S A L V A T I O N (Election)
WHAT YOU THINK ABOUT ELECTION WILL DETERMINE WHAT YOU THINK ABOUT GOD. .
(That's why this study is important).
The purpose of this paper is to discuss some of the problems with the Calvinistic Doctrine and the Arminian Doctrine, and offer an alternative, the Calminian Doctrine.
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Arminian Doctrine: Election is based on God's foreknowledge of man's continual faith in Christ.
ROM 8:29. Eph 1:4. 2 PET 1:10
There is common Grace for all people. Christ died for all.
The Holy Spirit works in the unbeliever's life. Romans 1:19 John 16:8 .
When a person believes in Christ, He is put in a kind of holding tank, he will eventually be saved if his life, on this earth meets God's standard.
If it does not, he is taken out of the holding tank and is back where he started, without Christ. This process may happen a number of times within a persons life. (In the tank out of the tank, in-out, only death will have the final say.}
Violating Heb 6:4-6. Rom 11:29
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Calvinistic Doctrine: can be divided into two groups.
Group #1. God elects some to be saved and reprobate all others.
Which means He will not elect them.
Christ died only for the elect. Matt 1:21. John 10:5. Gal 3:13
Salvation is totally of God; even the believing that man does is a work of God.
Some within this group go as far as believing that regeneration occurs without the knowledge of the one it is occurring in. (Regeneration is when one becomes indwelt with Holy Spirit...Saved) Only after regeneration does one place their faith in Christ as their savior, which could be minutes, hours, days, weeks, or months after regeneration according to this view.
Group #2. God elects those who do believe and leaves in just condemnation those who do not believe. Christ died for all people. Rom 1:16. 1 Tim 2:3-6. 1 Tim 4:10. Heb 2:9
Salvation is totally of God, and believing is a personal positive response to the work of Christ.
Salvation is a result of the Holy Spirit working in a special way in a person's life that causes him to want to believe.
All people the Holy Spirit chooses to work in, will believe.
All people the Holy Spirit chooses not to work in, won't believe.
Eph 1:11
Now with the Calminian Doctrine:
Election is based on God's foreknowledge of man's faith in Christ.
2 Thess 2:13 ...
"because God has chosen you from the beginning for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and faith in the truth"
We know He knows...
We know He reasons...
We know He decides.
There is common Grace for all people. Christ died for all people.
The Holy Spirit works in the unbelievers life.
Romans 1:19. John 16:8
Salvation is totally of God,
and believing is a personal positive response to the work of Christ. John 5:24. John 10:27-29
God has given man the opportunity to respond to the work of Christ.
He may do so either positively or negatively.
When man responds positively, He becomes eternally saved I John 5:13 indwelt with the Holy Spirit, sealed till the day of redemption in Christ by the promise of the Holy Spirit. Eph 1:13 Eph 4:30
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Arminian Doctrine:
Has the problem of the individual's salvation being established by his continual ability to keep the faith. Knowing whether he is in the faith, or not, is always tied to what he is doing or not doing. Therefore, if he performs correctly, he will be saved and if he does not he will be lost.
This position is in opposition to Rom 8:30
where the number justified is the same number as glorified.
The Arminian becomes his own savior.
Since Christ has done everything else.
(It is a doctrine of works, He works on keeping the faith by his accomplishments).
Many of the verses Arminian's use to support their Doctrine can easily be explained just by looking at the verse in context.
Arminians need to understand that the Bible speaks very clearly of religious people who think they are saved, when in reality they are not, there are many verses that refer to these people.
Many of the verses Arminians use to support their view will annul with this understanding.
It is evident these false believers attempt to weave themselves in with the true believers.
The writers of the New Testament speak to the Churches, with this understanding, putting the reader in the position of always taking this principle into consideration when interpreting the Bible.
2 Corinth 13:5-6. 1 John 2:19. 2 Corinth 11:13. Titus 1:10-11 (See Jim Webber's paper on TRUE BELIEVERS - FALSE BELIEVERS).
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Calvinistic Doctrine:
God decrees all things to happen
and within the sphere of events
He without reason Personally picks a few souls.
The rest are tortured in Hell for eternity.
This view calls into question the love and character of God,
the harmony of the scriptures, and the purpose and work of Christ.
In the Calvinistic Doctrine,
it appears that God places little value on the human race,
which is inconsistent with the Scriptures.
Revelation 20:12 "and the dead were judged from the things which were written in the books, according to their deeds.
To judge a person according to his deeds, implies the person is responsible for his deeds.
To hold someone responsible for their deeds,
means the person had the ability to perform in some other manner.
The Calvinistic Doctrines,
do not allow for that to happen,
and they make the Great White Throne Judgment, ridiculous.
