Does God Try His Best to Save Everyone?

[Hammster]

I don't mean to insult you by implying that Calvinism is like a cult, but that is my perspective. If I feel the teachings of Calvinism are contrary to the scriptures and the truth therein then it is love to say so. I had people say things like that to me in the past and I didn't like it, but am now grateful.

The problem is that, as you've shown in at least one post, you do not know what Calvinism teaches. You just know what someone else said it teaches. Find my recent post with links to three free resources and read one or two. That way you can argue against what we really believe.

 

[jimmyjimmy]

Does or does not Calvinism teach that one must be regenerated before they can respond to the gospel and place faith in Jesus Christ?

Actually, Jesus taught it first:

Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.”

You should not be surprised at my saying, ‘Youc must be born again.’ 8The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.”

"And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh."

 

[jimmyjimmy]

That is A LOT of extracurricular reading! What do you have against getting your theology from God's Word alone? Isn't is sufficient?

Have you ever listened to a sermon? Read a book? Studied theology?

 

[Hammster]

Does or does not Calvinism teach that one must be regenerated before they can respond to the gospel and place faith in Jesus Christ?

Yes.

 

[Hammster]

That is A LOT of extracurricular reading! What do you have against getting your theology from God's Word alone? Isn't is sufficient?

...and He gave some as teachers...

That's in the Scriptures.

 

[jimmyjimmy]

...and He gave some as teachers...

That's in the Scriptures.

It's even a spiritual gift!

 

[RisenInJesus]

Actually, Jesus taught it first:

Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.”

You should not be surprised at my saying, ‘Youc must be born again.’ 8The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.”

"And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh."

This verse does say that one must be born again to see the kingdom of God, but what makes you think this verse is speaking about being born again before one can place faith in Jesus Christ?

 

[RisenInJesus]

...and He gave some as teachers...

That's in the Scriptures.

Do you just accept everything taught be those who claim to be teachers?

 

[jimmyjimmy]

This verse does say that one must be born again to see the kingdom of God, but what makes you think this verse is speaking about being born again before one can place faith in Jesus Christ?

This is the order given:

1) born again

2) see kingdom

One has no comprehension of who Jesus even is without being born again. He is blind. In fact, he's dead.

 

[Hammster]

Do you just accept everything taught be those who claim to be teachers?

No. You are trying to teach and I don't accept what you teach.

 

[jimmyjimmy]

No. You are trying to teach and I don't accept what you teach.

I don't often use: LOL, but when I do, I mean it. That was funny, man.

 

[RisenInJesus]

1) born again

2) see kingdom

Is the kingdom the Savior?

How about the context of John 3:3, starting with John 1:12-13 which states that as many as received Him were born again to become children of God.. But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.
The context of John 3:3 is also includes the rest of Jesus' conversation with Nicodemus about the necessity of the new birth based on and as the result of one's belief in God's only Son, Jesus Christ.

The scriptures teach faith in Christ...only then is one is born again to eternal life.

And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, 15 that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. 16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. 17 For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. John 2:14-17

 

[RisenInJesus]

No. You are trying to teach and I don't accept what you teach.

But let's say the teachers who write books or men who put together the confessions of faith, do you accept those without comparing them to the scriptures?

 

[jimmyjimmy]

Is the kingdom the Savior?

The Savior is the King. Can't have a kingdom without a king. Can't see either until one is born again.

How about you ASK a Calvinist what he/she thinks rather than preach a sermon. We'll answer. I promise.

One thing at a time, if you do wish to ask. I this type of setting it must be brief and cover only one point at a tim.

 

[Hammster]

But let's say the teachers who write books or men who put together the confessions of faith, do you accept those without comparing them to the scriptures?

I compare everything to scripture, even the preaching of my pastors.

 

[Reformationist]

Probably a miner in-house disagreement, but I think world in John 3:16 is used the same way as world in 1 John 2:2. The point is that Jesus didn't just come for the Jews, but for those in the whole world, people from every tribe, tongue and nation.

The target group is the same. All for whom Jesus was sent will inherit eternal life.

 

[Hammster]

The target group is the same. All for whom Jesus was sent will inherit eternal life.

On that we agree. All who are believing.

 

[TaylorSexton]

Many people have left Calvinism. It is like leaving a cult.

Reported for flaming. I am done responding to trying to reason with insults on this board; I am just going to resort to reporting—no questions asked, no requests for editing or backpedaling.

What do you have against getting your theology from God's Word alone?

Where do you think these confessions get their teaching? You think these men just sat around one day and said, "Hey, guys. Let's sit down and write what we each think about what God is like." Please, friend: Let's be serious, here.

 

[Rajni]

If God desires all men to be saved, why aren't they?

Who can say for sure they're not? Or, if that causes too much heartburn: Who can say that they, at the very least, absolutely won't be saved in the future? The story isn't over yet, is it?

 

[RisenInJesus]

Reported for flaming. I am done responding to trying to reason with insults on this board; I am just going to resort to reporting—no questions asked, no requests for editing or backpedaling.

You did not have to respond at all since I was posting in response to someone else and have not been in discussion with you at any point of this thread. Besides, my intention was not to insult, but express my perspective since I have past experience with indoctrination from cults. I also saw what I believe to be the same process and change of thinking take place in the minds of those who are taught week after week from Calvinistic teachers.

Where do you think these confessions get their teaching? You think these men just sat around one day and said, "Hey, guys. Let's sit down and write what we each think about what God is like." Please, friend: Let's be serious, here.

[/QUOTE]

I realize the men were serious scholars and theologians, nevertheless, they were still men and the confessions are not the Word of God. It just seems to me that too many in Reformed or Calvinistic circles place as much or more emphasis on the confessions and writings of men as they do on the biblical scriptures.