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Tuesday, October 22, 2019
Dave, Calvinists teach “total depravity” (and they mean by that, “total inability”). If an unbeliever is unable to spiritually respond, then why does Acts 17:27 refer to men seeking after God?
Excellent question. In this passage, Paul explains to the Athenians that God has arranged the seasons under His common grace, so that man might seek after God. The word here for “seek” (zēteō) is the same as we find in Rom 3:11 (although the attached preposition ek in Rom 3:21 usually intensifies the meaning of the verb, and in the LXX ekzēteō is invariably used of very diligent searching, which involves the whole heart). The implication is that man does have the capacity to seek after God, but it does not say man can reach God on his own.
This passage also says if man seeks after God, there is the remote possibility that he will grope for Him and find Him. However, there is nothing here to say that man is incapable of finding God on his own.
Also, if an unbeliever is like a “rock” or “cadaver” as some of the modern Calvinists incorrectly teach, then why would God ask unbelievers to repent in Acts 17:30? The answer to that the NT does not teach the “total inability” of unbelievers.
So, man does have the capacity to seek, to grope, and to find, but he cannot reach God on his own. It is a gift from God (Jn 6:65), and it involves the drawing, attractive power of God (Jn 6:44). Since God is seeking all (John 16:8-11; Rom 1:19-20), all are free to respond to His drawing and to seek Him in return. Those who diligently seek Him will find Him (Heb 11:6).
Sources Used
Anderson, David R. Free Grace Soteriology: 3rd Edition. Grace Theology Press, 52-53.
Wilkin, Robert. “If It’s Free, Why Would Anyone Need to Strive to Enter?
https://faithalone.org/magazine/y1991/91nov3.html.
