What Does Romans 9 Actually Teach?

[@TheThirdApology]

Dr. Craig I'm 20 years old and my friends and I love you. You inspired me to start this apologetics channel. God bless!

[@johnwept5250]

Keep up brother. I like your channel. God bless you. And remember, everything for His Glory.

[@princessrainbow4448]

God bless you brother

[@emo2476]

The Third Apology kzbin.info/www/bejne/bpvNXqKtZ5Vqa9E 🤗

[@thecosmicmysteries107]

I subscribed your channel..

[@URKCEHinoSuu]

Amen. Subscribed to you.

[@crystgh]

This is exactly what many people are scared of. God doesn’t care about your ethnicity, he cares about your heart and love for Him through Jesus Christ. Thank you Dr.! 😃

[@emo2476]

CH kzbin.info/www/bejne/bpvNXqKtZ5Vqa9E 🤗🙌

[@Sting79]

Unfortunately the main subject of the chapter was completely ignored.

[@johnywalker5413]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/a2SapJeMhMuYaq8 this muslim guy needs a lesson , guys go and educate him in comment section 😠

[@thezohan1960]

Did you even read any of the chapter??Romans 9:11 (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 him that calleth;) Your comment is complete confusion.

[@khallidxjudah]

It’s no scripture whatsoever that says that 😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@philosophyporch6634]

I'm supposed to be pondering over Romans 9, and all I can think is "Man, Craig's eyes can't actually be that blue."

[@Doubtyadoubts]

Philosophy Porch 👀👀

[@philosophyporch6634]

@@Doubtyadoubts HAHA!

[@growingtruedisciples]

😆🤣😆

[@ad3673]

Man crush

[@milo_thatch_incarnate]

Bluer even than Daniel Craig’s!!

[@nickirzoe414]

I’m literally crying as I hear this because I struggled with romans chapter 9 ! I’m forever grateful for Christ!❤

[@cubbie8330]

This has always been the scariest passage of scripture to me because of how we sometimes misinterpret it. Thank you Dr. Craig for such a clear explanation!

[@justinsane7832]

he's just tap dancing around the stuff that's hard to accept. idk what you mean by clear explanation...

[@MarkVincent-v4i]

Perfect!

[@prophit267]

@@justinsane7832if you think they teaches predestination and Calvinism you don’t know your Old Testament

[@justinsane7832]

@@prophit267 respectfully, the old testament is NOT something you should take serious. For 1, there's science that debunks most of it and the other parts really don't make your "god" look all that great, in comparison. That said, its just a story written by humans with limited idea of how the world works. Entertaining the idea though, the "devil" as you guys call it, was created by god... a supposedly all knowing, loving and all powerful god...yet he created that and many other things like natural disasters and certain trauma with the "heroes" of his stories. apparently, that shows his "love". The bible tries to replicate real life, by imposing stories that are supposed to go against the "made up" narrative, but even then, it falls on its face.

[@forhisglory700]

@@justinsane7832 You're correct.

[@jasonayres]

This passage was preached on just last Sunday in our local church. *This* video has cleared up a lot of confusion. (Sunday morning, as it is every night, my wife was writhing in pain from her physical disability. Several hours later in church, the preacher was quoting, "I will have mercy on whom I have mercy. I will have compassion on whom I have compassion." He is an irregular preacher at our church, and I wished that I had skipped church that day.) Kind regards from Australia.

[@havardteron9961]

'For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith-and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God- not by works, so that no one can boast.' Ephesians 2:8‭-‬9 NIV

[@dimains6011]

Exactly. People attempt to make faith a work of man

[@rob2250]

@@dimains6011 It certainly is not a work of man but a free decision to put our faith in God.

[@dimains6011]

@@rob2250 Free isn't a term I would use. "Many are called, few are chosen."

[@rob2250]

Dimains On a fundamental level, free is the word we should use because the scripture implies it logically.

[@dimains6011]

@@rob2250 Free can be misinterpreted as man making the choice all on his own, so I usually don't say that, so as to avoid confusion

[@skai1727]

I’m not going to lie. I was freaking out about this Chapter. Thank you so much for helping me understand better!

[@JESUS_Saves3747]

Rom 8:28-30: ²⁸ And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. ²⁹ For whom he did FOREKNOW, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. ³⁰ Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified. Foreknow ! Not knowing in advance. Rom 11:2: ² God hath not cast away his people which he FOREKNEW. Wot ye not what the Scripture saith of Elijah? how he maketh intercession to God against Israel, saying, the same word is also in this vers. So did they choose themselves ? ---- John 6:37,44: ³⁷ All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out. … ⁴⁴ No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day. What with that ? --- PS: Acts 13:48: ⁴⁸ And when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad, and glorified the word of the Lord: and as many as were ordained to eternal life believed. Please explain me also this. God bless you

[@crazycatman5928]

I was so conflicted thinking I was unelected…forgot about context. Thank you Pastor. Jesus is King of kings and Lord of lords.

[@wm7929]

I could make the argument that if you were concerned about being unelected, that is evidence that you are elected.

[@crazycatman5928]

@@wm7929 I never had this problem until I started listening to preachers like Paul Washer. I love the man/his preaching and seriousness of a Christian walk is contagious. Thank Jesus I no longer struggle with election. I have searched the scriptures to see if it be so. There’s so many verses that are promises that say whosever will call on him/or whosoever believe in him/shall be saved.

[@cootooloo547]

So you actually think you deserve grace on the basis of your choice and decision?

[@crazycatman5928]

@@cootooloo547 the only thing we deserve is condemnation. I’d suggest reading John chapter 6 verses 27/28/29/37/40/47/51/65 He says nothing about elected only being saved but those who labor/cometh/believeth/eats. One could ask you do you think you deserve grace because of your life being picked out of a hat by God like some big eternal lottery? I was raised in church over 40 years ago. I didn’t hear of Calvinism til I came back to Christ. Watching indoctrinate videos on KZbin more than reading your Bible in context can destroy your faith. I’m not following any doctrines of men: calvanism/darbyism etc. which to me any “ism” isn’t sound doctrine. I follow Christ alone. Then comes along some random person that just has to question someone else’s comment like they are the judge of another’s faith on this earth. Thread carefully friend. Last thing you’d want to do is hurt a persons belief in Christ.

[@JWar-]

@@cootooloo547 The word "deserve" connotes a transactional relationship where something is owed based on works provided. Typical Calvinist tactic to misconstrue faith as a work to make your system coherent. Faith is not a work. Paul specifically contrasts the two as pointed out by William Lane Craig "man is justified by faith apart from works of law". That sentence would make no sense if faith was a work that merited salvation. God is still sovereign, free will is preserved, salvation is a free gift, and nobody can boast that they earned salvation since faith and belief are not a meritorious work.

[@agenttex5748]

"So then it depends not on human will or exertion, but on God, who has mercy." Romans 9:16

[@thomasfryxelius5526]

Yes. In context, it depends not on the jew´s will or exertion, since they do not seek righteousness by faith, but it depends on God, who has mercy on all who believe in Jesus.

[@agenttex5748]

@@thomasfryxelius5526 In context, it depends not on ANYONE's will or exertion, Jew or Gentile, but it depends entirely on God who has mercy on those he has chosen unconditionally and gives them the gift of faith. This verse teaches unconditional election.

[@thomasfryxelius5526]

​@@agenttex5748 Who are the one working and willing in this text? The jews. "Israel who pursued a law that would lead to righteousnessd did not succeed in reaching that law. Why? Because they did not pursue it by faith, but as if it were based on works." But it doesn´t matter how much they try to keep the Law or wish that was how we were saved, since God has chosen to save those who believe. "Gentiles who did not pursue righteousness have attained it, that is, a righteousness that is by faith" So these people, who did not even seek righteousness, received mercy from God when they believed the Gospel.

