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In a nutshell, yes. It doesn't appear in the parable that we prepare our own soil.
The Bible reflects a General Call and an Effectual Call.
The cross of Christ stands at a point in history as the only way of salvation because Jesus alone is the Savior. Yet, I believe the Bible reveals that all people who have ever lived have had various opportunities to respond to God in faith during different historical dispensations, whether it be through the testimony of creation, their God-given conscious, the law, or grace. I think the Bible indicates they will be judged by their response toward God according to the amount of the revelation they had.All people who have ever lived had had the same exact "opportunity" to hear a clear presentation of the gospel? That's an extremely *ignorant view of history and reality.
* for those ignorant of the definition of ignorant: Unaware or uninformed.
only those on the good soil bear fruit
I believe the Bible reveals that all people who have ever lived have had various opportunities
What are you referring to by, "those"?
The seed sown on good soil
Allow me then to rephrase it, I need to work on my communication skills apparently
From the Canon of Dort, article six:
"FIRST HEAD: ARTICLE 6. That some receive the gift of faith from God, and others do not receive it, proceeds from God's eternal decree. "For now unto God are all his works from the beginning of the world" (Acts 15:18 A.V.). "who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will" (Eph 1:11). According to which decree He graciously softens the hearts of the elect, however obstinate, and inclines them to believe; while He leaves the non-elect in His just judgment to their own wickedness and obduracy. And herein is especially displayed the profound, the merciful, and at the same time the righteous discrimination between men equally involved in ruin; or that decree of election and reprobation, revealed in the Word of God, which, though men of perverse, impure, and unstable minds wrest it to their own destruction, yet to holy and pious souls affords unspeakable consolation." (Bold added for emphasis)
The emboldened statements above. God decrees reprobation, without any chance of repentance. That God "leaves the non-elect to his own just judgement" is to say he creates people just to destroy them in hell. Right?
Ezekiel 18:32 says plainly that God takes no pleasure in ANYONE's death, so they should repent and live. This is in complete alignment with Paul and Peter both stating that God wants all (not just the elect) to be saved and not perish.
What are you referring to by, "those"?
Please post on topic. Thanks.BTS,
Please remember that the Synod of Dordt was a kangaroo court.
There was injustice against the Remonstrants at the Synod Dordt.
Oz
Exactly. The outward call (the seed) is the Gospel which goes out to everyone, and the inward call (the good soil) is the work of regeneration which is reserved for God's elect. Those who have the inward call, can and will respond to the outward call.So in context of the parable of the sower, the ones down all along the path, rocky soil, and even thorns all seem to receive the word, yet have the word choked or destroyed for various reason (the evil one, no root, cares of the world) and only those on the good soil bear fruit.
So Calvinism teaches two different calls then? One general call that goes out to everyone, but only the ones God wants receive the second call which results in eternal life as part of the elect?
Exactly. The outward call (the seed) is the Gospel which goes out to everyone, and the inward call (the good soil) is the work of regeneration which is reserved for God's elect. Those who have the inward call, can and will respond to the outward call.
The soil is made good by the inward call. So, the Holy Spirit works through the preacher to spread the seed, and the Holy Spirit works through the elect, tilling the soil if you will, making them receptive and allowing them to bear fruit.Same call, in some sense. Different outcome, depending only on the soil.
The soil is made good by the inward call. So, the Holy Spirit works through the preacher to spread the seed, and the Holy Spirit works through the elect, tilling the soil if you will, making them receptive and allowing them to bear fruit.
I think every Theology, outside of perhaps Open Theism, will believe it's "fixed" before we are born. What God knows will happen cannot be changed.
His chosen people still had a choice to love God or not.Does your God have a chosen people?
I agree, mostly.Whatever He knows is beside the point. We don't know what He knows. We do know that if we come to Him we can be saved though. And if we fall that doesn't mean we were never saved, or it was predestined.
So who chooses His chosen people?His chosen people still had a choice to love God or not.
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