i have come across this little article called "the Calvinist t . u . l . i . p refuted by scripture" which i found interesting for several reasons .. and for such reasons i have decided to address it
the person in question starts with this following set of word as an introduction
Calvinism is a man made philosophy depending on fallible human logic which total ignores many clear Scriptures, perverts many, and misuses others. Long before John Calvin's time the teaching was presented by the Roman Catholic heretic Augustine. Here are some Scriptures soundly refute the errors of the Calvinist TULIP:
note the first thing that is mentions is that "Calvinism is a man made philosophy depending on human which total ignores scriptures" .... to this i simply mention the following .. this is not true in the slightest ... consider for a moment what the bible teaches .. the lord Jesus words .. in john 6 lays out our beliefs .. verses 35 -45, as does Paul in Romans 8 and 9 and Ephesians 1 and 2
the next point is this " perverts many, and misuses others" .. at this point this is nothing more than a baseless assertion .. we need evidence .. and exegesis to substantiate such claims
the last point in this is the David hunt tactic of poisoning the well in these words "Roman Catholic heretic Augustine" .. this man was not a roman catholic at all .. he was a defender of the faith ... on many fundamental issue like the trinity from scripture not a pope
and lets examine the arguments to see how he refute the points of Calvinism, shall we
T = TOTAL INABILITY (Called in Calvinism, Total Depravity, but actually taught as the Total Inability of man to choose Truth. The Calvinist plays many such word games. The Word of God teaches that God created man with the ability to reason, choose, and receive Truth.):
here is the mans understanding of total depravity .. but what is the real position
total depravity .... man is dead in sin, completely and radically impacted by the fall -- the enemy of God --- incapable of saving himself, this does not mean man is as evil as he could be nor does it mean that the image of God is destroyed, or that the will is done away with -- instead it mean that all the pervasiveness of the effects of sin -- and man is outside of Christ is an enemy of God
the things we need to note on this are as follows
--- the biblical position is that the unregenerate man can not think or act in faith and can not do what is spiritually pleasing to God
this can be seen in Romans 8 1 -8 so clearly just think of these words
"There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.[a] 2 For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death. 3 For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin,[c] he condemned sin in the flesh, 4 in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. 5 For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. 6 For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace. 7 For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God's law; indeed, it cannot. 8 Those who are in the flesh cannot please God."
the last two verses are very clear .. when it states " Those who are in the flesh cannot please God." ... the Greek on these word speak of inability .. literally says .. man is unable to please God
this doesn't mean man can not accept truth, just that he can not believe in it until something outside of him enables him to do so but before we get that truth ... we need to see the argument that is offered
which is just a number of verse thrown out with no real in depth understanding
Ephesians 2:8: "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God."
Romans 10:17: "So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God."
James 1:21: "Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and RECEIVE with meekness the en grafted Word, which is able to save your souls."
Isaiah1:18: "Come now, and let us REASON together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool."
Deuteronomy 30:19: "I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore CHOOSE LIFE, that both thou and thy seed may live."
Joshua 24:15: "And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, CHOOSE you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD."
Psalm 119:30, 111, 173: "I have CHOSEN The Way of Truth: Thy Judgments have I laid before me....Thy Testimonies have I taken as an heritage for ever: for They are the rejoicing of my heart....Let Thine hand help me; for I have chosen Thy Precepts."
John 1:12: "But as many as RECEIVED him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name."
2 Timothy 1:12: "...I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have COMMITTED unto him against that day."
as you can see from this there is no real argument presented, just the sheer belief that these selected verses refute the position under criticism .. how this is achieve we are not told .. what relevance these passage have to the doctrine we are not told
it is just assumed to be the case .. let us consider each one
1 -- Ephesians 2 :8 .. why this is chosen .. is hard to know since it does not speak to the truth of the doctrine of inability of man. 2 --- James 1 : 21 .. doesn't deny or refute the doctrine .. it hardly even comes near. 3 -- Isaiah 1 : 18 far from refuting the truth actually supports it .. why not go 6 chapter ahead and read Isaiah word in the vision. 4 -- Deuteronomy 30 :19 .. what is the context .. and how does this refute the truth of our doctrine
in fact lets consider the context a little more
15 “See, I have set before you today life and good, death and evil. 16 If you obey the commandments of the Lord your God that I command you today, by loving the Lord your God, by walking in his ways, and by keeping his commandments and his statutes and his rules, then you shall live and multiply, and the Lord your God will bless you in the land that you are entering to take possession of it. 17 But if your heart turns away, and you will not hear, but are drawn away to worship other gods and serve them, 18 I declare to you today, that you shall surely perish. You shall not live long in the land that you are going over the Jordan to enter and possess. 19 I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and curse. Therefore choose life, that you and your offspring may live, 20 loving the Lord your God, obeying his voice and holding fast to him, for he is your life and length of days, that you may dwell in the land that the Lord swore to your fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give them.”
