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Calvin on
Repentance vs. Who God Is
“By that immutable counsel of God, by which he predestined
to himself whomever he would, was alone effectual for their salvation. That
Scripture clearly proves this much, that God by his eternal and immutable
counsel determined once for all those whom it was his pleasure one day to admit
to salvation, and those whom, on the other hand, it was his pleasure to doom to
destruction.”[1]
“Because his immutable decree had once for all doomed them to destruction.”[2]
“Where it is said that God repented of having made Saul king, the term change
is used figuratively. Shortly after it is added, “The Strength of Israel will
not lie nor repent, for he is not a man, that he should repent.” In these
words, his immutability is plainly asserted without figure.”[3]
As proof that
God remains unalterably the same Calvin declared that God remains unmoved.
Compare this statement with Aristotle “for there is something which always
moves that which is moved, and the prime mover is itself unmoved.”[4]
Calvin was influenced by the philosophy of Aristotle, a pupil of Plato. He
mixed them with his thoughts and formed his theology of immutability.
Why was Calvin
certain that God is immutable? Is this plainly asserted in Scripture? Was
Calvin certain that God does not repent because the Scripture said so or
because of his Platonic influence? Does Scripture show that God is immutable or
that He repents? Where is this clear evidence? It is interesting that Calvin
dismissed the evidence almost in a cavalier manner when he dealt with the
Scripture that God changes.
Calvin’s
explanation that “change” is just a figure of speech is unacceptable. A figure
of speech is used to represent one concept in terms of another because the
nature of the two concepts allows an analogy to be drawn. There is no analogy
between the concepts of “does not change his mind” and “changes his mind”. When
is says in 1 Samuel 15:11 and 1 Samuel 15:35 that the Lord repented, what does
it mean? Especially when in 1 Samuel 15:29 the same word is used to say that
the Lord does not repent. If we understand that the Lord does repent, but that
in this specific instance God will not change his mind, the apparent conflict
is easily explained. However Calvin used another approach. Calvin was convinced
that God is immutable and therefore the term change was used figuratively in the
29th verse. Where did Calvin obtain his conviction that God is
immutable? Why did he dismiss the idea that God could change his mind without
an explanation? Calvin quoted Augustine as a source for immutability. As we
have already demonstrated Augustine received his doctrine of Immutability from
Plato.
When I was
younger, I saw the righteousness and justice of God very clearly. But, because
I was under the influence of western civilization’s philosophical thought, I
believed in an immutable, unchanging, and impassible, unfeeling, God. As most
of you now know, this philosophy was developed and written down by the Greek
philosopher, Plato.
However, in
Christian circles, there has been a great revolt against these ideas. I joined
this revolt about 35 years ago after I read a book, How Can God Answer Prayer, by Edward Bierderwolf.
God’s word has
continued to transform me over the years. Now, I have read much of the OT with
a different purpose. I wanted to find out who God is. So my question now, is,
what is God like? What would God do? To begin with, God has suffered all the
anguish of a father. That’s how he felt about Israel.
Hos 11:1-9 When
Israel was a child, I loved him, And out of Egypt I called My son. 2 As they
called them, So they went from them; They sacrificed to the Baals, And burned
incense to carved images. 3 I taught Ephraim to walk, Taking them by their
arms; But they did not know that I healed them. 4 I drew them with gentle
cords, With bands of love, And I was to them as those who take the yoke from
their neck. I stooped and fed them. 5 He shall not return to the land of Egypt;
But the Assyrian shall be his king, Because they refused to repent. 6 And the
sword shall slash in his cities, Devour his districts, And consume them,
Because of their own counsels. 7 My people are bent on backsliding from Me.
Though they call to the Most High, None at all exalt Him. 8 How can I give you
up, Ephraim? How can I hand you over, Israel? How can I make you like Admah?
How can I set you like Zeboiim? My heart churns within Me; My sympathy is
stirred. 9 I will not execute the fierceness of My anger; I will not again
destroy Ephraim. For I am God, and not man, The Holy One in your midst; And I
will not come with terror.
