Are you a Calvinist?

[DHK]

It is interesting that more than half of the respondents to the poll will not put themselves in either camp. I also agree with that position. There are more than just two positions (camps) contrary to the thinking of some.

 

[Rippon]

It is interesting that more than half of the respondents to the poll will not put themselves in either camp. I also agree with that position. There are more than just two positions (camps) contrary to the thinking of some.

No,there aren't enough bold ones to just stand up and be counted.

 

[Marcia]

No,there aren't enough bold ones to just stand up and be counted.

It has nothing to do with boldness. I'm pretty bold. :laugh:

Boldness does not mean much if one is being dishonest. I answered honestly. :wavey:

 

[Rippon]

It has nothing to do with boldness. I'm pretty bold. :laugh:

Boldness does not mean much if one is being dishonest. I answered honestly. :wavey:

Okay Marcia.You are hereby exempt.That's one bold lady who won't be categorized.

 

[Marcia]

Okay Marcia.You are hereby exempt.That's one bold lady who won't be categorized.

Yay! :applause: Thanks, Rippon! :wavey:

 

[sag38]

I can't help it. I see both truths being taught in the Bible. If I take one view from a dogmatic stand point then I must interpret all scripture based from that point of view. So as a Calvinist, when the Bible says that it is not God's will that anyone should perish I am compelled to make that verse say something that it does not say. I must say, if I am going to remain true to my dogma, that it's not God's will that none of the "elect" shall perish. Personally, I'd feel I was guilty of fitting scripture into a neat little theological box that clearly violates the basics of Biblical interpretation. For me, when it speaks of election such as the case with Esau and Jacob I have no problem. And, when it says that people clearly were resisting the Holy Spirit I also have no problem. Both are true. Can I put this is a dogmatic box? No, I cannot not. However, because that's what's clearly in the Bible, without any theological tampering, I accept it as being the truth.

 

[Amy.G]

I can't help it. I see both truths being taught in the Bible. If I take one view from a dogmatic stand point then I must interpret all scripture based from that point of view. So as a Calvinist, when the Bible says that it is not God's will that anyone should perish I am compelled to make that verse say something that it does not say. I must say, if I am going to remain true to my dogma, that it's not God will that none of the "elect" shall perish. Personally, I'd feel I was guilty of fitting scripture into a neat little theological box that clearly violates the basics of Biblical interpretation. For me, when it speaks of election such as the case with Esau and Jacob I have no problem. And, when it says that people clearly were resisting the Holy Spirit I also have no problem. Both are true. Can I put this is a dogmatic box? No, I cannot not. However, because that's what's clearly in the Bible, without any theological tampering, I accept it as being the truth.

This is my position as well. And I have been on both sides of the fence. :laugh:

But it cannot be denied that God is sovereign and man has free will, because that is what the Bible says.

 

[reformedbeliever]

This is my position as well. And I have been on both sides of the fence. :laugh:

But it cannot be denied that God is sovereign and man has free will, because that is what the Bible says.

Will you please show me the chapter and verse where the bible says that man has free will?
Thank you Amy.
I see many verses that says that we are slaves to sin. We are slaves to our own nature until the Sovereign God of creation changes our nature. But I await your revelation of the free will of man.

 

[Amy.G]

Will you please show me the chapter and verse where the bible says that man has free will?
Thank you Amy.
I see many verses that says that we are slaves to sin. We are slaves to our own nature until the Sovereign God of creation changes our nature. But I await your revelation of the free will of man.

Do you sin? If so, is it by your own free will or does God make you sin?

Was Adam totally depraved when he sinned? Was he unable to obey God? Was Adam a slave to sin or his own nature?


The term "slave to sin" simply means that we are under the curse of sin (the wages of sin is death) until we put our faith in Jesus for salvation.

 

[Thinkingstuff]

Do you sin? If so, is it by your own free will or does God make you sin?

Was Adam totally depraved when he sinned? Was he unable to obey God? Was Adam a slave to sin or his own nature?


The term "slave to sin" simply means that we are under the curse of sin (the wages of sin is death) until we put our faith in Jesus for salvation.

So I take it you do not believe in total depravity?

With out the guidance of the Holy Spirit do you even want to know God or even do what is right? The question can be turned on its head can you even decide not to sin? How free is your will? Really. If man has a sin nature then how can he have a free will? They are mutually exclusive.

Did you know the consept of a free will actually comes from the Greeks and Greek philosophy? Eastern thought and Judaic thought does not really look at it until Philo. The reasons the Greeks believed in free will because it was a defiant act against the gods who controled their lives yet they can say "no matter what the gods will I have my own will!" So how free is our will? My definition of free is without encombrance on it. How can the will be unencumbered if it has a nature of sin?

 

[webdog]

So I take it you do not believe in total depravity?

With out the guidance of the Holy Spirit do you even want to know God or even do what is right? The question can be turned on its head can you even decide not to sin? How free is your will? Really. If man has a sin nature then how can he have a free will? They are mutually exclusive.

