Is it really possible that you are beating a dead horse? At first Jonah, not Johan, didn't want to do what God told him. Jonah ran from God, but God knew just how to convince Jonah. In the end, Jonah did what God wanted him to do. I am not contradicting myself. Any contradiction is in your mind. I doubt seriously that I will convince you. Your mind seems to be solidly made up. Ok, we will leave it that way.
God wrote on his heart to follow at the exact time He wanted to.... just like Paul.
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It really comes down to God's sovereignty and just how much control one believes God has.
Calvinists obviously believe God has every once of the control in every single part of creation and our lives. Arminianism on the other hand limits God's involvement and places more focus on mans involvement and freewill.
Hence the argument hence the debate and they are big things to disagree on on a theology level but I don't think it should determine fellowship or friendship of any kind. It shouldn't be a division factor and unfortunately it has been.
The teaching is idolatry of the self. A light that is separate from God. A light that we are supposed to live our lives in and by (Gal 2:20).
Holding the view can be in error and does not reflect one's heart. Still saved by grace.
Or the view accurately reflects the heart and just like like Matt 7:21-23 who pointed to their own works, are not followers of Christ.
It is a big issue.
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thank you for saying that calvinism is wrong, God gave Johan an offer he couldn't refuse. that is a choice, thank you! Did that person continue to refuse God, that is a choice, did God continue to work with that person That is applied mercy. are you telling me that you don't know anyone even in your family that has refused God and you don't know if God will ever get through to them , does the Bible ever say that King Agrippa answered the drawing of the Holy Ghost?
Acts 26:28-29
28 Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian.
29 And Paul said, I would to God, that not only thou, but also all that hear me this day, were both almost, and altogether such as I am, except these bonds. KJV
A choice is always based upon the heart.... because that is in fact what one desires/believes/thinks/etc...
The fruit (choice) reflects the heart (tree) (Luke 6:43).
At the time Jonah refused... God did not write it on his heart.
When he did comply... God wrote it on his heart.
Election by grace upholds choice.... it just explains how the heart chose. Flesh begets flesh and Spirit begets spirit (John 3:6). A fleshly heart will always choose flesh... and be in opposition to God (Gal 5:17 Rom 7 and 8). A heart touched by the Spirit will always choose that of the Spirit.
Not explaining it like this is in opposition to scripture. Otherwise a thornbush could produce an orange (Luke 6:44).
it is called by calvinist the doctrine of Grace, seeing that we are saved by grace, then this is a salvational doctrine, there is not two gospels, either you preach god forces himself on you, or you preach God allows you to call on Him, Jesus said to go preach the gospel, if you go into a home and preach the gospel , and that home won't have anything to do with it, then the disciples were to shake the dust off their shoes and leave, this is a split issue if there was ever one.
Mark 6:7-12
7 And he called unto him the twelve, and began to send them forth by two and two; and gave them power over unclean spirits;
8 And commanded them that they should take nothing for their journey, save a staff only; no scrip, no bread, no money in their purse:
9 But be shod with sandals; and not put on two coats.
10 And he said unto them, In what place soever ye enter into an house, there abide till ye depart from that place.
11 And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear you, when ye depart thence, shake off the dust under your feet for a testimony against them. Verily I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for Sodom and Gomorrha in the day of judgment, than for that city.
12 And they went out, and preached that men should repent.
KJV
shall not receive you, Sounds like choice to me.
A choice based upon their heart.
The way you are describing God forcing Himself on someone can also be applied to His creating us. God forced Himself on me, because He created me the way He wanted. Is that rape? Is God not creating you the way you desire rape? From what you are claiming... yes.
Which means you have an issue with God and creation... including creating light to shine in dark hearts (2 Cor 4:6).
but see we can't just pick and choose the verses we want to accept and throw the rest out, we must live by every Word! Romans teaches us that because Of adam, God caused "ALL" men to be borned with a sin nature. so unless He allows or offers "ALL" a relief from the wages of sin, there is two things that happens 1st He is respect of persons 2nd, He caused us to sin, some without relief , so what is His judgement ?
I have already shown how God is not a respector of persons. Are you able to explain how 0% of a person and 100% of God can be partiality? Continuing to make a claim that has shown to be false is bad form.
All men sin in Adam, not God.
"For as through the one man's disobedience the many were made sinners, even so through the obedience of the One the many will be made righteous." Rom 5:19
Creation was subjected to futility and corruption by God (Rom 8:21,21) through God's curse (gen 3) which also promised hope.
So His judgment is perfect. All start in the pit, God through His mercy, based upon Himself, saves some out of the pit for His glory.
We reflect that glory and praise His name! As elect, based upon Himself, He loves us and has always loved us... even when we were still sinners (Rom 5:8). Not because of anything we have done, but because of what He has done.
what really blows me away about Calvinist. if God wanted to offer salvation to those that want it , calvinist tells a sovereign God that he can't do it that way, then judges us who says that God allowed me to accept or refuse His love, of telling God what He can do or not do! well if you really believe that God is Sovereign then quit telling Him that He can only saved calvinist, let Him have mercy on whom He will have mercy! and second this is very Bibical, quit preaching/feeding babes in Christ deep/meat Things that you all can't even agree on, 5 point no I am only 4 points , well I am only three points, but lets "ALL" push this doctrine down the mouths of babes
First, I have already stated... I am not a Calvinist. Which is why I describe this topic as election by grace.
God offering salvation to those He wants to... is consistent with God having mercy upon whom He wants to have mercy. I am not seeing your point.
Now about not picking and choosing verses. You still have two topics you are ignoring:
-Being saved is by grace. (Eph 2:8,9)
-Mercy does not depend upon man's actions or will, but God alone. (Rom 9:11,12,16)