#3. The New Calvinism - 10 Ideas Changing the World Right Now - TIME
"For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek."-Romans 1:16 (ESV)"...Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel!"-1 Corinthians 9:16 (ESV)"...now he commands all people everywhere to repent, because he has fixed a day on which he will judge the world in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed; and of this he has given assurance to all by raising him from the dead."-Acts 17:30 (ESV)
To everyone who has supported me as a missionary in the Hawaiian and Marshall Islands:
Dear friends,
Many of you have known me to be a strong believer in Christ over the last three years. Today I confess that this has not been true. Yes, I am a believer, but I never fully believed in the sovereignty of God.
This is no small issue. The missionary's understanding of God's sovereignty will deeply affect every aspect of his "ministry." And today I am in shame and I lament to think of some of the silly things I once did and thought I was doing "missions."
What is God's sovereignty? In a nutshell, it means God is in complete control-- of everything. He is Ruler and King. All-powerfull, all-knowing... (You get the picture!) Now, I have been hanging out with Christians long enough to know that we all say we believe this stuff about God-- but the fact is, that our lives and ministries are evidence that many of us actually do not believe this truth of God's sovereignty! This is how it has been in my story.
If you have not read my past blog, Reflections Of The Marshall Islands, go ahead... But please take notice of how little is mentioned of the actual preaching of the gospel. This is simply because I did not speak much of the gospel. What a disgrace! To think that I could go to a foreign country, with the title of a "missionary", and speak so little of God's eternal gospel! (Read Revelation 14:6)
People-- I write this to you with a heavy heart... I get very sad about what I have done. Or rather, what I have not done. (Sure, I did a lot of "good things" while I was in Hawaii and the Marshall Islands. In fact, I did things that all missionaries should be doing, but I left out one of the most essential tasks of a true missionary-- the preaching of the gospel in words.) I am writing this in hopes that others will learn from my mistakes. And perhaps our Lord may grant repentance to others who have ears to hear the truths of God's sovereignty regarding election and salvation.
As it is written, "Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated."14 What shall we say then? Is there injustice on God's part? By no means!15 For he says to Moses, "I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion."16 So then it depends not on human will or exertion, but on God, who has mercy.17 For the Scripture says to Pharaoh, "For this very purpose I have raised you up, that I might show my power in you, and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth."18 So then he has mercy on whomever he wills, and he hardens whomever he wills.19 You will say to me then, "Why does he still find fault? For who can resist his will?"20 But who are you, O man, to answer back to God? Will what is molded say to its molder, "Why have you made me like this?"21 Has the potter no right over the clay, to make out of the same lump one vessel for honorable use and another for dishonorable use?22 What if God, desiring to show his wrath and to make known his power, has endured with much patience vessels of wrath prepared for destruction,23 in order to make known the riches of his glory for vessels of mercy, which he has prepared beforehand for glory---24 even us whom he has called, not from the Jews only but also from the Gentiles?(Romans 9:13-24)
So what does God's sovereignty have to do with preaching the gospel? It has everything to do with it. Today we Christians are so afraid to preach because we fear men. We don't want to offend anybody. But the fact is, that according to scripture, God chooses who will be saved. And as ministers of the gospel it is our duty to proclaim, or "preach" this gospel "from the rooftops." When we open our mouths and lift up Christ for all of the world to see, God uses this preaching to draw out the elect (those whom He has chosen) to himself and it is those who are saved.
Friends, we are so afraid of offending people, but we should be more afraid of offending a holy, holy, holy God. Let me ask you, what is the worst thing that is going to happen when we boldly proclaim Christ to unbelievers? Will they go to hell #2? This is the problem with the seeker sensitive movement. Scripture teaches that all men hate God and want nothing to do with Him. (Read Gen. 6:5, 8:21, Job 15:14-16, Psalm 14:1-3, Jeremiah 4:22, 13:23, 17:9-10,) It is the grace of God that saves men. People cannot choose to seek God, and will only choose God should God first choose them. God is the seeker and it is Him that we all must be sensitive towards.
"BUT YOU'RE GOING TO SCARE PEOPLE AWAY!" I hear you gasping already. Wrong. God's grace is irresistable. Those for whom Christ has died, Christ will save. Unless you would dare claim that God has failed? I once did. But can the God of whom Jeremiah says, "Nothing is too hard for you." (32:17 esv.) fail? -- NEVER. People, God is in control. You and I can not stop him, and if we disobey, God will find somebody else to get the job done.
"Preach the gospel at all times and only use words when necessary." St. Francis of Assisi said. Sounds good, yeah? No. What we are really parroting makes about as much sense as saying, "Feed starving children and only use food when necessary."
God uses preachers who are willing to do anything He says-- preaching until they are stoned or until people get saved.
How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? 15And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, "How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!" 16But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, "Lord, who has believed what he has heard from us?" 17So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.-Romans 10:14-17 (ESV)
God used Paul Washer to reveal these truths to me. Paul has been a missionary to Peru. He is the preacher of the type I mentioned earlier who would be willing to preach to his death. He is able to preach not only in English, but also in Spanish. He speaks of amazing stories of being lost in the jungle in Guerilla territory-- and friends, when we are lost in the jungles of the world, behind enemy lines-- we had better believe in God's complete control and sovereignty under every circumstance!
When I was in fifth grade in a Sunday School class, an old man named Jim Glazener said to everybody, "I am going to take your pictures this week. Next week I will tell you what you are going to be when you grow up." And the following week he came and said, "Adam, you are going to be an evangelist." And, "James, you are going to be an engineer." I forgot about this until about three years ago. I don't know what happened to my buddy James, but I bet you he is an engineer. Well, like Jonah, I have been running from this call to preach the gospel for a long time, but by the grace of God-- I will run no more. I cannot resist the call of God!
Once a week my friend Stephan and I preach the gospel every week to all of the kids who come to our local Salvation Army After-school program. We started doing this about a month ago. We preach from the Word of God in boldness and truth. We lift up our Lord Jesus Christ high for everybody to see, parents and kids. And I must say, my life has been changed.
Lord, give me boldness and faith. I repent.
Friends and loved ones, please pray for Stephan, myself, and the kids at the afterschool program.
As for myself, I will stay here in Coos Bay unless the Lord sends me somewhere else.