Just as a
parent asks in despair, “What did I do wrong,” God said in Mic 6:3, “O My
people, what have I done to you? And how have I wearied you? Testify against
Me.” Similarly, in Numbers 14:27, He asked Moses and Aaron, “How long shall I
bear with this evil congregation who complain against Me? I have heard the
complaints which the children of Israel make against Me.” But all His despair
is tempered with compassion. For it says in,
Deu 32:36 For the LORD will judge His people and have
compassion on His servants, When He sees that their power is gone, And there is
no one remaining, bond or free.
and further in,
Psa 78:36-41 Nevertheless they flattered Him with their
mouth, and they lied to Him with their tongue; 37 For their heart was not steadfast
with Him, nor were they faithful in His covenant. 38 But He, being full of
compassion, forgave their iniquity, and did not destroy them. Yes, many a time
He turned His anger away and did not stir up all His wrath; 39 For He
remembered that they were but flesh, a breath that passes away and does not
come again. 40 How often they provoked Him in the wilderness and grieved Him in
the desert! 41 Yes, again and again they tempted God and limited the Holy One
of Israel.
How often did God put up with them compassionately?
Num 14:22 “because all these men who have seen My glory
and the signs which I did in Egypt and in the wilderness, and have put Me to
the test now these ten times, and have not heeded My voice.
When we read
the OT, we find that God is much like a parent. In Jer 15:6 he said, “You have
forsaken Me,” says the LORD, “You have gone backward. Therefore I will stretch
out My hand against you and destroy you; I am weary of repenting!” But we must
always remember, according to Psa 145:8, “The LORD is gracious and full of
compassion, slow to anger and great in mercy.” And though He said He was weary
of repenting, later He said in Jeremiah 31:1-9,
“At the same time,” says the LORD, “I will be the God of
all the families of Israel, and they shall be My people.” 2 Thus says the LORD:
“The people who survived the sword Found grace in the wilderness—Israel, when I
went to give him rest.” 3 The LORD has appeared of old to me, saying: “Yes, I
have loved you with an everlasting love; Therefore with lovingkindness I have
drawn you. 4 Again I will build you, and you shall be rebuilt, O virgin of
Israel! You shall again be adorned with your tambourines, And shall go forth in
the dances of those who rejoice. 5 You shall yet plant vines on the mountains
of Samaria; The planters shall plant and eat them as ordinary food. 6 For there
shall be a day when the watchmen will cry on Mount Ephraim, ‘Arise, and let us
go up to Zion, to the LORD our God.’” 7 For thus says the LORD: “Sing with
gladness for Jacob, and shout among the chief of the nations; Proclaim, give
praise, and say, ‘O LORD, save Your people, the remnant of Israel!’ 8 Behold, I
will bring them from the north country, And gather them from the ends of the
earth, Among them the blind and the lame, The woman with child And the one who
labors with child, together; A great throng shall return there. 9 They shall
come with weeping, And with supplications I will lead them. I will cause them
to walk by the rivers of waters, In a straight way in which they shall not
stumble; For I am a Father to Israel, And Ephraim is My firstborn.
We must imitate
God and walk in love. That’s what Eph 5:1-2 says, “Therefore be imitators of
God as dear children. 2 And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given
Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma.”
Our righteous indignation is not always very righteous. So when we consider
others as we focus on loving God we should realized God’s counsel to us will be
bathe your talk and actions with love. God’s
wrath and mercy are contrasted this way in Isa 54:8, “With a little wrath I hid
My face from you for a moment; but with everlasting kindness I will have mercy
on you, Says the LORD, your Redeemer.” Now, we don’t have God’s character of
justice and righteousness to back us up in our attitudes and decisions, that’s
why He tells us in John 7:24, “Do not judge according to appearance, but judge
with righteous judgment.”
That means, we
must judge only with the word of God as our guide.
1 Cor 6:2-5 Do you not know that the saints will judge the
world? And if the world will be judged by you, are you unworthy to judge the
smallest matters? 3 Do you not know that we shall judge angels? How much more,
things that pertain to this life? 4 If then you have judgments concerning
things pertaining to this life, do you appoint those who are least esteemed by
the church to judge? 5 I say this to your shame. Is it so, that there is not a
wise man among you, not even one, who will be able to judge between his brethren?
Further, be
quick to forgive any repentant person, for our model is God. And He is slow to
anger and quick to forgive.
Psa 103:8 The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to
anger, and abounding in mercy.
Joel 2:13 So rend your heart, and not your garments;
Return to the LORD your God, For He is gracious and merciful, slow to anger,
and of great kindness; and He repents from doing harm.
Jon 4:2 So he prayed to the LORD, and said, “Ah, LORD, was
not this what I said when I was still in my country? Therefore I fled
previously to Tarshish; for I know that You are a gracious and merciful God,
slow to anger and abundant in lovingkindness, One who repents from doing harm.
Jam 1:19-20 So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be
swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath; 20 for the wrath of man does not
produce the righteousness of God.