Confers - Gives to; attributes to; places upon
Perplexing - Confusing; complicating; hindering
Ascribed - Credited; assigned; attributed
Heresy - A false doctrine or teaching
Pelagius - One who taught that natural man, of himself, could freely choose good or evil
Enmity - Deep hatred; hostility; rebellion
Romans 9:13-21
As it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated.
What shall we say then? Is there unrighteousness with God? God forbid.
For He saith to Moses ' I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion.
So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that showeth mercy.
For the Scripture saith unto Pharaoh, Even for this same purpose have I raised thee up, that I might shew My power in thee, and that My name might be declared throughout all the earth.
Therefore hath He mercy on whom He will have mercy, and whom He will He hardeneth.
Thou wilt say then unto me, Why doth He yet find fault? For who hath resisted His will?
Nay but, 0 man, who art thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing formed say to Him that formed it, Why hast Thou made me thus?
Over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour?
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Canons of Dordt: Heads of Doctrine III & IV
Articles 9 And 10
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Article 9. It is not the fault of the gospel, nor of Christ, offered therein, nor of God, who calls men by the gospel, and confers upon them various gifts, that those who are called by the ministry of the Word, refuse to come, and be converted: the fault lies in themselves; some of whom when called, regardless of their danger, reject the Word of life; others, though they receive it, suffer it not to make a lasting impression on their heart; therefore, their joy, arising only from a temporary faith, soon vanishes, and they fall away; while others choke the seed of the Word by perplexing cares, and the pleasures of this world, and produce no fruit.-This our Savior teaches in the parable of the sower (Matt. 13).
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Article 10. But that others who are called by the gospel, obey the call, and are converted, is not to be ascribed to the proper exercise of free will, whereby one distinguishes himself above others, equally furnished with grace sufficient for faith and conversions, as the proud heresy of Pelagius maintains; but it must be wholly ascribed to God, who as He has chosen His own from eternity in Christ, so He confers upon them faith and repentance, rescues them from the power of darkness, and translates them into the kingdom of His own Son, that they may show forth the praises of Him, who hath called them out of darkness into His marvelous light; and may glory not in themselves, but in the Lord according to the testimony of the apostles in various places.
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According to this writing of our forefathers, based upon the Scriptures, who deserves all the blame when a sinner remains lost? Who deserves all the credit when a sinner is saved?
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Predestination exalts God to the highest and humbles man to the lowest. By nature, our selfishly sinful hearts are at ennifty with God. We want to be the deciding factor. We want to be most important. We selfishly want everyone and everything to serve, honor, and center upon, us and our wills. In short, we rebelliously fight to be God. Our sinful enmity often reveals itself when we think about doctrines, such as predestination, that clearly reveal God - as the One who is sovereign over all things - also over us.
In Romans 9 Paul writes clearly of God's sovereign predestination but also of natural man's enmity against this doctrine. Read Romans 9:13-21. How does Scripture show man's natural enmity against sovereign predestination in verses 14 and 19? How does it answer these outbreaks of enmity?
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