Thank you Jeff for doing this, I'm a truck driver and can't always make it to church, but your sermons help me to praise God while on the road. Thank you again and God bless.
You have learned that God is a pompous prideful arrogant uncaring unfeeling puppet master that has chosen men to go to hell through no choice of their own? That is the God you serve????? Better read your Bible again. This is DAMNING HERESY.
gladiator8324 most calvinists I know are pretty willing to admit that this is just one of the ways to interpret scripture, Gods love is still present, and is even seemingly deepened by such understandings, also, no, Calvinists dont believe God is a puppet master, and no they dont think God sends men to hell through no choice of their own. Just because you fail to see the arguments theyve laid out does not mean you can just call it a "damning heresy". Instead of telling people who choose to let the scripture create their doctrine to go read the bible again, why dont you ask them to show you where in scripture they are drawing such doctrine? I bet youd learn a lot more about your position that way rather than just yelling heresy at people you dont understand.
I was a firm atheist and God was nothing but a made up entity humans created to make them feel comfortable about death. Jesus found me and now I believe. I'm a Calvinist simply because I cannot possibly conceive that what happened to my mind and my heart wasn't supernatural and an act iniciated solely by the Lord's grace. I could NEVER choose God. God choose me.
Nathan: Of all of the perceptions which currently exist within your thinking - what percentage of them are FALSE perceptions? You don't have the ability to discern that. And you should know that discerning TRUE from FALSE on any matter is totally determined by your perceptions on that matter. Determinism stipulates - that all perceptions which come to pass within your brain are determined by an external mind. You are not permitted to discern true perceptions from false perceptions which currently exist within your brain. Thus on determinism - you have no ability to discern TRUE from FALSE on any matter.
Ephesians 1:4 KJV 4 According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: ... I looked up the word "US" ...in my Strong's concordance for Ephesians 1:4... "US" is not a limiting word..it means "US"... God has predestined everyone of "US" to be saved....but he love "US" so much that he gave "US" a Free Will choice, "Whosoever Will".... John 3:16: “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” John 3:18: “He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.” John 3:36: “He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.” John 5:24: “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.” John 6:35: “And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.” John 6:40: “And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day. “ John 6:47: “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life.” John 7:38: “He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.” John 8:24: “I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins.” John 11:25: “Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:” John 11:26: “And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?” John 12:46: “I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on me should not abide in darkness.” John 16:27: “For the Father himself loveth you, because ye have loved me, and have believed that I came out from God.” John 20:31: “But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.” Acts 2:21: “And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.” Acts 5:14: “And believers were the more added to the Lord, multitudes both of men and women.)” Acts 8:12: “But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.” Acts 8:13: “Then Simon himself believed also: and when he was baptized, he continued with Philip, and wondered, beholding the miracles and signs which were done.” Acts 8:37 (8:35-38): “Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus. And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized? And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him.” Here are just some of the verses that say we are saved by faith....
Over the past year, I've been leaning more toward calvinist theology. This has illuminated me into seeking more and more towards the Truth. Definitely a lot to meditate on. Thank you Pastor Durbin!
David Witkop II when I got saved I didn’t know what Calvinism was....the more I studied the Word and started to watch debates on the subject there’s no doubt that Reformed Theology is consistent and biblical. It’s a tough pill to swallow but it’s God centered....Arminianism is man centered.
I would suggest you study and pray hard on this subject and maybe listen to men like Dr. Brown for an alternative view. In my study, I've found no redeeming aspects of Calvinism. I know there are a lot of good Christians that hold to this theology, but in my opinion it belittles God. My God is big enough to give me free will and still foreknow my choices. My free will does not endanger His sovereignty in any way. As far as I can see, there is no way to accept Calvinism without changing the very nature of God. Love, mercy, and justice must all be redefined. Just one man's opinion. God bless your journey!
@@mcochran4307 I started out as a Christian with the Armenian view. The thing that got me to question it is the question: Why do some people believe, while others don't? We are all spiritually dead coming into the world according to the Bible, so I never understood why someone could repent and believe while someone else wouldn't. The only way that would be possible is if I had something in me that the non believer didn't have. Was I born with a better, softer heart than the non-believer? Am I inherently better than the non-believer? Why did I accept the gospel while a non-believer rejected it? That gives me something to boast about if it came from within me. The belief that I was regenerated before I repented and believed just makes more sense to me. It was all an act of God. Everyone comes into the world spiritually dead and inclined towards sin. Also if everyone comes into the world spiritually dead, I don't see how God could look down the corridor of time and see people choosing Him. The only reason anyone comes to faith and repents is because God replaces the heart of stone with a heart of flesh and draws us toward Christ. I always see people trying to prove that God exists and the Bible is real to non-believers with no avail. Have you ever asked yourself where did my faith come from? Yes it comes from hearing the Gospel, but if it were just the gospel that creates faith, then everyone who hears it would believe, but that isn't the case. 1 Cor 1:18 For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. 1 Cor 1:22-24 For Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles, but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. Also I don't believe that Calvinism says that we don't have free will. I still believe in free-will. I just believe that we are all dead in sin and blinded to God by our flesh, the world, and Satan. So by our nature, we will always choose sin instead of God. However once God regenerates us and opens our eyes, our wills change to repent and put our faith in Jesus Christ. God doesn't force us to love Him, our wills change once our eyes are opened. Anyways that's my view on it. I could go into more detail about different aspects, but I am also still learning. I just wanted to point out that the main thing that made me question my Arminian view was why do some people believe while others don't. God bless
@@mcochran4307 I appreciate your concern regarding Truth and the true nature of God. For me it seems to describe God and Christ bigger than ever. But that's my view and opinion in love from one brother in Christ to another. Much love man.
my firm disagreement with Calvinism is not over God’s sovereignty, which I fully embrace and to which I submit. The issue is whether God loves all without partiality and desires all to be saved. Unquestionably, Calvinism denies such love; but the Bible, in the clearest language repeatedly declares God’s love to all and His desire that all should be saved and none should be lost
But wouldn't you agree that love, in order for it to be truly genuine, must be discriminate? An wouldn't God, who is all-powerful, be able to save those He "desires", even if they were at first unwilling?
PatternSon He wants to save everyone... But he gives us free will to choose to come to him. And this dumb argument saying he can't save people he wants to...... He can... but chooses to let us choose for ourselves. Repentance is a choice. True love discriminate?? That's a crazy thought process.
No, God does not love all without partiality, that is obvious. though they were not yet born and had done nothing either good or bad-in order that God's purpose of election might continue, not because of works but because of him who calls- she was told, “The older will serve the younger.” As it is written, “Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated.” Romans 9:11-13 I am sure you have read that before, but this verse and many others definitely demonstrate that God does not love all the same. Does a father love other children to the same extent that he loves is own? I think that is what PatternSon means when he says "doesn't true love discriminate", of course it does, how else could a person know if a father loves his son if it were not obvious that he shows more affection to his son over others.
LOL! Well God's ways have WAY more depth then that, for one, everyone has a purpose, we do not always like the purpose, but everyone is made for a purpose, and not everyone likes the idea that some people are made for honorable use and other dishonorable but hey that is what the Bible says. The Bible also says that "no one seeks after God" so unless God actually chooses some to be saved then non would be.
ML Wilson no God gives free will for us to make a choice..... God wants us all to choose him.. That doesn't make it so he's not sovereign.... His sovereignty gives us free will... And that doesn't make it universalism either..
Common reaction to election John 6:65 Then he said, "That is why I said that people can't come to me unless the Father gives them to me."From this time many of his disciples turned back and no longer followed him.
@@CoffeeCoffeeCoffee86 so there is no assurance in Calvinism.. all you can really do is look to your perseverance, which sounds like works.. and hope you got a golden ticket..
Chantal Carrere may I suggest you refer to the bible and not only listened to their sweet talks. Do you know what they actually preached?. In Calvin's theory it says God predestined or preordained some to eternal life and the rest of them predestinated for condemnation in hell which is a damnable heresy. don't believe me search Calvinism doctrine statement of calvin in the internet and read it for yourself before you proceed any further. thanks
LOVE REQUIRES A FREE WILL! THE REASON GOD CAN PREDESTINE YOU IS BECAUSE, BEING OUTSIDE OF TIME, AND BECAUSE OF HIS FOREKNOWLEDGE OF WHETHER OR NOT YOU WOULD ACCEPT HIS FREE GIFT OF SALVATION BEFORE YOU WERE CREATED, HE PREDESTINED YOUR LIFE! LOVE REQUIRES A FREE WILL!
Ik this was 2 years ago but if God created us, every aspect of us, knowing before time who would pick him, and he wouldn’t, he gave you your personality, then he knew at what point he would allow your heart to soften to bring you to repentance, it would still be Gods will over whatever little control you have over your will.
Romans 1, do you just not want to believe Gods Word or that you dont like it? Calvinists arent this way by choice. Its following the context of Scripture. We have an amount of free will but it never overrules Gods Will. God has a Law, We have the choice to follow. It says you will be given over to the desires of your heart. Can you stop God from doing that? No. So you essentially say your will is stronger than Gods. Do you believe in vessels of destruction? Romans 9 and Jude 1 clearly explain this.
