Most professing Christians would claim that men choose to rebel against God. And, of course, that is true. However, they are appalled by the teaching of Scripture that God has chosen some men to rebel against Him. For example, in Revelation 17, the Apostle John describes someone that he calls the Great Whore and Mystery Babylon. I believe that he is talking about apostate Israel, that portion of the physical descendants of Abraham who reject the biblical faith, especially in regards to the messianic office of Jesus. He also refers to those who will be deceived by, and follow, the Whore. In verse 17, he says of them, "
God has put it into their hearts to carry out his purpose by being of
one mind and handing over their royal power to the beast, until the
words of God are fulfilled" (Revelation 17:17).
Did you catch that? "
God has put it into their hearts." That sentence is undoubtedly contrary to the modern myth that man is completely autonomous, and the purposes of God are contingent on the choices of men to carry them out.
This is reprobation, the reverse side of election. It is the biblical teaching that God has chosen some men to oppose Him, and to be the objects of His justice, both in this world and the next. And men hate that doctrine! Nothing strikes more at the myth of human autonomy! And few doctrines provide a better test of the profession of those who say that they believe that the Bible is the Word of God. If you mean what
you say, then you must bow to what
it says, no matter how contrary to your preferences. If you don't mind, I won't hold my breath while I wait for that moment.
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