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Question for free willers

Rippon

Well-Known Member
Site Supporter
Was it a matter of mere semantics when some Puritans were put to death in the 1550's ? Those who denied free will , for instance were put to the flames .
 

Calvibaptist

New Member
Originally posted by Brother Bob:
Calvibaptist (quote)

That's just a few, but should be plenty to get my point across. We see in these verses that the choice is held out to man to believe or reject and he is held responsible for that choice.

That is why we believe that God is absolutely sovereign and man is responsible for his choices. It has nothing to do with a theological system and everything to do with declaring the whole counsel of God.

The two quotes above is what I said were contrary to your belief of predestination to go to Heaven or Hell?
And Bob, I said very clearly that the Bible teaches both the responsiblity of man for his decisions and the absolute sovereignty of God. I quoted 2-3 verses for each statement. Calvinists have no problem with both statements from Scripture. You are the one with the problem with what the Scripture says. You are the one who thinks they are contradictory. I said they were compatible.
 

JackRUS

New Member
Originally posted by Rippon:
Was it a matter of mere semantics when some Puritans were put to death in the 1550's ? Those who denied free will , for instance were put to the flames .
By who? The Catholic Church durring the reign of Queen Mary I perhaps?

I am not Arminian since I don't agree with their doctrine of falling from grace; but it was the Calvinists who were heavy handed in their dealings with Arminians. And not at all Christian like I might add.

"The Synod of Dort was convened to resolve the Arminian/Calvinist controversy. It lasted from November 1618 to May 1619, seven months. It was the largest and, next to the Westminster Assembly, the most imposing of all synods of the Reformed Churches. Besides representatives from the Netherlands, delegates from England, Scotland, the southern provinces of Germany, and Switzerland shared in its proceedings. Episcopius was the chief spokesman for the Remonstrants, the fire-breathing Gomarus led the charge against Arminianism. The Remonstrants requested an opportunity to discuss their views at the Synod, but were denied the opportunity. They soon realized that what they thought would be an open forum for theological discussion was in fact a hearing, and that they were in effect being tried for heresy.

The Calvinists were rather heavy-handed in their dealings with their 'Arminian' brethren. For refusing to subscribe to the Canon of Dort, some 200 ministers were deprived of their positions, eighty were banished from the country. Those who continued to minister were sentenced to life in prison. In 1621, a Lutheran professor at Wittenberg, in response to an overture of fraternity from the Dutch Reformed, writes these remarks:

"What good there is to be expected from such brethren, may easily be gathered from the Synod of Dort and their proceedings. The Calvinists had several disputes with the Arminians, particularly about the article of grace or election, in which the latter defended our opinion, and the former that of Calvin. In this controversy, the Calvinists showed so much heat, that, by a hasty decree of that synod, they condemned the Arminians and their doctrines, without allowing them to make any defense, depriving them of the exercise of their religion, and banishing their most eminent ministers from their country forever. Was not that a very brotherly proceeding? If they thus treated such who differed from them in one article, namely predestination, what must we expect who differ from them in so many?"

http://www.btinternet.com/~gracegospel/calvin_and_arminius.htm

This is a very even handed article that shows the history of both movements, and takes them both to task for their errors.

And I must say when reading this concerning Calvinism's roots that Jesus' words in Mt. 7:15-20 came to mind.
 

J.D.

Active Member
Site Supporter
Rippon was not saying that there never were calvinist persecutors. He was trying to point out the fact that words matter - they have meanings, and they can cost you your life.
 

JackRUS

New Member
Originally posted by J.D.:
Rippon was not saying that there never were calvinist persecutors. He was trying to point out the fact that words matter - they have meanings, and they can cost you your life.
In some places that is true...

..but not on the internet! :D
 

J.D.

Active Member
Site Supporter
Originally posted by JackRUS:
</font><blockquote>quote:</font><hr />Originally posted by J.D.:
Rippon was not saying that there never were calvinist persecutors. He was trying to point out the fact that words matter - they have meanings, and they can cost you your life.
In some places that is true...

..but not on the internet! :D
</font>[/QUOTE]I'm placing you on the virtual racks! RECANT YOU ARMINIAN! RECANT! :mad: :D
 

J.D.

Active Member
Site Supporter
I hear the ghost of Servetus calling from my bedroom. I shall dream tonight of taking my vengence on Arians, Pelagians, Semi's, Arminians, paedobaptists,... :mad: :mad:

HA HA HA HA (you know, like the count on sesame street)!!!

sleeping_2.gif
 

JackRUS

New Member
Originally posted by J.D.:
</font><blockquote>quote:</font><hr />Originally posted by JackRUS:
</font><blockquote>quote:</font><hr />Originally posted by J.D.:
Rippon was not saying that there never were calvinist persecutors. He was trying to point out the fact that words matter - they have meanings, and they can cost you your life.
In some places that is true...

..but not on the internet! :D
</font>[/QUOTE]I'm placing you on the virtual racks! RECANT YOU ARMINIAN! RECANT! :mad: :D
</font>[/QUOTE]Owwwwwwwwwww!

BTW...you can only pull me 4/5 of the way. I'm only a four point Arminian.
 

Brother Bob

New Member
Calvinbaptist;

quote
the choice is held out to man to believe or reject and he is held responsible for that choice.

When you say man, are you saying "all men", or just the ones chosen before the foundation of the world?

And when you say Choose. Are you saying all men has a choice whether to believe and be saved or disbelief and be dammned?

If so, what is the difference between the so called free-willers and the so called Calvinist?
 

ituttut

New Member
Originally posted by Brother Bob:
ituttut;
I am the same way and asked the same question and was told that my label is "confused". I guess if you don't have the answer you just insult. So look out!!
Thanks Brother Bob. We do need our armor when posting on the Baptist Board.

