It would seem that some put more faith in John Calvin's Theology of total depravity than God's ability to save lost souls. God can save whomever he wills and he wills to save anyone who asks. Bottom line. If you want to be saved, believe you are saved. Sin could never defeat the all mighty God!
If you want to be saved, believe you are saved.
Don't you mean to say "if you want to be saved, repent and believe that Jesus is the Christ that will save you from your sins."
Mark 1:15 -- And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.
John 3:16 -- For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
John 11:27 -- She saith unto him, Yea, Lord: I believe that thou art the Christ, the Son of God, which should come into the world.
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The issue Calvinism would have with this statement is not that people want salvation -- the issue is that they want salvation and nothing that accompanies it.Then I have no issue with Calvin's theology then. I have interpreted some people's representation of it to seem as though salvation is not available to all who want it and claim their deliverance. I am assuming I have misinterpreted.
The issue Calvinism would have with this statement is not that people want salvation -- the issue is that they want salvation and nothing that accompanies it.
Wanting the desirable parts of salvation without the undesirable parts is not wanting salvation -- I'm sure you agree.
The Apostle Paul said he was chosen because he 'acted ignorantly, in unbelief'.Okay, I know election to be true because the Bible teaches it but where I am still confused is the area of how and why God elects certain individuals and not others.
The way I was tought growing up was that God calls and then its up to us to respond to his call, so if this is the case then does God elect upon the basis of knowing who would respond to his offer of salvation and who would not?
To me thats the only way I can see it and because we are told in the scriptures of warnings against hardening our hearts etc so apparently when God calls we have the choice to respond to his call or to turn away and harden our hearts.
Then I have no issue with Calvin's theology then. I have interpreted some people's representation of it to seem as though salvation is not available to all who want it and claim their deliverance. I am assuming I have misinterpreted.
The Apostle Paul said he was chosen because he 'acted ignorantly, in unbelief'.
1 Tim 1:13
Who was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious: but I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief.
EG; he had a heart for God, though it was unenlightened.
Rom 10:2-3
For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge. For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God.
Then it logically follows that you believe that God elects based on some quality within the person. that makes election a reward for right behavior, i.e. works. Sorry, Scripture does not teach this.
Every single person who wants to be saved can be saved.
That's what calvin believed.
I agree with every bit of that but my point is that no one will repent or seek God unless it has been granted to him by God the Father.
No one will repent because they do not want to repent.
Okay, I know election to be true because the Bible teaches it but where I am still confused is the area of how and why God elects certain individuals and not others.
The way I was tought growing up was that God calls and then its up to us to respond to his call, so if this is the case then does God elect upon the basis of knowing who would respond to his offer of salvation and who would not?
To me thats the only way I can see it and because we are told in the scriptures of warnings against hardening our hearts etc so apparently when God calls we have the choice to respond to his call or to turn away and harden our hearts.
The elect were chosen because of what they accomplished in the First Earth and Heaven age.
The elect were chosen because of what they accomplished in the First Earth and Heaven age.
Did you come up with that idea on your own, or did you read that in a book or hear a speaker say that?
Esau repented, but his 'repentance' was not acceptable before God.Chris I agree with that, but you and I both know that NO ONE repents unless God grants it to him. You yourself would never have repented either had God not drawn you irresistibly to his son. This is what the calvinistic doctrine teaches.
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