Are some people born unable to believe in Jesus and then judged for their unbelief?

One of the central claims uniquely of Calvinism is that for many people God has chosen, before they were born, to withhold the ability for them to ever have faith in Jesus. For these people, salvation is never an option for them. God will also judge these people for their unbelief (that they are born unable to ever have).

Total inability teaches that all people are born in a state of sin and are incapable of ever willingly choosing God -aside from receiving a direct gift of faith from God enabling them to do so. With this doctrine established, consistent Calvinists have to then affirm that there are many people who are born completely unable to ever believe in Jesus - and then judged by God for their unbelief (that they have no control over).

For those, 'the reprobates', God has decreed from eternity past, before they were born, to withhold this gift of faith from them and to 'leave them in their unbelief' - and for that unbelief they are then condemned to eternal punishment.

Is this biblical?

Does the Bible ever come close to affirming anything like what I have just described? No it does not!

Scripture, time and time again, affirms that the responsibility to respond to the gospel message lands with the individual.

For example, in Acts 17:30-31, Paul declares to the Athenians that God "commands all people everywhere to repent, because he has fixed a day on which he will judge the world in righteousness."

Doesn't Paul's words here imply that all people are capable of responding to God's call to repentance, regardless of their background or circumstances?

Similarly, John 3:16 states that "God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life." This verse makes it clear that salvation is available to all people, not just a select few.

The fact that Jesus died for the sins of the whole world (1 John 2:2) demonstrates that God desires all people to be saved and come to a knowledge of the truth (1 Timothy 2:4).

Furthermore, the Bible consistently portrays God as just and fair in His dealings with people, judging them according to their deeds (Revelation 20:12-13; Romans 2:6-11). This suggests that people are held responsible for their response to God's call, rather than being judged solely on the basis of their predestination or lack thereof.

In short, while Calvinism teaches the doctrine of total inability, it is not supported by Scripture. We can not confidently affirm that there are some people who are born completely unable to believe in Jesus and are therefore condemned to eternal punishment.

The Bible consistently emphasizes the responsibility of all people to respond to the gospel message, and portrays God as just and fair in His dealings with humanity.