A short explanation of my theological conviction on grace.
Why I am A Calvinist
An Oversimplified exhortation to Sovereign Grace Theology
by Dr. C. Matthew McMahon
There are a variety of theological persuasions in the world. One might say there are too many of them. We may go from denomination after denomination and find a great variety of beliefs and doctrines concerning things about God, things about Christ, things about man and so on (to the utter detriment of the church's power in the world). Yet these ideologies are but ripples from the great stone of the Gospel which was plunged into the lake of humanity.
All theological persuasions are not perfect. It is impossible that any theological system of doctrine be perfect for if it was perfect it would be the Scriptures themselves; for only the Word of God is inerrant, or without error, and infallible - for it will not fail us. Man has undertaken the task, as commanded by God (2 Tim. 2:15), to understand God�s Word in spite of his lack of ability to understand it perfectly. He strives to apprehend what he can because a good theologian knows he cannot comprehend (or understand totally) everything about the Scriptures. But that gives us no excuse not to try.
In the endeavor to ascertain right doctrine, various systems have come up throughout church history. There have been the Arians, the Socinians, the Gnostics, the Roman Catholics, the Epicureans, the Docetics, the Pelagians, the Mormons, the Arminians, the Manicheans and so on. These though, should not be considered to be a true systems of right doctrine since each of them denies a major tenant of the Christian religion. One denies the deity of Christ, where another denies the humanity of Christ. One says heaven is attained by knowledge alone, another denies that people are sinners. One says God is not sovereign, and another says man is the measure of all things. One says man is God, and another says God is not all powerful. One says that God can save but does not need to, another says that man must "do his part" in salvation or he cannot be saved. These systems of doctrines are clearly false. They remove or exalt a particular essential attribute, or many essential attributes of Christianity, not to mention adding many things which the Scriptures never teach. So it would rightly be said that they are systems, but it would also be equally fair to say that they are wrong systems.
So what is the right system of doctrine? From study, contemplation, and meditation and upon the Word of God, from assessing church history and the movements contained therein, from hearing hundred of speakers on varying subjects, and listening to a plethora of viewpoints on every aspect of the Bible, I rest upon the system of doctrine called "Calvinism."
It is unfortunate for Calvinism that it is called Calvinism. Charles Spurgeon rightly stated that "Calvinism is nothing more than a nickname for Biblical Christianity." He was right. The name is often a warrant for despisement though. People say because we follow a man named Calvin, we are not following God. Does not Paul say in 1 Cor. 1:12, "Now I say this, that each of you says, "I am of Paul," "I am of Apollos," or "I am of Cephas," or I am of Christ." is Christ divided?" Paul is right. We are not to follow after men. We are to follow after God for sectarianism is a sin rebuked by the 1st chapter of 1 Corinthians. But do Calvinists really follow Calvin? No. It is actually wrong to call Calvinists "Calvinist" because they are doing nothing other than using the same body of doctrine that Calvin used, who in turn copied Augustine, who in turn copied the church fathers and they, who in turn, followed Christ and the Apostles. The early church fathers, who lived between 95 AD and 200 AD are just as much Calvinists, for understanding grace, as Augustine was a Calvinist, and as John Calvin was a Calvinist. Calvinism is nothing more than a label to show what view one holds upon the Scriptures, not upon a certain man. Someone may say, "That is not true. If you are a Calvinist, then you follow the teachings of Calvin and his interpretation of the Bible." Let us see if this is a worthy set of propositions. Because at the outset, they prove of necessity, nothing of the kind.
When I was 21, I had finished 2 years of Bible college. I went to an Arminian School, learned Arminian doctrine, and read Arminian books. I had no previous real learning in religion until I attended that school, so I was indoctrinated in that theology without ever knowing whether it was true or false. In my na�vet� I believed what I was taught (Surely not to question doctrine was my own mistake, but being indoctrinated in that way helped me to understand more about what I believe now. So it was the providence of God which kept me in my sin of false doctrine for a time.) Not too long after my second year, a friend of mine, who believed the doctrines of grace, began to challenge me on many of my "biblical" doctrines. I had a well rounded handle on the doctrine I possessed and propagated it thoroughly among my friends at school. But when this young man challenged me as he did, I was not able to refute him. The reason I was not able to refute his arguments had nothing to do with not understanding my own doctrine, for I did. But he came at me with something I did not expect; the Bible. He proposed a whole new system of doctrine which ran completely contrary to my own beliefs. My understanding of sin was so unbiblical that when he told me to read Romans 3:10-18, I was taken back by Paul�s poignant words. I was challenged by the very book I thought I understood. My views of man, Christ, God, salvation, sin, sovereignty, the will, and others were so warped and twisted that my young friend didn�t even need to rebuke me, for the Scriptures were doing it quite well. I had understood doctrine, it was just not the doctrine of the Bible.
