Theodicy Soteriology, Hermeneutics

SOTERIOLOGY : M. M. NINAN
This sovereign grace is imparted through the atonement of Jesus on the cross We have no
reason why God had to suffer on the cross to impart this sovereign grace while it was all the
time His Sovereign choice and decision - probably God enjoyed doing it. In either case
whether you are an elect or non-elect you are bound by the choice of God. You have the
choice to wish otherwise.
IS THIS YOUR GOD?
Man is inherently a sinner and is engulfed in a sea of sin so that he cannot save himself.
Because of this Man is sinner by choice also. This was why God has to take the initiative and
"stoop down the heaven and come to earth. Calvinism however goes much farther by
claiming that man is totally incapable of even understanding spiritual matters and least of all
responding to the gospel. The verse which supports this view is given as
Ephesians 2:1 As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, 2 in which you
used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the
air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient.3 All of us also lived among
them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature and following its desires and
thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature objects of wrath.
Paul here uses the phrase "dead in trespasses and sins". What did he mean by dead is
actaully explained in verse 12
12 remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in
Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the
world.
235