Unconditional Election and Total Depravity are Gnostic Teachings
Unconditional Election and Total Depravity are Gnostic Teachings
Unconditional Election (Predestination), is the letter U in the acronym T.U.L.I.P that forms the basis of Calvinism.
The doctrine of Predestination asserts that some people are born already selected for salvation or damnation, which they cannot avoid even by good deeds in this life. For St. Augustine and John Calvin it is a divine mystery that God in His perfect justice makes the apparently gratuitous selection of the elect, with a parallel thought that He has made a similar selection of the damned “…those whom in His justice He has predestined to punishment,” and “those whom in His mercy He has predestined to grace.” –Augustine, Enchiridion c, p. 269
We can’t point fingers at John Calvin alone for this heretical teaching because he obtained it from Augustine’s writings. But where did Augustine get it from?
Prior to Augustine becoming a Christian in 387 AD he adhered to Manichaeism, an Iranian Gnostic religion proclaimed by their ‘prophet’ Mani (216-276 AD) originating in Sassanid Persia (Babylon). Shortly after Roman Emperor Theodosius I issued a decree of death for Manichaeans in 382 AD and declaring Christianity to be the only legitimate religion for the Roman Empire in 391, Augustine supposedly became an ardent opponent of Manichaeism however Manichaeism still influenced his thinking as can be seen with the idea of ‘The Elect’.
Mani divided his church into 2 groups; The Elect, The Hearers and then The Sinners.
- The Elect (perfects): those who had taken upon themselves the vows of Manicheaism
- The Hearers (auditores): those who had not taken vows, but still participated in the Church
- The Sinners: everyone else
Augustine was a Hearer as he never took the Manicheaism vows because he could not live up to their very strict standards (Confessions of Augustine). The life of those who took the vows was a hard one. They were forbidden to have property, to eat meat or drink wine, to gratify any sexual desire, to engage in any servile occupation, commerce or trade, to possess house or home, to practice magic, or to practice any other religion. Therefore the vast majority of adherents where Hearers and the number of Elect were very small. When the Elect die their bodies are purified by the sun, moon and the stars – their light particles set free to form little deities in the cosmos surrounding the First-man. The Hearers have to pass through a long purgatory before they arrive at eternal bliss. Sinners are thrown into hell, body and soul where they will wander around for eternity in torment and anguish, surrounded by demons and condemned by the angels.
Augustine said regarding Predestination:
“…are rather to understand the Scripture [1 Tim 2:4] as meaning that no man is saved unless God wills his salvation: not that there is no man whose salvation He does not will, but that no man is saved apart from His will…it was of prayer to God that the apostle was speaking when he used this expression.” …. “We may understand by ‘all men,’ every sort of men. And we may interpret it in any other way we please, so long as we are not compelled to believe that the omnipotent God has willed anything to be done which was not done.” –Augustine, Enchiridion, pg. 103
“…the resources of salvation are located in God, outside of humanity. It is God who initiates salvation, not men or women.” — McGrath, Alister E. Christian Theology: An Introduction. Blackwell Publishing, 2007. pg. 19
“God does not choose us because we believe, but that we may believe.” –Augustine, Predestination of the Saints 17.34
One can now see how easy it was for Augustine to mis-interpret scripture regarding predestination. He could not achieve Election in Manicheaism, but by twisting scripture he could be Elect in Christianity.
Mani also believed in Total Depravity (also called Total Inability), which forms the T in T.U.L.I.P, where he said;
“…the nature of man can be corrupt to the point that his will is powerless to obey God’s commands.” — Henry Chadwick, “The Early Church”, Penguin Books Ltd (August 1994), pg. 228.
Calvinism’s definition of Total Depravity asserts that, “as a consequence of the fall of man into sin, every person born into the world is enslaved to the service of sin. People are not by nature inclined to love God with their whole heart, mind, or strength, but rather all are inclined to serve their own interests over those of their neighbor and to reject the rule of God. Thus, all people by their own faculties are morally unable to choose to follow God and be saved because they are unwilling to do so out of the necessity of their own natures. (The term “total” in this context refers to sin affecting every part of a person, not that every person is as evil as possible.) [Emphasis added] –-David Steele and Curtis Thomas, “The Five Points of Calvinism Defined, Defended, Documented”, pg. 25.
