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Why aren't you a Calvinist?

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theseed

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But the way is open for everyone to believe if they choose, not just a certain group.

True, but we only chose if God draws us to himself. If we resist this, then darkness will have overcome the Light, but since this can't happen, it is God's work that gives us our faith (John 1.5, John 6.44)

Lynn73 said:
If God isn't willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentence as I clearly showed in my post above, then He's defeating His own desires by preselecting certain people to hell and not leaving the way open to everyone to come if they choose.

God does desire all to be saved, but he has decreed that only some will.

Read this artiticle here, it explains how both can be true.

http://www.desiringgod.org/library/topics/doctrines_grace/2wills.html

But I know we're not going to change each others' minds on it we can disagree amicably and go on.

You have not changed my mind because your arguments are scare crows. You are used to hearing the old Calvinist rederick, and assume that I or others are thinking the same way.
 
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Lynn73

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Good question, Godschosengirl. I know that the Holy Spirit tells me it's wrong. And so does God's word. The verses that may make it seem to be true are being misinterpreted imho. Otherwise how do you get around the fact that the Bible clearly declares that God doesn't desire for anyone to perish?
 
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Mary_Magdalene

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in my opinion, it would be alot easier being a Calvinist. hey, it gets you off the hook as far as spreading the gospel. what does it matter-if certain people are predestined, then we can just ignore "the great commission". we wouldnt have to pray or worry about saved loved ones, we wouldnt have to witness to our kids- we would surely save alot of money on outreach and missions!
 
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theseed

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Godschosengirl said:
in my opinion, it would be alot easier being a Calvinist. hey, it gets you off the hook as far as spreading the gospel.

It most certiantly does not, you say this out of your lack of knowledge. I, a calvinist, have written a devotion about evangelism. You assume that because we believe that God is soveriegn, we don't believe that he hold men responsible--this however contradicts the bible (Romans 9).

Read my devotion.

http://www.christianforums.com/t676708

So all that stuff you say hear is a straw man.

 
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theseed

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Lynn73 said:
And you haven't changed my mind either, theseed.
I am not trying to either, I am just refuting the empty and hollow anti-calvinist rederick that you and others pose--out of misinformation.
 
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theseed

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Godschosengirl said:
why is it that every calvinist i talk to about this gets all upset and defensive? maybe they are trying to talk themselves into believing something the Holy Spirit is telling them is wrong....
Or maybe you are rationalizing so that you can feel your right. BTW, it is not Calvinist who get defenisve, it is Anti-Calvnist that are offensive.
 
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FreeinChrist

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theseed said:
True, but we only chose if God draws us to himself. If we resist this, then darkness will have overcome the Light, but since this can't happen, it is God's work that gives us our faith (John 1.5, John 6.44)



God does desire all to be saved, but he has decreed that only some will.


Where exactly did God decree that only some will be saved.

Rather I would say that God knew all along who would and who wouldn't....and looks at the lost with sadness.

I can't find the verse at the moment, but there is one which says God rejoices in the death of the righteous but mourns the death of the wicked.

Another one says that God wants all to come to repentence.
 
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theseed

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FreeinChrist said:
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Where exactly did God decree that only some will be saved.

Rather I would say that God knew all along who would and who wouldn't....and looks at the lost with sadness.

I can't find the verse at the moment, but there is one which says God rejoices in the death of the righteous but mourns the death of the wicked.

Another one says that God wants all to come to repentence.
Yep, and it does not change anything.

Read this article.
http://www.desiringgod.org/library/topics/doctrines_grace/2wills.html
 
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FreeinChrist

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FreeinChrist

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Bro. Gabriel said:
I'm a student at the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, and we're all 5-point Calvinists here, faculty and students. You can't avoid the truth just because it doesn't "tickle your ears" and make you feel all warm and gooey inside. God defines who we are, we don't define who God is or how He should accomplish salvation in us. How arrogant and heretical of us to stray away from foundational Biblical truths just because it goes against our culture's acceptance.
I am begging my fellow Baptists to study Theology, study your roots, and don't fall captive of modern resurgences of classic heresies that date back to the beginning of the Christian Church!

I am not trying to either, I am just refuting the empty and hollow anti-calvinist rederick that you and others pose--out of misinformation.

