Christ The Calvinist

[Rippon]

A Refresher

One of the books that I recently received is Our Sovereign Saiour : The Essence Of The Reformed Faith . It is by Roger Nicole , a grand old Baptist of the Reformed faith .

In chapter 6 he says some things along the lines of James Boice . His chapter is : The Doctrines Of Grace In The Teachings Of Jesus .

Does Calvinism find support in the teachings of our Lord Jesus Christ ? Or, to put it differently , are there statements that Christ made which give evidence of the doctrines of sovereign grace , those doctrines which have been the centre of Reformed thought ?

[ Dr. Nicole ges on to say that there are 1,700 verses of Jesus in the N.T. Of those , about 500 ] passages contain some reference to the doctrines of grace -- almost one-third of what our Lord said .

Not only does the doctrine of grace tell us about the great need of man . It also tells us about the great ability of God to respond to this need . The Lord Jesus Christ has exalted the sovereign power of God . He has represented God as capable of doing anything he pleases . He has shown that he is the one who exercises judgment over the whole world .He sustains even the flights of little birds by his almighty power . He is the One who appoints the destinies of individuals and of nations .


The decisions of God embrace the destinies of men . They are decisions that are granted in his good pleasure and which are not always proportioned to what you might call the ability of man to respond . For instance , the Lord Jesus shows that there are people who might very well have benefited by the ministry that he performed but who were not privileged to receive it . He says that Sodom and Gomorrah would have repented if they had been exposed to his ministry , but they did not get it . He says that Tyre and Sidon would have repented if they had been privileged to see the kind of miracles which Capernaum and Bathsaida saw , but they did not receive this vision .

This is reposted for the benefit of those also viewing the thread :"A Question For Calvinists"

 

[Rippon]

Continuing Nicole's choice thoughts...

This , I think ,is the drastic error which our Pelagian friends are making . They speak as if man had a right to come into the presence of God and enter into account with him , as if God had some obligation to deal with all people alike . The one thing God owes us is judgment . The thing that ought to cause us to marvel is the fact that instead of confining us all to judgment and damnation , God has been pleased in his mercy to make plans to save a great multitude . He has caused these to hear the gospel , receive forgiveness in Jesus Christ , be drawn in faith and repentance by the Holy Spirit so that they respond to the offer of the gospel , and be preserved to the end so that they will spend eternity in the blessed presence and fellowship of God . This is the thing that is marvellous . The fact that this has not been done for the whole of the human race does not provide us with the proper ground for recrimination .


So every one of the great points of Calvinism finds direct support in the words of Jesus . Some of them find no better support anywhere else in Scripture . Did Jesus teach Calvinism ? Was Jesus a Calvinist ? Would the Author of all grace teach us concerning the doctrines of grace ? Why , certainly ! And it is our comfort and our refuge .

And this thread is especially relevant to Robert Snow on the matter.

 

[OldRegular]

Just in case there's some confusion, this is not James P Boice, one of the founders of the SBC, who himself was a great theologian and stout calvinist. His systematic IMO was one of the easiest to understand.

The Southern Baptist was James P. Boyce, not Boice. He, along with Manly and Broadus, were founders of the Southern Seminary, initially at Greenville, SC and then at Louisville, Ky.

 

[Robert Snow]

Because that is what we ALL deserve. Judgement. The only reason the elect aren't judged is because God has mercy on them, not because they don't deserve it.

And because they choose to believe the Gospel of Grace offered by Jesus Christ.

 

[historyb]

No one can believe on their own, no one ever will on their own.

 

[Robert Snow]

No one can believe on their own, no one ever will on their own.

You are wrong, no matter how many times you say it!

BTW, I did not notice the year this thread was started, being 2006. But, looking at some of the postings, it seem like many of the non-calvinists are the ones who have been banned. Is this board only for the holders of the doctrine of Calvinism?

 

[historyb]

This is a Christian board, thought you know that. Only God calls people to salvation, no one decides to get saved

 

[DeafPosttrib]

No one decides to get saved

What is the purpose of gospel? Tell me, what does 'believe' means? Are we, the robots?

Bible teaches us very clear, Christ says, many are called, but few are chosen. What happen to many? Why Christ says, few are chosen?

In Christ
Rev. 22:20 -Amen!

 

[webdog]

You are wrong, no matter how many times you say it!

BTW, I did not notice the year this thread was started, being 2006. But, looking at some of the postings, it seem like many of the non-calvinists are the ones who have been banned. Is this board only for the holders of the doctrine of Calvinism?

