Featured Jerry Walls Refuting Calvinistic Soteriology

He seems quite articulate and passionate about what he believes. He doesn’t, however, address any passages of scripture seen by Calvinists to support their position.

His first argument is that God wouldn’t hold people accountable for failing to do something they were unable to do.

That is clearly refuted by examining the Old Testament Law. God held Israel, as a nation, and the Jews individually, accountable for not keeping the Law even though He knew they were unable to keep the Law. By the works of the law, no flesh would be justified.

His second argument is that God wouldn’t be a loving God if He had the power to save every person but chose some and passed over others.

By making this argument, he is claiming God is not omnipotent, is not completely sovereign in His ability to rule His creation as He sees fit.

So the reality is, his argument that he wants a God that conforms to his sense of morality, of right and wrong, and will ignore all scripture that conflicts with his point of view.

Peace to you

 

He didn’t even attempt to address passages of scripture used by Calvinists to support their position. Therefore, it is inappropriate to claim he demonstrated the arguments to be unbiblical.

You identified the “main point” as being “how can God be glorified in the damnation of the greater majority of His own creation?”

I disagree with your analysis of what the “main point” is. The “main point” is that God is sovereign. Even though every person on the planet deserves damnation, God has determined His elect for salvation. God is glorified in His demonstration of mercy and in His demonstration of justice.

The gospel has a two-fold purpose. It brings the elect to salvation. It brings further condemnation to those who reject it.

peace to you

 

It should be noted one does not have to be a Calvinist to believe this!

 

Does any judge desire to kill people by lethal injection?
Not if they are moral and sane.
Yet they do condemn to death those whose actions warrant the death penalty.

What makes GOD so much less capable of being JUST without being a sadistic monster than a human judge?

 

Just because you say it, doesn’t make it true.

peace you

 

Ever and anon the cry of the noncalvinist is Why doth he yet find fault?

 

Romans 9:18-19

 

Then you either do not believe or at the very least understand the absolute omniscience of the all knowing God.

 

Thanks for presenting several of the bogus arguments used to defend false doctrine.

First the claim is made that people were unable to comply with part of the law because of total spiritual inability. But the rich young ruler had kept part of the Law, and this fact was acknowledged by Christ. In Matthew 19:21 Jesus does not deny the person had kept some of the commandments, but told his he had to do more to be complete. Thus Christ acknowledged the partial keeping of the Law. Therefore the Calvinist canard is as bogus as a three dollar bill.

The second claim is since God is a loving Father, he would not predetermine the lost to consignment to eternal punishment, but would justly send those without excuse to eternal punishment.

God can do as He pleases, and it pleases God to offer salvation to everyone who believes, and God has not predetermined who can believe.

Calvinism conflicts with scripture:

1) The lost would not be in the process of entering the kingdom (Matthew 23:13) if total spiritual inability were true.
2) God would not choose individuals for salvation through or by reason of faith in the truth (2 Thessalonians 2:13) if unconditional election were true.
3) Christ would not have laid down His life as a ransom for all (1 Timothy 2:6) if Limited Atonement were true.
4) The lost entering the Kingdom would not have been prevented (Matthew 23:13) if Irresistible Grace were true.

 

Ok, Ezekiel 18:23 has nothing to do with election, but rather God’s stated desire that all turn from wickedness and accept Him. None did. Romans clearly state that none seek after God, all have turned astray. The same can be said about John 5, they rejected Him just like the rest of the world.

Funny you mentioned Jonah. You and Jonah are the same. A Calvinist would have no problem with God showing mercy to whomever He desired.

Jonah was angry because God showed mercy to a specific people. Just like Jonah, you are angry at the very idea that God picks whom He wants I show mercy to.

Peace to you