Sunday, October 2, 2022

No Human Was Created For Hell

Calvinists like to use Paul's reference in Romans 9:13, which refers to the story of Jacob and Esau, to support their Calvinist doctrine of predestination. Yet when we read Genesis 25:27-34, we know that Esau willingly, on his own, forfeited his birthright by selling it to Jacob. Thus it should be obvious that it was not by God’s election, but rather by Esau’s own free will choice. It's a misinterpretation of the Scriptures to claim this text teaches predestination?

To properly understand the text in question, one must understand the main reason Paul wrote his letter to the Jewish and gentile believers in Rome. His purpose was to reconcile their differing opinions, particularly about the obligation of the Jewish law, the advantage of the Jew, and the way of justification. At the time the two groups inside the new Christian church were trying to defend their own special opinions. Thus Paul’s desire was to explain to his converted countrymen the great doctrines of Christianity, and the relation of the Law of Moses to the Christian.

Mind you, Paul needed to help the Jewish Christian’s understand that GOD choosing the Israelites was NOT a guarantee that each individual Jew would gain salvation. God was simply choosing Jacob’s descendants to be the vehicle (if you will) by which HE would bring salvation to the World. A people, by the way, who would reject HIS gift like Esau did his gift (his birthright) of being the first born.

This goes directly to the reason Paul used the quote from Malachi,

 "I have loved you," says the LORD. "Yet you say, 'In what way have You loved us?' Was not Esau Jacob's brother?" Says the LORD. "Yet Jacob I have loved, but Esau I have hated, And laid waste his mountains and his heritage For the jackals of the wilderness."
(Malachi 1:2-3)

Before I go on, I need to address the word, “hate” used by Malachi. The word, “hate.” when used by God is known as anthropopathism, i.e., the attribution of human emotions to deity. Certainly the type of “hate” that humans have cannot be attributed to Jehovah. He cannot hate His creation like humans do. He can, and does hate evil, and the results of evil, but that is not of HIS creation. Thus it is with God and His love for one and His hate for another. God still loved Esau, just not as much as He loved Jacob. For God is love. Often times, “hate,” was idiomatically employed to simply suggest that one is loved less than another. An example would be how Jacob felt about his wives, Rachel and Leah,

“Then Jacob also went in to Rachel, and he also loved Rachel more than Leah. And he served with Laban still another seven years.”
Genesis 29:30

Now the Jews, expected and looked forward to the coming Messiah to be their Savior, not the Worlds. Yet like Esau, they gave away their right by rejecting their Messiah. Paul goes on in chapter 9 to explain that GOD has the sovereign right to use any individual or group that he so chooses for HIS purpose.

Mind you, nowhere do we read of GOD offering unconditional salvation to anyone. He makes promises, and those covenant promises come with stipulations of obedience. However, even though the Jews did kill HIS son like the vinedressers murdered the landowners son. (Matthew 21:33-40) GOD is still good to HIS promise that all who accept HIS SON will gain eternal salvation.

One must also continue reading Chapters 10 and 11, where we see Paul refocus and reshape his explanation to make it clear that He is referring to corporate election, NOT individual election.

While GOD chooses groups for certain purposes, HE deals differently with the individuals in those groups. Two cases in point would be Nineveh being evangelized by the reluctant prophet Jonah, and the Syrian general Naaman.

The citizens of Nineveh, accepted Jonah's to offer to repent and be saved. In this revival, the people had a choice, to accept GOD's grace and forgiveness or continue living as they were, and be condemned to hell. They chose to repent. A freewill choice! Yet GOD still destined the city of Nineveh for destruction, because HE knew their descendants were like the Israelites, and would walk away from the GOD their parents accepted forgiveness from.

Then we have the Syrian general Naaman, who was healed of leprosy. He came away as a true believer in the ONE true GOD. Naaman had a choice, and it took his servant to talk some sense into him, but he eventually did what Elisha told him to do, and he became a believer. However, GOD still condemned the Syrian Empire to be destroyed. (2Kings 25:1-14)

Just because GOD chose Nineveh, and later all of Syria for destruction does not mean HE chose the people, and just because GOD chose Israel to bless the World through, does not mean all Israelites were destined for salvation. Corporate vs individual is the key.

This is where we see free will explicitly revealed in Scripture. The day God spoke to Cain about his attitude, GOD did not say,

"Sorry Cain, but you just aren't chosen, so deal with it."

No, GOD told him if he did well he would be accepted. It was Cain's choice to choose the path of murder.

“So the LORD said to Cain, "Why are you angry? And why has your countenance fallen? If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin lies at the door. And its desire for you, but you should rule over it”
(Genesis 4:6-7)

From the mouth of Jesus we learn that GOD did not create Cain or anyone else for hell. Instead HE created hell for Satan and the angels who joined him.

