Invitation or Summons

[Luke2427]

You can report me, but you don't need to. You have Dr. Bob to make sure the playing field is slanted toward Calvinism. He will allow the Calvinist to say whatever they want, such as calling Finney a heretic, while monitoring the non-Calvinists like a hawk.

You also said:



I don't see how that is possible, you spend most of your day here on the BB!

My Bible is open right now. I have been reading it between posts since 8:45 this morning.

I got up late today because I studied it between posts last night until about 2:00 am.

I read and study between posts and I read and study when I am NOT on baptistboard.

 

[Jim1999]

There is something wrong with the logic that allows human response to divine invitation. This is a common error made by some who try to understand theology in human terms.
We must understand that man exists in his own realm, but that too is under the sovereignty of God. It is called permissive will. Man performs all his evil deeds within his own realm, but God remains the sovereign ruler. The universe functions according to its own nature, but God has been seen to interfere with that nature. He alone has that right.

Cheers,

Jim

 

[Amy.G]

My Bible is open right now. I have been reading it between posts since 8:45 this morning.

I got up late today because I studied it between posts last night until about 2:00 am.

I read and study between posts and I read and study when I am NOT on baptistboard.

You cannot possibly have a quality bible study while doing it between posts. Does God not deserve your full attention? I'm glad my pastor does not study the bible while arguing on a forum.

 

[Luke2427]

You cannot possibly have a quality bible study while doing it between posts. Does God not deserve your full attention? I'm glad my pastor does not study the bible while arguing on a forum.

Why? Because you say so????

I think you can.

And God does get my full attention.

And on average I only post about 9 posts a day.

That leaves me plenty of study time while NOT on baptistboard too.

 

[webdog]

Why does it mean that? It does NOT mean that at all.

If my jaw is wired shut and I am offered barbecued ribs and I refuse, I had no option to accept. I wave my hand to signify that I refuse the offer. But I had no option to accept it.

Refusing something does not at all mean that one has the option to accept.

:laugh: Who would offer ribs to someone with their mouth wired shut? Only an Id-10-t. Is that how you view God, someone doing something that makes no sense?

What does refuse mean?

re·fuse 1 (r

-fy

z

)v. re·fused, re·fus·ing, re·fus·es
v.tr.1. a. To indicate unwillingness to do, accept, give, or allow: She was refused admittance. He refused treatment.
b. To indicate unwillingness (to do something): refused to leave.

2. To decline to jump (an obstacle). Used of a horse.

 

[Robert Snow]

Finny was an open theist and a pelagian- that IS heresy.

According to you, anything except Calvinism is heresy. And as long as you have Bob backing you up you can say anything you want.

No one is saying you can't call heresy heresy.

Bob just deleted my posting so I guess I can only attack people who you Calvinists consider to be heretics. You can say what you want about Calvin, but I have made my viewpoint known, and I stand by it.

But Calvinism is NOT heresy and all educated people, including Arminians, understand this.

So you say. I disagree!

Jacobus Arminius would have you tossed out on your neck for calling Calvin a heretic.

That's alright, I don't worship Arminius. And, I doubt either him or you will be tossing me anywhere.

 

[Baptist Believer]

You have Dr. Bob to make sure the playing field is slanted toward Calvinism.

Dr. Bob doesn't need me to defend him. His actions over the long term attest to the quality of his character.

That being said, I have observed and interacted with Dr. Bob over the last eight years on BB, and I have found him to be extremely fair and tolerant of other's views, even when he finds them abhorrent (he'll usually express that in no uncertain terms when that happens).

He is one of the most credible people here, and I say that as one who has quite a few theological differences with him. Even when he is disagreeing with me (which is quite often), he has been quite gentlemanly and does not use his moderating powers to take unfair advantage.

I find him to be a very impressive individual and look forward to knowing him face-to-face in the fullness of God's kingdom.

 

[sag38]

I agree Dr. Bob does do a great job here. But, he can get fired up when it comes to D.O.G. issues. Do we just write off any influence of the "General Baptist" in our history because we may not agree with them? Are they just "so called" Baptist?

 

[John Toppass]

Isn't there a forum on this board just for polls???? One every once in a while by an occasional poster is fine but there is way to many in this section by the same poster.

Could a responsible moderator move these polls to the forum for polls?

 

[webdog]

Dr. Bob doesn't need me to defend him. His actions over the long term attest to the quality of his character.