Christian faith, ituttut
 

ituttut

New Member
Originally posted by Calvibaptist:
</font><blockquote>quote:</font><hr />Originally posted by ituttut:

As a “free willer”, I am “predestined”. As I am “predestined”, I am a “free willer”. As a “free willer” I have scripture on my side. As a “predestiner” I have scripture on my side.

I have not read all replies, but can you say, or any other has given a “straight” answer from either side, presuming by straight you mean positive proof, one way or the other. Each time one or the other side gives scripture, one then responds with scripture to counteract the other. Isn’t antinomy the order of the day on this subject ever since?
Here is the problem ittitut. Here is the substance of a post I made on another thread in response to a question about me claiming that people are held responsible for their decisions:

Because the Bible teaches it. You have to understand that we don't just make up our beliefs. We take statements of Scripture and try to figure them out.
But don’t all other’s say the same thing as you. There are few and far between, those that “make-up” their belief.

The Catholic’s can back-up their belief with scripture just as we; as can “The Calvinist church (Presbyterian church)”, “Wesley’s Methodist church”, and on it goes. All Christians are just as you. They try to figure out how to live in what they believe. This is why I am a “dispensational Baptist”. I am just as you, but you are of the “Calvinist” bent, being a “Calvinist Baptist”.

We run into problems when we “run back” to the “fathers”. We get stuck on the wrong scriptures. The answer is not found in Romans 9.


For instance, we take these statement:

Ephesians 1:4-5 just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, 5 having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will,


Ephesians 1:11 In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will

Romans 9:15-18 For He says to Moses, "I will have mercy on whomever I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whomever I will have compassion." 16 So then it is not of him who wills, nor of him who runs, but of God who shows mercy. 17 For the Scripture says to Pharaoh, "For this very purpose I have raised you up, that I may show My power in you, and that My name may be declared in all the earth." 18 Therefore He has mercy on whom He wills, and whom He wills He hardens.

And from those verses we see that God is absolutely sovereign and has chosen, before the foundation of the world, who He would save. It is perfectly within His right to do so.

We also see verses like this:

2 Corinthians 5:18-20 Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, 19 that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation. 20 Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ's behalf, be reconciled to God.

Sounds like a good testimony for the “dispensational” gospel, Christ gave to Paul.


John 3:18-21 "He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. 19 "And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. 20 "For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed. 21 "But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in God."

Sure glad we are not those who don’t believe Jesus


That's just a few, but should be plenty to get my point across. We see in these verses that the choice is held out to man to believe or reject and he is held responsible for that choice.

That is why we believe that God is absolutely sovereign and man is responsible for his choices. It has nothing to do with a theological system and everything to do with declaring the whole counsel of God.
Calvinists believe that all these scriptures are true. We believe the Bible teaches God's absolute sovereignty and we believe the Bible teaches man's responsibility. When we say this, we get the following reply:

</font>[/QUOTE]
But you say you are a Calvinist. This is the theology of a man. Calvin broke from the Catholic church as the Protestant reformation period was beginning. It is John Calvin that developed a number of doctrines.

A good number of denominations came from this “theology”. Arminius brought up as a Calvinist further confused the issue by rejecting and brought in his own “theology”. This then formed another theological belief as to the subject of “predestination”. Other than “freewill” Baptist’s, most all Baptists are Calvinistic. Baptists are known more for their dogmatic stance on “baptism”, otherwise they would be Presbyterian I suppose for that is the Calvinist theology.


</font><blockquote>quote:</font><hr />Why can't you see the above statements are contrary to one another. You can't have it both ways.
We try to do justice to everything the Scripture says and we get told our view doesn't work. So, who do you (not you personally) have a problem with? Not with me, but with the Bible. </font>[/QUOTE]Please read my post again. I asked a question. Evidently no one other than you and Brother Bob are interested in conversing with me. I can understand that as they have to put their thinking cap on when they do. As said within Christendom “isn’t antinomy the order of the day on this subject ever since?” Is this a true statement? I believe it is. I didn’t commit to this. I asked the question, “which am I”. This is a leading question to be sure, but none have ventured forth to give an opinion. So I’ll answer that I am neither. I just do not believe in “theology” that comes by man.

Christian faith, ituttut
 

Calvibaptist

New Member
Originally posted by Brother Bob:
Calvinbaptist;

quote
the choice is held out to man to believe or reject and he is held responsible for that choice.

When you say man, are you saying "all men", or just the ones chosen before the foundation of the world?
I am saying every person who has ever lived has the choice to, at the very least, believe in the true God or reject that God and make up a god of their own. Romans 1 is clear that they choose wrongly. It is not that the choice wasn't out there. It is that, because of their sin nature, they will choose idolatry. (I know that this is where you will disagree with me.)

And when you say Choose. Are you saying all men has a choice whether to believe and be saved or disbelief and be dammned?
No. Obviously, not everyone hears the gospel. They reject the natural revelation of creation and God gives them nothing more, but turns them over to their own sin as judgment. Some He reveals more to and they believe. Once they believe, we find out that they are, in fact, chosen before the foundation of the world.

If so, what is the difference between the so called free-willers and the so called Calvinist? [/QUOTE]

Big difference, although I do believe we are all saved. The five points pretty well outline our differences. We do all believe the Bible, so we will cross paths many times. Honestly, even though we debate and argue, I think we're all friends here. ;)
 

Plain Old Bill

New Member
So are you saying God allows us to make the choice?Or are we governed by irrestable grace where we have no choice but to accept God's grace?
 
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