Universal Redemption Must be Denied by Jonathan Edwards

I have been following your blog for sometime now and truly believe that reformed theology is biblical. I am struggling to be saved. I have found my heart to be hard to Christ and the gospel and have grown up in the church. I have no way or will to turn from my unbelief and feel I am set in it. Most of the time I tremble with fear about it. I have been like this for over 20 years and fear I will just get worse and worse. Please pray for me.

I will pray for you now Lori,

LORD JESUS, IT IS BY YOUR POWER AND AUTHORITY THAT TRANSFORMS US MAKING OUR LOWLY BODY TO BE LIKE YOUR GLORIOUS BODY!

Php 3:20 But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ,
Php 3:21 who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself.

HEAVENLY FATHER, IT IS BY DOMINION AUTHORITY THAT CALLS EACH OF US TO YOUR ETERNAL GLORY IN CHRIST. YOU WILL REFORM, CONFIRM, STRENGTHEN AND ESTABLISH US IN THE TRUTH!

1Pe 5:10 And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you.
1Pe 5:11 To him be the dominion forever and ever. Amen.

BLESS LORI NOW. FILL HER WITH WISDOM AND REVELATION BY THE POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT REFRESHING HER HEART AND MIND BY YOUR MERCY AND GRACE THAT YOU WITHOUT ANY MERIT ON HER PART OR BECAUSE OF ANY GOODNESS IN HER FREELY BESTOW ON YOUR CHILDREN!

AMEN

Thank u. I guess it's not struggling to be saved I am wildil rejecting the gospel and it scares me but I won't believe. When I read my bible there is nothing but wrath and my heart gets so hard. I do think I have grieved the spirit so much that I am reprobate now. I cannot seem to get to Christ or if I even truly want to. If I did truly want him would I already have peace? I know if u want to enter the kingdom u have to give up all for Christ. My self righteousness is what holds me prisoner. It scares me so. And I fear I will be like this to the end. It would take so long to write u all that has been going on inside all these years.

This is how it is all the time with me. I know I have not trusted Christ and that it will send me to hell but when I pray and ask The Lord to help me in this unbelief my heart races and there is such hesitation to put my faith in him. I won't trust that Christ paid it all for me. It's misery.

I pray for Lori Lord, and many who may be struggling as she describes. Lord, You are mighty to save, nothing is too hard for You. Draw her to Jesus, teach her heart to know Him as Her saviour and her God...strengthen all of us in Your truth and grace. In Jesus name I pray.

My Sin Makes Me Worry if I am Saved?
http://www.reformationtheology.com/2008/05/my_sin_makes_me_worry_if_i_am.php

I'm struggling to understand the end of Edwards' statement: "Now Arminians, when [they] say that Christ died for all, cannot mean, with any sense, that he died for all any otherwise than to give all an opportunity to be saved; and that, Calvinists themselves never denied. He did die for all in this sense; ’tis past all contradiction."

Is Edwards saying that Calvinists believe Christ died "to give all an opportunity to be saved"?

Brad,

Thanks for your question. What I believe Edwards is saying is that the doctrine of particular redemption is the idea that Christ died for the elect in a way he did not die for the non-elect, that is, REDEMPTIVELY. It was never the redemptive intent of Christ to die for the non-elect. That is why we call it "particular REDEMPTION" And we would probably agree that the redemptive benefit received by the elect is the only intent that really ultimately matters.

This does not mean however that there may be non-redemptive "benefits" for the non-elect. For example. As the church we do not know who God's elect are so we cast the seed of the gospel indiscriminately. "Jesus died for sinners and rose again. Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved."

This summons to believe in Jesus is given to all men. But OUGHT does not imply can. After the fall God's nature does not change, ours did. He does not lower his standards simply because we are fallen. He is holy so He still commands us to do things we are unable all the time.

So Edwards is essentially saying that the fact and summons to believe in Christ's death and resurrection is held forth indiscriminately to all unbelievers. It may damn them if they do not believe but they are responsible for its content. This "opportunity" just serves to reveal their hardness of heart.

John Calvin said something similar in his commentary on John 3:16

Let us remember, on the other hand, that while life is promised universally to all who believe in Christ, still faith is not common to all. For Christ is made known and held out to the view of all, but the elect alone are they whose eyes God opens, that they may seek him by faith. Here, too, is displayed a wonderful effect of faith; for by it we receive Christ such as he is given to us by the Father -- that is, as having freed us from the condemnation of eternal death, and made us heirs of eternal life, because, by the sacrifice of his death, he has atoned for our sins, that nothing may prevent God from acknowledging us as his sons. Since, therefore, faith embraces Christ, with the efficacy of his death and the fruit of his resurrection, we need not wonder if by it we obtain likewise the life of Christ.

Hope this clarifies
John

Brad,

I read the Word of God alot. I cannot say just how many times I have read the Gospel of John. Recently over the last while I have been listening to the Word of God. Just yesterday as I was listening to these Words of Scripture from John 17 particular redemption came into focus in a way I hadn't seen it before. Maybe these words will be illuminated to you by the power of the Holy Spirit too as you read them?:

Joh 17:6 "I have manifested your name to the people whom you gave me out of the world. Yours they were, and you gave them to me, and they have kept your word.
Joh 17:7 Now they know that everything that you have given me is from you.
Joh 17:8 For I have given them the words that you gave me, and they have received them and have come to know in truth that I came from you; and they have believed that you sent me.
Joh 17:9 I am praying for them. I am not praying for the world but for those whom you have given me, for they are yours.
Joh 17:10 All mine are yours, and yours are mine, and I am glorified in them.

Of a few things I could comment about these verses I would highlight two.

First in verse 6 the phrase "out this world" implies a greater amount of people than Jesus manifested the Father's name to.

And then second, in verse 10, one needs to ask if it is their heart to in every way possible glorify God?

That one point in verse 10 jumped out at me causing me to consider all the people I have talked to that don't seem to have any desire for Christ, the gospel message or a burning desire in their heart and soul to glorify God through Jesus Christ!

Hi Michael,

Could you point me to the person who runs this blog? I'm trying to contact them via email? Not sure if it's you...

Thanks!

Maria up the top and left list the contributors. Click on their name and you should be able to connect with them.