Y.A.C. B. Ep 4 - Why I am a calvinist

Heresy. Heresy. Everywhere.

What is heresy?

In the christian context, heresy, is any doctrine or belief that contradicts any main doctrine of the christian faith.

In other words, a heresy, strikes at the very foundation of christian belief system, which causes the entire faith to be, in short, false.

A heretic, is one who holds to and teaches heresy.

Heretics usually push their heresies with a smile on their face. You will rarely come across a heretic who is not nice and charismatic.

They are usually good speakers, and quite intelligent.

They are also able to state their heresies in such a way, that on the face of it, looks like they are promoting correct theology.

When a heretic is challenged on their heresy, it's usually the people who the heretic has swayed, that will push back, rather than the main heretic themselves.

---

Heresies come in all sorts of shapes. Some are more well known than others. But all do the exact same thing. They undermine the foundations of the belief system that they are contradicting.

Now, it is possible for someone to hold to a heretical belief, and not realise it.

It's this reality that necessitates the acknowledging of two different heretical camps.

In the first camp is the material heretic.

The material heretic is the one who holds to heretical beliefs unknowingly.

It's usually down to being taught incorrectly, or coming to the wrong conclusions based on not having all the information. Or in some cases, simply not knowing a fact. They are usually ignorant of the correct position as well, and often are unaware that christianity (or the respective religion) doesn't actually teach what they believe.

Material heresy, although unintentional, can still have an adverse affect on the life of a believer.
It will cause them to make incorrect decisions, and see God in an incorrect way, etc.
The material heretic, will usually correct their doctrine once they are confronted with the truth and it is explained to them.

---

In the second camp, is the formal heretic.

The formal heretic is the one who is usually the one teaching and spreading heresy on a large scale.

They are the ones who know that their position is different, usually are aware of what the opposing position says, but persist in believing and teaching the error - which, in it's logical conclusion, makes christianity (or the relevant religious system) false.

-------

Here are a couple of heresies.

Around the 3rd century (A.D.), a man named Arius, started to teach and popularise what became known as the arian heresy. The arian heresy is the doctrine that Jesus is not God, but a created being.

Jehovah's Witnesses, and Mormonism, both hold to this heresy.

This is a heresy because christianity is completely false if Jesus is not God.

---

Another major heresy is one known as Sabellianism. This doctrine was popularised by a man named Sabellius around the 2nd centure (A.D.). It teaches that God is not trinitarian, but instead, unitarian.

It's also known as modalism and unitarianism.

Oneness Pentacostals and the Unitarian Church, both hold to this heresy.

This also makes christianity completely false if God does not exist as one being, but three persons.

-------

The number of heresies aren't very large, however, because many people are not familiar with church history, heresies tend to reappear after awhile, under a new name, but pushing the same heretical doctrine.

We see this in sabellianism, modalism, unitarianism. All teach the same doctrine, but come under different names at different times. Formal heretics just repackage, rebrand, and use nice sounding words, in order to sell you the same old heresy.

And because many are unaware/unfamiliar, along with the person being so nice and articulate, they are turned into material heretics.

The formal heretics will even go so far as to pit their followers (the material heretics), against the orthodox position, but presenting the orthodox position in a generally false, and negative way - while presenting their heresy in a positive way, generally using buzz/trigger words and/or emotional pleading.

So the theologian needs to be aware of the different heresies, and how to spot them. There aren't any new heresies. All current existing heresies are simply the same ancient ones, but now with bells and whistles attached.

The theologian needs to also be aware to distinguish between a formal heretic and material heretic, as the way you deal with them are different.

The material heretic is generally dealt with in a gentle way. Bringing evidence that their position is wrong, and working with them to see the problem and giving them the truth.

The formal heretic, however, is generally treated harsher. They are usually anathematised quite quickly. This is because there is an allowance for ignorance. But people who aren't ignorant, but are in blatant rebellion, and fighting against the truth - those are people who aren't tolerated.

The letter to the galatian church shows this being played out.

You see a pleading and reasoning with those who are material heretics, while a very hard stance is taken against the formal heretics.

The heresy in question here is from the judaizers.

The judaizers taught that salvation is not by grace alone, but a combination of grace and works. That a person has to perfom some work of the law, in combination with God's grace, in order to be saved.

There are, of course, religious systems today that believe this heresy. One would be the Roman Catholic Church.

