Previously I have mentioned that I never gave much thought to this model of salvation, but various passages where God indicates He wants to save people – if only they would stop resisting! – got me thinking that this model might actually be descriptive of Biblical soteriology.
“Sir you’re gravely injured, please don’t struggle and our paramedics will attend to your wounds and get you to the hospital STAT!”
Some examples:
O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often would I have gathered your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing! – Matthew 23:37
But the Pharisees and the lawyers rejected the purpose of God for themselves, not having been baptized by him. – Luke 7:30
You stiff-necked people, uncircumcised in heart and ears, you always resist the Holy Spirit. As your fathers did, so do you. – Acts 7:51
All day long I have held out my hands to a disobedient and contrary people. – Romans 10:21
7 Therefore, as the Holy Spirit says, “Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion, on the day of testing in the wilderness” – Hebrews 3:7-8
Say to them, As I live, declares the Lord God, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live; turn back, turn back from your evil ways, for why will you die, O house of Israel? – Ezekiel 33:11
I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision – Acts 26:19 (Paul by contrast did not reject God’s ambulance.)
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Recently, I wondered if the Ambulatory Model also can account for various Calvinist prooftexts. Let’s give it a try:
One who heard us was a woman named Lydia, from the city of Thyatira, a seller of purple goods, who was a worshiper of God. The Lord opened her heart to pay attention to what was said by Paul. – Acts 16:14 (The Lord opened her heart, and she did not resist His ambulance.)
And when the Gentiles heard this, they began rejoicing and glorifying the word of the Lord, and as many as were appointed to eternal life believed. – Acts 13:48 (Of every Gentile that God offered His ambulance – and He offers it to EVERYONE WITHOUT EXCEPTION – 100% of those listening to Paul that day did not resist.)
No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him. And I will raise him up on the last day. – John 6:44 (ALL WITHOUT EXCEPTION are drawn to Jesus as per John 12:32, and if they don’t resist they will be saved – and if anyone thinks ‘dragging’ does not allow for resistance and even escape, try going fishing sometime.)
THE SCOTTTCAST 