I am convinced that, none of us “choose” Christ; But rather after hearing the preaching of the Gospel and becoming so convicted of our sinfulness before a Holy God, we reach a point that we have no option but too cry out to a Holy God asking His forgiveness and thereby becoming a truly converted Holy Spirit filled believer.
I like him lots too! I don't know if I'm biased though, coz I'm scottish😁but I admire his intellect, and I also admire the compassion he shows when discussing issues that are tough, the believing mother with a homosexual son for example. And I love the humour of them all.
Those who experience such actually believe that the "giving of a hug" because God said so through the gift of tongues must have some deeper spiritual meaning that mere words expressed through the pages of holy scripture can convey. An esoteric experience seems to hold more power for the these "believers" than the power of God's written word. The peril of adopting such a view cannot be understated, and should certainly not be tolerated lest we all begin to assume a lower view of scripture...
It is no wonder that the apostasy that will one day be realized will be headed, charged, and governed by those who will "lead" the Christian churches. Thanks be to God for a remnant who will remain faithful. May I be found among that number...
"Tongues" is an incredibly important issue that needs to be understood and dealt with in the most serious manner. Speaking in tongues is a means to supplant the written word of God. It is in effect to say "What God says in my spirit holds more power and authenticity than what is written".
The meaning of the cross in ancient times is derived from the first letter of the Latin word "Term" and its meaning is the end, which at that time when Jesus stood up and spoke of the Spirit of God, the religious scholars of that time did not understand the meaning of Jesus' words. That is why the scholars of that time ended the life of Jesus in their own imagination, unaware that the Spirit of God was so powerful that it institutionalized Jesus' heart in the hearts of men, and from that time to the present, which lasts nearly twenty-one centuries, but that Instead of a sign of the end of Jesus 'life, the sign of Jesus' life became in the hearts of men.
I love RC Sproul and the gentleman on the panel but Wayne Grudem is missing. He is probably the best research professor and theologian in the Reformed Tradition of today. His book on Systematic Theology is perhaps the most thorough and descriptive expression of Reformed Theology. His research on the issue of spiritual gifts is the most honest and accurate interpretation of the scripture. Brother Wayne Grudem needs to be a Ligonier teaching fellow.
Sproul's explanation of essentially the Calvinist view of redemption 32:47 is the most succinct and civil description that I have ever heard. It is far less vitriolic and dogmatic than is commonly portrayed in modern Christian discourse. It, ultimately, is a non-starter in your belief of the risen Christ. It is a micro argument that some portray as a macro determinate of your eternal salvation when it doesn't need to be. It is a distinction without a difference, I feel, that has less to do with an exegetical depth than a response to the truth of the scriptures. In other words, if you know you have been blessed with the revelation of God's truth, spend less time worrying about what that means in His plan in regards to other people and more about what your honest reaction to that truth actually. Because regardless of theological connotations of that brute fact is the pivot on which your salvation will be determined and absolutely no one elses.
The matter is very seriously, and frankly, it is amazing to me how little attention it receives from those who have been entrusted with those doctrines and practices that preserve the church. Do we really want to get to that terrible place where everything written in God's word is up for grabs save the Gospel message itself? Really? This is the desired outcome for the Church that Christ gave himself for because we give place to a "phenomenon" (which is really the work of who?).
Take for example what Dr. Begg experienced. The one speaking the tongue, the one interpreting the tongue, and those who hear both are then forced to believe that God most certainly wants those in attendance to give each others hugs because he told us by his Spirit. Because this "revelation", however silly, is a new and supposedly genuine revelation being communicated through the gift of tongues, it is seen as having more "weight" than scripture.
Did I sleep thru the answer? I listened to this whole video, and I don't recall them even DISCUSSING "Is There Life After Death?" When you post a video, it should contain mainly, the topic described, folks!
I realize that this reply is a bit late in coming, but the title of the 2009 West Coast Conference was " Is There Life After Death?" In the Q & A sessions, the ministers simply answer whatever questions are posed. The Bible clearly addresses the issue of life after death and is worth reading. If you question the inspiration of the Bible, I suggest reading a short, understandable book by Paul E. Little entitled "Know Why You Believe." There IS life after death and we must choose in THIS life where we shall spend eternity.
I disagree on R.C opinion of John 3:16 it says God so loved the" World" that he gave his only begotten Son, no election their, salvation is for all its in the lap of a person. It's up to the individual to par take of that gift!!
Then in your opinion there is some good in us to incline us to righteousness by our own carnal nature. That is not what Scripture teaches or has ever taught. Plus, it also implies that if the World, given the definition you give it, isn’t all saved that God failed. He didn’t give a potential Savior, he gave a sufficient Savior who saves everyone that God has so ordained. It is not based on any good in the individual but in the predetermined purpose and Sovereignty of God.
Sproul weirds me out over the architecture of church . Puritan worship was not in line with this . The temple was destroyed and with it all instrumentation , ornamentation , vestments etc were done away with in Christs death and resurrection ( if you think I'm weird , Calvin and spurgeon just to name a few believed this )
Dr. Sproul says we are to submit to the Bible's teachings/doctrine. But that doesn't mean that we should put our minds aside and not look at the Bible in its entirety when considering individual chapters and verses, consider the historical context, determine to whom God is speaking, and to be aware of the various literary styles used throughout the Bible and understand how that impacts the message. God describes Himself as a good, righteous and just Judge. He's also abounding in love, is compassionate, faithful, patient, kind, and gentle. To prevent the majority of His creation to come to Him, to condemn them for no reason is not just and certainly not righteous behavior. To condemn without reason, God would violate His very nature. Contrary to Dr. Sproul's assertion, millions of believers can't understand how he could read Romans 9 and interpret it in obvious error.