---

So remember, when discussing theology with someone who we are aware has different beliefs than us, but are supposed to still be christian, it was beneficial to understand what doctrines are at work in the background.

He died for All the World (part 5)

There are a number of other verses that are used by the anti-calvinist in an attempt to overthrow the direct words of Christ, in order to say that God attempts to save everyone in the world, without prejudice.

And based on that presupposition, salvation then, must be entered into and exited out of, by the will of man.

This is the doctrine that they maintain.

Unfortunately, this means that salvation is no longer by grace, but a combination of grace and works.

For God has to do His part, and man has to do his part.

And once man has done his part, and has entered into the position of being saved, then man must work to maintain that position, else man will fall away.

With that, scripture becomes false in many points.

Romans 9:16 (ESV)  So then it depends not on human will or exertion, but on God, who has mercy.

This verse, where the context is specifically speaking about salvation (those who become part of the promised seed), becomes false.

Along with Jesus' many words.

Before i bring this brief series to a close, i wanted to revisit a point that the anti-calvinist that i was speaking to brought up.

They held the position that, not only can a person lose their salvation, but some can possibly not get it back.

They base this on the well known, but often misapplied, verses in the book of Hebrews.

Hebrews 6:4-6 (ESV)  For it is impossible, in the case of those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, and have shared in the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the age to come, and then have fallen away, to restore them again to repentance, since they are crucifying once again the Son of God to their own harm and holding him up to contempt.

They see these verses as showing that one can indeed lose their salvation. And that once it's lost, it cant be gotten back again.

Now, they didn't articulate why a person can't be saved again, only that they wouldn't actually be able to identify who these people are.

So they would still call to backsliders because they wouldn't know those who would fall into this condemnation.

Also, they hold that a believer can commit the unforgivable sin.

So, a person who is presently being indwelled by the Holy Spirit, isn't prevented from blaspheming the Holy Spirit by His very act of indwelling the person.

Therefore, the Holy Spirit can, and will leave if this sin is committed.

---

Now, what is the problem with this, keeping in mind, that we're looking at this from the pov of the anti-calvinist?

The problem is that this understanding directly contradicts the foundational belief of the anti-calvinist.

I pointed this out in my discussion, but they did nothing to address it.

How does this bring a contradiction?

The foundational presupposition for the anti-calvinist is that God is trying to save everyone.

The ones who aren't saved are those who chose not to be.

The verses in Hebrews pose a problem with this view. However, because they didn't explain why it is that a person can't be brought back, we can't really bring an accusation.

But, the verses regarding blasphemy of the Holy Spirit are crystal clear what is going on.

The person who commits this sin, will not be forgiven.

That is the primary issue.

How can you have a God wanting to save everyone, but withholding forgiveness from people?

You can't.

Those are two contradictory positions.

What makes it worse is that they apply this to the christian.

So, in their view, the christian who commits this sin, could be repenting, and asking for forgiveness, but Jesus directly tells us that they will not be forgiven.

God refuses to forgive these people, while at the same time, supposedly trying to save "all people".

Again, when i pointed this contradiction out, they dodged it.

"All", could never truly mean all people everywhere, when God actively refuses to forgive some people.

Which means that everytime the anti-calvinist goes on and on about God desiring to save "all", they are being deceitful, because they know full well that it's not true.

----

How should a calvinist view these verses?

Now, i've dealt with the verses in Hebrews before. But i'll reiterate how a christian should be viewing them.

The christian reading, should not be jumping straight to Hebrews.

First, they should ground themselves in what Jesus directly says about salvation.

---

John 6:35-40 (ESV)  Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst.

But I said to you that you have seen me and yet do not believe.

All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out.

For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will but the will of him who sent me.

And this is the will of him who sent me, that I should lose nothing of all that he has given me, but raise it up on the last day.

For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.”

---

John 10:25-30 (ESV)  Jesus answered them, “I told you, and you do not believe. The works that I do in my Father's name bear witness about me, but you do not believe because you are not among my sheep.

My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.

I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand.

My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father's hand.

I and the Father are one.”

---

These two portions of scripture, are so direct and unambiguous, that to contradict, is to say that Jesus isn't God.

This is what Christ says about salvation, from God's perspective.

So, according to Christ, people cannot lose their salvation. Those whom the Father has given to Him, cannot be lost or perish.

Now that we know this to be true, because Christ said it, we can look at the verses in Hebrews.

We know that all scripture is inspired by God. So there cannot be any contradictions between what Jesus and the apostles say.

