Brennon's Thoughts: Verses All Arminians Should Know Part 7

Brennon has posted a great list of scriptures that support Arminianism. I'm not certain that they support the Arminian position. Rather than try to responding to them all at once, I will break them down into several posts based on how the list is presented.This topic interests me because I really wanna  I know what the Bible says. Here is part 7 regarding the idea that Bible teaches that sin is not from God.. I don't think that there has ever been a Christian who would try to argue that God is responsible for our sins.


Verses showing sin is not from God

• Jeremiah 7:24

 ²⁴ But they did not listen or pay attention; instead, they followed the stubborn inclinations of their evil hearts. They went backward and not forward.

This true of every single human being! We have all done this. It's describing the state of men. If anything
I view the passage teaching about the "Total Depravity" of humanity.

• James 1:13-15

  ¹³When tempted, no one should say, "God is tempting me." For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; ¹⁴but each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed. ¹⁵Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.

I totally agree. Neither Total Depravity nor Determinism lays the blame for sin at the feet of God. We are responsible for our sins and following the evil inclinations of our own hearts. 

• 1 John 2:16

¹⁶For everything in the world—the cravings of sinful man, the lust of his eyes and the boasting of what he has and does—comes not from the Father but from the world.

Amen. Total agreement. I don't think that these verses refute Reformed theology at all.  Reformed Theologians do not argue that the origin of  a man's sin comes from God. Rather it is our salvation that totally comes from God. The sin part - the need for that salvation - is because of what we are. We own that. I think most Christians agree that God can use the consequences of our sins to accomplish his purposes given:



Remember what Joseph told his brothers who some 30 years earlier sold him into slavery:

¹⁹ But Joseph said to them, "Don't be afraid. Am I in the place of God? ²⁰ You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives. ²¹ So then, don't be afraid. I will provide for you and your children." And he reassured them and spoke kindly to them.  - Genesis 50:19-21

What about Romans 8:28-29

 ²⁸And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. ²⁹For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. - Romans 8:28-29

However this does not mean that God forces anyone to do evil. We know that God doesn't force people to do evil. I'd argue that on our own evil is all we are capable of. When we do a good, selfless thing - believers and non-believers alike - it is because of God's grace. 

Brennon's Thoughts: Verses All Arminians Should Know