Do Calvinists Distort the Gospel?

[SheepWhisperer]

The question "do Calvinists distort the Gospel?" First let's define "gospel"....

Gospel
before 950; Middle English go(d)spell, Old English gōdspell (see good, spell2); translation of Greek euangélion good news; see evangel1

It means literally "good news", let's see what the "good news" is.......

John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.

Let's define "might".

Might n.
Old English miht, earlier mæht "might, bodily strength, power, authority,ability," from Proto-Germanic *makhti- (cf. Old Norse mattr, Old Frisian,Middle Dutch, Dutch macht, Old High German maht, German Macht, Gothic mahts), Germanic suffixed form of PIE root *magh- (1) "be able,have power" (see may (v.)).


The "good news" is that God Almighty sent his only begotten Son, the Creator of the Universe, to this world so that "the world" would "be able" to be saved from everlasting death and to have everlasting life.. How? By simply "believing" on his "only begotten Son". That's what this awesome "good news" is.

Yes, Calvinists (we are supposed to be calling them "particular redemptionists" now) do distort the "good news" because they say that not everyone in "the world" has the "ability" (the ability to believe on the "only begotten son") as some are damned before they were even born. In other words: God didn't really "so love THE WORLD" ; He just loved "the elect (which is also a distortion of what "the elect" means). Not very "good news" for the whole world wouldn't you saY? So yeah, they distort the Gospel.

 

[TCassidy]

Yes, Calvinists (we are supposed to be calling them "particular redemptionists" now) do distort the "good news" because they say that not everyone in "the world" has the "ability" (the ability to believe on the "only begotten son") as some are damned before they were even born. In other words: God didn't really "so love THE WORLD" ; He just loved "the elect (which is also a distortion of what "the elect" means). Not very "good news" for the whole world wouldn't you saY? So yeah, they distort the Gospel.

Wow! Talk about deliberate distortion of God's Truth. How shameful.

 

[JonShaff]

This is the Gospel--

Ephesians 1 & 2

19 and what isthe exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power 20 which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, 21 far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come.

22 And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church, 23 which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.

2
1 And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, 2 in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, 3 among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others.

4 But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, 5 even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), 6 and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7 that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast. 10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.

Like i said...the OP probably meant "What is a sound Gospel Proclamation to the Lost," judging by the responses i have read.

If anyone here shares their faith, they have ran into the statement, "I Do good deeds, that's enough to be right with God." And what is our answer? "Good deeds/works do not save us (then we quote Eph. 2:8-9), yet when we are saved we will do good deeds/works because we are saved (Paraphrasing vs. 10)."

 

[BobRyan]

1 Corinthians is the scriptural definition of the gospel.
"another" gospel is illustrated in Acts Chapter 15 which is largely synonymous with "another gospel" of the Galatians epistle.
"Do this, Don't do that"...", etc, etc, etc...

HankD

1 Cor 15 does not say anything at all to oppose the "don't do that" message of 1Cor 5 ... and 1 Cor 6... etc.

Bottom line - it is wrong even for Christians "to take God's name in vain" and admitting that Bible fact has nothing to do with rejecting the gospel listed in 1 Cor 15.

 

[SheepWhisperer]

Wow! Talk about deliberate distortion of God's Truth. How shameful.

:"that the world THROUGH HIM might be saved"

Here's another definition.........
might modal verb
US /mɑɪt/ present tense might
To express the possibility that something will happen or be done or is true,although it may not be very likely:

Sir, Jesus died for every sin and every sinner and what He did on Calvary made it possible that anyone in the whole world can be saved, if they just believe on Him. That is the truth.

 

[HankD]

The Gospel is that Christ Died, was buried, And Raised Again...so that we May be Justified, Sanctified, Glorified. You quote 1 Cor. 15---full context is the Resurrection of Believers living with Christ in perfected state forever. The Gospel does not simply Justify (hallelujah it does!), but it is also the NEWS that Christ will Glorify His Servants.

Paul prefaces his entire Epistle to the Romans--This is the Gospel--and chapters 1-11 give the doctrinal realities concerning the Gospel.

The OP is too vague--He probably meant to say, what are the Gospel Truths one must preach in order to be preaching an evangelist message in order to call the Lost to Repentance.

Your post is too vague.
1 Corinthians 15 is the scriptural definition of the gospel.

While the effects of a receptive response to the gospel brings the fruit of the Spirit, the definition of the gospel is 1 Corinthians 15.

HankD

 

[HankD]

1 Cor 15 does not say anything at all to oppose the "don't do that" message of 1Cor 5 ... and 1 Cor 6... etc.

Bottom line - it is wrong even for Christians "to take God's name in vain" and admitting that Bible fact has nothing to do with rejecting the gospel listed in 1 Cor 15.

Can you clarify this Bob?

HankD

 

[JonShaff]

Your post is too vague.
1 Corinthians is the scriptural definition of the gospel.

While the effects of a receptive response to the gospel brings the fruit of the Spirit, the definition of the gospel is 1 Corinthians 15.

HankD

When you share the gospel, and i'm assuming you do, do you say anything about spending eternity with Christ?

 

[TCassidy]

:"that the world THROUGH HIM might be saved"

Here's another definition.........
might modal verb
US /mɑɪt/ present tense might
To express the possibility that something will happen or be done or is true,although it may not be very likely:

Sir, Jesus died for every sin and every sinner and what He did on Calvary made it possible that anyone in the whole world can be saved, if they just believe on Him. That is the truth.

