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What is wrong with Calvinism ?

Clare73

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We are declared righteous, with remission of sin (cleansed from all sin) as we believe, and remain in the faith evidenced by walking in the Spirit, which is walking in the light, or following Lord Jesus.
Only the born again are declared righteous, and the born again always remain in the faith (John 6:39). There are no still-births by the Holy Spirit.
Almost. . .

True faith in God is to believe in and trust on the atoning work (blood, Romans 3:25) of Jesus Christ for the remission of one's sin and right standing with God's justice; i.e., "not guilty," declared righteous with the imputed righteousness of Jesus Christ which paid for one's sin on the cross (Romans 5:18), as one was declared guilty by the imputed sin/guilt of Adam (Romans 5:18), which was the pattern (Romans 5:14) for the imputation of Christ's righteousness (Romans 4:1-11)--just as by faith righteousness was imputed to Abraham (Genesis 15:6; Romans 4:2-3), and then by the Holy Spirit to walk in obedience which leads to righteousness leading to holiness (Romans 6:16-19). For without holiness, no one will see the Lord (Hebrews 12:14).
You left out the mind of the Spirit in Romans 3:25 -- "faith in his blood."
 
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Clare73

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Yes, it is not easy reading, to understand what he is saying, often.
Welcome to John Owen. . .but then there is the Death of Death in the Death of Christ.
 
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Clare73

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Keeping in mind humility is truth. . .it is not humility for the world's fastest runner to state he is really not that good a runner, nor for the one with humility to pretend he does not have it. Humility does not require denial, it simply requires the truth in humility.
Staying in touch with God, Owen believes that is the goal.
Temptation, that is intriguing, the way Owen states it. That gives cause to ponder.
 
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Clare73

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According to God's Word, what gives us the rebirth (Spiritual Life) is the Spirit of Christ living in us.
You've got the cart before the horse, the rebirth is into eternal life of the Spirit, which eternal life is his indwelling us. Eternal life is by the Holy Spirit living in us. It comes from the indwelling Holy Spirit, the indwelling Holy Spirit is not the result of our faith, he is the cause of it.
Faith is a gift (Philippians 1:29; 2 Peter 1:1; Acts 13:48, 18:27; Romans 12:3).
There is no obedience apart from rebirth in the Holy Spirit.

1 Corinthians 2:14 - "The man without the Spirit (unregenerate) does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned." And that includes believing/faith.

Romans 8:7-8 - "the sinful (unregenerate) mind is hostile to God. It does not submit to God's law, nor can it do so. Those controlled by the sinful nature (unregenerate) cannot please God."
Cart before the horse. . .

They believe only because the Holy Spirit has given them rebirth and indwells them, they can't even see, must less believe in, the kingdom of God without the Holy Spirit (John 3:3-8; 1 Corinthians 2:14; Romans 8:7-8).
The Passages you listed teach us that the guarantee and promise is only for those who believe (a continuous believing) demonstrated in obedience. That is the Promise and Guarantee.
The promise and guarantee are to the born again, who are the only ones who can believe, according to John 3:3-8; 1 Corinthians 2:14; Romans 8:7-8.
Since the Promise is by Faith, then it is up to each individual to remain faithful to inherit the Promise of entering God’s eternal kingdom.
It is God who works in us to will and to do faithfulness. (Philippians 2:13)
God chose Abraham, just as he chose Israel, and just as he chose all of us, to carry out a special purpose, and NOT to make Abraham, or anyone else, believe.
There is no faith apart from the work of God and his Holy Spirit, for faith is a gift (Philippians 1:29;
2 Peter 1:1; Acts 13:48, 18:27; Romans 12:3).
 
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Mark Quayle

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Yeah, I agree with that.

I didn't think that far. The point was just that Adam's fall would make no difference to the world if we already had a sinful nature before the fall.

Not sure why you are considering that, but...

In God's order of things, there had to be a fall from innocence, and the way of it points at the origin of sin (per the devil), and the symbolism, (if not the reality), of the two trees and nakedness, and of several other things.

It had to happen the way it happened, for God to accomplish his purposes. But I expect you already know that. So I can only guess why you bring up the notion.

I don't see any relevance of the idea to imputation, except to force out the notion of imputation. I.e., if it was not Adam, and Adam was already sinful, God would still have had a point of imputation through someone else earlier, I should think. The argument becomes circular. The fact that it WAS Adam, was a purposeful act of God upon humankind.

I tend to think that it's not Christ's righteousness imputed to us, but Christ's righteousness given us through the Holy Spirit, so we no longer live in sin, but live a new transformed and righteous life through and in Christ.

Christ's righteousness given —referring to practical righteousness, and therefore judged pure? Do you suppose any of us to have practical righteousness meriting that judgement?
 
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QvQ

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Keeping in mind humility is truth. . .it is not humility for the world's fastest runner to state he is really not that good a runner, nor for the one with humility to pretend he does not have it
Humility requires a very honest and realistic appraisal of self and world. In my estimation it is very closely aligned to repentance or a component thereof. I don't get any awards for holy but I also don't get to rend my garments, gnash my teeth while chanting "mea culpa, how great my sins.'
Just an ordinary sinner, banal in fact who bored God with common antics until God showed me uncommon truths.
 
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Mark Quayle

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If they didn't have an evil nature, they could stop "transgressing" and flip side.
Transgressing, for them and for us, is demonstration of the evil nature. The one doesn't happen without the other. The "old man" is still with us, until we die.
 
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Mark Quayle

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I feel it incumbent on me to add one thing to that great post. Humility is beyond us, but for the Spirit of God —which claim I will try to demonstrate, thus: We are unable of ourselves to have an honest and realistic appraisal of self and world, but the Spirit of God has a perfect and comprehensive appraisal of us (and of world). It is only through a proper understanding of the fact that what we are is ONLY what God thinks of us and what he uses us for, that we can even begin to hold intellectually and habitually a true concept of self and world. Our identity is in him.
 
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atpollard

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Too many people want to nibble on UNIVERSALISM and call it the Love of God … but God said there is a hell and the road to it is WIDE and travelled by MANY. We do a disservice if we pretend that “all roads lead to heaven”.
 
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zoidar

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Transgressing, for them and for us, is demonstration of the evil nature. The one doesn't happen without the other. The "old man" is still with us, until we die.

The one doesn't happen without the other

Ok... wait a second! Did the angels transgress which gave them a sinful nature or did they have a sinful nature and therefore transgressed?
 
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Clare73

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Ok... wait a second! Did the angels transgress which gave them a sinful nature or did they have a sinful nature and therefore transgressed?
Neither. . .

They and Adam had the power not to transgress and chose to transgress, losing that power forever.

It's not complicated. . .
 
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Jesus is YHWH

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… but not enough to actually save everyone.
Sure He does since God is love and does not use coercion , manipulation, predetermining, forcing others to love Him but gives them the freedom to love Him in return . That is how love operates. A god who meticulously predetermined certain men to hell and others to heaven while giving them no choice to do otherwise is not a loving God.

hope this helps !!!
 
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atpollard

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Sure He does …
No! God does not save everyone. Everyone is not saved.
  • Sheep and goats
  • Wheat and tares
  • Wide road and narrow path.
One denies the truths of scripture at one’s own peril.
 
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