Featured Smashing the "T" out of TULIP

When one looks at the unavoidable consequences of the TULIP doctrine, it becomes very depressing indeed. John MacArthur was asked, "why did you once believe in free will choice?" He replied, "emotions". He admitted that he needed to quench his emotions that he might embrace TULIP. That should speak volumes to us and to the Calvinist. God's very essence entails emotions, yet the Calvinist believes emotions should be dismissed from the discerning of the doctrine. A Just and Holy and Emotional God says "Come, let us reason together". We see an emotional plea by God for people to repent and believe! Jesus wept over Israel for their un-repentance.

 

I presented Matt 23 oftentimes and no TULIP believer ever presented an answer. John MacArthur didn't know what to do with it either, it is ignored rather than allowing the full counsel of God's Word shape their view.

 

That is why I am not an Armenian free willer. I understand the doctrine of regeneration which creates a new creature in Christ. Anyone who is born of God, personally knowing Jesus Christ and His Grace and Sanctification process, would never have any inclination whatsoever to then say "I don't think I want to be saved anymore, I would like to go to hell now"

The Father draws, the Spirit convicts, the person makes a decision to invite God to regenerate/give a new heart, Jesus saves. It is finished. To the glory of God!

But like you said, this isn't a OSAS thread. Just wanted folks to be clear one can be a OSASer and not be Armenian nor Calvinian.

 

Idk about that specific quote, but if you ever listen to John MacArthur preach concerning the lost he pretty much passionately declares that it pains God to destroy the lost and begs them to repent, of course all the while it is God who is preventing them according to the Calvinist. Now what is wrong with this kind of preaching? I think my 5th grade SS class can see what is wrong about that.

 

Freewill was part of Creation and was given to man in the Garden of Eden before the fall and was present when God declared everything very good.

Freewill does not cease to exist after regeneration. However, God has implemented restrictions throughout the history of the bible.

What does cease to exist is the freewill to choose to become unborn or un-regenerated. Regeneration is an act of God which cannot be undone because God declares it cannot be undone. God has chosen to implement this act of regeneration upon those who call upon Jesus Christ post resurrection/glorification.

There are many examples of God limiting a person's freewill. God hardened Pharaoh's heart that he could not freely choose to let the Israelites go free. Some places we read how God "turns one over" effectively ending the person's freewill to choose right. When Antichrist appears God will end the freewill right to choose Jesus Christ for those who have rejected Him previously.

And yes, because of God's doctrine of "born-again", one who has been born of God has GRACIOUSLY been restricted from choosing damnation through unbelief, for one can never stop believing in that which they have a personal knowledge of is an absolute truth. Christ In You! Regeneration! Born of God! New Creation!

What? Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates? I trust you know Jesus Christ is in you, so how then could you stop believing Jesus Christ is Lord??

 

You are beginning your argument from an incorrect premise. No where in scripture do we read Adam was called a child of God which is a NT title given for those who are born-again post glorification of Jesus Christ.

Luke 3:38 we read ".........Adam, which was the son of God." "the son" being added to convey the relationship of fathers and their offspring. Adam was of God, having no earthly father for he was the first created by God.

Acts 17:29 we read "Forasmuch then as we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and man's device." All translations with the exception of the NASB translates this correctly, not all of humanity are the "children of God", this is a title given only to those who are born again or born of God.

Nowhere in scripture do we read Adam was "born-again" or "born of God". Adam did not become "unborn" when Adam sinned. Thus, your questions are born out of an incorrect premise.

You will have to find another argument than that of Adam, for Adam has nothing to do with the NT implementation of the spiritual rebirth. Adam is God's example of OUR failure, for all have sinned and come short of the glory of God, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Scripture is very clear when it comes to the specifics of the rebirth. If you begin with these specific passages you will then be able to harmonize these less specific text you find troubling to the OSAS doctrine.

For example;

John 4:14, "But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life." Notice the word "never". The water Jesus is speaking of is the Holy Spirit (Jn7:39)

Eph 1:13, "In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise". Notice the word "sealed"

Eph 4:30, "And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption". Again, "sealed"

2Cr 1:22, "Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts"

And in Romans 11:29 we read "For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance". Once God gives a gift, that gift is irrevocable, thus what you think you are hearing in the parable of the unforgiving servant cannot be correct. You must find an interpretation which fits into the full counsel of God's word on this subject of the Holy Spirit rebirth.

These are just a small sample. We know that only God could break God's seal, not any man nor any woman. We also know God cannot break a promise and it is God through His miracle act of regeneration in which He seals us "with that holy Spirit of promise".

There are so many more scriptures specific to the rebirth, but how many would it take for you to reconsider your pov?

I asked you...

Answer that question honestly for yourself brother, then you will see things differently.

For I find that those who preach the loss of salvation usually feel it would never happen to them, but it's those other weak, sinful Christians who better watch out!

 

I use to really like listening to John MacArthur until I listened to this interview of him trying to defend TULIP's version of unconditional election (yeah, I know you will say it is the bible version and not Calvin's) but anywho....

John has a daily radio broadcast called "Grace to you" and I think it comes on here on the station I listen to at 9:30am. He came on Friday and his sermon was railing against the lost, who as he put it, REFUSES to believe on Jesus Christ and how because of this rejection of Jesus Christ, God has every justification for destroying them in everlasting torture and punishment. Knowing what John believes about the lost not being ALLOWED to believe on Jesus Christ I had to turn the station, I couldn't stand listening to him any longer.

I just think it is sad preaching from a professing Calvinist.