• Welcome to Baptist Board, a friendly forum to discuss the Baptist Faith in a friendly surrounding.

    Your voice is missing! You will need to register to get access to all the features that our community has to offer.

    We hope to see you as a part of our community soon and God Bless!

Calvinists: Best Argument?

Jarthur001

Active Member
jcjordan said:
So, please show me a verse, taken in proper context, that teaches that man is built morally neutral or good, on his own, apart from God's intervention. Also, if you are born morally neutral or good, then you are not eligible for the gospel. You don't need it.
sure...

Romans 10:22
 

Outsider

New Member
I am a firm believer in original sin, but we must put it in its place. Did not Christ come to take away the sin of the world? What was the sin of the world? What Christ came to do He accomplished.
Now, sin is sown in our members, it is always present. But through Christ, until we trespass the law of God, we are not held accountable. An example of this would be a child. They sin but it is not held against them. Paul did not know sin but by the law, so until the law is spoken to a person, they are an alive spirit. True Calvinism says you are born spiritually dead. Ultimately, when the law is spoken to you, then you die spiritually.

I think a wonderful natural illustration of salvation can be seen when Moses led Israel out of Egypt. I will be brief because it could take multiple hours to look at it closely.
When they went to the sea, they could do nothing, but God provided the way. When they got to the otherside, the water closed the path back. They had not reached the promissed land yet, but they could not return to bondage either.
Now during all this, Israel had a responsibility to trust God and act on what He said. They had to walk the path God provided them. They had to do it!
Now, if I was in prison and the warden offered me a pardon, I would not think twice about taking it. If I was trapped in an alley and an army was coming at me to kill me, and a way was shown for me to escape unharmed, again, I am taking it.
Maybe some people would rather stay in prison or fight to the death, all I can say is, when it (God's grace) was shown to me, I could not resist. I guess you could say, He made me an offer I could not refuse :laugh:
One thing is certain, until God shines the light, man is completely unable to come to it. When God removes the light for good, man is sealed to an unfavorable fate. This within itself disproves man's free will (For me). If a man had true free will, he could come whenever he freely chooses to with no help from God. He could create his own path to safety (Many try it that way).

Now the big question I have is this. If a man is standing at the beach and Pharaoh and his army is coming after you and a way is provided to escape the wrath to come, who would stay, fight and die? If the same path is opened to every person, how can so many more choose to stay rather than accept the only way to life? If everyone was born with eyes to see with, could see, but then went blind. And someone came to everyperson and offered the ability to see again, how many would turn them down?
If the Bible taught that most would go to heaven and only a few would not, I could better understand man's free will better. Man is always looking for the bigger and better deal for himself. If he was truly able see this, he would selfishly take it. Wouldn't he?
 

Jarthur001

Active Member
as to the OP...

Genesis 3-4
Genesis 45
Dan 4...whole chapter
Isa 40 9-24
John Chapter 1, 3, 5
Romans...whole book.
Eph chapters 1,2 and 3

I KINDA LIKE THIS ONE TOO....

Job 33: 16-30

16Then he openeth the ears of men, and sealeth their instruction,

17That he may withdraw man from his purpose, and hide pride from man.

18He keepeth back his soul from the pit, and his life from perishing by the sword.

19He is chastened also with pain upon his bed, and the multitude of his bones with strong pain:

20So that his life abhorreth bread, and his soul dainty meat.

21His flesh is consumed away, that it cannot be seen; and his bones that were not seen stick out.

22Yea, his soul draweth near unto the grave, and his life to the destroyers.

23If there be a messenger with him, an interpreter, one among a thousand, to shew unto man his uprightness:

24Then he is gracious unto him, and saith, Deliver him from going down to the pit: I have found a ransom.

25His flesh shall be fresher than a child's: he shall return to the days of his youth:

26He shall pray unto God, and he will be favourable unto him: and he shall see his face with joy: for he will render unto man his righteousness.

27He looketh upon men, and if any say, I have sinned, and perverted that which was right, and it profited me not;

28He will deliver his soul from going into the pit, and his life shall see the light.