So over the next summer, because of that day and that particular challenge of my friend, I devoted my time to reading through the entire Bible and endeavor to take it as it stood rather than what I wanted to read into it. My prayer was that the Lord would teach me His word by the power of the Holy Spirit so that I would know what it said rather than what I wanted it to say. After three months my views on man, Christ, God, sin, salvation and the like were radically transformed. (you would be amazed at what the Spirit of God will do with such a prayer and a simple reading of the Bible.) The point is this, my theology came out Calvinistic without ever knowing what Calvinism was, at least the beginnings of this. I had not known what Calvin taught or that he was even a person. But my theology reflected his theology which reflected Augustine's theology, which reflected Christ's theology. And so the study of the Word of God transformed me. The Scriptures taught me, instead of me trying to make it say what I wanted it to say. So we see that being a Calvinist is not following after one man, but submitting under the authority of the Bible. It is embracing the theology that has been long since defended by men like Calvin, Luther, Bullinger and others who believed in the sovereign grace of God.
Why would someone want to be a Calvinist? Calvinism is not adherence to a person, but to a set of beliefs which are rightly in accord with the Bible. People who want to be right in their understanding of the doctrines of the Bible, adhere to Calvinism. Calvinism is not perfect. It is a system of doctrine worked over and over by countless men since the time of Christ. It will never be perfect because it is not inspired by God. So why should we believe Calvinism over and above other systems of doctrines? Because if we were to determine what system of doctrine hits closest to the bulls-eye of the Scriptures, Calvinism would be the first outer ring. Any system of doctrine which does serious damage to the doctrines of man, Christ, God, sin and salvation, cannot be considered worthy of our attention as Christians. And there is no system of doctrine which covers all these so Biblically as Calvinism. Calvinism can be found illustrated in Calvin's Institutes of the Christian Religion. If you are a Calvinist, you agree with the Institutes. If you do not agree with the Institutes, then there are other names you can use to describe yourself. Calvinism is not for you.
What does Calvinism teach? Calvinism can be divided up into hundreds of points. There are a variety of propositions and ideas which are woven into the fabric of Calvinism. But if we were to concisely describe the simplistic form of Calvinism's teaching on salvation (for instance), we would look at the acronym T.U.L.I.P.: Total Depravity, Unconditional Election, Limited Atonement, Irresistible Grace and Perseverance of the Saints. This is a helpful acronym to describe salvation in terms of God's sovereignty (as the Bible does!).
The first doctrine of grace is Total Depravity. Total depravity keeps us humble. It states that man is totally and completely a sinner; heart, soul, mind and body, who can do no righteous deed. The image of God is so marred and twisted by the fall of Adam that every person who is conceived is at that point at enmity with God. They are enemies of God, they hate God, and they would even kill God if he showed up in their living room. As a matter of fact, when the Lord Jesus Christ came down to earth, they killed him. Total Depravity is proven by both the Old and New Testaments: Genesis 6:5; Jeremiah 17:9; Romans 3:10-18. After one understands that he is a sinner who cannot by his own power come to faith, and that he has lost everything which would enable him to come to Christ because of the Fall and of his sin, then he comes to see Unconditional Election (Second doctrine). Man, being sinful cannot choose to follow God because he hates God. So God must remove the heart of stone and replace it with a heart of flesh. God chooses man. He unconditionally, not based upon anything a man can do which is good or evil, elects people to everlasting life. Its God�s job to save, and our job to praise Him for saving us. The Scriptures shows this doctrine emphatically: Malachi 1:2; Romans 8:29; Romans 9:1ff; Ephesians 1:3ff.
