Why I am a Calvinist

[Sam Saved by Grace]

I was saved in 2018. I immediately found a church I was familiar with from my youth - a pentecostal church. But over time, I grew disillusioned with what I felt were unscriptural practices and beliefs. Additionally, I began to struggle due to my man-centered, work-centered approach to salvation. Ultimately, I fell back into sinful habits and left the church.

God never stopped working in me, though I did things for which I am greatly ashamed. But one thing I have learned in the process of God bringing me back home, is that there is a rest to enter into. The book of Hebrews speaks about this rest, in chapter 4:

Therefore, let us fear if, while a promise remains of entering His rest, any one of you may seem to have come short of it. For indeed we have had good news preached to us, just as they also; but the word they heard did not profit them, because it was not united by faith in those who heard.

For we who have believed enter that rest, just as He has said,
“AS I SWORE IN MY WRATH,
THEY SHALL NOT ENTER MY REST,”
although His works were finished from the foundation of the world.

For He has said somewhere concerning the seventh day: “AND GOD RESTED ON THE SEVENTH DAY FROM ALL HIS WORKS”

I want you all to prayerfully consider this matter. There is such power and significance in understanding the doctrines of grace.

Total Depravity
Unconditional Election
Limited Atonement
Irresistible Grace
Perseverance of the Saints

Before understanding the truth of the reformed doctrine, you have to properly understand total depravity. It was only after I became convinced of my spiritual hopelessness, in light of God's Word, was I able to finally see clearly. The truth, is that if any part of my salvation is dependent upon myself, I am without hope.

Yet, the Lord commands me to repent and believe, striving to love Him with all my heart, soul, mind, and strength; and to love my neighbor as myself. Paul understood this when he said, "I live, yet not I, but Christ...". But I can only sabotage - anything I touch, I poison. Due to my depraved, fallen state, I cannot, in and of myself, believe "correctly", respond to God "correctly", or persevere "correctly". It was not hubris that led me to Calvinism, but a true, biblical assessment of the self: that apart from Christ, I am dead, powerless, am nothing, and can do nothing. The doctrines of grace can best be summed up thusly: ALL OF SALVATION IS GOD'S DOING.

Salvation is truly of the Lord.

Consider the following scenario:

Joe and John both hear the Gospel. Joe is hostile to the message, rejecting it outright. Having rejected Jesus Christ, Joe goes to hell. John hears the same message Joe heard, but he receives it with joy. And persevering in the faith, John goes on to Life Eternal.

Was John better than Joe? Did John merely choose to have faith? And if so, why did not Joe choose to choose faith? People do not just choose for no reason. There has to be an inclination towards one choice or the other. If God bestows the same amount of grace upon both Joe and John, yet John accepts while Joe rejects, is not the saving difference something that is inherent in John?

When we read the Bible, we see it is clear that John accepted because John was given faith by God, drawn by the Father, being chosen by God. It had nothing to do with anything inside of John that was inherent to John. John 6:44 Ephesians 1:5 Romans 8:29 Acts 13:48

But it doesn't stop at salvation. The Bible teaches us that we must persevere in faith. This, too, is God's doing! John 10:29 Jude 1:24 Philippians 1:6

We know we are eternally secure, and have this confidence, not because we trust that we will continue on unto the end, but because we believe the promise of God. Friends, this is so vitally important. There is a rest to enter into, a ceasing from works, and an assurance of eternal life - but it can only come when we understand our own inability and rest firmly and securely in the promises of God. The Christian life is not easy - we must resist temptation and carry our cross daily. But those of us who have this assurance, having believed to the saving of the soul, will endure. And none will be lost. I encourage others, who are professing Christians, to lay claim to the promises of God, and realize, first and foremost, that without Christ, we can do nothing.

 

[Maria Billingsley]

I was saved in 2018. I immediately found a church I was familiar with from my youth - a pentecostal church. But over time, I grew disillusioned with what I felt were unscriptural practices and beliefs. Additionally, I began to struggle due to my man-centered, work-centered approach to salvation. Ultimately, I fell back into sinful habits and left the church.

