Theodicy Soteriology, Hermeneutics

SOTERIOLOGY : M. M. NINAN
In the article on Genesis event we have seen how God dealt with the people after the fall and
demanded of them a response which God asserted that they could. We can certainly
conclude that God being a reasonable and just God cannot expect responsibility where there
is no ability. How can God, who is perfectly just, 'command all men everywhere to repent'
(Acts 17:30), knowing the command is impossible to obey?
It is like a preacher preaching in a grave yard for every dead body to get up and walk and
when they do not obey burn them for their disobedience. We would not consider him sane.
But Calvinists wants us to consider God just as that. If God is insane, what can you do. We
know of Dictators who were insane who did the same thing. Is our God like them?
According to the Reform Theology Man is so corrupt, he will not and cannot obey even the
slightest spiritual command . He cannot even understand the language. Yet, God orders him
to believe; He punishes him for not believing and condemns him for eternal fire which he can
certainly feel and know . Is this the character of God revealed in Christ? Is this the picture of
God of love and God who is just, leave alone of a Father?
Gospel and Man’s Ability
On the day of Pentecost, 'With many other words he (Peter) warned them; and he pleaded
with them, 'Save yourselves from this corrupt generation'' (Acts 2:40). Was Peter 'pleading'
with these people to do something they were incapapble of doing? If he was speaking in a
language which they did not understand, the spirit of God intervened to let them hear these
words in their own tongues. Why? So that they may understand and will have no excuse.
Act 2: 7 Utterly amazed, they asked: 'Are not all these men who are speaking Galileans?8
Then how is it that each of us hears them in his own native language?9 Parthians, Medes
and Elamites; residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia,10
Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya near Cyrene; visitors from Rome(both
Jews and converts to Judaism); Cretans and Arabs--we hear them declaring the wonders of
God in our own tongues!'
The command is to preach and make all people understand the Gospel.
Mat. 28: 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the
Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,20 and teaching them to obey everything I have
commanded you.
Mark 16: 15 He said to them, 'Go into all the world and preach the good news to all
creation.16 Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved,
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