When we look at Hebrews then, we have to conclude that this is a "what if" situation.

We know this the case by how the scenario ends.

Hebrews 6:7-9 (ESV)  For land that has drunk the rain that often falls on it, and produces a crop useful to those for whose sake it is cultivated, receives a blessing from God.

But if it bears thorns and thistles, it is worthless and near to being cursed, and its end is to be burned.

Though we speak in this way, yet in your case, beloved, we feel sure of better things—things that belong to salvation.

---

Here, we see the writer getting to the heart of the issue.

A good tree, produces good fruit. A bad tree, produces bad fruit.

Someone who is in Christ, will not bear bad fruit. The one who is not in Christ, will not bear good fruit.

This is why the writer continues on to their intended audience by saying that they are sure of better things that belong to salvation.

---

Let's say, for arguments sake, that those verses weren't there. Would that mean that someone could lose their salvation?

No. This is because God has already spoken. Jesus has already told us how salvation works.

This doesn't mean that the verses are false, as they are true.

If someone could fall away, i.e. lose their salvation, they could not be saved again.

The question is why, and the answer is two-fold.

One, to fall away, means that there are now sins present that Christ has not paid for, is stands condemned.

Remember, to be saved means that one is not only seen as innocent before God, but completely righteous. As though the person had not sinned once in their life, but all at times was obedient to God's command.

So, for someone to once again be seen as guilty, to be deserving of the righteous wrath of God again, means that they now have sins that have not been atoned for.

So Christ would need to come down once again, to die once again, for these new sins that have come up  (v.6).

Not only that, but this would make Christ an open shame (v.6).

Why? Because it shows that His atonement was not sufficient. That, "it is NOT finished".

All that talk about Christ dying once for all sins and taking a seat, indicating that His work was complete, becomes false.

-------

Now, lets move unto the blasphemy of the Holy Spirit.

How should a christian see this? Can a christian even commit it?

Well, unlike arminians, calvinists have no need to fear committing this sin.

Why? Once again, its because the words of Christ tell us that He doesn't lose anyone the Father has given to Him.

If a christian could commit this sin, then He could lose people. Some people would perish.

Now, its not simply that God knows we wont commit this sin, but rather, He prevents us from doing so.

We see a similar thing happen in regards to the beast written in the revelation.

Revelation 13:5-8 (ESV)  And the beast was given a mouth uttering haughty and blasphemous words, and it was allowed to exercise authority for forty-two months.

It opened its mouth to utter blasphemies against God, blaspheming his name and his dwelling, that is, those who dwell in heaven.

Also it was allowed to make war on the saints and to conquer them. And authority was given it over every tribe and people and language and nation, and all who dwell on earth will worship it, everyone whose name has not been written before the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb who was slain.

---

Notice who does not worship the beast. All those whose names are written in the Lamb's book of life.

Many believe that christians who take the mark will lose their salvation.

But scripture says none of the elect (those whose names are written before the foundation of the world), will worship the beast.

How is it that none of the elect will be deceived into doing this?

Because God causes us to overcome...

1 John 4:4 (ESV)  Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.

1 John 5:4-5 (ESV)  For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith.

Who is it that overcomes the world except the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?

---

Not only that, but God makes moves in order to protect His elect from such things.

Matthew 24:22-25 (ESV)  And if those days had not been cut short, no human being would be saved. But for the sake of the elect those days will be cut short.
Then if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Christ!’ or ‘There he is!’ do not believe it.

For false christs and false prophets will arise and perform great signs and wonders, so as to lead astray, if possible, even the elect.

See, I have told you beforehand.

---

Notice. The level of deception is so strong that even the elect would go astray... if it was possible. But, God cut those days short for the sake of the elect.

So, not only does God prevents us inwardly, by the Holy Spirit doing His work in us, but outwardly, God changes times to prevent us as well.

----

With this, i feel satisfied ending this brief series.

It is always worth looking at the arguments from the other side from time to time.

Even if one has gone over the same verse before, it is always worth going over it once again.

The doctrines of grace, which are known as calvinism, and expressed in the acronym T.U.L.I.P., are not simply a biblical possibility - but rather, are the only conclusion one can come to if they simply let the scriptures speak for themselves, and not read it with presuppositions.

From the declaration of the angel to mary and joseph, all the way through to the new heavens and earth, the doctrines of grace are repeatedly shown to be at work, instead of the arminian view of salvation.