How does God save us? Yes, He elects us, but what is the basis for our election? It is not our work, but Christ�s work. God sends His Son to die for everyone whom He elects. The Son pays the price, and the debt is removed. When Jesus dies on the cross He secures salvation for everyone He dies for. And the work of Christ�s death and resurrection is transferred at that time to the account of all those who will be saved through Him. Jesus comes to die for God�s chosen people, His treasured possession. In this way the atonement is limited in scope but not in power (Third Doctrine). The Scriptures teach us this doctrine as well; Isaiah 53:1ff; Matthew 1:21; John 10:1ff; Acts 20:28; Ephesians 5:25.
The fourth doctrine of grace, or Calvinistic doctrine, is Irresistible Grace. If Jesus dies for the elect, and God unconditionally elects all those depraved people whom He calls His own, the regenerating power of the Spirit of God will not fail. Regeneration is where the Spirit changes the old heart of stone to a beating heart of flesh. And He does this prior to our faith. We believe on Christ after our sinful depraved souls are given the new capability to believe through the renewing power of God�s Spirit. His grace is then called irresistible, not because we believe against our will kicking and screaming, but our hearts are inclined to believe, so we love to believe and we go to Christ willingly. The Scriptures show us this in Psalms 51:10; 110:3; Jer. 31:33ff; John 3:2ff; Romans 2:29; Ephesians 2:8-10; Philippians 1:29; and 2:13.
The last main point of God�s grace seen so vividly in the doctrines of Calvinism is Perseverance of the Saints. All who are redeemed from their depraved states, all whom Christ came to ransom from death and pay the price to redeem from God�s wrath, all whom the Spirit irresistible touches with His grace, and all those who are unconditionally elected to eternal life will persevere to the end. They will sin, yes. But they will never fall away from grace. This does not give us a license to sin, for those who are truly changed are changed and have a new desire and new nature which releases them from the that the old depraved nature had on them. These saints persevere because God continually upholds them through the grace of Christ and the power of the Holy Spirit. They are God�s temples, His residing place. God dwells in the spirit of a man�s renewed heart. This, in and of itself, is an amazing thing!! And does the Scripture show us this doctrine? More than we could imagine: Phil. 1:6; Romans 8:30; John 10:28-29; John 17:2, 6, 9, 24; 1 Thess. 5:23.
What doctrines am I rejecting as a Calvinist? I am rejecting everything that "changes the truth of God for a lie, and denies Jesus Christ as our only Sovereign and Lord (Jude 4)." I am rejecting anything which would rise up and call itself a Gospel which is no gospel at all. I reject anything which exalts man to a place and position where he ought not to be, and decreases the grace of Christ. I reject anything which makes God a cosmic bell-hop tending to the commands and demands of sinful men as another gospel. I reject anything which removes God�s sovereignty to place man as the Sovereign as another gospel. I reject anything which denies the sovereign decrees of God and His electing grace to put salvation into the hands of sinful men as another gospel. I reject anything which denies man�s total depravity and exalts his fictitious free will as another gospel. I reject anything which places the perseverance of man to glory in the incapable hands of a sinful man as another gospel. I reject anything which endeavors to treat God as the great Grandfather in the sky beckoning and pleading with man to be saved as changing the true God into a pitiable wimp. This is another Gospel. I reject anything which denies the atonement of Christ for what it is; a substitutionary atonement on behalf of the elect. If we deny this, we deny the Gospel. I reject anything which makes the cross less than definite salvation for the elect, as another Gospel. I reject anything which is contrary to the Gospel of Jesus Christ as it is preached by Christ in His Word. It is to these Calvinistic doctrines and teachings which all Biblical Christians hold. It is these Calvinistic doctrines of grace which wild horses could in no way drag from me. Especially the wonderful doctrine of Christ�s atonement for His people. And what does Paul say about those who preach, teach, and believe another Gospel? Galatians 1:8 is emphatic, "If we, or an angel from heaven, preach to you any other Gospel than what we have preached, let him be anathema, (or accursed.)" They are not slapped on the wrist and sent to their heavenly rooms. They are cast into the deepest, darkest, hottest section of hell for perverting the truth of God�s Word. We see that the Gospel is something to contend about, and is something we need to be right about.