For Christ did not send me to baptize but to preach the gospel, and not with words of eloquent wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power.18 For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.19 For it is written,"I will destroy the wisdom of the wise,and the discernment of the discerning I will thwart."20 Where is the one who is wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world?21 For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, it pleased God through the folly of what we preach to save those who believe.22 For Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom,23 but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles,24 but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.25 For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.26 For consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth.27 But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong;28 God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are,29 so that no human being might boast in the presence of God.30 And because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption,31 so that, as it is written, "Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord."-1 Corinthians 1:17-31 (ESV)"Now from Miletus he sent to Ephesus and called the elders of the church to come to him.18 And when they came to him, he said to them:"You yourselves know how I lived among you the whole time from the first day that I set foot in Asia,19 serving the Lord with all humility and with tears and with trials that happened to me through the plots of the Jews;20 how I did not shrink from declaring to you anything that was profitable, and teaching you in public and from house to house,21 testifying both to Jews and to Greeks of repentance toward God and of faith in our Lord Jesus Christ.22 And now, behold, I am going to Jerusalem, constrained by the Spirit, not knowing what will happen to me there,23 except that the Holy Spirit testifies to me in every city that imprisonment and afflictions await me.24 But I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.25 And now, behold, I know that none of you among whom I have gone about proclaiming the kingdom will see my face again.26 Therefore I testify to you this day that I am innocent of the blood of all of you,27 for I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole counsel of God.28 Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood.29 I know that after my departure fierce wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock;30 and from among your own selves will arise men speaking twisted things, to draw away the disciples after them.31 Therefore be alert, remembering that for three years I did not cease night or day to admonish everyone with tears.32 And now I commend you to God and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up and to give you the inheritance among all those who are sanctified.33 I coveted no one's silver or gold or apparel.34 You yourselves know that these hands ministered to my necessities and to those who were with me.35 In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, 'It is more blessed to give than to receive.'"36 And when he had said these things, he knelt down and prayed with them all.37 And there was much weeping on the part of all; they embraced Paul and kissed him,38 being sorrowful most of all because of the word he had spoken, that they would not see his face again. And they accompanied him to the ship."-Acts 20:17-38 (ESV)
Required viewing for fellow unbelieving missionaries:
Paul Washer's Testimony,
Paul Washer on Missions,
Paul Washer on Missions (In full),
7 comments:
Please comment if you hate my blog!
I LOVE your blog, and your heart!!!!! And I have some thoughts:
What is the context and purpose of Romans 9:13-24? That the gentiles ALSO were saved by grace apart from the law, not Jews only. See 9:1-12, 25-33. This was a HUGE issue to Israelites, and Paul was the one who set it straight. This problem is often lost on us who are not Jewish by ancestry, and thus we are prone to see other reasons for what Paul wrote.
Where is the scripture for God's "irresistible" grace? And what gives us the idea that if we preach the words of God to someone that it equates to God's so-called irresistible grace coinciding with that? (Calvin, and/or we, have gone too far with this idea.) It IS true that no one comes to Jesus unless the Father draws them, but it is also true that God has sent the gospel to ALL, and desires that ALL be saved. Does this mean that universalism is true? Hardly... Nor does it mean that God violate our will with regard to salvation. By the way, was Pharaoh's heart hardened by God, and thus he did what he did? Or did he do what he did, and as a result was hardened? Romans 9:17 shows that God is not thwarted by men, but it does not show that God creates some for damnation. Damnation apart from actions, would violate the scripture as well. Besides, I know God had in mind/will that Pharaoh repent and be saved from Hell (2 Peter 3:9)
What is at risk in offending people is not "Hell #2" but the future hope of them EVER being open to my words, the gospel. This is a risk we should consider. God saves, sovereignly, and has mercy... but He also hardens. God does this, Romans 9:18, NOT us. It is no more our place to harden or offend, than it is to try to "get them saved". What is more lacking than "in yo face" gospel preaching, is prayer for softened hearts. If given the choice between preaching and offending once, or praying and looking for a Holy Spirit provided opening, I'll take the latter. "...a word spoken in right circumstances." is what I'm looking for. Prov 25:11 The gospel is GOOD NEWS, and I want to speak it to people who can hear it in its proper context, of being good news. I believe in impromptu, open-air preaching, but... I never want to harden someone to the gospel. (The practical implementation of this discussion varies widely depending on whether you are talking about our country's culture vs. that of other places.)
Sovereignty does mean that God is unaccountable to any other, and can do as He chooses. Ps 103:19, 115:3 BUT... does this mean that we have no responsibility? And if we do have a role in salvation, does that of necessity infringe on God's sovereignty? I think not... Additionally a major emphasis in scripture is placed on our rule WITH Christ, in the coming kingdom, and it's not just for a time, but forever. God does not share His glory, but He has invited us to share His throne. See Rev 3:21, 22:5. We do have a part in our salvation. Election and God's sovereignty do not negate that. It is BY GOD'S SOVEREIGN DIRECTION that we have a part in the kingdom as well as salvation. By the way, there is a modern day abuse of sovereignty... it sounds like this: "God's in control. If He wants me to die, I'll die. If He wants me to live, I'll live." As though it's impossible for us to jump the track, and ends up sounding like God gets the accountability for all our failings. If this were true, then it would be silly for you to feel bad about not using words enough as a missionary-since it was God's sovereign will anyway, right? Silliness... don't go there. God is sovereign, AND, we have a will and are are accountable for its actions. God has ordained my days, BUT, they can be altered.
It may well be true that in the past you have soft peddled the verbal gospel. Fair enough. But, also recognize that God is STILL sovereign, even in those "failures". If you recognize our limited part in coming to the Lord, you must recognize it in everything. God is not thwarted by our limitations. When I feel I have failed the Lord by not doing right in a situation, I pray for the next opportunity that person will have... that there will be one, that they will be open, and that the person (wether me or someone else) will do better at presenting Jesus to them.
You wrote: "'Preach the gospel at all times and only use words when necessary.' St. Francis of Assisi said. Sounds good, yeah? No. What we are really parroting makes about as much sense as saying, 'Feed starving children and only use food when necessary.'" Wrong... it is like saying, 'Feed starving children and only use an IV only when necessary.' The point is that there are many ways to show the good news of God's love for His creation, and words are not the best way, ESPECIALLY if the actions contradict the words. (Hypocrisy is a much greater problem than being afraid to speak. By the way, that fear of speaking is usually because the person KNOWS they will be bested if they open their mouth in hypocrisy.) And yes, we MUST also use words!
Wow... this got long...
Jesus is Lord, period!
Here is a simple explanation of "T.U.L.I.P.", which will help everything make sense...
http://www.desiringgod.org/ResourceLibrary/Articles/ByDate/1985/1487_What_We_Believe_About_the_Five_Points_of_Calvinism/
"T-Total depravity.
U-Unconditional election
L-Limited atonement
I-Irresistible grace
P-Perseverance of the saint
NOTE: We are not going to follow this order in our presentation. There is a good rationale for this traditional order: it starts with man in need of salvation and then gives, in the order of their occurrence, the steps God takes to save his people. He elects, then he sends Christ to atone for the sins of the elect, then he irresistibly draws his people to faith, and finally works to cause them to persevere to the end.