Did you know the consept of a free will actually comes from the Greeks and Greek philosophy? Eastern thought and Judaic thought does not really look at it until Philo. The reasons the Greeks believed in free will because it was a defiant act against the gods who controled their lives yet they can say "no matter what the gods will I have my own will!" So how free is our will? My definition of free is without encombrance on it. How can the will be unencumbered if it has a nature of sin?

Wrong, free will comes from "choose you this day who you will serve", and the one saying that was not greek.

Total depravity as defined by calvinism is false. Total depravity as defined by the Bible is true.

 

[Amy.G]

So I take it you do not believe in total depravity?

With out the guidance of the Holy Spirit do you even want to know God or even do what is right? The question can be turned on its head can you even decide not to sin? How free is your will? Really. If man has a sin nature then how can he have a free will? They are mutually exclusive.

Did you know the consept of a free will actually comes from the Greeks and Greek philosophy? Eastern thought and Judaic thought does not really look at it until Philo. The reasons the Greeks believed in free will because it was a defiant act against the gods who controled their lives yet they can say "no matter what the gods will I have my own will!" So how free is our will? My definition of free is without encombrance on it. How can the will be unencumbered if it has a nature of sin?

We cannot come to God without the Holy Spirit. That does not mean that God only chooses some to reveal Himself too.

 

[Thinkingstuff]

Wrong, free will comes from "choose you this day who you will serve", and the one saying that was not greek.

Total depravity as defined by calvinism is false. Total depravity as defined by the Bible is true.

This site kills me. People just say wrong with out referrance. What's wrong? Calvins consept of free will and total depravity or that Greeks didn't come up with the consept of free will as we understand it. Or that free doens't mean unencoumbard? Or all the above. Well, your wrong! How about that. And I won't even tell you what your wrong about. You are just wrong. Even if you reply your wrong. Even if you agree with me your wrong. If you disagree with me your wrong.

I'm actually getting to like saying "your wrong" . Maybe I'll just keep saying it. Wrong wrong wrong. ....Yeah I like it.

 

[Amy.G]

I'm actually getting to like saying "your wrong" . Maybe I'll just keep saying it. Wrong wrong wrong. ....Yeah I like it.

Oh yeah????

Well......you're just..............WRONG! :laugh: :laugh:

 

[reformedbeliever]

Do you sin? If so, is it by your own free will or does God make you sin?

Was Adam totally depraved when he sinned? Was he unable to obey God? Was Adam a slave to sin or his own nature?


The term "slave to sin" simply means that we are under the curse of sin (the wages of sin is death) until we put our faith in Jesus for salvation.

Yes I sin. I am still living in this body of death. My new nature still has the ability to sin, but without the new nature, I'd have never had the ability to trust (have faith) in Jesus. The only way I'm truly free is when Jesus set me free from sin in a judicial manner. My nature dictates my will. I act according to who I am. Even God has to act according to His own nature. Am I better than God? Are you more free than God?
Adam was not affected by the fall. Adam is the one who brought on the fall. We have all inherited a sin nature from Adam. Adam was more free than anyone since the fall. Since Jesus was the Lamb slain from before the foundation of the world, you tell me........ was Adam unable to obey God? If he was able then why was Jesus the Lamb slain from before the foundation of the world?
I think Adam acted according to his own nature and did sin. I think that we not only act according to our own nature, but we have also inherited a nature prone to sin from Adam. Do you not believe in total depravity? Arminians believe in total depravity. I hope you are not pelagian or even semi pelagian. What do you believe Amy? Before you answer these questions however, please answer my previous question. Chapter and verse on free will please.

 

[Thinkingstuff]

We cannot come to God without the Holy Spirit. That does not mean that God only chooses some to reveal Himself too.

Think about that statement. What does that have to do with Total Depravity? God can reveal himself to the whole world but can they accept him with out his intervention. Or do they act like Adam and hide out. Again I question how free is your will if its encumbard by sin?

 

[Thinkingstuff]

Oh yeah????

Well......you're just..............WRONG! :laugh: :laugh:

Yeah, I thought it was funny too.

 

[Amy.G]

God can reveal himself to the whole world but can they accept him with out his intervention.

And God does reveal Himself and that is His intervention.

I think you're saying that "intervention" is being "elected".

 

[reformedbeliever]

Wrong, free will comes from "choose you this day who you will serve", and the one saying that was not greek.

Total depravity as defined by calvinism is false. Total depravity as defined by the Bible is true.

Wrong. "Choose you this day who you will serve" only points to making decisions. Our choices are affected by many factors. Our choices are never free.
Our will is our innermost being. Our will is who we are. We act according to our will or nature. Even God has to act according to His nature. Show me once where He does not act according to His nature.........

 

[reformedbeliever]

And God does reveal Himself and that is His intervention.

I think you're saying that "intervention" is being "elected".

No, His intervention ( if you prefer to call it that) is His causing us to be born again. We are born again of God, not any act upon our part. He causes the new birth.