Friday, March 6, 2015

Does the Potter Predestine the Clay? (Part 2 of 2)


Ironically, and contrary to popular interpretation, Paul argued that salvation is NOT based on predestination or election, but by “the word of the promise”.  For Paul to argue otherwise, would only complement the predominant Jewish view that salvation came automatically to all the descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.  If salvation was by election alone, then God would have predestined all the descendants of Abraham to be saved, but He did not, (Rom 9:7).  If salvation was by election alone, then God would have predestined all the descendants of Isaac to be saved, but He did not, (Rom 9:9-12).  Finally, God could have predestined all the descendants of Jacob to be saved, but they are not, as Paul has written, “They are not all Israel who are descended from Israel” (Rom 9:6), and “Though the sons of Israel be like the sand of the sea, it is the remnant that will be saved,” (Rom 9:27).

Salvation is not based on predestination, but based on the promise alone.  In the Book of Romans, Paul wrote to bring Jews to his revelation that Jesus, as Messiah, is the fulfillment of the promise given to Abraham. 

“If you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confess, resulting in salvation,” (Rom 10:9-10).

I do not believe that Paul ever intended for his words to establish a doctrine of salvation based on predestination.  If predestination does not apply to the descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, how much less does it apply to the Gentiles, the wild olive branch, who do not descend from the Patriarchs.  Salvation for all men is based on the promise alone, as it is written,

“There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.  And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s descendants, heirs according to the promise,” (Gal 2:28-29)

Shabbat Shalom - Scott 
 

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