We have found, however, that people grasp these points more easily if we follow a presentation based on the order in which we experience them.
We experience first our depravity and need of salvation.
Then we experience the irresistible grace of God leading us toward faith.
Then we trust the sufficiency of the atoning death of Christ for our sins.
Then we discover that behind the work of God to atone for our sins and bring us to faith was the unconditional election of God.
And finally we rest in his electing grace to give us the strength and will to persevere to the end in faith."
Dad,
Thanks for the nice, long, and well thought out response. I'm glad you posted your thoughts, even though I disagree with almost everything you
said...
Before I say anything else, I must say the most important thing is that we are both born-again Christians. It is ok to debate secondary-issues like Calvinism Vs. Armenianism because they are not the main thing-- the doctrine of the new birth is. Thank God we both hold on strongly to that.
My original intention was not to debate these issues, but I know it is basically impossible now-days to talk about these issues without controversy... But there once was a day when Calvinism went uncontested and armenianism was considered a great heresy and the backdoor to "popery." (And it still is, in my opinion!) Those who are "Calvinists" have a great heritage of godly men and women to fall back on. It might be a mistake to start out this defense with the history of those who hold the doctrine we now call "Calvinism", rather than starting with Scripture, but here I go... If you don't care about the history of church doctrine, feel free to skip toward the bottom for Scripture proofs. However, the heritage of Christians who believed in sovereign grace, also known as "Calvinism", is very rich and is in fact nothing new. From my own words, it goes something as follows:
From the "spiritual giants" like Charles Spurgeon (The "Prince of Preachers") and D.L. Moody of the 19th century--
to Jonathan Edwards (Greatest American theologian and philosopher) and George Whitefield (The greatest evangelist the Christianity has ever known) of the 18th century--
to the Puritans of the 17th and 16th century (Such as John Bunyan, the author of "Pilgrims Progress", John Owen, the author of "The Mortification of Sin", both of which are still blessing the church today with genuine teaching on holiness and the Christian life)--
to the Reformers of the 15th century such as Martin Luther (the man who got us all started by calling BS on the pope and the 'catholic' church), Ulrich Zwingli (and the Moravian missionary movement-- ironically, by whom John Wesley was greatly influenced, and also the 24-7 prayer movement was started in Zwingli's church with the 100-year-long prayer meeting), John Calvin (he wrote the enormous "institutes" in order to adequately explain the protestant movement to the catholic church in hopes of stopping the slaughter of his fellow protesting Christians), John Knox ("Thundered the Gospel through Scotland" beginning the Scottish Reformation), and William Tyndale (Thanks to his hard work and being
martyred at the stake, Christans had the first English New Testament translated from the original greek, which would later make up 70% of the King James new-testament translation.)--
Skip past the dark middle-ages and we go back to St. Augustine of the 4th century, (who made popular the concepts of original sin, predestination, and election in his protecting the church from the pelagian heresies' such as "pull yourself up by your bootstraps and be holy")--Augustine expounded the doctrines of grace in his anti-pelagian writings and has had a gigantic influence on western thought, so much so that his "confessions" are in the Western canon.--
Admittedly, before Augustine the church had diverse views regarding sovereign grace, election and predestination, as you can find traces of both beliefs in many writers... And many modern writers quote certain early characters of the Christian faith in an attempt to prove both sides of the debate, but the weight is not heavy enough to prove anything. (In fact, the earliest Christians did not even have a complete Bible at the point!
It is understandable that there was doctrinal confusion at that time.) Ultimately, we must go back to Paul's letters and the entire Bible to get a clear view of the doctrines of grace.
There are many reasons this lineage is important, especially in that if you can show me holier men than these in the history of the Church, then I am listening. But you will be hard-pressed to find them. Also, it is encouraging to have a great "heritage" with doctrine-- because we do not have a new faith, but an old one. And it is time for the Church to return to the "Old Paths." And as the saying goes, "Those who think they have no tradition are in fact the ones that are most enslaved to their traditions."-- However, this is not to say that any doctrinal tradition will in fact save you! (Matt. 3:8) And we must be as the Bereans were and be sure to search out the Scriptures to verify our traditions are indeed BIBLICAL.
Now I went through all of this to point out the fact that greater minds than ours from holier men than us have wrestled with and defended the 5-points of calvinism ("Tulip", below). And I certainly will not be the one to prove it. Actually, from what I have read, John Owen's work on the atonement, "The Death of Death in the Death of Christ" ( http://www.ccel.org/ccel/owen/deathofdeath.i.i.html ) stands as the unrefuted defense of Calvinism at this point in time. Along with that I would recommend Charles Spurgeon's much shorter "Defense of
Calvinism" ( http://www.spurgeon.org/calvinis.htm ) along with John Piper's Church's "What We Believe About the Five Points of Calvinism." ( http://www.desiringgod.org/ResourceLibrary/Articles/ByDate/1985/1487_What_We_Believe_About_the_Five_Points_of_Calvinism/ ) Lastly, I recommend "Why I am not an armenian" which was first introduced to me by my friend Angel Resindez back in Revolution Hawaii-- it's a recent book which shows the flaws of armenianism and the truths of Calvinism and provides an excellent introduction to this highly complicated debate.
At this point in my walk with Christ I'm just going to state my convictions and stick to the Bible.
I have already quoted large chunks on this blog regarding God's sovereignty in election, but the following are many more scripture proofs for TULIP:
T. Total Depravity
TOTAL DEPRAVITY - (Sinful Nature)
Genesis 6:5 Then the LORD saw that the wickedness of man [was] great in the earth, and [that] every intent of the thoughts of his heart [was] only evil continually.
Isaiah 64:6 ¶ But we are all like an unclean [thing], And all our righteousnesses [are] like filthy rags; We all fade as a leaf, And our iniquities, like the wind, Have taken us away.
Jer 17:9 The heart [is] deceitful above all [things], and desperately wicked: who can know it?
Isaiah 59:7 Their feet run to evil, And they make haste to shed innocent blood; Their thoughts are thoughts of iniquity; Wasting and destruction are in their paths.
Jeremiah 13:23 Can the Ethiopian change his skin or the leopard its spots? Then may you also do good who are accustomed to do evil.
Mark 7:21-23 "For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, (22) "thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lewdness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness. (23) "All these evil things proceed from within and defile the man."
John 5:24 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.
John 11:25 Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:
John 14:17 "the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you.
Romans 3:9-18 What then? Are we better than they? Not at all. For we have previously charged both Jews and Greeks that they are all under sin.
