Precision or Theological Certainty

 

This post is in response to an article, May 3, 20ll entitled “Resistible Grace or Sinless Perfection? A Call for Theological Precision in The Calvinist Accounting of Monergistic Conversion”.

A question is posited regarding Calvinists turning to faith. The question is posed thus "Why, in Calvinism, the newly regenerated sinner necessarily turns to Christ in faith.” How this “faith response can be a theological certainty given the remaining presence of the sinful nature?

The author is calling for “theological precision” in regards to the elective counsels of God. Precision will never happen on either side of the controversy as issues regarding salvation are hidden in the mind of God and His good pleasure. “The wind blows where it wishes”. Jn 3:8. There is no precise predicting the  winds.

Theological certainty is found in God’s decrees of Romans 8:29,30 and subsequent efficacious callings. Only the grace of God can break through our sinful nature.

The hymn “I Know In Whom I Have Believed” goes thus:

I know not why God’s wondrous grace

To me He hath made known,

Nor why, unworthy, Christ in love

Redeemed me for His own

Refrain . . .

I know not how this saving faith
To me He did impart,
Nor how believing in His Word
Wrought peace within my heart.

I know not how the Spirit moves,
Convincing men of sin,
Revealing Jesus through the Word,
Creating faith in Him.

  

How does anyone come to faith, given our sinful natures? We come to faith because of the operation of the Holy Spirit creating faith within. The certainty is in God’s decree.

“For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. 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.” Romans 8:29,30.

Absolute certitude is intrinsic to each of these salvific events, i.e. predestination, calling, justification and glorification.

Certainty is grounded in the truth that these salvation events are of God.

It is God who predestinates and calls. It is God who opens man’s heart and draws him to faith. Believing is the work of God.

“Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.” Jn 6:29

It is not the sinner overcoming the sinful nature but God. Man is given knowledge and enlightment but these do not guarantee salvation. It is the grace of God that provides regeneration and an open heart that guarantees faith and justification.

And a certain woman named Lydia, a seller of purple, of the city of Thyatira, which worshipped God, heard us: whose heart the Lord opened, that she attended unto the things which were spoken of Paul.” Acts 16:14.

“All that the Father giveth me shall come to me . . “ Jn 6:37

“No man can come to me except the Father which hath sent me draw him . .” Jn 6:44

“ . . . no man can come unto me, except it were given unto him of my Father.” Jn 6:65

The work of God in salvation is the result of God’s sovereignty shrouded in mystery.

“The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes.” Jn 3:8

Jesus announces a great mystery regarding salvation. The Spirit of Regeneration is like a wind that is free and irresistible. There is no withstanding the forces of a powerful wind. There is no certainty to the winds. Only God controls the winds. The winds of faith are not in man’s control. Why would God work faith in one individual and not another? These are truths hidden in the mind of God and serve His purposes and good pleasure.

We must allow for mysteries and paradoxes. Mysteries and paradoxes are capable of being understood and may be elaborated in glory (probably not).  Notice I did not say contradictions.

There is the other half of the inquiry. How can faith be certain if the sinner has a sinful nature? The answer is grace. Ephesians 2: 1-5. Grace overcomes death itself.

“And you were dead in your trespasses and sins, in which you formerly walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit now working in the sons of disobedience.

Among them we too all formerly lived in the lusts of our flesh, indulging the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, even as the rest. But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ [by grace you have been saved]”. Ep. 2: 1-5.

Grace is the unmerited favor of God. Notice I did not use the word “favorites” of God. Arminians falsely believe that election to salvation plays favorites. There is a difference between favor and favoritism. God does not play favorites.

In regards to Joseph, God “gave him favor and wisdom in the presence of Pharaoh . . .”

Acts 7: 9-10.

Jesus gained in favor with God, “And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man.” Luke 2:52.

The Greek word is charis, grace. Grace is defined as the unmerited favor of God. The angel came to Mary, “Hail thou that art highly favored, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women.” Luke 1:28.

Mary was in the lineage of David, a virgin and first cousin of Elizabeth. Were these the qualities that gave favor to Mary? Mary was faithful to God, morally pure, submissive, obedient, humble and of good courage. Were these the qualities that gained her the privilege of being Jesus’ mother?

The Greek word for Mary’s favor is charis (grace). God did not choose Mary to be the mother of Jesus based on spirituality or personality but extended His unmerited favor (grace) to a humble Jewish woman.