[@thomasfryxelius5526]

​@KTTGHMTJWYCBLAC It´s not about what I like, it´s about what the Bible teaches. And He has chosen to save all those who trust in His Son, as it says in John: "to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God." Here we have people who receive and believe, that are then born again by God, thereby becoming the children of God. God has mercy on whomever He wishes, that does not mean He has no reasons, just that noone has a right to His mercy.

[@agenttex5748]

@@thomasfryxelius5526 You have moved into a new context by skipping down all the way to verse 30, After Paul concluded his discussion of election with his Potter analogy, which pertains to both Jews AND Gentiles as per verse 24. Yes God gives all who have faith the right to become Children of God. But what causes them to have faith? Is it something in themselves? Are some simply more loving, more compassionate, more intelligent, etc. that they would choose Christ but not others. Absolutely not. Why? Because the scriptures teach that fallen human beings who are by their very nature rebel sinners against God cant do that in and of themselves. They need to be given a heart of flesh by the holy spirit first. That is why verse 16 says that salvation depends on God alone, rather than human will or exertion. For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God's law; indeed, it cannot. Those who are in the flesh cannot please God. Romans 8:7‭-‬8 as it is written: "None is righteous, no, not one; no one understands; no one seeks for God. All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one." Romans 3:10‭-‬12 The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned. 1 Corinthians 2:14 "It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh is no help at all. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life. But there are some of you who do not believe." (For Jesus knew from the beginning who those were who did not believe, and who it was who would betray him.) And he said, "This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless it is granted him by the Father." John 6:63‭-‬65 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved. Ephesians 1:3‭-‬6 And yes, God may have reasons as to WHY he chooses some over others. But again, those reasons cannot pertain to "human will or exertion". Foreseen faith cannot be a reason for God's choice to have mercy because 1. Human beings dont have faith without God changing their heart, as has been demonstrated above, and 2. Faith without God acting first would necessarily fall under "human will or exertion".

[@dustinsaunders2479]

I can hear as I'm watching this the guitars ringing out, "A MIGHTY FORTRESS IS OUR GOD..."

[@socc3r43va]

"is this the same exegetical methodology you would use to defend the doctrine of the Trinity, the resurrection, incarnation...?" "Uhhhh... no."

[@mattosamanandesu]

Oh yeah boi

[@cmk5724]

@@socc3r43va What are you referring to?

[@emo2476]

Dustin Saunders kzbin.info/www/bejne/bpvNXqKtZ5Vqa9E 🤗

[@markcharlesmay4289]

Dustin Saunders lol

[@allofchristforalloflife8437]

I would love to see James White or Jeff Durbin and William Craig debate the following things. 1. Exegetical Apologitics 2. Biblical anthropology 3. Romans 9 4. Predestination It would take four meetings.

[@spinkscapes775]

Please. As if WLC would ever agree to a formal debate with James White. Plus they would also need to debate The Trinity, where WLC begins dabbling in heresy.

[@discjockeydoll9643]

@@spinkscapes775 seeing how often James White gets his opponents studdering, looking for the right words to say during Q & As so often, WLC would be smart not to agree to one.

[@TONyjustRoCks]

@@spinkscapes775 how so?

[@Sting79]

It'll never happen WLC is a philosopher who can't exegete scripture. He'd lose in embarrassing fashion.

[@tylerpedersen9836]

Craig's not much of an exegete... those debates would be pretty lopsided in my opinion

[@owenmd618]

One of the best, simplest and most direct explanation i’ve ever heard. God bless you.

[@kb24crazylaker]

First time hearing this view and already sounds so much more plausible than anything Calvinists have ever said.

[@kingsonpookie]

Literally haha I felt the same wat.

[@theologyapologeticslifewit9511]

It's crazy what happens when you actually read the letter in the context of the controversy between the Jews and Gentiles in the first century church, isn't it? 😎

[@Monday2705]

Absolutely. Calvinists MUST force their theology upon the text - the Bible doesn’t teach regeneration before faith or limited atonement.

[@havardteron9961]

FOR WHOM DID CHRIST DIE? "The Father imposed His wrath due unto, and the Son underwent punishment for, either: 1. All the sins of all men. 2. All the sins of some men, or 3. Some of the sins of all men. In which case it may be said: a. That if the last be true, all men have some sins to answer for, and so none are saved . b. That if the second be true, then Christ, in their stead suffered for all the sins of all the elect in the whole world, and this is the truth. c. But if the first be the case, why are not all men free from the punishment due unto their sins? You answer, Because of unbelief. I ask, Is this un belief a sin, or is it not? If it be, then Christ suffered the punishment due unto it, or He did not. If He did, why must that hinder them more than their other sins for which He died? If He did not, He did not die for all their sins!" Dr. John Owen (1616-1683)

[@kb24crazylaker]

Havard Teron correct. The reason it is referred to as the unpardonable sin.

[@ChristopherDolby]

Another truth bomb from the most amazing Christian apologist of our time..!! Love it!! 👊😇💀🔥🔥🔥🔥

[@emo2476]

Not Your Typical Christian Channel kzbin.info/www/bejne/bpvNXqKtZ5Vqa9E 🙌🙌🙌

[@danbarnes8905]

This isn't actually a new idea, I was taught this over 25 years ago, this is the simple gospel message of salvation by faith not works. I find it sad that many people haven't been told the truth.

[@imagodei6983]

@@danbarnes8905 go read the objection paul raises. If you put this dude argument in the text, it destroys pauls answer to the objection he raises.

[@rmlances955]

He isn’t an apologist. He is a “Christian Philosopher” and Molinist, which is a heresy.

[@ChristopherDolby]

Rm Lances I respectfully disagree

[@TheSoulMechanics]

Thank you Dr. Craig. It's nice that you now allow comments in your videos. A debate with you and Dr. James White regarding Romans 9 will be epic.

[@Sting79]

I'm afraid it wouldn't be because Dr Craig skipped the majority of the chapter in his interpretation.

[@TheSoulMechanics]

@@Sting79 That's why the debate is good so that there will cross-examination.

[@johnywalker5413]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/a2SapJeMhMuYaq8 this muslim guy needs a lesson , guys go and educate him in comment section 😠

[@nathanfosdahl7525]

@@Sting79 His video was only 9 minutes long. He's giving a quick description.

[@johndoe-ln4oi]

James White screaming "you're wrong" over and over isn't debate. I don't see the entertainment value.

[@powelluka882]

This was so so needed. Been struggling on the meaning of romans 9 for a couple days now

[@The_Scouts_Code]

Only a couple of days???

[@StevenBancarz]

This is excellent. Would you consider doing a verse by verse exposition of Romans 9 so we can see how you would handle some of the more difficult verses in Romans 9?

[@UltraAar]

You should have him and Dr. James White on your channel for a debate. Itd be interesting to see you debate Jeff Durbin too!

[@djr3000]

I've been searching too just about to watch this if you haven't seen it already. He's good this guy Non-calvinist interpretation of Romans - Mike wigner

[@ianyimiah]

@@UltraAar I don't think Dr. Craig would debate Christians. I may be wrong.

[@logantavellimusic3839]

Saying “it wouldn’t fit his pet theology” seems rather arrogant and wrong to me. Attributing bad motives to someone as decent as Dr. Craig, who has been a strong pillar in the Christian faith, doesn’t come across as Christ-like, and does nothing to advance whatever you may be trying to achieve.