@@chazrussell6391 Its following a mere interpretation of scripture. If Calvinism is accurate, God does not grant complete free will and accountability. it wasn't that the holocaust and hiroshima was an ultimate decision of the wicked and unjust, and god can turn this deed of the wicked and unjust into something good that glorifies him after the fact. No, he had a hand in the holocaust and hiroshima and it was not an ultimate decision of the wicked and unjust. He is loving but not all-loving in the pursuit of all victims of pain, just loving to those predestined. He is merciful but not all-merciful to the wicked and unjust: hitler or Gangis Khan, just merciful to those predestined. He is a respecter of those predestined and not of no persons. All unchosen/unelected were sealed for damnation before the foundation of the world exempt of any additional grace that those chosen/elected would get and thereby appointed to an unjust "accounting". Their perception of God satisfies the attributes of God being All-powerful, but not All-merciful, not All-loving, and not All-just. Your interpretation of God is very acknowledging of His power, but to create someone and abstain them of God's redemptive grace is not a God who is lowly at heart or no respector of persons.
@@noahperez2786 your missing the part where you are given over to the desires of your heart. You have a will. It hates God. You act like we are born neutral and then we accept God or not. No. We are dead. And remain dead without Grace. All church doctrine acknowledges this. You can’t twist how faith is given for your argument. Only Adam had what you are talking about. That’s why he represented Christ. 2nd Adam or Son of Man. Adam does for his bride symbolism for what Christ eventually did for His bride. Not everyone. John 6, 10 and 11 all show His choosing, Eph 2, Romans 9. Without Grace no man chooses God. Once man sees God he can choose God. As fallen man how can you say it’s unjust? You are a creature. Created in His image but one who has rejected God in your nature. It sounds like you just reject Him.
@@chazrussell6391 Faith is given? When is faith expressed as given in a Bible verse accept us putting our faith in Jesus? "Only Adam had what you are talking about." - This is not explicitly stated in a verse within the Bible. God gives us over after persistant effort to get us to turn to him. He knocks. He doesn't force you to open the door with "Unreleting Grace". Theres a choice with concequences. You forget that the Bible teaches your spirit is WILLING, but the flesh is weak, and to submitto God after he FIRST comes to you, not because of our works as we don't deserve it. We are called to submit to the Holy Spirit and put our faith in Jesus. Its not a force that ignores the will of the potential recipient, but He asks for submission. Matthew 26:41 (NKJV): "Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak." Philippians 2:12-13 (NKJV): "Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure." James 4:7 (NKJV): "Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you." Galatians 5:16 (NKJV): "I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh." "Once man sees God he can chose God" - I'm not debating that and you've admittedly stated that we can freely choose once we come to the knowledge of Him and are exposed to the experiental power of the Holy Spirit/God. Without God we our lost and subject to our sinful nature and the spiritual opposition, but when God first comes to us out of His love, and we submit to Him, then is the Holy Spirit able to work and sanctify us. We are not saying we are responsible for our sanctification or salvation. Its in this order: - God comes to us - God gives us knowledge of him and tougs on our heart - We submit - We place our faith Jesus - The Holy Spirit works in us - We submit - We place our faith in Jesus - The Holy Spirit persists in working in us Its a constant submission to God and allowing him rulership in our lives. Our spirit WILLS and by his Spirit we are ABLE. Adam didn't represent Christ, "in Adam all die, but through Christ all are made alive". It says it plainly here that the same ALL(humanity) Adam cursed is the "ALL" Jesus died for. I'm not saying you're preaching a God who's loveless but a God who loves less. Theres a recurring message throughout the Bible that all the world will be preached the Gospel, but narrow is the way to life and few are those that find it, and broad is the way to destruction and many are they that walk through it. What's worse to say? God mostly got rejected by humanity, or God rejected most of humanity? Which is more prevelent of all-loving? Which is an act of one who is lowly at heart? Who values love over even faith? 1 Corinthians 13:13 I'm not saying I'm completely right, or Calvinists are completely wrong. But one is negligent of God's true heart.
Calvinism is not about grace. It is about pride. Pride in ourselves for being chosen and pride in Calvin. Too many Calvinists simply don't care about the unsaved. For every verse that supports so called calvinism there is another verse that clearly states Jesus died for all and God desires that no one perish. We emphasize Bible verses that support our own denomination bias. There are unquestionably born again believers on both sides of this argument.
If thats true they arent saved. You may be referring to the "Cage Stage" A true believer in Christ knows its nothing of themselves and remain gracious and meek. Not to be confused with allowing false teaching and sin to be rampant in the church. The modern church is passive and Reformed churches call it out. Thats the bigger issue. Charismatics dont like being told they are in error.
When I see this many lit anti Calvinist alls I know is *you’re doing preaching right!!* God bless the work of these men.. Give them boldness to speak into the darkness and walk head on into the fiery darts of the enemy!! May their armor never rust, sword in hand and may their beards grow ever longer. 🙌🏽
Sweet Mullet, you claimed Calvinism preaching right. Please read this and evidently they are not preaching right as you claimed. Most Calvinism self-professed claim that they are the "the sheep"(the elect) which Jesus came only to seek and to save as only their sins had been paid for on the cross. Let us see whether their claim aligned with the bible. Here I quote; (Mat 10:5) These twelve Jesus sent forth, and commanded them, saying, Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not: (Mat 10:6) But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. These verses stated in the 1st century, Jesus had send out his twelve and specifically commanded them "not" to go to the Gentiles and Samartans but only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. Firstly, was Jesus seeking after the self-proclaimed "sheep" (the elect) of Gentiles origin , living in the 20th. century or the Jews, His lost sheep living in the 1st century? Secondly, are the Gentiles considered to be the house of Israel? You can now see the true absurdity of the Calvinist's claim to be the "sheep" (the elect) when they aren't. When you tell a lie, it always backfires. Thank you.
@Tan Ewelee First off Calvinist don’t say they are the elect. That would be stupid. They say God does have an elect. He chooses them. Why would Calvinists call anyone else of any denomination a brother? Calvinists have worked with other denominations and movements in order to spread the gospel as brothers.
literally this video just referended multiple verses pointing towards the concept of the elect and preserverance of the saints. The bible isnt going to come straight out and use a word that was named off a man who lived thousands of years after the completion of the bible but luckily the bible😂
@@johndang887 The Bible "God's Word" Tells us all we need to know. The way you insist calling yourself a Calvinist denominating yourself and saying the Bible doesn't depict a mans name. has nothing to do with what i ask i want to know where the fruits of the Calvinist apply as being Christian do they align and if so ill be here for you share with me.
If you mean where does scripture teach about the sovereignty of God in salvation...... To many places to quote. If you mean where does it say to follow John Calvin... Nowhere. But if you believe in the authority of scripture over all opinion...... You will come to believe a lot of the things John Calvin did. After all at that point we're just agreeing with what scripture clearly says.
I really don’t understand why many have a problem with God being sovereign over all and all things inclusive of the redemption of men. I don’t understand why many can’t understand if God is not sovereign over the redemption of men none would be saved for the will of man is in bondage to his sin nature and thus none by an act of innate free will seek God.
My problem is that Calvinism teaches that God decrees everything that comes to pass. This means that God actively thought out and preplanned every single sin ever committed. God is actively molesting every child, raping every women, and murdering every person. Nothing comes to pass outside of his decree. This is taught by the London Baptist Confession of Faith, Calvin, and Piper. I blame man for evil but Calvinism blames God.
@@cloudx4541 people unfortunately have been and always will suffer. God knows that this life here on earth is so short its not even a speck. He knows that the suffering are going to never again shed a tear.
@@cloudx4541 I don't call myself a calvanist. But to address your comment, how does calvanism blame God for sin? To me, it simply shows that God is all knowing and always knows what sin that man will commit before it actually happens. He can already determine what will end up happening bcuz he knows the hearts of every person.
Watch the RU-vid video "Was Augustine the first to introduce "CALVINISM" into the Church?" with Dr. Ken Wilson on Leighton Flowers RU-vid channel. What is now known as "Calvinism" began as Augustine's attempt to explain how infants could become the "elect" through baptism. Since the infants had not come to faith, it must be based on the will of another. It could have nothing to do with the will of the child. Does God command all men to "repent", and then He prevents some men from doing so? Mat_3:2 And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. Mat_4:17 From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. Mar_1:15 And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel. Mar_6:12 And they went out, and preached that men should repent. Luk_13:3 I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish. Luk_13:5 I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish. Luk_16:30 And he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent. Luk_17:3 Take heed to yourselves: If thy brother trespass against thee, rebuke him; and if he repent, forgive him. Luk_17:4 And if he trespass against thee seven times in a day, and seven times in a day turn again to thee, saying, I repent; thou shalt forgive him. Act_2:38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. Act_3:19 Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord; Act_8:22 Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee. Act_17:30 And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent: Act_26:20 But shewed first unto them of Damascus, and at Jerusalem, and throughout all the coasts of Judaea, and then to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, and do works meet for repentance. 2Co_7:8 For though I made you sorry with a letter, I do not repent, though I did repent: for I perceive that the same epistle hath made you sorry, though it were but for a season. Heb_7:21 (For those priests were made without an oath; but this with an oath by him that said unto him, The Lord sware and will not repent, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec:) Rev_2:5 Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent. Rev_2:16 Repent; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth. Rev_2:21 And I gave her space to repent of her fornication; and she repented not. Rev_2:22 Behold, I will cast her into a bed, and them that commit adultery with her into great tribulation, except they repent of their deeds. Rev_3:3 Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and repent. If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee. Rev_3:19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent. .
So my question now is, what does God mean by "there must be a great falling away", if you can not turn from God because He is Sovereign and saves/has mercy on whom He wills?
