The Institutes Book 1, Chapter 4

Being built (created) by God, if there was no Fall, we all would know the one true God inherently. It's the way we were built.

However, the results of the Fall isn't a mere disease. It's an overwealming hate for God -the one true God.

When left to our own whims, sure, we know that there is some kind of higher power. But I'll be damned if it's the Christian God.

Just look at how this is true in our world today.

Schools can get away with teaching the "culture" (i.e. religion) of the American Indians or other peoples. But we are not allowed to even mention the Christian God -we hate him!

Characters in our films frequently yell out in vain, "Jesus Christ". Did you ever wonder why these fine upstanding people (even if they don't deny that there ~is~ a higher power) never yell out in vain, "Allah", or "Buddah"...

It's the one true God -the Christian God which our fallen natures rebel against -not the idea of a 'god' in general.

This is why Arminianism is so obviously false to me. If it is up to ~us~ to "choose" God, which of the multitude of distinct religions out there who call on the name of "Jesus" do we "choose" from?

How do we know that the Mormon's Jesus isn't the correct choice?

How do we know that the Jehovah's Witnesses Jesus isn't the right choice?

These folks in these non-Christian religion all "made the decision for Jesus". They all whole heartedly believed that they "chose" the correct guy. Is it "fair" that they will be passed over on Judgment Day?

Rather, because our sinfull/fallen nature is at enmity with the True Triune God, we need him to regnerate our natures such that it ~is~ receptive to the true God. Then we make the proper choice. Once our hearts have been changed, we are no longer at enmity with Him. We have the understanding. When one has that proper understanding, one would not ever want to say "No!".

I recently read a paper attempting to describe Calvinism. One of its "critiques" attempted to describe "Irresistable Grace". The author made the statement that 'Calvinists believe that one can not say "no" to God "even if they want to". That is missing the point completely. When your heart is regenerated by the one True God, you will NEVER desire to say "NO".

Jean

That is probably it. Calvin goes on and on about God placing this knowledge of Himself in man and that Man can't help but know that God is there and we have a duty to Him, but turns around and says that our natures are enough to overcome the powerful urges that God places within us.

I would point to Adam and Eve..they not only had a knowledge of them in their heart ..they had a physical knowlege of Him..they fellowshipped with Him..yet they did not "chose" him..they ran from Him...

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