CALVINISTS, please answer this question.

Answer: no.

God' elect were elected long before John Calvin was born--in fact from before the foundation of the world.

Following men leads one into a ditch.

Selah,

Bro. James

 

Only by the Power of the Holy Spirit.

 

Reaching over to take Bro. James's shovel away!

 

Hello Skandelon.

I think you might be misunderstanding Calvinist Theology. We would say that we are what we are by the grace of God.
So they are able if they are blessed in this way and unable if not so blessed in this way. We should thank the Lord for the good and the bad.

We could all be in unison if God so wished. That we are not is an act of God.

It must be for His glory and the good of His sheep.
Speculation can be fun. I think He wants us to talk together and learn how to love the unlovely, the Arminians, who I thank God for.

johnp.

 

Skandelon,
God has promised to bring His people to salvation which "will" one day result in and include a correct theology and understanding of His person. But this is "down the road"so to speak. God has not promised believers perfection in their understanding of the scriptures in this life. Those who are "predestined"(Rom. 8:29) will have their understanding made right but not until "glorification" (Rom. 8:29). It is God who works all these things after His own purpose and will (Eph. 1:11) and owes perfect understanding to no one but is given by His grace.

[ December 25, 2004, 10:02 PM: Message edited by: Southern ]

 

Absolutely not.

 

Since your error is a contradiction of God's revealed truth, yes, you will be held accountable for it because you are responsible just like everyone else is. The unbelievers will be held responsible too. Remember that man is always responsible for God. His inability is the fault only of his own sinfulness. He is kept back by nothing else. Man's failure to believe God's revealed truth, no matter what area it is in, is the same.

What the ramifications of that failure are we do not know.

 

Hello prophecynut.

All error is sin and must be accounted for. Those in Christ have had their sins paid for. Those outside of Christ must pay the penalty of sin themselves.
The fact that God determines all things does not mean we are not held accountable for our sin. He is able to correct us at any time.

Arminians suffer loss on a continuing basis through this lack of belief in the all sufficiency of the atonement and the everlasting love God has for those He chose. They miss out on knowing God better. As He says He is not what we think is fair. A Sovereign God who is Sovereign. A Saviour God that saves.

If Jesus died for your sins then there is no judgement to come. If Jesus died for your sins then you are cared for by our Father God. What happens to His Children He is responsible for! He teaches us. This means we as Calvinists can relax now in the knowledge that we are not the finished product. We know we are in continual error and we know we have escaped judgement. If God is for us who can be against us? All things work to our good.

johnp.

 

2 Cor. 5:10 NIV
For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.

The good or bad things judged will have originated
from man's heart and not from the lack of understanding. The Greek for "bad" is phaulon or "worthless" deeds issuing from faith, and not unintentional misinterpretations of the Word.

As 1 Cor. 4:5b says: "He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of men's hearts . At that time (Judgment Seat) each will receive his praise from God.

 

Either the payment for sin had been paid or it was not. Those that have their sins forgiven have had their sins forgiven. We do not come into a judgement.
We do not come into any judgement because we have had our sins forgiven.

Modification of your understanding of 2 Cor 5:10 may be needed. You cannot really believe there is any good in you do you? Something that you could do that would not sentence you to death for falling short of?
No charge can be brought against me. My debt has been paid. My righteousness is that of Christ Himself, will He judge Himself? I will not stand in court if no charge is laid against Him. I believe He died for my sins therefore I have nothing to answer for.

johnp.

 

I'm not sure I follow. Are you suggesting that blasphemy of the Holy Spirit was atoned for but is left unpardoned? Or do you mean something else?

 

That's what I've been posting from my first post on the Baptistboard.

 

Blasphemy of the Holy Spirit, is rejection of the Holy Spirit. If one does not believe in God, one will not accept the pleading of the Holy Spirit, but will instead reject it. Jesus tells us in John 3:18 that unbelievers judge themselves and are, because they lack faith, cast into the lake of Fire.

 

Pleading of the Holy Spirit??

Only in the the mind of Jacobus Arminius.

When the Holy Spirit moves it is not resistible. It is not an "oh, please, please, make a commitment to Christ". Look at what happened to Saul of Tarsus on the road to Damascus.

Beware of "repeat after me " salvation--it is bogus.

Selah,

Bro. James