firstly .. we need to point out that we don't deny choice in all things .. just the most obvious .. Christ .. we do not choose him .. he chooses us .. more to the point .. the father draws the elect to Christ and Christ choose us on that basis ... now this text has nothing to do with salvation in Christ .. so it has no relevance to the subject
the whole passage is address obedience to the law of God .. and help for us to read the whole chapter to realise this is not a support text for free will .. but is a conditioned thesis ... that the way the Israelite lived their lives would result in what would come to them "life and good, death and evil" ... this was not a strict choose but more of a command as it states
also important to consider chapters 28 -29 for more understanding to the whole situation .. "blessings for obedience, and curse for disobedience" which is also re affirmed in chapter 30 : 1 -2
we can also set Joshua 24 aside since it is speaking to the same issue as this
6 --- psalm 119 30, 111, 173 .. note that there is nothing in these 3 section speaking to choosing Jesus .. in fact it would seem this something which is apart a believers life since the persons in view are already believer .. and their desire to live a godly life involves having a close relationship with God through his word .. which no Calvinist denies the importance of
the question is .. how can one know if the scripture are of God .. if one has not been born of the spirit in conjunction with the word of God ?
7 -- john 1 12 .. is not being correctly understood ... lets consider the context
"He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. 12 But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, 13 who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God" .
note the following point ....
1 set does not receive him, the other does ... is this because of their own will .. or because they had not been chosen in him
the next thing to note is that their is an elect being introduced .. by the fact that not all received him
then how did they receive him .. to become a child of god .. not by human will , not by blood .. so it was something in the persons nature or his free will, but of God .. God generates him to be received
8 -- 1 timothy 1 :12 ... i do not see the relevance at all .. in fact it is not addressing issue of depravity of man but is apart of an encouraging letter to Timothy to do his best in his ministry as a pastor / deacon
so we have not seen one example give to which it was successful in disproving the position of total depravity
U = UNCONDITIONAL ELECTION (Calvinism teaches that God selects those who are to be saved without any condition, but the Bible teaches that there is one condition to salvation: faith.)
this is the Norman geisler redefinition of the doctrine as found in his chosen but free, which is not even attempting to deal with the bible
unconditional election ... God elects a specific people unto himself without any reference to anything they do -- this means that the basis of the elect is solely of God and himself -- his grace, his mercy, his will -- it is not mans action, work or even for seen faith that draws Gods choice, Gods election is unconditional and final
while there is an element of truth in that our position is "God selects those who are to be saved without any condition" .. it is also alarming how this person has taken the same false understanding Norman created .. in that "faith" is a condition on mans part ... does that not make Paul's word a little misdirected when he said not of yourself
But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, 5 he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, 6 whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior
and also
For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith —and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast. 10 For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
here we see that Paul is teaching that salvation is a gift of grace, something God does for a believer .. with no merits of the person in view .. as Paul makes clear "he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy -- it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast" -- salvation is something we we are given on the account of the triune God at work in redemption
and the works are the result of being saved, not the course
the bible in no way substantiate such a poor argument as being the truth of all matters
lets examine the given passages
1 Peter 1:2: "Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ..."
2 Thessalonians 2:13: "...God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the Truth."
Luke 7:50: "... Thy faith hath saved thee ..."
Ephesians 2:8: "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God."
how does this person come to the conclusion faith human born, lets find out from his lack of an argument .. argument
1 -- 1 peter 1 :2 ... i am not sure on this reference on how exactly it refutes our position .. this is nothing more than a opening greeting .. which contains some great truths .. but to have this override another truth it is in Harmony with .. is really dishonest -- since we are saved by grace .. and not of our doing
the obedience mentioned is the works we do after being saved and not because we are trying to be saved
2 -- 2 Thessalonians 2 :13 .. no doubt God uses the spirit and the word in bring the elect to salvation .. no Calvinist denies this .. what does john 6 :45 say ... ?
