Posted on 05/29/2002 7:49:02 PM PDT by xzins
Unconditional Election vs. Bible Truth
"God, our Savior... desires all men to be saved." (I Tim. 2:3,4)
Clint Brown
Logic dictates that any doctrine which implies a false doctrine is itself, false. The Calvinistic doctrine of Unconditional Particular Election implies an egregiously false doctrine, and is therefore, false. This doctrine, often called Predestination, is explained by one of its defenders as "the eternal decree of God, by which he has determined in himself, what he would have to become of every individual... For they are not all created with a similar destiny; but eternal life is foreordained for some, and eternal damn-ation for others" [Philip Schaff, History of the Christian Church, Vol. 1, p. 342].
The chief implication of this doctrine is that God is responsible for souls that are lost in hell. To remedy this heretical notion, Calvinists assert that God's choice is "based solely on His own good pleasure and sovereign will" [Steele & Thomas, The Five Points of Calvinism (Presbyterian and Reformed Pub. Co.), p. 30].
Calvinistic predestination is actually a misapplication of the sovereignty of God. While God does have an immutable counsel (Heb. 6:17), He may not supercede the limitations set by His own moral nature (e.g., Heb. 6:18). The doctrine of Unconditional Election repudiates the single most profound act of the moral nature of God's will – the creation of mankind "in His image" (Gen. 1:26). Since man is "in His image," he possesses a real moral nature and is capable of making real moral choices that affect his real eternal destiny! But if God has arbitrarily predetermined every individual's ultimate destiny, we are essentially robots, incapable of affecting our eternal future.
God derives no pleasure from the service of automatons (cf. Amos 5:21-24). Rather, He desires a reciprocal love freely offered by His moral creatures. Of all physical creation, only mankind possesses the ability to respond to the loving grace of the Creator through the loving obedience of faith. Contrary to the indictment of God's justice provided by Calvinistic predestination, the Bible says that God desires all men to be saved and come to a knowledge of the truth (1 Tim. 2:4). Contrary to the heretical implication of Unconditional Election, God is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance (2 Pet. 3:9).
Though not all will be saved, the choice is yours.
For five centuries it's been too much to ask. Nothing receives such ignorant vitriol as Calvinism.
So I figure, we must be doing something right.
Reformed theology is the ONE theology that acknowledges God's total, complete sovereignty. And that's what drives them crazy.
Men want control over themselves; but they mostly want control over other people. Calvinism denies them this power which is God's alone.
No King but Christ.
I take heart that we may be spit on and defamed....that is exactly what they did to the one that first preached it........Men love the darkness and hate the light. That alone should be proof of the Doctrines of Grace to those with spiritual eyes
http://www.freerepublic.com/forum/a3b6f2e397a0a.htm#269
To: the_doc,P-Marlowe,Patriotic Teen,drot
You're right. She did. By her sarcasm. So did you.
doc here is a shocker for you..I realized that it is YOU that has blasphemed
I have listened for days on end where believers..saved by the Blood of Jesus...through the conviction of the Holy Spirit have been called reprobates,liars,and lost. all because they do not agree with you.
Well scripture say only one sin is unforgivable (no matter what Calvin says)and that is the sin of blaspheming the Holy Spirit...you have done this over and over in these threads...calling the Holy Spirit of no effect and denying His witness in the hearts of men,denying His power..
It is interesting scripture also warns "touch not my annointed"..seems to me that these two scriptures may go together doc..
You just may be forever lost without Hope..because no exception for the followers of Calvin were written into that warning!
269 Posted on 08/08/2001 11:12:40 PDT by RnMomof7 [ Reply | Private Reply | To 267 | Top | Last ]
Another:
http://www.freerepublic.com/forum/a3b72899555b3.htm#86
(My note before the post from Rn:I urge you....please do NOT read this thread....I have and it has grieved my spirit greatly seeing such a horrid amount of hate being spewed by both sides.....this is one of the most dirty threads on the subject.....please avoid it except to confirm my quote of Rn as accurate. Now, to the post:)
right some men will choose to stay in that burning building..but not because God withheld his grace..but because they refused to hear..they will deserve hells fire..I will weep for them ,but I understand the sovereignity of God in this..
There is no free will with out Gods grace .
No I was not aware of the things of God before that time..but in retrospect I have many memories of Him reaching out to me..I didnt realize it but He was there all the time..(they may not make sense but that is all I can say)
128 Posted on 08/10/2001 19:57:40 PDT by RnMomof7 [ Reply | Private Reply | To 106 | Top | Last ]
Again, please NOTE THAT THESE ARE NOT STATEMENTS RNMOMOF7 WOULD AGREE WITH NOW SO DON'T ADDRESS HER COMMENTS. These are statements she made about Calvinism before being convinced of its truthness. You can see she was a rather rabid Arminian indeed and had no "attraction" to it at all. I am amazed in that these posts are just from late last year even. What a change a few months makes.
I know, I know - theres better tasting goat p*ss - I honestly havent had one in about 12 years - a holdover from my wilder days when carling black label and and utica club ruled the roost ;-d - bout all I see now days is cooking wine
I will not return to this thread.
That is what it's like, isn't it?
We fight the absoluteness of God's will until the truth of it finally over-powers our prideful nature. "Irresistible."
I wish that comfort for everyone.
Nothing like a solid response.
First time I read a presentation of "five-point" Calvinism (in, as I recall, The Forgotten Spurgeon), I was horrified. It struck me as heresy.
But as I cooled down later, and applied sola scriptura, I found block by block that Calvinism allowed verses that had mae me uncomfortable to mean exactly what they said.
Dan
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