It’s funny how things go round in life. Over twenty years ago I providentially tripped over the teaching’s of “grace”, and found that my head had additional capacity for puffing up (see 1 Corinthians 8:1).
At the time, I was teaching a Sunday School Class for adults, studying a minimum of 10 hours for every hour in front of the class. (Can you hear the me me monster coming out?)
Nevertheless, did I mention that I was in a church that was NOT Calvinistic, that did not adhere to the teachings of grace.
It wasn’t easy!
Since moving away and not attending that church, I have had the opportunity to consider the teachings of Calvinism. I have found that I just couldn’t retain the obvious conclusions this teaching provided. I initially ignored this particular theory, and then serendipitously found Bible passages that refuted it. Eventually, I came to the conclusion that Calvinism had too many concerns and not enough foundation in the truth.
Years pass, and I venture into other areas of Bible research. Ecclesiology, a bit or Eschatology. Maybe even some hamartiology –
Say it isn’t so Carl! Yes but not for long.
Covid 19 struck America and we spent some time not attending a fellowship. Eventually I had had enough and sought out a church that was welcoming people in their buildings for face to face worship.
What a wonderful idea!
The preaching was good and the folks seemed real friendly. Eventually, it became apparent that this body of believers were of the Calvinistic stripe.
Golly, I become a Calvinist in a non Calvinist church, leave that church and abandon Calvinism, and now begin attending a fine church, with teaching that focuses on the Calvinistic thought process a bit much.
No matter. Fellowship depends on our relationship with the Son, not on our perspective regarding “mysterious” decress in eternity past.
With that said, I would like to offer an alternative consideration of soteriology (Doctrine of Salvation, or the study of Biblical Salvation).
I have found a teacher on You Tube that presents an irenic message, well thought out and, in my humble opinion, a perspective that has far greater support based on the Word of God.
Watch for the first installment in our next “Calvin’s Concerns” post.
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Thanks again for coming to visit. I hope you found something of interest in this post and would appreciate a comment, to begin a discussion.
Considering the Bible 
Since Jehovah said in Exodus 4:21 to Moses that He would harden Pharaoh’s heart, I conclude whenever the hardening begins would be because God caused the hardening
The objector in Romans 9:14 had a similar response to God’s Total Sovereignty to do as He pleases with His creation
Romans 9:14
What then shall we say? Is there not unrighteousness with God? Let it not be!
To answer according to scripture with respect to God unconditionally loving Jacob and unconditionally hating Esau
Romans 9:18-23
18 So, then, to whom He wills, He shows mercy; but to whom He wills, He hardens.
19 You will then say to me, Why does He yet find fault? For who has resisted His will?
20 Nay, rather, O man, who are you, the one answering back to God? Shall the thing formed say to the One forming it, Why
did You make me like this? Isa. 29:16
21 Or does not the potter have authority over the clay, out of the same lump to make one vessel to honor, and one to dishonor?
Jer. 18:6
22 But if God, desiring to display wrath, and to make His power known, endured in much long-suffering vessels of wrath hav- ing been fitted out for destruction,
23 and that ( in order that) He make known the riches of His glory on vessels of mercy which He before prepared for glory,
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Spell check changed decretive to secretive …. it should decretive
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In other words, God caused Pharaoh not to let the Israelites go so He could show forth His power and demonstrate His wrath
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But it is good to consider Total Sovereignty means man does not will or work outside His Sovereign absolute control otherwise God is not God. God controls man Man does not control God. God raised up (controlled)Pharaoh to show forth His power in him so that His name might be publicized in all the earth
So, then, to whom He wills, He shows mercy but to whom He wills, He hardens God controlled Pharaoh to act in a certain manner
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Does God control you in all your activities, thoughts and decisions?
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Yep, otherwise he could not fulfill His promises, if man was in control
John 3:27 you can do nothing except it be given to you
The rulers crucified Jesus because God caused all events that led up to the crucifixion
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So when you disobey God’s will, that is God’s will? I’m confused.
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God commanded Pharaoh to let the Israelites go ( God’s will by way of command) Exodus 5:2
Exodus 4:21- the beginning of God’s hardening of Pharaoh’s heart so he would sin and wouldn’t let the Israelites go ( God’s will by way of decree)
Exodus 4:21
And Jehovah said to Moses, As you go to return to Egypt, see all the wonders which I have put in your hand, and do them before Pharaoh. And I will make strong his heart, and he will not send the people away.
Exodus 5:2 KJ3
And Pharaoh said, Who is Jehovah that I should listen to His voice to send away Israel? I do not know Jehovah, and I also will not send Israel away.
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I suppose I was asking if when you fall into a sin (don’t we all?) is that something that is according to God’s will? If God is sovereign (ie controls all) then when we fall into sin, is that something determined by God in ages past?
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Yes
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When I sin, that is according to God’s will?
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Yes, that was accounted for in the Pharaoh Exodus verses above; explained as His will by decree determined from before the foundation of world. God determined all things before He created all things.
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Isnt sin anything that is outside of the woll of God?
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Exodus 4:21 Exodus 5:3 Exodus 7:17 plus additional scripture
Jehovah commanded Pharaoh to let the Israelites go
Jehovah hardened Pharaoh’s heart so he would sin and not let the Israelites go
Then, Jehovah punished Pharaoh for the sin that He (Jehovah) caused Pharaoh to commit
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The first five plagues, I believe the Word states that Pharoah hardened his heart on his own. Only after a consistent refusal of Pharoah to obey, did God enter into the activity of hardening Pharoahs heart.