God never stopped working in me, though I did things for which I am greatly ashamed. But one thing I have learned in the process of God bringing me back home, is that there is a rest to enter into. The book of Hebrews speaks about this rest, in chapter 4:

Therefore, let us fear if, while a promise remains of entering His rest, any one of you may seem to have come short of it. For indeed we have had good news preached to us, just as they also; but the word they heard did not profit them, because it was not united by faith in those who heard.

For we who have believed enter that rest, just as He has said,
“AS I SWORE IN MY WRATH,
THEY SHALL NOT ENTER MY REST,”
although His works were finished from the foundation of the world.

For He has said somewhere concerning the seventh day: “AND GOD RESTED ON THE SEVENTH DAY FROM ALL HIS WORKS”

I want you all to prayerfully consider this matter. There is such power and significance in understanding the doctrines of grace.

Total Depravity
Unconditional Election
Limited Atonement
Irresistible Grace
Perseverance of the Saints

Before understanding the truth of the reformed doctrine, you have to properly understand total depravity. It was only after I became convinced of my spiritual hopelessness, in light of God's Word, was I able to finally see clearly. The truth, is that if any part of my salvation is dependent upon myself, I am without hope.

Yet, the Lord commands me to repent and believe, striving to love Him with all my heart, soul, mind, and strength; and to love my neighbor as myself. Paul understood this when he said, "I live, yet not I, but Christ...". But I can only sabotage - anything I touch, I poison. Due to my depraved, fallen state, I cannot, in and of myself, believe "correctly", respond to God "correctly", or persevere "correctly". It was not hubris that led me to Calvinism, but a true, biblical assessment of the self: that apart from Christ, I am dead, powerless, am nothing, and can do nothing. The doctrines of grace can best be summed up thusly: ALL OF SALVATION IS GOD'S DOING.

Salvation is truly of the Lord.

Consider the following scenario:

Joe and John both hear the Gospel. Joe is hostile to the message, rejecting it outright. Having rejected Jesus Christ, Joe goes to hell. John hears the same message Joe heard, but he receives it with joy. And persevering in the faith, John goes on to Life Eternal.

Was John better than Joe? Did John merely choose to have faith? And if so, why did not Joe choose to choose faith? People do not just choose for no reason. There has to be an inclination towards one choice or the other. If God bestows the same amount of grace upon both Joe and John, yet John accepts while Joe rejects, is not the saving difference something that is inherent in John?

When we read the Bible, we see it is clear that John accepted because John was given faith by God, drawn by the Father, being chosen by God. It had nothing to do with anything inside of John that was inherent to John. John 6:44 Ephesians 1:5 Romans 8:29 Acts 13:48

But it doesn't stop at salvation. The Bible teaches us that we must persevere in faith. This, too, is God's doing! John 10:29 Jude 1:24 Philippians 1:6

We know we are eternally secure, and have this confidence, not because we trust that we will continue on unto the end, but because we believe the promise of God. Friends, this is so vitally important. There is a rest to enter into, a ceasing from works, and an assurance of eternal life - but it can only come when we understand our own inability and rest firmly and securely in the promises of God. The Christian life is not easy - we must resist temptation and carry our cross daily. But those of us who have this assurance, having believed to the saving of the soul, will endure. And none will be lost. I encourage others, who are professing Christians, to lay claim to the promises of God, and realize, first and foremost, that without Christ, we can do nothing.

Thanks for sharing! We only know in part and our theology can be right or wrong but one thing that is very important is to stay the course of righteousness through the power of His Holy Spirit.
Blessings

 

[zoidar]

I was saved in 2018. I immediately found a church I was familiar with from my youth - a pentecostal church. But over time, I grew disillusioned with what I felt were unscriptural practices and beliefs. Additionally, I began to struggle due to my man-centered, work-centered approach to salvation. Ultimately, I fell back into sinful habits and left the church.

God never stopped working in me, though I did things for which I am greatly ashamed. But one thing I have learned in the process of God bringing me back home, is that there is a rest to enter into. The book of Hebrews speaks about this rest, in chapter 4:

Therefore, let us fear if, while a promise remains of entering His rest, any one of you may seem to have come short of it. For indeed we have had good news preached to us, just as they also; but the word they heard did not profit them, because it was not united by faith in those who heard.