Augustine said that;
Adam and Eve in punishment for their sin “became a natural consequence in all their descendants”. Moreover, it is not just a corrupted physical nature that we have inherited from Adam, but our… “human nature was so changed and vitiated that it suffers from the recalcitrance of a rebellious concupiscence….” –City of God, xiii. pg. 3
We can now too see why Augustine believed such an erroneous doctrine. In order for Election to work, man would have to be totally depraved or incapable of initiating any contact with God unless God chooses the person first.
Both Total Depravity and Election are 2 Gnostic teachings and even though Augustine opposed Manichaesim he did not divorce himself from their doctrines.
“The Gnostics [placed]…the natural order at so vast a distance in moral value from the supreme God. The influence of fatalistic ideas drawn from popular astrology and magic became fused with notions derived from Pauline language about predestination to produce a rigidly deterministic scheme. Redemption was from destiny, not from the consequences of responsible action, and was granted to a pre-determined elect in whom alone was the divine spark.” [Emphasis added] — Henry Chadwick, “The Early Church”, Penguin Books Ltd (August 1994), pg. 38
Election was a NEW concept and had not been heard of in Christianity before until Augustine introduced the idea. He had many opponents who rebuked him and his false doctrines.
Julian bishop of Eclanum, said that Augustine was causing trouble because he;
“brought his Manichee ways of thinking into the church… and was denying St Paul’s clear teaching that God wills all men to be saved‘ — Henry Chadwick, “The Early Church”, Penguin Books Ltd (1994), pg. 232-3
Vincent of Lérins said that of Predestination;
“…a most disturbing innovation, quite out of line with ‘orthodoxy'”. — Henry Chadwick, “The Early Church”, Penguin Books Ltd (1994), pg. 223
The following men agreed in the Biblical teaching of free will:
JUSTIN MARTYR (c.100-165 A.D.) said;
Dialogue with Trypho, CXLI:
“God, wishing men and angels to follow His will, resolved to create them free to do righteousness. But if the word of God foretells that some angels and men shall certainly be punished, it did so because it foreknew that they would be unchangeably (wicked), but not because God created them so. So if they repent all who wish for it can obtain mercy from God.”
IRENAEUS of Gaul (c.130-200) said;
Against Heresies XXXVII:
“This expression, ‘How often would I have gathered thy children together, and thou wouldst not,’ set forth the ancient law of human liberty, because God made man a free (agent) from the beginning, possessing his own soul to obey the behests of God voluntarily, and not by compulsion of God. For there is no coercion with God, but a good will (toward us) is present with Him continually. And therefore does He give good counsel to all. And in man as well as in angels, He has placed the power of choice (for angels are rational beings), so that those who had yielded obedience might justly possess what is good, given indeed by God, but preserved by themselves . . .”
“If then it were not in our power to do or not to do these things, what reason had the apostle, and much more the Lord Himself, to give counsel to do some things and to abstain from others? But because man is possessed of free-will from the beginning, and God is possessed of free-will in whose likeness man was created, advice is always given to him to keep fast the good, which thing is done by means of obedience to God.”
ATHENAGORAS of Athens (2nd century) said;
Embassy for Christians XXIV:
“Just as with men who have freedom of choice as to both virtue and vice (for you would not either honor the good or punish the bad; unless vice and virtue were in their own power, and some are diligent in the matters entrusted to them, and others faithless), so is it among the angels.
THEOPHILUS of Antioch (2nd century) said;
To Autolycus XXVII:
“For God made man free, and with power over himself . . . now God vouch safes to him as a gift through His own philanthropy and pity, when men obey Him. For as man, disobeying, drew death on himself; so, obeying the will of God, he who desires is able to procure for himself life everlasting.”
TATIAN of Syria (flourished late 2nd century) said;
Address XI:
“Why are you ‘fated’ to grasp at things often, and often to die? Die to the world, repudiating the madness that is in it. Live to God, and by apprehending Him lay aside your old nature. We were not created to die, but we die by our own fault. Our free-will has destroyed us; we who were free have become slaves; we have been sold through sin. Nothing evil has been created by God; we ourselves have manifested wickedness; but we, who have manifested it, are able again to reject it.”
