What makes some people believe and others disbelieve? The Arminian is ultimately forced to assert that man is capable, by his own good effort, of choosing to believe on Christ. The Calvinist is ultimately forced to assert that as God has chosen some as his special people he has also chosen some for destruction. Neither of these viewpoints comports with today's Scripture readings. God himself goes to look for fruit where there should be good fruit. It is his vineyard, he has planted it, he has tended it, and there is no reason at all why it should not be providing abundant good fruit. But it is not. We are told that unbelievers depart from God's mercy and grace. They follow their will and desires rather than God's will and desires. God's will is only ever that everyone might believe in him and look to him through Jesus Christ for hope and salvation. But man, destined to disobedience by God's curse for sin, follows his destiny and disobeys, disbelieves, departs from the covenants and promises of God. Time and again, when God has revealed his love and redemption to man, we depart from that promise. God has iven us a freedom - not to believe, but to act on our disbelief. Some do. Many do. If we believe on Christ it is entirely God's work. If we do not believe, that is our work.
May the Lord work in us. May we stop fighting.
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