in this article i will be considering particular arguments raised against the reformed faith, then i will refute them and speak the truth in love
What Calvinists Teach Is Clear
Calvinists believe that absolutely nothing happens that God has not foreordained or predestined to happen! If an individual goes to heaven, it is because God predestined that he would, independent of anything this individual would do of his own free will; on the other hand, if an individual goes to hell, it is because God predestined that he would, independent of anything this individual would do of his own free will. This point is clearly stated in the Westminster Confession: "Those of mankind that are predestinated unto life, God, before the foundation of the world was laid, according to His eternal and immutable purpose, and the secret counsel and good pleasure of His will, hath chosen in Christ, unto everlasting glory, out of His mere grace and love, without any foresight of faith or good works, or perseverance in either of them, or any other thing in the creature, as conditions, or causes moving Him thereunto; and all to the praise of His glorious grace."4 It is against such error that this study is dedicated.
ANSWERWhat Calvinists Teach Is Clear
Calvinists believe that absolutely nothing happens that God has not foreordained or predestined to happen! If an individual goes to heaven, it is because God predestined that he would, independent of anything this individual would do of his own free will; on the other hand, if an individual goes to hell, it is because God predestined that he would, independent of anything this individual would do of his own free will. This point is clearly stated in the Westminster Confession: "Those of mankind that are predestinated unto life, God, before the foundation of the world was laid, according to His eternal and immutable purpose, and the secret counsel and good pleasure of His will, hath chosen in Christ, unto everlasting glory, out of His mere grace and love, without any foresight of faith or good works, or perseverance in either of them, or any other thing in the creature, as conditions, or causes moving Him thereunto; and all to the praise of His glorious grace."4 It is against such error that this study is dedicated.
why is it that all the non reformed apologists make the same basic mistake when it comes to the doctrine of predestination and that is this
they assume a position called equal altimacy .. in other words God predestines group a to heaven, and group b to hell on the same token .. this is not predestination even to the slightest degree
predestination is only a benefit to those who are chosen by God ... it is therefore something that happens to the elect
God out of his mercy and grace has chosen to save a people unto himself .. this undeserved favour is to those whom he choose alone, the rest of man kind are left to walk in the darkness which is theirs .. which is not predestined .. but decreed as a neccasary condition .. they led them selves to hell
lets not forget that it is even gracious for God to show is mercy by saving just one person .. no one true has anything in them to merit this favour .. we do not deserve it
and also the westminister confession only teaches what the bible accurate defines in ephesians 1 :4 -5, 11
even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love 5 he predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will -- In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will
it is clear the writer of this article has no desire to know the truth of the doctrine that he so far has misunderstood
Free will is non biblical and is non definable ... it is not something man is born with but something which is forced to believe is true due to a tradition .. as jesus state men is born in sin .. and until he chooses to set them free .. they do what their heart desires all the time .. evil
So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, 32 and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” 33 They answered him, “We are offspring of Abraham and have never been enslaved to anyone. How is it that you say, ‘You will become free’?” 34 Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who practices sin is a slave to sin. 35 The slave does not remain in the house forever; the son remains forever. 36 So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. 37 I know that you are offspring of Abraham; yet you seek to kill me because my word finds no place in you. 38 I speak of what I have seen with my Father, and you do what you have heard from your father.”
man only lives as his will allows him and does make the choose but rather lives the full outcome of what is given to him ... a sin nature
What I Believe The Bible Teaches
I believe the Bible teaches that Christ died for all people, for those who perish no less than for those who are saved; that the election of the saints is not an unconditional act of God; that saving grace is actually extended to every man, which he may then receive or reject; that man may resist the Holy Spirit's invitation to be saved, if he so chooses; that God's grace, once accepted, can then be rejected, and is, therefore, not necessarily permanent, but that those who are ransomed by the precious blood of Christ can, if they are so disposed, throw away all God has so graciously given them and perish eternally. This statement is not a creed to be implemented in all the churches; it is, instead, my own systematic theology. It is my conviction that all these things are taught in the Bible. I stand ready to give a reason for the hope that is in me by citing book, chapter, and verse for what I believe. Actually, the design of this study is to do exactly this! As I examine the cardinal arguments of Calvinism, I will be refuting each argument the Calvinists make with a "thus sayeth the Lord." This is only as it should be, for the final authority by which any doctrine or theological system is to be judged must always be God's word.
ANSWER
now this section should nail down a few points .. but also give us an oportunity to interact with his veiw
it is all and good making this claim "I believe the Bible teaches that Christ died for all people, for those who perish no less than for those who are saved; that the election of the saints is not an unconditional act of God; that saving grace is actually extended to every man, which he may then receive or reject"
but there is a serious problem in this
--- while making this claim it is not what you or i believe that makes the faith, but rather what the bible teaches that makes the faith what it is ... and in this only a slight mention of scripture is made .. which 2 peter 3 :9
But do not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. 9 The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. 10 But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the heavenly bodies will be burned up and dissolved, and the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed.