They turn God into a monster. I hate that i even try to see things their way it literally destroys my mind trying to see things their way. The entire bible means something different that what it really means when you see things their way.
The semantic range of the word apostasia can allow for either type of departure: doctrinal or physical. The great falling away before Christ returns could be a reference to the wickedness of mankind or to the physical removal of believers before the day of the Lord. However we read this text in 2 Thessalonians we should take into account what Paul has already written to the Church in Philipi. 1 Thessalonians 5 v 1-11 Paul has already clarified that this could not be speaking of believers losing thier faith. Now concerning the times and the seasons, brothers, you have no need of anything to be written to you. For you yourselves know full well that the day of the Lord will come just like a thief in the night. While they are saying, “Peace and safety!” then destruction will come upon them suddenly like labor pains upon a woman who is pregnant, and they will never escape. But you, brothers, are not in darkness, that the day would overtake you like a thief, for you are all sons of light and sons of day. We are not of night nor of darkness; so then let us not sleep as others do, but let us be awake and sober. For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, get drunk at night. But since we are of the day, let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet, the hope of salvation. For God has not appointed us for wrath, but for obtaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us, so that whether we are awake or asleep, we will live together with Him. Therefore, comfort one another and build up one another, just as you also are doing.
If you're referring to 2nd Thessalonians 2. The Greek word for falling away can be interpreted as apostate. The end times will reveal the true church because the apostate church will fall. All those who claim the name of Jesus Christ for what ever reason but are not His, will become obvious in the end. I hope that helped.
I see comments like "Oh no, Jeff Durbin is a Calvinist" and people saying that they won't listen to him anymore. Some are even calling him a 'heretic.' Understand this, to make such rash statements because someone is a Calvinist (or Arminian) is a sign of spiritual immaturity. There is a very meaningful saying that is often mis-attributed to others but which comes from German Lutheran theologian of the early seventeenth century, Rupertus Meldenius In Essentials Unity, In Non-Essentials Liberty, In All Things Charity I am not a "Calvinist" per say, but I do believe in God's Sovereign Will in election because that's what I see in scripture. But I have discovered over the years some of my favorite preachers like Adrian Rogers and David Jeremiah are Arminians. The election issue is NOT an essential of the Christian faith and The Lord has used preachers that I did not agree with on all points of non-essentials many times in my life to speak to me. Just the other day The Lord used a man named Pastor Eric Hankins to speak the exact message I needed to hear at the time and then I found out he's Arminian. But guess what, he's still a Godly man with a heart for The Lord and his message was anointed by God. Christians need to stop with the infighting over Non-essentials and 'mature in the faith.' Our main mandate is to win souls to The Lord by our loving conduct and speech for one another and for those outside the church and sharing the Gospel of salvation. I wonder how many Christians so caught up in issues like Election and Eschatology that they don't even think about sharing the Gospel with their lost family and neighbors.
Rolysantos, what he is teaching here IS heretical. Jesus Tasted death for every man. I beseech you to do some studying, you will find that God does have an elect people, but that there is NO PLACE IN THE BIBLE that teaches that the Elect are the ONLY people who have the opportunity of salvation. Don't believe that nonsense. Study it out for yourself. For God's sake, don't buy into the ignorance that Steven Anderson and Ben the Baptist (and their ilk) are spewing either.... One side of this fight is as sick and twisted as the other. Now you may ask, well if you're not on Durbin's side... and you're not on Anderson's side.... then whose side are you on???? Well.... allow me to tell you. I'm on YOUR side..... I'm on CHRIST'S side..... Im on the side of the gospel... and EVERY man who will believe on Jesus unto salvation. God bless, I hope you find the truth in all this ignorance.
rolysantos I'm not a Calvinist.. but I love Jeff and will still listen to him.. I've learned that on our journey we are all constantly learning and just bc I don't agree with his view of Calvinism that doesn't mean that he's wrong about everything he says..I still value what he has to offer.. I love what he does for abortion.. he's extremely intelligent but sometimes that can get in the way.. ❤️😊✝️🙏
Why WOULD we listen to him when he's proven that he's in error by embracing Calvinism? Im no respecter of men... I respect the word of God... Calvinists, (at least hyper-calvinists), claim that only people chosen by God can be saved. And that's simply not what the bible teaches. They take this line of thinking from the idea of "Election"... Now by saying that I'm not a Calvinist, many will say "well he doesn't believe in the concept of Election"... and thats not true either. I just dispute the definition Calvinists try to attach to the concept of "Election". To be "Elect" of God, simply means to be chosen by him, and God "Elects" or CHOOSES many different people for many different things. Some people are ELECTED by God when they are called to be evangelists, or pastors, or missionaries.... Others are ELECTED by God to do great works through the Holy spirit in the realms of Prophecy, or Healing, etc.... Others still are ELECTED by God to the position of intercessor, to intercede through prayer in peoples lives within the congregation... Then theres the Election of the 144,000 male, virgins of the 12 tribes of Israel who will stand on the mount of olives with Christ that we find in the book of Revelation. That's SEVERAL different forms of election practiced by God the Father throughout the bible. But NONE of that excludes anyone else from being a partaker in the salvation of Christ. In HEBREWS 2 : 9 Jesus tasted death for every man.... In 2ND CORINTHIANS 5 : 19 God was in Christ Reconciling THE WORLD unto himself... In John 3:16 He gave his only begotten son so that WHOSOEVER would believe on him should not perish but have everlasting life... and the references can go on and on and on... But what you WONT find is one verse anywhere that makes the statment that the elect and ONLY the elect are capable of being saved. I'm sorry.... It's just not there. Now you may be able to find a square verse or two that names election that you can try to force into a round hole... but it still doesn't belong there.
rolysantos I'm not a Calvinist or do I believe at all in Calvinism.. but your absolutely correct.. he's a Godly man.. and I agree with your comment..and I think he's intelligent and I love he saves babies from abortion.. I believe he's wrong about Calvinism but that doesn't mean he's wrong about everything he says and does... on my journey to get closer to God ... I've learned people can be 100 percent right about a lot of things but be 100 percent wrong on other things..he's a follower of Jesus and I believe as of now that he's not intentionally steering people wrong .. he believes what he's saying... I have not watched this video yet.. I've mainly seen his abortion and street preaching videos.. but I'm not going to stop listening to him bc I'm not a Calvinist ... if we stop listening to people bc they are not 100 percent correct on everything they say 100 percent of the time.. we would have to not listen to anything anyone says ever...we are always learning...growing.. being convicted ...people should not judge him so harshly.. he's a follower of Jesus and there's a lot of things in these people's lives that are saying they won't listen to him again that they are wrong about..😊✝️❤️🙏
@@Frankenberry the more I hear about predestination, the more I'm convinced that Satan is behind it. Imagine if God only pre-selected a chosen group of people, you are witnessing to someone as Jesus commands, and they respond to the message of the Gospel and desire to be saved... so they reach out to Jesus and are denied?? They don't receive the Holy Spirit?? Somehow they didn't qualify... for me personally, I view this is going directly against the teachings of Jesus
I love Apologia and I love Mike Winger, but man have they ever got me torn on Calvinism. Such great points on both sides. Thank you Lord that my salvation is not dependent on making a decision on this!
God sovereignly decreed that man should be free to exercise moral choice, and man from the beginning has fulfilled that decree by making his choice between good and evil. When he chooses to do evil, he does not thereby countervail the sovereign will of God but fulfills it, inasmuch as the eternal decree decided not which choice the man should make but that he should be free to make it. If in His absolute freedom God has willed to give man limited freedom, who is there to stay His hand or say, ‘What doest thou?’ Man’s will is free because God is sovereign. A God less than sovereign could not bestow moral freedom upon His creatures. He would be afraid to do so.” A W Tozer
The bible is so straightforward and clear. ALL have turned aside all are born rebels and all have dead deceitful inner beings. Yet only HE can unblind any of us. Many are called few are chosen, and without Him, none would be left, all would be wiped out Isaiah 1
"No man is able to come to Jesus unless the Father draws him." You have both the sovereignty of God and man's free will right there in that one sentence. God, in HIs sovereignty, provides the faith, God does the drawing, but God also in His sovereignty allows us to choose and no one whom God enables to hear and believe will choose death over life.
(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 5:40) And ye will not come to me, that ye might have life. matt hayes, you must read the verse in its context to get its true meaning and it is similar to when you received a letter, do you just read the last half of the letter and leave out the first half of the letter. verse 44 Jesus said" no man can come to Him" but verse 40 said "you will not come". So the Father won't draw anyone who rejects His Son. Certainty God is Sovereign and He can do anything He likes but He likes to do the right thing.
How come you called yourself a Christian? Your not a Christian your a Calvinist that is all you talk about. When you have to defend a a religion like Calvinism, you know your in a Cult. Christianity needs no defending it "IS TRUTH" . TRUTH IN LOVW
Show me where, in the Bible, it says," the spiritual gifts ended." It doesn't. Calvinists are sadly limited by their faith or lack there of. How can you see spiritual gifts if you don't believe they exist? How can you know God if you don't believe he exists? How can you move mountains when you haven't the faith of a mustard seed? I have the gift of faith. I've seen the gift of healing with my own eyes I've heard the gift of tongues with my own ears. I've seen Jesus with my own eyes. I've seen prophecy come to be fulfilled in my own life. I agree with much john Calvin has taught but I cannot be considered reformed because I know Gifts are real. It's very sad to me to know that so many brothers and sisters are living thier new life without the spiritual gifts and therefore not fully representing Christ with thier faith and not knowing Jesus as intimately because of this lack. Like giving yourself to someone in holy matrimony but not believing the other has givin you thier whole heart but only part because the rest disappeared over time. Come to know Jesus fully without reserve by excepting spiritual gifts as they are, scriptural Truths. Again I beg anyone to show me where in the bible it is written "spiritual gifts will no longer exist for christians after the apostles" , or anything close.
