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I cannot see how God can be God without ordaining all things. I find this inconceivable simply because it is contrary to His Word:
- Proverbs 16:9 The heart of man plans his way, but the LORD establishes his steps.
- Proverbs 19:21 Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the LORD that will stand.
- Proverbs 20:24 A man’s steps are from the LORD; how then can man understand his way?
- Isaiah 46:8-11 “Remember this and stand firm, recall it to mind, you transgressors, remember the former things of old; for I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me, declaring the end from the beginning and from ancient times things not yet done, saying, ‘My counsel shall stand, and I will accomplish all my purpose,’ calling a bird of prey from the east, the man of my counsel from a far country. I have spoken, and I will bring it to pass; I have purposed, and I will do it.”
- Eph 1:11 In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will …
At the same time I cannot see man’s God-given freedom as less than a genuine, morally responsible and unconstrained liberty. Here I am just agreeing with Calvin and other compatibilists. We insist that God can ordain everything without denying his creatures real freedom. We cannot turn from either of these conscientiously held convictions.
