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Results from: Answered Bible Questions, Answers, Unanswered Bible Questions, Notes Ordered by Verse | ||||||
Results | Verse | Author | ID# | |||
1 | Can the "natural man" desire Christ? | Rev 13:8 | John Reformed | 88770 | ||
Dear Hank, Thanks for your generous response. I just wish that I did'nt have to learn everything the hard way. :-O I trust that I have learned at least one very important lesson regarding The Arminius vs Calvin bouts. It is that both sides really are engaged in making certain that God gets ALL the glory for the things He has done. The arminian feels that his free-will stance on salvation puts the burden of damnation on the one who hears but rejects the gospel; thus eliminatig the criticism that God would be unfair to choose one lost soul but pass by another. (If I have mis-characterized this position, I am open to correction). On the other hand, the calvinist holds a very high position regarding God's soveign rule over all aspects of His creation. This would include reprobation as well as election. He is not overly concerned about what the critics say, knowing that even the greatest critics are not exempt from His call (Paul immediately comes to mind). In the words of Rodney King: "Why can't we all just get along?". My answer is that we are all devoted to gaining as pefect an understanding of God and His Word as we possibly can. We are also commanded to defend what we (christians) believe is sound doctrine. If in our discussions over opposing doctrines, we can be like steel striking steel, (in the best sense of the proverb) we will sharpen one another. In the meantime, we can only pray that God will enlighten each one. Thanks Again Hank, John |
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2 | Can the "natural man" desire Christ? | Rev 13:8 | Hank | 88774 | ||
Dear John Reformed. And thanks to you for your fine response! The more I reflect on the different points of view of so-called Calvinism and Arminianism -- and here I'm speaking of the classic, historical points of each one and not of the extremism that has, alas, crept into both camps -- I see both points of view as having a high view of the divine authority of Scripture and of the absolute sovereignty of God. Both are in essential agreement on the Trinity, the virgin birth and deity of Christ, the depravity of man and his hopeless condition without a Savior. the means of grace which God provided through the shed blood of His Son on the cross, and salvation by grace through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. So I don't really "see red" when I read a sensible, well-reasoned and well-documented Calvinist post or an Arminian one. I really don't stake a claim on being a true-blue Arminian any more than I claim to be a Calvinist. There are those who think that if one isn't a Calvinist he's an Arminian by default, but I believe they're wrong in thinking that. Calvinists believe their doctrine can be found in Scripture. So do Arminians. Are they both right? To some degree and in a certain sense I think they are. If therefore certain points of Calvinism are contradictory of certain points of Arminianism, and both the Calvinist and the Arminian is able to cite scriptural proof for his views, does it then follow that the Bible itself is contradictory? No, that is not the right conclusion to reach, not, that is, if we accept Scripture as God's inerrant word, (and I know I do and certainly have every possible reason to believe you do too) for God cannot lie or contradict Himself. So the fault doesn't lie in God's revealed truth but in our imperfect understanding of it, which can surely include our reading into it more than it really reveals (or less). Whether in this life you or I or any other Christian will ever gain perfect understanding of all that God's word has to teach us about His predestination, His foreknowledge, or His election is most doubtful. If I claimed to know all about these things, chances are I would lie to you about other things too :-) So Calvinism and Arminianism have different points of view on some subjects but on many others they are in accord. There is no doubt in my mind that there are redeemed children of the King among both Calvinists and Arminians and in heaven they will be bonded together as one, united in praise and worship of Almighty God and His Christ. What worries me far more than the doctrinal differences between Calvinists and Arminians are the modern fads, cults, and secular humanism organizations masquerading as New Testament churches -- the fads that teach unscriptural stuff such as the 'word of faith' heresy, the 'feel-good' brand of false Christianity, the experiential faddists who place their 'experiences' above what Scripture teaches, the claimants to 'special revelation...and the cults who deny the deity of Christ or introduce another 'bible' claiming it to be the inspired word of God...and the secular humanism organizations who condone and promote homosexuality, abortion, and evolution, deny the inerrancy and relevance of Scripture, the virgin birth and even the bodily resurrection of Jesus Christ. These are the real enemies of the church. Not Calvinism. Not Arminianism. --Hank | ||||||