For we who have believed enter that rest, just as He has said,
“AS I SWORE IN MY WRATH,
THEY SHALL NOT ENTER MY REST,”
although His works were finished from the foundation of the world.

For He has said somewhere concerning the seventh day: “AND GOD RESTED ON THE SEVENTH DAY FROM ALL HIS WORKS”

I want you all to prayerfully consider this matter. There is such power and significance in understanding the doctrines of grace.

Total Depravity
Unconditional Election
Limited Atonement
Irresistible Grace
Perseverance of the Saints

Before understanding the truth of the reformed doctrine, you have to properly understand total depravity. It was only after I became convinced of my spiritual hopelessness, in light of God's Word, was I able to finally see clearly. The truth, is that if any part of my salvation is dependent upon myself, I am without hope.

Yet, the Lord commands me to repent and believe, striving to love Him with all my heart, soul, mind, and strength; and to love my neighbor as myself. Paul understood this when he said, "I live, yet not I, but Christ...". But I can only sabotage - anything I touch, I poison. Due to my depraved, fallen state, I cannot, in and of myself, believe "correctly", respond to God "correctly", or persevere "correctly". It was not hubris that led me to Calvinism, but a true, biblical assessment of the self: that apart from Christ, I am dead, powerless, am nothing, and can do nothing. The doctrines of grace can best be summed up thusly: ALL OF SALVATION IS GOD'S DOING.

Salvation is truly of the Lord.

Consider the following scenario:

Joe and John both hear the Gospel. Joe is hostile to the message, rejecting it outright. Having rejected Jesus Christ, Joe goes to hell. John hears the same message Joe heard, but he receives it with joy. And persevering in the faith, John goes on to Life Eternal.

Was John better than Joe? Did John merely choose to have faith? And if so, why did not Joe choose to choose faith? People do not just choose for no reason. There has to be an inclination towards one choice or the other. If God bestows the same amount of grace upon both Joe and John, yet John accepts while Joe rejects, is not the saving difference something that is inherent in John?

When we read the Bible, we see it is clear that John accepted because John was given faith by God, drawn by the Father, being chosen by God. It had nothing to do with anything inside of John that was inherent to John. John 6:44 Ephesians 1:5 Romans 8:29 Acts 13:48

But it doesn't stop at salvation. The Bible teaches us that we must persevere in faith. This, too, is God's doing! John 10:29 Jude 1:24 Philippians 1:6

We know we are eternally secure, and have this confidence, not because we trust that we will continue on unto the end, but because we believe the promise of God. Friends, this is so vitally important. There is a rest to enter into, a ceasing from works, and an assurance of eternal life - but it can only come when we understand our own inability and rest firmly and securely in the promises of God. The Christian life is not easy - we must resist temptation and carry our cross daily. But those of us who have this assurance, having believed to the saving of the soul, will endure. And none will be lost. I encourage others, who are professing Christians, to lay claim to the promises of God, and realize, first and foremost, that without Christ, we can do nothing.

It's hard to give good examples that fairly shows how God's grace works. Some things may seem logical to us but it might not be how God works. In your example of Joe and John, was John saved because he was a better person than Joe. No! Why then was John saved, but not Joe. The simple truth is, we don't know. Why do some people growing up in poor families become criminals and others don't? Does a possible free will have anything to do with it? We don't know that either. At least we know that Joe was responsible for his choice to deny Christ and God was merciful enough to forgive John. The rest is a mystery.

 

[Sam Saved by Grace]

It's hard to give good examples that fairly shows how God's grace works. Some things may seem logical to us but it might not be how God works. In your example of Joe and John, was John saved because he was a better person than Joe. No! Why then was John saved, but not Joe. The simple truth is, we don't know. Why do some people growing up in poor families become criminals and others don't? Does a possible free will have anything to do with it? We don't know that either. At least we know that Joe was responsible for his choice to deny Christ and God was merciful enough to forgive John. The rest is a mystery.

I understand what you mean. There is definitely an unknowable mystery regarding how God's sovereignty over salvation and man's will and responsibility interact. But one thing I do know: I am no better than those who perish; there is nothing in me, or of me, that should distinguish me from the lost in regards to such a great salvation. Anything I have, God gave me. I was quickened while still dead.