Choice or Predestination

 

Ezekiel 18:23 "Have I any pleasure in the death of the wicked, declares the Lord God, and not rather that he should turn from his way and live?" From <https://www.openbible.info/topics/i_take_no_pleasure_in_the_death_of_the_wicked_i>

 

Just looking at some scriptures that appear to indicate that God wants the wicked to repent and that it appears it is the choice of the wicked to do the repenting. Rather than the wicked being predestined at the whim of God. Of course I have no doubt that those of a mind to double predestination have all the facts sorted for the argument that counters this proposal.

 

Ezekiel 33:11 "Say to them, As I live, declares the Lord God, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live; turn back, turn back from your evil ways, for why will you die, O house of Israel?" From <https://www.openbible.info/topics/i_take_no_pleasure_in_the_death_of_the_wicked_i>

 

So, once again Yahweh is instructing Ezekiel to tell the wicked that they have the option to repent and to turn back from their evil ways. Reminds me of 2Chronicles chapter 7 verse 14 where Yahweh says that if the people repent and turn from their wicked ways he will heal the land.

 

 

Isaiah 55:7 "Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the Lord, that he may have compassion on him, and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. " From <https://www.openbible.info/topics/i_take_no_pleasure_in_the_death_of_the_wicked_i>

 

It certainly  seems as if Yahweh is offering the wicked the opportunity to make a decision here. Can there be any doubt that this is not about predestination but about choice. Could it be that predestination relates to corporate Israel and the Bride of Christ and that salvation is purely about making a decision which Grace in the gospel gives us the ability to make that choice?

 

1 Timothy 2:4 "Who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth." From <https://www.openbible.info/topics/i_take_no_pleasure_in_the_death_of_the_wicked_i>

 

 Do all of these scriptures that speak of Christ dying for all and desiring all to be saved really only mean the remnant? Does Yahweh lock out people from salvation on a whim just to ensure His sovereignty?  There would certainly seem to be more than a little doubt about this theology.