Dr. Luke—the Proto-Reformed Theologian

Jesus

If we follow scripture we know it is those who do not lean on thier own understand, but trust in the Lord that Jesus leads them.

It is the work of God that we believe, it is Jesus who opens our eyes.

We just trust in Jesus not our own understanding.

Matthew 11:25
At that time Jesus said, "I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children.

 

Unfortunate that such reminders have to be part of a post in a supposedly Christian board, eh ?

But back to the OP.

I am sure somebody somewhere in this board will find some reason to say that these texts don't really mean what they are saying, and that you are reading something into these Scriptures that is more than is written.

Watch.

 

A bit of a joke at times on this board.

Good support verse archangel. Now get ready for a fancy dance by some.

 

"Lessons" in the Koine Greek language ahead, no doubt.

 

Ok.

Where does the Bible ever indicate that the Holy Spirit "woos" anyone?

Of course!

Yet, the fact that someone believes does not explain why he believes: only that he believes.

Q. Why did these people believe?
A. Because they were appointed unto eternal life.

Simple

 

It doesn't say anything about wooing. It doesn't say anything about Holy Spirit. You have to make all that suff up in order to avoid what it says. AND it doesn't say they believed and were appointed to eternal life as a result.

It says THOSE WHO WERE APPOINTED TO ETERNAL LIFE (As opposed to whom? As opposed to those who weren't appointed to eteranl life) ... believed.

 

Dr Luke

I know that all the Calvinists say that the people who are saved, we going to be saved because that God chose them from the foundation of the world....or am I wrong about this? Arminians(sp?) say that you are saved because you "chose" to be saved. I am kinda in the middle of both of these theologies. I do believe that you have to "choose" after God calls that individuals. When God saved my unworthy soul, I had to respond to His calling....I wouldn't have went to church on my own...that is while in the flesh. I do believe I have freewill to reject it. One time I was going to church, praying to Him while crying my eyes out, and then all of a sudden, I stopped going. I was a lot worse of a person for a long time after this. The scriptures talking about the spirit being cast out of a man, looking for rest and finding none, came to mind. He would work with me, but I turned a deaf ear to Him. But praise be to Him, He never gave up on me! I heeded to His calls one day, and by His GRACE, He saved me!! In other words, I see both sides of the C/A argument. But in the end, the main thing is that we are SAVED by the GRACE of God. Whether He "chooses" us or we "chose" Him isn't as important as being SAVED!! I don't believe in the Millenial Kingdom, but I am saved, and if it does exist, I will be there. I just don't see the MK theology, though! But wherever Jesus is at, is good enough for me. Take care and may God bless!!

 

Those that were appointed...humm

Do you think this means all of them?

 

Hello convicted1 and welcome to BB.

Anyone from Crum has to be a good person. I live in St Albans..which is outside of Charleston.

Anyway...being that it seems it does not matter to you, therefore you could go one way or the other...would it not be better to believe as the Bible says? In other words...

John 15:16
Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.

 

The simple answer to these , of course, is that the Calvinist position is correct. But the typical Calvinist position usually does not take into account that God can ordain something to happen through human decision.............yes, He's big enough to even do that. This concept is similar to Acts 2:23 where Peter is speaking to the people of Jerusalem, says that God ordained that Jesus die on the cross, but they did it. So in Acts 13:48, God can appoint some to eternal life, yet the individual still have responsibility to believe or reject. (Those appointed will believe, of course.) God is so sovereign that he can work through human free will, which is demonstrated by the word "believe" and also a few verses later in the passage, Acts 14:1, where people believed because of the preaching of the Apostles. In my opinion, this seems to be the most balanced explanation that doesn't limit God somehow and also fits the passage and the rest of scripture.

However, J. O. Buswell in his Systematic Theology has another explantion involving the definition of the word tatagmenoi. I don't have time to cross check him on this, but didn't see his point explained in my favorite lexicon.

As for the Acts 16 passage, this could very well mean salvation, but also could mean a slightly different aspect. After all, it does say God opened her heart to "pay attention" to what was said by Paul. And as she was already a worshipper, one could make the case that she was already a believer. So its hard to say definitively either way.

As for the passage on Lydia, I find her case interesting. Here she was, shut out of the synogogue, having very little light, yet gathering with others to worship God on the sabbath. Oh that we, with the more light that we have, would be so faithful.

 

Mine says that.

Where does your Bible say that God is obliged to give everyone an opportunity for salvation? It doesn't. That's a vain imagination of man based on what man thinks is "fair".

 

Archangel,

Not that you will believe it but I hope you will think about it raying:

"Appointed" here has the better Greek meaning of "disposed" or "determined," (cf. Acts 15:2 "...they determined that Paul and Barnabas,...") Those who were so "disposed," "determined," of chose eternal life believed.

This is VERY simple -- God IS the Holy Spirit. It is the Holy Spirit that opens anyone's heart. The problem comes with those who "close" their hearts back up again!

skypair

 

Patent MISUSE of scripture, Jarthur! Shame on you! Jesus said this about His DISCIPLES, not about us. Find your proofs somewhere else if you have any.

skypair

 

Acts 15:2 is a different tense and therefore has a different meaning. I showed this to you a couple of weeks ago when you tried this. I noticed you dropped that topic in a hurry. I can only figure it is because you know you can't win it. Your only hope is that some people don't actually think to study.

 

RE: Dr. Luke

As far as the "chose", or "chosen you" goes, I tend to think that those meant He "Chose" certain men to preach His word. If everyone was a preacher, where would the congregation be? When Christ came to set up the "New and Living way", I believe He left NNE out! But ALL can't be preachers. I think that people can turn Him away and die lost. John 3:16 mentions "whosoever will belive in Him". I don't think that leaves anyone out. But all can't be preachers. But I could be wrong...

Willis Fletcher, Jr.

 

Eternal salvation belongs to the Lord. He is the One who dispenses it to whom He will. It is not like He has a program where everyone has an opportunity to win a prize.

He did not send His Son from His presence into this filthy world knowing full well what will happen, and Jesus did not leave His Father's presence knowing full well what will befall Him, for some faceless, nameless sinner who might perchance grab at the straw of salvation.

He went up on that cross knowing the names of His people, who they are, where they are, and when they will be born, or if they were already born, or in paradise already.

He came for a purpose. He came for His people, and them only.