That being said, I have observed and interacted with Dr. Bob over the last eight years on BB, and I have found him to be extremely fair and tolerant of other's views, even when he finds them abhorrent (he'll usually express that in no uncertain terms when that happens).

He is one of the most credible people here, and I say that as one who has quite a few theological differences with him. Even when he is disagreeing with me (which is quite often), he has been quite gentlemanly and does not use his moderating powers to take unfair advantage.

I find him to be a very impressive individual and look forward to knowing him face-to-face in the fullness of God's kingdom.

Ever receive a PM from him?

 

[Baptist Believer]

Ever receive a PM from him?

I'm sure I have, but not recently.

Are his PMs different than his public posts?

 

[Robert Snow]

Dr. Bob doesn't need me to defend him.

Then why the lengthy post?

I wasn't attacking Bob, just stating the fact that this board, and him in particular, has different rules concerning reformed theology and those who are not reformed.

Do you think if a non-Calvinist started as many threads as Luke does on the other side of the coin, it would be tolerated here? I don't.

I though this was a Baptist board, not a Reformed Baptist board.

 

[Aaron]

Paul "summoned" in Acts 17:30 - "And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent."

Pretty much settles the question, don't it!

 

[StefanM]

I voted "summons." From God's perspective, it is a command.

However, it is also an invitation in human context. For instance, a Christian could invite another person to obey God's command.

 

[Deacon]

I've only read the first pages of responces.... posts add up quickly!

Does it really matter whether I respond to an invitation or a summons?

In the end it's a choice, believe or perish!

Rob

 

[Baptist Believer]

Then why the lengthy post?

Because you have suggested he is not fair... And you have not been around here nearly as long as others. I wanted to offer my opinion here for those who have not been around as long as I have.

I wasn't attacking Bob, just stating the fact that this board, and him in particular, has different rules concerning reformed theology and those who are not reformed.

As a non-Reformed person, I haven't seen this at all. Calling Calvin a heretic is not the same thing as referring to someone as a "so-called Baptist." Non-Baptists are not necessarily heretics.

Do you think if a non-Calvinist started as many threads as Luke does on the other side of the coin, it would be tolerated here? I don't.

Yes.

I though this was a Baptist board, not a Reformed Baptist board.

 

[Don]

What gets me, as I read through this thread, is that whether it's an invitation or a summons...the scripture provided for both points of view indicate the option to refuse.

 

[Luke2427]

According to you, anything except Calvinism is heresy. And as long as you have Bob backing you up you can say anything you want.

I think this is dishonest and purposefully.

I have never said that and for you to make such an accusation without support is low class.

You owe me an apology for this blatant misrepresentation of me.

 

[Luke2427]

:laugh: Who would offer ribs to someone with their mouth wired shut? Only an Id-10-t. Is that how you view God, someone doing something that makes no sense?

What does refuse mean?

re·fuse 1 (r

-fy

z

)v. re·fused, re·fus·ing, re·fus·es
v.tr.1. a. To indicate unwillingness to do, accept, give, or allow: She was refused admittance. He refused treatment.
b. To indicate unwillingness (to do something): refused to leave.

2. To decline to jump (an obstacle). Used of a horse.

I have made clear to you numerous times why God commands men to do what they cannot do. It is to expose them for what they are.

NO MAN can keep the commandments- yet God commands all men to do so.

Why? Paul said, "I had not known sin but by the law" and "the law is a schoolmaster bringing us to Christ" and "that sin might appear exceeding sinful".

God commands men to do what they cannot do. That is plain. It is abundantly clear. To say that God would NOT do that is clearly wrong and against the clear teaching of Scripture.

God absolutely does command men to do what they cannot do.

That they cannot do it is tremendously clear as well. Paul said, "The carnal mind is at enmity with God and is not subject unto the law of God NEITHER CAN IT BE."

The carnal man CANNOT be subject to it but God commands him to any way.

Repentance is also a command. "God commandeth all men everywhere to repent."

To say that God would not command men to repent if they cannot requires support. You cannot offer any support because it is not there.

There is absolutely NO reason to say that God would not command men to repent who cannot, especially when it is abundantly clear that he does that with the commandments.

 

[Luke2427]

What gets me, as I read through this thread, is that whether it's an invitation or a summons...the scripture provided for both points of view indicate the option to refuse.

There is not only an option to refuse- it is expected that ALL unregenerate DO refuse. It is all that they CAN do.

A summons to come to Christ comes from the Spirit of God. Paul is clear that "the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God NEITHER CAN HE..." (I Corinthians 2:14)