Wednesday, December 03, 2008

Warfield & Predestination
B.B. Warfield (1851-1921), the famed theologian of Princeton Theological Seminary (before the school departed from the Bible!), was, among many things, a prolific writer. In a collection of his "shorter writings" he penned an article called, "Some Thoughts on Predestination." There are two quotes from this article which I wish every Christian would read and consider - especially those who are most hostile to this biblical doctrine.
The first quote regards the manner in which we should approach this doctrine:
"...if only we were willing to sit simply at the feet of the inspired writers and take them at their word, we should have no difficulties with Predestination. The difficulties we feel with regard to Predestination are not derived from the Word. The Word is full of it, because it is full of God, and when we say God and mean God - God in all that God is - we have said Predestination."
So, according to Warfield, if we would just take God at His Word we would have no difficulties over predestination. To say it another way, if we would just be honest with what the Bible teaches and take it seriously, then we should not be having fits over the truth of predestination. On another matter, Warfield also offers some deeply insightful words concerning why people reject the doctrine of predestination:
"Our difficulties with Predestination arise from a, no doubt not unnatural, unwillingness to acknowledge ourselves to be wholly at the disposal of another. We wish "to belong to ourselves," and we resent belonging, especially belonging absolutely, to anybody else, even if that anybody else be God...We will not be controlled. Or rather, to speak more accurately, we will not admit that we are controlled."
I am convinced that Warfield has exposed by these words the root of the problem, over why so many Christians reject the biblical doctrine of predestination. They don't want to think of themselves as not in "the driver's seat" of their life and destiny. Frankly, this is nothing but the residual sin of pride that remains in us all as believers in Christ. But despite what we may want to believe about our "destiny" being the result of our decision, there is no other explanation for our salvation but that God sovereignly set His love upon us, elected us to be saved by His Son, and thus predestined us to that glorious end (see Jn.6:37,44,65; 17:2; Rom.8:29-30; Eph.1:3-6; II Thess.2:13; II Tim.1:9). Left to ourselves, we would only be busting hell wide open. Thank God then, for His predestinating grace!

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