Wow. Are you really that ignorant of God's word? The word "might" does not appear in Greek. What it actually says is ου γαρ απεστειλεν ο θεος τον υιον αυτου εις τον κοσμον ινα κρινη τον κοσμον αλλ ινα σωθη ο κοσμος δι αυτου.

Now look at that word σωθη. That is the word the KJV translates as "might be saved."

What it actually is, is an aorist, passive, subjunctive, third person singular verb.

Now look at the subjunctive mood. Do you understand what a subjunctive verb means?

The subjunctive mood, in this case, expresses a contingency. It does not mean "maybe" or "might" (in the sense might or might not), be simply expresses a contingency.

The last part of John 3:16 says "whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life."

The subjunctive verb in verse 17 expresses the contingency that "whoever believes" is (or has been) enabled to have eternal life.

It is not a "maybe." It is not a "might or might not." It expresses the contingency, "believe = have eternal life" and obversely, "does not believe = does not have eternal life."

 

[HankD]

When you share the gospel, and i'm assuming you do, do you say anything about spending eternity with Christ?

Sometimes.

HankD

 

[JonShaff]

Sometimes.

HankD

That's good...that is our Blessed Hope--His return and being In the Presence of Christ forever, unaffected by sin.

 

[HankD]

That's good...that is our Blessed Hope--His return and being In the Presence of Christ forever, unaffected by sin.

Thank You.

HankD

 

[SheepWhisperer]

Wow. Are you really that ignorant of God's word? The word "might" does not appear in Greek. What it actually says is ου γαρ απεστειλεν ο θεος τον υιον αυτου εις τον κοσμον ινα κρινη τον κοσμον αλλ ινα σωθη ο κοσμος δι αυτου.

Now look at that word σωθη. That is the word the KJV translates as "might be saved."

What it actually is, is an aorist, passive, subjunctive, third person singular verb.

Now look at the subjunctive mood. Do you understand what a subjunctive verb means?

The subjunctive mood, in this case, expresses a contingency. It does not mean "maybe" or "might" (in the sense might or might not), be simply expresses a contingency.

The last part of John 3:16 says "whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life."

The subjunctive verb in verse 17 expresses the contingency that "whoever believes" is (or has been) enabled to have eternal life.

It is not a "maybe." It is not a "might or might not." It expresses the contingency, "believe = have eternal life" and obversely, "does not believe = does not have eternal life."

I'm just going to use your word.....

con·tin·gen·cy
kənˈtinjənsē/
noun

1. a future event or circumstance that is possible but cannot be predicted with certainty.
   "a detailed contract that attempts to provide for all possible contingencies"
   synonyms: eventuality, (chance) event, incident, happening, occurrence, juncture, possibility, fortuity, accident, chance, emergency
   "we've tried to imagine and provide for all possible contingencies"
   • a provision for an unforeseen event or circumstance.
     "a contingency reserve"
   • an incidental expense.
     "allow an extra fifteen percent in the budget for contingencies"

Sir, not everyone will be saved: that is "contingent" on whether they believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, but as I already showed you, Jesus made it POSSIBLE for the world to be saved.

 

[TCassidy]

a future event or circumstance that is possible but cannot be predicted with certainty.

Exactly. IF they believe THEN they will have eternal life. That is the contingency. Not "maybe but maybe not."

Note the word ινα, used twice. You do understand what is being said by the ινα clause? It means "in order that" and expresses the purpose or consequences of the action in question.

 

[Yeshua1]

I'm just going to use your word.....

con·tin·gen·cy
kənˈtinjənsē/
noun

1. a future event or circumstance that is possible but cannot be predicted with certainty.
   "a detailed contract that attempts to provide for all possible contingencies"
   synonyms: eventuality, (chance) event, incident, happening, occurrence, juncture, possibility, fortuity, accident, chance, emergency
   "we've tried to imagine and provide for all possible contingencies"
   • a provision for an unforeseen event or circumstance.
     "a contingency reserve"
   • an incidental expense.
     "allow an extra fifteen percent in the budget for contingencies"

Sir, not everyone will be saved: that is "contingent" on whether they believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, but as I already showed you, Jesus made it POSSIBLE for the world to be saved.

All of those God has chosen to receive salvation shall get saved, and the rest are permitted to have "their will be done"

 

[JonC]

All of those God has chosen to receive salvation shall get saved, and the rest are permitted to have "their will be done"

It looks like all are permitted to have "their will be done"....unless you are claiming those who are saved are so against their will.

 

[Yeshua1]

It looks like all are permitted to have "their will be done"....unless you are claiming those who are saved are so against their will.

God enables those to get saved to actually want to get saved by Jesus, as none of us want to "naturally" do that in and of ourselves!

 

[JonC]

God enables those to get saved to actually want to get saved by Jesus, as none of us want to "naturally" do that in and of ourselves!

You are saying God is an enabler?

 

[Yeshua1]

You are saying God is an enabler?

In the true sense of the term!

 

[Reformed]

God enables those to get saved to actually want to get saved by Jesus, as none of us want to "naturally" do that in and of ourselves!

You are absolutely right. God does not bring anyone kicking and dragging to salvation. The Holy Spirit changes their heart through regeneration. By the time they place their faith in Christ they come willingly. In fact, they have no greater desire than to come to Christ.