3 -- of course faith saves, but is faith something that is in you as a person or is something granted of you by the father .. for this to be answered we need now turn to the next one
4 -- Ephesians 2 :8 .. this actually demonstrate how a tradition redefines a clear teaching
in this we have 3 points .. being described as acts that aren't human born .. for by grace you have been saved through faith
each of these acts are divine in origin .. as the sentence goes onto say "And that is not your own doing; it is the gift of God" .... so all 3 are apart of this gift .. the grace which enable us to be saved which produce the true faith .. and it is not of our own doing
no real argument was offered on this passages
so clear is the testimony of scripture on this fact that it is hardly surprising to see such attempts fall flat
the person in question starts with this following set of word as an introduction
Calvinism is a man made philosophy depending on fallible human logic which total ignores many clear Scriptures, perverts many, and misuses others. Long before John Calvin's time the teaching was presented by the Roman Catholic heretic Augustine. Here are some Scriptures soundly refute the errors of the Calvinist TULIP:
note the first thing that is mentions is that "Calvinism is a man made philosophy depending on human which total ignores scriptures" .... to this i simply mention the following .. this is not true in the slightest ... consider for a moment what the bible teaches .. the lord Jesus words .. in john 6 lays out our beliefs .. verses 35 -45, as does Paul in Romans 8 and 9 and Ephesians 1 and 2
the next point is this " perverts many, and misuses others" .. at this point this is nothing more than a baseless assertion .. we need evidence .. and exegesis to substantiate such claims
the last point in this is the David hunt tactic of poisoning the well in these words "Roman Catholic heretic Augustine" .. this man was not a roman catholic at all .. he was a defender of the faith ... on many fundamental issue like the trinity from scripture not a pope
and lets examine the arguments to see how he refute the points of Calvinism, shall we
T = TOTAL INABILITY (Called in Calvinism, Total Depravity, but actually taught as the Total Inability of man to choose Truth. The Calvinist plays many such word games. The Word of God teaches that God created man with the ability to reason, choose, and receive Truth.):
here is the mans understanding of total depravity .. but what is the real position
total depravity .... man is dead in sin, completely and radically impacted by the fall -- the enemy of God --- incapable of saving himself, this does not mean man is as evil as he could be nor does it mean that the image of God is destroyed, or that the will is done away with -- instead it mean that all the pervasiveness of the effects of sin -- and man is outside of Christ is an enemy of God
the things we need to note on this are as follows
--- the biblical position is that the unregenerate man can not think or act in faith and can not do what is spiritually pleasing to God
this can be seen in Romans 8 1 -8 so clearly just think of these words
"There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.[a] 2 For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death. 3 For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin,[c] he condemned sin in the flesh, 4 in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. 5 For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. 6 For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace. 7 For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God's law; indeed, it cannot. 8 Those who are in the flesh cannot please God."
the last two verses are very clear .. when it states " Those who are in the flesh cannot please God." ... the Greek on these word speak of inability .. literally says .. man is unable to please God
this doesn't mean man can not accept truth, just that he can not believe in it until something outside of him enables him to do so but before we get that truth ... we need to see the argument that is offered
which is just a number of verse thrown out with no real in depth understanding
Ephesians 2:8: "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God."
Romans 10:17: "So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God."
James 1:21: "Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and RECEIVE with meekness the en grafted Word, which is able to save your souls."
Isaiah1:18: "Come now, and let us REASON together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool."
Deuteronomy 30:19: "I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore CHOOSE LIFE, that both thou and thy seed may live."
Joshua 24:15: "And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, CHOOSE you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD."
Psalm 119:30, 111, 173: "I have CHOSEN The Way of Truth: Thy Judgments have I laid before me....Thy Testimonies have I taken as an heritage for ever: for They are the rejoicing of my heart....Let Thine hand help me; for I have chosen Thy Precepts."
John 1:12: "But as many as RECEIVED him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name."
2 Timothy 1:12: "...I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have COMMITTED unto him against that day."
as you can see from this there is no real argument presented, just the sheer belief that these selected verses refute the position under criticism .. how this is achieve we are not told .. what relevance these passage have to the doctrine we are not told
it is just assumed to be the case .. let us consider each one
1 -- Ephesians 2 :8 .. why this is chosen .. is hard to know since it does not speak to the truth of the doctrine of inability of man. 2 --- James 1 : 21 .. doesn't deny or refute the doctrine .. it hardly even comes near. 3 -- Isaiah 1 : 18 far from refuting the truth actually supports it .. why not go 6 chapter ahead and read Isaiah word in the vision. 4 -- Deuteronomy 30 :19 .. what is the context .. and how does this refute the truth of our doctrine
in fact lets consider the context a little more
15 “See, I have set before you today life and good, death and evil. 16 If you obey the commandments of the Lord your God that I command you today, by loving the Lord your God, by walking in his ways, and by keeping his commandments and his statutes and his rules, then you shall live and multiply, and the Lord your God will bless you in the land that you are entering to take possession of it. 17 But if your heart turns away, and you will not hear, but are drawn away to worship other gods and serve them, 18 I declare to you today, that you shall surely perish. You shall not live long in the land that you are going over the Jordan to enter and possess. 19 I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and curse. Therefore choose life, that you and your offspring may live, 20 loving the Lord your God, obeying his voice and holding fast to him, for he is your life and length of days, that you may dwell in the land that the Lord swore to your fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give them.”
