Even the cable companies have fallen prey to Calvinism

They were both teach Calvinism as in Sotierology though!

 

The theology for it was there, but had to be fleshed out later on in history...

 

All proper theology derives from the scriptures though!

 

I have no idea what you are talking about, Mr. Mitchell, except to speculate that you might be referring to Augustine, which is not where I get my understanding of Scripture from. I also do not get it from other men, either. I do know some that do, but rest assured, when I read the Bible, what I get is honestly arrived at without the help of extra-biblical writings or the use of commentaries.

You may find this hard to believe, but I own no books on "theology" ( the understanding of God's word ), neither did I go to a "bible college" ( that's another subject I could write an article on...why are their "bible colleges?" ). I strictly use the AV in all my studies, and I do not go outside of trusting the Lord ( Proverbs 3:5-6 ) for any difficult passages I may run across.

What's more is, I did not see the things I do now when I read Scripture 40 years ago... It has taken years of diligent study for God to show me His amazing grace ( and sobering doctrines of election, reprobation, etc ) through His word. It's very humbling for me to read and actually understand about His choosing of me from the foundation of the world, totally unassisted by other men or institutions of men, and to compare notes with others that see what I see in Scripture.

I also understand that men like William Tyndale and many others during the Reformation arrived at it the very same way....and the Institution of the day put them to death for "heresy".



Best wishes.

 

Normally the first thing I see from some who are opposed to the subject of "Irresistible Grace" ( Which is more a conclusion derived from the understanding of how God works in salvation, IMO...God saving someone without their "permission" ), is their upset that God would "force them" into being saved against their will.

I've seen men like Mark Cahill do it, as well as David Cloud and Max Younce, but you may wish to check me on that. I could be mistaken, and if so, then I ask for your forgiveness.

Respectfully,

Dave.

 

Sir,

Is there a particular reason you feel it necessary to mock people? I do hope that we can discuss things rationally, without devolving into teenage-style behaviour.

Myself, I will be more than happy to hold back on replying emotionally, and I would think that a person that appears to be a pastor would do the same thing in return.

May God bless you greatly, sir.

 

To the OP:

I realize that you do not like "Calvinism", and that this thread was started by you because you spotted an article that you thought was humorous, but there are many out there who read the Bible and get things out of it that it seems you do not understand. For that, I can only hope that He one day shows you the things that I have seen in His word.

I know that if I would have run across the "me" of 30 years ago, I would look and sound like an complete stranger to him, theologically. Perhaps, in time, you will see the truth of this:

" But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth:
14 whereunto he called you by our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ."


I wish you well, sir.

 

I don't see how it is possible to come up with Calvinism from a simple reading of scripture. The whole thing is based on redefining common words, taking scripture out of context, and applying faulty logic.



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Do you somehow think that I would lie to you, sir?

I do confess that it was more than a "simple reading of Scripture"...it has taken years of in-depth study for God to show me the spiritual understanding of His words. It didn't come overnight, but He did graciously reward me for obeying Him here:

" as newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:" ( 1 Peter 2:2 )

 

Do you think the plan of salvation should require years of in depth study to grasp? God made the gospel easy to understand since he commanded the apostles to preach it to all nations. When they set out to start the church by preaching the gospel they had what is contained in 1 Cor 15:3-8 and nothing else.

They didn't have Romans 8 and 9 or a couple of verses from Ephesians 1 or a couple from John 6 from which they built an entire theological construct. No, they preached Christ crucified and risen, and able to save us from our sins.

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With respect, Scripture isn't a recipe that can be followed to achieve a result, sir...Salvation is the work of Almighty God, start to finish, in saving some of us worthless, rebellious sinners for Himself, and bringing glory and praise to Himself in the process.

It was never about us, it was always about Him and His grace in the face of His wrath and eternal punishment; Punishment in the fires of Hell for our insolence, callous love for sin and hatred of His ways and His person.

Furthermore, I think it would do you well to remember that He started the Church, not men.

 

Please show me where I said there was a recipe to follow? I simply said the Gospel was all the apostles had. There were no Epistles to study, no Greek to parse out, etc.

Agree that salvation is all of God.

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Well, you did call it a "plan", and I realize that sometimes I take things too literally...but:

For the record, I grew up listening to John R. Rice and preachers very much like him, and watching them reduce God's Gospel into composite "parts" and stating that, "God will do His part, you can be sure of that, and we have to do our part"...or something like that.

To me, there is no "plan of salvation" that can be "followed" and there never was, there is only His purpose :

" having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself:" ( Ephesians 1:9 )

The Gospel is a message to be preached and believed, not a series of verses to follow and believe, step by step, like the "Romans Road" to salvation.

Regards,

Dave.

EDIT:

Someone snuck in again and typed the same thing I was in the middle of typing...
That's OK, Mr. Cassidy, it's a forum, after all.

 

I did, by God's grace, and I was 12 years old in 1978 when I believed during the preaching of His word.