Ye Shall Know them by their Fruits- A look at Anti-Calvinism

Let's get away from all of that on all sides. No more "doctrines of devils" and the like. We can do better. I can understand where Thomas is coming from and I can understand why he says what he does. But we all need to try to move it forward.

Let's talk theology.

 

I like TCassidy! TCassidy is alright in my book.

He gets right to the point...does not mince words...he is very blunt and straightforward.

He works hard and quite well to defend what he believes.

That is what I call genuine.

When people know each other very well....superficiality goes away and real fellowship begins.

There are lots of fence sitters in this world....and many that beat around the bush....the few and far between are the ones that are open, honest, and direct.

Such people are not devoid of love.

Those that are devoid of love are those that say nothing or "agree to disagree" on everything.

Indifference is love lacking.

I heard men that stand for nothing fall for almost anything.

You have to admit some people on here as well as many we meet personally in the world have some very goofy beliefs.

The rights of people to have personal beliefs should be valued....that does not mean that all peoples personal beliefs are valuable!

Some beliefs are just down right whacko to be honest. For people to believe the world is flat does not make the world flat no matter how much effort a person puts into their belief that it is.

While I would value the right of a person to believe the world is flat...if it is proven that the world is round then their belief is not valuable at all.

We also need to remember that people do not know all things. Some are learning, and some learn the hard way...and some just never learn!

Love rejoices in truth!

What about people saying they have free-will? This is a belief. Now they have every right to believe they have free-will....but how in blazes do they prove it?

For a person to be certain they have free-will they would have to be like a god of some sort and able to see every power and force in the entire universe!

How do they KNOW that no force or power is working on the wills of people?

Do these people claiming free-will have some sort of all knowing super vision?

They claim free-will loud and clear.

Just because they claim they have it and they are loud in proclaiming they have it......it is no sort of proof at all that they have it.

Even when they use every phrase or idea that having choices in front of them some how proves they have free-will. It is absolute absurdity!

While I value their right to believe what they have no proof of.....their belief in all honesty is whacky! And it should be told to them as such! Whacky! Looney! Far fetched!

Now the sad part is when you can show them text from Scripture over and over again of God and Satan affecting the wills and hearts of men.

And they still claim freedom! Free-will is their battle cry!

What were they saved from if they are so free already?

All the people of the earth are nothing compared to him. He has the power to do as he pleases among the angels of heaven and with those who live on earth. No one can stop him or challenge him, saying, `What do you mean by doing these things?' Free-will?

We can make our plans, but the LORD determines our steps. Free-will?

You will say to me then, "Why does He still find fault? For who has resisted His will?" But indeed, O man, who are you to reply against God? Will the thing formed say to him who formed it, "Why have you made me like this?" Does not the potter have power over the clay, from the same lump to make one vessel for honor and another for dishonor? Free-will?

And a servant of the Lord must not quarrel but be gentle to all, able to teach, patient, in humility correcting those who are in opposition, if God perhaps will grant them repentance, so that they may know the truth, and that they may come to their senses and escape the snare of the devil, having been taken captive by him to do his will. Free-will?

No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up at the last day. It is written in the prophets, "And they shall all be taught by God.' Therefore everyone who has heard and learned from the Father comes to Me. Free-will?

I have TONS more but am already flooding the board.

So is free-will a fruit or are free-willers fruits? That is not suppose to be a mean question at all.

I can promise that the FRUIT has applied to me many times in my learning process.

And being honest....I have been known to be a fruit and nutcase in some of my beliefs!

I would say if people are going to post their beliefs in front of everybody....they need to be prepared to defend them with something a little substantial!

And in my book you are all more than welcome to call me whacked out if I post whacked out things! LOL

Sometimes the best thing to point out my blunders and failings is a direct response (like a two by four upside my head.)

Ok everybody put down the lumber!

Your fellow fruit! KJB

 

whetstone,

Whether Arminians and Calvinists exchange perhaps unnecessary words has nothing to do with 'fruit.' Each side gets frustrated because they cannot believe the other side can believe what they do and still be in the faith.

When God means by their fruit ye shall know them, refers to the Christian and those who do not know Christ. We are supposed to live in the realm of the Holy Spirit thus portraying our genuineness of our belief in Jesus. The lost obviously show their lack of the 'Fruit of the Spirit' by their sinful lifestyle and lack of union with Jesus.

 

Galatians 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,v23, gentleness, self-control
v25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. v26 Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying on another.

Sounds like a great test of who we really are!!
Plus, of course, 1 John the whole book is a test of whether or not we are true believers!
Blessings!