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Results from: Answered Bible Questions, Answers, Unanswered Bible Questions, Notes Ordered by Verse | ||||||
Results | Verse | Author | ID# | |||
1 | Receive? | 1 John 2:2 | Morant61 | 38594 | ||
Greetings John! I have no problem with anyone who defends their position, as long as that defense is mixed with a little humility! I'm not implying that your isn't my friend! It's just that, while I firmly believe I am correct in my views, I realize that there others who view thing differently - so I try to remember that I could be wrong! :-) To me, the most fundamental difference between Calvinism and Arminianism is their views on God's Sovereignty. Both view God as Sovereign, but both apply it differently. Calvinism seems to hold that if anyone is capable of exercising free will, then God is diminished somehow. I look at it this way: God is Sovereign, but He has given us certain freedoms in His Sovereignty. A human example might be a prison. The jailer locks the prisoner into the cell block and gives him certain rights within the cell block. The prisoner is free to talk, eat, walk, ect. - within the confines of the cell block. These freedoms do not make the jailer less powerful. The prisoner cannot get out of the cell block. In the same way, our limited freedoms do not make God less Sovereign. Now, less you argue that this is all speculation and not Scripture, allow me to pose a question from Scripture for you. If Divine Sovereignty means that we have no choice at all in response to God, why did Jesus say in Mt. 23:37, "“O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, the way a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were unwilling."? Here, the same word is used of both parties. God 'willed or desired' to gather His people, but His people were not 'willing'. Thus, in v. 38, their house is being left to them desolate. Here is as clear an example as one will find in Scripture that man can resist God's will. Is this saying that man is more powerful than God? No! God gave us the ability to choose, we didn't wrest it from God. He could force us to do whatever He wanted, but He has chosen to draw and to convict instead. This is in perfect harmony with 2 Peter 3:9, where God is not willing that any should perish. Yet, some do - perhaps even most. This is also in perfect harmony with all of the calls in Scripture for us to: seek, accept, call, repent, turn, receive, ect.... All of these are active commands, indicating that we do have a choice. Well, it's getting late my friend! I look forward to your response. Your Brother in Christ, Tim Moran |
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2 | Receive? | 1 John 2:2 | John Reformed | 38611 | ||
Goood Morning Tim, "Calvinism seems to hold that if anyone is capable of exercising free will, then God is diminished somehow". I understand arminianism because I was instructed from it for almost 20 years. However, from your above statement I see I have made a fundamental error in assuming that you were familiar with the calvinistic position. It is as follows: (The Westminster Confession of Faith) 1. God from all eternity did by the most wise and holy counsel of his own will, freely and unchangeably ordain whatsoever comes to pass; yet so as thereby neither is God the author of sin; nor is violence offered to the will of the creatures, nor is the liberty or contingency of second causes taken away, but rather established. God does not violate the will of his creatures. He graciously calls those He has chosen, and the rest are left to follow the dictates of their own corrupt desires. Is God injust? Not according to the Bible. Acts 4:27,28: "For truly in this city there were gathered together against Your holy servant Jesus, whom You anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, along with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel, to do whatever Your hand and Your purpose predestined to occur." Did the wicked act according to free will? Yes. Did God predestine these evil acts? Yes. Is God then the author of evil? No. Why is'nt He? For the reason that evil men acted according to their own evil desires. Even the devil is God's devil. Whatever evil the devil does, God means it for good. God's purpose is His eternal purpose. He does'nt peer down the corridors of time to determine what He should do. He does not react to unforseen circumstances and then adjust or change His plan. His ways are not our ways! I have to go plough my field. I'll continue my rant later. God Bless Tim, John |
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3 | Receive? | 1 John 2:2 | Morant61 | 38627 | ||
Greetings John! As you well know, there are a number of forms of Calvinism, and many of them do believe that man has no will unless it comes from God. However, that really isn't the important part. The question I asked pertained to your analysis of Arminianism. You said, "The doctrine of "free will choice" implies that God does everything He can to pursuade man to turn from his rebellion and to surrender to Christ. But man has the power to thwart God's best efforts. Rebellious humanity triumphing over their King! The King can only stand by and weep. No, No, No! Do you really believe That God almighty does not possess the wherewithal to overcome the stubborn rebellion of mere man? Or maybe He withholds His might to make it a fair fight? If so He does them an injustice by doing so." Yet, Mt. 23:37 is an example of what you claimed could not happen. God willed something for man, but man resisted God's will. So, where is the inherent flaw in saying that God desires all to be saved, holds out salvation to all, and that man must respond to that offer, since Mt. 23:37 provides us with an example of just such a case? Just for futher discussion, in your understanding of sovereignty, where did sin come from? Adam and Eve had no sin nature. Surely God did not created Satan evil. So, where did sin come from? Your Brother in Christ, Tim Moran |
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