Results 1 - 8 of 8
|
|
|||||
Results from: Answered Bible Questions, Answers, Unanswered Bible Questions, Notes Ordered by Verse | ||||||
Results | Verse | Author | ID# | |||
1 | Sovereignty and Free-Will | John | JRdoc | 61190 | ||
It was stated thus, "I would appreciate it if the resident Calvinists on the forum could either explain why the Arminian perspective decreases the sovereignty of God, or admit that the Arminian perspective of God's sovereignty is not necessarily less than that of the Calvinists." Arminianism makes man God. It makes God and puppet in the hands of ma's so-called free will. It is a evil of all evils. Calvinism looks at God's sovereignty as Holy and for His glory. So how do sovereignty and free-will relate: Here is a quote from A Layman's Systematic Theology, by Dr. Joseph R. Nally, copyright 2002: When a man chooses to sin he chooses to do it by his own will. When a man does not choose Christ he does so by his own will. When a man chooses salvation he chooses to do so by his own will. Man does have a will in both cases, but it is not “as free” as the Arminians like to preach it. A man is in a box. The box is completely enclosed. The box has no light in it. The box is sound proof. The box has no windows or doors. This man lives in “his” box. The man lives in total darkness. Nothing from the outside get in. Nothing inside gets out. Now in this box this man makes all his own decisions based on the knowledge of the things in “his” box. The man above is one who is dead in trespasses and sins (Eph 2:1). The man is blind to the things in the outside world (2 Cor 4:4). Unredeemed man loves darkness rather than light (John 1:4-9) for this is all he really knows, for this is all that is in his box. Though light appears all around his sin nature he will not comprehend it (John 1:5). As Christ demonstrated by His many healing miracles, man, because of his sin nature, is blind, deaf, crippled, speechless, diseased, and is even dead. Until God alone heals this inability of the soul of man he will remain in this condition. Man needs the Great Physician. God cannot in this be judged that He is unjust because He does not save them, for the man is free and is making his own decisions in his own box and he chooses not Christ: “He came unto his own, and his own received him not” (John 1:11). The natural man is in “his” box. Nothing comes in or goes out. His own sin has enclosed him. He is dead to all God has and makes his decision freely, based upon his own darkness, but will never freely choose Christ, for Christ is not in his box (Rom 3:11). But, God, in His sovereign grace, mercy, love, and purpose looks at the boxes of His elect from all eternity. God endures with His creatures in many things, but at a point in His sovereign timing He breaks open the box of His elect and allows His light to shine in the man’s box. The Holy Spirit has done a work in this man in the soul of his box. This man has been birthed into a new realm of understanding that he did not have before. He now sees something wonderful and irresistible in the light. Now he is irresistibly attracted to Christ. Because of this birth of grace the man is no longer blind, deaf, crippled, speechless, diseased, or even dead. He may now see the kingdom of God (for he is no longer blind), and hear the Gospel call (for he is no longer deaf), and walk to Calvary (for Calvary has already walked to him), he may now confess with his mouth the LORD Jesus (for he is no long dumb), he can now enter into the holiest of all (because he is no longer diseased), and he is now alive, (for by grace alone he has received life and is no longer dead in trespasses and sin). Light entered the box first. Now faith is in his box. Now faith enlightens and draws him. Yes, this man, as the other, is free to make a decision, but with the miracle that has just transpired his decision is now irresistibly enlightened: As the natural eyes are drawn irresistibly to the beautiful Aurora Borealis (or Northern Lights), the spiritual man is drawn irresistibly to the light of Christ (John 1:12-13, John 3:3). As the natural man’s hearing is drawn by the beautiful sounds of the breaking ocean waves, now the spiritual man irresistibly hears the spiritual waves of the Gospel call (Rom 10:9-10). As a natural bride walks down the isle to meet her beloved in holy matrimony, the spiritual bride is now drawn irresistibly towards Calvary, for see they have been engaged since before the foundations of the world (Eph 1:3-12; 5:21-33). As the natural man is drawn irresistibly to speak out loud about himself and what he owns (for he is full of pride; ), the spiritual man is drawn to speak about his Lord and what his Lord owns (for he is full of praise; Eph 1:13). As the natural diseased man is drawn to go to his physician for cure, the spiritual man sees that the Great Physician has already cured him, for he has given him the spiritual penicillin of grace and faith (Eph 2:8-10). |
