For Clarification...

God gives to all sinner the legit offer of salvation by the Gospel message, but only those of Christ will respond, and the rest "freely" reject.

 

Then it is not legit. if one is not enabled (made alive) as you folks put it to receive the gospel then it is not legit.

 

Most arminians would hold to eternal security also.

 

That would reduce salvation down to it being based upon our will and decision, and we have rendered God quite impotent in salvation, as he really waits and hopes that we will respond to Him!
It is a real offer to get saved, but those lost prefer to stay in darkness, and be their own god!

 

No it doesn't. If I give you a gift and you reach out and receive that gift who gets the credit for giving the gift.

 

What about those who are offered the gift of themselves, cannot know they have the gift and are unable to receive it?
Is the fault with God, or ourselves?

 

If God must make one alive in order to receive the gift but withholds that from them then it would be God's fault. However, according to scripture none of that is true.

 

Calvinism makes no sense to me and neither does Arminianism.

I don't understand ho God gave his Son as a sacrifice for only a select group of people and on the other side how a Father can turn his back on his own children if they happen to sin.

I must be missing something.

 

yes...you are.....it looks as if you have not read scripture on this issue.
Are you a new believer?
God has purposed to save a multitude of sinners in His Son.
He seeks and saves everyone He planned to save, no more, no less.

 

God has every right to choose whomever He desires. Further the Bible teaches you have no right to question His will.

10 And not only so, but also when Rebekah had conceived children by one man, our forefather Isaac, 11 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— 12 she was told, “The older will serve the younger.” 13 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?

 

There are lots of flavors, but Calvinism boils down to this:

All are lost, and God chose to elect some unconditionally to salvation.

The argument against Calvinism will hinge upon one question: Why doth He yet find fault? For who hath resisted His will?

 

That is not what it boils down to.

 

So God making that decision would be wrong and sinful?

 

Does the Lord save by Himself, period, or does he use us to assist Him in getting us saved?

 

What did Lazarus do in helping Christ raise him to life?

 

Profound.

 

TCassidy, along with others, have refuted "free will." We don’t choose Christ, He chooses us. (John 15:16) And, "as many as were ordained to eternal life believed." (Acts 13:48) True then, true now.

Man is spiritually DEAD in his trespasses and sins. (Ephesians 2:5) A spiritually DEAD man can do nothing but sin. (Romans 3:10) There is no part of him untouched by the Fall.


Only God ALONE can make him ALIVE. The elect are regenerated by God and are given believing hearts. There is ABUNDANT scripture in John where Jesus declares that those with believing hearts have eternal life. They will not be condemned. They shall NEVER perish!

We are not saved by our obedience. (Romans 5:19). We are saved by Christ's finished work on the Cross. His sacrifice was for all of our sins. Past, Present, and Future. He sacrificed Himself once for all time. (Hebrews confirms this). Because He is always interceding for us, our forgiveness is certain. But, when we sin, we must confess (1 John 1:9). This is mandatory to maintain fellowship with Him. We will NEVER lose our relationship with Him.


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I'd say whatever John Calvin believes is Calvinism everything after that is hyper,radical,extreme, etc, etc.

Most Calvinist here would not agree with he taught.

 

I could post my thought here but I will let this song I lead in church speak for me... Written by Jehoida Brewer in 1776, called "Hail Sovereign Love"... Brother Glen:)

Hail, sovereign love that first began,
The scheme to rescue fallen man;
Hail matchless free eternal grace,
That gave my soul a hiding place.

Against the God who rules the sky,
I fought with hand uplifted high,
Despised the mention of His grace,
Too proud to seek a hiding place.

Enwrapped in thick Egyptian night,
And fond of darkness more than light,
Madly I ran the sinful race,
Secure without a hiding place.

But thus th’ eternal counsel ran,
“Almighty Love, arrest that man!”
I felt the arrows of distress,
And found I had no hiding place.

Indignant justice stood in view,
To Sinai’s fiery mount I flew,
But Justice cried with frowning face,
“This mountain is no hiding place!”

Ere long a heavenly voice I heard,
And Mercy’s angel form appeared.
Who led me on with gentle pace,
To Jesus Christ, my hiding place.

On Him Almighty vengeance fell,
That must have sunk a world to hell;
He bore it for a chosen race,
And thus became their hiding place.

Should storms of sevenfold vengeance roll,
And shake this earth from pole to pole;
No flaming bolt could daunt my face,
For Jesus is my hiding place.

A few more rolling suns at most,
Shall land me safe on Heaven’s coast.
There I shall sing the song of grace,
To Jesus Christ, my hiding place!