Today we will continue reading God's Great Salvation by the Reverend Louis DeBoer, Chapter 10, The Redemptive Purpose of God. While we are on the subject of universals, the question arises, what is the redemptive purpose of God? Is it God's purpose to definitely redeem a particular set of persons, the elect, Or is it God's purpose to seek to redeem all men? Is God a frustrated bystander, desiring and attempting to save all, while in fact legions go to hell? Or is He in total control, as He sovereignly and most certainly carries out in time the salvation of all His elect, so that not one of His sheep is lost Which is it? And of course the ultimate recourse in maintaining either view is to the testimony of the Holy Spirit speaking in Scripture. And as above, there are texts that both sides can appeal to. And especially as above, the texts that the Arminians appeal to contain those same universal terms that we have already discussed. First, let us review some of the texts that Calvinists appeal to as teaching that God purposes only to redeem some men, namely His elect, and not all men. Isaiah 53 11 and 12, He shall see the travail of his soul and shall be satisfied. By his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many. For he shall bear their iniquities, therefore I will divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong, because he hath poured out his soul unto death, and he was numbered with the transgressors, and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors." Matthew chapter 1 verse 21, And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name Jesus for he shall save his people from their sins." Matthew chapter 20 verse 28, even as the Son of Man came not to be ministered unto but to minister and to give his life a ransom for many. Matthew 26 28, for this is my blood of the New Testament which is shed for many for the remission of sins." John chapter 10 verse 11, I am the Good Shepherd, the Good Shepherd giveth his life for the sheep. Acts chapter 20 verse 28, Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God which he hath purchased with his own blood. Ephesians chapter 5 verse 25, Husbands love your wives even as Christ also loved the church and gave himself for it. Romans chapter 8 verses 32 through 34, He that spared not his own son but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things? who shall lay anything to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth, who is he that condemneth. It is Christ that died, yea rather that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us." Hebrews chapter 9 verse 28. So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation." In these texts Christ is set forth as dying for his people, for his sheep, and for his church. These texts set forth Christ as dying for many, that is, for the seed of Abraham that is as innumerable as the sand of the seashore and the stars of the heavens. for that innumerable multitude that no man can number from every tribe and tongue and nation. They do not teach that Christ died for all men, as many does not mean all. We have already previously noted those many texts that speak of Christ dying for those whom the Father hath given him, a clear reference to the elect. Secondly, Let us review some of the texts that Arminians appeal to as teaching that it is the desire and purpose of God to redeem all men. 2 Peter chapter 3 verse 9, The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness, but is longsuffering to usward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. The key to this verse is the statement that God is long-suffering to us-ward. Who is the us? Peter's first epistle is addressed to the elect. This one is to them that have obtained like precious faith with us. His epistles are addressed to believers, to the people of God. This verse is saying that God is long-suffering, that God is patient, God does not hasten the end of the age, but will wait until every last one of his sheep, his people, have been saved. The end of the age cannot come until all the elect have been called out and redeemed. The All, as is usual in the Scriptures, as it is in everyday speech, needs to be qualified. It means all of us, all of the elect. This verse is a powerful verse for the Calvinist view of God's plan of salvation. It gives no support for the Arminian view. 1 Peter chapter 2 verses 4 through 6. Who will have all men to be saved and to come unto the knowledge of the truth? For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus. who gave himself a ransom for all to be testified in due time. There are two ways that this verse can be interpreted that is consistent with Calvinist theology. The first is an understanding of what we mean when we speak of the will of God. There are two different senses in which the will of God is used in scripture. There is what is termed the perceptive will of God. This is the aspect of God's will that is revealed in His holy law. It is summarized in the Ten Commandments. It is the revealed will of God that we walk according to His law. Then there is what is termed the secret will of God, because unlike His law which is revealed to us, we do not know it. This is the will of God that is expressed in his eternal decrees and that he is working out in the unfolding of human history. Let me give an example. It was God's revealed will that Israel should have accepted Jesus of Nazareth as their Messiah. It was his secret will that he be rejected by the nation, betrayed for 30 pieces of silver, crucified to provide an atoning death for his people. Moses refers to this distinction when he says, The secret things belong unto the Lord our God, but those things which are revealed belong unto us and to our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law." Deuteronomy 29, 29. We have to walk according to the revealed will of God. we will be judged according to the revealed will of God. God's secret will is his business as he carries out his purposes in history. Now the