(10) As it is written: "There is none righteous, no, not one; (11) There is none who understands; There is none who seeks after God. (12) They have all turned aside; They have together become unprofitable; There is none who does good, no, not one." (13) "Their throat is an open tomb; With their tongues they have practiced deceit"; "The poison of asps is under their lips"; (14) "Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness." (15) "Their feet are swift to shed blood; (16) Destruction and misery are in their ways; (17) And the way of peace they have not known." (18) "There is no fear of God before their eyes."
Romans 3:23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
Rom 5:12 Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:
Romans 5:14-19 Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over those who had not sinned according to the likeness of the transgression of Adam, who is a type of Him who was to come. (15) But the free gift is not like the offense. For if by the one man's offense many died, much more the grace of God and the gift by the grace of the one Man, Jesus Christ, abounded to many. (16) And the gift is not like that which came through the one who sinned. For the judgment which came from one offense resulted in condemnation, but the free gift which came from many offenses resulted in justification. (17) For if by the one man's offense death reigned through the one, much more those who receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ.)
(18) Therefore, as through one man's offense judgment came to all men, resulting in condemnation, even so through one Man's righteous act the free gift came to all men, resulting in justification of life. (19) For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so also by one Man's obedience many will be made righteous.
Romans 8:7 Because the carnal mind [is] enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be.
1 Corinthians 15:21-22 For since by man came death, by Man also came the resurrection of the dead. (22) For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive.
Ephesians 2:1-2 1 And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, 2 in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience,
Ephesians 2:4-5 But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, (5) even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved),
Titus 1:15 To the pure all things are pure, but to those who are defiled and unbelieving nothing is pure; but even their mind and conscience are defiled.
1Pet 4:6 For for this cause was the gospel preached also to them that are dead, that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the spirit.
1John 1:8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
Psalms 143:2 Do not enter into judgment with Your servant, For in Your sight no one living is righteous.
Isaiah 65:12 Therefore I will number you for the sword, And you shall all bow down to the slaughter; Because, when I called, you did not answer; When I spoke, you did not hear, But did evil before My eyes, And chose [that] in which I do not delight."
Isaiah 66:4 So will I choose their delusions, And bring their fears on them; Because, when I called, no one answered, When I spoke they did not hear; But they did evil before My eyes, And chose [that] in which I do not delight."
Westminster Confession -
9:3 Man, by his fall into a state of sin, hath wholly lost all ability of will to any spiritual good accompanying salvation (Joh_15:5; Rom_5:6; Rom_8:7): so as, a natural man, being altogether averse from that good (Rom_3:10, Rom_3:12), and dead in sin (Eph_2:1, Eph_2:5; Col_2:13), is not able, by his own strength, to convert himself, or to prepare himself thereunto (Joh_6:44, Joh_6:65; 1Co_2:14; Eph_2:2-5; Tit_3:3-5).
U. Unconditional Election
UNCONDITIONAL ELECTION (Predestination) -
Mat 22:14 For many are called, but few [are] chosen.
John 6:37 All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.
John 15:16 Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and [that] your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.
Acts 4:28 For to do whatsoever thy hand and thy counsel determined before to be done.
Acts 13:48 And when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad, and glorified the word of the Lord: and as many as were ordained to eternal life believed.
Romans 8:29-30 For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. (30) Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified.
Romans 9:11-13 (for the children not yet being born, nor having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works but of Him who calls), (12) it was said to her, "The older shall serve the younger." (13) As it is written, "Jacob I have loved, but Esau I have hated."
Rom 9:16 So then it is not of him who wills, nor of him who runs, but of God who shows mercy.
Romans 2:11 For there is no partiality with God.
Rom 9:24 Even us, whom he hath called, not of the Jews only, but also of the Gentiles?
Romans 9:29 And as Isaiah said before: "Unless the LORD of Sabaoth had left us a seed, We would have become like Sodom, And we would have been made like Gomorrah."
{If God had not elected some to salvation, all would be lost; had God not chosen some, none would be saved.}
Rom 11:5 Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace.
Rom 11:7 What then? Israel hath not obtained that which he seeketh for; but the election hath obtained it, and the rest were blinded
1Cor 2:7 But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, [even] the hidden [wisdom], which God ordained before the world unto our glory:
Ephesians 1:4-5 just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, (5) having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will,
Eph 1:11 In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will:
Col 3:12 Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering;
1Thes 1:4 Knowing, brethren beloved, your election of God.
2Thes 2:13 But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth:
Titus 1:1 Paul, a servant of God, and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of God's elect, and the acknowledging of the truth which is after godliness;
1 Peter 1:1-2 Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, To the pilgrims of the Dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, (2) elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace be multiplied.
1 Peter 2:6-9 Therefore it is also contained in the Scripture, "Behold, I lay in Zion A chief cornerstone, elect, precious, And he who believes on Him will by no means be put to shame." (7) Therefore, to you who believe, He is precious; but to those who are disobedient, "The stone which the builders rejected Has become the chief cornerstone," (8) and "A stone of stumbling And a rock of offense." They stumble, being disobedient to the word, to which they also were appointed. (9) But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;
2Pet 1:3 According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that [pertain] unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:
Rev 17:8 The beast that thou sawest was, and is not; and shall ascend out of the bottomless pit, and go into perdition: and they that dwell on the earth shall wonder, whose names were not written in the book of life from the foundation of the world, when they behold the beast that was, and is not, and yet is.
Psalms 65:4 Blessed [is the man] You choose, And cause to approach [You, That] he may dwell in Your courts. We shall be satisfied with the goodness of Your house, Of Your holy temple.
Exodus 6:7 "I will take you as My people, and I will be your God. Then you shall know that I [am] the LORD your God who brings you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians."
Deuteronomy 7:6 "For you [are] a holy people to the LORD your God; the LORD your God has chosen you to be a people for Himself, a special treasure above all the peoples on the face of the earth.
Isaiah 43:20-21 The beast of the field will honor Me, The jackals and the ostriches, Because I give waters in the wilderness [And] rivers in the desert, To give drink to My people, My chosen.(21) This people I have formed for Myself; They shall declare My praise.
Malachi 3:16-18 Then those who feared the LORD spoke to one another, And the LORD listened and heard [them]; So a book of remembrance was written before Him For those who fear the LORD And who meditate on His name. (17) "They shall be Mine," says the LORD of hosts, "On the day that I make them My jewels. And I will spare them As a man spares his own son who serves him." (18) Then you shall again discern Between the righteous and the wicked, Between one who serves God And one who does not serve Him.
L. Limited Atonement
LIMITED ATONEMENT - {Particular Redemption}
Psa 85:2 Thou hast forgiven the iniquity of thy people, thou hast covered all their sin. Selah.
Isaiah 53:8 He was taken from prison and from judgment, And who will declare His generation? For He was cut off from the land of the living; For the transgressions of My people He was stricken.
