Results 1 - 2 of 2
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Results from: Answered Bible Questions, Answers, Unanswered Bible Questions, Notes Ordered by Verse | ||||||
Results | Verse | Author | ID# | |||
1 | Clarification from John Reformed...? | Rom 1:16 | Brent Douglass | 43659 | ||
Dear John, You are right that we are in disagreement upon some significant points of John Calvin's doctrines, as you noted in your recent post in response to my discussion with Kalos from a year ago. I am definitely not a 5-point Calvinist. While I have no expectation of changing your views, I hope that I can shed some light on how those of us who are not fully convinced that Calvin and his followers were accurate in everything can still claim full submission to the same Scriptures that our Reformed brothers do. I do not disagree with most of what you say here, although there are once again a few significant points that I would question and-or with which I would disagree. I'll probably need a couple of posts to respond. We definitely have a different reading of Jesus' meaning in John 3 regarding what it means to "see" the kingdom of God. This seems to me to refer to our future in heaven -- where the "pure in heart" will "see God." I believe the new birth (being born of the Spirit) takes place immediately AFTER faith, and I think that you believe the new birth comes first; please correct me if I'm wrong. I certainly believe that all initiation and conviction comes from the Spirit and not from unregenerate man. However, I believe this is not forced upon us irresistably -- by God's design not by any inability on God's part. I believe that conviction and even certain levels of enlightenment from the Spirit come prior to faith, but that Spiritual-spiritual regeneration comes upon belief. I can not agree with Arminius that new believers directly opt to believe, but the hidden working of belief and the joint involvement of the Spirit and human will is a mystery to me. Nevertheless, it seems to me that the involvement of the will of man comes into play prior to belief and is, therefore, a part of the process. The nearest I can come to a theory on this is that there is an ability to internally either admit or finally reject one's spiritual poverty in the face of the Spirit's persistent conviction and that this is God's requirement. This "humility" or "poverty of spirit" opens the door that the Spirit chooses otherwise not to open, and it is "the poor in spirit" who will inherit the kingdom of heaven (Matthew 5:3). This is the trait with which Christ opens His sermon, and it is the trait that is foundational to all the others; the corresponding absence of this trait results in blasphemy against the Spirit -- the only unforgiveable sin. While use of the term "humility" as the means to grace (Ps 138:6, Isaiah 57:15, James 4:6, 1 Pe 5:5) seems a problematic trait to claim for oneself, the parallel and more specific term "poor in spirit" speaks specifically of recognizing one's "fallen condition" and "hopelessness" -- to use your terminology. This trait does not make anyone more worthy -- any more than personal recognition of incompetence would better qualify a job applicant for a desired position. Nevertheless, it appears to open a door of influence that the omnipowerful Spirit enters through after patiently knocking and deliberately awaiting admittance. God has set the limit Himself, and the all-powerful Spirit yields to the will of the Father and Son just as the Son always yielded to the will of the Father in His work on this earth. As a loving father of my own children who wants them to have a heart to do what is right -- I also set limits on the discipline I use to convince my children against their own wills to submit to my ways and God's ways (even in many areas where I'm certain that I'm right). |
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2 | Clarification from John Reformed...? | Rom 1:16 | John Reformed | 43828 | ||
Good Morning Brent, Much of the misunderstanding that exists regarding TULIP is a result of the titles of the the doctrines. For instance, Irresistable Grace. This title causes quite a bit of confusion among those who have not actually read the definition of the doctrine itself. You wrote: "I certainly believe that all initiation and conviction comes from the Spirit and not from unregenerate man. However, I believe this is not forced upon us irresistably". It may come as a surprise to a lot of folks but the fact is that Calvinism does NOT believe that God forces people to recieve His grace! What we DO believe regarding the renewing work of the Holy Spirit is: The result of God's Irresistible Grace is the certain response by the elect to the inward call of the Holy Spirit, when the outward call is given by the evangelist or minister of the Word of God. Christ, himself, teaches that all whom God has elected will come to a knowledge of him (John 6:37)"All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will certainly not cast out. Men come to Christ in salvation when the Father calls them (John 6:44) "No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up on the last day.", and the very Spirit of God leads God's beloved to repentance (Romans 8:14) " For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.." What a comfort it is to know that the gospel of Christ will penetrate our hard, sinful hearts and wondrously save us through the gracious inward call of the Holy Spirit! (I Peter 5:10) "After you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself perfect, confirm, strengthen and establish you." You see Brent, we believe that upon recieving the gift of faith we recieve a new nature and for the first time our desire is toward God. It is our desire now to be saved and we most naturaly love Him and want to plese Him. It is not forced, it has become our desire, thanks to the grace of God. To God Be The Glory, John |
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