Featured How Did John Piper Become A Calvinist?

Context please for Eph 2 10 ?

 

I trust the Scriptures and it can be no accident that all 5 points of calvinism are not taught in the scriptures.

 

I had a Calvinistic conversion to Christ but fell into among several false churches behind the Arminian Curtain. It wasn't until I heard the Synod of Dort's 5 points and especially limited atonement that I knew by experience there was truth to be learned. I immediately dropped out of all forms of Arminianism and spent $$$ on a Calvinistic Theological Library followed by years of study. If you experience Christ as I did, Calvinism is the only system that you can identify with.

 

The dead have to be Made Alive by God, as all Scripture Teaches, without exception.

Unless God Can Not Discribe "sin" without being called a man.

 

In this thread, we have an OP that provides a snippet from John Piper as to why he became a Calvinist.

First he cited Philippians 2:12-13 and interpreted this working in us occurs before we are indwelt. No support for that assumption was given in the snippet. But if you just read the chapter you see it is addressed to those already "in Christ."
Therefore the first premise of Piper is obviously bogus.

The second point as his basis for becoming a Calvinist was drawn from several verses from Romans chapter 9. To start with Piper set up a strawman, claiming those who believe God allows us to usually exercise our will autonomously, believe God cannot control our will. Of course He can, the issue is does God allow us to make godly or ungodly choices and the answer is yes.

So, at the end of the snippet, Piper has shown God can cause events to turn out His way, which is not in dispute. No effort was made to show that God does not allow humans to make choices for good or bad.

And finally note, Romans 9:16 clearly teaches the lost are able to will to be saved, so the idea the lost cannot make godly choices is demonstrated false. It is God alone who either credits our faith as righteousness or not, thus our salvation does not depend upon our willing but upon God alone.

 

Is that what scripture teaches or what your theology requires? I believe that the middle position is the only one that can be called biblical. Divine enabling to allow his elect the ability to exercise a will not able to choose him.

 

Adam was unable to seek God and did not want to. Left to himself he would still be hiding like a naked native!

 

I did. Although 4 pointer

 

The Westminster Confession of Faith (a fairly well known Reformed Document) teaches exactly that.

“VII. The rest of mankind God was pleased, according to the unsearchable counsel of His own will, whereby He extendeth or withholdeth mercy, as He pleaseth, for the glory of His sovereign power over His creatures, to pass by; and to ordain them to dishonour and wrath, for their sin, to the praise of His glorious justice.”

[John 3:18-20 NASB] "He who believes in Him is not judged; he who does not believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. This is the judgment, that the Light has come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the Light, for their deeds were evil. For everyone who does evil hates the Light, and does not come to the Light for fear that his deeds will be exposed.“

Reformed people do not emphasize that verse because the Jew vs Gentile distinction lost its importance after the first century, but sinners DO damn themselves (and we all fall into that group per Eph 2:1-4).

 

LOL, did you even listen to the OP? Did I say choosing God saves? I said the opposite.
On and on Calvinists post falsehoods. ad hominems, and non-germane arguments.
1) Philippians 2:12-13 refers to people who have been placed in Christ, so non-germane to his argument.
2) Here is what I actually said, the opposite of what this poster claimed:

And finally note, Romans 9:16 clearly teaches the lost are able to will to be saved, so the idea the lost cannot make godly choices is demonstrated false. It is God alone who either credits our faith as righteousness or not, thus our salvation does not depend upon our willing but upon God alone.

 

On what point do you do differ? (At best I would be a two pointer. T_ _ _ P)

 

Ephesians 1:1-23.
Ephesians 2:1-9.

 

I trust the Scriptures and it can be no accident that they are.
We are at an impasse, sir, and my guess is that we always will be.

As am I.
For example, the context of Acts of the Apostles 13:48 is declarative and fits perfectly with what was already revealed in John 6:32-65 with Jesus own words, in Acts chapter 2 and other chapters in the book of Acts.

God decides who He saves.
That choice is not left up to us as rebellious, self-serving sinners.

See Acts of the Apostles 2:47, " ...the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved ".

I'm sorry Barry.

To me it's very plain.
The verse says what it says, and I believe the words.

Don't you?

 

I'm not "Reformed".

Because I've believed on Christ for the forgiveness of my sins and I have, by God's grace and after over 42 years, the gift of a faith that has, so far, endured it's trials and tribulations.

Amen.
But why did they believe?

" For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake;" ( Philippians 1:29 ).

Therefore, whoever is appointed to eternal life, believes.

Not at all.

 

Man is responsible and God is sovereign, JD.
Of that there should be no question.
Yes, the Jews by their actions did indeed judge themselves unworthy of everlasting life...
Why?
Because the text says so.

Similarly,
Acts of the Apostles 13:48 says that as many as were ordained to eternal life, believed...
Why?
Because the text says so.

Yes, He would have.

The question I have for you is, despite all that history...
The Law of Moses and His revealing Himself to them through His prophets and miracles, why in the world did they, by and large, reject Him even though He was standing right in front of them?
Why did they not believe?

See John 10:26.

The answers to all your questions regarding how and why anyone is saved ( or not saved ) can be found in God's word, sir.
So, study it deeply and often, and you will find those answers for yourself.

May God bless you.

 

I'm sorry sir, but I disagree.

Sometimes what is read and heard is filtered by one's beliefs of the very words on the page, when it comes to the Bible.
Approach the Bible with no suppositions ( Proverbs 3:5-6 ), and He will transform the mind, just as His word says.