Mat 1:21 And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.
John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
John 3:18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
John 5:24 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.
John 6:35-40 And Jesus said to them, "I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst. (36) "But I said to you that you have seen Me and yet do not believe. (37) "All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will by no means cast out. (38) "For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me. (39) "This is the will of the Father who sent Me, that of all He has given Me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up at the last day. (40) "And this is the will of Him who sent Me, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in Him may have everlasting life; and I will raise him up at the last day."
John 10:14-16 "I am the good shepherd; and I know My sheep, and am known by My own. (15) "As the Father knows Me, even so I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep. (16) "And other sheep I have which are not of this fold; them also I must bring, and they will hear My voice; and there will be one flock and one shepherd.
(Christ died for His sheep, NOT the goats.)
1 Corinthians 1:22-24 For Jews request a sign, and Greeks seek after wisdom; (23) but we preach Christ crucified, to the Jews a stumbling block and to the Greeks foolishness, (24) but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.
{The general calling is the gospel message being heard by Jews & Gentiles (the world). The effectual calling only occurs among the Elect of God..."those who are called". For them, the gospel message is "the power & wisdom of God". For all the others, the gospel message is "to the Jews a stumbling block and to the Greeks foolishness".}
RELATED ARTICLE - The Call Creates What It Commands
Matthew 11:27 "All things have been delivered to Me by My Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father. Nor does anyone know the Father except the Son, and the one to whom the Son wills to reveal Him.
John 10:26-27 "But you do not believe, because you are not of My sheep, as I said to you. (27) "My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.
John 12:37-40 But although He had done so many signs before them, they did not believe in Him, (38) that the word of Isaiah the prophet might be fulfilled, which he spoke: "Lord, who has believed our report? And to whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed?" (39) Therefore they could not believe, because Isaiah said again: (40) "He has blinded their eyes and hardened their hearts, Lest they should see with their eyes, Lest they should understand with their hearts and turn, So that I should heal them."
John 14:21-24 "He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me. And he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and manifest Myself to him." (22) Judas (not Iscariot) said to Him, "Lord, how is it that You will manifest Yourself to us, and not to the world?" (23) Jesus answered and said to him, "If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him. (24) "He who does not love Me does not keep My words; and the word which you hear is not Mine but the Father's who sent Me.
John 17:2 As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him.
John 17:9-10 "I pray for them. I do not pray for the world but for those whom You have given Me, for they are Yours. (10) "And all Mine are Yours, and Yours are Mine, and I am glorified in them.
John 17:20-21 "I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; (21) "that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me.
Acts 10:40-41 "Him God raised up on the third day, and showed Him openly, (41) "not to all the people, but to witnesses chosen before by God, [even] to us who ate and drank with Him after He arose from the dead.
Acts 13:48 Now when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad and glorified the word of the Lord. And as many as had been appointed to eternal life believed.
Acts 15:14 "Simon has declared how God at the first visited the Gentiles to take out of them a people for His name.
Acts 24:15 And have hope toward God, which they themselves also allow, that there shall be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and unjust.
Romans 11:7 What then? Israel has not obtained what it seeks; but the elect have obtained it, and the rest were blinded.
Romans 11:13-14 But I am speaking to you who are Gentiles. Inasmuch then as I am an apostle of Gentiles, I magnify my ministry, (14) if somehow I might move to jealousy my fellow countrymen and save some of them.
Eph 5:25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;
Titus 2:14 who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works.
Hebrews 7:25-26 Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them. (26) For such a High Priest was fitting for us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and has become higher than the heavens;
2Pet 2:9 The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished:
2 Peter 3:9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
Revelation 5:9 And they sang a new song, saying: "You are worthy to take the scroll, And to open its seals; For You were slain, And have redeemed us to God by Your blood, Out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation,
I. Irresistable Grace
IRRESISTIBLE GRACE - {Regeneration & Effectual Calling}
Psalms 65:4 Blessed [is the man] You choose, And cause to approach [You, That] he may dwell in Your courts. We shall be satisfied with the goodness of Your house, Of Your holy temple.
Ezekiel 36:26-27 "I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. (27) "I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will keep My judgments and do them.
Genesis 50:20 "But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive.
{This verse shows that God's plan & purpose will NOT be changed, despite man's attempt at doing so. Though man tries to change things for his own sinful purposes, God's will & purpose will ALWAYS prevail.}
John 1:12-13 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: (13) who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.
John 3:6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
John 5:21 "For as the Father raises the dead and gives life to [them], even so the Son gives life to whom He will.
John 6:37-39 "All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will by no means cast out. (38) "For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me. (39) "This is the will of the Father who sent Me, that of all He has given Me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up at the last day.
John 6:44 No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.
John 6:65 And he said, Therefore said I unto you, that no man can come unto me, except it were given unto him of my Father.
Acts 18:27 And when he was disposed to pass into Achaia, the brethren wrote, exhorting the disciples to receive him: who, when he was come, helped them much which had believed through grace:
Acts 20:32 And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified.
Romans 1:6-7 among whom you also are the called of Jesus Christ; (7) To all who are in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
{Effectual Calling - the Holy Spirit convicts & convinces us. Yes, it's irresistible grace because it's so true, so logical and so convincing.}
Romans 8:30 Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified.
Rom 9:16 So then [it is] not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy.
Rom 11:5 Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace.
1 Corinthians 1:23-24 but we preach Christ crucified, to the Jews a stumbling block and to the Greeks foolishness, (24) but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.
Galatians 1:15-16 But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother's womb and called me through His grace, (16) to reveal His Son in me, that I might preach Him among the Gentiles, I did not immediately confer with flesh and blood,
Ephesians 2:1-5 And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, (2) in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, (3) among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others. (4) But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, (5) even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved),
Ephesians 2:8-10 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, (9) not of works, lest anyone should boast. (10) For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.
Philippians 1:6 Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform [it] until the day of Jesus Christ:
Philippians 1:29 For to you it has been granted on behalf of Christ, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake,
Philippians 2:13 for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for [His] good pleasure.
2 Timothy 1:9-10 who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began, (10) but has now been revealed by the appearing of our Savior Jesus Christ, who has abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel,
Hebrews 9:15 And for this reason He is the Mediator of the new covenant, by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions under the first covenant, that those who are called may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance.
1Pet 5:10 But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle [you].
Isaiah 55:11 So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; It shall not return to Me void, But it shall accomplish what I please, And it shall prosper [in the thing] for which I sent it.
John 17:2 "as You have given Him authority over all flesh, that He should give eternal life to as many as You have given Him.
Acts 13:48 Now when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad and glorified the word of the Lord. And as many as had been appointed to eternal life believed.