Not only is the arminian view self-contradictory (re: unforgiveable sin), not only does it turn important people into blasphemers by lying on God (the angel who proclaimed Jesus' birth, and john the baptist), but it makes Jesus no longer God - as His claims become false.

So, it was 100% correct that the church denounced the doctrines of arminianism as heresy, as they certainly strike at the very heart of the biblical gospel on all fronts.

With that being said, let us be praying for one another.

Salvation is granted to those who have all their theological tees crossed and is dotted.

Let us continue to grow together in the knowledge of the faith that God has given to us.

Amen

He died for All the World (part 4)

One of the things one will notice if they encounter an anti-calvinist, is that they use the same verses as a simple non-calvinist.

The difference between the two groups, however, is that the anti-calvinist will happily hold to a completely unbiblical position if it means the perceived defeat of calvinism in some way.

One example is that the anti-calvinist is more than happy to class calvinists as false prophets/teachers who teach the doctrines of demons.

While at the same time, they will claim to be protestant.

They don't realise that the vast majority of the protestant reformers were actually calvinists.

They also don't realise that arminianism came out of calvinism, as a break away group - instead of the other way around.

Let's look at a scriptural example.

1 Timothy 4:10 (ESV)  For to this end we toil and strive, because we have our hope set on the living God, who is the Saviour of all people, especially of those who believe.

The anti-calvinist uses this verse to say, 'See. He is the saviour of ALL people.'

So, in this verse, the 'all people', once again means every single person on the planet.

What's wrong with this?

Firstly, if one was to understand this verse in that way, one would have to believe in universalism.

A saviour, is by definition, one who saves.

If Jesus is your saviour, it means He's saved you.

So if He's everybody's saviour, that means that He has saved everybody.

Many people simply gloss over that glaring issue.

The anti-calvinist wants to make this verse into a declarative statement by God regarding who He wants to save. Which by their logic, would be everyone.

But, because it says, He is the saviour of all, instead of He wants to be, desires to be, or something along those lines, this shows to be not a statement about intent, but rather a statement of fact.

So, we press them on their schizophrenic universalism.

And when they deny universalism, we say that this now becomes false then. Paul also becomes a false prophet, as He is telling lies about God.

Obviously, your claim will be brushed aside. There will most likely not be any attempt made to counter the claim as well.

With that being said, how should this verse be viewed?

If this verse is not saying that God wants everybody to be saved, what is it saying?

Before we answer what it says, we should first understand why it can't be what the anti-calvinist says.

The reason is found, as should be our habit to see, in the words of Jesus.

Remember, Christ tells us that all those who will come to Him, and be given eternal life, are those whom the Father has given to Him.

-------

John 6:37-40 (ESV)  All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out.

For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will but the will of him who sent me.

And this is the will of him who sent me, that I should lose nothing of all that he has given me, but raise it up on the last day.

For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.”

-------

These are the ones the Christ has laid His life down for. These are the ones who were chosen to be saved out of humanity before the world began.

-------

Ephesians 1:3-6 (ESV)  Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places,
even 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 for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved.

-------

Since Jesus tells us that this is the case, then we know that God is not attempting to save everybody in the world.

He is only seeking those whom He chose. In the passing of time, He will cause them to be born again by the work of the Holy Spirit.

And the Holy Spirit will convict them of their sin and draw them unto Christ. With their eyes now open, they will repent and turn to Christ for forgiveness. He will forgive them, and they will forever be His.

---

Now that we know why it can't be the other understanding, using biblical hermeneutics, and taking Christ at His word, we can look at what it actually means.

In what way can God can be considered the saviour of all people if the 'all' doesn't mean every person on earth?

Could it mean, all kinds of people, like the verse we looked at last time?

Although that is a possibility, because of the ending of the verse, 'especially of those who believe', i don't think that this is correct.

Rather, i believe that the verse is saying that God is the saviour of all - that is to say, there is no other saviour other than God.

This would make sense of the ending of that verse.

After all, if that's not what is being said, then we'd have to say that there are two camps that God saves. Those who believe and those who don't believe.

The arminian who insists that the 'all' means everybody on earth, has to also insist that God saves people who don't believe - because of the ending of the verse.

However,  paul is making the same claim that has been made on the past.

Isaiah 43:11 (ESV)  I, I am the Lord, and besides me there is no saviour.

Hosea 13:4 (ESV)  But I am the Lord your God from the land of Egypt; you know no God but me, and besides me there is no saviour.

