I think Calvin is very contradictory. He likes to expound on God's Sovereignty, at least Calvin's followers here do, and then Calvin says here that Man's nature is enough to overcome what God intends.
I thought that whatever God intended came to pass. Isn't that what it means for God to be Sovereign?
All he intends DOES come to pass!
Matthew 11
21 Woe unto thee, Chorazin! woe unto thee, Bethsaida! for if the mighty works, which were done in you, had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes.
The fact is, as this verse clearly tells us, is that ~IF~ God had done the very same mighty works in Tyre and Sidon as he had done in Bethsaida, Tyre and Sidon would have repented long ago.
The fact is that this was never God's intention.
Matthew 1
21 And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save ~his~ people from their sins.
Jesus came to save ~HIS~ people.
John 10
26 But ye believe not, because ye are not of ~my~ sheep, as I said unto you.
27 ~My~ sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:
Not ALL are ~HIS~ sheep!
Matthew 11
15 He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.
Apparently, some do ~not~ have "ears to hear".
Jean
Do you think that things happen that surprise God Kevin? I think we are so used to bringing God down to our level that it is hard to imagine how foreknowledge and predestination are the same thing..not for us but it is for God
I think Calvin is very contradictory. He likes to expound on God's Sovereignty, at least Calvin's followers here do, and then Calvin says here that Man's nature is enough to overcome what God intends.
Actually ~ I would say ~that the idea that mans will is superior to Gods is strictly Arminian in structure. Mans will overcomes Gods will that all men without exception shuld be saved:>)
Seriously ..I think we need to understand that Calvin never denied that man has a free will given to him..the question that Calvin asks is what will man do with that free will..what will man will?