“And it was so, when the king saw Esther the queen standing in the court, that she obtained favor in his sight: and the king held out to Esther the golden scepter that was in his hand. So Esther drew near, and touched the top of the scepter.” Esther 5:2

Yes, the king had to raise the scepter as it was ordained of God. And yes he had complete freedom to reject Esther.

As Christians we will occasionally tilt toward favoritism. Like the world,  we patronize, manipulate and show respect of personhood to gain advantage. However, favoritism has no place in the life of a Christian. Our Godly heritage is one of unmerited favor not opportunistic advantage.

The Christian’s advantage is the sovereignty of God working out His plan providentially, giving gifts and always sufficient grace. “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. Romans 8:28.

A Christian who shows favoritism not only reveals character weakness to the world but fights grace

Calling of God

Certainty of faith despite our sinful nature is linked to the calling of God. “Whom He did predestinate them He also called.” Favor is extended to those predestinated and called.

“I am sought of them that asked not for me; I am found of them that sought me not: I said, Behold me, behold me, unto a nation that was not called by my name.” Isa 65:1.

For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:7,8

“ . . .  infallible assurance doth not so belong to the essence of faith but that a true believer may wait long and conflict with many difficulties before he be partaker of it...   Westminster Confession of Faith, Chapter 18, paragraph 3

The calling is certain because of the one calling. “God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord.” I Cor. 1:9.

“But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother’s womb, and called me by his grace, To reveal His Son in me . . .”Gal. 1:15.

“. . . and as many as were ordained (decreed) to eternal life believed.” Acts 13:48.

Paul gives us a panoramic view of salvific events that are linked one to another. In the Greek language.  Romans 8:29-30 forms an “ellipsis” which implies those predestinated and only those predestinated are called, and those who are called and only those called are justified, and those who are justified, and only those justified them he also glorified.

The answer to our question regarding faith is found in the integrity and linkage of these salvific events. As a Christian how sure am I of coming to faith? Just as sure as my decreed glorification.

This doesn’t mean we may not kick against the pricks or even desire salvation. (Read Hound of Heaven and Determinism).

“I am sought of them that asked not for me; I am found of them that sought me not: I said, Behold me, behold me, unto a nation that was not called by my name.” Isa 65:1.

Theological certainty is inherent in God’s decree. But the question posed was theological certainty of faith in light of our sinful nature. The answer is twofold. The first is grace and the second is our freedom in Christ.

Scripture defines freedom in a context of sin rather than constraints. Regeneration gives freedom for a man to come to faith.

“But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness and the end everlasting life.”  Romans 6.22

Paul recognized the mind as carnal and not subject to God, “for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be”.  As R.C. Sproul puts it, the faculties are there but the facility to come to faith is not there. This is where the monergistic operative work of God manifests. It must be monergistic as man is too iniquitous to cooperate with grace.

Predeterminism is grounded in grace.

The Father gives grace to change man’s will. “. . . no man can come unto me, except it were  given unto him of my Father”. Jn 6:65.

Far from being contradictory to free thought, God’s determinism guarantees liberty of thought and second causes whereby regeneration can occur. Without an efficacious call God could only look down from heaven “hoping” man to be saved.

Arminians define any form of preordination as interfering with free choice. Paulinists on the other hand, view an absence of predeterminations as destroying freedom. Without God’s predispositions in predestination man would have no choice as even liberty to choose is efficaciously decreed.

Paul recognized the mind of the natural man as carnal, therefore, not subject to God “ for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be”. (Rom 8:7) Paul understood it is impossible for the unregenerate to make spiritual decisions as his will is coerced by sin, therefore never free.

Paul described the unregenerate man as natural man. The natural man is not equipped to respond to the laws of God. This innate inability, to be subject to the laws of God, distinguishes the lost from the saved.

It is the inability to be subject to God, not the doctrine of predestination, that forms the basis of refuting the free will myth.

R.C. Sproul describes the unrighteous freedom of the unregenerate.The free choices made will necessarily be in a context of self will not free will. This freedom is natural and grounded in self gratification, therefore, not equipped for moral or spiritual choices. “But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God . . .”1 Corinthians 2:14.

Alternatively, one saved by God’s grace live in a righteous freedom capable of receiving the things of God, enabling him to respond in faith. “For what man knows the things of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God.” I Corinthians 2:11.