So, we serve the God who is the saviour of all... because there is no other saviour... because there is no other God.

But, He's especially the saviour of those that believe.

This, makes the clear distinction between the unbelievers and the believers.

Isaiah 49:26 (ESV)  I will make your oppressors eat their own flesh, and they shall be drunk with their own blood as with wine. Then all flesh shall know that I am the Lord your Savior, and your Redeemer, the Mighty One of Jacob.”

Once again, we've shown how the anti-calvinist's view, using their own understanding, is in error.

And in their zeal to oppose calvinism, they end up contradicting the clear teaching of scripture.

He died for All the World (part 3)

One of the things i've learned, is that when one is dialoguing with a person that has a different set of beliefs, that it's best to understand where theu are coming from in order to not be speaking past each other.

Just because someone makes the claim that they are a believer in a term, doesn't mean that they actually hold to the general beliefs defined by that term.

For example, i've spoken to "muslims" who don't believe that mohammed was a prophet.

I've also spoken to "christians" who believe that the God of the Old Testament, is not the God of the New Testament.

One shouldn't assume a person holds to a set of certain beliefs simply because they claim a certain title/label for themselves.

It bothers me when I see people who claim to he christians, simply dismiss scripture because it doesn't fit into their theology.

They don't try to harmonise scripture at all, but seem content to have two "seemingly" contradictory positions within scripture, and not think of the consequences.

I once met a christian who believed in baptismal regeneration.

When I enquired about cornelius and his household in the book of Acts, he dismissed it as irrelevant and told me he doesn't teach from that section of scripture.

I find the anti-calvinist to be the same type of person.

Dismissing scripture is all too easy for them for my comfort.

This, of course, makes it hard for the concerned brother or sister to bring correction to the anti-calvinist by pointing to scripture.

So let's examine some other verses and think of how we can deal with them.

-------

1 Timothy 2:3-4 (ESV)  This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior,
who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.

---

The anti-calvinist uses this verse to say that God wants everybody in the world to be saved.

Using the skeletal argument to ground then on the words of Christ is dismissed.

They see these verses as trumping, or altering the meaning of the clear claims of Christ.

One could always try to appeal to the verses before this, which say...

1 Timothy 2:1-2 (ESV)  First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way.

---

These verses qualify the "all people" to mean "all kinds of people" - the widows, fatherless, and the poor as well as kings and those on high positions.

Of course, that idea will be dismissed.

So what should we do?

Give the anti-calvinist what they want.

The next two verses will show you what I mean.

1 Timothy 2:5-6 (ESV)  For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all, which is the testimony given at the proper time.

---

If God desires all men to be saved, and to that end, Jesus gave Himself as a ransom for all - what must happen?

All men must be saved.

Why? Because Jesus paid the price for them. He paid for all of their sins. That's what being ransomed means. A payment... an exchange... has taken place.

That verse about being ransomed, must equal to universalism. Because the ransom has indeed been paid.

It's because the anti-calvinist has a low view of scripture, at least in action, why one is able to use their interpretation of the scriptures against them.

The calvinist doesn't have to introduce anything the anti-calvinist doesn't like, but rather just press the issue to it's logical conclusion if their view is correct.

Some might question why would Jesus being a ransom for all people in the world equal universalism.

Some might say that the person has the free will to accept or reject the gospel.

The problem with this is their view on the atonement.

When Christ died on the cross, did He actually pay for your sins?

The scriptures clearly says that He did.

If your sins are paid for, you can't be punished for them afterwards.

When we look at everywhere the New Testament uses the word "ransom", you will clearly see that those who the Son was ransomed for, will be/are saved.

Let's take a look.

Matthew 20:28 (ESV)  even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

(Parallel Verse)
Mark 10:45 (ESV)  For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

---

1 Peter 1:17-19 (ESV)  And if you call on him as Father who judges impartially according to each one's deeds, conduct yourselves with fear throughout the time of your exile, knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot.

---

Revelation 5:9-10 (ESV)  And they sang a new song, saying, “Worthy are you to take the scroll and to open its seals, for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation, and you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God, and they shall reign on the earth.”

-------

Now, will the fact that Jesus says His life is ransomed for many instead of all people on earth, cause the anti-calvinist to see the "all people" as "all of the many" that Jesus clearly speaks about?

No.

