APRIL 25TH, 1941

APRIL 25TH, 1941

BELOVED BROTHER, — Many thanks for yours. I do not remember writing anything that deals specially with the point of men being free to choose Christ. I think the letters of J.N.D. which you refer to are very clear and according to truth. A fallen creature will never by an act of his own will repent and submit himself to God. It is not at all that God has put any barrier in the way of man’s repentance. He commands all men everywhere to repent, and this is what should be more pressed. Men are responsible to obey God’s command; it is not at all a matter of what they choose to do but of obedience. We know that, apart from a sovereign movement on God’s part, they will not obey God’s command. Such is the dreadful state of the fallen man. But God is working in the sovereignty of His mercy to secure for Himself those whom He is pleased to constitute vessels of mercy. If He did not work not one single person would ever choose life. The whole bent of man’s will is in the opposite direction. “Ye will not come to me that ye might have life”.

God is pleased that His servants should persuade and beseech men. This is a testimony to what He is, and to His readiness to pardon and save. But nothing will really affect man God-ward apart from new birth. We preach to enlighten men as to God’s attitude as a Saviour God. He is what He is for all men apart from any choice or change on their part. But they will not be affected by the thought of this apart from His working in them. So the choosing is really on God’s part; and it is made effective by His calling. As knowing our own hearts we are fully assured that no impulse God-ward could ever have originated there. It has been mercy from first to last.

With much love in the Lord,

Yours affectionately in Him,

April 25th, 1941.