God's Sovereignty and Providence- Part 2

For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. Romans 10:13 (KJV) emphasis mine

The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. II Peter 3:9 (KJV) emphasis mine

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. John 3:16 (KJV) emphasis mine

Does God send people to hell based on His sovereignty and predestination (or election)? Does God Himself choose who will go to heaven or hell? Based on the verses above, the answer to these questions is an emphatic NO.

WHOSOEVER calls on Jesus Christ can and will be saved. It is not God’s will that anyone should go to hell. God has shared His heart on the matter- He sent Jesus to die in man’s place. Man has to choose to believe in Jesus and receive His substitutionary gift. God sent Jesus so NOBODY would have to perish. In His providence, He sent Jesus to take our place. It is His sovereign will that no one would ever go to hell, but, man has the ability to choose to go against His sovereign will. God is always reaching out, but man must choose to receive or reject His hand.

God sends no one to hell and doesn’t want any of us to go there. A person’s rejection of Jesus sends him to hell. You might even say it this way: we were all on our way to hell, but God sent Jesus to be the Emergency Exit for us to get out of going there. However, if people refuse to use the Emergency Exit, then they continue on their path to hell.

God even waits for Jesus to return in order to give mankind as much time as possible to repent and be saved. As long as we’re alive and breathing, it’s not too late to be saved. God chose each and every one of us, and while we are alive, He waits for us to choose Him through accepting His Son as Savior. Hell was created for the devil and his demons, not for man, and God doesn’t want any of us to go there.

God’s Sovereignty:

God is over His creation and His people. When man fell, God was still ruling over everything and working things out for His will to be done to save mankind from hell and return him to intimate fellowship with Him.

God’s Providence:

God cares for His creation and for mankind, and provided a Substitute to pay for sin and deliver us all from death, hell, and the grave.

God sent Jesus, and as we choose Jesus, we enjoy God’s reign in our lives and His care for us. As we live for God, we can enjoy His sovereignty, His rule in our lives; as well as His providence, His care for us. We can use the authority He has given us to see His will be done on earth as it is in heaven. We can see God’s kingdom come with power and victory, thus reaching others so they can also enjoy all that Christ has provided. God’s sovereignty and His providence have given us all we’ll ever need.