A man's responsibility is determined by the
terms of the covenant to which he is a party.
I was asked:
Q1. Does a man's inability void his lawful
duty?
A man's inability to perform a certain duty
does not void his lawful duty. A man, though dead in trespasses and sins, is
not exempted from his lawful duty and obligation toward God, his Creator. When
God made man, God made him very good... he had the full ability and power of
moral choice and free will to fulfil his lawful duty owed to God his Creator -
to render obedience to God.
A man's inability to discharge his lawful duty
towards his Creator is self-inflicted by his free will rebellion against his
Creator.
All men, being sinners, are under a just obligation to
repent towards God their Creator. NO single sinner has any right to remain in
his sin. Every single sinner is under divine obligation to repent and turn from
his sin.
A man's LAWFUL duties are defined by the terms
of the covenant to which he is a party!
All of God's creatures are bound by the terms
of the covenant of creation.
All of God's redeemed are bound by the terms
of the covenant of redemption!
Q2. What determines a man's duty to believe
in Christ?
A man's duties are defined by the terms of the
covenant to which he is a party! His duty is not determined by his own
inability or ability.
Only those embraced in the covenant of
redemption are required by the terms of that covenant to believe Christ as
their Redeemer.
All the children of God (elects who have been
effectually called to grace and salvation in Christ Jesus) are duty-bound to
repent and believe in the gospel of their salvation. They are God's redeemed, bound by the terms of the covenant of redemption. God's redeemed are duty-bound
by the terms of the covenant of redemption to repent and believe in their
Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ... because Christ is their Redeemer... it is
their covenant duty to believe the truth of their salvation by Christ.
I do believe all God's children ALONE are
under divine obligation to repent and believe in their Lord and Saviour Jesus
Christ. He is their Lord and Saviour. Upon the basis of His life and death,
they have been justified, regenerated and adopted. They are children first by
God's free grace; then they are called to believe the word of truth, the gospel
of their salvation Eph 1:13.
Why would anyone imagine that others are
under the divine obligation to believe Christ as Saviour when Christ is not
even the Saviour of all men? Why are others duty-bound to believe Christ as
their Saviour when Christ did not give Himself as the Saviour of all men? That
would amount to God putting some men under divine obligation to believe a big fat
lie!
It is contrary to God's character for God to put any man under divine obligation to believe a lie - i.e. to believe that Christ is their Saviour when He had assuredly decreed that Christ is not their Saviour.