It's like holding someone responsible for their heart beating
and sending them to eternal hell because of it,
all the time knowing there is nothing they can do about it.
Commanding them to change, knowing they can't.
Calvinistic Doctrine:
The verses Calvinists use, they assume,
can only be understood,
one way, their way.
In the case of salvation, a number of very complex things occur.
NOTE: . "Depravity"
Does not have to mean, as Calvinist teach
man cannot respond to God,
unless God makes man respond to Him.
An atheist knows what a lie is and can choose not to lie, or steel, or murder. An atheist has a free will and when I tell him to Trust Jesus and repent, he has the ability through his free will to Trust Jesus. Yet if he does not take my advise and Trust Jesus because of his separation from Christ (depravity} he will be fairly judged based on his deeds and shown to be lacking in Gods Holy standard and thrown into the lake of fire.
"Foreknowledge" Does not have to mean
God foreknew without reasons.
"Election" Does not have to occur before
"foreknowledge."
Different things can occur simultaneously
and they all can be true, since time is not involved.
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Calminian Doctrine:
They believe salvation is of God.
They believe God requires a positive response to the work of Christ.
Man's ability to choose is neither good nor bad by nature.
Man is depraved by nature.
His choices are determined by the data he comes in contact with.
When he hears the Good News, he has new data.
He can either respond positively or negatively to the new data.
Calminians believe that from the beginning of the Bible to the end,
Man is admonished by God to use his ability to choose.
They do not believe, mans choice to respond to God is a work.
They base that on Romans 4:5
"But to the one who does not work, but believes in Him who justifies the ungodly,
his faith is reckoned as righteousness.
(Not God's Faith, his Faith)
This is a one time act for all eternity.
Once it occurs the Holy Spirit indwells you,
He seals you for all eternity
and provides for you the ability to live a Holy life. 1 Corth 1:30
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6 Points to think over.
POINT #1
1). 2 Corth 4:3-4
"And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. In whose case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelieving, that they might not see the light of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God."
This verse teaches Satan has blinded the unbelievers minds, so they cannot see.
Believing is possible once the blinding is lifted.
Jesus is the light of the world.
The question is how can they get unblinded?
"To see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God."
Romans 10:13-15
13) for "WHOEVER WILL CALL UPON THE NAME OF THE LORD WILL SE SAVED."
14) How then shall they call upon Him whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher?
Yes, the Preacher with the Word of God in hand can cut through the veil,
so the ones who are perishing, can see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ.
1 Cor 9:21-22
22 To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak; I have become all things to all men, that I may by all means save some.
HEBREWS 4:12
For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.
EPHESIANS 6:17 ...
AND the sword of the Spirit, which is the WORD OF GOD.
(WHICH CAN CUT Through THE SATANIC BLINDNESS)
Romans 10:17
So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ. 1 Corth 15:11
Whether than it was I or they, so we preach and so you believed.
Romans 1:16
For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to every one who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.
I Corth 1:21
It pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.
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The question is: "When they see the light can they reject it"?
Calvinism says NO!
We know that after a person becomes a believer he can grieve the Holy Spirit,
Eph 4:30...
He can also quench the Holy Spirit,
1 Thess 5:19 ...
IF AFTER WHY NOT BEFORE?
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POINT #2
2). Jesus says,
speaking of the Holy Spirit:
John 16:8
"And He, when He comes, will convict the world concerning sin, and righteousness, and judgment;
What would be the point of convicting the world of sin,
if the Holy Spirit has already rejected the people of the world?
(As Calvinism teaches)
(God's partiality is the very essence of Calvinistic Doctrine.)
Calvinistic doctrine makes God out to be inconsistent and mocks him.
If God knew most men could not be saved,
because God had not picked them,
how could God desire all men to be saved.
1 Timothy 2:4
"who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth."
2 Peter 3:9
"not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance."
The LORD GOD
would have known He had only picked a very small number
of people to be saved. Does it seem reasonable
that God would wish against His own elected decree?
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POINT #3
. .. 3). Ezekiel 3:18
"When I say to the wicked, You shall surely die; and you do not warn him or speak out to warn the wicked from his wicked way that he may live, that wicked man shall die in his iniquity, but his blood I will require at your hand."
This text shows
the same man could either die in his iniquity, or live. Paul refers to this text:
Acts 18:6 "Your blood be upon your own heads!"
Acts 20:26 "I am innocent of the blood of all men."
Calvinistic Doctrine does not allow for this option.
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POINT #4
4). John 8:24
"I said therefore to you, that you shall die in your sins;
for unless you believe that I am He, you shall die in your sins." We have a case here of Christ speaking to the unsaved
informing them they have the option to believe or die in their sins.