Ezekiel 33:11 ESV - Say to them, As I live, declares the Lord GOD, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live; turn back, turn back from your evil ways, for why will you die, O house of Israel?
1 Timothy 4:10 For therefore we both labour and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Saviour of all men, specially of those that believe.
God's Child well I guess Jesus failed. There’s a lot of people going to Hell. On top of that I guess God is unjust, if there are people going to Hell that Christ already took the punishment for.
1 Tim. 4:10 is a verse that has had many interpretations. Here are the main three: (1) The Universalist Interpretation - "God is the Savior of all men" means that all who have ever lived will be saved. This of course is contrary to all sound doctrine. If this was true, the rest of the verse would have no meaning whatsoever when it says "especially of those who believe." (2) The Arminian Interpretation - God wants to save everyone but His desire is many times thwarted by the obsinate free will of man. God is able to save all men, but though all can be saved, only believers actually are. Certainly this is a popular view, but we must be clear that this is not what the text says. It does not say God wants to save, but that He actually saves: He is actually the Savior (in some sense) of all men. (3) The Reformed Interpretation - God is the Savior of all men (in one sense) and especially of those who believe (in another sense). Let me be quick to say that this is not the only way reformed people have understood this verse, but I do believe this is the correct interpretation. As we study the terms "salvation" and "Savior" we find many nuances - many different ways - God saves. The most important aspect of salvation is to be "saved" from the wrath of God (Romans 5:6-9; 1 Thess. 1:10), but salvation also includes the idea of rescue from enemy attack (Psalm 18:3); preservation (Matt. 8:25); physical healing (Matt. 9:22; James 5:15), etc. God "saved" not only Paul's life but everyone else on board ship with him in Acts 27:22, 31, 44. There are numerous ways that "salvation" takes place, but that's a complete Bible study all in itself. When we study the word Savior (Greek: soter) in the LXX version (Greek translation of the Old Testament), we see the word used in a way that is far less grandiose than that which we generally think of the word. One example is Judge Othniel, who is called a Soter (Savior) or deliverer because he delivered the children of Israel from the hands of the king of Mesopotamia (Jud. 3:9). 2 Kings 13:5 talks of God giving Israel a "Savior" so that they were delivered from the hands of the Syrians. The judges of Israel were "saviors" as Nehemiah 9:27 states, "in the time of their suffering they cried out to you and you heard them from heaven, and according to your great mercies you gave them saviors who saved them from the hand of their enemies." (see also Psalm 36:6) A great deal more could be said to substantiate this idea of a savior, but I think the above would make the point. God provides food (Psalm 104:27, 28), sunlight and rainfall (Matt. 5:45), as well as life and breath and all things (Acts 17:25), for "in Him we live and move and have our being" (Acts 17:28). God preserves, delivers and supplies the needs of all who live in this world, and it is in this sense that He extends grace to them, saving them from destruction every day they live. God is also gracious in allowing many to hear the proclamation of the Gospel. All of these mercies are refered to as "common grace." It is common only in the sense that every living person gets it. This grace should actually amaze us because God is under no obligation whatsoever to give it to anyone. It can never be demanded. God sustains the lives of His sworn enemies, often for many decades! However, as wonderful as it is, it is only a temporal grace because all unregenerate people eventually die and will face the judgment (Heb. 9:27). It seems then that 1 Timothy 4:10 teaches that we have our hope set on the living God, who is the Savior (Soter - preserver, sustainer, deliverer) of all people (showing mercy to all, each and every day they live), especially of those who believe (who receive full salvation from His wrath and everlasting life).
The interpretation belongs to God! Repent! “I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live:”- Deuteronomy chapter 30 verse 19. ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-TLymxPmGOcU.html
@@Kman. too many others with a more eloquent way of explaining than my own. I dont claim those to be my own words. Just thought it was helpful to the discussion.
Pastor Jeff, my heart rejoices when I consider the glorious things God is doing with Apologia, specifically with respect to ending abortion. Also, you have helped me a lot in pointing out the flaws in most atheistic arguments and for that God bless you. But I must say, I disagree with your stance on this one. If I am not mistaken what you are advocating for is that even though God can save everyone if He wanted to, He does not do that. My number one problem with this is that I thought God's will is that every man comes to the saving knowledge of Christ (1 Timothy 2:4). If God has the power to do that, then why does He choose not to do so? Also, if I am to take God's sovereignty as it has been described by most reformed individuals (It basically boils down to God is the direct cause of everything), then God's judgement wouldn't make any sense. For example God causes someone to sin and He punishes the person for what He caused him to do. To me that is very inconsistent. I'd really like to hear your responses. Thank you.
@The Bibliognost THE BIBLE MAKES IT VERY CLEAR THAT GOD DIED FOR THE SINS OF THE WHOLE WORLD 1 JOHN 2:2. GOD HAS GIVEN MANKIND THE FREEWILL TO CHOOSE OR REJECT HIS FREE GIFT OF SALVATION. IF WE READ MATTHEW 7:13-14 "13 “ENTER THROUGH THE NARROW GATE. FOR WIDE IS THE GATE AND BROAD IS THE ROAD THAT LEADS TO DESTRUCTION, AND MANY ENTER THROUGH IT. 14 BUT SMALL IS THE GATE AND NARROW THE ROAD THAT LEADS TO LIFE, AND ONLY A FEW FIND IT." GOD ALREADY KNOWS THE DECISIONS I'VE CHOSEN (FREEWILL) AND WHERE I'M GOING WHEN I DIE (HEAVEN OR HELL.) I LOVE THIS VERSE FROM MY HOLY GOD. EZEKIEL 33:11 "SAY TO THEM, ‘AS SURELY AS I LIVE, DECLARES THE SOVEREIGN LORD, I TAKE NO PLEASURE IN THE DEATH OF THE WICKED, BUT RATHER THAT THEY TURN FROM THEIR WAYS AND LIVE. TURN! TURN FROM YOUR EVIL WAYS! WHY WILL YOU DIE, PEOPLE OF ISRAEL?" GOD WANTS THE PEOPLE OF ISRAEL TO TURN FROM THEIR EVIL WAYS AND LIVE. GOD HASN'T PREDESTINED THE ISRAELITES BEFORE TIME OF GOING HELL. GOD BLESS YOU.
**Sovereignty does NOT mean determinism, it means GOD IS IN CONTROL and His ability to do whatever He wants. Sovereignty is translated from “LORD, LORD” and is not even found once in the KJV! (It’s only found in the ESV 3 times). Reformers wrongly define the concept of divine sovereignty as meaning “meticulous deterministic control over ever thing, including the evil intentions of creatures.” The scriptures simply never teach this concept. Instead, divine sovereignty is reflected as God’s ability to do whatever He is pleased to do (Ps. 115:3) even if that may include giving the world over to creature’s free dominion (Ps. 115:16).
If God is completely sovereign and in all things and through all things, who can deny his will? Why would God allow people to not believe in him? Is eternal suffering better than God saving people? He’s pursued and followed his elect. Did he pursue and follow the damned as well?
What is the point of evangelism? Your refutation by turning it back on us doesnt answer the question. If what you say is true, then if God calls them, why do we need to go tell them?
Look, God tells me to do something, I do it. I get that. We're not talking about who is obeying God or Christ more. It is an honest question. What is the function of preaching if God calls whom he calls? Paul asks how could a man accept the Gospel if he doesn't hear. Following this same logic, is that not somehow a limitation on God? Granted, I don't think that is the case. We are His tools. Every rule that God has given us as far as I am aware has clear reasoning behind it. I just want to understand the reasoning behind this, if possible.
@@christianmama2441 ok, but we are just a means. God does not need us to preach the Gospel so that He can THEN call someone so they can be saved, right? If He doesnt need us, then again, I ask, what is the purpose?
christianmama You cannot preach the Gospel to everyone if the Gospel is not FOR everyone. If you did you’d be preaching a lie. Gospel means “Good News” You can’t preach the Good news of Christ’s death, burial and resurrection to everyone if it’s not FOR everyone. It’s not Good News to people who in the reformed view are predestined to hell. That’s the opposite of the Gospel. That’s the opposite of Good News.
Thank you Jeff for reminding us all of the simple truths that are often lost when we attempt to throw our own reason at the Bible. Martin Luther is my hero in the faith (and I can't wait to meet him); he was an unpolished and sometimes crass man who was not afraid to confront issues head on and tell it like it is - he once said that reason is the Devil's whore, and it is the biggest enemy to the faith. When we see people confronting the Bible with ideas like "you can't command someone to love you, that's not true love," I think that this is the exact kind of reason that brother Martin had in mind. “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?” And He said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the great and foremost commandment (Matthew 22:36-37).
