hope_is_last_to_die -
Hi brother. Listen, I'm going to say things that you probably have not heard before, but please consider them all. The ONLY reason I'm saying these things is because it must be said if you are guys are going to understand where we reformed dudes is coming from. Whether you agree or not is of no consequence, we just want you to understand why we believe what we believe.
God is not willing that anyone should perish,
I want to say out the outset, that God Does and Does NOT will people to perish. I assure you, this is not double talk. Rather, these seeming opposing truths must be said, because both are in scripture (as we will see soon). Second, when talking about "God's will" in scripture, we MUST determine as to whether we mean "what God 'would like' to see happen," or "what God allows to occur;" as BOTH these of these are described as God's "will" in scripture. Third, it is ABSOLUTELY imperative to have some knowledge of hermanutics (the art and science of studying scripture). Why is this so important? Frankly, it is important because our Bible was not written in 21th century American English, but some dead languages. Because of that, we must take into account things like "context," "meanings of specific words," and the fact that some words have "more than one meanings and the context determines the meaning;" certain "idioms," "customs," etc., etc. Forth, let do our grown work as to have some true foundation from which to go on. For this, we must see that God "does NOT" will anyone to perish, and at the same time he DOES will some people to perish. Consider some scriptures:
a.) "The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance" (2 Peter 3:9)
b.) "I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to little children; yes, Father, for such was your gracious will" (Matt 11:25-26).
Now enough though I can prove via the context that 2 Peter 3:9 is speaking specifically about God's elect via the context of the passage, I do not care to (this is not an aim of now now). The reason I put it here for you to see, is because I know you already have it in your mind that God wants to save everyone. So lets start there - that God wants to save everyone. If that is truly the case - and remember here my aim is to humility break certain presuppositions - why does scriptures like Mathew 11:25-26 teach otherwise (read that scripture in the stories context to gain an even better view of what I'm trying to say)? You see, if in fact God does NOT will anyone to be lost, then we have a CLEAR contradiction here. We must come to the conclusion, therefore, that we're missing somethings. And that is all I aim to say now. I truly hope that what I said made sense, and it has at least challenged you, in a good way of course, to consider things from all possible sides. If what I've said here does not make sense to you, please let me know what specifically you don't understand, and I will help as best as I can.
so why doesn't He make everyone believe in Jesus?
God doesn't grant everyone faith because:
1. He doesn't owe anyone mercy, since we are all guilty and deserve his wrath. Mercy or grace (the very thing God saves us by), is by very definition, not earned and/or deserved. God freely gives it to those whom he wills.
2. He aims in revealing himself in totality to His elect. He wants us to know him from Love to Wrath and all of his excellent attributes in between - e.g., "mercy/grace," "humility," "patients," etc. etc. The way God reveals himself in totality, is by creating a world in which he knew people would sin and thus incur his righteous wrath. Knowing that not would seek him, he saved some out of the equally wicked lump of mankind to display his grace (Eph 2:6), and left the rest to their own freewill to not come, and then punishes them to display his wrath - all for the sake of those whom he chose to love (Rom 9:22-23).
Is it true that God has given everyone the ability to choose and that He wont force anyone to believe in Jesus?
God does not choose to save everyone, but designates some sinners (these sinners are God hating and sin living) to his wrath. Consider these few scriptures to see what I mean: 1Sa 2:25 and Mark 4:11-12. Please read them!
Why did God give lucifer the ability to choose to rebel against Him?
The same reason he gave Adam and Eve the ability to choose to rebel against him. It was the means by which God would bring about his plans to make himself know to those in Christ. Had Adam and Eve never sinned, God would not be able to show himself in totality, as we would not/could not, know all of Him.