Or maybe you are rationalizing so that you can feel your right. BTW, it is not Calvinist who get defenisve, it is Anti-Calvnist that are offensive.


You know, it is comments like this that are the strongest arguements against Calvinism. You folks can't 'play nice'.

It would be nice to have an intelligent conversation about it....but comments like this rule that out!
 
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theseed

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FreeinChrist said:


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You know, it is comments like this that are the strongest arguements against Calvinism. You folks can't 'play nice'.

It would be nice to have an intelligent conversation about it....but comments like this rule that out!
Now, FIC, you are being offesive too. First take the beam out of your own eye, so you can see clearly to take out the speck in ours.
 
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theseed

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FreeinChrist said:
Where, in scripture, does God decree that only some are to be saved?

I need to see that before I would believe that God decreed that only some are to be saved. Instead, I see that God wants all to come to repentence, but many will not.
Acts 9. You should also read the article before you argue too.
 
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FreeinChrist

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theseed said:
Now, FIC, you are being offesive too. First take the beam out of your own eye, so you can see clearly to take out the speck in ours.
Seed, I am not the one using the word 'heresy, or 'heredox', and your comment that just degraded anothers view rather than actually debate it - that is offensive!
 
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FreeinChrist

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theseed said:
Acts 9. You should also read the article before you argue too.
So because Paul was chosen a chosen instrument of God means whoever doesn't beleive in Calivnism is heretical?

How does that chapter refute my view that God knew all at the beginning and knew who would respond and who wouldn't?
 
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FreeinChrist

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It would be nice to have an intelligent conversation where doctrine is discussed, but the use of the words 'heresy' and 'heredoxical' is alienating to the extreme, I would hope those who are Calvinist could debate more reasonably than that.


Haven't you seen Catholics use that and alienate others on this mb, Seed? If i don't like it from them...why would I like it from Calvinists?
 
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theseed

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FIC said:
So because Paul was chosen a chosen instrument of God means whoever doesn't beleive in Calivnism is heretical?

What? :scratch:? Who said anything about heresy?

How does that chapter refute my view that God knew all at the beginning and knew who would respond and who wouldn't?

According to that view, we are worthy of salvation based on our choice, iow, we earned it by a work, which is not biblical (Eph. 2:8-10)
 
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theseed

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FIC said:
Haven't you seen Catholics use that and alienate others on this mb, Seed? If i don't like it from them...why would I like it from Calvinists?

Now I understand the confusiton. I'm so tired :yawn:

I meant Romans 9.

FIC, your not Calvinist at all. You are 4 point Arminiast. They beleive that we can resist grace and lose our salvation--you believe that we can resist in the beginning, but if we believe, we can't resist later. This is not logically consistant.

You also should not be so critical, because there are many Calvinist who have done great things for the kingdom of God, and continue to do so. Including baptist, like Charles Spurgeon or even Charles Stanley who you see on TV. The SBC is Calvinist, and yet they are #1 in missions among all Bapitst churches.