Larry: You left out the two succeeding verses 39 And the second *is like it:* ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’[b] 40 All the Law and the Prophets hang on these *two* commandments.” Thus, Jesus gave us two apparently coequal commandments which you selectively concealed, which is a significant lie by selective silence. Also, *if* God really is a Good Father as Jesus repeatedly indicated, among (if not first among) His greatest desires is that *His children not harm each other.* I know that you are unable to be a father, *and thus you will never know the hearbreak of having one of your children harm another (particularly deliberately, out of cruelty) but it is among the most helpless and heartbreaking things a father can experience.* Perhaps you had a good father yourself to experience this dynamic, or perhaps you can just intuit it.
FEELSonWHEELS, Luther didn't hate Jews... You have to read everything that he wrote. As Luther aged and his health began to fail, he became increasingly bitter against the Jewish people because they failed to convert en masse to what he felt was overwhelming proof that they have rejected their Messiah. Shortly before his death, he penned some bitter things against them, sure, but when you look at his cannon, especially some of his earlier writings, you see that he did have a heart for them. You said: *"The problem with Jeff is that he is throwing is own philosophy into the Bible, instead of reading it simply."* Really? What specifically? You said: *"Calvinists always have terrible reading comprehension for some reason. I think it's pride."* Interesting. Have you read "Institutes of the Christian Religion?" If you have a specific issue, I've got my copy right here, let me know chapter and paragraph, and let's talk about it.
Jeff, Please define: - Elect - Predestined - Sovereign Please. I'm not an articulate person, so I'm not about to go into all of my objections; but I will say this was a really frustrating sermon lol
One last question and I mean this with all respect. So what is the purpose of evangelizing? When a Calvinist goes out and tells people about Jesus what is actually happening? Do these people not know they were saved until they were told? Is there anything a newly awakened Calvinist need to do to be saved; repent, confess, believe?
Did God, or did He not, tell us in the Scriptures to evangelize? God has chosen to use the gospel to save His people from their sins. The gospel comes from (LISTEN!) HUMANS! If He wanted to shout it from angels, He could. But He told us to evangelize.
@@sssimplydave Good answer, May I add that I believe that Christ is in us as we assist in saving the lost. With that said, we are not only doing the work of His kingdom we are also an extension of His kingdom. It is Christ in us and us in Christ establishing His kingdom on earth.
Why evangelize? The answer is a simple one: The Lord commands the proclamation of His Gospel. The conversion of souls is a Divine act, not a human one. However, He, in His sovereign design, has allowed His people to participate in the spreading of His Good News. He ordains the ends, and, obviously, He ordains the means to those ends. What a privilege the followers of Christ have been given to take His Gospel to every person He has put in their particular path.
for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them?
Because God has chosen the means of that salvation, and it is written that faith comes by hearing, and hearing is by the word of God. Therefore, if we don't evangelize, as it has already been pointed out that it is our obligation, then faith will not come, and faith will not be generated by the Spirit. Also, remember that words are spiritual in nature, and it is God the Holy Spirit who takes those words and uses them to effect the spiritual rebirth and faith in the hearers. This is evidence by the statement in the scriptures that, "life and death are in the power of the tongue, and blessed they are who live by it."
Ok, but then what do you do with John 3:16 which makes it obvious that it is not God's will that ANY should perish??? Doesnt that mean He calls ALL of us at some point in our life??? And, how are you throwing away free will, which is CLEARLY give by God throughout the scripture? Please also tell me how your version of the gospel is so distorted that you believe it is impossible to lose our salvation?? If that is the case, how does revelation tell us that our names can be blotted out of the book of life??? Do you read the ENTIRE Bible, sir? Because, although I respect you and gave been blessed by your ministry, I'm not convinced your understanding is right regarding the whole word of God. I'm asking these questions in all sincerity. I do believe that God is sovereign. He can do anything He chooses, but He did give us free will. He chooses all of us, but He loves us enough to allow us to make our own decision about Him. Please explain to me how you find this message from the ENTIRE word of God??? One more thing, please....if God has already picked and chosen His few elect and we have no free will, then what in the world is the purpose of spreading the gospel, if it is not for everyone???
No, we have a will to make choices, but we are not completely and totally free. We always choose according to our nature. We can choose God only after He has chosen us and given us the faith and repentance needed. When He does that, then we willingly and freely come running to Him. You didn’t find Jesus…He found you. He wasn’t lost, you were…
We love God because he first loved us. However, he does not force us to love him. Just because God has called on volunteers, even whilst knowing who will volunteer, that does not make it any less voluntary. I may ask for volunteers among my employees while, knowing assuredly, who will come. Calvinism is philosophy. Bad philosophy. The idea of limited atonement is blasphemous. A good demonstration of how to know a lot of scripture and have no idea who God is.
Because God allows them to do what is in their heart because without him we would all be wretched sinners and deserve damnation. So God determined whome he would save. Because apart from him we would be damned and filthy because we are like a race horse with a broken leg. We need to be taken out back and put out of our misery. But in this case they earned their sentence
@CJ Jacob calvinism does not say we are robots it teaches God is the soverign and man is not the soverign, he is soverign over his choices. Look at it this way. God determined where you would be born who you would grow up around and the choices you have he knows what is in your heart and what you will choose. Read ephesians 1. It says God predertimined, also ephesians 2. If you would like it i could just post both on here. You should look at what they saym jesus said we are dead and cannot come to him you have no ability to. Only God can raise you to life. We are his workmenship it gets into that in Ephesians. But anyway he knows what is in your heart and what you will choose. If God looked down on us without christ he would see a bunch of guilty filthy image barrers in need of damnation but because he decided to pull us out of our ruts and he knows whats in our hearts he determined. All things work for the good of those who love him.
@@collynsmith786 As a born again Christian, I'm fully aware of my depravity. We will agree on 95% of doctrine, I am sure. I know that God was working in my life long before I accepted him. Truly, no one can come to him unless the father draws him. But it's a pretty massive leap to say that I didn't have a choice to surrender and forsake all else... People go to hell for rejecting Jesus. Brother, the doctrine of election (as put forth by reformists and Calvinism), is not biblical. Jesus didn't teach. The apostles didn't preach it. The church has never believed this. Christ is the head of the church and he has not left us today, nor has he ever. The doctrine espoused here is an advent of men who deviated from traditional biblical interpretation. Honestly man.... nobody comes up with this stuff from reading the bible. A man has to teach this. A plain reading of the book of Genesis debunks this before we ever leave the garden. It stands in stark contrast against who God has revealed himself to be. In sincerity, I don't quibble with brothers and sisters over beliefs. If someone believes in eternal security, I personally don't believe the same. The holy spirit just doesn't move me like it does them. I feel my salvation is past, present, and future. I am working it out daily (not earning it). And believe me brother, I know that he is faithful to finish what HE began. But, the Holy Spirit urges me to persist in the faith, this day and unto the end. All that said, I could be wrong about eternal security but, I keep my eyes on the Lord because I am prone to wander otherwise. My blessed assurance is from God and in Christ, not doctrine. There is much in Calvinism that just isn't true. But, limited atonement, is borderline heresy. The only reason why I bother to post on a video like this is, to prevent fellow Christians from perpetuating this stuff. I was an atheist before I knew the Lord and honestly, I don't think you could have made me swallow this. Even without knowledge of the scriptures, it's just doesn't make sense that God would create some for wrath and others to glory. At least not while maintaining the other amiable qualities of his person.
The Bible teaches both God’s sovereignty and man’s free will. Why not just accept that tension as a mystery instead of calling yourself a Calvinist and coming down on the side of God being completely sovereign? Scripture clearly teaches both.
FYI, that's exactly what "Calvinists" teach. Checkout what they write in their own confessions. For example Westminster Confession Chapter 3 section 1: God from all eternity, did, by the most wise and holy counsel of His own will, freely, and unchangeably ordain whatsoever comes to pass; yet so, as thereby neither is God the author of sin, _nor is violence offered to the will of the creatures;_ nor is the _liberty_ or contingency of second causes taken away, _but rather established._ Scripture teaches both, so Calvinists confess both.
16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. 18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son. 19 This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. 20 Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that their deeds will be exposed. 21 But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what they have done has been done in the sight of God.
@@Evilmm2world yeah..I agree..Jesus died for all not only for the elect.God gave men their freewill,.God would never, ever force someone to accept His offer of salvation..I don't agree Ptr Jeff that GOD Is not just like what you said..GOd is a god of Grace but also a just God..
What's wrong with thinking that even though God is in control, he created us with the ability to choose him freely? How is he not being sovereign this way? Yes we are sinners and without his salvation/grace we deserve to go to hell but we're still able to choose right from wrong, because he made us that way.