Calvinistic Doctrine does not allow for this option.
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POINT #5
5). John 3:18
"He who believes in Him is not judged; he who does not believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God."
How can a person be told to believe,
and if he does not believe, he has been judged for his not believing,
when there is no legitimate way he could have believed?
The Calvinistic Doctrines would require this proposition.
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POINT #6
6). Eph 2:6-7;
and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in heavenly places, in Christ Jesus,
7) in order that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His Grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.
Could it be in the ages to come someone might ask God the question:
"If you really wanted to show the surpassing riches of your grace and kindness, why didn't you save many more, rather than so very few?
It would seem the more you saved the greater your grace and kindness would appear."
(According to Calvinistic Doctrines.)
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****** There are many verses in the Bible the teach God chose us.
We can know God chose us.
But without reasons?
Not likely.
Take a look at Gods creation from up out and beyond or into the smallest of things like the atom, we see design, order, and reason. The butterfly wing, snowflake, the rainbow, all point to intelligent reason behind them. Are we to think like the Calvinist that the only place God lacks reason is in the creation of the elect, the choosing of the Saints.
We through are own free will stand in the elevator but only through Gods Power does it rise.
God gets all the credit. We can stand in Christ but we can't make anything move up, only God can do that.
So it depends on Gods mercy and faithfulness to his promises not mans will nor works that man is taken up (saved).
So God does get all the Praise, Honor and Glory.
Thank You Jesus.
God chose us with good reason because He knew where we would stand, in Christ by Faith, (choosing to depend on Jesus Christ).
And God leaves all in their depraved state that rejects Jesus Christ and stand on their own.
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The facts are:
that even though there are few that respond,
they come out within the corridors of time.
The saved come from all walks of life,
from all different nations and cultures.
All having one thing in common.
After hearing the Good News,
they believe the testimony of the LORD JESUS CHRIST.
Since God desires to save all,
in spite of the fact that none deserve it,
He only will save people when they respond to the work of His Son.
That for sure,
shows his LOVE,. GRACE, .and KINDNESS.
It shows He has provided a way out for mankind
from their natural nature of being children of wrath.
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Calminian Doctrine:
Believes you become a Christian as a result of trusting in Christ.
Calvinistic Doctrine dose not believe that.
They believe you become a Christian as a result of Election.
They demean the work of Christ on the cross. And the Scriptures.
Acts 17:30
"God is now declaring to men that all everywhere should repent."
Luke 18:10
"For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost."
ACTS 10:34-35
And opening his mouth, Peter said: "I most certainly understand now that God is not one to show partiality.
35) but in every nation the man who fears Him and does what is right, is welcome to Him."
(God's partiality is the very essence of Calvinistic Doctrine.)
Hebrews 2:9
"by the grace of God He might taste death for everyone."
1 Timothy 4:10
"For it is for this we labor and strive, because we have fixed our hope on the living God, who is the Savior of all men, especially of believers."
Mark 8:34
"And He summoned the multitude with His disciples, and said to them, "If anyone wishes to come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me."
Titus 2:11
"For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men."
Colossians 1:28
And we proclaim Him, admonishing every man and teaching every man with all wisdom, that we may present every man complete in Christ. (Paul's Goal)
1 John 2:2
"and He Himself is the propitiation for our sins; and not for ours only, but also for those of the whole world."
2 Peter 2:1
"But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will also be false teachers among you, who will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bring destruction upon themselves.
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Adam's Sin
As a result of Adam's choice to turn away from God
we all are born separated from God and without hope in the world.
THANKS BE TO THE LORD JESUS CHRIST....
NOW AS A RESULT OF HIM,
We can turn towards God though Christ Jesus and be saved.
Just as God allowed Adam to turn away from Him without interfering,
today God allows us to turn towards Him by trusting in the Lord Jesus Christ. He wants people to respond to Christ not to continue in the way of Adam.
Romans 3:10-12
as it is written, THERE IS NONE RIGHTEOUS, NOT EVEN ONE;:
11) THERE IS NONE WHO UNDERSTANDS, THERE IS NONE WHO SEEKS FOR GOD,
12) ALL HAVE TURNED ASIDE, TOGETHER THEY HAVE BECOME USELESS; THERE IS NONE WHO DOES GOOD, THERE IS NOT EVEN ONE."
The good news is the POWER OF GOD through the message
that is able to cut through the darkness.
We also want to keep in mind HEBREWS 11:1-40
"The Faith Verses"
That affirms they were dead, but as a result of their faith, they gained Gods approval.
2 Timothy 2:13
If we are faithless, He remains faithful;
Showing there is a different between His faith and ours.
