God's choices of who will be saved from the mass of humanity comprised of Jews and Gentiles are all sinners by birth and by choice. God is not obligated to save sinful beings however He is obligated to dispense justice. He has chosen to demonstrate His love, grace, and mercy toward the very people He hates without obligation. God makes His choices consistent with His own character.
No person can earn their salvation no matter how hard or what kind of effort they make. Salvation would not be by grace if works of any kind were to be added to it.
The example of God demonstrating His hatred by hardening a sinful heart is the Pharaoh of the exodus. God hardens by exposing people to His truth and withholding His mercy. Sinful man will never, on his own, choose to believe the Truth of God and repent.
A full understanding of the sovereignty of God and the responsibility of man in salvation is beyond the comprehension of fallen man's finite mind. However, trusting God to do what is right as is consistent with His character and believing the Gospel are all that God requires for anyone to be saved.
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In the fall of 1969, Gil began a full-time teaching ministry as Senior Pastor of Indian Hills Community Church. He also earned his Ph.D. from the California Graduate School of Theology. The focus of Pastor Rugh’s ministry is systematic, verse-by-verse teaching of the Bible. As a...