BARDAISAN of Syria (c.154-222) said;
Fragments:
” ‘How is it that God did not so make us that we should not sin and incur condemnation?’
-if man had been made so, he would not have belonged to himself but would have been the instrument of him that moved him . . . And how, in that case, would a man differ from a harp, on which another plays; or from a ship, which another guides: where the praise and the blame reside in the hand of the performer or the steersman . . . they being only instruments made for the use of him in whom is the skill? But God, in His benignity, chose not so to make man; but by freedom He exalted him above many of His creatures.”
CLEMENT of Alexandria (c.150-215) said;
Stromata Bk ii ch. 4:
“But we, who have heard by the Scriptures that self-determining choice and refusal have been given by the Lord to men, rest in the infallible criterion of faith, manifesting a willing spirit, since we have chosen life and believe God through His voice.”
Stromata Bk iv ch. 12:
“But nothing is without the will of the Lord of the universe. It remains to say that such things happen without the prevention of God; for this alone saves both the providence and the goodness of God. We must not therefore think that He actively produces afflictions (far be it that we should think this!); but we must be persuaded that He does not prevent those that cause them, but overrules for good the crimes of His enemies.”
In Stromata, Bk ii ch 2, CLEMENT argues strongly that “faith is not established by demonstration.” Faith involves a choice and “choice is the beginning of action.”
TERTULLIAN of Carthage (c.155-225) said;
Against Marcion Book II ch.5:
“I find, then, that man was by God constituted free, master of his own will and power; indicating the presence of God’s image and likeness in him by nothing so well as by this constitution of his nature . . .
-you will find that when He sets before man good and evil, life and death, that the entire course of discipline is arranged in precepts by God’s calling men from sin, and threatening and exhorting them; and by this on no other ground than that man is free, with a will either for obedience or resistance.
. . . Since therefore, both the goodness and purpose of God are discovered in the gift to man of freedom in his will . . .
NOVATIAN of Rome (c.200-258) said;
On the Trinity ch 1:
“He also placed man at the head of the world, and man, too, made in the image of God, to whom He imparted mind, and reason, and foresight, that he might imitate God; and although the first elements of his body were earthly, yet the substance was inspired by a heavenly and divine breathing. And when He had given him all things for his service, He willed that he alone should be free. And lest, again, and unbounded freedom should fall into peril, He laid down a command, in which man was taught that there was no evil in the fruit of the tree; but he was forewarned that evil would arise if perchance he should exercise his freewill in contempt of the law that was given.”
ORIGEN (c.185-254) said;
De Principiis Preface:
“Now it ought to be known that the holy apostles, in preaching the faith of Christ, delivered themselves with the utmost clearness on certain points which they believed to be necessary to everyone . . . This also is clearly defined in the teaching of the church that every rational soul is possessed of free-will and volition.”
De principiis Bk 3 ch. 1:
“There are, indeed, innumerable passages in the Scriptures which establish with exceeding clearness the existence of freedom of will.”
METHODIUS of Olympus (c.260-martyred 311) said;
The Banquet of the Ten Virgins xvi:
“Now those who decide that man is not possessed of free-will, and affirm that he is governed by the unavoidable necessities of fate . . . are guilty of impiety toward God Himself, making Him out to be the cause and author of human evils.”
Concerning Free-will:
“I say that man was made with free-will, not as if there were already existing some evil, which he had the power of choosing if he wished . . . but that the power of obeying and disobeying God is the only cause.”
ARCHELAUS said;
The Disputation with Manes:
“For all creatures that God made, He made very good, and He gave to every individual the sense of free-will in accordance with which standard He also instituted the law of judgment. To sin is ours, and that we sin not is God’s gift, as our will is constituted to choose either to sin or not to sin.”
ARNOBIUS of Sicca (c.253-327) said;
Against the Heathen: 64
“I reply: does not He free all alike who invites all alike? Or does He thrust back or repel any one from the kindness of the Supreme who gives to all alike the power of coming to Him? To all, He says, the fountain of life is open, and no one is hindered or kept back from drinking . . . ”
Against the Heathen: 65
“Nay, my opponent says, if God is powerful, merciful, willing to save us, let Him change our dispositions, and compel us to trust in His promises. This then, is violence, not kindness nor the bounty of the Supreme God, but a childish and vain strife in seeking to get the mastery. For what is so unjust as to force men who are reluctant and unworthy, to reverse their inclinations; to impress forcibly on their minds what they are unwilling to receive, and shrink from . . .”