I usually don't respond to comments but I, being a Calvinist myself, wanted to ask you to explain what you meant by this so that I might have a better understanding of an Armenian perspective (if that's what you hold to). I actually agree with what you said. God would be cruel, in our finite understanding of good and evil, to pour out His wrath upon those who do not deserve it. But Calvinism doesn't believe that He would ever do so. We believe that God created man upright, but we sought ought evil ourselves (Ecclesiastes 7:29). Therefore all men were separated from and continued to seek destruction and wickedness, hating God and righteousness (Romans 3:10-18) Therefore justice demanded that we endure the punishment of disobeying a Holy and Good God. The verdict: Eternity in Hell for everyone. That's what we deserved and would prefer to being with God since the scriptures tell us that we ignore Him though we knew His truth (Romans 1:18) Yet God who's compassion is beyond understanding did not give us what we deserved nor desired. But rather he had Elected a nation, a people who He would save from their own wickedness. He opened our eyes by showing us His truth through scripture and in Christ the Living Word (John 1). Through Him the wrath of God was mediated to. He drank the horrible cup of wrath on our behalf so that God would be Just as a Judge, yet be able to justify us sinners that we might not perish but have eternal life with Him (Romans 3:1-26). Now we who were once far from God have been brought near to Him by grace alone! Becoming the church, a beautiful Bride God has given to His Son. Now does that mean there are some who were not chosen? Unfortunately Yes. And we as fellow men who deserved the same punishment will cry out and mourn over the lost! Paul even desiring that He be lost to Hell that his kinsman would be saved! But does this mean that God is Wicked in not choosing all? May it never be said. For damnation is what we all Deserved by order of Justice. But to those He has saved, He has shown abundant mercy. Therefore to the lost, God delivers Justice by condemning them to right punishment. And to the Elect, God has shown mercy by condemning His Son on their behalf. So the question isn't why aren't they saved? But why has He chosen any of us to save? This is the mystery of His great Love and mercy. And the great motivator to reach the lost so that they might be known as the Elect too. That's what God's Word says as far as I, a fallible servant of Him, can be assured of.
@@3Bagermole You mention the motivator to reach the lost so that they might be Elect too. But it matters not wether you reach the lost surely? The lost are lost and will remain lost despite hearing the gospel message. Isn't that true? Of all Calvinist belief it is the doctrine of predestination of the Elect and the lost that I cannot accept. I can accept that some will not accept Jesus as their saviour but not that those who will, will do so because God has chosen that they will and those who reject the message (or never hear it) will reject it because God decides they will reject or never hear it. It saddens and frustrates me.
@1:00:00 Dr. Sproul's preoccupation with Calvinism and his strong belief in it are not necessarily drawn from the text of the Bible, especially Romans 9. Millions of fine, fruit-bearing Christians disagree with this doctrine and his claim that their bias leads to their misconceptions and a faulty reading of scripture is regrettable. I haven't known one person in my 58 years of life that did not feel God's call. The void was and is very real in the lives of those that reject that call. They seek to fill it by every means possible, whether it be via travel, materialism, intellectualism, work, etc. The idea that God chose whom to call with an eenie, meenie, miney, moe system is not scriptural. The whole of scripture speaks of His pursuit of us all. Thankfully, Jesus saves and the gospel is clear. Furthermore, as much as I respect Alistair Begg and as much as I have gained from his sermons, I think it's evermore important to be respectful of any and all questions, and the questioner, particularly because non-believers might be asking those questions or observing our response to those questions. Ravi Zacharias, a loving and respectful man, (criticized by Alistair as well) would never make light of a sincere question, whether from a believer or heathen. Eternal destiny is not a laughing matter.
I think the misunderstanding of Calvinism is with the whole seeking of God. Paul clearly states in Romans that none is righteous, none is good, none seeks after God. However, he does speak of mans internal consciousness of there being God and not worshipping Him as God. But instead turning to idolatry and suppressing the truth in unrighteousness. Calvinism doesn’t speak against free will in the sense of human volition. It teaches, the same as Scripture, the man is fallen and sinful. That mankind is only inclined to evil and idolatry due to the fall. Man cannot perfectly be righteous because they aren’t inclined to it as an unbeliever. It takes God, by the Holy Spirit, to regenerate us to true saving faith. We can’t even believe in Christ apart from the initiative of God. There is Jesus in John 6 saying that who the Father gives him will come to him and he will in no way drive them out. I encourage you to read Jesus words on election cause it is stated clearly. Then look at Jesus conversation with Nicodemus about how to be born again. Jesus relates the initiative of salvation being by the Spirit in John 3. There are many other examples, especially when you read Galatians, Ephesians, and Romans of Gods sovereign election in salvation. Paul clearly states and preached this exact doctrine. To refuse to believe it takes some real gymnastic feat. Scripture speaks of us being his workmanship in Ephesians 2:10. He is working in the believer daily to strip them of sin and sanctify them, culminating in later glorification and a stripping away of sins curse.
He died for all , it's up to the person to partake his gift of salvation, because think of it this way the gospel was for all mankind , all that were exposed to it , if not so then no one would have the option to partake of it! Christ died for ALL, now the ball is in your corner.
I believe the same. This is the religion I was raised with by a believing mother, Scottish, and the predestination of the saved and the lost is the one thing I cannot hold to. I love these mens knowledge of the Bible, their intellect, humour etc but I cannot, just cannot accept the doctrine of the Elect, try as I might.
@@littleboots9800 Romans 9:11 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