P. Perseverance of the Saints
PERSEVERANCE(Preservation) OF THE SAINTS - {Sanctification}
John 5:24 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.
John 6:35-37 And Jesus said to them, "I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst. (36) "But I said to you that you have seen Me and yet do not believe. (37) "All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will by no means cast out.
John 10:27-29 "My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. (28) "And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand. (29) "My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father's hand.
Romans 5:9 Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from the wrath of God through Him.
Rom 8:1 [There is] therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
Rom 8:35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? [shall] tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?
Romans 8:38-39 For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, (39) nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Romans 11:29 For the gifts and the calling of God [are] irrevocable.
Hebrews 3:14 For we have become partakers of Christ if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast to the end,
{In this verse the indication of past salvation is present reality. The converse would clearly be, "For we have NOT become partakers of Christ if we FAIL TO hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast to the end.}
1 John 2:19 They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us; but they went out that they might be made manifest, that none of them were of us.
1 Corinthians 15:10 But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me was not in vain; but I labored more abundantly than they all, yet not I, but the grace of God [which was] with me.
2Cor 5:19 To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.
Ephesians 2:4-6 But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, (5) even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), (6) and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus,
Ephesians 4:30 Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.
Philippians 1:6 being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete [it] until the day of Jesus Christ;
2 Timothy 1:12 For this reason I also suffer these things; nevertheless I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep what I have committed to Him until that Day.
2 Timothy 2:13 If we are faithless, He remains faithful, for He cannot deny Himself.
Hebrews 13:20-21 Now may the God of peace who brought up our Lord Jesus from the dead, that great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, (21) make you complete in every good work to do His will, working in you what is well pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.
1John 3:9 Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.
1 John 5:4-5 For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world our faith. (5) Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?
Ephesians 1:13-14 In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, (14) who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory.
John 17:2,12 "as You have given Him authority over all flesh, that He should give eternal life to as many as You have given Him. (12) "While I was with them in the world, I kept them in Your name. Those whom You gave Me I have kept; and none of them is lost except the son of perdition, that the Scripture might be fulfilled.
1 Corinthians 1:6-8 Even as the testimony of Christ was confirmed in you: (7) So that ye come behind in no gift; waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ: (8) Who shall also confirm you unto the end, that ye may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.
1 Thessalonians 5:23-24 And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. (24) Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it.
2 Thessalonians 3:3 But the Lord is faithful, who will establish you and guard [you] from the evil one.
Hebrews 9:12 Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption [for us].
1 Peter 1:3-5 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, (4) To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, (5) Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
1 John 5:11-13 And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. (12) He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life. (13) These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.
Hebrews 6:17-19 Thus God, determining to show more abundantly to the heirs of promise the immutability of His counsel, confirmed it by an oath, (18) that by two immutable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we might have strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold of the hope set before us. (19) This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and which enters the Presence behind the veil,
Jeremiah 32:39-40 "then I will give them one heart and one way, that they may fear Me forever, for the good of them and their children after them. (40) And I will make an everlasting covenant with them, that I will not turn away from doing them good; but I will put My fear in their hearts so that they will not depart from Me".
Psalms 121:1-8 I will lift up my eyes to the hills From whence comes my help? (2) My help [comes] from the LORD, Who made heaven and earth. (3) He will not allow your foot to be moved; He who keeps you will not slumber. (4) Behold, He who keeps Israel Shall neither slumber nor sleep. (5) The LORD [is] your keeper; The LORD [is] your shade at your right hand. (6) The sun shall not strike you by day, Nor the moon by night. (7) The LORD shall preserve you from all evil; He shall preserve your soul. (8) The LORD shall preserve your going out and your coming in From this time forth, and even forevermore.
Isaiah 46:3-4 "Listen to Me, O house of Jacob, And all the remnant of the house of Israel, Who have been upheld [by Me] from birth, Who have been carried from the womb: (4) Even to [your] old age, I [am] He, And [even] to gray hairs I will carry [you]! I have made, and I will bear; Even I will carry, and will deliver [you].
Romans 9:6-8 But it is not that the word of God has taken no effect. For they [are] not all Israel who [are] of Israel, (7) nor [are they] all children because they are the seed of Abraham; but, "In Isaac your seed shall be called." (8) That is, those who [are] the children of the flesh, these [are] not the children of God; but the children of the promise are counted as the seed.
Psalms 20:6 Now I know that the LORD saves His anointed; He will answer him from His holy heaven With the saving strength of His right hand.
Psalms 31:23 O love the LORD, all ye his saints: for the LORD preserveth the faithful, and plentifully rewardeth the proud doer.
Psalms 37:28 For the LORD loves justice; he will not forsake his saints. They are preserved forever, but the children of the wicked shall be cut off.
Psalms 55:22 Cast your burden on the LORD, And He shall sustain you; He shall never permit the righteous to be moved.
(Proofs from http://scripturetruths5.tripod.com/fpc.html )
So read those verses and the books mentioned above, and PRAY about it. There is nothing more comforting to true believers than the fact that salvation is of the LORD! HE chooses us, HE forgives us, HE makes us holy, HE keeps us and we are His-- forever. Therefore, God gets ALL the glory. I will have more to come later in response to some of your questions...
Adam
Hmmm... (You asked me not to respond ;) but... I'll try to keep it short.)
1- Opposing some aspects of "calvinism" does not make one an "armenian". There are so many shades of gray between the ends of each. There are some things I say and see in scripture that back the armenians (even the universalists) and they applaud, yet I am not in either camp. There are other points on which I am strongly in agreement with calinists, yet I am not a certifiable calvinist. Since the main point of your writings are strongly calvinist, I'll limit my comments to the 5 points.
Before that though I want to say that my disagreements with armenian doctrine have to do with things that are fundamentally unscriptural. But the issues I have with calvinism are more along the lines of things being taken too far, i.e. to the exclusion of other scriptures that *seem* to be more armenian. In that case I think the two seemingly opposed passages represent a balance or tension between two facets God is teaching us. A classic example is Paul and James' teaching about salvation with regard to faith and works. So I make the calvanists nervous... and the armenians just think I'm a calvinist. lol
2- TULIP, I would spell it Tulip, meaning I see all points, but the "T" I'm totally on board with, but the others to a lesser degree. I'll explain... You can quote tons of verses, containing words like called, chosen, elect, predestined, etc.... but they do not necessarily require, or command an exclusive interpretation in agreement with TULIP. In fact, the T is the only one of the 5 that gets specifically taught on, as a subject in scripture (I know, you disagree). The others are found in scripture, though not necessarily as interpreted by calvinists.
