Jesus is the Reason for Calvinism

Humble_Disciple

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There is a difference between non-Calvinism and anti-Calvinism. If you are an anti-Calvinist, please never sing Amazing Grace again.

John Newton, the songwriter of Amazing Grace, was a Calvinist, because of what God's enabling grace had done to own his life, from a slave trader to an abolitionist.

Amazing Grace - Wikipedia
 
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dms1972

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Paul's Kingdom of God =/= Jesus' Gospel of the Kingdom
Because where does Paul quote Jesus?

You might want to start a discussion on the subject in a separate thread. I can only say here I believe Paul was writing under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit.
 
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Ligurian

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This passage doesn't make much sense except in light of unconditional election:

John 6
64 But there are some of you who do not believe.” For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were who did not believe, and who would betray Him.
65 And He said, “Therefore I have said to you that no one can come to Me unless it has been granted to him by My Father.”

Jesus knew from the beginning who would betray him, because they were never granted to Him in the first place.

That's because Jesus teaches the Father's Gospel of the Kingdom, not Paul's gospel.
John 12:48-50 Matthew 4:23 Matthew 5:19 John 14:15-17 Revelation 3:8-10
 
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Ligurian

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You might want to start a discussion on the subject in a separate thread. I can only say here I believe Paul was writing under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit.

If Paul taught the Gospel of the Kingdom, he'd've kept Jesus' Commandments.
 
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Humble_Disciple

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If limited atonement, unconditional election, and other Calvinist doctrines make you think less of God, don't believe them. Your love for God matters more than the rightness of your theology.

1 Corinthians 8:2-3
Anyone who claims to know all the answers doesn’t really know very much. But the person who loves God is the one whom God recognizes.

My only hope is that you won't become prejudiced against Calvinists as somehow being Bible-rejecting heretics.
 
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Humble_Disciple

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Irresistible (enabling) grace doesn’t mean that God’s elect will never rebel, but that God’s grace is powerful enough to overcome the elect’s rebellion, transform their wills and desires, and lead them to ultimate salvation.

Irresistible Grace - is it biblical?

With this in mind, let’s take a look at the parable of the great banquet. The man who makes the great supper is Jesus Christ, and the servant is messengers.

Those invited to the feast but do not come are those who hear the outward call of the Gospel, but because they lack God’s irresistible grace, they aren’t enabled to believe.

Those in the highways and hedges, who are compelled to come in, are God’s elect who receive the inward call of irresistible grace, and thus are enabled to believe.

Luke 14
15 And when one of them that sat at meat with him heard these things, he said unto him, Blessed is he that shall eat bread in the kingdom of God.
16 Then said he unto him, A certain man made a great supper, and bade many:
17 And sent his servant at supper time to say to them that were bidden, Come; for all things are now ready.
18 And they all with one consent began to make excuse. The first said unto him, I have bought a piece of ground, and I must needs go and see it: I pray thee have me excused.
19 And another said, I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I go to prove them: I pray thee have me excused.
20 And another said, I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come.
21 So that servant came, and shewed his lord these things. Then the master of the house being angry said to his servant, Go out quickly into the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in hither the poor, and the maimed, and the halt, and the blind.
22 And the servant said, Lord, it is done as thou hast commanded, and yet there is room.
23 And the lord said unto the servant, Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled.
24 For I say unto you, That none of those men which were bidden shall taste of my supper.
 
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bbbbbbb

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Irresistible (enabling) grace doesn’t mean that God’s elect will never rebel, but that God’s grace is powerful enough to overcome the elect’s rebellion, transform their wills and desires, and lead them to ultimate salvation.

Irresistible Grace - is it biblical?

With this in mind, let’s take a look at the parable of the great banquet. The man who makes the great supper is Jesus Christ, and the servant is messengers.

Those invited to the feast but do not come are those who hear the outward call of the Gospel, but because they lack God’s irresistible grace, they aren’t enabled to believe.

Those in the highways and hedges, who are compelled to come in, are God’s elect who receive the inward call of irresistible grace, and thus are enabled to believe.