I’m trying to understand Calvinism, and when I say Calvinism I mean the U in TULIP ( Unconditional Election )... If in fact God has chosen people to have eternal life and others will be condemned to hell NOT because they don’t accept Jesus but because God hasn’t chosen them. I have a hard time understanding that. I can understand Calvinism stating the elect of God are just the people that choose to believe in Jesus. He is all knowing so he already knows who will accept Jesus and who will deny Jesus. Therefor the “ elect “ would be the people who choose Jesus not who God chose. If it was God choosing people and not choosing others then what’s the point of Jesus? I believe Jesus is the bridge to God. John 14:6 “ I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the father except through me “ if there was an Elect what’s the point of sharing the Gospel? What if the one sharing the Gospel isn’t in the Elect but the one who they are sharing the Gospel to is? These are not challenging questions to Calvinism just questions I have as I am learning more and more about Calvinism and automatically have questions. Now the funny part is if I’m wrong and Calvinism is right, I’m saved through Jesus... If I’m right and Calvinism is wrong, I’m still saved through Jesus... 🤷🏻♂️
Mario Bianchini Predestination is NOT about the salvation of lost people. It’s about the guaranteed future of SAVED people. Predestination is mentioned 4 times in the Bible in 3 separate verses and NOT ONCE IS IT REFERRING TO SALVATION. In each case the passage clearly says WHO is being predestinated and TO WHAT they are being predestinated to. Predestination doesn’t speak to who is saved or not. Rather, it speaks to the ‘DESTINY’ of those who ARE SAVED/elect. It speaks to God’s ENDS for the elect who are ALREADY IN CHRIST THROUGH FAITH (Believers). It is the BELIEVERS who are the ones who love God, and who are therefore foreknown by Him. IN CHRIST they possess redemption and the forgiveness of sins by faith. BELIEVERS are predestined by God. *****It does NOT say that unbelievers are predestined TO BE believers.***** In all those passages ask your self WHO is being predestined and WHAT are they being predestined to? **Not once is it an unbeliever.** **Not once is it predestined to salvation.** BELIEVERS are predestined to inherit salvation, to be justified and to be brought into glory. If there remains a veil over the hearts of the Jews for failing to see Christ in the Scriptures, why should we think that the same veil would not also blind those who teach a primary Election APART from Jesus? ************************************* Reformers believe that the FINAL DESTINATION of election is to BECOME in Christ, whereas scripture says that the SOURCE of election is IN CHRIST. With respect to salvation in Christ, predestination speaks not to WHO will be among the elect, but to WHAT GOD’S ULTIMATE PURPOSES ARE FOR THOSE WHO ARE ELECT IN CHRIST. It was never about what we have in the Father INDEPENDENT of the Son. It’s all about HIS SON. It’s all about CHRIST. CHRIST IS THE ELECT ONE. We are merely elect BASED UPON OUR ASSOCIATION AND IDENTIFICATION WITH CHRIST! It’s IMPOSSIBLE to be elect before we have any identity with Christ. THAT WOULD USURP CHRIST! ...If I have been chosen IN THE FATHER from before the foundation of the world in an eternal Election IN HIMSELF, then does Christ intercede for me in heaven in vain, knowing that I have already been eternally mediated to the Father by His eternal secret counsel? What would Christ be interceding for? In a primary, in the Father Election, Christ as “Savior” is UNDERMINED and CALVARY BECOMES A MERE FORMALITY since the Father’s alleged, secret love from eternity past had already, in a sense, saved us. **But that’s NOT what the bible teaches. The bible teaches that BELIEVERS are predestined to certain end IN CHRIST. We are saved by grace THROUGH FAITH in what Christ did on Calvary. We are NOT saved through election. We’re saved by grace THROUGH FAITH in Christ. He’s given us the Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee. We’re His. And BECAUSE of that, all of the promises of God are ‘yes’ and ‘Amen’ for you, because you are IN CHRIST JESUS. This is a good paraphrase of the big picture of Ephesians chapter 1. The basis for our covenant blessings are rooted in being IN CHRIST. **With reformed theology, it’s quite different, as their basis for blessings is having been secretly elected in the Father, and for some inexplicable reason, with the result that the reformed ‘elect’ are caused to believe and chosen to become in Christ. There’s your contrast. EPHESIANS 1:4 - BELIEVERS chosen to be Holy and Blameless IN CHRIST. EPHESIANS 1:5 - BELIEVERS are predestined to be adopted children of God BY JESUS: EPHESIANS 1:11,12 - BELIEVERS (who first trusted in Christ) are predestined to be the PRAISE OF HIS GLORY: ROMANS 8:29 - BELIEVERS (those who are in IN CHRIST) are predestined to be CONFORMED TO HIS IMAGE (through sanctification).
Mario Bianchini Nowhere in scripture is an unbeliever elected to be a believer. Election is ALWAYS to SERVICE and never to salvation apart from Christ.
If people go to hell they only have themselves and their sins to blame. Not the fact that God didn't choose them. Election saves many justly condemned sinners, but God is under no obligation to extend His electing grace to everyone.
Larry Anderson God is under no obligation to extend His electing grace to everyone? You mean SAVING grace. Grace that BRINGETH SALVATION. He’s already extended it you’re too late. Titus 2:11 clearly states God’s SAVING GRACE has appeared to ALL men. TITUS 2:11 11 FOR THE GRACE OF GOD THAT BRINGETH SALVATION HATH APPEARED TO ALL MEN, Not just grace but SAVING grace. Grace that BRINGETH SALVATION. Q: WHO has this SAVING grace appeared to? A: ALL men.
Bippity Boppity, Let me prove it to you the heretical teaching of Calvinism. Do read below and your comments please. Most Calvinism self-professed claim that they are the "the sheep"(the elect) which Jesus came only to seek and to save as only their sins had been paid for on the cross. Let us see whether their claim aligned with the bible. Here I quote; (Mat 10:5) These twelve Jesus sent forth, and commanded them, saying, Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not: (Mat 10:6) But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. These verses stated in the 1st century, Jesus had send out his twelve and specifically commanded them "not" to go to the Gentiles and Samartans but only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. Firstly, was Jesus seeking after the self-proclaimed "sheep" (the elect) of Gentiles origin , living in the 20th. century or the Jews, His lost sheep living in the 1st century? Secondly, are the Gentiles considered to be the house of Israel? You can now see the true absurdity of the Calvinist's claim to be the "sheep" (the elect) when they aren't. When you tell a lie, it always backfires. Thank you.
So you believe in a movement started by a man called Calvin. I believe in a movement started by a man called Jesus. I have the KJB ( God's Holy Word in English today, for an English speaking world ) and I lean not unto mine own understanding, but I have the Holy Spirit to help me understand God's words.
If God predestined people to be saved, then what is the point of sacrificially sending Jesus to the cross? Since from the beginning of the world God already knows who will be saved and who will be condemned, sending Jesus would have no effect on God's decision anyway- because He never changes (His mind). If you say, so that He would completely understand how it is being human, emotions, pain and all, then it would mean He is not Almighty in the sense that He is limited in HIs knowledge and understanding. Can someone clarify this for me?
@Johan Strydom - How can God withhold grace and Christ’s atonement from some of His creatures and then condemn them to the Lake of Fire for all eternity for not accepting what was never offered to them?
About 38:20 where he talks about us making choices, a lot of people get mixed up with this but we make choices in the flesh like do I want Burger King or McDonald's etc But when it comes to spiritual things God is sovereign and he makes the choices of who he chooses and what to choose in their lives spiritually Ephesians 6:12
Romans 9-11 has a very happy ending: "God has consigned all to disobedience, that He may have mercy on all. … From Him, and through Him and to Him are all things." (Romans 11:32,36a)
Watch the following RU-vid video on Leighton Flowers channel, to see why Augustine invented Calvinism. "Was Augustine the first to introduce "CALVINISM" into the Church?" Augustine was attempting to explain how infants could become the "elect" through baptism. Since they had not come to faith, it must be based on the will of another. It could have nothing to do with the will of the child. .
@@tricord2939 Read the book "The Foundation of Augustinian-Calvinism" by Ken Wilson, if you want to understand why Augustine invented the doctrine to explain infant baptism.
16:40 The sheep given to Christ are those who have faith in God and believe in God who is doing the miracles etc by Christ. Once they acknowledged God, specifically God affirming Christ, they were in turn entrusted to Christ by that faith in God. The context deals with a lack of belief despite the obvious. Jesus CONTINUED to try to convince these same men! Why? If they were already declared unelectable, why? Look what he says to them: John 10:37-38 KJV [37] If I do not the works of my Father, believe me not. [38] But if I do, though ye believe not me, believe the works: that ye may know, and believe, that the Father is in me, and I in him.
I’m praying for this teachers hardened heart and to stop accepting all the contradictions in Calvinism by calling them mysteries. He loves the Lord. Just off course because of who his teachers are. Praying!
Few years ago I came across Jeff Durbin post on fb. I commented and argued with him over my comment. I didn't know that he was a pastor and in youtube. Now I believe in his preaching on predestionation and election. Same as Dr. White, I thought he was a proud christian who debate for predestination and election, then afterwards, I came to know that his teachings are more biblical than arminianism.
G since you claimed Calvinism is more biblical. Please tell me which in your opinion is correct?. does faith precedes regeneration or regeneration precedes faith. Thanks.
Actually no, based on what he believes which is Calvinism. God chooses who believes in him not the other way around. So in other words you don't "do it" but it "happens to you".
Belief is not an action, it's a psychological state and you don't get to choose your psychological state. Nobody chooses to believe, God chooses them to believe. Basically you've struck down salvation through grace and reinstitute a works based salvation. That's NOT "basic Bible"....unless by "basic" you mean "unlearned".
I wonder why Jesus marveled at the faith (Luke 7:9) of some and marveled at the lack of faith (Mark 6:6) shown by others? If the elect are predestined why did Christ say these things? I am not trying to debunk Calvinism. I just want an answer to this question.
I was a huge fan of Jeff for his evangelizing the Mormons but only recently dug into his sermons and realized he was a Calvinist, somehow. I was willing to give him the time but everything about Calvin turns me off and seems like a distortion of scripture. He kept saying Baptist so I was right there with him then I heard him say Reformed and that threw up a red flag.
? well of course, they are both Calvinist. They are the only Calvinist denominations I think that are really left. I guess I don't understand what you are trying to say by this reply to the comment. It is almost like you are defending Calvinism in one denomination saying it's similar to another Calvinist denomination.
