This section might be helpful to at least start your questioning.
one foundational question from what i have read so far
is predestination the main tenet of calvinism?
is that what non-c's mainly oppose?
is this link basically the foundation for predestination?
God's sovereignty is the main tenet of Reformed Theology. The other issues would be concerned with how He gets the results He wants.
can you give me that link?
what are the other issues that follow sovereignty?
can you give me those links in order of importance?
The other issues would be spelled out in the links in the OP. Election, predestination, atonement, etc. are the issues in question.
I think the London Baptist one is the best out of the ones I linked to.
can you link it here again so that i can follow you step by step as you answer my questions
i don't want to hunt and search and discover later that i found the wrong link
i'd like to walk step by step through each answer you give to eliminate misunderstanding
A straw man falsely identifies an opponent's position and then "corrects" that position.
Saying that Reformed Theology teaches that God forces someone to do/think/decide something is a straw man because there's no teaching like that in Reformed Theology.
can you describe in reformed theology words what God predestines in regards to each individual human - their behavior - their heart - their decisions - their salvation?
He predestines that those He loves will be conformed to the image of His Son.
so if i start with understanding the calvinist theology on sovereignty, i can then progress to - election - predestination - atonement?
the first link you gave me - chpt 10 of effectual calling - what is that - election?
which chapter do i read for sovereignty?
1. which chapter is about election?
2. which chapter is about predestination?
3. which chapter is about atonement
i will study sovereignty, election, predestination, atonement once you give me the chapters and then i will get back to you
God bless you
Chapter 5 was on Sovereignty. Chapter 10 was on election.
which chapters are on predestination and atonement
I'll have to look. But in the mean time you can start with those.
1.
An Introduction To Calvinism & Arminianism - Tim Challies
-Arminianism arose as a rejection of Calvinism and its doctrines of predestination and election. Arminius taught that God has given humans free will, and humans are able to freely choose or reject salvation.
-A Calvinist is someone who rejects the Arminian concept of free will, believing that the will of all humans is bound by their sinful nature and will remain bound until God performs His regenerative work.
-Calvinism is founded on the belief that man is completely and utterly unable to make a choice to follow God because the will of the unsaved person is bound by his sinful nature.
2.
An Introduction To Calvinism & Arminianism (Part 2) - Tim Challies
- A proper understanding of Calvinism is fully dependant on understanding Calvin’s view of man’s depravity.
- A fallen man is able to choose to do what he wants, but is unable to want God. There is a misconception that Calvinists do not believe in human free will, but this is not true. Calvinism teaches that free will exists, but is bound by a man’s nature. Man is a slave not to God, but to his own nature. Because man does not want God, he can never choose Him. Only God, in His Sovereign free will, can change man’s nature and make him capable of repentance.
- T D - With a sinful nature it is impossible to take an action that would be anything other than sinful and rebellious.
- U E - God brings His chosen people, through the Spirit, to a willing acceptance of Christ. His choice has nothing to do with man’s free will.
- L A - Christ took the sins of the elect upon Himself on the cross. He provided a full and effectual (fully adequate) atonement for their sins. Though Christ’s sacrifice was sufficient for the entire human race, it is only imputed (given) to the elect. Were Christ to sacrifice and die for someone and then that person did not choose to be saved, it would make Christ’s work a failure.
- I G - There are two ways God calls people to repentance. The first is the outer call which is extended to anyone who hears the gospel. This can be and often is rejected. The second is the internal call which is extended only to the elect and can never be rejected.
- P S - The elect, then, will persevere in righteousness and will never fall away from God.
3.
An Introduction To Calvinism & Arminianism (Part 3) - Tim Challies - errors/unreliable source
- FW - Arminius taught that man’s fall into sin has not completely removed his ability to make a choice for or against God. Holy Spirit does not draw or enlighten men enough to force them into a decision.
- CE - God’s election is based upon his foreknowledge that a person would choose to be saved.God in turn chose them and called them the elect.
- UA - When Christ died he took upon Himself every sin for every human being throughout time. Salvation can be received or rejected.
- OG - Holy Spirit does not force anyone into repentance. Regeneration occurs when salvation is accepted.
- FG - Man can change his mind and reject God after accepting Him?
4.
An Introduction To Calvinism & Arminianism (Part 4) - Tim Challies - errors/unreliable