Calvinism or Arminiasm

[Philippe2]

I would like to know your opinion on something. If Calvinism is right than Arminiasm must be wrong and vice versa. Now why did God bless people on both sides. I can not see how God can bless someone if they are not speeking the truth. I am seeking the truth and not a debate. Please see it in that light as I will have some further questions to ask.
God Bless
Philippe

 

[UMP]

I can not see how God can bless someone if they are not speeking the truth.

God blesses many, as He sees fit, including the evil and the good. I don't believe ones quantity of blessings are directly related to ones current outlook on God, necessarily.
Here are a couple examples:

Matthew 5:
[45] ...............: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.


Luke 16
[19] There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day:

[22] And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried;
[23] And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.

In reverse, I can think of no man who had a harder life than Paul, beaten, shipwrecked, whipped, jailed, stoned, etc. etc.

You would think Paul would have had an easier time of it and the rich man destined for hell would not have had such a sumptuous life! However, God's ways are very different than our ways:

Isaiah 55:
[8] For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD.
[9] For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.

1 Corinthians 1:
[27] But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty;
[28] And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are:
[29] That no flesh should glory in his presence.

 

[edie19]

I would like to know your opinion on something. If Calvinism is right than Arminiasm must be wrong and vice versa. Now why did God bless people on both sides. I can not see how God can bless someone if they are not speeking the truth. I am seeking the truth and not a debate. Please see it in that light as I will have some further questions to ask.
God Bless
Philippe

I'm thinking you're the same person who asked the very same question on another forum.

Anyhow - the answer remains the same. Both views are man's interpretation of Scripture. I can see one viewpoint more clearly and hence see it as the correct view, but it is still subject to our interpretation. Doesn't mean that one is 100% correct and the other 100% wrong.

We won't have the answer this side of heaven. And when we get to heaven we won't care - we'll be too busy worshipping our Lord and Savior.

 

[Philippe2]

I'm thinking you're the same person who asked the very same question on another forum.

Anyhow - the answer remains the same. Both views are man's interpretation of Scripture. I can see one viewpoint more clearly and hence see it as the correct view, but it is still subject to our interpretation. Doesn't mean that one is 100% correct and the other 100% wrong.

We won't have the answer this side of heaven. And when we get to heaven we won't care - we'll be too busy worshipping our Lord and Savior.

You are right, I have ask this on another forum. The reason why I ask it again, is that I have not found an answer that satisfy me yet. There is this longing for the real thruth inside me and thee answer does not satisfy it. I hope I am not sounding rude, for tht is not my intention. I just need to know the truth.

 

[xapis]

Rev. Ken Jones on last week's White Horse Inn broadcast put it this way (paraphrasing)... just as the baby doesn't understand the reproductive process that brought him into this world, many people who are truly saved do not understand all the details of how they came to be saved.

 

[Philippe2]

True, but what does one preach? That some are chosen and others had no choice from the moment they were born.They were destined for hell. Or the other side where one say it is OK, you are not so bad and have not fallen so far, you can still out of yourself choose God. Wht should one tell others?

 

[xapis]

Preach the Gospel... the good news that God graciously saves many from the bad news—His just wrath! The Holy Spirit will efficaciously draw all sinners to repentance who were ordained to believe (see Acts 13:48).

 

[Philippe2]

I think I have received some light in the text that you have given. Therefore I thank you. May God bless you for it.

 

[xapis]

If you have any other questions, please ask.

Grace & Peace to you.

 

[Philippe2]

I use to fight against Calvinism, but one day it opened up to me in Romans 9. I am just wondering how God could bless John Wesleys work if he was fighting against this work, unless John was not wrong and that bothers me.

 

[bradfordl]

I use to fight against Calvinism, but one day it opened up to me in Romans 9. I am just wondering how God could bless John Wesleys work if he was fighting against this work, unless John was not wrong and that bothers me.

Brother, we're all wrong in something. As you said, God began to open your eyes to a truth when you read Romans 9. Why He opens some of His childrens' eyes to one truth and some not is a mystery, but as Paul says:

Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you. Nevertheless, whereto we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us mind the same thing.
(Php 3:15-16)

So evidently it is possible for a christian to be "otherwise minded", but at some point God will reveal all to us, in this life as He sees fit for us, in the next fully. As to which of the two theologies you mention is "otherwise" and which is not, I suppose you will have to determine for yourself. As for me, the Calvinist perspective is vastly more coherent with scripture, but I have been wrong a time or two.

 

[ReformedChapin]

We are all full of erros in our theology. Even some of the greatest theologens whether reformed or not said some mighty stupid things. I think that God doesn't expect us to get it all right although he does reveal some more truths to some than to others. Either way, all he really expects is that you submit your lives to him. I know brothers and sisters that have been arminians all their lives and now that I show them reformed theology it has opened a lot of their eyes. Because I recognize that although I strongly believe that calvinism is right I wouldn't not be as bold as to say that arminianism is a heresy.

 

[Philippe2]

Thank you one and all. If something still comes to mind, please come back and post it.
Thank You

 

[nasa1]

Thanks to everyone who offered their insight.

nasa1