I’m sharing a message from Spurgeon concerning the truth about Calvinism and predestination vs Armenian free will. Spurgeon here in this message, obviously sides with Calvin. But what Scriptures does Spurgeon overlook here to arrive where he does, and do these Scriptures make a difference or not?  

Spurgeon here implies that a case can be made for election, and with that, who can disagree? – not I, but what exactly is election.  The elect are seen in Scripture as being in Christ.  Scripture teaches that these are given to Jesus by the Father.  This understanding comes from Jesus’ own prayer in John 17.  “I have kept those you Father have given me”.  So the question is how and why did the Father choose these who are given?  

Psalm 51:17  The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; A broken and a contrite heart, God, You will not despise. (NASB2020)

God will not despise a contrite heart.  And He searches for such to abide 

Isaiah 57:15  For this is what the high and exalted One Who lives forever, whose name is Holy, says: “I dwell [in] a high and holy place, And [also] with the contrite and lowly of spirit In order to revive the spirit of the lowly And to revive the heart of the contrite. (NASB2020)

Psalm 34:18  The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit. (KJV)

They these elect, were chosen before the foundation of the earth, but if God knows us each one: even before our beginning, He knows also our end.  Is that end predestined individually for us or is it predestined for only those that He knows to be of their own free choice broken, contrite and seeking to be found in Christ, and to have endured there in Him unto their end.  

Scripture tells us that God’s will is that all would come to a knowledge of the truth and be saved. His will is that none from the human race should parish. Spurgeon says here that anyone can easily make a case for election (to him this would seem to mean “predestination” as Calvin would teach it).  But then he says or implies that no one can make a sermon in support of “free will”.  What does this say concerning our God?   Does He direct all of man’s decisions? This would imply that man has no choice between being good vs being evil.  Or that Adam had no choice than to follow Eve in eating of the tree of knowledge.  It is certainly true that God created the Evil to later be exposed from within that tree, but the question is did God choose the evil for Adam or was it Adam’s choice to disobey?  Can a case be made from Scripture that He being God and all knowing, simply knew what Adam’s choice would be before he ever created him with freedom to choose?

If we cannot make the case for free will; then why did God have 

 Joshua say: “Choose you this day who you will serve”?  And if there is no case for free will, why would God choose to have His elect to first choose evil if this were not Adam’s own choice, but rather God’s preprogrammed predestined disobedience?

Why then did Paul say:

1 Timothy 2:3  This is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior,  4  who wants all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. (NASB2020)

Why would God want all to be saved; even those that Calvin deems to be predetermined by God to be created for this very evil that Jesus died to have eradicated in others of us, who would also be predestined to believe to be saved from it?  We call that provision His grace, but it must not be grace for all those whom He desires to be saved.  Why?  There is no explanation. We also call it having mercy, but is it mercy toward all.  Not if there is no free will.  We call heaven or hell God’s justice, but is it justice when no man has a real choice to be in Christ for His escape?

We must then ask why would Jesus need to die for us men and women, whom He has already predestined to believe in Him as creator and savior.  

How can we appreciate Him doing that for us if we have no will of our own with which to do that.  Jesus said: any who believe in Him (in the lord Jesus Christ) will be saved.  He also said:

John 7:17  “If anyone is willing to do His will, he will know about the teaching, whether it is of God, or I am speaking from Myself. (NASB2020)

Will to do His will?  Jesus stands at the door knocking and whoever hears Him and opens that door into him, He will enter in and sup with him (Whoever opens).

Hell was not created for man but for the fallen angels, so neither were some men created just for hell.

Our free will to love evil or to love the Lord our God is the only answer to seeing Justice through to its ultimate end.  Those who receive Him are predestined to eternal life with Him. Those who reject Him are predestined to an eternal hell. And the predestination of each was known by God before the foundation of the earth.  Yes, certainly He is God omnipotent. 

Spurgeon’s I love but God is the righteous judge of all.  God’s love of us and His great sacrifice  meant to set us free, is His greatest argument for our free will to rebel, which necessitates His redemption of any who will turn and follow him, and yes, those who do so He does call His elect, and His chosen ones. 

http://hehathsaid.com/2026/07/13/this-great-and-glorious-doctrine/