tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5500579847993423093.post3779801917329652436..comments2023-09-15T08:30:43.359-05:00Comments on Lutheran Reformission: Thy Will Be Done: The Role of Tragic Events in Bringing about God’s Will of SalvationRev. Jason P. Petersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02559555598308652106noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5500579847993423093.post-41285301558315349462007-10-29T19:35:00.000-05:002007-10-29T19:35:00.000-05:00Question? If God's will is that all people be sav...Question? If God's will is that all people be saved, (1 Tim. 2:4 “This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, [4] who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.”) then is God impotent or unable to save all people since not all are saved? Or does he actually only save those he chooses?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5500579847993423093.post-81984266377470617472007-11-01T17:43:00.000-05:002007-11-01T17:43:00.000-05:00What you ask is the most debated theological quest...What you ask is the most debated theological question of the ages: "Why are some saved, and not others?" <br><br>Calvin and his theological followers attempt to answer this by saying that God elects some to salvation from eternity and elects others to damnation. <br><br>Arminius and his theological followers would answer this by claiming that humans have "free will" in theological matters which God has made a choice not to violate. Thus, in their theology, what makes the difference is the individual's choice to follow Jesus. <br><br>Both of these attempts propose to give answers which God has not revealed to us in scripture. Both are the product of the addition of human presuppositions to the scriptures.<br><br>All the scriptures tell us is this. If anyone is saved, all credit goes to God. If anyone is condemned, all fault lies in himself. To attempt to answer any further than this is to answer where scripture has not spoken. <br><br>My paper to which your question is addressed does not specifically relate to the doctrine of predestination/election, but it is consistent with the position I set forth in the previous paragraph. God attempts to work through tragic events to drive all men away from trust in self or idols and instead toward trust in Him for salvation. He is working through the events of history to further His will of salvation, yet some will reject His grace to their own eternal detriment.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com