On Apologetics 315, the following quote from J.P. Moreland was published:“God maintains a delicate balance between keeping his existence sufficiently evident so people will know he's there and yet hiding his presence enough so that people who want to choose to ignore him can do it. This way, their choice of destiny is really free.”
– J.P. Moreland
Of course this caused a mini-debate on that blog in the comments section. People get really passionate about this. I know I do. When I first read the quote I was up in arms. But before I could comment a lot of people said what I was I thinking. For example I think that Ryan Hemelaar is right that people really know that there is a God and actively suppress that knowledge according to Romans 1:18. I also agree that with kart2d2 because Paul also wrote that the evidence for the existence of God is so compelling that we all stand without excuse for not recognizing His existence. In the Greek it could also be rendered "without an Apologetic".
The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness, since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse. - Romans 1:18-20
I must say that I have learned that this passage really only concerned understanding that there is a God because coming into the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ is by special revelation by the Holy Spirit.
You know that when you were pagans, somehow or other you were influenced and led astray to mute idols. Therefore I tell you that no one who is speaking by the Spirit of God says, "Jesus be cursed," and no one can say, "Jesus is Lord," except by the Holy Spirit. - 1 Corinthians 12:2-3
As for free will, there are so many Bible verses that tell us to choose to serve God and that if we choose to submit to God through Jesus we will be save just as Franck Barfety pointed out in the comment section:
"Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God." John 3:18
The thing is that verses like these say nothing about us being able to choose to believe...only that if we believe we will be saved! What does the Bible have to say about how we come to believed.
1. When we are unregenerated by the holy spirit we are hostile against God and His enemy.
The mind of sinful man is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace; the sinful mind is hostile to God. It does not submit to God's law, nor can it do so. Those controlled by the sinful nature cannot please God. - Romans 8: 6-8
2. No one seeks after God...all have gone astray.
3. No one comes to the son unless drawn by the father. Let's not forget John 6:44
What shall we conclude then? Are we any better? Not at all! We have already made the charge that Jews and Gentiles alike are all under sin. As it is written:
"There is no one righteous, not even one;
there is no one who understands,
no one who seeks God.
All have turned away,
they have together become worthless;
there is no one who does good,
not even one."
"Their throats are open graves;
their tongues practice deceit."
"The poison of vipers is on their lips."
"Their mouths are full of cursing and bitterness."
"Their feet are swift to shed blood;
ruin and misery mark their ways,
and the way of peace they do not know."
"There is no fear of God before their eyes."
Now we know that whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be silenced and the whole world held accountable to God. Therefore no one will be declared righteous in his sight by observing the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of sin. - Romans 3:9-20
No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him, and I will raise him up at the last day.If you look up the word "draw" helkuo you see it means "dragged". God must drag us to the cross so that we will be saved. Brothers and sisters this is indeed an in-house debate and whether you think that you chose Jesus solely by an act of your will or you were dragged you are justified and going to heaven. This is the important thing. I however know that God put me in the place where "yes" to him was the only response I could make. He was so slick about it I thought that it was all my idea. It wasn't. All I did was responded because He allowed me to get it. If anyone is interested, let me suggest two books: Martin Luther's On The Bondage of the Will and Jame White's The Potter's Freedom.
Sunday Quote: J.P. Moreland on God's Existence - Apologetics 315