[@SAMBUT]

@@djr3000 another good one is Soteriology 101 with Dr Leighton Flowers

[@lamginlenginsimte3283]

The first time I hear about 'God's elect' and that make sense and compatible with other books of the Bible. Thank you Dr. Craig you unravel many of my doubts

[@JESUS_Saves3747]

Rom 8:28-30: ²⁸ And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. ²⁹ For whom he did FOREKNOW, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. ³⁰ Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified. Foreknow ! Not knowing in advance. Rom 11:2: ² God hath not cast away his people which he FOREKNEW. Wot ye not what the Scripture saith of Elijah? how he maketh intercession to God against Israel, saying, the same word is also in this vers. So did they choose themselves ? ---- John 6:37,44: ³⁷ All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out. … ⁴⁴ No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day. What with that ? --- PS: Acts 13:48: ⁴⁸ And when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad, and glorified the word of the Lord: and as many as were ordained to eternal life believed. Please explain me also this. God bless you

[@raytrei13]

Thanks for this video now I can clearly see the picture of this chapter. Please keep posting teachings like this which is easy to understand. God bless!

[@jpneri6570]

And He was saying, “For this reason I have said to you, that no one can come to Me unless it has been granted him from the Father.” -John 6:65

[@benjamintscholl]

Make sure you are not reading with presupposed conclusions. Whom does the Father draw? John 5:24 “I assure you: Anyone who hears My word and believes Him who sent Me has eternal life and will not come under judgment, but has passed from death to life.” And John 5:40-44 “You are not willing to come to Me that you may have life. I do not accept glory from men, but I know you - that you have no love for God within you. I have come in My Father’s name, yet you don’t accept Me. If someone else comes in his own name, you will accept him. How can you believe? While accepting glory from one another, you don’t seek the glory that comes from the only God.” So what reason does Jesus give to explain the inability of these unbelieving Jews to come to Him? Their unwillingness and the fact they seek their own glory and approval amongst themselves. Back in verse 34 Jesus holds out the message of truth to these very same people: “I say these things so that you may be saved.” The enablement to believe is contained in the words Jesus speaks! We can either take Him at His word and humble ourselves, or we can reject Him in pride. The choice is ours! The creation alone leaves men “without excuse” for not humbling themselves and glorifying God. (Romans 1:20) How much more the word of the Gospel! “Without excuse” and “you might be saved” presupposes God’s enablement.

[@MarkNOTW]

How many times do we need to refute the usage of John 6:65 as a deterministic proof text??

[@mystery6411]

Oh man you need to bring more than that.

[@randalljohannes5184]

John 6:44 “No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws them, and I will raise them up at the last day. 45 It is written in the Prophets: ‘They will all be taught by God. Everyone who has heard the Father and learned from him comes to me." John Chapter 6 destroys Calvanism. They will all be taught of God, that means All. But of those that are taught only those who chose to listen will hear, and of those who chose to hear, only those who chose to understand will learn. Romans Chapter one also destroys Calvanism, see following verses Romans 1:18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. 19 For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. 20 For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse. Also see Luke 13:34. "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often would I have gathered your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing!" Jesus doesn't say that they were not able. He says that they were not willing. Coming to Jesus involves the will of the individual.

[@JESUS_Saves3747]

​@@randalljohannes5184John 6:45: ⁴⁵ It is written in the prophets, And they shall be ALL TAUGHT OF GOD. EVERY MAN therefore that hath HEARD, and hath LEARNED OF THE FATHER, COMETH UNTO ME. It says that all those who learn from the Father will also come to Jesus. Nothing here says that the learner decides whether he comes to Jesus or not. Don't read things into it, but leave it as it is.

[@Chasearo23]

Thank you for this! This made me incredibly worried because of how I misunderstood the passage. Thank you for explaining it much more clearly. God bless! Praise the Lord! ❤

[@onesavedvoice]

Right, that’s the correct understanding of Rom 9. Very well done with impressive brevity in less than 10 minutes. Correlating Rom 9 with the earlier passage in Rom 3 was very helpful and should be convincing.

[@danielbui-tx5ht]

I would consider myself as reform or (Calvinist) but it is refreshing to see a different interpretation of Romans 9. God bless Dr. Craig

[@1920s]

I wish he would have addressed, “So then he has mercy on whomever he wills, and he hardens whomever he wills. What if God, desiring to show his wrath and to make known his power, has endured with much patience vessels of wrath prepared for destruction,” ‭‭Romans‬ ‭9:18, 22‬ ‭

[@tonygrigg1173]

In that last verse you mentioned, it's interesting to note that paul didnt write "God is preparing them for destruction", even though in the very next verse he writes specifically that God is preparing others for glory. Normally you would write "they are being prepared by God for destruction... and they are prepared for glory", mentioning God in the first clause and then not having to mention Him a second time. But here we see the opposite. The greek word for "being prepared" (passive voice) can also be translated "who are preparing themselves" (middle voice in greek). I did a little digging and am not an expert, but from all the different arguments i found it most convincing that the second translation is correct. It also fits more with what we see in the rest of the Bible, tbat people are going into their sin more and more and thereby preparing themselves or storing up for themselves more and more wrath. Just my understanding and thoughts.

[@tonygrigg1173]

@@Catchpoles He is hardening the jews, but only in response to their own hardness of heart, in hopes that they repent and believe in the gospel, NOT to prepare them for destruction when God's wrath comes. Would you agree?

[@imagodei6983]

That's what im saying.

[@justinm4497]

I was thinking the same. why would paul even go into that if this video is true?

[@tonygrigg1173]

@@justinm4497 i think im confused by what you mean

[@NicholasCoyV]

The story of Jacob and Esau in Genesis ends with Jacob and Esau being reconciled to each other and to God the estrangement was temporary. This seems relevant as one character is standing in for the Jews and one for the gentiles in Paul's telling.

[@TheRomans9Guy]

Both of your points are supremely important. 1st about Esau’s fate: Absolutely, Esau reconciled. What’s more, he was lavishly blessed, with wealth, land, livestock, and men. This shows that while Jacob was chosen, Esau was not not-chosen, as the Jews believed. He wasn’t cursed. Looking at Isaac/Ishmael, Ishmael wasn’t cursed either, he was clearly loved, protected, and blessed by God. So the Jews’ teaching that God only loved/chose them was not taught in the scriptures. This is your first point. 2nd, when Paul tells the Jacob Esau story he DOES mean to use them to represent people groups, but he reversed the roles! See my explanation here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/d2XRg4uYmKeWfac

[@SERay-xh5wu]

Absolutely agree, where I can't theologically align with the full TULIP content of Calvinism. A person has to comprehend Roman's 9 in two parts, to break it down succinctly. The first part, Paul is commenting on the Jewish descendants, those of the promise who have hearts after Him. The second part is the grafting of the wild branch, the Gentiles who are not heirs of the Abrahamic linage, but who are grafted in by faith through His son's blood. It is faith from beginning (Abraham) to the end (The Church Age).

[@SERay-xh5wu]

@caseman caseman You managed to skip over Romans 9:3-6, jumping to Romans 9:8, discounting Paul's initial thoughts which is part one of my encapsulated comment. Then you completely overlooked my last two sentences which directly addressing Romans 9:8, which is the second part I mentioned. You should learn to process all the content presented or walk away with misconstrued conjectures as you have done above.

[@beadoll8025]

Fantastic teaching! This Interpretation is incredibly cogent and edifying.

[@eugenejoseph7076]

God bless you Dr. Craig. My wife and I had recently left a Bible study group of wonderful people because of their complete refusal to hear another view regarding Romans 9 and the Calvinism doctrine of Unconditional Election. For nearly 4 months, we gracefully and gently attempted to offer our understanding of Romans 9 to no avail. So we sadly left by telling them we are taking the summer off. We could tell they were releaved to see us go. It broke our hearts but the idea that God's sacrifice of His only son was only for the elect was too much to bare. We pray this doctrine gets the boot soon!

