Doctrine of Concurrence

Hello Friends!

The Bible clearly teaches throughout the Old and New Testaments the “partnership” of the Sovereignty of God (Omniscience) and Man’s Responsibility (Human will). This is known as the Doctrine of Concurrence (Compatibility).

Let’s take a brief look at just a couple of the many Scriptures surrounding this important doctrine for our further clarification, edification and understanding found in God’s Holy Word – To the glory of Jesus Christ!

The Doctrine of Concurrence

It is quite clear: The sinner is accountable for “faith” in “Jesus Christ” and culpable for “sinful” rejection of “Jesus Christ!” It is role of the Christian and our evangelical duty to present “Jesus Christ” through the “Gospel” to everyone!

To explore this doctrinal discussion, we will consider the following two Scripture passages from both the Old and New Testaments:

Isaiah Chapter 10

God is completely Sovereign! In the tenth chapter of Isaiah we see that “woe” is upon “Assyria” and yet this nation is simultaneously the “rod” of God’s “anger” and “staff” of His “indignation”:

Woe to Assyria, the rod of My anger and the staff in whose hand is My indignation – Isaiah 10:5

Then Israel is called an “ungodly nation” and the people of God’s “wrath”:

I will send him against an ungodly nation, and against the people of My wrath I will give him charge, to seize the spoil, to take the prey, and to tread them down like the mire of the streets – Isaiah 10:6

God uses “Assyria” and basically says “you will be My instrument of fury against the “ungodly nation” of My “wrath” who have rejected Me.” Yet “Assyria” does not “mean” to or even “think” to act as the agent of God’s wrath:

Yet he does not mean so, nor does his heart think so; but it is in his heart to destroy, and cut off not a few nations – Isaiah 10:7

But, it is “in his heart to destroy” to cut off many “nations.” In other words, for “Assyria” this is another opportunity for them to grab more power by beating up on an unsuspecting” Jerusalem”:

For he says, ‘Are not my princes altogether kings? Is not Calno like Carchemish? Is not Hamath like Arpad? Is not Samaria like Damascus? As my hand has found the kingdoms of the idols, whose carved images excelled those of Jerusalem and Samaria, as I have done to Samaria and her idols, shall I not do also to Jerusalem and her idols? – Isaiah 10:8-11

God then turns on “Assyria” to “punish” them for their “arrogant heart” and “haughty looks”:

Therefore it shall come to pass, when the Lord has performed all His work on Mount Zion and on Jerusalem, that He will say, “I will punish the fruit of the arrogant heart of the king of Assyria, and the glory of his haughty looks. For he says: “By the strength of my hand I have done it, and by my wisdom, for I am prudent; also I have removed the boundaries of the people, and have robbed their treasuries; so I have put down the inhabitants like a valiant man – Isaiah 10:12-13

However, God uses an analogy of an “ax,” a “saw,” a “rod” and a “staff” to make His point clear:

Shall the ax boast itself against him who chops with it? Or shall the saw exalt itself against him who saws with it? As if a rod could wield itself against those who lift it up, or as if a staff could lift up, as if it were not wood! – Isaiah 10:15

  

In this passage of Isaiah, we clearly see the Doctrine of Concurrence! God will hold every person accountable for the evil acts they commit. And yet, God is Sovereign over those evil acts – Amazing!

John Chapter 3

Jesus knew what Nicodemus was really thinking (see John 2:23-25), so He answers the true question of Nicodemus’ heart – “how is one “born again?”:

Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” – John 3:3

Jesus’ point is that just as we could do nothing to produce our own physical birth; we are also unable to produce spiritual life – “the kingdom of God.”  Sinful flesh can only produce flesh and only Spirit produces spirit!

Next Nicodemus wants to know how he can affect this “second” birth:

How can a man be born when he is old? He cannot enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born, can he? – John 3:4

Jesus’ point here is that being “born again” is a miraculous miracle of God! There is no way Nicodemus can do this! Therefore, we are absolutely dependent on a divine work of the Holy Spirit. One must plead for God to give new life – “God, be merciful to me, a sinner!” This is God’s saving choice!

Later, John confirms his understanding that we “receive nothing” unless it is “given” to us by God from “heaven”:

John answered and said, “A man can receive nothing unless it has been given to him from heaven… – John 3:27

And yet, we see also here in this passage that there is a human being commanded to “believe”:

And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God – John 3:14-18

In this passage reminiscent of the Old Testament book of Numbers chapter 21, we find the Doctrine of Concurrence. Those who “believe” escape judgment – Man’s Responsibility. On the other hand, those who “do not believe” are “condemned already” – The Sovereignty of God.

PERSONAL CHALLENGE: In your personal study of God’s Word, be mindful of the Doctrine of Concurrence and you will begin to see it EVERYWHERE throughout the Scriptures – The Sovereignty of God and Man’s Responsibility!

While we might not fully understand this doctrine in our human minds, they are indeed Biblical truths directly from the “mind of the Lord” Jesus Christ!

Thank you for your desire for Biblical discernment and Truth – Praise the Lord!

May the Lord Jesus Christ continue to bless you with His perfect love, mercy and grace!

Keep looking up and sharing the Gospel while there is still time… Hallelujah and Maranatha – come quickly Lord Jesus!

 

Blessings!

Shane <><