It is not my determination that God must act when I believe, it is God’s determination that he doesn’t act until I believe. God says “if you believe”, I will save, and you will be saved by my actions!
You are under the assumption that God must save; that is false! God is Sovereign and he does what he wants, if he wants and how he wants! God being Love, wants to save, but is under no legal obligation to do so. That he is willing and promises to save is all God needs to be true to himself! If nobody comes, he is not at a loss! God would not be less if nobody believed, but he knew some would!
God’s love is vindicated by sending Christ and making salvation a real thing, and his justice is vindicated if we refuse. God didn’t need to create as he did, and he doesn’t have an obligation to redeem. He would be the same God if he hadn’t done what he did.
God sets the rules of the game, not us! And the rules say “If anyone believes” God will save them! Belief is a prerequisite to salvation occurring. Paul taught clearly that Israel was lost for one reason: because of unbelief! And the Gentiles were grafted in for one reason: they believed! And they could be “cut off” just like the natural branches if they stopped/didn’t continue believing just as the Jews could and would be grafted back into the tree if they believed!
Whoever believes will be saved! No belief, no salvation!
Doug