Will they see the clearness in the Apostle Peter saying that only those whom have God as their Father, are those whose lives have been ransomed by the blood of Christ?

No.

Will they take notice of the song that the Apostle John heard in his vision of all those that were redeemed?

No.

But, at least you know that the calvinist position is actually the biblical position.

And you know that even when using the logic that the anti-calvinist applies to those verses, one either has to become a heretic by believing universalism, or one has to become a heretic by denying that Jesus is the messiah and God

Twitter Thoughts

The one who does not apply their mind to the holy scriptures, to understand and obey, is the one who is not being led by the Holy Spirit

Deism and the Black Community

One of the things that i've noticed for all of my life, is that a lot of black people, claim to believe in God.

Yet, these people do not hold to any religion.

Not only that, their belief in "god" has not bearing on their life.

In otherwords, they are deists.

A deist is a person who believes that there is a god. This god is the one who created... creation.

And after everything was created, this god leaves everything to simply run.

This is the god that many black people believe in.

Even saying that, some may not understand what the problem is.

The issue is that, this god, is an idol.

The black deist rejects that idea that Jesus is God.

They, for the most part, reject the bible.

However, because they reject all forms of organised religion as well, any idea of god, comes down to their personal preference.

They actually make god in their own image.

The create their concept of god.

So, God has not spoken. God hs not revealed anything. God becomes almost, unknowable.

This is why many of these people proclaim that they are gods and goddesses.

It's not meant in the sense that they are all powerful or have a divine nature or something like that, rather, its to highlight that they are the ones who sets the course for life and reality.

That even though there is a god, because this god does not interact with creation, and has not spoken, they ultimately do not answer to any one.

Consequently, almost any and all ideas about god or spirituality becomes viable.

There may be a heaven and hell, but there may not be... who knows.

This has a knock-on effect on their morality.

Why? Well, if god hasnt spoken, then there is no objective moral code.

Morality becomes subjective, and usually, their morality is changed depending on their desires.

So, its wrong to steal from them, but its not wrong for them to steal.

Its wrong for someone to take advantage of them, but no wrong for them to take advantage of someone.

Their claims on truth also becomes meaningless.

For example, they will trumpet that black people are created in the image of God - taking from the bible that they say they dont believe in.

Here's the issue though. How do you know that black ppl were created in God's image?

Who told them that? Couldn't be god, because god hasnt spoken.

What does it even mean to be created in god's image?

Without God telling us what He meant when He said that, the phrase becomes whatever the hearer wants it to mean.

Its similar to someone creating a new piece of tech, giving it to people whove never seen tech, and not explaining to them what its supposed to do.

Those people will think its for all sorts of things until the creator actually gives instruction.

This is why you'll find so many deriding religion while uplifting spirituality.

They recognise that religion has guidelines, and they reject those guidelines... rightly or wrongly.

Rather, they prefer to be spiritualists. Spiritualism is simply another word for spiritual relativism.

Every spiritual idea and theological concept is viable and equally valid, because there are no guidelines.... except what that individual has created in their own minds.

This is why you'll hear, "only God can judge me". They don't believe that God will judge them. Especially because there are no objective guidelines, and they are morally and spiritually right based on their own thoughts.

So even if God were to judge, as far as they are concerned, God would use their self-created guideline as the standard of judgement. Which simply means that they will never be guilty.

These people become the prophets and priests for the god that they created in their head.

And their god, never has anything to say about their life, life after death, or anything else for that matter - because their god doesnt exist.

He died for All the World (part 2)

Recently, I ran into a couple of anti-calvinists.

Although i've heard of anti-calvinists i'd never spoken to one.

Anti-calvinists are not the same as non-calvinists.

Non-calvinists, although they don't agree with the theology, admit that some verses do seem to lend themselves to that view... even in context.

The anti-calvinist, however, is so opposed to calvinism that they are happy to demonise the reformers, throw away basic reading comprehension, hold directly contradictory beliefs, refuse to allow scripture to interpret scripture - all in their zealous refusal to allow scripture to actually confirm any part of calvinistic soteriology.

The biggest issue is in their handling of scripture.

Because of their huge bias, they will isolate verses and entire chapters from other related portions of scripture, then twist them to mean something else.

When you bring up the related verses, they will simply dismiss them as being irrelevant and having no bearing what-so-ever. Yet, they will go to completely irrelevant verses in an attempt to build their case.

When i realised this, i tried to come from a different angle.

Instead of going to direct verses, i though it would be best to build a framework using my Skeletal Argument.