texts like the one above that say that God wills the salvation of all men can merely be referring to the revealed will of God. God does in his perceptive will desire that all men believe in his Son repent of their sin and walk in his ways. However, that does not mean that it is his eternal purpose to bring to pass the salvation of all men. Secondly, the other argument that can be used to interpret this verse consistent with Calvinist soteriology is the interpretation of the term all men. Paul was the great apostle to the Gentiles he frequently had to defend himself on this account, especially from the Jews and the Judaizers. At times he even had to justify his ministry to the other apostles. Paul was thus constantly reminding his readers that salvation was not just for the Jews, it was for all men. God's salvation, with the fall of Israel and the call of the Gentiles, was now for all men, for men from every tongue and tribe and nation on the face of the earth. In that sense, of course, we can say that God wills the salvation of all men, both in his perceptive and his secret will. In that sense, Christ has paid a ransom for all men. But if Christ has made a ransom, has purchased a pardon, for all men without exception, then we have to ask the question, why are untold legions of these ransom, pardoned men expiating their sins in hell? Thirdly, let us review some texts that seem to indicate that God is rejecting some men. Isaiah 6, 9 and 10. And he said, go and tell this people Hear ye indeed, but understand not, and see indeed, but perceive not. Make the heart of this people fat, and make their ears heavy, and shut their eyes, lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and convert and be healed." Isaiah 29 verses 10 through 14 For the Lord hath poured out upon you the spirit of a deep sleep, and hath closed your eyes, the prophets and your rulers, the seers hath he covered. And the vision of all is become unto you as the words of a book that is sealed, which men deliver to one that is learned, saying, Read this, I pray thee. And he saith, I cannot, for it is sealed, And the book is delivered to him that is not learned, saying, Read this, I pray thee, and he saith, I am not learned. Wherefore the Lord said, Forasmuch as this people draw near me with their mouth and with their lips to honor me, but have removed their heart far from me, and their fear toward me is taught by the precept of men, therefore behold, I will proceed to do a marvelous work among this people, even a marvelous work and a wonder, for the wisdom of their wise men shall perish, and the understanding of their prudent men shall be hid. Matthew chapter 13 verses 10 and 11 And the disciples came and said unto him, Why speakest thou unto them in parables? He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given." Matthew chapter 13 verse 16, Therefore speak I to them in parables, because they seeing see not, and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand. And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah, which saith, By hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand, and seeing ye shall see, and shall not perceive. But this people's heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed, lest at any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them. But blessed are your eyes, for they see, and your ears, for they hear." Luke chapter 8 verse 10, and he said, unto you it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God, but to others in parables, that seeing they might not see, and hearing they might not understand." Romans chapter 11 verse 8. According as it is written, God hath given them the spirit of slumber, eyes that they should not see, and ears that they should not hear unto this day. None of the above texts, though not conclusive in themselves, seem consistent with the belief that God is actively seeking the salvation of all men. Finally, let us examine God's providential acts in history. Let us examine the unfolding of His eternal will in time. If it is God's desire to save all men, and if it is God's purpose to save as many as He can, as Arminians believe, then the entire history of the Old Testament makes no sense. As a side note, consider the life of Noah. Before the flood, from Adam to Noah, the godly line of Seth seems to have been in the minority. In Noah's day, it was down to one family, Noah's. The Bible states that Noah was a preacher of righteousness. He preached for many years, many years while he was preparing the ark. Some commentators estimate he preached for 120 years, yet during all that time he had not as much as one convert. If he was appealing to men's free wills, and warning them of judgment to come, and calling them to find God's salvation in the ark, one would think that in 120 years he would have some fruit of his ministry. The Bible declares that only Noah found grace in the sight of God and God only rescued Noah and his family from the flood. Only Noah was elect and some of his family as Ham does not seem to have been a true believer. All through the Old Testament God restricts the knowledge of himself and of the coming Messiah to a small remnant. After the flood it is Abraham and his family who almost alone with the exception of Melchizedek who some think is Shem are the recipients of God's grace and are granted knowledge of the true God and of his great salvation. And so it remained in the days of Isaac and Jacob until the children of Israel went into Egypt and into slavery after the exodus God made His covenant and gave His law and revealed His way of salvation only to the children of Israel. For centuries, from Moses to Christ, it remained so. Christ Himself, in His earthly ministry, said salvation is of the Jews, and I am but sent to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. It was not until the nation Israel, through its leaders, officially rejected their Messiah and crucified him that the gospel went out to the Gentiles. For 400 years, the bulk