Not being an academic, I only gradually become familiar with the dogmas of men that exist in the Christian Community. Most recently, this strange idea of "Gentile Reprobation" has come to my attention, suggesting that those judged as "goats" were predestined and their choices played no part. And this in spite of the Lord's own words:
Matthew 25:
45 Then He will answer them, saying, Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did not do it
to one of the least of these, you did not do it to Me.
46 And these will go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.
This is as clear a statement of personal accountability as you will ever hear, and I marvel that someone could attain to the level of spiritual blindness to ignore such evidence to the contrary against the position they hold. I then realize that this is a perfect example of the Lord hardening hearts and why.
To accuse the Lord of being random and capricious takes quite the reprobate mind. The proponents also demonstrate a marked inability to receive any instruction or correction as further evidence to the state of their heart. I would implore that all prayers, supplications and intercessions be made on this topic, even as I will now demonstrate how and why a heart is hardened in the Gospels.
John 1:
6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John.
7 This man came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all through him might believe.
I highlight the final phrase, for this is often overlooked, and is a key to understanding why the scribes and Pharisees, and many of the citizens of Jerusalem were hardened against the Lord, as discussed by Paul in Romans 9.
Note that the narrative also stipulates that John was "a man sent from God". The Lord Himself also speaks to this, although many think that He was only referring to Himself. I will soon prove otherwise.
John 6:
28 Then they said to Him, “What shall we do, that we may work the works of God?”
29 Jesus answered and said to them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He sent.”
Now, to John the baptist, and the truth that his ministry was a litmus test for the hearts of Israel.
Luke 7:27 This is he of whom it is written:
‘Behold, I send My messenger before Your face,
Who will prepare Your way before You.’
28 For I say to you, among those born of women there is not a greater prophet than John the Baptist;
but he who is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he.”
29 And when all the people heard Him, even the tax collectors justified God,
having been baptized with the baptism of John.
30 But the Pharisees and lawyers rejected the counsel of God against themselves,
being not baptized of him.
The Lord calls them out on this in Jerusalem, and silences their opposition.
Luke 20:1 Now it happened on one of those days, as He taught the people in the temple and preached the gospel,
that the chief priests and the scribes, together with the elders, confronted Him
2 and spoke to Him, saying, “Tell us, by what authority are You doing these things?
Or who is he who gave You this authority?”
3 But He answered and said to them, “I also will ask you one thing, and answer Me:
4 The baptism of John—was it from heaven or from men?”
5 And they reasoned among themselves, saying, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ He will say,
‘Why then did you not believe him?’
6 But if we say, ‘From men,’ all the people will stone us, for they are persuaded that John was a prophet.”
7 So they answered that they did not know where it was from.
8 And Jesus said to them, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things.”
Those who did believe in John the baptist not only were baptized by him, publicly confessing their sins, but they also listened to him teach, which prepared their hearts to receive the Lord.
John 10:
40 And He went away again beyond the Jordan to the place where John was baptizing at first, and there He stayed.
41 Then many came to Him and said, “John performed no sign, but all the things that John spoke
about this Man were true.”
42 And many believed in Him there.
Therefore, it is with good reason that the Lord hardens hearts, and those who accuse Him of doing so otherwise are hardened in their own hearts, and unteachable to the contrary, which is the very nature of a reprobate mind. Such is the true nature of man's reprobation, holding to doctrines of men that oppose the Word of God.
Hi there Mr M
Hope you are good. I’ve read through the post and these are my thoughts concerning the texts you posted.
As to the why the hardness of the heart, I believe as you do, that we have a choice in how we respond to the goodness, forbearance and patience of God, which leads to repentance . But at the same time, I can hold in my heart the sovereignty of God. Simply because the clay will never be able to fully fathom the plans of the Potter. Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable his judgments, and his paths beyond tracing out!
John 1 as you pointed out was the one to turn the hearts of the children to the Father, and through his witness many believed, and so to Johns disciples followed Him (Andrew).
I don’t think John 6 refers to this but rather to the Father and Son relationship and salvation plan. (The immediate context offers meaning)
John 6:29
Jesus answered and said to them, “This is the work of God,
that you believe in Him whom He sent.”
John 6:38
For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but to do
the will of Him who sent Me.
John indeed performed no signs but his words concerning Christ were true. Those words were most likely the words consistent with the words of the Prophets, that one would come to proclaim good news to the poor… to bind up the brokenhearted,..to proclaim freedom for the captives, and release from darkness for the prisoners…he would come healing etc , as He said in Johns moment of doubt in prison (Luke 7:22).
As for how Christ responds in Luke to the Pharisees who rejected Him, I think Christ exercised absolute wisdom (Luke 2:52), in His response to them… (Proverbs 26:4-5)
Also, the parable in Luke 20 of the talents was a condemnation as they understood He was referring to them. The parable becoming a kind of self-fulfilling prophecy ‘The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone’? The vineyard given to others (the apostles building on the foundation).
As for the hearts hardened, the parable of the sower also speaks to the condition of the heart to receive the message of Christ. That an enemy comes if the message is not understood. This passage also the fulfilment to Isaiah 6
Matthew 13
14 In them the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled: ‘You will be ever hearing but never understanding; you will be ever seeing but never perceiving. 15
For this people’s heart has grown callous; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes. Otherwise, they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts, and turn, and I would heal them.
Had they turned to Him, he would have healed them. The prophets (whom all experienced the same fate) were consistent with this call to repentance. Had Gods people repented of breaching the covenant requirements, in a nutshell “love God, love others”. He would forgive them.
Jesus laments for them Luke 13
34”O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, who kills the prophets and stones those sent to her, how often I have longed to gather your children together as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were unwilling!
He was always willing, they not so.
