Yup.
"For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that all who believed in Him may have life eternal..."
Doesn't say "So that all who God chose over everyone else," it says so that all who believe, all who have faith. I've heard all the pointless Calvinassed twistings of scripture and I don't want to hear them again. You calling Christ a liar does not uplift or honor God, so just cut the crap.
According to the Calvinists we are so vile we cannot even make one right choice. So, who did you kill today?
Oh, you chose not to kill anyone? How can you do that?! Calvin says you're incapable of making the right choice (even though God says you can in scripture!). Just go screw with the head of some impressionable punk, I'll just put you where you belong if you pester me any more, pus-slinger.
;-/
Gargantua, you are a Christian right? You do not speak the words of Christian love. Even if I am your enemy, you must still love me. If you are not a Christian, say what you will. But if you are, we are brothers, and nothing in any Scripture gives you the right to address me with such venomous language. Furthermore, you may be in violation of your terms of agreement with FR. I thought true Christians kept their promises. You know full well this is not the kind of conversation this site was designed to promote.
Nevertheless, since I am still free to write a response, despite your protestations, I will. Please feel free to “put me where I belong” afterword. I will not hold it against you.
Calvinists believe John 3:16. All who believe in Jesus will have eternal life in Him. No Calvinist doubts that. The question is not whether those who believe will be saved. They will. The question, raised and answered by Scripture, is whether belief is even possible to one whom God has not chosen. However, since you say you know all about the election passages in Scripture, I have no need to point them out to you. What you do with them is between you and the God who wrote them. Not me.
As for your misconception about total depravity, yes it is true that on any given day, we tend inwardly toward murders and lusts, just as James teaches:
“Where do wars and fights come from among you? Do they not come from your desires for pleasure that war in your members? You lust and do not have. You murder and covet and cannot obtain. You fight and war. Yet you do not have because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures. Adulterers and adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.” James 4:1-4
So your question is fair. Why do we not descend to expressing the full measure of the evil that resides within us? The answer is simple. God won’t let us:
“Surely the wrath of man shall praise thee: the remainder of wrath shalt thou restrain.” Psalm 76:10
He has his plan, and he will not let either you or I do so much evil that his plan would fail. He has many children he is bringing into his ark of safety, Jesus. When all whom he has chosen are on board, the flood of judgment will come. But not a moment before his plan calls for it. Even the worst deeds among humankind do no more than advance His righteous plan:
“For of a truth against thy holy child Jesus, whom thou hast anointed, both Herod, and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles, and the people of Israel, were gathered together, For to do whatsoever thy hand and thy counsel determined before to be done.” Acts 4:27-28
Peace,
SR
Calvin says you're incapable of making the right choice (even though God says you can in scripture!).
Really? Given:
Now show us where "(even though God says you can in scripture!)"
Just go screw with the head of some impressionable punk, I'll just put you where you belong if you pester me any more, pus-slinger.
Woah! Why does 1 John 3 come to mind right here/ (particularly v15). I guess this the signature of the American Religion - hate towards the people of God.
Note to Moderator: Everyone has a bad day from time to time, though this is personal and hateful, I'm not offended by it.