Here is the conclusion to Gordon Clark's excellent essay, "Concerning Free Will"-
One will soon learn that God is not so impotent as to have to sit back, after offering the gospel, and wait and see who will accept it. It will be clear that the Holy Spirit operates on the will of man, changes his likes and dislikes, takes away his heart of stone and gives him a heart of flesh, in fact gives him faith. God does not sit back and do nothing: He regenerates- He controls man's will. Such is the gospel; the other view (free will) is not. As the Psalmist said, "Blessed is the man whom thou choosest and causest to approach unto thee" (Ps.65:4). God causes men to turn to Him. No one else can.
2 comments:
Wow, didn’t know this was Nathan’s Grandfather! Pretty cool indeed. I printed his thoughts on “free- will” off for my bride, since she doesn’t do internet. Have to say, being a former Baptist with 30 years of Wesleyan doctrine, this was the best explanation and best defense for election I have ever heard. As O’Reilly would say, “Pithy and to the point!”
Another fine argument regarding an matter that will not be fully resolved this side of the Veil, if at all. I am not sure that finite humans will ever be able to embrace the fullness of this matter. I am of the opinion that it will be of little concern once we have crossed the Jordan and we see fully what we had only seen in a "mirror darkly," to extend the metaphor a bit.
Due to our limitations we see randomness and chaos where God, from the Divine perspective, perceives the order He purposefully brings about. We just are not able to see as He sees. If we confuse our perspective for His, we necessarily confuse matters.
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