John 1:12-13
But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name, 13) who were born not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.
(This same response will apply to Rom 9:16)
It says the supernatural act of being born again is God's doing.
Man can't through his birth, his works, nor his will,
CHANGE HIS NATURE, nor can he place himself in heaven.
Man would not even know that he had a fallen nature,
if it had not been for God.
But don't think for a minute that God can't place the responsibility upon Man to believe in Christ,
before He takes the Supernatural action that causes a person to be born again.
The Bible is full of such examples:
Ephesians 1:13
In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise,
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When I go out to preach the Gospel, I desire that all would respond
and believe in Christ. If I had the ability to change their
minds, hearts, and lives supernaturally, I would.
Does that make me more virtuous than God,
since according to Calvinistic Doctrine He could have, but did not?
Or is it that I just think more of the human race than He does?
Or could there be something else to factor into the question?
Like mans free will of believing in Christ, as being most important to God.
For example: it was free will that caused Satan to rebel against God in the first place. We certainly would not suggest God unregenerated Satan to sin, would we? How many options are there? Only two we know of, Satan willed to Sin, or God willed Satan to Sin. If God willed Satan to sin than Satan should not be held responsible for being blindsided into sinning against his will. The same point would equally apply to Adam. God Created man with a free will, and it becomes the determining factor in Gods saving Grace.
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NORMAN GEISLER...CHOSEN BUT FREE page 45 Lets again illustrate the harmony of predetermination and free choice. Suppose you cannot watch your favorite sports event live on TV. So you videotape it. When you watch it later, the entire game and every play in it are absolutely determined and can never be changed. No matter how many times you rerun it, the final score, as well as every aspect of every play, will always be the same. Yet when the game happened, every event was freely chosen. No one was forced to play. Therefore, the same event was both determined and free at the same time.
Someone may object that this is so only because the event has already occurred, and that before the game occurred it was not predetermined. In response we need only point out that if God is all knowing (omniscient), then from the standpoint of His foreknowledge the game was predetermined. For He knew eternally exactly how it was going to turn out, even though we did not.
Romans 8:29-30
For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the first-born among many brethren;
30) and whom He predestined, these He also called; and whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified.
The question is what did He foreknow?
Did He know everything, the Beginning from the End?
Did His knowledge effect His Decrees?
Was time a consideration?
Could more than one thing occur without time being involved?
If that is true could the Bible have verses that appear to be in conflict, yet are not?
When asking the question, "What happened first?
"You attempt to make God something other than
eternal and degrade His omniscience.
(R O M A N S 1 1 : 3 3 - 3 4)
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WHO IS GOD
WHAT IS HE LIKE?
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Arminian Doctrine:
Their God is one who is looking for them to perform. If they continue to perform correctly they are OK.
If they fall away and don't keep the faith they are lost. It's all up to you, your merit, your good works, your continual faith.
They live in conscious fear of losing their Salvation, because of what they may or may not do.
A person never knows where He eternally stands until He dies.
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Calvinistic Doctrine:
Their God is a little hard to figure out:
For example:
He appears to Care for mankind, but not enough to save them.
He appears to Love people, but not enough to pick all of them.
He appears to be Merciful, but only to a select few.
He appears to be Kind, but not kind enough for everybody.
He appears to have Grace, but only for a few.
He appears to dislike Hell, but will command most to go there.
He calls the shots. Man is just a product of a fallen nature.
Nothing can be done, short of God's doing
and He Will do nothing for the masses of people,
except send them to Hell.
Calvinistic Doctrine reveals the internal error of Calvinism by not wanting to credit God with causing the original sin of Lucifer or Adam. Nor will they credit Lucifer or Adam with causing orginal sin. You see they will not give an answer to the question of the cause of original sin, because either answer reveals their error.
1. God caused sin.
2. Or man by his own free will caused sin.
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Calminian Doctrine:
God created mankind to have a relationship with Him.
His creation chose to separate themselves from Him.
He has been trying to bring His creation back to Him,
but won't force them against their will. They made the choice to reject God's desires for their lives.
Now He requires them to choose to accept His desires for their lives, to restore their relationship with Him.
The Lord Jesus Christ made it all possible.
When they respond just one time, their response
puts them in an even better place with God than before the fall.
Just as Adam's one choice changed the course of the world,
man's one choice can change the course of his eternal destiny.
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God's eternal eye saw,
man's independent faith in Christ,
included in His sight and plan.
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NOTE: READ #32, TIME AND GOD.
CHRONOLOGICAL ORDER OF EVENTS MAY MEAN NOTHING TO ETERNITY.
MAKING ALL THE ARGUING AND SEPARATIONS OVER SUCH RIDICULOUS. |
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