Obviously, this post is against calvinists.
First thing's first, I guess I have to go through the whole TULIP with you on this one *sigh*.
T - Total Depravity
U - Unconditional Election
L - Limited Atonement
I - Irresistable Grace
P - Perseverance of the Saints
To begin, Total Depravity: Man is totally depraved in their sins, and cannot get themselves out on their own. It's impossible. What many people refuse to see is that unbelief is a sin in itself, and without faith, you can't do anything good. "Whatever does not proceed from faith is sin" Rom 14:23 (ESV). We, as humans, want nothing to do with God, naturally, because of our total depravity. We are so locked on in our sins that we have no desire for Him. We, naturally because of our sin nature, want nothing to do with God. "For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened." Rom 1:21 (ESV). That would explain why God said "Hey, you want to keep going against me, fine" Of course, God surely was weeping when He did that, because He cares about human beings, and loves them all. "Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves, because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen." Rom 1:24-25 (ESV).
"None is righteous, no, not one;
11no one understands;
no one seeks for God.
12All have turned aside; together they have become worthless;
no one does good,
not even one."
13"Their throat is an open grave;
they use their tongues to deceive."
"The venom of asps is under their lips."
14"Their mouth is full of curses and bitterness."
15"Their feet are swift to shed blood;
16in their paths are ruin and misery,
17and the way of peace they have not known."
18"There is no fear of God before their eyes." Rom 3:10-18
We need to notice that Faith is a good thing. All good things are from God, and good things only begin with faith in the Son of God. If man is totally depraved in his sin, how can he get himself out? Clearly, he can't, becuase he can't do anything good, which includes coming into faith in Christ.
Unconditional Election: When it comes to our election, it is totally unconditional. It's not a matter of foreknowledge of God, or anyhting of the sort. It has absolutely nothing to do with whether God knows that some people will come to faith in Him, and others won't, and it has totally nothing to do with works.
9For this is what the promise said: "About this time next year I will return and Sarah shall have a son." 10And not only so, but also when Rebecca had conceived children by one man, our forefather Isaac, 11though they were not yet born and had done nothing either good or bad--in order that God's purpose of election might continue, not because of works but because of his call-- 12she was told, "The older will serve the younger." 13As it is written, "Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated." Rom 9:9-13
Clearly, God did this to fulfill His purpose of election, and God still does this today. "George I loved, but Ben I hated."
Limited Atonement: This one is a toughy, and even I sometimes have a hard time accepting this one. It involves Christ's atonement for sins up on thecross. Who's sins did He cover? Clearly, not everyone's, becuase people are still going to hell (according to scriptures) becuase they don't have faith in Christ (of course, many universal salvationists will totally disregard this one, however, universal salvation isn't biblical at all).
whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God's righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins. It was to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus. Rom 3:25-26
Jesus justifies those taht have faith in Christ, not those who do not have faith in Christ, for they are totally depraved, and seek to pursue their selfish desires. If Christ died for everyone, according to the bible you cannot say that He saved everyone on the cross, but instead made everyone savable. But that is out of the question, becuase then the purpose of atonement would be pointless."I lay down my life for the sheep." John 10:15. Jesus laid down His life for His people, namely the children of God, the ones that He has chosen.
Now, I'm sure many of you are saying "But what about the whole "Whole world" issues?" The whole world doesn't mean the whole world, you need to put into context to whom is the letter written, etc etc. For instance, let's take the first letter of John
"He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world." 1 John 2:2
I couldn't agree with that verse more, since it all has to do with context. John wrote this letter to a small group, and when he meant the whole world, he meant other people outside of their small group. As simple as that.
Irresistable Grace: This doesn't mean that the Holy Spirit cannot be resisted, for it surely can be. It's all over the bible. However, this irresistable grace means that God can overcome all resistances, becuase He is totally sovereign.
"all the inhabitants of the earth are accounted as nothing,
and he does according to his will among the host of heaven
and among the inhabitants of the earth;
and none can stay his hand
or say to him, "What have you done?" Dan 4:35
So, you see, God does everything according to His will, not ours. And you say "But what is His will then? To send peopel to hell and some to heaven?" Definitely not. His will is that His glory be revealed to the ends of the earth. That people will know that He is the Lord. Read Exodus, it gives you a good idea of what God's will is. "And I will harden Pharaoh's heart, and he will pursue them, and I will get glory over Pharaoh and all his host, and the Egyptians shall know that I am the LORD." And they did so." Ex 14:4
As for the last criteria, perseverance of the saints. I think taht pretyt much says it all. Everyone who is truly called will pursue Christ, because God makes every obstacle work out for their perseverance in the faith.
So, why does God have some go to heaven and some go to hell? Simple answer, His glory. He is glorified through everything and everyone, whether they be believers or not. You may not be able to see that, but it's true. And the people will know that He is the LORD.
Sincerely,
Randy