30 But the Pharisees and lawyers rejected the will of God for themselves, not having been baptized by him.
30 But the Pharisees and lawyers rejected the will of God for themselves, not having been baptized by him.
How does a Calvinist understand these verses? These verses say the Pharisees and lawyers rejected the will/counsel of God.
anyone?
These verses say the Pharisees and lawyers rejected the will/counsel of God
...to be baptized by John. This is similar to the command God gives that no one should ever lie, steal, or kill. But, sadly these commands are rejected on a daily basis.
So obviously the same God who can command the stars to appear and the Earth to be made has the ability act without being frustrated by someone other than Himself. But, God can make commands that can be ignored and not carried out.
This is referred to as the decretive and preceptive will of God.
By the decretive will is meant that will of God by which he purposes or decrees, whatever shall come to pass, whether he will to accomplish it himself effectively, or causatively, or to permit it to occur through the unrestrained agency or will of his creatures. In either case, however, he has determined, purposed, or decreed, either to bring it to pass, or to cause, or to permit it to be brought to pass.
By the preceptive will is meant that which he has prescribed to be done by others. Such are the laws under which he places his creatures, or the duties which he enjoins upon them. It is the rule of duty.
The decretive will must always be fulfilled; the preceptive may be disobeyed, and therefore remain unfulfilled.
(From Boyce's Abstract of Systematic Theology - Chapter 12)
This discussion is locked.
