Posted on 09/06/2010 9:55:41 AM PDT by Salvation
The religious system introduced by John Calvin (1509-64). French reformer, in opposition to the doctrine of the Catholic Church on the meaning of humanity's predestination. In the Calvinist system, as a result of Adam's fall, man has no longer any internal freedom of the will; he is a slave of God. Everyone is eternally predestined, either for heaven or for hell, absolutely independent of his personal efforts. Consequently the elect cannot be lost. The basic principles of Calvinism are set forth in the Institutes of the Christian Religion, where Calvin argues that, since God is absolutely infinite, he is the only real agent in the universe and creatures are merely his instruments.
Doctrine held by certain Calvinists in the Netherlands in the seventeenth century. Originally taught by the Dutch Reformed theologian Jacobus Arminius (1560-1609). His followers were called Remonstrants. They opposed Calvin's teaching that grace benefits only the elect, that Christ died for the elect only, and, in general, his doctrine of selective salvation and absolute predestination, independent of human merit. Condemned by the Reformed Synod of Dort (1618-19), it paved the way for permanently dividing the followers of Calvin (1509-64) and the churches derived from the theory of predestination.
**God waiting for EVERY sinner is not. God draws his own.**
But God created everyone equal. It’s man that makes himself/herself unequal through sinning.
Am I missing something, or is not the obvious answer, "Then, they weren't really among the elect in the first place?" Again, we can't know who is among the elect. Reread Mt 7:
21"Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?' 23Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!'
No one can say who is elect. But your failure to do the will of Jesus' Father in heaven is a pretty good sign you are not. I would put suicide in there.
What does the word “chosen” in your dictionary mean, who do you think does the chosing, and how can you not see that this very Scripture proves the doctrine of election?
I guess I just don’t agree with this “elect” business.
God loves everyone.
Of course He loves everyone, but some He destroys:
Moses then left Pharaoh and prayed to the LORD. 19 And the LORD changed the wind to a very strong west wind, which caught up the locusts and carried them into the Red Sea. Not a locust was left anywhere in Egypt. 20 But the LORD hardened Pharaoh’s heart, and he would not let the Israelites go. - Exodus 10.
For it was the LORD himself who hardened their hearts to wage war against Israel, so that he might destroy them totally, exterminating them without mercy, as the LORD had commanded Moses. - Joshua 11.
9 He said, “Go and tell this people:
“ ‘Be ever hearing, but never understanding;
be ever seeing, but never perceiving.’
10 Make the heart of this people calloused;
make their ears dull
and close their eyes.
Otherwise they might see with their eyes,
hear with their ears,
understand with their hearts,
and turn and be healed.”
11 Then I said, “For how long, O Lord?”
And he answered:
“Until the cities lie ruined
and without inhabitant,
until the houses are left deserted
and the fields ruined and ravaged,
12 until the LORD has sent everyone far away
and the land is utterly forsaken. — Isaiah 6
Except for the one’s he hates, right?
***But God created everyone equal. It’s man that makes himself/herself unequal through sinning.***
Forgetting about original sin?
We are all wretches.
But I keep thinking of how odd it would be if he were to speak to us on the love of God: what would he say?
("Jesus loves you... maybe...or on the other hand, maybe you were created to be damned with no hope whatsoever...")
Could he say that and smile at the same time?
So I think perhaps he is a... oh, what was that word? It's a new term somebody invented to mean the opposite of a hypocrite: that is to say, a person who publicly espouses a bad ideal, but actually doesn't live down to it.
A person who secretly practices a lot better than they preach.
Super-crite? Epi-crite?
He seems a good deal more likeable than his god.
The word “Predestinated” IS in the Bible if you care to look at Ephesians 1:4-5 [but don't try seeking it in Latin]
Ephesians 1:4-5 "According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of His will.
The word "Purgatory" is not found in the Bible. The Bible correctly and accurately only describes Heaven and Hell. Destination choice is made while alive on planet earth; upon death, our faith is sealed.
For when a Bible believing saint of God does die, they will only go to Heaven directly to be with the Lord face to face; Christians seek Heaven. Period. No Purgatory involved.
Except, Catholics...well, apparently, long ago Catholics needed a purgatory since they concluded from so many apparitions that they would not go to heaven with all their venial sins...and some mortal sins I'm sure as well...therefore, purgatory becomes so sort of salvation while dead in the grave...
Therefore, Calvinism is absolutely correct about God having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself. The 5 point of Calvinism are all correct as far as I have fully read all of John Calvin correct Bible doctrine. TULIP is absolutely correct about Bible believing saints [declared by God, not man or pope]; I am a saint declared by God alone; and I know my salvation to Heaven is absolutely secure as what God and Christ have said in the whole Bible; especially Romans through Philemon for us today.
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