The terms "Baptist" and "Calvinist" used to be synonymous. Bunyan, Spurgeon, William Carey, Hudson Taylor, Andrew Fuller, etc, as well as the 1689 Baptist confession of faith were/are calvinistic. Only in modern times have Baptist's put philosophy above Scripture and drifted away from their Calvinistic roots.
Around 42:00 it speaks about John 3:16 means EVERY BELIEVING ONE. 17 MIGHT BE SAVED. 18 IS CONDEMNED ALREADY. 19 AND MEN LOVED DARKNESS RATHER THAN THE LIGHT, BECAUSE THEIR DEEDS WERE EVIL. 20 FOR EVERYONE THAT DOETH EVIL HEINOUS THE LIGHT, NEITHER COMES TO THE LIGHT, UNLESS HIS DEEDS SHOULD BE REPROVED, (OR EXPOSED) WE NEED TO RIGHTLY DIVIDE THE WORD OF TRUTH 2ND TIMOTHY 2:15
I’m guessing this is the only video you’ve seen from Apologia. I’ve watched hours and hours of their videos and sermons, and at the age of 48, I’ve heard more of the gospel in these past few weeks than I have in my entire churched life prior to finding Apologia.
Take a read at the comment section across all of Apoliga videos. You will see countless testimonies of people coming to Christ through the ministry of this channel. I would wager you haven't spread the gospel to not even 5% of the people these guys have.
God sovereignly decreed that man should be free to exercise moral choice, and man from the beginning has fulfilled that decree by making his choice between good and evil. When he chooses to do evil, he does not thereby countervail the sovereign will of God but fulfills it, inasmuch as the eternal decree decided not which choice the man should make but that he should be free to make it. If in His absolute freedom God has willed to give man limited freedom, who is there to stay His hand or say, ‘What doest thou?’ Man’s will is free because God is sovereign. A God less than sovereign could not bestow moral freedom upon His creatures. He would be afraid to do so.” AW Tozer
Reformed theology is damning heresy. God imparting to humanity the freedom to choose or reject Christ and the gospel is not a violation of God’s sovereignty at all, in fact, it is a revelation of His power and grace.
Jeff i have tremendous respect for all God is accomplishing through you and I consider you one of the greatest minds in apologetics. I listened because I hoped you would change my mind but it seems that wont be the case. I leave with this: it seems you believe that one must either be a Calvanist, an Armenian, or worse a universalist. I submit that there is a fourth option in between, I have no word for it other than jesus follower. Love ya and thanks for all you do.
There is this sort of gray area where free will operates. However one must understand that it IS the “drawing” BY GOD and the “influence” of God’s presence and goodness that bends ones will towards Himself. It’s ALL God from everlasting to everlasting.
@@maxsmith3335 right, but unfortunately Calvinists seem to teach that God's call or drawing and influence is limited because they think it is irrisistable. Yet scripture says "who soever will, let him come". Yes God is sovereign, and by His sovereign decree He chose to work his sovereign will using man's free will.
Jeff does wonders with deceived Mormons and Jehovah witnesses! I can really appreciate his gentleness in his approach!!!...... with that being said I am shocked he is a Calvinists and is so far off here in his sermon. Hopefully he realizes his wrongful teachings sooner rather than later
Either that or you can't see the truth due to your tradition driven eisegesis. Read Acts 9 and ask yourself where "free will" operated in the conversion of Saul of Tarsus... He was not an exception, he was an example.
49:02 Nice twist about fairness? It's one thing for God to be not fair in that he doesn't give those whom he saves not what they deserved (merciful and gracious) but a whole nother thing all together to be also not fair in whom he gives the capacity to believe / ability to freely choose. That's why the question gets usually asked, rightfully so. Jesus is radically exclusive (The only Way) and radically inclusive (all those who believe shall not perish but be saved).
I'm thankful for this sermon bcuz it made me look more into calvanism and realize that it is a huge lie. I really respect Jeff's knowledge of the word but I can honestly say he is completely wrong about election. Yes, predestination is biblical. But choice and freewill to serve God is also biblical. Actually there's more biblical scriptures in the Bible that support choice and freewill than predestination and elect. Obviously, predestination and freewill coexist. You don't get to pick out the scriptures that speak about predestination and elect and then override the scriptures that speak about choice and freewill. God will not force anyone to follow Him. According to calvanism, God is forcing certain people to follow Him and forcing others to reject Him. This is not the true gospel and not who God is.
They are simply not saved! No holy spirit to guide them in reading the Bible that is why they overrides everything that doesnt fit to their satanic doctrine..REMEMBER THEY WORSHIP A GOD THAT IS NOT FROM THE BIBLE. they can fool themselves that it is the same but they CAN NEVER FOOL GOD..
Terry Scarborough no, God created the all in other to save the all and God can't fail. Ro11:36 Eph1:11 Ro5:18,19 1Tim4:10 1Tim2:4-10 Tit2:11 Col1:20 1Cor15:22, 24, 26, 28. Ro11:32
Can anyone tell me if this sermon is available in audio format as well ... I would like to have it on CD , as for listening to it again while driving back and forth to work .... RJ
I can't deny that God so loved the world (and everyone in it) that He gave His only begotten Son, but, I also believe God does know who will respond to what, and kind of guides our "choices" as Jeff speaks. Being an atheist, and @ 18 or 19, I read Lord of the Rings, which gave me wishful thinking of something that was not down here, which brought me to depression when reality set in again, which brought me to ultimatum time. God speaking (not knowing it was Him)..."Why don't you call to God"?...I argued that my being an atheist (being taught evolution since I was 15 :/.. intelligently said :) "because I don't believe He's there?"...then, Ok, so what if He IS there and doesn't answer?"...uh oh...now I'm scared ....ok, so without more detail I finally said "God...help...me"...low so no one could hear me...INSTANTLY GOD SWOOPED DOWN... lifted the world off my shoulders (while something left me...a spirit of a kind)...and, I was dumbfounded and at total peace at the same time, for the first time in my life @ 22. There IS a Grown up I didn't know was there!!...to watch over the world without my help. :) So, this One, I then pursued to want to know Truth, what religion (if any) was He into. He showed me His Son Jesus only within a year. So, what I am saying is, I do believe God guides us, our circumstances, our choices even, however still giving free will, accept, He already knows who will and who won't turn to Him ultimately. I wouldn't speak to anyone otherwise of predestination since to me it sounds like it's already set who God picks and chooses, or that's how they would take it. I could be wrong, but, I'd be very careful in that way.
For God so loved the world for whoever believes in him should not perish but have everlasting life we’re does faith come from it comes from God he gives us this faith to believe Ephesians 2 8.
@@elizabethhartley8987 Not so. God's gift is "salvation by grace through faith". If you look at the gender and plurality of gift in the greek you'll find that the "gift" cannot refer to faith alone, nor can it refer to salvation, grace, and faith individually - since it is singular it must refer to the whole package: "salvation by grace through faith". What is given though is grace, and that to the humble. Faith always is our moral decision, not God's.
I have watched the number of your videos. And I will watch many more. I also watched where you were evangelizing with Mormon. I know a lot about the reformed faith. But you taught me a lot about the Mormon faith that I didn't know. Thank you for that. You are in my prayers to continue your work preaching the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. I can see the God has called you to this position. I pray for you that the Lord may give you strength and wisdom that you may continue to preach the true word of God. But the grace and mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you as you do your work.
I have been watching Jeff for about a year or so and have agreed and learned from a lot of his witnessing to Mormon videos. However, this morning when I saw this video I was surprised he was a Calvinist. This is one of the few, if only times, I've disagreed with his preaching. Ultimately his view on "universalism" (that if Christ died for the world and not just those predestined then everybody goes to heaven) is the main thing I disagree with. I've heard that view before. The wages of sin is death (that what we have all earned) but the gift of God is eternal life (something that God gives freely thru His Son only). A gift can be accepted or rejected. The fact that God endowed man with the ability to choose shows that God offers up a gift and man decides if he receives it or not. God is sovereign and does as He pleases and wills. Still God desires no man to perish but come into the saving knowledge of truth. God knows everything from everlasting to everlasting. So He knew who would accept and who wouldn't. So in that sense, He died for who He knew would accept but the offer was still up for everybody. Why? Because God is no respect a person. No one deserves salvation in the first place anyway. If you seek God, God will make Himself known. if you don't want Him then He will let you fend for yourself (even then He still keeps you day by day if He sees fit)
You should probably study Calvinism before making a final opinion. The Bible teaches us that we are not even capable of making a so-called "free will" decision to put our faith in God unless the Father first calls us. Therefore, we will continue in our sin until the Father opens our eyes, opens our ears, and turns our heart of stone into a heart of flesh. ◄ John 6:44 ► New International Version "No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws them, and I will raise them up at the last day." The Greek word translated “draw” ishelkuo, which means “to drag” (literally or figuratively). Clearly, this drawing is a one-sided affair. God does the drawing to salvation; we who are drawn have a passive role in the process. There is no doubt that we respond to His drawing us, but the drawing itself is all on His part. Romans 5:10 10 For if, while we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life!
You said "He died for who He knew would accept but the offer was still up for everybody." Where are the words free will in the scriptures? It seems logical. However, John and Romans smacks this notion down.
