John Calvin, Tell Me How You feel About Those That Are Lost..

I also want to add to what Pastor Larry said as the other co-moderator of this forum that everyone is free to state there views and the way they understand scripture without a personal attack. This is not tolerated here and it is about time we all start acting like christians since we claim that title.

You want to argue a point use scripture and if someone disagrees with you that is the way they see it and you see it a different way. You are talking to a christian not an infidel who dropped in to discuss doctrine. There is an Arminian and Calvin doctrinal points to this forum and that's what sets it apart from other forums. Oftimes discussions will get passionate and heated but we are not the only ones to read what others post.

Keep this in mind that there are others who never post but just come by to see what christians are like. We represent our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and they measure our Lord by his children and how they act toward one another. Let us respect the views of our christian brethren and be kind to one another when discussing various phases of doctrine. Christians are not the only ones watching and reading!... Brother Glen Moderator

 

THE INSTITUTES OF CHRISTIAN RELIGION, 1st ed. (1536)

Calvin states in his "Prefatory Address to King Francis I" that he desires peace and salvation for Francis, and that he has written the work for those who want to gain an understanding of the teachings of Christianity. He makes it clear that his fellow Frenchmen were at the heart of his efforts. This preface has a very evangelistic thrust, and Calvin employs a staggering amount of Scripture verses and a healthy dose of the Church Fathers to plead his case for the Gospel. In the text, commenting on the Lord's Prayer, the Reformer writes that Christians are to pray for God's kingdom to come sot that the "Lord may day by day add new believers to His people" in order for Him to be glorified. Christians are to pray that God would "cause His light to shine with ever new increases."

In the final edition, in the same section, Calvin attacks apathy in the area of evangelism, inquiring if there is anything "more unworthy" than for God's glory to be obscured by the unthankfulness, ill will, presumption and imprudence of His people in not proclaiming the Gospel. He continues, adding that the Word of God is like a "royal scepter" and that believers are to ask God to bring "all men's minds and hearts into voluntary obedience to it." This is accomplished only as Christians proclaim the Gospel with the accompaniment of the Holy Spirit's power.

He quotes St. Augustine on evangelism, who stated, "For as we know not who belongs to the number of the predestined or who does not belong, we ought to be so minded as to wish that all men are saved." Calvin adds to this statement, "SO shall it come about that we try to make everyone we meet a sharer in our peace."

 

COMMENTARY ON ISAIAH (2:3)

Calvin insists, "Nothing could be more inconsistent with the nature of faith than that deadness" which would lead a Christian to disregard fellow human beings by keeping "the light of knowledge choked up within his own breast." He adds that the more one has been enlightened, the more diligently one should work to enlighten others. Far from being extraneous, evangelism is the ordinary method by which God draws people to Himself to "collect a Church."

 

SERMON ON 1 TIMOTHY 2:4

"There is no rank in the world that is excluded from salvation, because God wishes that the Gospel should be proclaimed to all without exception." Because it is the preaching of the Gospel that gives life, "God invites all equally to partake salvation. . . . God has at heart the salvation of all, because He invites all to the acknoweldgement of His truth."

He later adds, "If the gospel be not preached, Jesus Christ is, as it were, buried. Therefore, let us stand fast as witnesses, and do Him this honor, when we see all the world so far out of the way; and remain steadfast in wholesome doctrine."

 

Chappie:

Since we have been told to deal with the theology of the "men," I'm just putting down what Calvin said. The portion you quoted is straight from the Reformer himself.

Rev. G

 

SERMON ON 1 TIMOTHY 2:3-5

Calvin maintains that with "as much as lieth in us," we are to "seek the salvation of those who seem to be banished from the kingdom of God." His vision for the Great Commission as a global enterprise is clear as he states that God "meaneth now to show mercy to all the world; yea, even to them that seemed to be shut out from the hope of salvation." He further points out that St. Paul not only speaks of all nations, but also of all classes of people. Because of this, Calvin argues, "we must not restrain His fatherly goodness to ourselves alone, not to any certain number of people. . . . The gospel is called the mighty power of God, and salvation to all them that believe. . . . It followeth then, if through the will of God the gospel is to be preached to all the world, there is a token that salvation is common to all."

While God commands Christians to proclaim the Gospel indiscriminately, which is the means of drawing people to Christ for salvation, more is needed to effect salvation. Namely, God must "operate upon our hearts." This does not lead to passive inactivity on the part of the witnesses. Rather, witnesses "must endeavor, as much as possible, to persuade those who are strangers to the faith, and seem to be utterly deprived of the goodness of God, to accept salvation." Calvin concludes his sermon with a call to prayer, "And above all things, let us pray to God for them, waiting patiently till it please Him to show His good will toward them, as He hath shown it to us."

 

COMMENTARY ON ZECHARIAH

"And we hence learn, that faith then only produces its legitimate fruit when zeal is kindled, so that every one strives to increase the kingdom of God, and to gather the straying, that the Church may be filled. For when any one consults his own private benefit and has not care for others, he first betrays most clearly his own inhumanity, and where there is no love the Spirit of God does not rule there. Besides, true godliness brings with it a concern for the glory of God. It is no wonder then that the Prophet, when describing true and real conversion, says, that each would be solicitious about his brethren, so as to stimulate one another, and also that the hearts of all would be so kindled with zeal for God, that they would hasten together to celebrate His glory."

 

COMMENTARY ON DANIEL

"No one of God's children ought to confine their attention privately to themselves but as far as possible, every one ought to interest himself in the welfare of his brethren. . . . God has deposited the teaching of His salvation with us, not for the purpose of our privately keeping it to ourselves, but of our pointing out the way of salvation to all mankind."

 

You are welcome, my friend!

 

Both sides are claiming Peter and Paul for their own. I don't bother with that because the Bible does not fit neatly into any of the man made categories added later, but both interpret the Bible in ways that justify their views. One may be more truer than the other, but you're criticizing him for doing that, and you're turning around and doing the same exact thing --that what he sees as "Arminian" is not because they preach "Calvinism" elsewhere, but he can say that what you see as "Calvinist" is not because they preach Arminianism elsewhere. This is one reason many reject those labels in favor of "biblicism"; because it becomes more about the label and forcing all of biblical revelation into it than it is about correctly understanding the Bible.

[ October 21, 2002, 08:55 PM: Message edited by: Eric B ]

 

Let's give Father John the benefit of the doubt. John Calvin might have cried over the lost, but his tears were predestined. On the other hand, I really think he followed the philosophy of Augustine and tried to blend it in with the Scriptures.

 

Augustine's "philosophy" was theological - he was a student of the Scriptures himself. That should not be forgotten. Just an historical note - Augustine did not always hold to the doctrine of election. It was only after studying, and wrestling with, Romans 9 that he came to hold to it.

Rev. G

 

God is love. He did not let all of His created human beings go to the hell they deserved. He elected the majority to be with Him forever in heaven. Because of His great love, He retained His sovereignty so that He could secure their salvation and bring it to fulfillment. Because of His great love, He predestinated such a great number that more of His created human beings will be in heaven than in hell.

Also, it isn't just the human creation that God loved but the non-human as well(Romans 8:20-22).

God is sovereign. God is love.

Ken
A Spurgeonite

 

Who is "Go"?

I will quite happily receive a "D" from you for the salvation of the majority of mankind.

Chappie, while we are on the subject of love, you come across as being happy that you believe that you can say that most people will be lost. I hope you don't really feel that way.

Ken
A Spurgeonite

[ October 26, 2002, 02:53 PM: Message edited by: Ken Hamilton ]