Don’t see the audio player? Click here.
When an athlete, a coach, or a referee does what predetermines the outcome of a game, we call that fixing the game. And it violates the integrity of the sport. But can we rationalize God rigging salvation? Consider what Paul writes in Romans 8. First, he describes what God has done to provide for our salvation. He chose us, called us, declared us righteous, and promised us his eternal glory. Paul then asks these courtroom questions: “What shall we say about such wonderful things as these? If God [the Judge] is for us, who can be against us? Since he [the Judge] did not spare even his own Son but gave him up for us all, won’t he also give us everything else? Who dares accuse us whom God [the Judge] has chosen for his own? No one — for God himself has given us right standing with himself. Who then will condemn us? No one — for Christ Jesus [the Prosecuting Attorney] died for us and was raised to life for us, and he is sitting in the place of honor at God’s right hand, pleading for us. Can anyone ever separate us from Christ’s love? Does it mean he no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or hungry, or destitute, or in danger or threatened with death?… No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us.” God’s wonderful salvation plan for His children is rigged.
