Once when asked how to reconcile divine sovereignty with human responsibility Spurgeon said there was no need to reconcile friends.
MYTH #3: Divine sovereignty is in direct conflict with human responsibility.
Jesus Himself, while teaching divine sovereignty, at the same time called for a response.
“All things have been handed over to me by my Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.”
Matthew 11:27
According to the very words of Christ Himself “no one knows the Father except …anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal Him.” The sovereign choice is Christ’s as He chooses to whom He will reveal the Father. Apart from that there is no way anyone can know the Father. And the reason Christ has the authority to do that is because all things have been handed over to Him by the Father.
Immediately following His sovereign authority, Jesus gives the oft-quoted invitation.
“Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”
Matthew 11:28-30
If I were to ask you who killed Jesus what would your answer be? Here is the apostle Peter’s answer on the Day of Pentecost.
“this Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men”
Acts 2:23(emphasis added)
Peter said that that God the Father was responsible for the death of Christ as it was “according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God.” But he also held the people accountable for Christ’s death, “YOU crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men.”(emphasis added) Peter was not delusional but confident that what God had foreordained in eternity past, namely the death of Christ, humans would be the instrument God would use to bring it to pass.
The early church in Jerusalem knew divine sovereignty and human responsibility in the death of Christ as revealed in the following prayer.
“And when they heard it, they lifted their voices together to God and said, “Sovereign Lord, who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and everything in them, 25 who through the mouth of our father David, your servant, said by the Holy Spirit,
“‘Why did the Gentiles rage,
and the peoples plot in vain?
26 The kings of the earth set themselves,
and the rulers were gathered together,
against the Lord and against his Anointed’—
27 for truly in this city there were gathered together against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, along with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel, 28 to do whatever your hand and your plan had predestined to take place.”Acts 4:24-28(emphasis added)
Humans were responsible as they plotted. Twice they said that the people were “gathered together against” Jesus. Who were the people gathered in unanimity against Jesus? They were enemies, Herod and Pontius Pilate(Luke 23:12), Jews and Gentiles(Acts 10:28; 11:2-3). How could that be? Only by divine sovereignty because they did whatever God’s hand and plan had predestined to take place!
Myth #4: Election inhibits evangelism.
Romans 9 is the apostle Paul’s magnus opus on election.
“And not only so, but also when Rebekah had conceived children by one man, our forefather Isaac, 11 though they were not yet born and had done nothing either good or bad—in order that God’s purpose of election might continue, not because of works but because of him who calls— 12 she was told, “The older will serve the younger.” 13 As it is written, “Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated.” 14 What shall we say then? Is there injustice on God’s part? By no means! 15 For he says to Moses, “I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.” 16 So then it depends not on human will or exertion, but on God, who has mercy.”
Romans 9:10-16(emphasis added)
And he bookends his magnus opus on election with this.
“For I could wish that I myself were accursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my brothers, my kinsmen according to the flesh.”
Romans 9:3
“Brothers, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for them is that they may be saved.”
Romans 10:1
That does not sound like someone who is inhibited in evangelism but rather someone who is burdened for the lost. That is why later on he writes the following.
“For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”14 How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? 15 And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!” 16 But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed what he has heard from us?” 17 So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.
Romans 10:13-17
And don’t forget this was written by the apostle Paul who himself went on three missionary journeys as recorded in the book of Acts.
Election does not inhibit evangelism but rather emboldens evangelism because you can rest assured with confidence that all who are appointed to eternal life…WILL believe(Acts 13:48). God has not only ordained the end, who will be saved(election), but also the means, how they will be saved, namely the preaching of the gospel because only the gospel is the power of God for salvation(Romans 1:16).
“Before this period I had been much opposed to the doctrines of election. I called election a devilish doctrine. In the course of time it pleased God then to show me the doctrines of grace in a way in which I had not seen before. At first I hated them. If this were true, I could do nothing at all in the conversion of sinners, as all would depend on God and on the working of His Spirit. But when it pleased God to reveal these truths to me, and my heart was brought to such a state that I could say, “I am not only content simply to be a hammer, an axe, or a saw, in God’s hands; but I shall count it an honor to be taken up and used by Him in any way; and if sinners are converted through my instrumentality, from my inmost soul I will give Him all the glory.” The Lord gave me to see fruit; the Lord gave me to see fruit in abundance; sinners were converted by scores; and ever since God has used me in one way or other in His service.”
George Mueller(1832), Ashley Down orphanage, Bristol, England
