*Paul*
Jesus loves you
As neither Calvinist or Arminian I recommend What Love is This? by Dave Hunt on the subject matter if nothing else it is an excellent study on the nature of God as revealed in the bible.
Welcome to Religious Forums, a friendly forum to discuss all religions in a friendly surrounding.
Your voice is missing! You will need to register to get access to the following site features:We hope to see you as a part of our community soon!
As neither Calvinist or Arminian I recommend What Love is This? by Dave Hunt on the subject matter if nothing else it is an excellent study on the nature of God as revealed in the bible.
Neither. I am a unapologetic Universalist. I was raised in both the Calvinist and Arminian traditions and both systems are problematic. Calvinism claims that God can save all people yet is not willing. Arminianism claims that God should be able to save all people but is not able. Both systems undermine God's power, love and grace and turns God from a loving parent into a wimp (under Arminianism into a wimp or an absuive tyrant under Calvinism). Arminianism makes humans more powerful than God.
Hi brother,
Are you saying Dave Hunt does not consider himself to be an Arminian apologist?
Absolutely, I have heard him say time and again that he is not an arminian. For one thing he teaches once saved always saved.
I would say that if a person publicly responds to an altar call and publicly confesses Jesus Christ as Lord has the right to be called a Christian but only time can tell if that is so. I was the subject of a false altar call conversion myself but I could talk religion as good as anyone, no one knew that I was yet unregenrate.
I have just read in a Dave Hunt (Peace, Prosperity and the Coming Holocaust) book that many "Christians" from all denominations including some "born again" christians will be left behind at the rapture (thus showing that they were not truly born again) so I do not think he believes in decisional regneration as such.
I would say that this happens because some people are moved (or manipulated)emotionally to respond to an altar call so they come and say a prayer asking for Jesus to be their saviour not based on the truth of the gospel but because of the preachers fine words or pressure from others.How do non-Calvinist's Christians explain away altar calls and sinner's prayers that do not result in actual conversions?
Maybe this teaching is peculiar to calvary chapel, I have never seen it in England. I have seen people asked to re-commit their lives to ChristIn my many days at Calvary Chapel, there are many appeals to those who once professed Christ to do another ALTAR CALL again. Why wasn't the first one good enough to convert the sinner to God?
For the record I do not believe in making altar calls. I wouldn't go that far to say that it is re-crucifying Christ and I know that they do not believe that a person can be saved twice it is once saved always saved in their doctrine.If we teach multiple altar calls, are we re-crucifying Jesus Christ over and over again?
Christ's work on the cross is fully sufficient, the payment was made in full but can only be received through faith.How sufficent is the person and work of Jesus Christ on behalf of those God chose to believe and suffer as Christians?
I was ten years old but was not born again until I was 21. I said the sinners prayer numerous times in between those years and was in bondage to it, somewhere in my heart I knew I was not right with God and often felt his heavy hand upon me.I too did an altar call at 18 years old at Calvary Chapel Costa Mesa (the Calvary Chapel Vatican). I do not think I was born again until my early 30s. The wind blows and we do not know where it comes from... so too with the Spirit of God (John 3).
I would say that this happens because some people are moved (or manipulated)emotionally to respond to an altar call so they come and say a prayer asking for Jesus to be their saviour not based on the truth of the gospel but because of the preachers fine words or pressure from others.
True salvation comes in response to the gospel being preached and understood and truly believed which brings repentance.
Maybe this teaching is peculiar to calvary chapel, I have never seen it in England. I have seen people asked to re-commit their lives to Christ
For the record I do not believe in making altar calls. I wouldn't go that far to say that it is re-crucifying Christ and I know that they do not believe that a person can be saved twice it is once saved always saved in their doctrine.
Christ's work on the cross is fully sufficient, the payment was made in full but can only be received through faith.
I was ten years old but was not born again until I was 21. I said the sinners prayer numerous times in between those years and was in bondage to it, somewhere in my heart I knew I was not right with God and often felt his heavy hand upon me.
With regard to Romans 9 I believe foreknow (proginōskō means to know before hand, not to choose before hand.
Okay, so when does God determine when someone will be born again through an altar call or sinner's prayer, and when God will hold back salvation? Do you think God grants repentance to some and not to others... according to the Scriptures? :slap:
Can someone see the kingdom of God prior to being born again? Do you think people refuse to come to Christ because they do not see Christ as being deisrable, or who He really is?
And what does God see in the unregenerate heart without exception?I will say that man looks on the outward appearances, but GOD looks at the heart.
