God’s Outstretched Arms (Rom. 10:21; Isa. 65:2)
This exegetical article defends the Reformed doctrine of unconditional election and reprobation against those who claim Romans 10:21's image of God's outstretched arms proves God has a general will to save all people. The author argues that God's outstretched arms symbolize His willingness to receive all who come to Him, not a universal desire to save the reprobate, and that this teaching harmonizes perfectly with the doctrine of election taught in Romans 9-11.
But Esaias is very bold, and saith, I was found of them that sought me not; I was made manifest unto them that asked not after me. But to Israel he saith, All day long I have stretched forth my hands unto a disobedient and gainsaying people” (Romans 10:20-21). I. Who found Him? The people before whom God stood with outstretched arms did not find Him. “All day long I have stretched forth my hands,” God Himself says, “unto a disobedient and gainsaying people.” That was the Jews in the old...