“And Joshua cast lots for them in Shiloh before the LORD, and there Joshua divided the land to the sons of Israel according to their divisions.”

If we made decisions in our churches today by casting lots I think there would be a scandal. It just isn’t the way things are done. It smacks of gambling, and irresponsibility; doesn’t it?

The other side of casting lots is that, to a certain extent, it places the outcome in God’s hands. It seems to me that a hard-core Calvinist, who believes that God is directly in control of everything that happens on earth, would be comfortable using this decision making method.

Speaking as someone who does not believe that God directly orchestrates the universe, I think we do need to focus on making responsible decisions guided by reason, scripture, prayer, and (yes I dare say it) tradition. However, as I do believe that God does still interact with the universe, there may be times when the best course of action is to allow God to make the decision; whether that be by casting lots, flipping a coin, or throwing a dart. Sometimes that is the only way a decision can be made.

CHAP. V. (cont.)

Concerning the Light wherewith Jesus Christ hath enlightned every Man: The Universality and Sufficiency of God’s Grace to all the world made manifest therein.

Q. Seeing then by these Scriptures it appears that the Love of God is held out to all, that all might have been or may be saved by Christ: What is to be judged of those who assert, that God nor Christ never purposed Love nor Salvation to a great part of Mankind, and that the Coming and Sufferings of Christ never was intended, nor could be useful to their Justification; but will and must be effectual for their Condemnation, even according to God’s Purpose, who from their very Infancy to their Grave with-held from them all Means of Salvation? What saith the Scripture to such?

A. For God sent not his Son into the World to condemn the World, but that the World through him might be saved [John 3:17].

I am come a Light into the World, that whosoever believeth in me, should not abide in Darkness. And if any Man hear my Words and believe not, I judge him not; for I came not to judge the World, but to save the World [John 12:46-47].

Q. From what Scripture then came these Men to wrest an Opinion so contrary to Truth?

A. For the Children being not yet born, neither having done any Good or Evil, that the Purpose of God according to Election might stand, it was said unto her, The Elder shall serve the Younger, as it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated [Rom. 9:11-13].

Q. I perceive in that Scripture it was only said before the Children were born, The Elder shall serve the Younger; These other Words (Jacob have I loved, Esau have I hated) are mention’d out of the prophet Malachie, who wrote them many hundred Years after both were Dead: Doth not the Scripture mention any other Cause of God’s hating Esau, than meerly his Decree? What saith the same Apostle elsewhere?

A. Lest there by any Fornication or Profane Person, as Esau, who for one Morsel of Meat sold his Birth-right; for ye know, how that afterward when he would have inherited the Blessing, he was rejected [Heb. 12:16-17].

Q. But seeing that such allege, that it is because of Adam’s Sin that many, even Children are Damned: Doth not the Scripture aver, that the Death of Christ was as large to Heal, as Adam’s Sin could Condemn?

A. For if through the Offence of one many be Dead, much more the Grace of God, and the Gift by Grace, which is by one Man, Jesus Christ. Therefore as by the Offence of one, Judgment came upon all Men to Condemnation, even so by the Righteousness of one, the free Gift came upon all Men unto Justification of Life [Rom. 5:15,18].

Q. That proves abundantly that Christ’s Death is of sufficient Extent to make up any Hurt Adam’s Sin brought upon Mankind: What is then the cause of Condemnation?

A. He that believeth on him is not Condemned, but he that believeth not is Condemned already, because he hath not believed in the Name of the Only Begotten Son of God [John 3:18].

And with all Deceivableness of Unrighteousness in them that Perish, because they received not the Love of the Truth that they might be saved. And for this cause God shall send them strong Delusions, that they should believe a Lye, that they all might be damned who believe not the Truth, but had Pleasure in Unrighteousness [2 Thess. 2:10-12].

Q. Seeing it is so of a Truth according to the Scripture’s Testimony, that God has purposed Love and Mercy to all, in the Appearance of his Son Jesus Christ; Is the Gospel or Glad Tidings of this Salvation brought nigh unto all, by which they are put into a Capacity of receiving the Grace, and being saved by it?

A. If ye continue in the Faith grounded and setled, and be not moved away from the Hope of the Gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every Creature which is under Heaven, whereof I Paul am made a Minister [Col. 1:23].

***

Barclay seems to make the argument that all those who do not have knowledge of Christ are still able to receive salvation through the atoning act of Christ. This would speak to the situation of those, like Abraham, who lived before Christ, and those who lived in a place where knowledge of Christ had not come.

For Barclay, Christ’s atonement can not serve as condemnation for anyone. On the contrary Christ’s act of healing was larger than Adam’s sin and is sufficient to heal all the world of sin.

Barclay does not, in my opinion, argue that all are saved; rather, he certainly argues that salvation is available to all, and he may be arguing that all of creation is moving toward salvation.