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Exodus 4:21 is the beginning of God’s hardening. There are multiple verses demonstrating that God is doing the hardening. Pharaoh couldn’t have anything other then a hardened heart, thereafter. Once God hardens the heart, It followed that Pharaoh would only have a hardened heart and harden his heart. God caused the hardened heart to display His wrath and to make His power known. It was set in stone by His word and Pharaoh had no possibility of altering his hardened heart Romans 9
Exodus 7:14
¶ And Jehovah said to Moses, The heart of Pharaoh is a heavy one; he refuses to send away the people.
His heart was a heavy one because Jehovah caused it to be a heavy one
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Not until the sixth plague was it stated that God actually moved in and hardened Pharaoh’s heart (9.12), as he had warned Moses in Midian that he would have to do [4.21].”
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God says he will harden Pharaoh’s heart.That is an action by Jehovah. Pharaoh could not repent or change from having a hard heart. God raised Pharaoh up to demonstrate His wrath and to make His power known. God was the cause of his hardened heart so God could fulfill His will and purpose. Pharaoh couldn’t have a changed anything. God caused him to sin and then punished him for that sin. If you follow the verses from start to finish, it is God causing and controlling Pharaoh’s heart from start in Exodus 4:21 to the end. Jehovah tells Moses what he is going to do. It was His secretive will. Never is Pharaoh the cause of his actions. He desires to do what God caused him to do; which was not to let the Israelites go. God is the potter and Pharaoh is the clay. No free will like Isaiah 10 says.
KJ3 translation
Exodus 4:21- I (Jehovah)will make his heart strong
Exodus 7:3- I (Jehovah)will harden the heart of Pharaoh
Exodus 7:4-Pharoah will not listen to you
Exodus 7:13-His heart (was)made strong
Exodus 7:14- The heart (is)a heavy (one)
Exodus 7:22- Pharaoh’s heart was made strong
Exodus 8:15- He made his heart heavy
Exodus 8:19-Pharaoh’s heart was made strong
Exodus 8:32- Pharaoh made heavy his heart this time also
Exodus 9:7 Pharaoh’s heart was made heavy
Exodus 9:12- Jehovah made strong Pharaoh’s heart
Exodus 9:34- he (Pharoah) made his heart heavy
Exodus 9:35- Pharaoh’s heart was made strong
Exodus 10:1- I (Jehovah) have made his heart heavy
Exodus 10:20- Jehovah made strong the heart of Pharaoh
Exodus 10:27-Jehovah made strong the heart of Pharaoh
Exodus 11:10-Jehovah made strong the heart of Pharaoh
Exodus 13:15-Pharaoh hardened himself
Exodus 14:4- I (Jehovah)will make Pharoah’s heart strong
Exodus 14:8-Jehovah made Pharoah king of Egypt’s heart strong
Exodus 14:17- I am (Jehovah) hardening the heart of the Egyptians
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Like I said, the verses you provided show that the Lord did not get involved in hardening Pharoahs heart until the sixth plague in 9:12
You say that God caused him to sin and then God judged him for the sin.
Will not the judge of all the earth do right?
How is judging Pharoah for sin that he had no choice in committing, how is that just??
Would you consider me just if I scolded my 6 month grandchild for not walking and talking? I want him to walk and talk but he cant, nevertheless I discipline him.
How can I judge rightly a person who has no ability to obey the requirements he is being judged for.
I’m confused.
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Jehovah was involved in Exodus 4:21 when he told Moses I will make strong his heart. So, I would conclude Jehovah made his heart strong when his heart started to become hardened.
Your response is similar to the objector in Romans 9
Romans 9:14
¶ What then shall we say? Is there not unrighteousness with God? Let it not be!
Romans 9:18-22
18 So, then, to whom He wills, He shows mercy; but to whom He wills, He hardens.
19 You will then say to me, Why does He yet find fault? For who has resisted His will?
20 Nay, rather, O man, who are you, the one answering back to God? Shall the thing formed say to the One forming it, Why did You make me like this? Isa. 29:16
21 Or does not the potter have authority over the clay, out of the same lump to make one vessel to honor, and one to dishonor?
Jer. 18:6
22 But if God, desiring to display wrath, and to make His power known, endured in much long-suffering vessels of wrath hav ing been fitted out for destruction,
23 and that (in order that)He make known the riches of His glory on vessels of mercy which He before prepared for glory,
KJ3 translation
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Is the person’s name on YouTube you referred to but didn’t name, Steve Gregg?
“Mysterious decrees” Does that mean why does God does something’s and not others?
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Sorry, should be “do” instead of does
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No. His name is Leighton Flowers, but Steve Gregg is also a great resource for Bible teaching. I highly recommend him
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I know his name
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I listened to both Leighton Flowers and Steve Gregg during their debates with Dr James White. If I remember the debate objective with Leighton Flowers and Dr James White was to exegete through verse by verse on Romans 9 but Leighton couldn’t keep with the plan. I’m discovering, in my opinion, Romans 9 seems to be the place where you can separate those that believe in God’s Total Sovereignty from those that believe in universal atonement and or “free will”
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I think you are correct in that belief
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It is good to remember that sovereignty is not synonymous with control.
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