First off lets get those mean old Calvinists out of the way....
"I became a Christian because of the Mercy of God.
I KNOW that if I was left on my own, I would have CHOSEN to remain in rebellion towards God, and went to Hell forever, in my own way. I can see any lost sinner, and say, "There but for the grace of God, go I", and it is NOT sentiment, it is THE TRUTH!!
I am so incredibly thankful for God SHOWING ME MERCY, and I KNOW that according to Romans 8 it was NOT because of anything I would ever do in life, but ONLY because of GOD'S MERCY, that HE SAVED ME!! PRAISE GOD FOR HIS MERCY TOWARDS A SINNER LIKE ME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
There, NOW, lets ask the Arminian........
First off, Mr.Arminian, you need to tilt that nose up.
I mean every so slightly, because after all you are a Christian.
Because lets be honest, your salvation hinged upon YOUR DECISION. I mean YOU....are the one who chose Jesus, right?
Well WHY, Mr. Arminian DID YOU CHOOSE JESUS?
"Well, I saw my need for Christ"
WHY....did you see your need for Christ and your NEIGHBOR DID NOT???
"Well, I decided that I should repent and be a better person."
WHY.....did YOU decide that you should be a better person, and your NEIGHBOR DID NOT?
"well, I understood the terrors of Hell, and......
WHY....did YOU understand the terrors of Hell, and YOUR NEIGHBOR DID NOT?
Mr.Arminian, we can go on all day like this, and the ANSWER comes down to TWO CHOICES.
1. You are a BETTER PERSON than other people.
2. You are SMARTER than other people.
So, which is it?
I mean YOU believe you have this free will, and the ability, and after all YOU....(the wonderful great YOU) chose Jesus, right?
In the Arminians mind, their eternal fate hinged upon their OWN decision.
The TRUTH is, for the Christian, their eternal fate hinged upon the MERCY OF GOD.
Even thou I do not agree with all of Calvin's views and in the past I have been repectful of your views james, I find this post offensive. It is insulting and uncalled for.
In the past I have read your post and saw that even thou we disagree that you studied out the word. I have even been curtous to you.
Why would I find your post offensive, because I do not think I am smarter or better than any one else.
I really did think you were asking for our testimonies here.
Instead I have lost some respect for you.
Dennis
PS. We are not Luthererns, Catholics, Calvinist or any thing else. We are followers of Christ!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I can certainly see how it is offensive, but only to Christians who are Arminian, and have not dealt with the REASON they became Christians in the first place.
So, yes, I wanted to force the Arminian Christian to think back to this foundation of WHY they accepted Jesus.
And Dgrimater, we ARE left with only TWO choices aren't we.
1. God put a new Spirit in us, and THEN we accepted Jesus BECAUSE we had already been made into a new creature.
2. WE chose Jesus of our own freewill, and THEN, God made us, BECAUSE of our decision, to be born again.
The Bible PLAINLY says that #1 is how it happened.
Here is a quote from the Council of Orange in 529AD:
If anyone makes the assistance of grace depend on the humility or obedience of man and does not agree that it is a gift of grace itself that we are obedient and humble, he contradicts the Apostle who says, "What have you that you did not receive?" (1 Cor. 4:7), and, "But by the grace of God I am what I am" (1 Cor. 15:10). If anyone affirms that we can form any right opinion or make any right choice which relates to the salvation of eternal life, or that we can be saved by assent to the preaching of the gospel through our natural powers without the effectual work of the Holy Spirit, who makes all whom He calls gladly and willingly assent to and believe in the truth, he is led astray from the plain teaching of Scripture by exalting the natural ability of man, and does not understand the voice of God who says in the Gospel, "For apart from me you can do nothing" (John 15:5), and the word of the Apostle, "Not that we are competent of ourselves to claim anything as coming from us; our competence is from God" (2 Cor. 3:5).
I became a Christian because I met Jesus and had to deal with a confrontation with Truth. Unfortunately, Christians that are as fanatical about their Theology as you are James make me not want to claim to be a Christian and so I don't/ I insist that I am a disciple of Jesus and do not adhere to any particular teaching of any Theologian or religious fanatic such as you appear to be.
I am not so insulted by your post as I am by the fact that you insist on making such a big deal out of being a Calvinist. Who cares? I know Jesus doesn't. I imagine you will take great pleasure in imagining that you will discover you are right as you stand before God an give account for yourself. Good luck with that. I am sure it will make little difference though.
Another post that reeks of the arrogance of one who perceives himself as the only one with the "pure" truth, *nose slightly in the air* because he is one of the few who actually sees Gods divine plan of Unconditional Election.
James, you have underestimated the Enemy. He is a master magician. He has your focus on the on the 'Humility' of your doctrines of Total Depravity and Unconditional Election and those who believe God gives them a choice are the 'Prideful' ones.
However, this has produced great pride in you, ie : You are the 'Proud' processor of the doctrines of 'Humility'....and it shows.