CYRIL of Jerusalem (c. 312-386) said;
Lecture IV 18:
“Know also that thou hast a soul self governed, the noblest work of God, made after the image of its Creator, immortal because of God that gives it immortality, a living being rational, imperishable, because of Him that bestowed these gifts: having free power to do what it willeth.”
Lecture IV 20:
“There is not a class of souls sinning by nature and a class of souls practising righteousness by nature; but both act from choice, the substance of their souls being of one kind only and alike in all.”
Lecture IV 21:
“The soul is self-governed: and though the Devil can suggest, he has not the power to compel against the will. He pictures to thee the thought of fornication: if thou wilt, thou rejectest. For if thou wert a fornicator of necessity then for what cause did God prepare hell? If thou wert a doer of righteousness by nature and not by will, wherefore did God prepare crowns of ineffable glory? The sheep is gentle, but never was it crowned for its gentleness; since its gentle quality belongs to it not from choice but by nature.”
GREGORY of Nyssa (c.335-395) said;
On Virginity (368/3G8) ch. XII:
“Being the image and the likeness . . . of the Power which rules all things, man kept also in the matter of a free-will this likeness to Him whose will is over all.”
JEROME (c.347-420) said;
Letters CXXXIII:
“It is in vain that you misrepresent me and try to convince the ignorant that I condemn free-will. Let him who condemns it be himself condemned. We have been created endowed with free-will; still it is not this which distinguishes us from the brutes. For human free-will, as I said, depends upon the help of God and needs His aid moment by moment, a thing which you and yours do not choose to admit. Your position is that once a man has free-will he no longer needs the help of God. It is true that freedom of the will brings with it freedom of decision. Still man does not act immediately on his free-will but requires God’s aid who Himself needs no aid.”
Against the Pelagians Book III, 10:
“But when we are concerned with grace and mercy, free-will is in part void; in part, I say, for so much depends upon it, that we wish and desire, and give assent to the course we choose. But it depends on God whether we have the power in His strength and with His help to perform what we desire, and to bring to effect our toil and effort.”
JOHN CHRYSOSTOM (347-407) said;
On Hebrews, Homily 12:
“All is in God’s power, but so that our free-will is not lost . . . It depends therefore on us and on Him. We must first choose the good, and then He adds what belongs to Him. He does not precede our willing, that our free-will may not suffer. But when we have chosen, then He affords us much help . . . It is ours to choose beforehand and to will, but God’s to perfect and bring to the end.”
As we can see they all believed in free will, except Augustine. This idea was then carried over to John Calvin and today Predestination and Total Depravity form part of the base doctrine of Calvinism.
While I was doing my research I found this youtube video by Paul Washer from Heart Cry Missionary Society who is also an ardent Amillennialist (A Roman Catholic doctirine) and dabbler in Contemplative Spirituality. Paul Washer asserts that an 18th month old baby is totally and utterly evil. How Paul Washer can make such a statement is beyond reason. I suppose when you are ‘Divinely Chosen’ you can say the most ludicrous things. This is a very shocking video.
John Calvin’s reign of terror:
- He had Servetus burned at the stake on October 27, 1553,
- Gentile beheaded in 1566,
- 34 women burned at the stake after accusing them of being witches who caused a plague that had swept through Geneva in 1545,
- “Freckles” Dunant dies under torture in February 1545 without admitting to the crime of spreading the plague,
- Several men and women are apprehended including a barber and a hospital supervisor who had “made a pact with the devil.” in 1545,
- 2 women executed by burning at the stake for sorcery by spreading the plague in March 7, 1545,
- Belot (an Anabaptist) chained and tortured – against infant baptism in 1545,
- 7 men executed concerning the plague outbreak in May 16, 1545,
- a child was whipped publicly for calling his mother a thief,
- a girl who struck her parents was beheaded,
- Jacques Gruet accused of writing a poster against Calvin, was arrested, tortured then executed in July 1546,
- and the list goes on, his victims ranging in age from 16-80.
