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Calvinists frequently quote Paul's writings as being supportive of Calvinism. But, was he? Did he believe that Christ died only for a subgroup of humanity, generally referred to as the elect? Did he ever write such a verse to support that view? Did he believe that God chooses who will believe? Or that God chooses who to save without any condition, such as faith?
The answer to these questions is "no". He never wrote anything to encourage one to believe that Christ died only for the elect, or that God chooses who will believe, or that He chooses to save people apart from the condition of faith.
So, why do Calvinists believe these things? Apart from clear and unambiguous verses to support their views, why do they hold to these views?
In Acts 20:21, Paul is quoted by Luke: I have declared to both Jews and Greeks that they must turn to God in repentance and have faith in our Lord Jesus.
Of course Paul couldn't know who the elect and non-elect were when he preached. But to tell (even unknowingly) those who are "non-elect" acording to RT definition to "turn to God in repentance and have faith in in our Lord Jesus" is simply dishonest. They can't because, according to RT,they WEREN'T chosen to turn to God and have faith in Christ.
Yet, that was Paul's message to both Jews and Gentiles.
In Acts 18, Paul went to Corinth, to preach the gospel. Note v.8 - Crispus, the synagogue ruler, and his entire household believed in the Lord; and many of the Corinthians who heard him believed and were baptized.
Note that "many" believed, not all who heard him. This is noted as well in 1 Cor 15:11 - Whether, then, it was I or they, this is what we preach, and this is what you believed.
We know from Acts 20:21 what Paul preached: turn to God and have faith in the Lord Jesus.
But, we also know more specifically what he preached in Corinth from 1 Cor 15:3 - For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures
"that Christ died for OUR sins" is what Paul preached, and per v.11, is what the Corinthians believed.
iow, they believed the gospel message, which was this:
#1 Christ died for OUR sins
#2 turn to God
#3 have faith in the Lord Jesus
Does this sound like Calvinism? No. Calvinism believes that Christ didn't die for everyone, yet Paul's clear message in 1 Cor 15:3 is that Christ died for OUR sins. Since he was addressing crowds, it is obvious that the first person plural pronoun "our" includes the whole crowd.
Challenge to Calvinists: 1)refute the questions at the beginning of this OP with Scripture. 2) exegete the passages provided to show how these verses do not support the view that Christ died for everyone.
The answer to these questions is "no". He never wrote anything to encourage one to believe that Christ died only for the elect, or that God chooses who will believe, or that He chooses to save people apart from the condition of faith.
So, why do Calvinists believe these things? Apart from clear and unambiguous verses to support their views, why do they hold to these views?
In Acts 20:21, Paul is quoted by Luke: I have declared to both Jews and Greeks that they must turn to God in repentance and have faith in our Lord Jesus.
Of course Paul couldn't know who the elect and non-elect were when he preached. But to tell (even unknowingly) those who are "non-elect" acording to RT definition to "turn to God in repentance and have faith in in our Lord Jesus" is simply dishonest. They can't because, according to RT,they WEREN'T chosen to turn to God and have faith in Christ.
Yet, that was Paul's message to both Jews and Gentiles.
In Acts 18, Paul went to Corinth, to preach the gospel. Note v.8 - Crispus, the synagogue ruler, and his entire household believed in the Lord; and many of the Corinthians who heard him believed and were baptized.
Note that "many" believed, not all who heard him. This is noted as well in 1 Cor 15:11 - Whether, then, it was I or they, this is what we preach, and this is what you believed.
We know from Acts 20:21 what Paul preached: turn to God and have faith in the Lord Jesus.
But, we also know more specifically what he preached in Corinth from 1 Cor 15:3 - For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures
"that Christ died for OUR sins" is what Paul preached, and per v.11, is what the Corinthians believed.
iow, they believed the gospel message, which was this:
#1 Christ died for OUR sins
#2 turn to God
#3 have faith in the Lord Jesus
Does this sound like Calvinism? No. Calvinism believes that Christ didn't die for everyone, yet Paul's clear message in 1 Cor 15:3 is that Christ died for OUR sins. Since he was addressing crowds, it is obvious that the first person plural pronoun "our" includes the whole crowd.
Challenge to Calvinists: 1)refute the questions at the beginning of this OP with Scripture. 2) exegete the passages provided to show how these verses do not support the view that Christ died for everyone.