One of the odd realities of Calvinism is it is based on Biblical truth. But rather than sticking with what scripture says, Calvinism extrapolates the light of scripture and plunges into darkness.
Did the Fall both separate man from God and result in the corruption of man such that his or her ability to relate to God is hindered? Yes. This truth is taught extensively in scripture. But Calvinism took this truth and expanded it into the false doctrine of the Fall resulting in everyone being conceived with total spiritual inability, hence in a fallen, natural, man of flesh, unregenerate state we cannot seek God or trust in Christ. But the expansion is utterly unbiblical. Instead scripture teaches that everyone is conceived with limited spiritual ability. The fallen men of flesh are spiritually dead, separated from God having not yet been made alive together with Christ and having not yet been sealed with the Holy Spirit as a helper to grow to spiritual maturity. Thus fallen man cannot understand things of the Spirit of God – that are discerned with the aid of our indwelt Holy Spirit – but can understand spiritual milk. See 1 Corinthians 2:14-3:3. Do some people suffer from total spiritual inability? Yes but only partially as a result of the fall. Subsequently, during their lives, their heart is hardened, either by the practice of sin or by God for His purpose., i.e. the first soil of Matthew 13.
Did God unconditionally elect whoever would be redeemed before the foundation of the world? Yes. This truth is taught in Ephesians 1:4. But Calvinism took this truth, being chosen in Him, and altered this truth by claiming the verse indicated this election before creation was of individual humans, rather than the corporate election of whoever the chosen Redeemer would redeem. However, the “in Him” provides the foundation for this election which points toward a corporate election rather than an individual election. Which is not to say God does not individually elect us, because He does, during our lifetime, after we have been “children of wrath” and lived without mercy. 2 Thessalonians tells us how this election during our lifetime is accomplished, i.e. we are chosen through the sanctification by the Spirit, for God puts us in Christ, and He makes these individual choices based on crediting our faith in the truth. See Romans 4:4-5 and 1 Corinthians 1:26-30.
Did Christ die for the church? Yes. This truth is taught in several passages. But Calvinism took this truth and added “only” claiming Christ died only for the supposed individuals chosen before creation. However, scripture is clear, Christ died for the ungodly, Christ died for the whole world, i.e. becoming the propitiation or means of salvation for all mankind, 1 John 2:2. So the issue is not whether Christ died for the church, He did, but that in dying for all mankind, it included the church, i.e He died for both the church and all mankind.
Finally, is God’s saving grace irresistible? Yes. But what Calvinism does is claim this irresistible grace falls of those without faith because they were chosen before creation individually, and they were without faith because faith in impossible before regeneration.
However scripture teaches the opposite. As fallen men of flesh we can understand the milk of the gospel, therefore we can both seek God and trust in Christ. Note, this action was taken by 3 of the 4 soils of Matthew 13. However, the second and third soil fell away because God did not credit their faith as righteousness. If God had credited their faith, He would have put them in Christ, and protected their faith, 1 Peter 1:3-5. Bottom line, God’s revealing grace, hearing the gospel, can be resisted, i.e. not heeded, or it can be understood and accepted, i.e. learning from the Father, John 6:45. But once God credits our faith, as worthless as it might be, as righteousness, God puts us spiritually in Christ by the sanctifying work of the Spirit, 1 Peter 1:1-2. Hence we are saved by irresistible grace through God’s acceptance of our faith, and not of works which we have done.
God Bless.
Did the Fall both separate man from God and result in the corruption of man such that his or her ability to relate to God is hindered? Yes. This truth is taught extensively in scripture. But Calvinism took this truth and expanded it into the false doctrine of the Fall resulting in everyone being conceived with total spiritual inability, hence in a fallen, natural, man of flesh, unregenerate state we cannot seek God or trust in Christ. But the expansion is utterly unbiblical. Instead scripture teaches that everyone is conceived with limited spiritual ability. The fallen men of flesh are spiritually dead, separated from God having not yet been made alive together with Christ and having not yet been sealed with the Holy Spirit as a helper to grow to spiritual maturity. Thus fallen man cannot understand things of the Spirit of God – that are discerned with the aid of our indwelt Holy Spirit – but can understand spiritual milk. See 1 Corinthians 2:14-3:3. Do some people suffer from total spiritual inability? Yes but only partially as a result of the fall. Subsequently, during their lives, their heart is hardened, either by the practice of sin or by God for His purpose., i.e. the first soil of Matthew 13.
Did God unconditionally elect whoever would be redeemed before the foundation of the world? Yes. This truth is taught in Ephesians 1:4. But Calvinism took this truth, being chosen in Him, and altered this truth by claiming the verse indicated this election before creation was of individual humans, rather than the corporate election of whoever the chosen Redeemer would redeem. However, the “in Him” provides the foundation for this election which points toward a corporate election rather than an individual election. Which is not to say God does not individually elect us, because He does, during our lifetime, after we have been “children of wrath” and lived without mercy. 2 Thessalonians tells us how this election during our lifetime is accomplished, i.e. we are chosen through the sanctification by the Spirit, for God puts us in Christ, and He makes these individual choices based on crediting our faith in the truth. See Romans 4:4-5 and 1 Corinthians 1:26-30.
Did Christ die for the church? Yes. This truth is taught in several passages. But Calvinism took this truth and added “only” claiming Christ died only for the supposed individuals chosen before creation. However, scripture is clear, Christ died for the ungodly, Christ died for the whole world, i.e. becoming the propitiation or means of salvation for all mankind, 1 John 2:2. So the issue is not whether Christ died for the church, He did, but that in dying for all mankind, it included the church, i.e He died for both the church and all mankind.
Finally, is God’s saving grace irresistible? Yes. But what Calvinism does is claim this irresistible grace falls of those without faith because they were chosen before creation individually, and they were without faith because faith in impossible before regeneration.
However scripture teaches the opposite. As fallen men of flesh we can understand the milk of the gospel, therefore we can both seek God and trust in Christ. Note, this action was taken by 3 of the 4 soils of Matthew 13. However, the second and third soil fell away because God did not credit their faith as righteousness. If God had credited their faith, He would have put them in Christ, and protected their faith, 1 Peter 1:3-5. Bottom line, God’s revealing grace, hearing the gospel, can be resisted, i.e. not heeded, or it can be understood and accepted, i.e. learning from the Father, John 6:45. But once God credits our faith, as worthless as it might be, as righteousness, God puts us spiritually in Christ by the sanctifying work of the Spirit, 1 Peter 1:1-2. Hence we are saved by irresistible grace through God’s acceptance of our faith, and not of works which we have done.
God Bless.