When I was 21, I had a form of godliness but I denied its power. I had a system of doctrine which denied Jesus as the only Sovereign and Lord. Yet, God in His mercy forgave that heinous sin of wrong belief. He allowed the scales to fall from my eyes. He allowed me, if you will, to be "born again, again." My mind has been renewed and my life transformed by these doctrines of grace. It is absolutely true what Spurgeon said, that Calvinism is nothing other than a nickname for Biblical Christianity. And until a person understands these doctrines, his walk with God will be a superficial walk. The doctrines of God�s grace, which are the doctrines of Calvinism, plunge us deep within the fountain of God�s mercy and power. Without understanding God�s election of depraved people, how can anyone understand what grace is really about?�they can�t. Why am I a Calvinist? Because God will not allow me to be anything else. He has opened my eyes to depth beyond my wildest aspirations. He continues to humble me, the rebellious sinner, before His awesome majesty and power. May it be that all of God�s people would be humbled by His grace.
James what is the value of trying to persuade someone to calvinism, really, why do we need to exalt a system?
James replies:
That is a good question PhillipJohn.
I am not trying to "exalt a system", I am saying why I believe in five doctrines nicknamed Calvinism. If I were to "exalt a system", I would say that Reformed theology is the most accurate system of theology, but that is another discussion.
There is a saying that Bad theology is a cruel taskmaster. This means that many times when a person misunderstands the Bible, they pay for it with false beliefs that are a lot less wonderful than what the Bible actually says. Take the belief that some churches teach, that you can lose your salvation. almost all churches that teach this, are bound up in legalism, and put a lot of extra rules into the Christian life. They do this, because, if you can lose your salvation, then how are you going to get it back? By works. So they add a bunch of rules that are not even in Scripture.
Such as the Pentecostals do with their "articles of holiness". They say men can not have facial hair, women can't wear pants, no watching TV or movies, etc.
So, to answer your question what is the value of trying to showing Arminian Christians the verses on the five points, I think there are several important things. Lets mention first, the FACT that no true Christian can ever lose their salvation!
If you think your salvation hinges on first, YOUR decision, and then YOUR working hard enough, then that is not even Christianity because you are not trusting in Jesus, you are trusting in yourself! As a Christian, you need to assurance in your life that you ARE saved! If you have this assurance, you can live a truly holy life, because what you do is out of THANKFULNESS for God saving you. Not out of fear of losing your salvation.
If you understand and believe the doctrines of Grace, you will be MUCH more humble and thankful towards God!
You have the Arminian, who believes it was their decision that was the crucial point in their salvation, and then you have the Calvinist who believes that the ONLY reason they accepted Jesus, is because the Holy Spirit MADE them a new creature! That God chose them before the world was made, and the Jesus died for them SPECIFICALLY!
If you are Arminian, then you think Jesus died for the whole world, even the people in Hell right now, and it was a sentimental type thing that did not really do anything the moment Jesus died.
But if you believe the Doctrines of Grace you KNOW that Jesus died SPECIFICALLY FOR YOU!! and that His death LITERALLY PAID FOR YOUR SINS THE MOMENT JESUS DIED!
God's love is SPECIFIC, and all powerful!! it is NOT like the Arminian believes, a sentimental thing that is given out to every person who ever lived, including all the most evil people who ever lived.
The difference is huge between how a Calvinist and Arminian looks at the Christian life, sin, God, and salvation.
One Christian is walking around thinking THEY chose Jesus, and that they must be a pretty good person for doing so!
While the Calvinist believes that if they were left on their own, they would only have chosen to reject God, and they would have been lost and in Hell forever. But God, who showed them mercy, saved them!
They also believe that God will cause them to persevere in the faith, and that NOTHING can take them out of God's hand!
Imagine the Comfort, and at the same time the humility the Christian has, who believes in the doctrines of Grace.
There have been plenty of famous Missionaries,who believed the doctrines of Grace, who were confident because they knew that God would cause some of the people hearing the Gospel to respond to it.
Knowing the truth about the utter spiritual deadness of fallen mankind, makes you realize that we need to depend on God for everything. Knowing the truth about your salvation, that it does not depend on you, but on God who showed mercy to you and CHOSE YOU specifically, is a huge comfort, and SHOULD make you more humble. Knowing that Jesus died for your sins SPECIFICALLY, makes you more thankful! Knowing that God's grace in your life is irresistible, means that your salvation is not left up to you, but rests in God's purposes which are unchangeable. Knowing that God WILL cause you to persevere in the faith, is a great comfort, and should cause you to be confident, and obedient in the faith.
dgrimater said:
when I was a kid I attended the Lutherern church. They said they were right and everybody else was wrong.