I've wondered the same thing at times, especially when some posters break the rules again and again.

 

[webdog]

You are wrong, no matter how many times you say it!

BTW, I did not notice the year this thread was started, being 2006. But, looking at some of the postings, it seem like many of the non-calvinists are the ones who have been banned. Is this board only for the holders of the doctrine of Calvinism?

I'll agree with historyb on this one. On our own, no man would seek after God...but God never leaves us to ourselves, and has empowered man the ability to believe or not.

 

[OldRegular]

I'll agree with historyb on this one. On our own, no man would seek after God...but God never leaves us to ourselves, and has empowered man the ability to believe or not.

GOD gives HIS elect the faith to believe, the rest he leaves in their fallen state.

 

[OldRegular]

Originally Posted by historyb
No one can believe on their own, no one ever will on their own.

Response Posted by Robert Snow
You are wrong, no matter how many times you say it!

You are denying Scripture such as John 6:37, John 6:44. Read them you might learn something.

 

[webdog]

GOD gives HIS elect the faith to believe, the rest he leaves in their fallen state.

Garbage...and pure man-made theology as evidence by many Scripture and parables. The seed that fell on the rocky ground was snatched up by satan to prevent them from believing...which would make no sense if the ability to believe was never there to begin.

 

[historyb]

What is the purpose of gospel? Tell me, what does 'believe' means? Are we, the robots?

Bible teaches us very clear, Christ says, many are called, but few are chosen. What happen to many? Why Christ says, few are chosen?

In Christ
Rev. 22:20 -Amen!

Correct, no one on their own believes. They can only believe if God choses them

 

[Robert Snow]

I'll agree with historyb on this one. On our own, no man would seek after God...but God never leaves us to ourselves, and has empowered man the ability to believe or not.

I may not have been clear, but I agree with what you are saying.

 

[Rippon]

[God] has empowered man the ability to believe or not.

That is so silly.Do you think God has "empowered" people with total depravity too? Has the Lord "empowered" the reprobate to be unwilling? You're really quite unbiblical in your reasoning.

 

[Rippon]

Garbage...and pure man-made theology as evidence (sic)by many Scripture and parables.

You said the above to a statement by OldRegular :"God gives His elect the faith to believe, the rest He leaves in their fallen state."

It's sad how many times you have thought smeared perfectly biblical positions with your wretched responses.I wish you would tell your Calvinistic pastor some of the things you have tarred believers with. You wouldn't have the nerve. Instead you say the most horrendous things on a forum which folks from around the world view. Any Calvinist would agree with what OldRegular wrote. It's as biblical as can be. I'm sure your pastor has said similar things. Did you rebuke him on those occasions? If you think OldRegular's belief, (which is shared by all Calvinists) is garbage -- why do you willingly sit under a ministry which believes such?

 

[webdog]

You said the above to a statement by OldRegular :"God gives His elect the faith to believe, the rest He leaves in their fallen state."

It's sad how many times you have thought smeared perfectly biblical positions with your wretched responses.I wish you would tell your Calvinistic pastor some of the things you have tarred believers with. You wouldn't have the nerve. Instead you say the most horrendous things on a forum which folks from around the world view. Any Calvinist would agree with what OldRegular wrote. It's as biblical as can be. I'm sure your pastor has said similar things. Did you rebuke him on those occasions? If you think OldRegular's belief, (which is shared by all Calvinists) is garbage -- why do you willingly sit under a ministry which believes such?

Quite the drama queen...er...king, eh Rippon? God doesn't give some nebulous gift of faith for a nebulous group to use.

BTW, where I attend church is really none of your business, nor the reasons why. The church consists of much more than preaching if you don't know.

 

[webdog]

That is so silly.Do you think God has "empowered" people with total depravity too? Has the Lord "empowered" the reprobate to be unwilling? You're really quite unbiblical in your reasoning.

Why do you continue to argue against things that are not said? Too much time on your hands?

 

[Rippon]

God doesn't give some nebulous gift of faith for a nebulous group to use.

Your words/conclusions -- not mine. Who has ever said that God gives a "nebulous gift of faith for a nebulous group"?! That would only be you.

BTW, where I attend church is really none of your business, nor the reasons why.

I just find it fascinating that you openly declared that your pastor is Calvinistic. You willingly sit under his ministry. Yet you denounce (in most unbecoming language) the very doctrines your pastor would espouse.

The church consists of much more than preaching if you don't know.

Certainly. a gathering of believers involves more than preaching alone. But you'd have to admit that preaching the Word of God is a rather central component of the assembly.