[@walterhouston7961]

Great job of denying the truth I hope they celebrated when y'all left...another view🐍 salvation is only Israel not you heathens 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@johnturano2718]

AMEN well said

[@teddyboy252]

John MacArthur has good insights also

[@EnHacore1]

@@teddyboy252 John MacArthur is a Calvinist that believes God pre-determined who goes to hell and who goes to heave. Stay away from his missleading teachings on "doctrine of grace" as he puts it.

[@justindarnellfpv]

Calvanism is a divisive doctrine. It separates believers. John Calvin and his followers were people who burned people at the stake for not agreeing with their beliefs. Jesus on the other hand said Father forgive them as He died for those who disagreed with Him… which one sounds like the character of God?

[@ecø.92]

Greetings from the Philippines Dr. Craig, thank you so much. 🙏❤️

[@louisjwiese5515]

Context is seemingly always forgotten. Context gives meaning to its contents. Thanks Mr Craig. Appreciate your work. 2 Peter 3:9 "The Lord isn’t really being slow about his promise, as some people think. No, he is being patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants everyone to repent."

[@Rc-tb9uy]

This is such an important video that aligns with the rest of scripture. So many Calvinist’s think this passage is the nail in the coffin for their belief, but they proof text so much scripture all throughout the Bible to make sense of scripture like this. They also, in their human limitation try to have every answer of God.

[@bryannewsome9739]

I’ve heard James White, Leighton Flowers, and others and this is still my favorite explanation of Romans 9. I teach in my church and I hope to be as clear, precise, humble, gentle, and wise with the Bible as Dr. Craig. A huge inspiration in my life.

[@a1productionllc]

This is dead on, or dead solid perfect. Very good Dr. Craig. Have a good day!

[@henriquelucastristan]

If you are a calvinist, dont be mad at Dr. Craig. He was determined to record this for the ultimate glory of God.

[@peteverhelst2088]

I’m not mad simply disappointed in that Dr.Craig avoids the main argument of the chapter to make his argument. Indeed faith….. but faith has its origin in God. God works faith in your heart. All whom the father gives me…. Jesus

[@bible1st]

​@peteverhelst2088 Well with all due respect, you avoid the entire Bible in order to support your following of John Calvin's teaching which are in error and we can prove it today by using computers.

[@henriquelucastristan]

@@peteverhelst2088 He's under God's compatibilistic determination.

[@rajandsamuel]

Excellent Exposition from Dr.WLC!!!! ♥️🔥 And that's what we expect!

[@amazumorrison5648]

I know my opinion is probably simple and I am using this as a learning experience. Let me first say that having gone through the chapter, I agree with the explanations given here but point out that the question on predestination isn't dismissed by explanation of I will have mercy on whom I have mercy. Rather the challenge is to dismiss the section that says I will harden whom I will harden. Furthermore, Paul goes into an explanation of the hardening of Pharaoh and Pharaoh's purpose seeming to support predestination here. The thoughts issued by Paul here are reminiscent of the teachings in Isaiah which discuss God's calling of the Israelites and the explanation that things were foretold prior to their occurrence. I don't believe this is a different way of looking at the passage but an explanation in part of the passage. The two seem to go hand in hand as God has the power of choice to predestine whom He predestines to the end and the beginning he predestines for His purpose as explained in various chapters of Isaiah. As stated earlier it is easy for me to be wrong but only through conversation can truth be reached.

[@abovenbeyond2021]

Praise God. The explanation of Romans 9 is excellent. Thank you so much Dr. Craig.

[@khamkhual311]

Amen..i can't thank you enough for this video Dr. Craig,lotta love and respect for you from a small town in India.

[@naty7567]

Amen And God Bless You And Anyone That Reads This ❤

[@alexev526]

I've followed this man's work for quite some time and have benefited greatly from him. I'm honestly quite surprised to see Craig set up such a straw man caricature of the Reformed view and not even deal with 9.11, where God's choice is not based on anything that anyone has or will ever do, including faith. I also don't know of any reformed thinker who believes that Romans 9 teaches that "only a few" will be elected.

[@nathanfosdahl7525]

Can you tell me where Romans 9 is talking about individual salvation?

[@cork8843]

Nathan Fosdahl Hey I want to speak this in love and in humility before God. But from what I learned from Reformed doctrine of the scriptures is that a Calvinist would allude the text in Romans 9 in conjunction with Titus. Let me give the example: 1.) When Paul says: “So then it is not of him who wills, nor of him who runs, but of God who shows mercy.” ‭‭Romans‬ ‭9:16‬. A reformed person may say even in Context that it’s not of a person who wills (meaning choosing for salvation) nor of him who runs, but of God who shows mercy. Some would object and say: “God doesn’t save people in His mercy, they obtain it, (1 Peter 2:9-10). but God doesn’t speak of saving mercy in Romans 9. 2.) I would object as a Reformed person & say that God does save people in His mercy as mentioned in Romans 9:16. Paul mentions in Titus in the context of regeneration: “not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit,” ‭‭Titus‬ ‭3:5‬. The phrase “but according to His mercy He saved us” Titus 3:5 is linked to Romans 9:16. That’s were a reformed person would argue from. If your not convinced that’s fine with me, and your convictions are between you & God. I’m just laying down what I have learned from the Scriptures. 3.) And a reformed person would also suggest the scripture which states: “As it is written: “There is none righteous, no, not one; There is none who understands; There is none who seeks after God.” ‭‭Romans‬ ‭3:10-11‬

[@dayperthedisciple]

Nathan Fosdahl is romans 8 talking about individual salvation? What about chapter 7?

[@nathanfosdahl7525]

@@dayperthedisciple I don't think Paul has structured his letter as being about individuals. But I'm happy to be corrected. I'm not a Biblical expert.

[@frankp8854]

I have been searching for an explanation of romans 9. Asking JESUSro show me the way and your vid came up ,after listening to it twice it made sense of what paul was trying to say. Thank you

[@JESUS_Saves3747]

Rom 8:28-30: ²⁸ And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. ²⁹ For whom he did FOREKNOW, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. ³⁰ Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified. Foreknow ! Not knowing in advance. Rom 11:2: ² God hath not cast away his people which he FOREKNEW. Wot ye not what the Scripture saith of Elijah? how he maketh intercession to God against Israel, saying, the same word is also in this vers. So did they choose themselves ? ---- John 6:37,44: ³⁷ All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out. … ⁴⁴ No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day. What with that ? --- PS: Acts 13:48: ⁴⁸ And when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad, and glorified the word of the Lord: and as many as were ordained to eternal life believed. Please explain me also this. God bless you

[@Doubtyadoubts]

This definitely debunks the Hebrew Israelite movement as well

[@Monday2705]

Yes it does!!!

[@abashedsanctimony154]

It does indeed though. I don't specifically condemn those who fall into false religion, Jesus doesn't either until one rejects first the peers objective reasoning and further Holy Spirit wisdom. When an elder teaches correctly, Wisdom spares not. Zephaniah 3:10 refers to those whom worshipped God from the days when they experienced the plagues and the might of God. They were not Hebrews , but worshippers, and a gentile worshipper is grafted into the branches of the Olive tree of Judah.

[@emo2476]

Y!kez 99 kzbin.info/www/bejne/bpvNXqKtZ5Vqa9E 🤗

[@shawaparhoipullupboys5782]

According to Romans 9:13 GOD hates this guy

[@Doubtyadoubts]

Shawapar HOI Pull up boys Gotta consider the context and hyperbole Not sure what you’re getting at...