Why do we say we are right and everybody else is wrong?
James replies:
I think that what we all should try to do, is to become a member of the local church, and we want to understand and interpret Scripture accurately in all that it says. Of course the Lutheran church believes their theology is the most accurate. If they did NOT believe this, they hopefully would change what they believe right?
I don't say, "everybody else is wrong" because that is over simplifying it. Almost All protestant churches teach justification by faith alone, and so they are all Christian churches, with varying degrees of being correct about their theology.
GodsJude said:
Why I am a "Christian"...One day when I was so lost & broken I heard a voice that came from everywhere. It scared me an I fell to my knees...this voice said somethin I well never forget as long as I live...I became a Christain (Born Again) in a instant. I found what I was lookin for my whole life or should I say...He found me...His name is Jesus and he is why I am a "Christian"....so...I dont know Mr Calvin an I dont care bought a dead man or what he has done or how he believes...I jus care bout Jesus...jus my 2 bits...So yall hava nice debate bout somethin that make no nevermind ta Jesus...Luv ya all...xo
James replies:
That is right, God saved you. It was not a decision on your part until AFTER the Holy Spirit entered your heart, and changed you.
Okay, I know I can say this a hundred time and someone will STILL say, "I don't follow Calvin I follow Jesus".
But here goes AGAIN........
Calvinism, is a NICKNAME for five points of doctrine. The Nickname came about because the followers of James Arminius, came to all the churches and said that they did not like five things the churches were teaching.
John Calvin, the Reformer, had been dead for many years before this happened.
I guess For me to agree with calvinism and what they teach I would have to leave the bible, I don't believe according to Jesus the Word, one point of the tulip is scriptual. I made a post the the other day, that had my salvation experience in it, but I was trying to communicate the truth,(the word of God), and truth as being truth to man outside of God.
To some my testimony would be truth, to others it would be the truth, because the truth is available to whoever wants to genuinely know the truth.
Jesus is not several different versions of the truth, he is the truth and the holy spirit will confirm that to anyone that truly desires to know, but it will be their choice to believe or not believe his confirmation of the truth.
In otherwords the truth never changed, but some would say the truth, is not true.
We as christians can and will know the same truth, but we also have to know and listen to the Holy Spirit.
we know that in everything god works for good with those who love him,who are CALLED according to HIS purpose.
for those whom he FOREKNEW he also PREDESTINATED to BE CONFORFMED to the image of his son,in order that he might be the first born among many brethren.And those whom he PREDESTINATED he also CALLED;And those whom he called he also justified;And those whom he justified he also glorified.ROMANS 8;28-30
or this one.
.....for they stumble as they were DESTINED TO DO.but you are a CHOSEN RACE,a royal priesthood,a holy nationGODS OWN PEOPLE,that you may declare the wonderful deeds of him who CALLED you out of darkness into his marvelous light.1.Peter 2;8,9
or
though they were NOT YET BORN and had DONE NOTHING EITHER GOOD OR BAD,in order that gods purpose of ELECTION might continue,not because of works,but because of HIS CALL,she was told"the elder will serve the younger.as it is written"JACOB I LOVED BUT ESAU I HATED"What shall we say then?Is there injustice on gods part?By no means!For he says to moses,"I WILL HAVE MERCY ON WHOM I HAVE MERCY,I WILL HAVE COMPASSION ON WHOM IHAVE COMPASSION,so it depends,not on mans will or mans exertion,but upon GODS MERCY.For the scripture says to pharaoh,I HAVE RAISED YOU UP for the VERY PURPOSE of showing my power in you,so that my name be proclaimed in all the earth!So then he HAS MERCY UPON WHOMEVER HE WILLS,and HE HARDENS THE HEART OF WHOMEVER HE WILLS.you will say to me then,why does he still find fault?For who can resist his will?But WHO ARE YOU,A MAN,TO ANSWER BACK TO GOD?WILL WHAT IS MOLDED SAY TO ITS MOLDER "WHY HAVE YOU MADE ME THIS WAY"?has the POTTER NO RIGHT OVER THE CLAY,TO MAKE OUT OF THE SAME LUMP ONE VESSEL FOR BEAUTY AND ONE VESSEL FOR COMMON USE,what if god,desiring to show us his WRATH,and to make known his power,has endured,with much patience,the VESSELS OF WRATH MADE FOR DESTRUCTION,in order to make known the riches of his glory for the VESSELS OF MERCY,wich HE HAS PREPARED BEFOREHAND FOR GLORY? ROMANS 9;10-24
1.this Man, delivered up by the predetermined plan and foreknowledge of God, you nailed to a cross by the hands of godless men and put Him to death. (Acts 2:23)
