I have to be honest, Pastor_Bob's calling parts of Calvinism "damnable heresies" set me off the wrong way. I was angered at his throwing out a term that describes those believing those doctrines as Paul described the false teachers of Galatians:
Galatians 1:8, 9 But even if we, or an angel in heaven, should preach to you a gospel contrary to what we have preached to you, he is to be accursed! As we have said before, so I say again now, if any man is preaching to you a gospel contrary to what you have received, he is to be accursed!
Are we to conclude that Calvinists are consigned to hell?
Perhaps that was not Bob's intent. I have misspoken before and I have appreciated the opportunity others have given me to correct my intemperate remarks. It certainly is humbling to say "I was wrong" and ask for forgiveness. Quantum suggested that Bob got caught up in the emotion. Possibly. Squire Robertson rightly ended a previous thread by saying he would not allow mutual anathematizing. I agree with that. I am not saying anyone is accursed. My concern is that, if left unchallenged, a term such as "damnable heresy" will be believed.
The fact is that Calvinists view unconditional election as an act of God's grace and mercy. What merit can a wretched, miserable sinner bring before the King of Kings and Lord of Lords? Those who hate the Savior are pictured as entering caves and saying to the rocks, "Fall on us and hide us from the presence of Him who sits on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb (Rev. 6:15, 16)." Even in face of impending judgment they hate the Lamb. Paul describes those who hate the Lamb as "sons of disobedience" (Eph. 2:2). He said that he was once like that himself (Eph. 2:3). But then he appealed to the mercy and love of God (Eph. 2:4). "even when we were dead in our transgressions, [God] made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved)" (Eph. 2:5). There is no condition upon which God lavished His mercy and grace upon sinners. God's mercy and saving grace is dispensed unconditionally. God's dispenses both as He sees fit. In this way no one can say, "God chose me because of thus." How is this a damnable heresy?
The Calvinist believes the Gospel is to be proclaimed to all. The Calvinist believes that all those who call upon the name of the Lord will be saved. Yes. The Calvinist believes only those who have been appointed unto eternal life will believe (Acts 13:48). But the sum total of those who have been appointed is known only by God. Our duty is to proclaim the Gospel and call on all who listen to repent and believe. How is this a damnable heresy?
I am not prepared to call those who I disagree with on this board damnable heretics. I leave the damnable designation up to God.
The grace and mercy of God's unconditional election
Discussion in 'Calvinism & Arminianism Debate' started by Herald, Sep 29, 2013.
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Well, I have openly said that I do not believe Calvinism preaches the same gospel Paul taught.
1 Cor 15:1 Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand;
2 By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.
3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;
Look at verse 1 carefully, Paul says he is declaring the gospel "which I preached unto you". So Paul is RECALLING exactly what he had first preached to these Corinthians.
Now, when Paul first preached the gospel to these Corinthians, he had no idea whatsoever who was elect and who was not, who would believe and who would not. No preacher can know that.
But note very carefully what he told them in verse 3, he said he delivered to them first of all that which he also received, how that Christ died for "OUR" sins.
Paul told every single person he preached to that Jesus died for their sins personally. Now, this has nothing to do with Unconditional Election, but it certainly refutes Limited Atonement which is also one of the 5 points of Calvinism.
So, I do not believe Calvinists preach the same gospel. No honest Calvinist who believes in Limited Atonement can tell any person Jesus died for him, because he doesn't know that. In fact, truth be told, no honest Calvinist knows if Jesus died for him personally. How can you have faith in a "MAYBE?"?
I have watched several Calvinist street preachers on YouTube, and they avoid telling anyone Jesus died for them. They always say things like, "Jesus died for his people". This is very easy to notice.
Now this video was supposed to be a joke, but it does point out how Calvinists preach in other people's eyes;
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R1ckoCBtXvU
Now, I do not judge who is saved and who is not, not my job. I believe Jesus warned against making judgments like this. But I absolutely believe that Calvinism is not preaching the same gospel that Paul preached. -
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How can you believe on a "maybe"? How can you rely on a "perhaps"?
You could "listen" to this kind of gospel all day long, it is not going to give you one bit of assurance that Jesus died for you.
Calvinism does not understand what believing on Jesus means, it means to completely rest upon and depend upon Jesus's promise to personally save YOU. And the only way you can depend or rely upon this is to KNOW for a certainty that Jesus died for YOUR sins.
You guys just don't get it. -
Again, you have a very truncated view of Calvinism -- it is nuch broader than the errors that the Fathers of Dort were responding to in their Canons.
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And then in verse 3 he declares that this gospel is "first of all, how that Christ died for OUR sins".
Paul is recalling what he preached. He had originally told these Corinthians that Jesus died for their sins. Now, that is something anyone can depend and rely upon.
I could buy you a gift at Christmas, and the next day you can take it back to the store. A person can refuse to receive Christ's payment for sin in their stead.
Heb 2:3 How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him;
See, you can neglect your salvation.