[@chaddonal4331]

Craig displays her a critical rule of interpretation: Ask, What question is this text answering? What argument is being made? What issue is being addressed? So, here it is an ethnic discussion about WHO are the people of God and WHAT is it based on. This is not a discussion about individual Unconditional Election or Irresistible Grace. But about nations and access to the gospel thru faith. Thank you, Dr. Craig!

[@princessrainbow4448]

I love and God bless you Dr. Craig ❤️

[@ClauGutierrezY]

Dr. Craig this was as clear as water. Thanks you so much.

[@maryumbargola3267]

Thank you Dr. Craig for this video. God bless you more Dr.

[@waynezimmer1288]

Thank you so much for your clarity. Calvinism was sneaking into my faith and creating all kinds of stress and confusion where it never existed before. Peace has returned! All praise to our logical loving God!!

[@CtRacerX]

“...Those whom have faith IN Jesus Christ.” Thank you Dr. Craig!

[@philos_theos]

Nice. Would love to hear you respond to Dr. James White on this. He has been very critical of you over the years!

[@TimothyFish]

You should get on Leighton Flowers' show, Soteriology 101, and discuss this.

[@deion312]

Yes! :)

[@OneOuttaOne]

LOVE Leighton's work. Love the work of anyone who honors God's word.

[@alanniketic7690]

Or Mike Winger... What William Craig says is exactly what God want us to teach in Romans 9.

[@discjockeydoll9643]

Pelagianism 101 by Leighton is all that is.

[@TimothyFish]

@@discjockeydoll9643, you must be a Manichean.

[@avivastudios2311]

4:22 Which is actually a comforting message. 😊

[@discjockeydoll9643]

You need to debate Dr. James White on this. He is way to consistent and exegetically solid. He can often represent his opponent's view better than his opponent can. He is know for using this to his advantage. Especially during Q&As where his opponents often have a hard time finding the appropriate words for their response because of their inconsistencies. Dr. James White is one of the most consistent, exegetical Christian apologists you will ever find. Period.

[@markxivlxii1390]

@Owen Hawthorne Whether or not you like Dr White, discjockeydoll is correct in their assessment. Dr White is consistent in his process and exegesis.

[@MarkNOTW]

He's consistent alright. Consistently wrong...

[@andrewferg8737]

It's not a contest.

[@ianpaterson4956]

He's wrong though

[@isaiaslopez8473]

I don't know who this guy is but he's right on point in his scope or sweep of the scripture on this point . Keep up the good work brother .

[@SpeakerBuilder]

Thanks so much for this explanation, I just taught a group on Romans 9 and had my answer to the Calvinist position on predestination, but I had not yet considered (as I realized I needed to) why Paul was addressing the issue of predestination in light of his calling his Jewish brethren to faith in Christ. Dr. Craig begins here, and provides a complete, highly rational and biblical explanation for Paul addressing God's sovereignty in this passage.

[@non-yesman7995]

Wow, the way you explained this chapter was truly incredible. Thank you for this video!

[@nareenmolugu1016]

Thanks bro for teaching us about this concept so clearly :)

[@shockawenow9382]

A major confusion some people tend ot have is misunderstanding the knowledge of God with taking away our free will. They incorrectly think, if God has knowledge of what I am going to do in any given circumstance, then I do not have free will but that is irrational. I know my friend likes a certain food over another...because I predict what he is going to freely choose doesn't mean I am forcing him to choose. He has free will.

[@michaelstanley4698]

6:28... "...it is those which have faith in Christ Jesus...' Literally, it is those 'given faith' in Christ Jesus, as '...A man can receive nothing, except it be given him from Heaven' (Jn.3:27, 6:65). Yes, God gives grace to the humbled heart 'hearing Him' in Christ Jesus in a saving way, the way of faith (Ps.149:4, Rom.3:25).

[@randalljohannes5184]

Free will is given from heaven. It is our nature, how we were created. If we were puppets of God then it would have been pointless to put the Tree of knowlege of Good and Evil in the Garden of Eden. You take an incredibly superficial view of John 6:65. If you have already spent countless hours in studying John Chapter 6 and still hold this view, I don't know what to tell you. Maybe get into the Greek and tear John 6 apart. God calls many, but few are chosen. If God calls with no intention then why would God call at all. Everything God does is with purpose. He calls because he desires all to be saved. To believe man is incapable of coming to faith but has to have it forced into him against his will, makes man totally deficient in being a creature created in the image of God. I reject Calvanism, only because Calvanism reject biblical teaching.

[@michaelstanley4698]

@@randalljohannes5184 The force of Truth is compelling to such as receive 'the love of the Truth, that they might be saved' (2Thes.2:10). So then, James (1:21) exhorts 'hearers' to receive 'in meekness the engrafted Word, which is able to save our souls'. Which Scripture encourages "freewill" in your understanding?

[@Letstalktheology1]

The interpretation put forward by Dr. Craig is absolutely one of the most clear explanations I’ve heard on the topic. While I respect our Calvinist friends, it seems to me they have to ignore a lot of passages as well as context to arrive at their conclusions. If you want to get even more specific, Just the general nature of God aligns so much more clearly with this interpretation.

[@johnwept5250]

Dr Craig, Praise God for him working through you. I pray for you so that you will have more and more wisdom from Him.

[@lifewith_che]

Powerful. Thank you for explaining this!!! It never made sense to me that even if we believed in Jesus and lived with the spirit we would be lost because we are not children of Israel. My God came to save the WHOLE world.

[@fredrodenbach4891]

Thanks for this clear and light bringing message: God chooses faith! The faith of Christ brought us salvation and through faith we receive it, because He has mercy on whom He has mercy.

[@emo2476]

Fred Rodenbach kzbin.info/www/bejne/bpvNXqKtZ5Vqa9E 🤗 ❤️

[@anonymoustruth5950]

And who chooses which have faith or not? God chooses. Not man. Man does not have sovereignty over God.

[@fredrodenbach4891]

@@anonymoustruth5950 If man has no freedom to choose to put his/her faith in God, then why would Paul say in Acts 17:30-31 "God now commandeth all men every where to repent, because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead."

[@anonymoustruth5950]

@@fredrodenbach4891 everything is done through the sovereignty of the Lord.

[@anonymoustruth5950]

@@fredrodenbach4891 is God above man or man choosing over God?

[@andrettanylund830]

Thank you Dr. Craig. Love this.

[@squirrel8614]

I love Dr. Craig and I’m very thankful for his tremendous service to the church. But I have to disagree with him here.

[@kenklein9228]

Wow, well done. I've never bought into Calvinist balderdash, but I've struggled to understand this chapter. Much appreciated.

[@christopherkunkel1713]

Best exposition of chapter 9 that I have heard. Thank you, brother. God bless.

[@louielikely]

Amazingly explained 🎉 praise God!🎊

[@discjockeydoll9643]

Dr. James White and Jeff Durbin vs. WLC and Leighton Flowers. Both parties must abide by all the rules and not jump around to this text and that text. Romans 9 debate. That's it.

[@TONyjustRoCks]

I think Leighton alone would be sufficient honestly. But I wish WLC was interested in "in-house" debates like these

[@Mindtrap028]

What about when Romans jumps around? Are we to be purposefully ignorant of who Romans is referencing, what situation they were in, that is being called upon? it is one thing to jump around the text of the bible willie nilly, it is quite another to go and read what the verse is quoting. James White is bad about calling the latter "running around from verse to verse".

[@mattdogg86]

Thank you for the video Dr. Craig!