2.This was in accordance with the eternal purpose which He carried out in Christ Jesus our Lord, (Ephesians 3:11)
but we speak God's wisdom in a mystery, the hidden wisdom, which God predestined before the ages to our glory; the wisdom which none of the rulers of this age has understood; for if they had understood it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory; (1 Corinthians 2:7-8)
but with precious blood, as of a lamb unblemished and spotless, the blood of Christ. For He was foreknown before the foundation of the world, but has appeared in these last times for the sake of you. (1 Peter 1:19-20)
the one who practices sin is of the devil; for the devil has sinned from the beginning. The Son of God appeared for this purpose, that He might destroy the works of the devil. (1 John 3:8)
3.So David said to Michal, "It was before the LORD, who chose me above your father and above all his house, to appoint me ruler over the people of the LORD, over Israel; therefore I will celebrate before the LORD. (2 Samuel 6:21)
'Since the day that I brought My people Israel from Egypt, I did not choose a city out of all the tribes of Israel in which to build a house that My name might be there, but I chose David to be over My people Israel.' (1 Kings 8:16)
'Nevertheless I will not take the whole kingdom out of his hand, but I will make him ruler all the days of his life, for the sake of My servant David whom I chose, who observed My commandments and My statutes; (1 Kings 11:34)
"Yet, the LORD, the God of Israel, chose me from all the house of my father to be king over Israel forever. For He has chosen Judah to be a leader; and in the house of Judah, my father's house, and among the sons of my father He took pleasure in me to make me king over all Israel. (1 Chronicles 28:4)
He also chose David His servant, And took him from the sheepfolds; (Psalm 78:70)
4.Then David said, "No one is to carry the ark of God but the Levites; for the LORD chose them to carry the ark of God, and to minister to Him forever." (1 Chronicles 15:2)
5."Thou art the LORD God, Who chose Abram And brought him out from Ur of the Chaldees, And gave him the name Abraham. (Nehemiah 9:7)
6.But [God] chose the tribe of Judah, Mount Zion which He loved. (Psalm 78:68)
1.picked out, chosen
a.chosen by God
1.to obtain salvation through Christ
a.Christians are called �chosen or elect� of God
2.the Messiah in called �elect�, as appointed by God to the most exalted office conceivable
3.choice, select, i.e. the best of its kind or class, excellence preeminent: applied to certain individual Christians
8."And unless those days had been cut short, no life would have been saved; but for the sake of the elect those days shall be cut short. (Matthew 24:22)
"For false Christs and false prophets will arise and will show great signs and wonders, so as to mislead, if possible, even the elect. (Matthew 24:24)
"And He will send forth His angels with A GREAT TRUMPET and THEY WILL GATHER TOGETHER His elect from the four winds, from one end of the sky to the other. (Matthew 24:31)
"And unless the Lord had shortened those days, no life would have been saved; but for the sake of the elect whom He chose, He shortened the days. (Mark 13:20)
for false Christs and false prophets will arise, and will show signs and wonders, in order, if possible, to lead the elect astray. (Mark 13:22)
"And then He will send forth the angels, and will gather together His elect from the four winds, from the farthest end of the earth, to the farthest end of heaven. (Mark 13:27)
now shall not God bring about justice for His elect, who cry to Him day and night, and will He delay long over them? (Luke 18:7)
9.Jesus answered them, "Did I Myself not choose you, the twelve, and yet one of you is a devil?" (John 6:70)
"You did not choose Me, but I chose you, and appointed you, that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask of the Father in My name, He may give to you. (John 15:16)
10.Who will bring a charge against God's elect? God is the one who justifies; (Romans 8:33)
11.just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before Him. In love He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will, (Ephesians 1:4-5)
Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, or of me His prisoner; but join with me in suffering for the gospel according to the power of God, who has saved us, and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was granted us in Christ Jesus from all eternity, (2 Timothy 1:8-9)
12.And all who dwell on the earth will worship him [the beast], everyone whose name has not been written from the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb who has been slain. (Revelation 13:8)
"The beast that you saw was and is not, and is about to come up out of the abyss and to go to destruction. And those who dwell on the earth will wonder, whose name has not been written in the book of life from the foundation of the world, when they see the beast, that he was and is not and will come. (Revelation 17:8)
