“What if God, willing to shew [H]is wrath, and to make [H]is power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction: And that [H]e might make known the riches of [H]is glory on vessels of mercy, which [H]e had afore prepared unto glory…”  (Romans 9:22-23)

(“For the children being not yet born, neither having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works, but of [H]im that calleth;”)…”It was said unto her, The elder shall serve the younger. As it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated. What shall we say then? is there unrighteousness with God? God forbid. For [H]e saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will compassion on whom I will have compassion.”  “Therefore hath [H]e mercy on whom [H]e will have mercy, and whom [H]e will [H]e hardeneth.”  (Romans 9)

“For it was of the LORD to harden their hearts, that they should come against Israel in battle, that [H]e might destroy them utterly, and that they might have no favour, but that [H]e might destroy them, as [H]e commanded Moses.”  (Joshua 11)

“But [H]e answered and said, Every plant, which my heavenly Father hath not planted, shall be rooted up.”  (Matthew 15)

” But these, as natural brute beasts, made to be taken and destroyed, speak evil of things that they understand not; and shall utterly perish in their own corruption.”  (2 Peter 2)

“The LORD hath made all things for [H]imself: yea, even the wicked for the day of evil. Everyone that is proud in heart is an abomination to the LORD: though hand join in hand, he shall not be unpunished.”  (Proverbs 16)

 

Readers,
We are writing, in this article, on a very grave and sobering doctrine from the Word of God. We have provided many more passages above than we normally do. This is because I want it to be understood that I am not making this doctrine up. I would also like it known that this doctrine is taught by others such as *Calvin, *Luther, *John Foxe, the “*Larger Westminster Catechism, *John Bunyan, *Jonathon Edwards, *Toplady, *Geo. Whitefield, *Charles Hodge, *Wycliffe, *Huss, *Thomas Goodwin, *Thomas Manton, *John Owen, and *John Gill (Predessor to Charles Spurgeon).

Let us begin with a question from one of the texts above, ” What shall we say then…?”

So, “What shall we say then” to the passages above or what do we do with them? Shall we ignore them and hope they go away? Shall we wrest them to fit a more comfortable understanding? Shall we attack those that are faithful to God and His Word and bring this doctrine to light? Shall we pretend that God isn’t serious in these passages?

To the human mind it is incomprehensible that God made persons in order that He should be glorified by their damnation or reprobation. The cause of our inability to accept such a harsh doctrine is because we view Scripture, right and wrong, good and bad through the framework of our lives and through the teachings we have been told to believe.

It seems to me that we have two (2) choices on this matter. Choice (1) one is deny the truth that is plain in Scripture or (2) two Accept the fact that God is God and He has chosen to be glorified by the condemnation of certain persons. We must understand that God is Otherly, His ways are not our ways and His thoughts are not our thoughts. Christ, in fact asks the questions, “Can I not do what I will with my own?”

When Christ tells us that we must love Him and hate those in our family, He is calling us to do as He commands and not to submit to others when their agenda disagrees with the Lord’s will. We are to see these well meaning and loving friends or family members as Christ saw Peter when Christ said to Peter, “Get thee behind [M]e (s)atan.” This causes us to focus on Him and His will, His pleasures, and His purposes. This causes us to become loyal to Him as he demands preeminence and as this happens we share a union with the Master and as partakers of this unity with God, we must see things His way. This means we must be accepting of the doctrine of reprobation.

In taking us to His service, and causing us to focus on Him, He is preparing us for the deeper and harsher or severe doctrines such as the doctrine of reprobation.

An Analogy: Mary visited Elizebeth and learned from Elizebeth what she must do as she too was, “with child.” By Christ calling us to His service and union with Him, He is, again, preparing us for the severity of God’s Holiness, Righteousness, and Sovereignty.

As the doctine of election is sound, it must be logical as well. Therefore, If God elects one and passes over another, it must be seen that God has condemned the one that is passed over.

God says in Psalm 50, “…thou thoughtest that I was altogether such as one as thyself: but I will reprove thee…”

We will end our article on the doctrine of reprobation right here as we understand the severity and difficulty this doctrine poses.

Godspeed.