Replies

Do you recognize Augustine was not speaking of the hearts of reprobates? The lost will never rest in Him. He was speaking only of God’s elect.

Of course He made us, believers and the lost alike, for Himself and for His own glory.

“For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen” (Rom 11:36). He is the First Cause of all things, and He is the Final End of all things. All things were created by Him and for Him (Col 1:16).

But that doesn’t mean He loves us all the same way and desires for each and every person to be saved.

“The LORD hath made all things for himself: yea, even the wicked for the day of evil.” (Proverbs 16:4)

“Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour? What if God, willing to shew his wrath, and to make his power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction: And that he might make known the riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy, which he had afore prepared unto glory, (Romans 9:21-23)

Most men hate it, but John tells us there are those who CANNOT believe. Saving belief is impossible for them. Consider this passage, paying attention to cause and effect:

38 That the saying of Esaias the prophet might be fulfilled, which he spake, Lord, who hath believed our report? and to whom hath the arm of the Lord been revealed?

39 Therefore they could not believe, because that Esaias said again,

40 He hath blinded their eyes, and hardened their heart; that they should not see with their eyes, nor understand with their heart, and be converted, and I should heal them.
-—John 12:38-40

So who was it that COULD believe the report of Jesus? Only those whose eyes were not blinded and hearts were not hardened — for He promised if that if they could see with their eyes and understand with their hearts, they would be converted and healed.

So we might ask who have had their eyes blinded and their hearts hardened? Here is what Christ told the Pharisees: “But ye believe not, because ye are not of my sheep, as I said unto you.” (John 10:26)

Those who are not of the sheep fold of Jesus CANNOT believe. In the next verses of that chapter He says, “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.”

His sheep have been given the gift of belief. The ability to hear and believe the truth is a gracious gift of the sovereign God. Without that gift we can’t see, we can’t believe, and, to circle back to Robert Barron’s unbiblical claim, we certainly aren’t all seeking a relationship with God. It is critical to understand that God is sovereign and who and will not ultimately believe is up to His sovereign will. “Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent. (John 6:29) Read carefully and notice that their belief was the work of God.