Brilliant and Bible Truth!
Jerry Walls Refuting Calvinistic Soteriology
Discussion in 'Calvinism & Arminianism Debate' started by SavedByGrace, Feb 14, 2021.
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SavedByGrace Well-Known Member
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He seems quite articulate and passionate about what he believes. He doesn’t, however, address any passages of scripture seen by Calvinists to support their position.
His first argument is that God wouldn’t hold people accountable for failing to do something they were unable to do.
That is clearly refuted by examining the Old Testament Law. God held Israel, as a nation, and the Jews individually, accountable for not keeping the Law even though He knew they were unable to keep the Law. By the works of the law, no flesh would be justified.
His second argument is that God wouldn’t be a loving God if He had the power to save every person but chose some and passed over others.
By making this argument, he is claiming God is not omnipotent, is not completely sovereign in His ability to rule His creation as He sees fit.
So the reality is, his argument that he wants a God that conforms to his sense of morality, of right and wrong, and will ignore all scripture that conflicts with his point of view.
Peace to you -
SavedByGrace Well-Known Member
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You identified the “main point” as being “how can God be glorified in the damnation of the greater majority of His own creation?”
I disagree with your analysis of what the “main point” is. The “main point” is that God is sovereign. Even though every person on the planet deserves damnation, God has determined His elect for salvation. God is glorified in His demonstration of mercy and in His demonstration of justice.
The gospel has a two-fold purpose. It brings the elect to salvation. It brings further condemnation to those who reject it.
peace to you -
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SavedByGrace Well-Known Member
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SavedByGrace Well-Known Member
The Hebrew for "pleasure" is "chaphets", which is "desire, will". So, here it is very clear from the Word of God, that He does NOT "desire" in the spiritual death of any wicked person, but rather that they would turn from their evil ways, and have eternal life! How can you say that God only "determined His elect for salvation"? This is clearly against the Bible! Jesus told those Jews in John chapter 5, who wanted to murder Him, "but I say these things so that you may be saved...You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness about me, yet you refuse to come to me that you may have life." (34, 39-40). Jesus wanted even this very Jews to be saved, but they in their stubborn pride, rejected this salvation!
God sent Jonah to preach salvation to the very wicked people of Nineveh, because He pited them "And should not I pity Nineveh, that great city, in which there are more than 120,000 persons who do not know their right hand from their left, and also much cattle?” (4:11). Jonah was no doubt a pre-Calvinist, as we can see from his comments to the Lord, after He had saved this wicked people, "But it displeased Jonah exceedingly, and he was angry. And he prayed to the Lord and said, “O Lord, is not this what I said when I was yet in my country? That is why I made haste to flee to Tarshish; for I knew that you are a gracious God and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love, and relenting from disaster." (4:1-2)
Reformed theology is aganist the teachings of the Bible on salvation! -
SavedByGrace Well-Known Member
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SavedByGrace Well-Known Member
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Not if they are moral and sane.
Yet they do condemn to death those whose actions warrant the death penalty.
What makes GOD so much less capable of being JUST without being a sadistic monster than a human judge? -
SavedByGrace Well-Known Member
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peace you -
SavedByGrace Well-Known Member
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SavedByGrace Well-Known Member
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First the claim is made that people were unable to comply with part of the law because of total spiritual inability. But the rich young ruler had kept part of the Law, and this fact was acknowledged by Christ. In Matthew 19:21 Jesus does not deny the person had kept some of the commandments, but told his he had to do more to be complete. Thus Christ acknowledged the partial keeping of the Law. Therefore the Calvinist canard is as bogus as a three dollar bill.
The second claim is since God is a loving Father, he would not predetermine the lost to consignment to eternal punishment, but would justly send those without excuse to eternal punishment.
God can do as He pleases, and it pleases God to offer salvation to everyone who believes, and God has not predetermined who can believe.
Calvinism conflicts with scripture:
1) The lost would not be in the process of entering the kingdom (Matthew 23:13) if total spiritual inability were true.
2) God would not choose individuals for salvation through or by reason of faith in the truth (2 Thessalonians 2:13) if unconditional election were true.
3) Christ would not have laid down His life as a ransom for all (1 Timothy 2:6) if Limited Atonement were true.
4) The lost entering the Kingdom would not have been prevented (Matthew 23:13) if Irresistible Grace were true. -
SavedByGrace Well-Known Member
THE ALL refers to both Jews and Greeks, which is what the entire human race is! If you are not a Jew, then you are a Gentile. -
Funny you mentioned Jonah. You and Jonah are the same. A Calvinist would have no problem with God showing mercy to whomever He desired.
Jonah was angry because God showed mercy to a specific people. Just like Jonah, you are angry at the very idea that God picks whom He wants I show mercy to.
Peace to you
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