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Is is possible to be neither Arminian or Calvinist?
I believe it's possible to take things from both sides but, at the end of the day, you either believe man initiates his own salvation (arminianism) or you believe God initiates salvation (Calvinism)
What is stopping God from regenerating everyone?
No, because that would contradict the Scriptures which say that God desire all to be saved. It may make for a more rationally coherent theology, but it's not faithful to Scripture.Would you say that the only logical and honest answer is that ultimately, He does not want to regenerate everyone (and thus, doesn't)?
That assumes something is stopping God from regenerating everyone. I don't think that's a good assumption to make.
No, because that would contradict the Scriptures which say that God desire all to be saved. It may make for a more rationally coherent theology, but it's not faithful to Scripture.
-CryptoLutheran
To be fair to our Arminian brethren, even Arminians, with their doctrine of prevenient grace believe that God initiates salvation.
Uncertainty does not denote lack of knowledge.
1. Not known or established; questionable
I take number one
I don't see how. The idea is always that it's up to us to "accept"/"repeat this prayer after me"/etc.
Honest question: Do you believe it is possible to be absolutely certain about all things pertaining God? If not, do you believe that one can be knowledgable about the Bible and also uncertain about all things pertaining God?
So really, theologically, why do you think God desires the salvation of all individuals?
Arminians believe that God initiates by giving "Prevenient Grace", which enables man to either accept or reject the gospel.
Calvinists believe that God initiates by regeneration, which guarantees that the person will accept the gospel.
Only Pelagianism and Semipelagianism teach that man can initiate his relationship with God.
Because Scripture explicitly says so:
"First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself as a ransom for all, which is the testimony given at the proper time. For this I was appointed a preacher and an apostle (I am telling the truth, I am not lying), a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth." - 1 Timothy 2:1-7
Now, I'm sure this can be explained away all fancy like. But then again, Arminians will go on to explain how predestined doesn't actually mean predestined.
To be a Calvinist I'd have to reject the explicit teaching of Scripture that God loves everyone, that Christ died for everyone, and that it is God's will that all be saved.
Are these the only three options ?
I would reject the Semi/Pelagaian option described above.
I am not so sure about the guarantee bit. That raise some big issues.
So would I go with number 1 ?
Complicated. My gut feeling is that most are enabled. Maybe Pharaoh was an exception. I think the exceptions are few, most are enabled.
I think most get the free will to refuse. In some cases e,g Jonah, Apostle Paul, God is more insistent and will not take no for an answer. But for Joe public, they will be judged by what they have received.
So I guess that makes me arminian. Well, largely. But why then is God not more insistent with Joe public ?
I do not know. Any ideas are most welcome.
An explanation is not necessarily "explaining away". I honestly feel like Paul is speaking of all types of people in this passage, (such as kings and those in authority), not all individuals exhaustively. His point is that nobody is exuded from salvation based on rank or social class. Hence God's desire that all people be saved, not all individuals.
As you can see in the last part of the passage you cited, Paul springboards into defending his ministry to the gentiles (again, a type of people). Imagine telling a Jew under the oppression and tyranny of gentile leaders (kings and those in authority) that they should pray for them because God's desire is to save yes, even them.
1) Calvinists affirm that God loves all people. What we deny is that He loves all people exactly the same way, because that's what the Bible teaches. He has a special love for His own, the way a husband has a love for his wife (Eph 5:25)
2) If Christ died for everyone, what did Christ accomplish for everyone (in Lutheranism?) What was he doing, for the non-elect, by his death?
3) That God wants everyone to be saved is not something the Bible necessarily teaches.
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