[@thebellamurphy_]

This really helped. I still have questions on it, based on the topic of free will and this chapter. But this video helped me to understand majority of it! Thank you!

[@SAMBUT]

I understood my Bible as well in that what's generally classified Calvinism perspective - Dr. Leighton Flowers on Soteriology 101 does however not only Romans 9, also other key passages he does verse by verse and I find his exegesis very convincing, what he e.g. shows is that an airplane yes can be predestined to go to NY, still I have a free choice to go or not to go on that airplane - the passages do not mean that God causally determines who goes to heaven and who goes to hell

[@doublethebenjamin8185]

@@SAMBUT how is it possible for an airplane to be predestined to go to New York and also for the airplane to have the free will to choose whether or not to do so and that not be a contradiction?

[@SAMBUT]

@@doublethebenjamin8185 the air plane is predestined, and the people have free choice to board it

[@doublethebenjamin8185]

@@SAMBUT meaning the air plane is the church, AKA the vehicle of God's impact on earth, and the people are Christians? I mean yes, but that doesn't really indicate predestination of people, just predestination of the means of salvation and ministering to one another

[@doublethebenjamin8185]

I just realized I read your original comment wrong, my bad

[@bible1st]

I would like to see Craig have a debate or conversation with John MacArthur about Calvinism and this view. I would literally pay to see that.

[@donaugustine9748]

You’re going in circles. It is Gods sovereignty? Through Faith? And who makes one BELIEVE?? And who makes one believe not? What does the clay say to the potter??

[@justsomeguywhoisntdead1158]

He's no going in circles. Dr. Craig basically affirms the view of molinism. This view is that human free will and divine sovereignty are compatible because of God's middle knowledge.

[@donaugustine9748]

Just Some Guy Who Isn’t Dead I was referring to what he was saying. His words. I understand the (title) but as he was explaining it he left out key scriptures in Romans 9. We definitely have a free will. But to say God doesn’t have a say in our faith is hard to believe. How did you choose? Reason and logic? And the other guy doesn’t have the same reason and logic? Ask Nicodemus. He knows.

[@nathanfosdahl7525]

@@donaugustine9748 Question for you: Why did Jesus speak in parables?

[@donaugustine9748]

Nathan Fosdahl Matthew 13:10-17 In a nutshell parables were GIVEN to show in the physical what is in the spiritual. And were GIVEN to fulfill a prophecy(Isaiah). and were GIVEN to some to know (understand) the secrets of the kingdom and to others they weren’t GIVEN the same knowledge. Their eyes and ears were not open.

[@nathanfosdahl7525]

@@donaugustine9748 Why did Jesus have to speak in parables? Wouldn't there be no need to speak in parables since people couldn't understand the things of God anyway without a regenerative work of the Holy Spirit first?

[@DavidNichols-i7p]

Thank you so much. I almost became reformed. This makes sense to my spirit.

[@neilchristopher5656]

Question: How do you explain what Romans 9 means but manage to do so in a manner that would never cause someone to raise the objection Paul anticipates in verse 19? Answer: you haven’t explained what Romans 9 means...

[@gregoryahl5117]

This right here is the lynchpin of Romans 9 and, by and large, to the entire free will vs. predestination argument. Also, Paul's reply to the objection is staggering.

[@MarkNOTW]

Paul explains the meaning of this section aka chapter 9, in verses 30-32.

[@footballpharaoh5469]

@@gregoryahl5117 - Can you explain what you mean? I don't understand.

[@testing5212]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/anrOp2h9r7iIgMk

[@WeskerA]

Dr. Craig don't stop these videos!

[@isaachinojosa9863]

I love this! I have been wrestling with romans 9 for months and thought it was about God's sovereignty and grace. This confirms my prayers!

[@Choraldiscourse]

Try John Piper on Romans 9. He wrestled with it but broke through to a deeper understanding and a happiness based on God's choice of the elect.

[@theotherguy3083]

It hurts watching Craig twist and turn through some of these passages. He didn't even complete the chapter

[@raccafracca940]

If you ever wondered what David Lee Roth would look like if he were to say "Did God really say....."

[@MrAheystek]

Shoutout to Dr. James White who did an epic podcast where he biblically refutes Craig's interpretation of Romans 9.

[@MarkNOTW]

He refuted it in your own mind...

[@MrAheystek]

@@MarkNOTW I would encourage you to check out his Radio Free Geneva segment tho.

[@jeffreyandrewwinters3719]

How can we know which Interpretation is correct. ?

[@ericgatera7149]

Excellent commentary on Romans 9. Thank you Dr. Craig!

[@Jesse_Scoccimarra]

I'm confused is there a comment section? Whether there is one or not, Glory be to our Lord Jesus Christ.

[@emo2476]

Ooga Booga kzbin.info/www/bejne/bpvNXqKtZ5Vqa9E 👋 🤗

[@xtian5399]

Thank you WLC, you are a true blessing to the Christian faith, in whom God has used in my life to grow my understanding and relationship with Him.

[@chrischance7746]

I would love to hear your take on romans 8: 29-30. "For those God foreknew He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son.......And those He predestined He also called, those He called ; he also justified; those he justified he also glorified"

[@ricklunsford3928]

Thank you Dr. Craig. You are without doubt the absolute Best!

[@osanoregxh]

Simple and yet very straightforward... Really love this...

[@ThegreatCMFB]

Dr. Craig, I appreciate your desire to approach this subject from a molinistic perspective, but there are some obvious holes and some vast portions of scripture you are leaving out. If you start at the beginning of Romans 9 yet end up in verse 30 without 2-29, you are missing the point. The hole in this line of thinking is real simple, where does saving faith come from?

[@briancasey4917]

Exactly, faith is a gift and so is repentance. They both come from God not man.

[@peterfox7663]

How do you ever develop faith in anything? Through experience and making a decision. Parents, friends, spouse, family, government, math, science...we learn to trust, to have faith in those things.

[@paulwiley777]

Faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ. Romans 10:17 For the word of God is alive and powerful ... It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires. Hebrews 4:12 Once we hear about the message of Christ, the gospel of Jesus, we either put our faith in Him or reject the message. But these are written THAT YOU MAY BELIEVE that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that BY BELIEVING you may have LIFE in his name. John 20:31 And then we have John 3:16-18. The responsibility to believe in Jesus is upon us.

[@paulwiley777]

@@briancasey4917 Also, freewill is a gift from God, otherwise, we won't be able to make decisions about everyday life, and put our faith in Jesus. Salvation is actually a gift from God according to Ephesians 2:8-9 to whoever accepts this gift. Unfortunately, people have used freewill as a curse due to their own choosing.

[@barbaud5920]

DONT SKIP ROMANS 9:32. CASE CLOSED ALL

[@poprockssuck87]

On the matter of works, I think of it much like the saying, "Whether you think you can, or you think you can't - you're right." That is, whether you behave like you're saved, or you behave like you're not - you're right.

[@Doubtyadoubts]

WLC low key has a narrator voice

[@TheRawRoarPodcast]

Lol facts..

[@TheRawRoarPodcast]

Hey @Y!kez do you like Christian Hip Hop/R&B by chance? 👀

[@Doubtyadoubts]

MooshDaStreetPreacher yeah I listen to CHH

[@TheRawRoarPodcast]

Y!kez 99 hey cool man I was asking because I just recently released a new album and was wondering if you might be interested in checking it out? It’s a mixture of singing/hip hop.

[@Doubtyadoubts]

MooshDaStreetPreacher yeah I’d be down.. You should follow onbeatmusic on instagram. He has critique Friday that’s super legit and resourceful.

[@thwartz]

Bless you Dr. Craig!