“Then He will also say to those on the left hand, ‘Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels:”
(Matthew 25:41)

Thus men were not created for hell from the beginning of time, nor were they destined for hell once they had been created in their mother's womb. No one is going to be forced into hell because GOD hates them. It will be our choice if we end up in hell, not GOD’s. We end up in hell when we use our gift of free will to choose evil. From the beginning GOD gave Adam and Eve a choice. GOD specifically told Adam not to eat from the tree of knowledge of good and evil or he would die. If GOD did not give us free will, then why would he put the tree in the garden for them to freely choose or not to choose? Their choice, they were not forced by GOD to commit sin. (Genesis 2:16-17)

What was the need for the bad tree if the plan for man's fall was already in place? After all, if Calvin is right, and some were created for perdition, and others for glory, then there was no need for the choice of trees, nor was there ever a need for Jesus to die on the cross? After all, if we were already predestined for either salvation or hell, then we would have no choice between Jesus and hell.

When Nicodemus visited Jesus, he was told that salvation is for everyone, not just the elect.

"And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.”
(John 3:14-16)

Another key word is, “Whoever”. Not, “Whoever the elect is”.

Peter, who walked with our Lord for three years tells us in his second letter;

“But, beloved, do not forget this one thing, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.”
(2 Peter 3:8-9)

One must purposely take Scripture out of context to claim A, we have no free will, and B, God created some for hell and some for salvation. Lord Jesus, gives us wisdom and understanding so that we may not accuse you of that which You are incapable of doing. You are a GOD of love, and as such there is nothing wicked in You. For even the most vile and evil humans, you have given a path to salvation. I pray all will bow down and accept Your gift, Amen


50 verses supporting Christ died for anyone who believes and accepts HIM as their Lord and Savior

Titus 3:5
He saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit.

Romans 10:9
Because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.

Acts 4:12
And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.

Ephesians 2:8
For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God.

John 14:6
Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”

1 John 1:9
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

1 John 5:13
I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God that you may know that you have eternal life.

1 Peter 2:24
He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed.

1 Peter 3:21
Baptism, which corresponds to this, now saves you, not as a removal of dirt from the body but as an appeal to God for a good conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

1 Thessalonians 5:9
For God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ.

2 Corinthians 5:17
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.

2 Corinthians 5:21
For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

2 Corinthians 6:2
For he says, “In a favorable time I listened to you, and in a day of salvation I have helped you.” Behold, now is the favorable time; behold, now is the day of salvation.

2 Peter 3:9
The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.

2 Thessalonians 2:13
But we ought always to give thanks to God for you, brothers beloved by the Lord, because God chose you as the firstfruits to be saved, through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth.

2 Timothy 1:9
Who saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works but because of his own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began.

Acts 11:18
When they heard these things they fell silent. And they glorified God, saying, “Then to the Gentiles also God has granted repentance that leads to life.”

Acts 16:31
And they said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.”

Acts 2:38
And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”

Acts 22:16
And now why do you wait? Rise and be baptized and wash away your sins, calling on his name.

Acts 28:28
Therefore let it be known to you that this salvation of God has been sent to the Gentiles; they will listen.

Ephesians 1:13
In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit.

Ephesians 2:10
For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

Galatians 2:21
I do not nullify the grace of God, for if righteousness were through the law, then Christ died for no purpose.

James 2:18
But someone will say, “You have faith and I have works.” Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works.

John 1:12
But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.

John 3:16
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.

John 3:3
Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.”

John 3:36
“Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.”

John 3:5
Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.”

John 5:24
“Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life.”

John 6:37
“All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out.”

John 6:44
“No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him. And I will raise him up on the last day.”

Jonah 2:9
But I with the voice of thanksgiving will sacrifice to you; what I have vowed I will pay. Salvation belongs to the Lord!

Mark 16:16
“Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.”

Matthew 7:21
“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.”

Philippians 1:6
And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.

Philippians 2:12
Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.

Psalm 25:5
Lead me in your truth and teach me, for you are the God of my salvation; for you I wait all the day long.

Psalm 3:8
Salvation belongs to the Lord; your blessing be on your people! Selah.

Psalm 37:39
The salvation of the righteous is from the Lord; he is their stronghold in the time of trouble.

Psalm 60:5
That your beloved ones may be delivered, give salvation by your right hand and answer us!

Psalm 62:1
To the choirmaster: according to Jeduthun. A Psalm of David. For God alone my soul waits in silence; from him comes my salvation.

Revelation 3:5
“The one who conquers will be clothed thus in white garments, and I will never blot his name out of the book of life. I will confess his name before my Father and before his angels.”

Romans 1:16
For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.

Romans 10:13
For “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

Romans 3:23
For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.

Romans 5:8
But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Romans 6:14
For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace.

Romans 6:23
For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

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