||||||
2 | Sovereignty and Free-Will | John | New Creature | 61201 | ||
JRdoc; Do you think it is God's desire to keep some in the dark indefinitely? Or do you think He shines the light onto all? That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world. John 1:9 Does "every man that cometh into the world" exclude certain individuals? Shalom |
||||||
3 | Sovereignty and Free-Will | John | JRdoc | 61218 | ||
If you look at the example already given you will see that His light does shine to all, but many are blind and can not see it (2 Cor 4:4). Do blind people see light? This is the reason you may have different responses when people hear the very same message preached (some are saved--new eyes, some are lost--dead eyes). The Scripture says he that hath ears, indicating some hath not ears (spiritual)....Christ healed some blind and thus they could now see the light (but not all without exception). To YOUR QUESTION: Do you think it is God's desire to keep some in the dark indefinitely?, Yes, I believe in election (Eph 1). P.S. A dead man (Eph 2:1) cannot see! He needs a new life (which has new spiritual eyes--John 3) Now, let me ask you a question: 1. Did Christ die for all sins of all men? 2. Did Christ die for some sins of all men? 3. Did Christ die for all sins of some men? If Christ dies for (1) "all sins of all men" then why are any lost? After-all is not "unbelief" a sin? And if He died for the sin of "unbelief" how could any be lost--but some are aren't they! If Christ died for (2) "some sins of all men" then we do not have an atonement for "all sin" without exception and all are still in sin! Thus, Christ died for (3) "all sins of some men" --His elect that some according to His purpose and plan may be saved (Eph 1, Rom 8-11). |
||||||
4 | Predestination: scriptures meaningless? | John | Pastor Glenn | 61244 | ||
JRdoc, Does'nt predestination make these scriptures meaningless? Rom 5:8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Rom 10:13 for "WHOEVER WILL CALL ON THE NAME OF THE LORD WILL BE SAVED." Rom 10:14 How then will they call on Him in whom they have not believed? How will they believe in Him whom they have not heard? And how will they hear without a preacher? Rom 10:15 How will they preach unless they are sent? Just as it is written, "HOW BEAUTIFUL ARE THE FEET OF THOSE WHO BRING GOOD NEWS OF GOOD THINGS!" Rom 10:16 However, they did not all heed the good news; for Isaiah says, "LORD, WHO HAS BELIEVED OUR REPORT?" Rom 10:17 So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ. Rom 10:18 But I say, surely they have never heard, have they? Indeed they have; "THEIR VOICE HAS GONE OUT INTO ALL THE EARTH, AND THEIR WORDS TO THE ENDS OF THE WORLD." Also, it is clear that all men DO have a small amount of light. No one is in total darkness: John 1:9 There was the true Light which, coming into the world, enlightens every man. God has dealt every man the measure of faith needed for a fair choice: Rom 12:3 For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith. God bless, Pastor Glenn |
||||||
5 | Predestination: scriptures meaningless? | John | srbaegon | 61253 | ||
Hello Glenn No, predestination doesn't make these scriptures meaningless. Rom 5:8 still shows God's love. Rom 10:13-18 still shows that the gospel must go out and all who call on the Lord Jesus Christ will be saved. John 1:9 does not say that all men have light, but that Christ is the light which enlightens. Rom 12:3 does not say all men have a measure of faith. The passage in question was written to and about believers (Rom 12:1). Steve |
||||||
6 | Predestination: scriptures meaningless? | John | JRdoc | 61257 | ||
Steve: Being new here I am glad to see I am not the only one who defends the doctrine of Predestination. |
||||||
7 | Predestination: scriptures meaningless? | John | John Reformed | 61337 | ||
Dear JRdoc, Welcome to the forum. John Reformed |
||||||
8 | Predestination: scriptures meaningless? | John | JRdoc | 61342 | ||
Thankyou John Reformed. Glad to be here. May God Bless. I like the name "Reformed" | ||||||