If John Calvin was Elect, then so was Hitler! 58 murders is as good as 6 million.
John MacArthur and Grace to You ministries has this to say regarding Predestination:
I love the doctrines of grace and don’t shy away from the label “Calvinist.” I believe in the sovereignty of God. I’m convinced Scripture teaches that God is completely sovereign not only in salvation (effectually calling and granting faith to those whom He chooses); but also in every detail of the outworking of Providence. –“Why I am A Calvinist” — Phil Johnson, Grace to You ministries, http://www.gty.org/Resources/Articles/10194
The Five Points of Calvinism: Defined, Defended and Documented
Afterward by John MacArthur
I am thankful for this timely revision of wonderful classic that has already been an immense blessing to countless thousands. Notwithstanding its success over the years, the only question that ultimately matters about the “five points of Calvinism” is whether these doctrines are biblical. This book has demonstrated (conclusively, in my judgment) that the “five points” are nothing more or less than what the Bible teaches. The doctrines of grace and divine sovereignty are the very lifeblood of the full and free salvation promised in the gospel.
Today Calvinism is being subjected to constant attack. Several recent, popular, published critiques have tried to discredit John Calvin the man, or they have unfairly blamed Calvinism for the dubious politics of the Reformation era. But the doctrines of Calvinistic soteriology must stand or fall by the test of Scripture, period.
Scripture speaks with absolute, unmistakable clarity on these vital issues: (1) Sinners are utterly helpless to redeem themselves or to contribute anything meritorious toward their own salvation (Rom 8:7-8). (2) God is sovereign in the exercise of His saving Will (Eph 1:4-5). (3) Christ died as a substitute who bore the full weight of God’s wrath on behalf of His people, and his atoning work is efficacious for their salvation (Isa. 53:5). (4) God’s saving purpose cannot be thwarted (John 6:37), meaning none of Christ’s true sheep will ever be lost (John 10:27-29). That is because (5) God assures the perseverance of His elect (Jude 24; Phil 1:6; 1 Peter 1:5).
Those are the five points of Calvinism. I believe them not because of their historical pedigree, but because that is what Scripture teaches.
John F. MacArthur Jr.
— http://www.monergism.com/thethreshold/articles/onsite/MacArthur_5pts.html
Well John MacArthur, your Calvinistic version of Salvation falls and it falls hard!
The correct Biblical interpretation is this:
- CONDITIONAL ELECTION – God has chosen that all humanity be righteous by His grace, yet has called us to respond to that grace by exercising our God restored human freedom as a condition of fulfilling election.
- DEPRAVATION – Human beings are sinful and without God, incapable (deprived) on their own of being righteous; however, they are not irredeemably sinful and can be transformed by God’s grace; God’s prevenient grace restores to humanity the freedom of will.
Jesus Christ died for ALL mankind, not just for the Gnostic Elect.
Calvinism is not the gospel as Calvinists would love to have you believe. Calvinism is a horribly devious doctrine in that it sounds biblically correct for the most part, until you reach the MOST IMPORTANT PART: Salvation. Here you are presented with Predestination and Total Depravity; teachings out of the pit of hell. If a person is locked into a false sense of salvation, then Satan has done his job well.
UPDATES: Please see this article that EXPOSES John Calvin as a FREEMASON: Huguenots, John Calvin and Freemasonry
Deborah
Have you actually studied what Scripture says concering the issue of election? Or have you limited your “research” to the internet? If so, I’d be interested in your exposition of passages like Deut 7:6-8 (Seems the other nations’ free wills were not considered in the matter). Maybe post us your exposition of Rom 3, 9; Eph 1.
Thanks
James
James
Yes I have. And if you interpret it incorrectly because you don’t read the entire passage in context then it’s not my concern. Go read it and see for yourself.
Deut 7:6-8 is for the Israelites ONLY as a chosen people UNDER LAW. Under the old covenant. Are you still under law James? Are you an Israelite? Nope. There is a difference between Old and New Covenants. Which covenant are you under?