Unfortunately, they didn't want to take it step by step, as they felt it was a waste of time. They wanted to get straight to the point, which clearly wasnt working.

Consequently, we never got anywhere. Nothing was resolved.

So, with that in mind, i want to look at some of their arguments, and show how their view fails from both the reformed view as well as their own view.

I'm going to try and use their hermeneutic as well... if you can call it that.

-----------

The first idea we need to look at is that Christ died for everyone in the world.

That God wants everybody in the world to be saved.

Verses like the following are used to back up this idea.

John 3:16-17 (ESV)  For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.

For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.

---

1 Timothy 2:3-6 (ESV)  This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior,who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all, which is the testimony given at the proper time.

---

1 Timothy 4:10 (ESV)  For to this end we toil and strive, because we have our hope set on the living God, who is the Savior of all people, especially of those who believe.

---

2 Peter 3:9 (ESV)  The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you,not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.

---

1 John 2:2 (ESV)  He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world.

------

What do all of those verses have in common?

Those verses seem to indicate that Christ died for everbody in the world, or at least, that's what we are told they are saying.

How does a calvinist respond to these verses though? Surely, this is an open and shut case, right?

The issue here is that no exegesis is being used. These verses are just being taken out of their original context, and are being isolated from the rest of scripture.

If we look back to my Skeletal Argument, which will have us standing on the rock of our salvation, we will see that these verses do not mean what is being claimed.

For example, when we let scripture interpret scripture, a verse like John 3:16, becomes something different in the light of Jesus says about salvation later on.

John 10:11 (ESV)  I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.

John 10:25-28 (ESV)  Jesus answered them, “I told you, and you do not believe. The works that I do in my Father's name bear witness about me, but you do not believe because you are not among my sheep.

My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.

I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand.

----

According to John 3:16, Jesus tells us that He died for the world. Yet in John 10, Jesus tells us that He only lays down His life for His sheep.

Jesus forces us to say, "world" actually means, His "sheep".

But He doesn't stop there.

Not do we see that world equates to sheep, but He identifies the people He is speaking to as not being His sheep.

And since all of this is in the same chapter, all we have to do is simply follow Christ's logic.

He is the good shepherd. He has sheep. He knows who His sheep are. He lays His life down for His sheep.

This group right here, are not His sheep. Therefore, He did not lay His life down for them.

That is the logical conclusion.

However, the anti-calvinist will not allow you to make that connection. They will not allow you to interpret one of the things Jesus said, in the light of other things Jesus said.

And if you try, they will simply dismiss it as irrelevant.

So how can a calvinist deal with this?

Well, the problem we are having is that the anti-calvinist refuses to allow scripture to interpret scripture and has an unwillingness to allow scripture to disagree with their presuppositions.

Even though that's really bad when it comes to rightly interpreting scripture, their anti-calvinism is more important than understanding biblical truth.

So again, how do we deal with this?

We put them in a corner.

You see, the anti-calvinist is not the same as the non-calvinist.

The non-calvinist can be reasoned with via the scriptures. You will be able to bring them to a point where they will say they just don't know. Which is a fair position to have.

The anti-calvinist refuses to hold that position.

But, regardless of which position one is, if you are an arminian, there is one glaring issue.

All arminians must believe that Christ is a failure.

Sure, they will never actuall admit that.

However, the arminian theologians, including Jacobus Arminius himself - the man who arminianism is named after.

The arminian has to change the nature of salvation and the mission of Christ.

So Christ doesn't actually save people, no. He makes salvation available.

The non-calvinist would again recognise that, from their perspective, there are some verses that clearly support calvinism. So they are usually more careful when handling scripture.

The anti-calvinist isn't careful at all.

So, we push the envelope.

We rebut their claims with...

Matthew 1:20-21 (ESV)  But as he considered these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.

She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.”

-----

Why is this important? Because the very name of the coming messiah indicates that He will be successful in saving His people from their sins.

The arminian has the issue of people being again but then perishing.

The angel does not leave any room for such a thought.

The anti-calvinist will insist that Jesus does save all His people, but that we choose whether we are His people or not.

So one minute, we can be His people, which would mean He must save us, but the next minute, due to our will or sin, we can be made no longer His people.

The anti-calvinist will ignore any attempts to prove them wrong on that point.

But we don't have to do so.

The purpose of quoting that verse is to show that the angel's words has mary's unborn child, successfully saving His people - that's the very reason for His human name.