here is a representive portion of the text .. and what do we learn ... universalism is not the discussion, neither the application of the atonement ... the fact that it is addressing the brothers of the faith is a telling sign ... that none of the elect should be left, all would be drawn
on top of this is dishonest to make a claim on this passage that is not addressed .. the atonement, this is addessing the church and the second coming of christ
where is the proof that Gods saving grace is extended to everyone .. i see none offered ... it is nothing more than a feeling of your own .. and not scriptural ... iti s very easy to see that feelings and beliefs are what makes one take this veiw .. scripture is thrown to the bus
the claim ... "It is my conviction that all these things are taught in the Bible. I stand ready to give a reason for the hope that is in me by citing book, chapter, and verse for what I believe" .. shall be tested in honesty and sincerity"
where is the exegesis of the passages you have included in your examination, or even better why do you claim something which is contray to the scriptures by stating
"which he may then receive or reject; that man may resist the Holy Spirit's invitation to be saved, if he so chooses; that God's grace, once accepted, can then be rejected, and is, therefore, not necessarily"
by these word i presume that you believe that salvation is not totally secure and can be broken at anytime .. if so then care to explain john 6 :35 -45 .. where it says "All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out -- And this is the will of him who sent me, that I should lose nothing of all that he has given me, but raise it up on the last day."
clearly your beliefs and Jesus words do not match up on any level .. so whom is right .. who are we to believe .. you with your non biblical veiw or Jesus who has the words of life ... ?
another point you make which i need to address is this "I believe the Bible teaches that Christ died for all people, for those who perish no less than for those who are saved; that the election of the saints is not an unconditional act of God;"
there are 2 issues here ..
a) your belief that christ died for all contradicts john 6 .. which states his atonement was for specific people .. the ones who are given to him by the father .. and moments before he dispell the clingers by saying "But I said to you that you have seen me and yet do not believe" .. these people were not the ones given.. he made no atonement for them in otherwords
b) these words show a severe lack of understand ... "for those who perish no less than for those who are saved" .. if they saved yet perishing this makes christ work useless .. and ur statement contradicts christ work .. none shall be lost
and what does this mean .. "that the election of the saints is not an unconditional act of God;" .. are you saying man has something to do before he can be saved, the bible speak against such falsehood
Put On Your Thinking Cap
When it comes to Calvinism, many Christians continue to be "children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness by which they lie in wait to deceive."5 This is not because the Bible is somehow unclear on the subject. The Bible clearly and emphatically denies Calvinism. If God is "not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance,"6 then Calvinism simply cannot be true. The problem for many is that the Bible is not a book on systematic theology. For example, the Bible teaches, but does not systematically set forth, the doctrines of the triune nature of God, the deity of Christ, the personality of the Holy Spirit, the reality of future rewards in heaven and condemnation in hell, all of which are questioned by some who claim to be Christians. The Bible is God's special revelation to man. As such, it has a beginning and an end. When one has studied this revelation from beginning to end, he then knows what it is God wants him to know about the myriad subjects contained therein. Only then can one begin to systematize these subjects. Although systematization is an essential process of theology,7 it is at this very point that men begin to go astray. This problem is dealt with by the apostle Paul, who said, "Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth."8 God's word always accomplishes what He intends; in other words, it never returns void.9 Therefore, how we interpret or "rightly divide" the Scriptures is extremely important. It is at this point that sheep begin to be separated from goats.10 There is no excuse for getting caught up in the error of Calvinism, none except ignorance of God's word! Unfortunately, ignorance is a major problem among God's people today. Some are ignorant because they are still babes in Christ. Others are ignorant because they lack someone to teach them. Still, other Christians are ignorant through no fault but their own. They do not like to study God's word. Studying is hard work. It requires one to think and, quite frankly, these folks just do not want to think. However, if we are not ready to study the word of God, thinking it out and thinking it through, then we will, quite naturally, wrest the Scriptures to our own destruction.11 If you are not willing to "gird up the loins of your mind,"12 then this study is not for you. Consequently, your lot in this life is to be "tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive."13 On the other hand, if you, like a new born babe, "desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby,"14 then I believe you will appreciate this study.
ANSWER
i have to confess ... that the first statemnt made is hard to follow but lets just ask ourself in regard to this statement "This is not because the Bible is somehow unclear on the subject. The Bible clearly and emphatically denies Calvinism" .. if there is one good argument made that refutes the doctrines of grace ... since he claims "The Bible clearly and emphatically denies Calvinism" .. maybe we need to see that the tradition this man is apart of is what filters the bible and reduces it to something it is not ... a univeralist manual
as i said above on 2 peter 3 it needs to be read in context and allowed to speak to itown point ... which is the second coming of christ .. the univeral appeal for the elect to be gathered , this is why the lord is not will that any should parish
also think about this for a moment why is this passage only one that is taken far out of its context to mean something it is not focused upon .. and that is the atonement
as of yet you have not proven the doctrines of grace are in error, however what you have shown is that 1 -- you understanding of the matter are in error, and 2 --- your understanding of scripture is not all that good
which reflects inthese infantile acttacks on something which is 100 % biblical in nature .. and to go against it is to yourself unapproved
so im still waiting for the real assessments to come .. as there is no refutation in these word
Search The Scriptures
Remember, this study represents the thinking of the author, who has endeavored to "speak as the oracles of God."15 He could be wrong! Ultimately, it is your responsibility to "search the Scriptures" for yourself 16 to see whether these things are so.17 The author has cited passages he believes authenticate his arguments. As you engage in this study, please read these passages for yourself. Make sure they are used correctly and not taken out of context. May God richly bless you as you study His word.
ANSWER
well thank for stating this "He could be wrong!" cause you have nothing but claim you are right, and in what you said there is no real refutation of the doctrines of grace
the passage you have cited have no real basis as you do not present any arguments
no discussion the points, no real understanding of predestination is offered, all we have is a strawman attack .. which is the doctrine of equal ultimacy which is nothing alike