When they believe the gospelOkay, so when does God determine when someone will be born again through an altar call or sinner's prayer,
when the gospel is not believed (Christ's redeeming work is beleived ((relied upon and trusted)) for salvation,(to be believed it needs to be understood.)and when God will hold back salvation?
No comment. ....... just kidding. God has granted to the gentiles repentance unto life (acts 11:18), before this he only spoke to the Jews as a general rule, he committed His oracles to them. But after the new covenant began God's message was for Jew and Gentile. I would say that Paul in 2 Timothy is reffering to proffesing Christians who oppsoe truth and appear to be under God's righteous judgement. That epistle seems full of warnings and advice about such types.Do you think God grants repentance to some and not to others... according to the Scriptures? :slap:
No but they can know how to get there.Can someone see the kingdom of God prior to being born again?
Because they love their sin and harden their hearts against anything that threatens their relationship with it.Do you think people refuse to come to Christ because they do not see Christ as being deisrable, or who He really is? :slap:
May be the Spirit convinces them of their condition so that they come willingly.Maybe those who are able to see Christ as being desirable were given spiritual eyes to see, maybe?
When they believe the gospel
when the gospel is not believed (Christ's redeeming work is beleived ((relied upon and trusted)) for salvation,(to be believed it needs to be understood.)
No comment. ....... just kidding. God has granted to the gentiles repentance unto life (acts 11:18), before this he only spoke to the Jews as a general rule, he committed His oracles to them. But after the new covenant began God's message was for Jew and Gentile. I would say that Paul in 2 Timothy is reffering to proffesing Christians who oppsoe truth and appear to be under God's righteous judgement. That epistle seems full of warnings and advice about such types.
No but they can know how to get there.
Because they love their sin and harden their hearts against anything that threatens their relationship with it.
May be the Spirit convinces them of their condition so that they come willingly.
I have been reading the bondage of the will by Martin Luther, here are a couple of quote I take issue with which also typify calvinist doctrine.
"This is the highest degree of faith - to believe that He is merciful, who saves so few and damns so many; to believe Him just, who according to His own will, makes us necessarily damnable, that He may seem, as Erasmus [Luthers opponent in this matter] says 'to delight in the torments of the miserable and to be an object of hatred rather than love'.
If, therefore, I could by any means comprehend how that same God can be merciful and just, who carries the appearance of so much wrath and iniquity there would be no need of faith"
So according to Luther (and Calvin) it is a matter of faith to accept that God deliberatly damns those who had never any chance of being saved (due to God's own predestinating purpose) and this is (as Calvin asserts) to God's good pleasure.
This flies in the face of all morality and Love, what does God say?
Ezekiel 33:11 Say unto them, As I live, saith the Lord GOD, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die, O house of Israel?
Which is true? Gods says He does not enjoy to see the wicked die and what's more He exhorts them to turn from there wicked ways. But how can they turn if they were predestinated to be wicked.... after all who hath resisted His will?
Jeremiah 26:3 If so be they will hearken, and turn every man from his evil way, that I may repent me of the evil, which I purpose to do unto them because of the evil of their doings.
In this verse God put's the ball firmly in mans court. God says to Judah turn from your wicked ways oh man and I will not punish you. God does not want to punish them and exhorts them to repent... but how can one repent when it was decided before you were born what you will do and what kind of man you will be?
2nd Peter 3:8-9 But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
Here it says that God is witholding "the day of the Lord" (a day of wrath against sinful man). Why? because He wants all to repent (not only that but he is WILLING that all should come to repentance), He does not want any one to perish, He suffers mans rebellion and outright hatred...whilst the Church preaches the gospel to the world calling them into the Ark of safety that they may be saved.
Hi Paul,
It's time for an in-house debate between two Christians saved by grace alone through the instrument of faith alone which was merited by the person and work of Christ alone. With the Spirit of iron sharpening iron (I just saw Wolverine), did you choose God in Christ prior to being born from above or after? If you chose Christ in your spirituality dead condition, are you the ultimate cause of your new birth? Does this make you sovereign over God in salvation? Did Christ come to save the entire world, and if so, how is He doing? I love you brother in Christ! You were chosen before the foundation of the world to not only believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, but to also suffer for His sake. Preach Christ and Him crucified in season and out of season (but don't preach on this site!).
Philippians 1:29
For it has been granted to you that for the sake of Christ you should not only believe in him but also suffer for his sake,
Arminianism. Philosophically in order to believe the Diety is good, I must believe that the Diety granted us free will.If you are a Christian, do you identify more with the theology of Arminianism or Calvinism? What philosophical, Scriptural, or historical reasons do you have to support either of these systems?
FerventGodSeeker