[@kaijukong2878]

Incredible, thank you for this break down

[@Jeff-Daniel]

Thank you for this video. This explanation was extremely helpful.

[@deezynar]

1st Corinthians 2:14 The person without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God but considers them foolishness, and cannot understand them because they are discerned only through the Spirit.

[@divebobber]

2nd Corinthians 3: 15-16 "Even to this day when Moses is read, a veil covers their hearts. But whenever anyone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away." Turn then see

[@deezynar]

@@divebobber Are you saying Paul contradicts himself? You are claiming that in 1st Corinthians, Paul says men without the Holy Spirit laugh at the gospel, but in 2nd Corinthians he says that anyone can just "turn" to the Lord any time he likes. Let's look at your proof text, 2nd Corinthians 3:15-16, but starting in verse 12. It says that there is a veil that stops us from turning to the Lord. Yet you think Paul is saying that the veil gets removed AFTER the person "turns" himself. The whole passage starting in v. 12, says: "Since we have such a hope, we are very bold, not like Moses, who would put a veil over his face so that the Israelites might not gaze at the outcome of what was being brought to an end. but THEIR MINDS WERE HARDENED. For to this day, when they read the old covenant, THAT SAME VEIL REMAINS UNLIFTED, BECAUSE ONLY THROUGH CHRIST IS IT TAKEN AWAY. Yes, to this day whenever Moses is read a veil lies over their hearts. But WHEN ONE TURNS TO THE LORD, THE VEIL IS REMOVED. Now the Lord is the Spirit, and WHERE THE SPIRIT OF THE LORD IS, THERE IS FREEDOM. And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit." Paul says right in that passage that the Holy Spirit brings freedom. That's freedom from the veil. The Holy Spirit has to work first. Paul goes on in 2nd Corinthians with his main topic for a bit longer, but comes back to our topic, that people are hindered, a few verses later in 4:4 - 6: " In their case THE GOD OF THIS WORLD HAS BLINDED THE MINDS OF THE UNBELIEVERS, TO KEEP THEM FROM SEEING THE LIGHT OF THE GOSPEL OF THE GLORY OF CHRIST, who is the image of God. For what we proclaim is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, with ourselves as your servants for Jesus' sake. For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ." Paul repeats this idea that people are blind, or dead, in almost every letter he wrote. It is a key point in his message, don't minimize its critical importance. Jesus talked about people who were blind and deaf, but also talked about people who had eyes to see, and ears to hear. Jesus said that he came for his sheep. He said that they are the ones who his Father had given him. His Father gave him certain sheep, and he spoke in the past tense. It is those sheep who can hear, and see, but no others. And even those special sheep are deaf and blind until the time that the effectual call from the Holy Spirit is given. It is then that the Spirit enters them, justifying them, and their ears and eyes are opened. They go from spiritual death, to life. Let's see what Paul says about how salvation works when he is actually speaking specifically about that topic: Romans 8:26 - 30: "Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. 29 For those whom he FOREKNEW he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those whom he PREDESTINED he also called, and those whom he CALLED he also JUSTIFIED, and those whom he justified he also GLORIFIED." Notice the order of actions carried out by God: Foreknew Predestined Called Justified Glorified Notice that the list goes from "Called" to "Justified", without any mention of a step describing a voluntary, positive, response by individual. Paul does not mention any actions taken, or even required, by the person being saved. And notice that the individual being saved was already predestined by God for salvation. Remember that Jesus spoke about the sheep his Father had given him. And look at Ephesians 1. The predestined have no say about whether they will be saved, or not, they will be saved. When the time is right for each one of them, God calls them, and he justifies them. Personally, I ignored the call many times, but at the time God had set aside to save me, he sent his Spirit into me, and I was changed. This removes any claim that God predestined anyone because he hypothetically knew who would respond positively to the call. Unbelievers who are not among the elect, the predestined, cannot ever value the gospel, and they will never value the gospel. They are incapable of doing so. 1st Corinthians 2: 12 - 14: "Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might understand the things freely given us by God. And we impart this in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the Spirit, interpreting spiritual truths to those who are spiritual. The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned." Ephesians 4:18: "being darkened in their understanding, excluded from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the hardness of their heart;"

[@divebobber]

@@deezynar I believe that the Holy Spirit's work is required for a person to understand spiritual things, but that there must also be enough understanding, even in the unregenerate, to make decisions either to ignore, refuse, turn away from, close their eyes, harden their hearts, or PAY attention, NOT refuse, NOT turn away, Look, Listen, call out, turn TO. None of this means they have much understanding except of their need, and even that would be incomplete. I have been in a strong reformed Church for the last 15 years and started out believing the doctrines you elucidated above. As time went on, they made less and less sense to me. Then I started seeing other scriptures besides the ones you mentioned...for example 2 Corinthians 5: 18-21: "Now all these things are from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation, namely, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and He has committed to us the word of reconciliation. Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making an appeal through us; we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him." Why would Paul be begging people to be reconciled to God? Why not beg GOD to reconcile them to Himself if that's the only thing really going on? Or Acts 28: 26-27 where it says, "Go to this people and say, 'You will keep on hearing, but will not understand; and you will keep on seeing, but will not perceive; for the heart of this people has become dull, and with their ears they scarcely hear, and they have closed their eyes; otherwise they might see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart and return, and I would heal them.'” How did their hearts BECOME dull? Weren't they born dead? How could there have been any progression toward dullness of heart? What was the state of their hearts BEFORE they became dull? Why does it say their ears "scarcely" hear. Why not just state that they are deaf? They CLOSED their eyes? Doesn't GOD get the credit for that since He decrees all? Or Romans 2: 4-5 where Paul says, "...do you think lightly of the riches of His kindness and tolerance and patience, not knowing that the kindness of God leads you to repentance? But because of your stubbornness and unrepentant heart you are storing up wrath for yourself in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God..." In what way does the kindness of God lead people to repentance if they are not destined for repentance? And why put the blame on them for not repenting when the only way someone can repent is if God alone grants it, apart from any human choice? Or Hebrews 3: 7-11... "Therefore, just as the Holy Spirit says, 'Today if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts as when they provoked Me, as in the day of trial in the wilderness, where your fathers tried Me by testing Me, and saw My works for forty years.' Therefore I was angry with this generation, And said, 'They always go astray in their heart, and they did not know My ways’; as I swore in My wrath, 'they shall not enter My rest.’” Why appeal to man to refrain from hardening his heart? It's God who hardens, and God who softens. What does man have to do with it? And why would God have wrath toward what He decreed would happen? But maybe He didn't decree it. Or maybe He saw, before the foundation of the earth, those who would be His sheep. Maybe He saw potential. Maybe He saw those who would be willing even though they themselves didn't see it until He called them. I don't claim to have it figured out, but I don't think the Calvinist has it figured out either and I think they engage in as much eisegesis as anyone else does, though they, generally, seem to think of themselves as having the high ground when it comes to interpretation. This is only the tip of the iceberg with regard to passages that call TULIP into question. I have 17 pages of them that I've been marking over the years as I've read through the word of God.

