I said what your intentions "appear" to be--I'm not claiming to know your motivations. If you genuinely believe using that quote for your signature block is edifying to your brothers and sisters in Christ here, then use it.
I am bothered by it. Since being on this forum, I haven't once quoted John Calvin; and I've only read part of the introduction to his
Institutes. Like I said, I don't worship the guy, but I gather that he knew his soteriology pretty well.
I would. I shouldn't have said we don't use it as a proof text for "anything."
Inasmuch as they have influenced others whom I have been influenced by (since I've read next to nothing of his works), yes.
If I understand the question properly, yes. But I'm not sure why that should matter...
What bothers me is that we can list off a number of verses that support our theology and still be told that our viewpoints are nowhere taught in Scripture. The least you guys could do is admit that there are difficult passages that seem to teach what we believe (
JackSparrow was able to do this)--otherwise you come across as being disingenuous. I freely admit that there are a number of passages that are difficult (not impossible) for me to reconcile with what I believe is taught in Scripture, but I would have the exact same problem if I were in your camp (which I was when I first believed). I find that the vast weight of Scripture leads me to believe in the doctrines of grace.
For all: I know there are those of us on both sides that fall into the trap of launching ad hominem attacks and raising straw men, but we should all strive to keep our discussions centered around understanding passages of Scripture--otherwise we're probably wasting our time.