Calling

To the author’s credit there is difficulty and mystery in God’s efficacious call. The Holy Spirt must persuade without coercion. Coercion by definition is using duress or leverage to force a decision against one’s will. God directs our thoughts and actions and sets boundaries  but does not control our thoughts.

This truth is difficult for Arminians to accept. Some men are so recalcitrant to determinsim as to see only coercion. It happened with Christ. As He proclaimed the truth that man does not have the ability to come to him except it were given by the Father, “From that time many of his disciples went back and walked no more with him.” Jn 6:66

There are several renderings in Greek of the word “called” ; Eiskaleo [to invite], parakaleo [exhort, beseech] sunkaleo [call ones together] proskaleo [bid ones to come], Kaleo [to call or appoint] and phoneo [to sound]. However it is the call to salvation that gives certainty to our salvation.

  

“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”. Acts 13:48

Notice the verse does not say “as many as believed were ordained to eternal life”. They are elected so that they might believe not because they have believed.“ As many as were ordained” make up those called by name.

“All that the Father gives to me will come to me.”  Jn 6:37 Where is the coercion in this verse? Where is the forced compulsion and loss of will in this verse?

God’s love is intensive and not limited. God’s calling is extensive, limited only by decree.

I must confess, says Charles Spurgeon, "that I never would have been saved if I could have helped it. As long as ever I could, I rebelled, and revolted, and struggled against God. When He would have me pray, I would not pray, and when He would have me listen to the sound of the ministry, I would not. And when I heard, and the tear rolled down my cheek, I wiped it away and defied Him to melt my soul. But long before I began with Christ, He began with me."

Because natural man is spiritually dead (Nekros) God operates monergistically (God alone) to regenerate a man after which he is capable of faith. Grace and faith are simultaneous. Mercy and freedom doesn’t spring from the one imprisoned but from the governor outside the cell. God alone has possession of the key that frees the prisoner.

Humanist Position

The will of the humanist must be free of God’s predeterminations so as to come to faith. Sovereignty of man’s free will trumps God’s sovereign will. To the humanist one’s faith is the cause of regeneration – a means to an end. Any form of predisposition is a destruction of free choice. Scripture makes it clear that grace is the cause, means and the end of salvation.

Humanists define any form of preordination as interfering with free choice. Scripture teaches an absence of predeterminations destroys freedom. Without God’s predispositions in predestination man would have no choice as even liberty to choose is efficaciously ordained.

Far from being contradictory to free thought, God’s determinism guarantees liberty of thought and second causes. Scripture teaches faith is the the means (grounded in grace) of salvation and grace the cause of salvation. Without causal predeterminism grounded in grace, God could only look down from heaven “hoping” man to be saved.

Conclusion

The refrain to Daniel Webster Whittle’s hymn goes:

“But I know Whom I have believed,

And am persuaded that He is able

To Keep that which I’ve committed

Unto Him against that day.”

This is the essence of Christian living. I’m afraid we have become so passionate in our theological inquiry we miss the important things in life. Rewards in heaven will not be for the debater but for that one who wrote notes of encouragement.

What have we committed to Christ? Do we really know in Whom we have believed? Is God faithful? Is God’s grace wondrous or cooperative?

Yes, the debate must continue as it is God’s grace and sovereignty that is being  undermined.

As for me I’m setting aside the controversy for a while to write that note.

In Christ, 

James W

 Thoughts on the Sovereignty of God

Denying the elective purposes of God in salvation has had devastating consequences for the church. Open Theism and other “progressive” theologies have emerged that arrogantly claim that God’s knowledge is not eternally fixed and that His providential dealings with man is not meticulous. These claims have their origin in the rejection of the supremacy and sovereignty of God. Let us examine closely the price that has been paid theologically for rejecting God’s way.

Synergists claim God would be unfair to elect some and not others. However, in regards to the matters of faith, why is faith wrought in some but not others. If the answer is that some men come to faith on their own, what allows them to come to faith when all men are equally depraved and unworthy.

The answer of course is that salvation is based on the eternal decree of God. Faith is a gift of God that is given as God’s sovereign good pleasure. Faith originates as an operation of the Holy Spirit.

Synergists falsely assume faith is the possession of every man. This is a half truth. Men have faith in believing the chair they are sitting will not collapse but this skirts the core issue which is salvific faith.  What about “saving” faith, the Holy Spirit “creating faith within”?

