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Featured Re: Does Paul's conversion prove Calvinism's teaching on Irresistible Grace?

Discussion in 'Calvinism & Arminianism Debate' started by Humble Disciple, Jun 30, 2021.

  1. Humble Disciple

    Humble Disciple Active Member

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    I am not challenging James White's knowledge of the Bible and theology. I am questioning his honesty, by claiming a degree that he apparently didn't legitimately earn. It also suggests a lack of humility to claim the title of doctor without legitimately earning it.
     
  2. kyredneck

    kyredneck Well-Known Member
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    Egad! Is it possible for someone as arrogant as Donald Trump to have been the best president we've had in decades? What are you looking for? Touchy feely good stuff for truth? The truth can be very unsettling and disturbing, i.e. a wake up call.
     
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  3. Humble Disciple

    Humble Disciple Active Member

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    Can you please explain in what way Dr. Flowers is Pelagian? I disagree with his soteriology, but I nonetheless feel that we should be careful using negative labels.
     
  4. Humble Disciple

    Humble Disciple Active Member

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    Are you a Calvinist then? I thought you said you aren't a Calvinist.
     
  5. kyredneck

    kyredneck Well-Known Member
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    I'm a Monergist that has much in common with Calvinists but not enough to be one.

    Are you a Calvinist? 5. 4, 3, pointer?
     
  6. Iconoclast

    Iconoclast Well-Known Member
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    look in the archives between 2011 and 2015
     
  7. Humble Disciple

    Humble Disciple Active Member

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    I am a Calvinist because, if left to my own free will, I would never be saved. The doctrines of unconditional election and irresistible grace are the basis for my assurance of salvation.

    If Dr. Flowers has assurance of salvation without these doctrines, that's okay. I just don't like how he seems to misrepresent the teachings of Calvinism, and I doubt his objectivity.

    An ex-Calvinist like Leighton Flowers might be as reliable of a witness as to what Calvinism actually teaches as Iraqi defectors who fooled America that Saddam had WMD's.
     
  8. Humble Disciple

    Humble Disciple Active Member

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    I am a four-point Calvinist. I don't reject limited atonement, but I am agnostic about it, especially since Calvin himself never appears to have actually taught it:

     
  9. Iconoclast

    Iconoclast Well-Known Member
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    Did Shelby Spong earn his degree?
    who are you to say it was not earned?
    Who says anyone has to jump through your hoops to be declared a DR.
     
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  10. Iconoclast

    Iconoclast Well-Known Member
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    He never was a Calvinist.
    Those doctrines do not give assurance of salvation. They do teach salvation is certain.Leighton Flowers has error on virtually every podcast.
     
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  11. Humble Disciple

    Humble Disciple Active Member

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    How can one have certainty without assurance? And what do you mean that he was never a Calvinist in the first place?
     
  12. Humble Disciple

    Humble Disciple Active Member

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    Here's an honest question. If Dr. Flowers was deliberately lying about what the Bible teaches, in order to support his rejection of Calvinism, would that place his salvation in jeopardy?
     
  13. Iconoclast

    Iconoclast Well-Known Member
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    "Humble Disciple,

    What Jesus accomplished in His life and death was a perfect work, a covenant work as mediator and surety. It is fixed and certain.
    If anyone is drawn by God to a saving belief they will eventually do this; seek scriptural assurance
    1 Simon Peter, a servant and an apostle of Jesus Christ, to them that have obtained like precious faith with us through the righteousness of God and our Saviour Jesus Christ:

    2 Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord,

    3 According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:

    4 Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.

    5 And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge;

    6 And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness;

    7 And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity.

    8 For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

    9 But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins.

    10 Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall:

    11 For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

    12 Wherefore I will not be negligent to put you always in remembrance of these things, though ye know them, and be established in the present truth.