T-Total depravity: I agree with, my favorite passage, Ps 51:5 (the obvious teacher on this, Paul)
U-Unconditional election: that God elects is given, but that God also elects some for damnation is not (ex. 2 Peter 2:9). One thing that needs to be understood is the role of God's foreknowledge (see Romans 8) in His election. We don't "earn" election, but neither is it unconnected with actions. There's also considerable confusion about election with regard to Israel, with some almost thinking that Jews are automatically saved. (Also see my comments connected with IG.)
L-Limited atonement: I'm of the understanding that Jesus died for the sins of all (2 Cor 5:14-15), but that it doesn't apply unless we are His. I guess to me it's not a big deal, if you don't believe in Jesus you are sill in your sins (though the price has been paid, and the blood applied to the altar, "It is finished").
I-Irresistible grace: I won't get into the whole argument about whether "free will" exists, but if God holds people accountable for actions, then there must be some sort of ability to choose on our part. IG only really works if UE is also a fact. But at that point it begins to look more like an angelic order, than a human one. Angels are created as ministering spirits-without the right to choose (though they obviously can, and some did, choose something else). Humans are created to love God, which is a choice (though it is in response to God's love). In the beginning God created ALL people to love Him, not just some.
P-Perseverance of the saint: again, I agree with perseverance and teach perfection as the goal, ex. Phil 1:6, but the warnings, ex. Heb 2:3, are also for real. Perseverance does not preclude failure. (See Luke 12:41-48) I'm probably pretty close on this one, though not in the same way are TULIP people, but I do think God will be successful. (duh)
In the end man has been totally corrupted by sin and God's salvation is totally complete! Hmmm... again. does that make me a TP man! lol
That's good enough... food for thought for everyone, I hope.
What I meant was that I didn't want you to respond immediately, but first to give it a day or two to think about it.
Anyways-- cool reply. I appreciate that you are neither full-on Armenian, nor full-on Calvinist, because that means at least that you have thought out your beliefs on these issues...
The problem is though, that you cannot believe in the total depravity of man without also believing in God's unconditional election of Christians. You must either deny total depravity, which has a wealth of scripture teaching to support it, as you have already admitted. (ps.51:5 and Paul in romans 1,2,&3)-- or you must deny election! (You may say there is no straight-forward teaching on election in the Bible, but there is! (Romans and in the introduction of pretty much all of the N.T. letters.) There is so much about election in the Bible that it is practically taken for granted that everybody already knows about it. The clear teaching is from Paul in Romans 8 & 9 and Ephesians 1.)
Now because man is totally depraved, man will never even turn to God for salvation. God commands all men everywhere to repent... and the fact is that all men everywhere will say "NO!" There are none who seek God.
"The LORD looks down from heaven on the children of man,
to see if there are any who understand,
who seek after God.
3They have all turned aside; together they have become corrupt;
there is none who does good,
not even one." -Psalms14:2-3
So throw in God's election, which is unconditional, and you are starting to get somewhere. (It now becomes possible.)
"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places,4 even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love5 he predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will,6 to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved." -Ephesians 1:3-6
If you insist that election depends on God's foreknowledge of seeing you in the future having the possibility of goodness, then salvation based on works (man's choice) and man's goodness-- which is clearly unscriptural! As Christ said, "You did not choose me, but I chose you..." John 15:16
Romans 9:11 shows that election is not based on our works, but God's choice,
"...though they were not yet born and had done nothing either good or bad---in order that God's purpose of election might continue, not because of works but because of him who calls---..."
Yes, the main thrust of the passage of Romans 9 is actually that God has elected certain people from BOTH Jews and Gentiles to be saved... (Rom. 9:24) However, this does not take away the truth of Paul's illustration that God chose to love jacob and hate esau (Chosen and not chosen) and to create vessels for destruction (ie. Pharaoh). Romans 9:17-18,
"For the Scripture says to Pharaoh, "For this very purpose I have raised you up, that I might show my power in you, and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth."18 So then he has mercy on whomever he wills, and he hardens whomever he wills."
And isn't that what has happened? How many popular movies have been made about this very fact, that God delivered His people from the bondage of Egypt. Isn't God awesome? Does not the whole earth tremble? YES. And it's terrifying... which is why people don't like these verses. But Paul has something to say about that,
Romans 9:19-24,
You will say to me then, "Why does he still find fault? For who can resist his will?"20 But who are you, O man, to answer back to God? Will what is molded say to its molder, "Why have you made me like this?"21 Has the potter no right over the clay, to make out of the same lump one vessel for honorable use and another for dishonorable use?22 What if God, desiring to show his wrath and to make known his power, has endured with much patience vessels of wrath prepared for destruction,23 in order to make known the riches of his glory for vessels of mercy, which he has prepared beforehand for glory---24 even us whom he has called, not from the Jews only but also from the Gentiles?
"BUT GOD IS LOVE" everyone says. YES, HE IS LOVE. This is so true and I thank God for this all the time. But, we cannot ignore other passages of scripture such as the following:
Psalms 5:5 "The boastful shall not stand before your eyes;
you hate all evildoers."
and John 3:36 "Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him."
So perhaps it is that God loves those whom he has chosen to save and hates those whom he has chosen to go to destruction?
Now this leads us to the atonement. If Christ died for the whole world, it would appear he intended to make the whole world his bride... The question is, did he fail? was His blood wasted? So many calvinists think he only died for Christians and it is a "limited atonement." But this may in fact be taking calvinism further than John Calvin himself believed! I myself am honestly unsure about this one, because there is too much scripture that points out the universal benefits of the atonement. But one must admit it is very interesting how Christ prayed before His death on the cross... (How He prayed not for the whole world, but for those whom the Father has given Him.) Never the less, the atonement is certainly only applied to believers and not unbelievers and is definitely limited in that sense! Otherwise, the "wrath of God" would not "remain" on unbelievers.
Check out what Charles Spurgeon says,
"Some persons love the doctrine of universal atonement because they say, "It is so beautiful. It is a lovely idea that Christ should have died for all men; it commends itself," they say, "to the instincts of humanity; there is something in it full of joy and beauty." I admit there is, but beauty may be often associated with falsehood. There is much which I might admire in the theory of universal redemption, but I will just show what the supposition necessarily involves. If Christ on His cross intended to save every man, then He intended to save those who were lost before He died. If the doctrine be true, that He died for all men, then He died for some who were in hell before He came into this world, for doubtless there were even then myriads there who had been cast away because of their sins. Once again, if it was Christ's intention to save all men, how deplorably has He been disappointed, for we have His own testimony that there is a lake which burneth with fire and brimstone, and into that pit of woe have been cast some of the very persons who, according to the theory of universal redemption, were bought with His blood. That seems to me a conception a thousand times more repulsive than any of those consequences which are said to be associated with the Calvinistic and Christian doctrine of special and particular redemption. To think that my Saviour died for men who were or are in hell, seems a supposition too horrible for me to entertain. To imagine for a moment that He was the Substitute for all the sons of men, and that God, having first punished the Substitute, afterwards punished the sinners themselves, seems to conflict with all my ideas of Divine justice. That Christ should offer an atonement and satisfaction for the sins of all men, and that afterwards some of those very men should be punished for the sins for which Christ had already atoned, appears to me to be the most monstrous iniquity that could ever have been imputed to Saturn, to Janus, to the goddess of the Thugs, or to the most diabolical heathen deities. God forbid that we should ever think thus of Jehovah, the just and wise and good!"