[@deezynar]

@@divebobber First of all, I think that Reformed churches are right about man's inability to choose Christ, and a lot of other things, but they are wrong on a bunch of other things. I've attended 2 of them, and I stay away from them now. 2 Corinthians 5: 18-21, is not saying that Christ is reconciling every person on the planet, or plans to, or wants to. It means that Jesus has come for Gentiles, as well as Jews, and Gentiles who are from every nation, tribe, and tongue. Jesus came to redeem the sheep that his Father gave to him. That's not every sheep, and they are only the ones that God predestined. Acts 28: 26-27 makes Jesus look like a fool if you take it the way you are. Jesus said that only those who have ears to hear, and eyes to see, will be saved. The people with the good ears and eyes are the elect because Jesus said he came to save only the sheep his Father gave him. But even the sheep given by the Father can't understand until AFTER God unclogs their senses. Imagine me and you saying that we are special because we have those special ears and eyes Jesus was talking about. And we're the good soil that the gospel landed on. Man, we're hot stuff! Surely, we can boast. But we can't boast if we know that we were just as blind and obstinate as everyone else until God's Spirit entered us and changed our hearts. Now, getting back to Acts 28: 26-27; Paul quoted Isaiah quoting God, who was speaking about the Jewish nation before Jesus lived. God said that he always kept a remnant of Jews who were true believers. God kept true believers. He didn't say that he observed that their were a lot of them. The percentage of believers continually dropped over their history. That means that God reduced the number. He then judged the non-believers for acting like non-believers do. But they were not normal non-believers, they had scripture, and a historical relationship with the one true God who had miraculously brought them out of Egypt. God was using their backsliding to illustrate how even people with the spiritual advantages they had, would end up as nasty as any other group of heathens if he didn't save them. The point was to show that law cannot save. Israel was used as an example. They are being used right now as an example. But just like in ancient times, even today, God has Jews who he has given eternal life to. How does that relate to the passage in Acts? God used them to make his point, but they were happy sinning. God was not going to come to their rescue if they turned back to him, because he knew they wouldn't. Am I saying that God lied? I'm saying that he used hyperbole. I can show you many examples of him doing that, if you wish. Romans 2: 4-5 The repentance in this passage is not the repentance associated with turning to God, but simply giving up certain bad behaviors. The unsaved frequently give up bad behaviors. I'm actually surprised that you didn't mention verses 6&7, which convey bad news for any orthodox Christian if they are taken to mean that God judges everyone according to their acts, even believers. Good for us that our sins are paid for by Christ, because we know we would be in bad shape if that weren't so. Hebrews 3: 7-11... Back to talking about Israelites. People are all different. Even unbelievers come in different flavors. All have hearts that are unable to accept God, but they don't all sin with the same intensity. There were tons of Jews in Moses' wilderness journey who didn't believe, but most of the non-believers were smart enough to keep their heads down and do what Moses told them. Then there was the guy who went out to gather sticks on a Saturday. Would you say that he had hardened his heart beyond the average person who was just dead in his sins? I'm going to finish with this, there are passages that make clear statements that God chose a limited number of people to save, that all people are born with a distrust of God, and nobody will turn to him if he does not turn them himself. I too read the passages that sound like people have a choice and wonder what they mean, but I have found that none of them are actually saying that after looking at them. The bible doesn't contradict itself, so these things have to fit together somehow. I believe the thing to do is to give priority to the passages that say men are unable to choose, because the ones that seem to go the other way typically come up short.

[@adanacummings-sylvan6361]

Thank You Lord for opening the door of salvation for ALL. For many Gentiles like my self through FAITH in our Lord & Saviour Jesus Christ.

[@Monday2705]

Thank you Dr. Craig!!!! Limited atonement needs to be exposed for the false doctrine that it is!!!!

[@terminat1]

You'd have to give evidence from the Bible. The Bible plainly teaches that God has His elect. It plainly teaches that we're saved by grace, not works. God wishes all to be saved, yes, but that "all" must be read in the light of the entire Bible. Compare it to John 6:37, 44. The "all" there is certainly not every last person. The "all" that God wishes not to perish is the "all" that the Father gave to Christ. And now we have harmony. If you think that Christ died for everyone, and yet numerous people still go to Hell, then you have an unjust God. You believe in a God that punishes people, even though all of their sins are forgiven.

[@Monday2705]

terminat1 Sigh. FAITH IS NOT A WORK. When we BELIEVE that is NOT a WORK- ALL GLORY TO GOD. Do you understand?? The ACT OF CHOOSING is NOT a work . Do u get it now?

[@Monday2705]

terminat1 The Father wills that all will freely choose - The Son died for those who freely choose. Get it? And show me God imposing effectual grace from the Bible. If you show me Ephesians that’s going to backfire on you bc that’s talking about salvation as a whole as a gift - that’s NOT a proof text for irresistible grace.

[@johnmyers3450]

@@Monday2705 Faith is the gift of God. You haven't actually dealt with the reality of what terminat1 presented to you. Philippians 1:29 states that faith is the gift of God, alongside repentance which is the gift of God in 2 Timothy 2:24-26.

[@terminat1]

@@Monday2705 The Bible teaches in I Thessalonians 1:3 and II Thessalonians 1:11 that faith is very much a work. And, yes, choosing is a work. How could it not be? It's very clearly an action taken by the individual. That action supposedly leads to one's salvation, so that person could boast. And yet there is no boasting in salvation.

[@illynameli]

Perfect explanation..I loved it. I don't think you went very far from the Calvinist view but instead clarified it. A deeper study (i think) could include where faith comes from and through that we could talk about individual election. But I loved how you applied the clear context shown throughout the text. Thank you

[@JWar-]

Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not yet seen. You believe in the historical work accomplished by Jesus, you believe in Gods activity in your life in the present, and you have faith in his promise of salvation in the future. Faith is open to all who make the choice to believe.

[@danielalexander3406]

@@JWar-and does God know who will believe?

[@Joyyarns]

I love this man of God, but I have to disagree with his interpretation. Election is all over the bible from beginning to end. If Jesus paid the price for all of us, how can God punish anyone? Now, some will say that this is a gift and to effective you have to accept it. But I'm going to respond then God is unjust as the sin of one man will be paid for twice. If the price has been paid for all then there is no way to reconcile the idea of God punishing anyone for their sins. It has been paid in full. God's justice has been fulfilled.

[@granthollandvideos]

Unfortunately again the Christian Bible nowhere says Jesus paid for sin. God forgives sin not by justice or recieving blood , but by free gosepl grace from the heart. Jesus blood being the new covenant that removes sin and death. You still need to ask forgiveness as a Christian. Remember it is a wicked servant that requires payment for forgiveness. And if your sin is paid for then it would exclude free gosepl grace and God would remain ungracious and bound to ignore our evil as Christians. This is the faulty use of the word " impute" which can never mean Calvin's transferal osmosis

[@velkyn1]

always good to see Christians claiming each other are wrong and with exactly the same amount of evidence on both sides: none.

[@brucegolston6507]

The atonement is for everyone but you only get placed into it by belief. Same from old testament to new testament. It's what the Jews didn't understand. They were trying to obtain righteousness through the law, but it only comes by believing God, hence Abraham believed God and was credited.... The atonement only benefits you if you believe, and faith comes from hearing the gospel, not from election.

[@Joyyarns]

@@granthollandvideos thanks for your input. The word it's finished literally means paid in full. This is the way it was used to indicate the full payment of a receipt. Please feel free to look for it. Another point, the idea of sins being paid on full is part of the doctrine of justification as it doesn't have to be stated by word on the bible. Like the doctrine of trinity is not in the bible by name but we understand it clearly.

[@Joyyarns]

@@brucegolston6507 I will have to disagree with conclusion. If Jesus attonment (which be definition include payment of price- please check Zondervan illustrated dictionary) means that Jesus has paid the price for all sins including the sin of disbelief. If our lord paid it for all, then there is nothing to be paid for.

[@michaelhardlotte8191]

Thank you for such blessed explanations you did on here brother. Glory to God, God bless you brothers and sisters. 🙏

[@terilien6124]

What about Romans 9:19? Thou wilt say therefore to me: Why doth he then find fault? for who resisteth his will?

[@scottd9281]

Great summary thank you.