Calvinism is flawed to a person who doesn't understand it.
It is flawed to a person that reads the Bible.
Basics point 1 -- forgiveness revoked --
Matthew 18
32 Then his master, after he had called him, said to him, ‘You wicked servant!
I forgave you all that debt because you begged me. 33 Should you not also have had
compassion on your fellow servant, just as I had pity on you?’ 34 And his master was angry, and
delivered him to the torturers until he should pay all that was due to him.
35 “
So My heavenly Father also will do to you if each of you, from his heart, does not forgive his brother his trespasses.”
Rom 11
19 You will say then, “Branches were broken off that I might be grafted in.” 20 Well
said. Because of unbelief they were broken off, and
you stand only by faith. Do not be haughty, but
fear. 21 For
if God did not spare the natural branches, He may not spare you either. 22 Therefore consider the goodness and severity of God: on those who fell, severity; but toward you, goodness,
if you continue in His goodness. Otherwise you also will be cut off. 23 And they also, if they do not continue in unbelief, will be grafted in, for God is able to graft them in again.
1 Cor 6
7 Now therefore,
it is already an utter failure for you that you go to law against one another. Why do you not rather accept wrong? Why do you not rather
let yourselves be cheated? 8 No,
you yourselves do wrong and cheat, and
you do these things
to your brethren! 9
Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, 10 nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers,
nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God.
You cannot fall away from something such that you cannot be "renewed again" to it -- if you never had it to start with.
Heb 6
4 For
it is impossible for
those who were once enlightened, and have tasted the heavenly gift, and have become partakers of the Holy Spirit, 5 and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come,
(Which is the saved condition -- not the state of the lost)
6
if they fall away, to renew them again to repentance, since they crucify again for themselves the Son of God, and put
Him to an open shame.
"For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”
Amen
If you think that resting in the finished work of Jesus Christ at Calvary as my only hope of salvation is exalting myself - you are of all men most to be pitied.
Well as it turns out - that is not what I am thinking.
Here is what I am thinking you should be responding to a few of the texts above --
texts that 4 and 5 pt Calvinism does not survive as it turns out.
Rom 2:11 11 For there is
no partiality with God.
Gal 6: 7
Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. 8 For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life.
1 John 3: 7 Little children,
let no one deceive you. He who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous. 8 He who sins is of the devil, for the devil has sinned from the beginning
Rom 6: 15 What then? Shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace? Certainly not! 16
Do you not know that to whom you present yourselves slaves to obey, you are that one’s slaves whom you obey, whether of
sin leading to death, or of obedience
leading to righteousness? 17 But God be thanked that
though you were slaves of sin, yet you obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine to which you were delivered.
1 Cor 9
23 Now this I do
for the gospel’s sake, that I may be
partaker of it with you.
24 Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain
it. 25 And everyone who competes
for the prize is temperate in all things. Now they
do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we
for an imperishable
crown. 26 Therefore I run thus: not with uncertainty. Thus I fight: not as
one who beats the air. 27
But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have
preached the gospel to others, I myself should become disqualified.
I'd like to see the whole world in Heaven whether they believed correctly or not.
Rom 2:13-16 says that many who have no access to scripture at all - will be there. And the chapter ends by saying that many who do have access to scripture will not.
I take the same approach with you as I take with the cultists who visit my doorstep. I ask them if they are saved at this minute
how do you think that helps them? Why do you think that those who do not agree with the false doctrine of OSAS don't have assurance right at this minute.
Hint. "The Arminian can know that he is saved - right-at-this-minute, but cannot know that he will continue to choose salvation 20 years from today.....
the 3 and 5 point Calvinist cannot even know that".
The reason being that 3 and 5 point Calvinism "retro-deletes" today's assurance once it can be shown that 20 years from today "you fail to persevere".
Matthew 18 "
Forgiveness revoked" refutes OSAS
Isaiah 5:4 - and John 1:11 shows the reality of free will
"
What more could I do that I have not already done?" Is 5:4
Apparently you do not believe that He is the author and finisher of your faith.
Apparently you believe that ignoring every text in the post - "solves it" for your POV.
How "instructive" for the unbiased objective readers.
On the contrary - I do believe it which is why I like to quote more than just that one "snip" from Hebrews 12.
Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us,
let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2
fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.3 For consider Him
who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself,
so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.
4
You have not yet resisted to the point of shedding blood in your striving against sin; 5 and
you have forgotten the exhortation which is addressed to you as sons,
“My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord,
Nor faint when you are reproved by Him;
Phil 2 12 So then, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence,
work out your salvation with fear and trembling;
1 Cor 9
23 I
do all things for the sake of the gospel,
so that I may become a fellow partaker of it.
24 Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but
only one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may win. 25 Everyone who competes in the games exercises self-control in all things. They then
do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. 26
Therefore I run in such a way, as not without aim; I box in such a way, as not beating the air; 27
But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached the gospel to others, I myself should become disqualified from it.
1 Cor 6
7 Now therefore,
it is already an utter failure for you that you go to law against one another. Why do you not rather accept wrong? Why do you not rather
let yourselves be cheated? 8 No,
you yourselves do wrong and cheat, and
you do these things
to your brethren! 9
Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, 10 nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers,
nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God.[/QUOTE]