But most importantly, God chose the Israelites because they were the only people at the time who were God fearing (after the fact). The Israelites will remain a chosen people because God made a promise to them and He will keep his promise. But an Israelite until he/she has accepted Jesus Christ as their Saviour at the moment under the New Covenant is an unbeliever. Jesus died for the sins of ALL mankind.
I think it speaks for itself that you need to go and read those verses you gave me again by yourself and figure it out – it’s not difficult.
James
Lets look at:
Ephesians 1
1PAUL, AN apostle (special messenger) of Christ Jesus (the Messiah), by the divine will (the purpose and the choice of God) to the saints (the consecrated, set-apart ones) [a]at Ephesus who are also faithful and loyal and steadfast in Christ Jesus..
When you are born again James, you become part of the chosen, first you get saved, then you become a child of God (not the other way around). Paul is a born again, righteous Apostle, faithful, loyal, mighty man…who is consecrated and part of the ones set aside because….he is born again. Notice that Paul is also chosen by God (after he was saved) to be a messenger to the Saints.
Did you read the article properly? The same for Romans 3,9. You are putting your cart before your horse.
Do you understand the difference between Unconditional Election vs Conditional Election?
Deborah
Would you please, from the Deut 7 text, or any other text for that matter, explain this statement you made: “But most importantly, God chose the Israelites because they were the only people at the time who were God fearing (after the fact).”
Thanks
James
James
What’s so difficult to understand about it? Abraham loved God, there were no others who were God fearing (read the Tower of Babel) – therefore He chose them as His people and He made a promise to them.
God calls Abram for his faithfulness!
Genesis 12:1-3
12:1 Now the Lord said to Abram, “Go from your country and your kindred and your father’s house to the land that I will show you. 2 And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. 3 I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”
Genesis 15:18
On that day the Lord made a covenant with Abram, saying, “To your offspring I give this land, from the river of Egypt to the great river, the river Euphrates,
Deuteronomy 28:1-68
“And if you faithfully obey the voice of the Lord your God, being careful to do all his commandments that I command you today, the Lord your God will set you high above all the nations of the earth. And all these blessings shall come upon you and overtake you, if you obey the voice of the Lord your God. Blessed shall you be in the city, and blessed shall you be in the field. Blessed shall be the fruit of your womb and the fruit of your ground and the fruit of your cattle, the increase of your herds and the young of your flock. Blessed shall be your basket and your kneading bowl. …
James
I updated that one comment of mine so you might have to re-read it.
James
But you are confusing Israelites being chosen as a Nation vs the individuals being chosen to go to heaven. Just because God loves Israel does not mean he didn’t have cities of them killed Himself because of their disobedience and it certainly does not mean that they are all in heaven, oh no.
Debs you are exactly right. Israel’s election was corporate, not individual.
This error is being touted by John Hagee, a well-known advocate for the nation of Israel. That is a good thing except for the fact that he believes that it is not necessary to share the Gospel with Jews as apparently God will flip a switch and convert them all en masse.
A for instance: he has conservative talk show host Dennis Prager speak in his church and in a recent interview he introduced Prager as a “Jewish theologian”. Hagee is not a calvinist, but this is a twisted form of TULIP he is applying to Jewish people. He is the polar opposite of the Replacement Theology folks.
BL
And just when you thought it could not get any worse.
Deborah
What were the consequences, for the “other nations” of God choosing the Israelites for His “special people”? (And no, I am definitely not a Hagee fan, which you seem to assume to aviod the question). Do you mean to tell me that God chose the Israelites, because they were obeying His Law (which He only gave them only AFTER their exodus from Egypt)? How did they manage that?
I still don’t see you giving a careful exegesis and exposition of any Scripture, the ones mentioned above or otherwise. You claim to have studied Scripture as part of your research. Please share with me what you’ve found. Not merely restating your own opinion, based on the opinion of other people. Surely we need to have our opinions informed by Scripture alone?
Surely you looked at all references in Scripture to the terms election, chosen, predestined, grace etc. Surely you’ve made sure how each writer of Scripture used those words, the context they were placed in, use of grammar etc.
