How did you arrive at Calvinism?

I do.
But that doesn't mean I have to agree with you, doctrinally.

How we view what Scripture teaches is what separates us, utilyan.
It probably always will.

I'm sorry that you do not make the connection between "whosoever believeth" and God's elect.
They are one and the same.

Have you believed on Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, from the heart ( Romans 10:9-10 )?
Then you are one of God's elect.

Rejoice, because eternal life is a precious gift ( Romans 6:23 ) and few there be that find it ( Matthew 7:14 ).

Yes, He does and yes, I can.

According to His word, He loves each and every one of His children, the "whosoever believeth".

I have a Judge, utilyan, and so do you.
His name is Jesus Christ.

However, I will not be judged with the lost as He is also my Saviour.
Can you say the same?

I truly hope so.

Thank you sir.

I appreciate the encouragement, and I've known for quite some time that He loves me...
After all, He sent His Son to die for me on a cross outside the gates of Jerusalem a long time ago, and I've believed on His Son for over 40 years now.
I take great comfort in knowing that someday I will see Him, and the trials of this life will be over.

This is my final reply in this thread.



I wish all of you well, and my hope is that all who name the name of Christ depart from iniquity, and study His words deeply to know just what it is that God has done for you.

May God's blessings also be upon each of you reading this, should it please Him to bestow His generous gifts to you.

 

Same.

 

About every year we are treated to this claim, I "found" Calvinism (TULIP doctrines) in scripture and was not indoctrinated so as to read the doctrines into the text.

My problem is when I tried to find actual support for the TULI, I could not find it. All the Calvinists say they did, but when asked about specifics, we get deflection.

For example, "chose us in Him before the foundation of the world" can be found at Ephesians 1:4. But what does the phrase "in Him" mean. God chose us as foreseen individuals and placed us into Christ? Others respond God chose us as foreseen individuals to be placed in Christ. A third view is God chose us as foreseen individuals that are now existent individuals who are actually in Him.

Will someone explain what the "in Him" means, and will all the other Calvinists say that is what they found too?

 

What does "in Him" mean to you, Van? How do all passages in scripture where "in Him" or "in Christ" inform you what that means? What do you observe in scripture regarding this?
I'll let you go find all the times it is used and then consider the context surrounding those references. After that you can report back to us with an understanding of each passage.

 

I asked about one verse, Ephesians 1:4. But did I get an answer or a link to a published answer? Nope, I got a change subject question. Deflection as predicted. You would think with about a dozen Calvinist posters, I would get an answer, since their interpretation of the verse is foundational.

 

So you refuse to research how "in Him" or "in Christ" is used throughout scripture? It seems you don't really want to know. Too bad you refuse to research and share.

 

Gee, do you think ad hominems hide your inability to answer a very basic question. But do not feel alone, none of your like-minded bible students answered my post either.

I asked about one verse, Ephesians 1:4. For example, "chose us in Him before the foundation of the world" can be found at Ephesians 1:4. But what does the phrase "in Him" mean. God chose us as foreseen individuals and placed us into Christ? Others respond God chose us as foreseen individuals to be placed in Christ. A third view is God chose us as foreseen individuals that are now existent individuals who are actually in Him. A fourth view is that Christ is the first “Elect” of God, and that our corporate election is contained in His individual election. Subsequently of course we are individually chosen through faith in the truth, 2 Thessalonians 2:13

Will someone explain what the "in Him" means, and will all the other Calvinists say that is what they found too?

 

Yep

 

Escape from a Death Cult:

Once, while young in the faith, I fell into what would become one of the deadliest Word of Faith cults in North America, the Glory Barn Faith Assembly of northern Indiana. God providentially delivered me by what most would call a twist of fate.

I ran into this group through another Pentecostal group. Later, after a job transfer into their region, I began fellowship with them. Nothing stood out as unusual. They had the typical adrenaline driven praise and worship most Pentecostal churches have. But I left the region after a year when my job ended. After a couple of years my wife and I returned to the region and they had grown from around 100 to perhaps a 1000.

During this time, we heard about a few people dying of treatable reasons. But they blamed this on lack of faith. Or their faith must not have been genuine. But it wasn’t too long before God led us out in a most unusual way.

One night they presented the Limited Atonement doctrine so they could teach against it. This was the first I ever heard of Limited Atonement. But the doctrine, even though presented in the most disagreeable way, spoke to me. And after hearing the universal atonement doctrine in contrast, it dawned on me that we had come to an impasse.

I needed to make a choice. If Limited Atonement is true, then faith and healing didn’t work the way they said it did. And it would explain why some died from commonly treatable ailments. After a group discussion on the way home, it was our last involvement with them.

I began studying Reformed Theology augmented by Baptist theology ever since that time.

 

Gee, do you think that ad hominems hide your ability to answer what "in Him" and "in Christ" mean throughout scripture? But do not feel alone, none of your like-minded bible students answered my post either.

 

That is some Testimony!
Thank you!

 

This the guy?

Obituaries • December 10, 1984

"The Rev. Dr. Hobart Freeman, the leader of the Faith Assembly, died Saturday night at his home....Freeman was indicted Oct. 17 by a Kosciusko County grand jury on three felony charges in connection with the death of Pamela Menne....Freeman taught that medical care was evil and historically tied to witchcraft....He was originally a Baptist and earned degrees in divinity and theology at the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Ky."

 

I asked about one verse, Ephesians 1:4. For example, "chose us in Him before the foundation of the world" can be found at Ephesians 1:4. But what does the phrase "in Him" mean. God chose us as foreseen individuals and placed us into Christ? Others respond God chose us as foreseen individuals to be placed in Christ. A third view is God chose us as foreseen individuals that are now existent individuals who are actually in Him. A fourth view is that Christ is the first “Elect” of God, and that our corporate election is contained in His individual election. Subsequently of course we are individually chosen through faith in the truth, 2 Thessalonians 2:13

Will someone explain what the "in Him" means, and will all the other Calvinists say that is what they found too?

 

Started from the scriptures, but really started to notice it as being taught in Bible when reading books authored by JI Packer, Spurgeon, and Leon Morris!

Other than Bible, single biggest contribution was when read Martin Luther on the Bondage of the Will!

 

This is him. He has a seminary textbook "Introduction to the OT Prophets" https://www.amazon.com/Introduction-Testament-Prophets-Hobart-Freeman/dp/0802441459. Also several other Pentecostal books. He had a THD from Grace Seminary in Winona Lake In. The most captivating speaker I ever heard. Hundreds drove several hours each way just to hear him. I mastered Bancrofts Theology under him while there.

 

That's a major publisher!
Why is he still being promoted???

example:

Reformed Books Online • Commentaries • Prophetical Books of the Old Testament • Hobart Freeman, Introduction to the Old Testament Prophets

 

He was sound until he ran into Kenneth Hagin and the like.