Salvation and Calvinists

[FreeGrace2]

FreeGrace2 said: ↑
This is not true at all. Where does the Bible say anything close to this??
No one is saved by "desire". Nowhere does the Bible say this.

Who gives us the desire?
Holy Spirit?
M

No. The Holy Spirit gives us conviction, as Jesus said.

John 16:8-10
8 "And He, when He comes, will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment;
9 concerning sin, becausethey do not believe in Me;
10 and concerningrighteousness, because I go to the Father and you no longersee Me;

I don't see "desire" anywhere.

People don't believe because they desire. They desire because they believe.

iow, they understand the gospel message, and desire salvation.

 

[Mountainmanbob]

SYNONYMS FOR desire

• covet, fancy.
• solicit.
• aspiration, hunger, appetite, thirst.

Dictionary.com › browse › desire
Desire | Definition of Desire at Dictionary.com

 

[Hammster]

This is a question I have for my own personal salvation honestly. I have been trying to figure out how I can be saved but a big wrench in my searching is the whole "Calvinistic doctrine" as people call it. These Calvinists argue that I can't save myself, which I believe is true. But they say that I am predestined to either hell or heaven. Predestined to continue in sin or to repent and believe in Christ for my salvation. They basically teach that I have no free will but I am still responsible for if I go to hell or not. I am hopelessly confused by these teachings (predestination, free will, salvation.) I thought salvation was supposed to be simple but honestly it seems like most people who call themselves Christians can't even agree on how salvation works. I've seen constant arguing between Calvinists and others and now it has confused me, an unbeliever, to the point where I don't know what to do for salvation.

Do I repent and believe? Do I just hope that I have been predestined to be saved? Do I just ask God to save me?

And I'm afraid that no matter what I do I will be seeking salvation the wrong way. I've heard people even say that trying to seek faith in Christ or trying to believe is a work. Or that I am placing my faith in my faith instead of Christ (if that makes sense even.)

Some have said that repenting and believing is a work. And some have even said that salvation comes before repentance and belief. That only the elect will believe.

Do I just hope and beg God to save me? If I am not elect then he won't do it anyway. If I am not predestined he won't save me. That is what I've heard from Calvinists at least.

What if I am not one of the elect or predestined to be saved? As an unbeliever I am hopelessly confused as to how to be saved.

Bling post.

I’m a Calvinist. Don’t worry about the doctrine. Repent and believe the gospel.

 

[Mountainmanbob]

Repent and believe the gospel.

There you go
that brought it home plain and simple.
M

 

[BNR32FAN]

How old is the eastern orthodox church? 800 years old?

And credible people held Reformed doctrines a lot longer then 500 years ago.

The church in Antioch is mentioned in the Bible which is the Orthodox Church. They adopted the name Orthodox in 1054 as a way to distinguish them from the Roman Church. The word Orthodox means genuine. The word orthodox was typically used in reference to sound or solid theology as opposed to heretical theology. For example if a person made a heretical claim about a certain doctrine they would say that teaching is not orthodox or if a person was correct in their statement they would say that is orthodox. It was a way of saying correct. So after the schism of 1054 all of the Eastern Churches adopted the name Orthodox Catholic Church as a way of saying they were the correct or genuine universal church. Changing the name of a church does not change its establishment. It was still the same people preaching the same gospel and doctrines they always had. Furthermore just to show the magnitude of those who opposed Rome’s claim to papal supremacy the church was governed by 5 bishops at that time who governed the churches in their jurisdiction. They were the bishops of Antioch, Alexandria, Jerusalem, Constantinople, and Rome. When the schism was over only Rome stood alone. All of the other 4 churches of the Pentarchy adopted the name Orthodox rejecting Rome’s claim of papal supremacy over the church. So it wasn’t only a small number of churches who adopted the name orthodox it was every church outside of Rome that adopted it.

 

[FreeGrace2]

There you go
that brought it home plain and simple.
M

Unless the words "repent" and "gospel" are clearly defined, it isn't either plain or simple.

Hebrews 4 uses the word "gospel" but it doesn't refer to soul salvation in that context.

 

[Hammster]

Now after John had been taken into custody, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of God, and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.”
— Mark 1:14-15

 

[FreeGrace2]

Now after John had been taken into custody, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of God, and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.”
— Mark 1:14-15

Unless "repent" and "believe" are clearly defined, it's neither plain nor simple.

Some people mistakenly think that one must "turn from their sin" in order to be saved.

Since Jesus Christ died for the sins of everyone, that action does not save anyone.

 

[Hammster]

Unless "repent" and "believe" are clearly defined, it's neither plain nor simple.

Some people mistakenly think that one must "turn from their sin" in order to be saved.

Since Jesus Christ died for the sins of everyone, that action does not save anyone.

I’m not in the position to question Christ.

 

[FreeGrace2]

I’m not in the position to question Christ.

There was no question. The issue is clarification. Can you clarify?

 

[Hammster]

There was no question. The issue is clarification. Can you clarify?

and after he brought them out, he said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” They said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.”
— Acts 16:30-31

 

[All Glory To God]

There was no question. The issue is clarification. Can you clarify?

Well you are a fine one to ask for clarification.

You had a perfect opportunity in this thread to demonstrate how a person can be saved by using their free-will and you failed.

 

[FreeGrace2]

and after he brought them out, he said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” They said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.”
— Acts 16:30-31

OK, good. That clarifies "believe". Now for "repent". Can you define that one for salvation?

Or, if not, does "turning from sin" result in salvation?

 

[FreeGrace2]

Well you are a fine one to ask for clarification.

Thanks. I agree. I am a fine person.

You had a perfect opportunity in this thread to demonstrate how a person can be saved by using their free-will and you failed.

Well, it seems you have been terribly misled. No one "uses free will". That doesn't even make sense.

Free will is freedom to choose. It's not an action, the way you seem to mock it.

Free will doesn't "do" things. Free will is an opportunity to choose.

If you think otherwise, please explain and prove your point.

 

[All Glory To God]

Thanks. I agree. I am a fine person.


Well, it seems you have been terribly misled. No one "uses free will". That doesn't even make sense.

Free will is freedom to choose. It's not an action, the way you seem to mock it.

Free will doesn't "do" things. Free will is an opportunity to choose.

If you think otherwise, please explain and prove your point.

You failed. And you are no teacher either.

 

[Hammster]

OK, good. That clarifies "believe". Now for "repent". Can you define that one for salvation?

Or, if not, does "turning from sin" result in salvation?

I never said that it did. I did, however, quote the Lord Jesus Christ.

 

[FreeGrace2]

You failed.

It appears you weren't able to comprehend my response to your comment about "free will".

And you are no teacher either.

Have you ever thought of the fact that you're no student either?

Takes 2 to tango.

 

[FreeGrace2]

I never said that it did. I did, however, quote the Lord Jesus Christ.

You responded to another poster's comment about "repent" and "believe".

But now you seem unwilling to discuss how YOU mean the word "repent" as it relates to salvation?

 

[Hammster]

You responded to another poster's comment about "repent" and "believe".

But now you seem unwilling to discuss how YOU mean the word "repent" as it relates to salvation?

The key phrase being “another member”.

 

[Neostarwcc]

Real actual repentance is known by all. When you actually repent to God, its obvious that your repentance is genuine.