That is definitely something to think about, yet in another breath Spurgeon also says regarding 1 Timothy 2:3-4,
"What then? Shall we try to put another meaning into the text than that which is fairly bears? I trow not. You must, most of you, be acquainted with the general method in which our older Calvinistic friends (he is speaking of James Wells, Gill and other hyper-Calvinists) deal with this text. 'All men,' say they, - 'that is, some men': as if the Holy Ghost could not have said 'some men' if he had meant some men. 'All men,' they say; 'that is, some sorts of men': as if the Lord could not have said 'All sorts of men' if he had meant that. The Holy Ghost by the apostle has written 'all men,' and unquestionably he means all men. I know how to get rid of the force of the 'alls' according to that critical method which some time ago was very current, but I do not see how it can be applied here with due regard to truth...I never thought it to be any very great crime to be so inconsistent with myself, for who am I that I should everlastingly be consistent? But I do think it is a great crime to seem to be inconsistent with the word of God that I should want to lop away a bough or even a twig from so much as a single tree of the forest of Scripture. God forbid that I should cut or shape, even in the least degree, any divine expression. So runs the text, and so we must read it, 'God our Saviour; who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.'"
So, uh... Yeah, I'm still wrestling with the issue of the atonement and am currently... UNSURE about the limited vs. universal issue. It seems to have a long history of debate even in the Calvinistic camp of believers.
Regarding Irresistable Grace... I suppose it just makes sense. Like from the verse from Ezekiel that says,
"I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. (27) "I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will keep My judgments and do them."
See how God is doing all the work?
"I will"...
"I will"...
"I will"...
says God...
And in response,
"and you will"...
Trust and Obey :-)
I relate well with Spurgeons testimony when he said,
"Then, in the fulness of time, He purchased me with His blood; He let His heart run out in one deep gaping wound for me long ere I loved Him. Yea, when He first came to me, did I not spurn Him? When He knocked at the door, and asked for entrance, did I not drive Him away, and do despite to His grace? Ah, I can remember that I full often did so until, at last, by the power of His effectual grace, He said, "I must, I will come in;" and then He turned my heart, and made me love Him. But even till now I should have resisted Him, had it not been for His grace."
Finally, perseverance of the Saints, I'm glad you believe it. But I do not believe that any true believer would ever finally reject Christ! How could they? See John 6:67-71,
"So Jesus said to the twelve, "You do not want to go away also, do you?"68 Simon Peter answered Him, "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have words of eternal life.69 We have believed and have come to know that You are the Holy One of God."70 Jesus answered them, "Did I Myself not choose you, the twelve, and yet one of you is a devil?"71 Now He meant Judas the son of Simon Iscariot, for he, one of the twelve, was going to betray Him."
What about Judas, wasn't he a Christian? NO! He was a "devil"!
The assumption that total depravity requires unconditional election is based on the belief that we are without the ability to choose. So maybe I better start spelling it tulip. ;) Man was created in the image and likeness of God, perfect, and with the ability to make incredible choices. Those choices resulted in the fall, but God still expects and to chose...
Acts 17:30-31 And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent: Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by [that] man whom he hath ordained; [whereof] he hath given assurance unto all [men], in that he hath raised him from the dead.
It doesn't mean God didn't command all to repent in the past, but that He didn't act accordingly with their non-repentance (ie, The old covenant sacrifices staved off the punishment/wrath until the messiah could die, which by the way is what now keeps God from destroying sinners, so they can have a chance to believe.)
The miracle is not our choosing God's grace, but that He offers it, sovereignly, and unconditionally, to all.
1 Timothy 2:3-6 For this [is] good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth. For [there is] one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; 2:6 Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.
Both passages talk of it being for all, AND the basis of that is the death/resurrection of Christ.
The question is, did God elect us SO THAT we will come to Him, OR because we chose Him? I obviously think the latter. (This applies to Roamns 9 as well as in general.) And lest it sound like I want us to "earn it" by choosing... not at all. The point is, God sees all as now, there is no then and now except inside out limited time frame. God is outside that. Election doesn't mean He called Bob, and Josie, and Willy... it means he designates those who believe as "the elect". Same for chosen, etc.
The idea that God will "force" salvation via the concepts of tulip misses the greatest point of all - love. As created in the likeness of God we are created to love Him back, and that requires choice, or it is not love. Love is not love if under compulsion. Choosing does not equal salvation by works. If fact, Jesus spoke to this very point: John 6:28-29 Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God? Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.
You wrote: "So perhaps it is that God loves those whom he has chosen to save and hates those whom he has chosen to go to destruction?" So easily we say those words... I think God weeps... though He hates the ungodly as a group (I know the scriptures), He weeps over the lost. "Jesus wept" says it all.
I have a huge problem with the concept that God created any person to be damned. God can do as He wishes, but, He has made it abundantly clear in the verses above, and in 1 Peter 3:9 are enough to know that He doesn't will that, and there is no way He then would create people toward that end.
2 Peter 3:8-9 But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day [is] with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
Interesting how the timelessness of God and His desire for all to be saved are in the same context too, isn't it?
You wrote: "If Christ died for the whole world, it would appear he intended to make the whole world his bride... The question is, did he fail?" No, He didn't fail. He paid salvation's price for everyone, making the way open, a doorway, through His very flesh. It (the cross and resurrection) was a glorious victory. That's why Paul gloried in the cross, and preached the cross. Spugeon raises an interesting point (about both views) but I would offer that Jesus was not suffering in vain for some who were lost, because it was timeless. (The lamb slain from the foundation of the earth.) And also because it was not the saving of all, but the atonement for all - God's righteousness needed to be satisfied, for all of creation, just as the restoration is for all of the creation.
On perseverance, Peter's statement shows his ongoing choice to believe in the word of life. I LOVE John 6:67. :) We are saved by grace, through faith. And we are kept by the Lord. And yet, we have a choice to make in all this... and my ability to do that, is by the Lord's design... created in His image and likeness, killed by sin, restored by the cross and resurrection.
[One little disclaimer... in case someone takes me to task on something... these thoughts are very off the cuff. I'm discussing, not writing a thesis. ;) ]
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