    I actually came to Baptistboard doing an online search for those who who oppose Calvinism. I search out the best arguments and teaching that go against what i believe, and try and see why we have seen the verses differently. My search turned up one of His posts, and i came here to interact with him, not knowing who he was.

    Leighton rehearsed his story on here for years, developing all the phrases he uses in his podcasts, for example...response able, denying the scriptural teaching of the results of the fall.

    He has a habit of zig zagging back and forth, taking a sentence out of context here, and another word over there, trying to show contradictions, many times with John Piper and others.
    After he explains away the word the person uses, then he substitutes his own carnal philosophy in place of the mainstream teaching.

    That being said, I cannot see his heart, he cannot see mine. I am not his judge.
    That being said,
    I can read his posts.

    If I went into some form of apostasy, and someone asked me a question about Calvinism, I would still be able to give basic mainstream answers on Calvinism in a way that all the cals would agree with 98%.
    Leighton never did that. Unless he quoted a source, he always missed the mark. Thats what I mean and most every other Cal on here can tell you the same thing.
    You can search it out in the archives. His podcasts deny biblical reality quite often.

    I was first taught dispensational premillenial teaching, was told it was the truth, believed it for several years. I could teach and defend the teaching, if I brushed up, I could still make a solid presentation of the teaching, even though I no longer hold it. {John of Japan} is the most consistent and solid of the premill brothers on here. he might poke holes in my presentation, but most would agree
    I believe believers holding that are still believers ,but have followed that system.

    Early on I could not accurately articulate the other 3 views, because they told me they were heresy. It was not until I was challenged by a brother with a different view that i was forced to re-study.I recommend that people study an accurate understanding of each position now.

     
    #33 Iconoclast, Jul 3, 2021
    Last edited: Jul 3, 2021
  14. 1689Dave

    1689Dave Well-Known Member

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    Here's my take on Calvinism. Calvin probably taught Universal atonement. This is why points 4 & 5 don't line up with points 1, 2 & 3 in the Canons of Dort. 1, 2, & 3 are pure grace. Points 4 & 5 are works induced by grace. So I'm a points 1, 2, & 3 Calvinist. But replace points 4 & 5 with the New Birth being the means of salvation. And works follow being produced by the new nature.
     
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  15. Humble Disciple

    Humble Disciple Active Member

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    Please keep in mind that I don't believe Dr. Flowers is deliberately lying. I just believe that, for whatever reason, he's become embittered toward Calvinism, thus compromising his objectivity.
     
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  16. kyredneck

    kyredneck Well-Known Member
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    ...several of those on board...
     
  17. Van

    Van Well-Known Member
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    Does Paul's conversion prove Calvinism's Irresistible Grace?
    Nope, Irresistible grace is a fiction, a relic of the dark ages.

    Humble member of the "several on this board..."
     
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  18. Van

    Van Well-Known Member
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    Here is a partial quote from the old thread:
    Do we have the power to bring ourselves into the kingdom of God? Nope
    Do we have the ability to bring ourselves into the kingdom of God? Nope
    Do we have the "wherewithal" to bring ourselves into the kingdom of God? Nope

    Do some have the desire to enter the kingdom of God? Yes indeed they do. Matthew 23:13.

    God's word indicates our salvation does not "depend" on the man who wills or runs, it depends on God, the One who calls. But do not miss the point that God acknowledges some people will to enter the kingdom. (Romans 9:16) Thus point 1 of the TULIP should be rejected. Obviously point 1 of the TULIP, Total Spiritual Inability, is not of grace but of the Father of Lies. A Destructive Heresy.
     
  19. Humble Disciple

    Humble Disciple Active Member

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    I don't quite understand what you are saying. In what ways do you disagree with irresistible grace and preservation/perseverance of the saints?
     
  20. Humble Disciple

    Humble Disciple Active Member

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    What does the doctrine of "irresistible grace" mean to you, and are you aware of the Biblical passages in favor of irresistible grace?

    Also, how can God's purpose of predestining the elect come to pass without irresistible grace?
     
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