The next point we should make, is that we are told the following...

John 1:29 (ESV)  The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!

This is very important. Here, we see the prophet John telling us that Christ will take away the sins of the world.

This is a declarative statement. He is, in his office of a prophet, declaring what will happen.

If, as the arminian claims, that "world" means everybody in the world, then Jesus must take away the sins of everybody in the world.

And, if there was any doubt, John even tells us why he made this statement...

John 1:33 (ESV)  I myself did not know him, but he who sent me to baptize with water said to me, ‘He on whom you see the Spirit descend and remain, this is he who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.’

In other words, God told him.

These verses brings the argument straight to the very door of the arminian/anti-calvinist.

No longer can they use verses that make salvation ambigious and up to the human decision.

Jesus must save His people, and He must take away the sins of the "world".

To say that Christ did not do these things,  is to say that Jesus is not the messiah, that the angel who spoke to Joseph and Mary was demonic as it lied, that John the Baptist is a false prophet, and that the word of God that came to John did not come to pass.

Jesus must save His people, and He must take away the sins of the "world".

A non-calvinist, should see these verses as a conundrum. They should take these as something to think through.

I suspect that an anti-calvinist will simply dismiss them as prima facie, they completely show that their view is wrong.

And, they are shown to be wrong using their own understanding of the terms.

The arminian will not really have an issue with the first scripture. It's the second that causes the real problem.

Why? Because they're view makes "world" to mean everybody on the planet, and because they aren't universalists, they make salvation an uncertainty - dependent on the will of man.

But the second quote, forces them into a position that would put them out of orthodox christianity, on their very own terms.

You see, because of where these statements are coming from, i.e. an angel, prophet, voice of God - if these are denied, christianity is false.

If they are dismissed, you might as well end the discussion as the person doesn't care about scripture at all.

I recommend using both quotes, instead of simply the second one.

This is to show that the certainty of salvation is literally the reason why Jesus is... Jesus. Salvation is not uncertain and left up to man. If it was, the angel couldn't say what He said. And this salvation is certain for the "world".

It must happen.

He died for All the World (part 1)

A few weeks ago, i was attempting to dialogue and reason through the scriptures with a couple of anti-calvinists.

Full disclosure... i found the experience to be incredibly frustrating.

Not because they weren't calvinists, but rather because their anti-calvinistic stance caused them to completely mis-handle scripture on a level that cults and false religions do.

In their view, calvinism isn't just an error, but doctrines of demons.

So even the reformers where deemed as false teachers who shouldn't be listened to because they were calvinists - yet they still claimed to be protestants.

No matter how clear a verse was, they must completely deny the clarity of it, and would readily abandon basic reading comprehension in order to make sure that nothing of calvinism could be shown to be true.

Again, it was incredibly frustrating.

However, even though it was frustrating, it caused me to pause and think through some of the objections they brought to the table.

Not because their objections had any actual merit to them, as basic reading comprehension showed their claims to be false... but rather, because it was pretty clear that they had never actually thought through what their claims meant.

Arminians generally do not think through the implications of their beliefs from God's perspective.

Usually, the focus is only from man's perspective.

Even when Christ starts to reveal some of the hidden things of God, God's perspective when it comes to salvation, they are able to completely shift the focus from God... to man.

So i wanted to look at the implication of a few of these beliefs.

For the benefit of any readers, i'll break up the posts so that they don't go on forever (as i'm prone to do).

This could easily be a continuation of my Once Saved Always Saved? series, as some of these verses weren't addressed as yet.

Man's Will is Bound By Sin

Within christianity, there is a doctrine called total depravity.

This doctrine states that due to the sin of Adam, all of his descendants have been corrupted by sin in such a way, that in and of themselves, they are unable to turn to God, please God in anyway, or do anything that God considers righteous before Him.

This is not to say that man as is bad as he can be, but rather, every part of man is touched by sin, so that even his best efforts, are filthy rags before God.

This doctrine is prominently taught by those who call themselves calvinists.

Not because calvin taught it, but because the bible clearly teaches it.

The person who denies this doctrine on the basis that calvinism is wrong - places themselves out of orthodox christianity, and into the realm of heresy.

Why is this the case?

Even the founder of what is known as Arminianism, believed that the will of man is bound.

Those that don't believe in the bondage of man's will to sin - fall into the heresy known as Pelagianism/Semi-Pelagianism