29Lo, all these things worketh God oftentimes with man,

30To bring back his soul from the pit, to be enlightened with the light of the living.
 

Amy.G

New Member
Outsider said:
But through Christ, until we trespass the law of God, we are not held accountable. An example of this would be a child. They sin but it is not held against them. Paul did not know sin but by the law, so until the law is spoken to a person, they are an alive spirit. True Calvinism says you are born spiritually dead. Ultimately, when the law is spoken to you, then you die spiritually.
So, if a person never hears the law, they will remain spiritually alive and are not held accountable? What about all the people who have lived in North America, China, Japan, Austrailia, ect. ect. , thousands of years ago? Was the law spoken to them? I don't think so. So, they were never held accountable for their sin?
Maybe I've misunderstood you. :)
 

webdog

Active Member
Site Supporter
Amy.G said:
So, if a person never hears the law, they will remain spiritually alive and are not held accountable? What about all the people who have lived in North America, China, Japan, Austrailia, ect. ect. , thousands of years ago? Was the law spoken to them? I don't think so. So, they were never held accountable for their sin?
Maybe I've misunderstood you. :)
Amy, these are the typical calvinist responses. The law is written on ALL men's hearts. ALL men have the ability to accept or reject the truth...some accept, some "exchange the truth for a lie".
 

Amy.G

New Member
webdog said:
Romans 1:25
Try Matt 19:17

Mat 19:17 And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? [there is] none good but one, [that is], God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments.
 

Amy.G

New Member
webdog said:
Amy, these are the typical calvinist responses. The law is written on ALL men's hearts. ALL men have the ability to accept or reject the truth...some accept, some "exchange the truth for a lie".
Well, that was kind of my point. We do not remain innocent just because we haven't heard the law.

(Congrats on that precious little baby girl!) :thumbs:
 

webdog

Active Member
Site Supporter
Amy.G said:
Well, that was kind of my point. We do not remain innocent just because we haven't heard the law.

(Congrats on that precious little baby girl!) :thumbs:
Thanks...she's a doll!

I agree we don't remain innocent...we are just born that way.
 

webdog

Active Member
Site Supporter
Amy.G said:
Try Matt 19:17

Mat 19:17 And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? [there is] none good but one, [that is], God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments.
Job 1:8 "Have you considered my servant Job? There is no one on earth like him; he is blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil"

Scripture taken out of context can say anything ;)
 

jcjordan

New Member
webdog said:
Thanks...she's a doll!

I agree we don't remain innocent...we are just born that way.

So then, the Law "isn't" written on ALL men's hearts. Just men of a certain age. Would you say that "All" doesn't always mean "All"?
 

jcjordan

New Member
Webdog, since you say that children are born innocent, would you agree that then Jesus didn't die for them? He wouldn't need to, of course, since they are innocent.
 

Amy.G

New Member
webdog said:
Job 1:8 "Have you considered my servant Job? There is no one on earth like him; he is blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil"

Scripture taken out of context can say anything ;)
What did Jesus mean then when He said no one is good but God?
 

Outsider

New Member
JC,
since you say that children are born innocent, would you agree that then Jesus didn't die for them? He wouldn't need to, of course, since they are innocent.
Children are born with sin, but they are innocent and not held accountable for it. Because Christ paid for it on the cross. They are innocent because of what Christ did, but it is still present.
Paul said he was alive once without the law, but when the commandment came, sin revived and he died.

Amy G.
Earlier I mentioned that:
Ultimately, when the law is spoken to you, then you die spiritually.
I do believe that God wrote it in their hearts. Everyone will receive the commandment and if they live long enough, will transgress.
Would you say that "All" doesn't always mean "All"?
One thing to keep in mind, the audience is adult Christians. The epistles were written to churches and its members.
 

Amy.G

New Member
Outsider said:
Amy G.
Earlier I mentioned that:

I do believe that God wrote it in their hearts. Everyone will receive the commandment and if they live long enough, will transgress.
Thanks. I figured that's what you meant.
 
Top