Luke 14
15 And when one of them that sat at meat with him heard these things, he said unto him, Blessed is he that shall eat bread in the kingdom of God.
16 Then said he unto him, A certain man made a great supper, and bade many:
17 And sent his servant at supper time to say to them that were bidden, Come; for all things are now ready.
18 And they all with one consent began to make excuse. The first said unto him, I have bought a piece of ground, and I must needs go and see it: I pray thee have me excused.
19 And another said, I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I go to prove them: I pray thee have me excused.
20 And another said, I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come.
21 So that servant came, and shewed his lord these things. Then the master of the house being angry said to his servant, Go out quickly into the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in hither the poor, and the maimed, and the halt, and the blind.
22 And the servant said, Lord, it is done as thou hast commanded, and yet there is room.
23 And the lord said unto the servant, Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled.
24 For I say unto you, That none of those men which were bidden shall taste of my supper.

Then there is the poor bloke who does show up for the banquet and is tossed out because he isn't properly dressed.
 
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Humble_Disciple

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Matthew 22:16
So they sent their disciples to him, along with the Herodians, saying, “Teacher, we know that you are sincere, and teach the way of God in accordance with truth, and show deference to no one; for you do not regard people with partiality.
(Unconditional election is entirely contingent on God’s grace, rather than partiality to anything in the individual.)
 
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Humble_Disciple

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Zaccheus, make haste, and come down. (Luke 19:5) It is a remarkable instance of favor, that the Lord anticipates Zaccheus, and does not wait for his invitation, but of his own accord asks lodging at his house. We know how hateful, nay, how detestable the name of publican at that time was; and we shall find that this is shortly afterwards mentioned by Luke. It is therefore astonishing kindness in the Son of God to approach a man, from whom the great body of men recoil, and that before he is requested to do so. But we need not wonder, if he bestows this honor on one who was already drawn to him by a secret movement of the Spirit; for it was a more valuable gift to dwell in his heart than to enter his house. But by this expression he made it evident, that he is never sought in vain by those who sincerely desire to know him; for Zaccheus obtained vastly more than he had expected. Besides, the great readiness of Zaccheus to obey, his hastening to come down from the tree, and his joy in receiving Christ, exhibit still more clearly the power and guidance of the Holy Spirit; for, though he did not yet possess a pure faith, yet this submissiveness and obedience must be regarded as the beginning of faith. - John Calvin
 
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Humble_Disciple

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I don't believe Calvinism because I want it to be true, but because it seems to be closest to what the Bible teaches. If it were up to me, some form of universalism would be true, but I'm not judge and savior of the universe.
 
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Humble_Disciple

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What Calvinism haters do not understand, or refuse to accept, is that God's absolute sovereignty does not negate the fact that we are still absolutely responsible for our actions. Yes, God elects people to salvation (Romans 8:29-30). At the same time, we must believe in Christ to be saved (John 3:16). The two are not mutually exclusive.

Both are true. Everyone whom God has chosen will believe, and everyone who believes is chosen by God. Admitting that you cannot perfectly understand the mind of God is the only way to come to a biblical balance on this issue (Romans 11:33-34).

Calvinists do not have a perfect understanding of how things work, but there is no denying, biblically speaking, that God is absolutely sovereign in salvation.

Some of the hatred that is directed towards Calvinism is the result of some Calvinists being horrible at explaining Calvinism and/or explaining it in an arrogant manner... But, ultimately, we cannot accept or reject a doctrinal system based on how some of its adherents behave. Calvinism should be accepted or rejected based solely on whether it is biblical.
https://www.gotquestions.blog/calvinism-haters.html
 
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Humble_Disciple

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efb0fd5396bb03b5f4c43b43cd2fff188bddcc80.jpg

John 15:16 You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you.
 
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bbbbbbb

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John 15:16 You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you.

Out of curiosity, how do you view those individuals who know and believe all that is in the Bible and are convinced beyond a doubt that they are not among God's elect? I say this from experience. I once was involved in a RPCNA church which had an elderly man as an adherent (not a member) who was quite persuaded that he was not saved.
 
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