of human history, the knowledge of the true God and his salvation was restricted to a small remnant. Are these the actions of a God who is purposing to save all men? Or are these the actions of a sovereign God working all things according to the counsel of His will and redeeming all His elect and them only? Furthermore, is it not astounding that if God was purposing to redeem all mankind, there is not a single command in the entire Old Testament to evangelize the world? Israel is never once commanded to go out and evangelize the Gentiles. Paul states that the call of the Gentiles was a mystery hidden throughout all the ages, but revealed in his time. With a few exceptions, such as the Gentile believers Rahab, Ruth, and Nahum, God restricted his salvation to the children of Israel. These are not the actions of a God purposing to save all men. Then consider the historic record of the early church as found in the book of Acts. Paul is on his second missionary journey. As they retrace the steps of their final journey, God actively directs their path. Acts 16 verses 6 through 9. Now when they had gone throughout Phrygia and the region of Galatia, and were forbidden of the Holy Ghost to preach the word in Asia, after they were come to Mysia, they assayed to go into Bithynia. But the Spirit suffered them not, and they, passing by Mysia, came down to Troas. And a vision appeared to Paul in the night. There stood a man of Macedonia, and prayed him, saying, Come over into Macedonia and help us. Paul is forbidden to preach in Asia, not permitted by God to preach in Bithynia, and in a vision directed to preach in Macedonia. There he converts Lydia, a woman whose heart the Lord opened, that she attended unto the things which were spoken of Paul. Paul continues on and winds up in Corinth. There again the Lord directs him. Then spake the Lord to Paul in the night by a vision, Be not afraid, but speak, and hold not thy peace, for I am with thee, and no man shall set on thee to hurt thee, for I have much people in this city. Acts chapter 18 verses 9 and 10. Are these the actions of the God seeking to reach all men and to save all men? Or are these the actions of the God working his sovereign will in history as he orchestrates the calling out of all his elect? Clearly the inspired record supports the latter. Arminians do not seem to have a problem with the historic record in either testament and rarely make an issue of it. However, when Calvinists speak of God restricting his salvation to the elect, they become radically opposed to such thoughts. But this is inconsistent. It is all right for God to restrict his salvation throughout all the Old Testament to the elect nation of Israel, and ultimately only to an elect remnant of that nation, But it is intolerable to accept the same restriction of God's salvation to His elect in the New Testament times. In His providential dealings throughout all of human history, God is consistent. He is working all things out for His glory and the good, the salvation of His elect. It is Arminians who are not consistent. If it has been God's plan and purpose to seek to redeem all mankind, then it has been a colossal failure. Throughout all human history, the redeemed, the elect of God, have been a small remnant. Christ himself taught, Enter ye in at the straight gate, for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat. because straight is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto light, and few there be that find it." Matthew 7, 13 and 14. But nowhere in the Scriptures is God's plan of salvation set forth as having failed in any respect. It is always represented as a glorious plan, based on infinite wisdom, everlasting love, and eternal mercy. God's plan has not failed except in the imaginations of logically consistent Arminians. The great chapter on Christ's atoning death, Isaiah 53, states, He shall see the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied. By his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many, for he shall bear their iniquities. However, if Christ died for all men, and was seeking to redeem all men, how can he be satisfied that only a small remnant throughout all of human history have been redeemed by his blood sacrifice? On the other hand, if he died for his elect, and all of his elect are saved, and not one of his sheep is lost, then he might well be satisfied, having accomplished his holy will. and the will of his father. By way of conclusion, we can say that God does everything for his own glory. The two great works for which God is constantly being praised in the scriptures are his great work of creation and his great work of salvation. But how can God be glorified in his great work of redemption if it has to be considered a failure? If it was God's purpose to redeem all of mankind, then it has not succeeded. Numerically, only a very small remnant of humanity has been redeemed over the past 6,000 years of human history. God has had to stand by as a frustrated observer in his own universe. having sent his son to die for all men, only to have the mass majority of men scorned that sacrifice and reject his son. How can men and angels really glorify God for such a failed plan of redemption? However, if God's purpose was a new creation, if his purpose was a new heavens and a new earth, populated by a new redeemed humanity, whom He has saved out from among every tribe and tongue and nation of the earth, then things are entirely different. Then God has accomplished all His holy will. He has brought to pass all His good pleasure. He has redeemed each one of His elect, and not one of them has been lost. He has redeemed that innumerable multitude that is like the sand of the seashore and the stars of the heaven for number. He has done that for which men and angels will praise Him for all eternity. And if He has done it sovereignly, and by His power alone, so that the glory of this great work of salvation is His alone, then indeed He is greatly to be praised.