Paul states in Thessalonians, “And that we may be delivered from unreasonable and wicked men: for all men have not faith.”  II Thess 3:2 

How do Christians know that all men do not have faith? Because faith is a gift of God. Gifts are not distributed universally and if so the gift is no longer a gift.

What is the result of diminishing God’s sovereignty?

• God’s good pleasure has become man’s good pleasure.
• Merit is called grace. How arrogant to corrupt the doctrine of grace.
• Faith is no longer a gift but something all men have. It just needs to be rightly directed.
• God’s self determination is no longer important. Self determination describes a God who is transcendent and self consistent. It speaks to His sovereignty in all matters of purpose.

God’s self determining will and self consistency, the I Am who I Am, is now the mutable I am who you say I should be. Self autonomy and human will trumps decrees and purposes. Secret counsels and mysteries regarding salvation do not exist. 

 “ He shall save His people from their sin” (Matthew 1:21)  becomes “people will save themselves from their sins if they so choose.

 “ All that the Father gives to me” (John 6:37) is now “all that come to me I will give to the Father”.


"For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God." (Ephesians 2:8)


Synergists have changed to "For by faith are ye saved through grace; and that of yourselves in cooperation with grace: it is the exertion of faith".

The sovereign truth“ No one can come to me unless it is granted to him by the Father” John 6:65 is reduced to “ No one can come to me unless he exerts his will in faith”.

 “Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth”.  I Timothy 1:4  is modified by Arminius to “God would have all men to be saved, but, compelled with the stubborn malice of some, he changes his purpose, and will have them to perish.”

Where is God’s sovereignty? Not only are God’s decrees invalidated but God becomes mutable. God’s sovereignty is stripped as He must elect those who elect themselves.

Scripture: “ 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.”  Rom 8:30

Arminians:  Delete, ignore, suppress, call conceptual, or quote the mantra “ God is not willing that any should perish”.

Scripture: “ No one can come to me unless it is granted to him by the Father” Jn 6:65

Arminians: “ No one can come to me unless he exerts his will in faith”.

 Those denying God His due sovereignty:

• Take the most humbling of all doctrines, election to salvation, and accuse its proponents  as having pride.
•   Accuse God of a breach of fairness when fairness would keep the accuser himself in reprobation.
•  Procures core doctrines of the church only to  weaken, pillage , and suppress them.
• Rejects God’s fixed ordained liberty, transforming liberty into an obstacle of freedom. 
• Proposes an indifferent spontaneous will to advance free will and in doing so suspends choice altogether.
• Assumes God’s sovereignty threatens free will when His sovereignty intervenes to free man from his fallen nature.
• Accuses God of frustrating man’s will but have no problem diminishing God’s will.
•  Robs God of His due glory by denying God His sovereign choices.
• Makes purpose conditional. Purpose must be a prior event to any sovereign decree as purpose includes future goal.

“Moreover whom He did predestinate, them He also called . . . “ Romans 8:30

There is no event or work that determines whether one is predestinated. If that were true grace would be nullified. Obviously, predestination is a matter of decree and outside human history. The classic argument that predestination is based on God’s foreknowledge 

is not only wrong but impossible.

Satan hates grace. He is using God’s attribute of sovereignty to disparage the doctrine of grace. “Look”, Satan proffers to the sinner . Grace is discriminating. Grace demonstrates favor. Grace takes away your liberty. Grace is unfair as you know that the religious deserves salvation more than the prostitute. God’s decree of salvation by grace robs you of your choice.

Surrendering to these false assumptions is largely due to man’s ignorance regarding God’s sovereignty in providing salvation. Many Christians are unable to accept God’s sovereign grace. Grace is discriminating. Grace demonstrates favor. Grace puts salvation in the sovereign hand of God rather than the sovereign hand of man.

 God is self-consistent and self determined. He is outside all history. God is immutable in His pursuit of what He has sovereignly determined and decreed. Being self determined and sovereign translates into purposefulness  and faithfulness. God will do that which he has covenanted or promised to do. God is “I am that I am”. Exodus 3:14 .God is sovereign. He alone rules, sustains, guides and governs all things with the end purpose of bringing glory to Himself. Decrees and purposes are predetermined from eternity. God’s counsels have concluded all things past, present and future. Times and events are in His control – their performance certain. Salvation and reprobation are in His discretion. Mercy is His to give or withhold.