Renewing Your Mind – "Does God Create Unbelief?"

Podcast by Ligonier Ministries | Featured teacher: Dr. R.C. Sproul
Date: September 2, 2025

Overview of the Episode

In this episode, Dr. R.C. Sproul addresses the challenging question at the heart of Christian doctrine: Does God create unbelief, or is unbelief the consequence of human choices within the context of divine sovereignty? Drawing deeply from Romans 9, Dr. Sproul explores the doctrines of election, predestination, justice, and mercy, emphasizing God’s ultimate authority and freedom in salvation. The episode provides scriptural clarity on frequently misunderstood or controversial points—particularly the tension between divine election and human responsibility.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. The Doctrine of Election and Predestination (01:29–18:00)

• Romans 9 as Central Text:
  • Dr. Sproul identifies Romans 9 as "probably the strongest statement that we find anywhere in the Scriptures that deals directly with the question of predestination." (01:29)
  • The example of Jacob and Esau (twin brothers, same environment, yet different outcomes) as Paul’s illustration of God’s sovereign choice.
• Foreknowledge View Debunked:
  • Sproul contrasts the "foreknowledge view," where God's choice is based on foreseen faith or works, with Paul’s explicit teaching.
  • Explains that Paul's text says God’s choice occurred "before [the twins] had done anything good or bad" (03:30), emphasizing it's not based on human merit or action.
  • "The reason that the apostle gives for having said it this way is that the purpose of God might stand according to his choice, not because of works, but because of him who calls." (06:45)
• Works vs. Divine Action:
  • Highlights that the alternative view makes salvation dependent on human decision, while Scripture asserts it's entirely God's initiative.
  • Strongly states: "The accent. And the credit for your redemption is to be given to God, to God alone is the glory." (09:25)

2. Justice, Mercy, and Unfairness in Election (11:30–17:00)

• Anticipated Objection of Injustice:
  • Paul asks rhetorically, "Is there unrighteousness in God?", anticipating the protest that sovereign election seems unfair (11:30).
  • Sproul comments: "Nobody ever raises that question about the Arminian view...I take comfort in the fact that the same questions that are raised about my view of predestination are the ones that the apostle Paul had to deal with." (12:00)
• God’s Right to Mercy:
  • God's mercy is not an obligation; no one deserves mercy, and justice is not violated if some receive it and others do not.
  • "If we think that God is ever obligated to be merciful, what does that mean? We're not thinking about mercy anymore. Because mercy, by definition is not obligated." (20:40)
• Difference Between Mercy and Justice:
  • Jacob receives mercy; Esau receives justice. No one gets injustice.
  • Analogy: "Is it fair for the governor to grant executive clemency to one prisoner and not to the rest? Well, it certainly isn't equal. But...He has nothing of which he has any right to complain." (17:00)

3. Divine Sovereignty Versus Human Will (18:00–22:30)

• Divine Initiative Emphasized:
  • "So then, here's the conclusion. It does not depend on the man who wills or the man who runs, but upon God who shows mercy." (21:00)
  • Sproul asserts Paul’s conclusion is inescapably clear: salvation’s ultimate cause is God, not the will or works of man.
  • "Paul says, no, it doesn't. How could he say it any more clearly?" (21:45)
• The Arminian View Addressed:
  • Acknowledges that Arminians credit both God and human choice for salvation, but Paul refutes this construct.

4. The Hardening of Pharaoh’s Heart and the Nature of Unbelief (22:30–24:40)

• God’s Role in Hardening:
  • Sproul notes that God does not "create unbelief" in a positive sense; rather, the hardening of hearts (as with Pharaoh) is God removing his restraining grace, allowing human depravity to manifest.
  • "If God wants to harden Pharaoh's heart, Does God have to create fresh evil there? All he has to do is remove his hands and give Pharaoh all the space he needs." (23:15)
  • In the drama of election, some are recipients of mercy (like Jacob), others are left to their own inclinations and receive justice (like Esau).
• Repeated Rejection of Mercy:
  • The gospel heard and rejected serves to further harden hearts, a "just act of divine judgment." (23:40)
  • Human responsibility remains: "Pharaoh hardens his own heart. All God does is remove the restraints."

5. Key Theological Conclusions

• God Does Not Do Injustice:

  • Everyone is a sinner deserving of justice; mercy is an extraordinary act of God's goodness.
  • "We can never say to a merciful God...God, you are not merciful enough. That is blasphemous to charge God with not being merciful enough." (20:50)

• Election and Human Responsibility:

  • All are accountable for unbelief, but the cause of belief is God's action alone.
  • The episode ends on a note of humility before God’s prerogative and initiative.

Notable Quotes and Memorable Moments

• On Predestination and Works:
  • "The foreknowledge view says that God looks down into the future and he sees that some people will make the correct choice and others will make the incorrect choice...But Paul is saying here that it is clearly not because of human works, but because of him who calls." (08:45)
• On God’s Mercy:
  • “Mercy is something that God does voluntarily. He's not bound to do it. He doesn't have to do it. He's not required to do it. He does it out of the sheer goodness of his heart.” (20:20)
• On God's Sovereignty:
  • "So then, here's the conclusion. It does not depend on the man who wills or the man who runs, but upon God who shows mercy." (21:00)
• On Hardening of Hearts:
  • “All he has to do is remove his hands and give Pharaoh all the space he needs. And that's how Pharaoh's heart is hardened, which is itself an act of divine judgment.” (23:15)

Key Timestamps

• 01:29 – Introduction to Romans 9 and its relevance to predestination.
• 06:45 – Discussion of why Paul emphasizes the twins’ lack of works before their birth.
• 11:30 – The rhetorical question: Is God unjust? Addressing concerns of fairness.
• 17:00 – Mercy and justice contrasted in the example of Jacob and Esau.
• 21:00 – The critical Pauline conclusion: Election does not depend on human will or action.
• 23:15 – The hardening of Pharaoh’s heart: God’s passive role in unbelief.
• 24:40 – Wrap-up and transition out of content (advertisements follow).

Episode Tone and Language

Dr. R.C. Sproul approaches the subject with theological seriousness, candor, and a touch of dry humor ("They are in fact womb mates. Thank you. I get a little punchy after we study predestination for this long." – 03:10). He affirms robust confidence in the biblical text, often inviting the audience to think critically and reflect deeply on the nature of God’s sovereignty and justice.

This episode is a rich exploration of how Scripture resolves difficult questions of election, mercy, and human unbelief, ultimately grounding assurance in the character and prerogative of God.