The apostle Paul wrote to the church of Corinth in 1 Corinthians to admonish them on their behavior after hearing the gospel preached to them. In 1 Corinthians 15:2 he talks about them believing in the gospel unless they believed in vain. What is the implication here? Paul described bringing the gospel telling them how there actions did not line up with with confession of Christ unless their confession was not sincere. This is just one example of being saved because they chose to believe or did not sincerely believe. Christ Himself talked about those who hath ears let them listen. Those who are willing to hear and receive the gospel. He also talked about knocking on the door and letting Him them in. Also, wht would Christ commission the apostles before His ascension back to heaven to preach the Word to all men and baptize them if they were elected to be saved? Romans 10:17 says how faith comes by hearing the Word. Verse 14 talks about how will people come to the Father unless they believe and how will they believe unless they hear the Word and how will they hear the Word unless it be preached? Romans 5:6 says Christ came to die for the ungodly and Romans 3:23 says we have all sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. John 3:16-17 talks about how God loved the whole world and sent Christ to die for the whole world and he came not to condemn the world but save it. The Word uses "whosoever" and it means just that. Bible also says give an answer for the hope that is within you. Why would this be necessary if those who are saved no matter are saved and those who are lost will be lost no matter what. Why preach to everyone and sow seeds if it doesn't matter because their fate has already been sealed? Bible speaks on converts and false converts and this is based off the God given free will to choose or reject. Just like the 2 thieves on the cross one chose to accept Christ and the other one didn't. These are just a few examples
Shaun Williams Nobody claims to know who makes up the elect described numerous times throughout the Bible. Predestination is found throughout the Bible. We must fulfill the Will of God and share the Gospel with all people. Faith cometh by hearing, hearing by the Word of God. Indeed! God knows who will be saved and who will not be saved. The Bible says, Jacob I loved. Essau I hated. Most universalists avoid Romans Chapter 9 and only preach John 3:16 out of context thereby disregarding the totality of the Bible. I ask you, who is the Potter?
Watcher I believe all scripture is breathed out by God and might men wrote the Word as they were moved by the Holy Spirit as the Word tells us. So let me make it clear that I I am not one to take only scriptures that agree with what I think and use that. I agree that the Word does talk about predestination and elect. No doubt! I form my belief in what the entire Word says and rightfully divide what it is history and what is applicable for us today according to the Word. With that being said I believe what Roman 9 says like any other chapter and verse. Keep in my what I'm going to say in reference to Romans 9. The blind man that was made to see from birth was made that way to glorify God the Word says. Christ told Ananais that Paul was coming to his house and he was to heal him and tell him he was a chosen vessel and how he would have to endure many things for His name sake. The Lord chose the nation of Israel to bring hope to the world. The Lord chose John to make way the path straight for the coming of Christ. Also, He hardened pharoah's heart and moses was told this by God that This would be even after him doing those signs and wonders. Also His Word does say in Romans how He will give people over to a reprobate mind and in another book how he will send strong delusions to people wherein they will believe a lie. The Lord chooses the weak and foolish things of this earth to confound the proud wise and strong. So yes many examples all throughout the Bible of God setting things up a specific way. I think the separation is you're taking Romans 9 as a passage of salvation. You cannot say on the one hand God desires all men to be saved (1 Tim 2:4) but then say He makes it so that no matter what God makes it that some ti be saved and some to perish. The very same book of Romans speaks of this. How God is no respect of persons and whosoever calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. Not saying that He doesn't have the power because He is God and He's sovereign and does as He pleases. However we have His Word that lets us know about Him and His plans and what He wants us to know. Passages that condemn are like ones where John the Baptist was talking with the Jewish religious leaders who thought they were saved by association and practices they kept and all others who thought this way but they still had to opportunity to be saved even still. Just like Adam and eve had the freewill to choose in the garden concerning the fruit is the same way we choose. Ask and ye shall receive, seek and ye shall find, knock and the door shall be opened are all passages of implied freewill even though it doesn't say "freewill".
I was really digging on you Durbin. You do a lot of good. Love your witnessing/street preaching. I love your approach, always cool calm and collected... but bro, that’s just on the surface. Swim down a bit deeper and you’re preaching a false doctrine. Could it be that God sent me here to warn you? Think about that Jeff.
I've never quite understood using this as an argument. Why does God being sovereign prevent Him from allowing man to make choices within certain capacities if He so desires? Isn't that almost limiting His sovereignty when you put boundaries on what he can allow his creation to do, in order to fit your own definition?
20july1944 I was wondering if you've ever heard a Calvinist explain how all the disciples were able to believe, being that the Holy Spirit wasn't given till after the resurrection. That means Jesus had unregenerate men believing in Him throughout the gospels. He even said to Nathanael " an Israelite indeed, in whom there is no guile". That's a pretty big compliment for a totally depraved, child of wrath!
1 Timothy 4:10 For therefore we both labour and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living god, who is the Saviour of all men, specially of those that believe.
Also we must remember God loving the world and desiring men to be saved does not mean or imply human ability. God’s desire for men to be saved and human inability are not contradictory but paradox. For example, God desires all to be sinless and holy just as He is even though no human has this ability. It is not contradictory for God to command “be ye holy as I am holy” even though none are holy. We need to understand that God’s call for us to be as holy as He forces us to understand we cannot be holy. We thus understand it is a divine necessity for God to be sovereign over redemption lest none be saved. The problem men have with this is they are offended God justly choses some to be saved while He justly permits some to remain in their willing rejection of His person and His redemptive work. God can work this out and not violate His holy and just nature.
1. Why do we continue to struggle with sin even once we are called, unable to resist, and given new life? 2. You're right about fairness. We are all depraved. It's a miracle He saved any of us. The question remains, why Jacob and not Esau? I don't feel this objection was totally refuted still, despite the solid points. 3. When you evangelize, they come. But under Calvanism, they would come regardless, yes? So perhaps the evangelism is purely a work performed out of respect and obedience to God? 4. In terms of the relationship of Jesus and the sins of everyone, I thought the argument on both sides was that it was 100% effective, but on arminianism, the gift of Jesus could be rejected?
Calvinism says that the Almighty God, before the foundation of the World, CHOSE by His Sovereign will the "Elect", a group of specific INDIVIDUALS, who are KNOWN solely to Himself, TO BE Saved, IF they BELIEVE in his Catholic Augustinian T.U.L.I.P. "Theology/Philosophy". The Bible says that the Almighty God, before the foundation of the World, CHOSE a PLAN of Salvation in (the Gospel of Christ) by which "Whosoever" BELIEVES will be PLACED "in Christ" and BECOME "elected" unto EVERLASTING Life, which is God's Sovereign will. Eph 1:3 Blessed [be] the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly [places] IN CHRIST: Eph 1:4 According as he hath chosen us IN HIM (My note: we are not chosen "to be saved" but rather are chosen when we BELIEVE "in Christ" unto a future Salvation) before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: Eph 1:5 Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children BY Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, Eph 1:10 That in the dispensation of the fulness of times (My note: this "dispensation" has NOT come yet) he might gather together in one all things IN CHRIST, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; [even] IN HIM: The "adoption" has NOT happened yet; we have not been "gathered" yet; THAT is WHAT we have been "predestined" UNTO only AFTER we BECOME "in Christ" WHEN we BELIEVE.
Calvinism teaches that because God is sovereign, which i completely agree, he can go against his rules? Example. All scriptures point to God being love. No single evil in Him. But yet He wants people to go to hell?
43:10 LEAVE IT UP TO A CALVINIST to start with words "Lets read it actually as it is" and proceed with reading it AS THOUGH ITS NOTHING AS IT IS ... and the word "world" doesn't mean anything near what it seems to so clearly imply?? men.. How am I supposed to EVEN READ WORDS after that? I'm gonna have to get a calvinist to blatantly twist, I mean ..... "interpret", words for me now
Many thanks for the clear teaching of the wonderful message of God's matchless grace. I was a wicked alcoholic,The Lord came into my life I read Colossians 1v13 new life. I'm abroad at the moment ,mainly for my health,but in constant touch with my own church. The Lord daily gives me opportunities to witness. It's these truths that are my confidence that The Lord has already won. The Lord bless you and use you more and more
Listening to Calvinists preach that God's Sovereignty trumps His Love (He only loves particular people), and Arminianists preach that God's Love trumps His Sovereignty (He won't "violate" man's freewill), and all the hoops each side jumps through to make certain Scriptures fit their theology, is PRECISELY what made me consider Universal Salvation. I don't have to limit God's Sovereignty OR God's Love. I only have to find the flaws in the doctrine of "eternal separation" that both Calvinists AND Arminianists consider non-negotiable.
I was discipled in Assemblies of God and Foursquare, so my background is Armenian. As the years have gone by - especially as I see doctrinally Armenian/charismatic churches slide leftward in both their doctrine and theology - I see myself ascribing more and more to Calvinism. I want to know in truth what the scriptures say, and I want to have the FULL counsel of God. Many congregations these days seem to neglect certain scriptures in favor of others, thus distorting their meaning. What stops me from attending a Calvinist church is the inherent arrogance and lack of ability to speak the truth in love I often see displayed among Calvinist adherents. There was a time, believe it or not, that Foursquare and Assemblies churches (the subject of charismatic doctrine notwithstanding) displayed a tremendous balance of truth and love in their teaching. Until I see Calvinist churches display the same, I'm going to hope to be used of God in the church I'm at.
i have been to many charismatic churches and non denominational and Baptist and plenty others that are rude or down right mean, stop judging a whole group of people off of a couple of experiences
