Sadistic Teachers

When you were a kid, did you ever have one of those sadistic teachers who, when you asked, "Can I go to the bathroom?" replied, "You can if you are able"?

I confess that I have done this myself to many a poor unsuspecting student when I was trying to impress upon him the difference between "may" and "can." May indicates permission, and can indicates ability.

Now, think of this verse of Scripture found in Romans 8:8: "So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God." Those that are here described as being in the flesh are those who do not have the Spirit of God dwelling in them (verse 9-14). So much for free will!

Modern theology loves to trumpet man’s supposed free will, but the Bible plainly declares that man by nature can (remember, ability) do nothing to gain God’s favor. Actually, he has neither the inclination nor the desire (verses 5-8, Romans 3). So, unless God first does something for him, he will never come to Christ or believe on Him (John 3).

God bestows the blessing of salvation on whomsoever He pleases (Romans 9), and when He does, the sinner can and will come to Christ (John 6:37). If you are able to understand this simple truth, maybe your teacher was not so sadistic after all!

Romans 3:10-18 As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one. Their throat is an open sepulchre; with their tongues they have used deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips: Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness: Their feet are swift to shed blood: Destruction and misery are in their ways: And the way of peace have they not known: There is no fear of God before their eyes.