For example:
Eph 1:4
Author: Paul. Audience: Saints (Believers) at Ephesus
4 just as (He chose us)(Main sentence subject HE-God, verb CHOSE (Greek eklegomai, meaning: to pick out, choose, to pick or choose out for one’s self, US (in context, again believers)in Him (WHEN?) before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him. In love
There doesn’t seem to be any indication here of ANY condition(s) for God choosing believers based on anything they did to merit this. In fact, in the second chapter Paul explains in verses 5, 8 and 9 that we have been saved by “grace”, NOT based on anything we have done.
Maybe make time and take a serious look at Romans 9.
If you claim that you are serious about Scripture as you claim on your About this Blog page, then you must have done this study. IN Scripture, seeing what Scripture says, as you yourself say, “only one interpretation”.
Thanks
James
James
Oh boy, you have avoided all my questions and now expect me to answer your questions which I have already answered only because you don’t understand it and then get cheeky. James, be nice to this reprobate ok? I don’t take lightly to Gnostic Elects.
Debs, there seems to be a common thread running through those of Reformed/Calvinist belief. They seem to be intellectually inclined and unable to grasp the simple truths of the Bible and accept them for what they are.
I can’t help but wonder if this “James” is James White who prides himself with degrees and titles and loves to grind people up in debates. Not every Calvinist is this puffed up, but they are staunch as a wet rag in an Artic breeze – minds set in concrete. They are false teachers just as much as any of the others but so under the radar.
BL
LOLOLOL That was funny.
No this guy is from SA. But your wandering is not that far off re; the titles, degrees und big wordz ja?
James
Ephesians chapter 1
Eph 1:4 = US
Eph 1:13 = YOU
Does this help?
With the intention of helping some more – chapter Eph 6:12 = WE
Having to get to grips with Eph 2:11-13 cannot be avoided and may give an answer to your question in your first sentence/ question.
Deborah,
What is your understanding of Romans 9:14-26? God took pleasure in “choosing” some for destruction and some for salvation i.e Jacob/Esau, Isaac/Ishmael… Do you think God “chooses” only some Jews, but all Gentiles? Just curious???
Mom4truth
It is not wise to read a verse or a group of verses apart from the the whole council of God. Romans 9 HAS TO UNDER NO UNCERTAIN TERMS be read in context with the the entire bible. Again, God’s FOREKNOWLEDGE is the key to the answer here. God knew before they were born the course each child would take. Thereby He could love Jacob and hate Esau – not because He chose the one to be good and the other evil, but because He knew what they were going to turn out like before they were born. God knows ‘the end from the beginning’ Isaiah 46:10 (Amplified Bible) 10Declaring the end and the result from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all My pleasure and purpose,”
If only people would understand this SIMPLE SIMPLE FACT. But you see, they don’t want too, because it’s easier to think one is chosen than to have to repent of sin and change your ways and remove vile doctrines from ones thinking!
What makes any individual think they are chosen? How did they find this out? Did they get a special letter telling them they are? Do they also get a letter telling them they are condemned to hell?
The book Debating Calvinism by James White and Dave Hunt gives back to back arguments on Tulip. A must read for anyone with questions…..and enough exegesis by James White and counter exegesis by Dave Hunt. Dr William Lane Craig also has excellent “Defenders” lessons ( on his website – Reasonable Faith) and his classes on ” The Doctrine of God” explains the sovereignty and omniscience and foreknwoledge of God so well that it’s quite beneficial to listen. Freewill is a gift from God, we choose him and that takes nothing away from the omnipotence of God.
I wasn’t being sarcastic, I was really asking. I completely understand your point, and I believe those who would argue that they don’t need to repent or that they are somehow special is an abuse of God’s grace. I think there are truly valid points on both sides. My husband and I dialogue about this regularly. I agree that God knows in advance the path of someone’s life (therefore I think He can better “stomach” Joshua killing men, women, AND children because He foreknew their evil deeds. He also knows now when someone has a newborn what that newborn would do in the future. His emotions are perfect, so He doesn’t get manipulated by them and can thereby impose judgment even on them (in a sense). I also see valid arguments for chosen vessels, some being fitted for destruction. I guess the argument is: are some actually chosen for destruction, or does God know all their future deeds and imposes destruction upon them? I see it both ways…
mom4truth
Nope, I didn’t think you were being sarcastic. I just answered it like you ‘were curious’ lol. The second comment about the letter was just a general comment to anyone who can tell me how they know they are chosen.