13.For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the first-born among many brethren; and whom He predestined, these He also called; and whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified. (Romans 8:29-30)
also we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to His purpose who works all things after the counsel of His will, (Ephesians 1:11)
14.For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. (Ephesians 2:10)
15.'But arise [Paul], and stand on your feet; for this purpose I have appeared to you, to appoint you a minister and a witness not only to the things which you have seen, but also to the things in which I will appear to you;' (Acts 26:16)
16.Listen, my beloved brethren: did not God choose the poor of this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom which He promised to those who love Him? (James 2:5)
17.The LORD has made everything for its own purpose, Even the wicked for the day of evil. (Proverbs 16:4)
18.For the Scripture says to Pharaoh, "FOR THIS VERY PURPOSE I RAISED YOU UP, TO DEMONSTRATE MY POWER IN YOU, AND THAT MY NAME MIGHT BE PROCLAIMED THROUGHOUT THE WHOLE EARTH." (Romans 9:17)
19.for though the twins were not yet born, and had not done anything good or bad, in order that God's purpose according to His choice might stand, not because of works, but because of Him who calls, it was said to her, "THE OLDER WILL SERVE THE YOUNGER." Just as it is written, "JACOB I LOVED, BUT ESAU I HATED." (Romans 9:11-13)
20.For He says to Moses, "I WILL HAVE MERCY ON WHOM I HAVE MERCY, AND I WILL HAVE COMPASSION ON WHOM I HAVE COMPASSION." So then it does not depend on the man who wills or the man who runs, but on God who has mercy. (Romans 9:15-16)
21."For God has put it in their hearts to execute His purpose by having a common purpose, and by giving their kingdom to the beast, until the words of God should be fulfilled. (Revelation 17:17)
22.Jesus answered them, "Did I Myself not choose you, the twelve, and yet one of you is a devil?" (John 6:70)
23."For truly in this city there were gathered together against Thy holy servant Jesus, whom Thou didst anoint, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, along with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel, to do whatever Thy hand and Thy purpose predestined to occur. (Acts 4:27-28)
man does not want to accept God's sovereignty. the truth of God's sovereignty offends man's pride and his sense of fairness.
He has written our names in the Lamb�s Book of Life from before the foundation of the world. It uses the word predestination. Everyone believes in that, who believes the Bible. God predetermined who would be saved. Before they were ever born. That's in the Bible.
The Bible also says, �Whosoever will may come. Him who cometh to me I will in no wise cast out? Free will is not a biblical term, because man�s will isn't really free. It is bound by sin.
God preordained, for his own glory and the display of His attributes of mercy and justice, a part of the human race,
without any merit of their own, to eternal salvation, and another part, in just punishment of their sin, to eternal damnation.
It is the only conclusion that we can logically determine,and what is revealed to me by the holy spirit
I am well aware of those scriptures you posted, I have a question for you how is it that all things work together for God.
Steve I believe that sovereignity, foreknowledge, predestined, are all biblical terms, but as the bible teaches theses terms, you can not say this means this and this scripture does not mean this.
I have even heard it said that Romans 8:28 was the sovereignty of God, so I ask in context what is the subject matter
28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
Paul in the epistle to the Romans is discussing the doctrine of justification by grace through faith, that is the truth by which we are saved. And he's discussing it in all of its features. He talks about man's condition in sin in the first three chapters, and starting toward the end of chapter 3 and all the way through chapter 7 he talks about justification and its fruits, or its effects. Then in chapter 8 he gives to us the great reality that justification is eternal, that whoever the Lord justifies He glorifies, that anyone that is saved in the beginning will be saved in the end. In other words, that we are eternally secure and will persevere in faith to the end. That great truth of chapter 8 is summarized in those three verses that I just read to you. They sum up the whole doctrine of eternal security. "Whoever the Lord foreknew He predestined, whoever He predestined He called, whoever He called He justified, and whoever He justified He glorified." And nobody is lost in the process and that is because "God causes all things to work together for their good." That is the sum of this wonderful text. Justification is eternal.