Romans 9 (NASB)
1 (1) I am telling the truth in Christ, I am not lying, my conscience testifies with me in the Holy Spirit,
2 that I have great sorrow and unceasing grief in my heart.
3 For (2) I could wish that I myself were (3) accursed, separated from Christ for the sake of my brethren, my kinsmen (4) according to the flesh,
4 who are (5) Israelites, to whom belongs (6) the adoption as sons, and (7) the glory and (8) the covenants and (9) the giving of the Law and (10) the temple service and (11) the promises,
5 whose are (12) the fathers, and (13) from whom is the Christ according to the flesh, (14) who is over all, (15) God (16) blessed forever. Amen.
6 But it is not as though (17) the word of God has failed. (18) For they are not all Israel who are descended from Israel;
7 nor are they all children (19) because they are Abraham's descendants, but: "(20) THROUGH ISAAC YOUR DESCENDANTS WILL BE NAMED."
8 That is, it is not the children of the flesh who are (21) children of God, but the (22) children of the promise are regarded as descendants.
9 For this is the word of promise: "(23) AT THIS TIME I WILL COME, AND SARAH SHALL HAVE A SON."
10 (24) And not only this, but there was (25) Rebekah also, when she had conceived twins by one man, our father Isaac;
11 for though the twins were not yet born and had not done anything good or bad, so that (26) God's purpose according to His choice would stand, not because of works but because of Him who calls,
12 it was said to her, "(27) THE OLDER WILL SERVE THE YOUNGER."
13 Just as it is written, "(28) JACOB I LOVED, BUT ESAU I HATED."
14 (29) What shall we say then? (30) There is no injustice with God, is there? (31) May it never be!
15 For He says to Moses, "(32) I WILL HAVE MERCY ON WHOM I HAVE MERCY, AND I WILL HAVE COMPASSION ON WHOM I HAVE COMPASSION."
16 So then it does not depend on the man who wills or the man who (33) runs, but on (34) God who has mercy.
17 For the Scripture says to Pharaoh, "(35) FOR THIS VERY PURPOSE I RAISED YOU UP, TO DEMONSTRATE MY POWER IN YOU, AND THAT MY NAME MIGHT BE PROCLAIMED THROUGHOUT THE WHOLE EARTH."
18 So then He has mercy on whom He desires, and He (36) hardens whom He desires.
19 (37) You will say to me then, "(38) Why does He still find fault? For (39) who resists His will?"
20 On the contrary, who are you, (40) O man, who (41) answers back to God? (42) The thing molded will not say to the molder, "Why did you make me like this," will it?
21 Or does not the potter have a right over the clay, to make from the same lump one vessel for honorable use and another for common use?
22 What if God, although willing to demonstrate His wrath and to make His power known, endured with much (43) patience vessels of wrath (44) prepared for destruction?
23 And He did so to make known (45) the riches of His glory upon (46) vessels of mercy, which He (47) prepared beforehand for glory,
24 even us, whom He also (48) called, (49) not from among Jews only, but also from among Gentiles.
25 As He says also in Hosea,
"(50) I WILL CALL THOSE WHO WERE NOT MY PEOPLE, 'MY PEOPLE,'
AND HER WHO WAS NOT BELOVED, 'BELOVED.'"
26
"(51) AND IT SHALL BE THAT IN THE PLACE WHERE IT WAS SAID TO THEM, 'YOU ARE NOT MY PEOPLE,'
THERE THEY SHALL BE CALLED SONS OF (52) THE LIVING GOD."
27 Isaiah cries out concerning Israel, "(53) THOUGH THE NUMBER OF THE SONS OF ISRAEL BE (54) LIKE THE SAND OF THE SEA, IT IS (55) THE REMNANT THAT WILL BE SAVED;
28 (56) FOR THE LORD WILL EXECUTE HIS WORD ON THE EARTH, THOROUGHLY AND QUICKLY."
29 And just as Isaiah foretold,
"(57) UNLESS (58) THE LORD OF SABAOTH HAD LEFT TO US A POSTERITY,
(59) WE WOULD HAVE BECOME LIKE SODOM, AND WOULD HAVE RESEMBLED GOMORRAH."
30 (60) What shall we say then? That Gentiles, who did not pursue righteousness, attained righteousness, even (61) the righteousness which is by faith;
31 but Israel, (62) pursuing a law of righteousness, did not (63) arrive at that law.
32 Why? Because they did not pursue it by faith, but as though it were by works. They stumbled over (64) the stumbling stone,
33 just as it is written,
"(65) BEHOLD, I LAY IN ZION (66) A STONE OF STUMBLING AND A ROCK OF OFFENSE,
(67) AND HE WHO BELIEVES IN HIM (68) WILL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED."
 
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TSIBHOD

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"The real inter-relation between God's omnipotence and Man's freedom is something we can't find out . . . We all do feel sure that all the good in us comes from Grace. I find the best plan is to take the Calvinist view of my own virtues and other people's vices; and the other view of my own vices and other people's virtues . . . It is plain from Scripture that, in whatever sense the Pauline doctrine is true, it is not true in any sense which excludes its (apparent) opposite."
-- C. S. Lewis (Letters of C.S. Lewis, edited by W.H. Lewis, New York: Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, 1966, [3 Aug 1953], 252)

EDIT: I'm not a Baptist, but I just thought y'all might find that quote useful in your discussions.
 
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