>> I also see valid arguments for chosen vessels, some being fitted for destruction. I guess the argument is: are some actually chosen for destruction, or does God know all their future deeds and imposes destruction upon them?
He knows their future deeds and imposes destruction upon them.
Zelda
Oh lovely, thank you!
Somehow I think we have wandered from the main point. Some questions we will never know completely in this life and speculating on them can be interesting, but of little benefit.
The bottom line is the crux of the tenets of the TULIP. That is the main point. Calvinists believe we do not have freedom of choice in our salvation while Calvinists believe it is cut and dried and locked in. They believe that Christ did not die for all, only the elect. They believe that if God has his mark on you that you WILL receive Him with no choice in the matter.
Those are the central issues – yes, God is sovereign and yes, He knows the end from the beginning. We don’t understand this side of heaven how all that works, but we do know all we need to know to tell the difference between true and false doctrine.
Zelda, I would rather recommend Dave Hunt’s book “What Love is This?” It covers everything from A to Z in a fair manner. The book you recommend is okay, but personally I wouldn’t put any stock in anything White has to say. The way he pounds people in a debate and flaunts his superior knowledge is disconcerting to say the least.
I have the DVD- What Love is This. James White does seem to play the man rather than the ball. I grew up reformed and when I began to question the matter of predestination it felt as if I was up against a wall …..so the 2 arguments back to back was quite helpful in solidifying (?) my understanding. And yes, they are quite arrogant and seem to convey that you don’t have the “necessary knowledge” to understand and that you actually shouldn’t question the doctrines that you were taught in Sundayschool/cathecism. Now I question everything!!!!!!
Thank you Zelda – thank the Lord you found the truth! Blessings to you!
“If John Calvin was Elect, then so was Hitler! 58 murders is as good as 6 million.”
—This is a ridiculous, absurd statement.
Frank
Murder is murder my dear friend. 1 murder is a sin, 6 million murders is a sin. John Calvin believed he was ELECT. If that’s what Elect’s do, MURDER, then Hitler must have been Elect too.
Talk about depravity – Mark Driscoll’s Acts 29 church planting group has a checkered and controversial past and it sounds like they are continuing in the same emergent mode. Apparently this “cool” church is acceptable to Driscoll’s Calvinist pals – John Piper, Rick Warren, R.C. Sproule, etc. Surprise! Surprise!
Planting a Church in a Gay Bar in the Bible Belt
Read this from Romans 9 KJV, I would use the NKJV but this is what I had avialable:
Is there unrighteousness in God? Why do you question His Word?
Rom 9:11 (For the children being not yet born, neither having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works, but of him that calleth;)
Rom 9:12 It was said unto her, The elder shall serve the younger.
Rom 9:13 As it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated.
Rom 9:14 What shall we say then? Is there unrighteousness with God? God forbid.
Rom 9:15 For he saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion.
Rom 9:16 So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy.
Rom 9:17 For the scripture saith unto Pharaoh, Even for this same purpose have I raised thee up, that I might shew my power in thee, and that my name might be declared throughout all the earth.
Rom 9:18 Therefore hath he mercy on whom he will have mercy, and whom he will he hardeneth.
Rom 9:19 Thou wilt say then unto me, Why doth he yet find fault? For who hath resisted his will?
Rom 9:20 Nay but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, Why hast thou made me thus?
Rom 9:21 Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour?
Rom 9:22 What if God, willing to shew his wrath, and to make his power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction:
Rom 9:23 And that he might make known the riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy, which he had afore prepared unto glory,
Rom 9:24 Even us, whom he hath called, not of the Jews only, but also of the Gentiles?
Rom 9:25 As he saith also in Osee, I will call them my people, which were not my people; and her beloved, which was not beloved.
Rom 9:26 And it shall come to pass, that in the place where it was said unto them, Ye are not my people; there shall they be called the children of the living God.
Look up the word “draw” here in verse 44 in the original language, you might find it shocking–it means literally to drag.
Joh 6:43 Jesus therefore answered and said unto them, Murmur not among yourselves.
Joh 6:44 No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.
Joh 6:45 It is written in the prophets, And they shall be all taught of God. Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me.