firstly .. we need to point out that we don't deny choice in all things .. just the most obvious .. Christ .. we do not choose him .. he chooses us .. more to the point .. the father draws the elect to Christ and Christ choose us on that basis ... now this text has nothing to do with salvation in Christ .. so it has no relevance to the subject
the whole passage is address obedience to the law of God .. and help for us to read the whole chapter to realise this is not a support text for free will .. but is a conditioned thesis ... that the way the Israelite lived their lives would result in what would come to them "life and good, death and evil" ... this was not a strict choose but more of a command as it states
also important to consider chapters 28 -29 for more understanding to the whole situation .. "blessings for obedience, and curse for disobedience" which is also re affirmed in chapter 30 : 1 -2
we can also set Joshua 24 aside since it is speaking to the same issue as this
6 --- psalm 119 30, 111, 173 .. note that there is nothing in these 3 section speaking to choosing Jesus .. in fact it would seem this something which is apart a believers life since the persons in view are already believer .. and their desire to live a godly life involves having a close relationship with God through his word .. which no Calvinist denies the importance of
the question is .. how can one know if the scripture are of God .. if one has not been born of the spirit in conjunction with the word of God ?
7 -- john 1 12 .. is not being correctly understood ... lets consider the context
"He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. 12 But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, 13 who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God" .
note the following point ....
1 set does not receive him, the other does ... is this because of their own will .. or because they had not been chosen in him
the next thing to note is that their is an elect being introduced .. by the fact that not all received him
then how did they receive him .. to become a child of god .. not by human will , not by blood .. so it was something in the persons nature or his free will, but of God .. God generates him to be received
8 -- 1 timothy 1 :12 ... i do not see the relevance at all .. in fact it is not addressing issue of depravity of man but is apart of an encouraging letter to Timothy to do his best in his ministry as a pastor / deacon
so we have not seen one example give to which it was successful in disproving the position of total depravity
U = UNCONDITIONAL ELECTION (Calvinism teaches that God selects those who are to be saved without any condition, but the Bible teaches that there is one condition to salvation: faith.)
this is the Norman geisler redefinition of the doctrine as found in his chosen but free, which is not even attempting to deal with the bible
unconditional election ... God elects a specific people unto himself without any reference to anything they do -- this means that the basis of the elect is solely of God and himself -- his grace, his mercy, his will -- it is not mans action, work or even for seen faith that draws Gods choice, Gods election is unconditional and final
while there is an element of truth in that our position is "God selects those who are to be saved without any condition" .. it is also alarming how this person has taken the same false understanding Norman created .. in that "faith" is a condition on mans part ... does that not make Paul's word a little misdirected when he said not of yourself
But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, 5 he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, 6 whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior
and also
For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith —and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast. 10 For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
here we see that Paul is teaching that salvation is a gift of grace, something God does for a believer .. with no merits of the person in view .. as Paul makes clear "he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy -- it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast" -- salvation is something we we are given on the account of the triune God at work in redemption
and the works are the result of being saved, not the course
the bible in no way substantiate such a poor argument as being the truth of all matters
lets examine the given passages
1 Peter 1:2: "Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ..."
2 Thessalonians 2:13: "...God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the Truth."
Luke 7:50: "... Thy faith hath saved thee ..."
Ephesians 2:8: "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God."
how does this person come to the conclusion faith human born, lets find out from his lack of an argument .. argument
1 -- 1 peter 1 :2 ... i am not sure on this reference on how exactly it refutes our position .. this is nothing more than a opening greeting .. which contains some great truths .. but to have this override another truth it is in Harmony with .. is really dishonest -- since we are saved by grace .. and not of our doing
the obedience mentioned is the works we do after being saved and not because we are trying to be saved
2 -- 2 Thessalonians 2 :13 .. no doubt God uses the spirit and the word in bring the elect to salvation .. no Calvinist denies this .. what does john 6 :45 say ... ?
3 -- of course faith saves, but is faith something that is in you as a person or is something granted of you by the father .. for this to be answered we need now turn to the next one
4 -- Ephesians 2 :8 .. this actually demonstrate how a tradition redefines a clear teaching
in this we have 3 points .. being described as acts that aren't human born .. for by grace you have been saved through faith
each of these acts are divine in origin .. as the sentence goes onto say "And that is not your own doing; it is the gift of God" .... so all 3 are apart of this gift .. the grace which enable us to be saved which produce the true faith .. and it is not of our own doing
no real argument was offered on this passages
so clear is the testimony of scripture on this fact that it is hardly surprising to see such attempts fall flat
