On Wednesday, November 16, 2016, Dr. Trader wrote the following under "Election and Responsibility." (See Here) What he said was the truth of Scripture and against the teachings of modern day Hardshells. (Emphasis mine)
Election does not cancel man's responsibility. The two great doctrines, the election of God and the responsibility of man, run parallel throughout the Bible. God foreordains salvation through Jesus Christ, but sinners must repent and believe the gospel to be saved (Acts 2:38-39; 16:30-31).
The Holy Spirit enables us to repent and believe in Christ, but He never believes for us. Our responsibility is to obey God's will of command. Election never means that certain people will be saved even if they don't believe on the Lord Jesus Christ. Those who reject Christ are responsible for their own just condemnation.
Election requires God's appointed means to save the lost. God not only foreordained salvation in Christ, but He also ordained the means to accomplish His purpose. That means God saves sinners through preaching and teaching the gospel of Christ (1 Corinthians 1:21-24).
The task of the church is evangelism and missions (Matthew 28:18-20). We are laborers together with God (1 Corinthians 3:6-7). The church has a responsibility to spread the message of salvation in Jesus Christ to all nations. God's Spirit grants faith to save through hearing the word of Christ (Romans 10:17).
Amen!
