Calvinism poisons the mind. Carson is normally a good scholar, but when he comes to a standard Calvinist prooftext, he must go into the standard Calvinist playbook statements that all Calvinist are indoctrinated with. Nowhere in Scripture are we told to fixate on why one believes and one does not. This is a Calvinist playbook platitude. Also, many scholars who know Greek, and many great Bible teachers and theologians have agreed, that the antecedent of "it" or "that" is not faith. It is the being "saved by grace though faith statement. So it's salvation that is the gift of God. Just as Paul says many times, as well as other Biblical authors. Salvation is the indescribable gift of God, given to all who trust in Christ by faith. And faith is clearly said in Scripture to not be a work. Scripture is clear. Boasting is excluded because of the law of faith. Nobody boast about receiving a gift. Admitting that you must rely totally on God's mercy and grace to be saved, is not in itself boasting. That's complete nonsense. I've been a Christian for 43 years, and attended 5-6 churches. Several were Arminian, and the rest held to a middle position. Not once have I ever heard a pastor, OR a person in the congregation of any church I've attended boast about the great gift of salvation they received from God. Calvinism is simply childish and absurd. The typical Calvinists is more concerned to keep to the party line, then they are to actually objectively exegete the Bible.
At 3:13 Don C. said "In chapter 2:11" and he meant chapter 1:11-13. I really appreciate the good points being made here. Thank you for making this available!
Today is March 28, 2023. And on this day, let us pray for people with the gift of encouragement. BTW, you mentioned Martin Luther. I happen to be an ELCA Lutheran.
" by their fruits ye shall know them" mathew 7. Beware of false prophets who come to you in sheep's clothing but inside they ravenous wolves. Ye shall know them by their fruits. Please, please study mathew 7 carefully. Start by answering two questions from the verses I quoted. WHO IS THE THEY????, AND WHAT IS THE FRUIT SPOKEN OF REFERING TO???
Carson gives some real sound theology. He teaches with such love, it's not just about knowledge but transformation. Thank you. I liked that quotation by John Newton " I am not what I ought to be, I am not what I want to be, I am not what I hope to be in another world; but still I am not what I once used to be, and by the grace of God I am what I am". Amen.
I thank God for the TGC, the way these teachers of the word of God exposit the scriptures its so amazing. I am continually learning. I liked Carson from the first time I heard him doing an expository study on Galatians 4.
