Is Paul Washer a Calvinist?

[thomas15]

I'm reading his book titled The Gospel's Power & Message. Overall I appreciate his clarity with respect to the problem of modern man and God's solution. He comes across to my unlearned mind as a mild Calvinist not a strict 5 pointer.

May I ask for opinions on the matter?

 

[Martin Marprelate]

He is a five point Calvinist as all Calvinists are.

 

[Scott Downey]

One clear way to understand calvinism, is those who are not born again do not believe and get saved. Think about that.

 

[TurtleSox]

Actually, Paul Washer refers to himself as a 5-point Spurgeonist.

 

[Silverhair]

I'm reading his book titled The Gospel's Power & Message. Overall I appreciate his clarity with respect to the problem of modern man and God's solution. He comes across to my unlearned mind as a mild Calvinist not a strict 5 pointer.

May I ask for opinions on the matter?

PW comes across as a confused Calvinist. I have heard him preach that to be saved you must be elected but then at other times it's you have to repent and turn to God in faith before you can be saved. Then he sounds more like an Arminian. Or should I just more biblical.

 

[thomas15]

PW comes across as a confused Calvinist. I have heard him preach that to be saved you must be elected but then at other times it's you have to repent and turn to God in faith before you can be saved. Then he sounds more like an Arminian. Or should I just more biblical.

This is why I asked the question. Thank you.

 

[37818]

One clear way to understand calvinism, is those who are not born again do not believe and get saved. Think about that.

So does that mean every genuine born again saved Christian is really a Calvinist even if not thinking one is? Ouch.

 

[Martin Marprelate]

PW comes across as a confused Calvinist. I have heard him preach that to be saved you must be elected but then at other times it's you have to repent and turn to God in faith before you can be saved. Then he sounds more like an Arminian. Or should I just more biblical.

Both those things are true. You must repent and turn to God in faith (trusting in Christ's perfect redemption to save you). But when you do those things, it is because God has loved you with an everlasting love and drawn you to Himself with lovingkindness (Jeremiah 31:3).

 

[Silverhair]

Both those things are true. You must repent and turn to God in faith (trusting in Christ's perfect redemption to save you). But when you do those things, it is because God has loved you with an everlasting love and drawn you to Himself with lovingkindness (Jeremiah 31:3).

Did the Father in sending Christ, and did Christ purpose by coming into the world, to make atonement for sin and thus to make provision for the salvation of all people, or only for the elect?

The death of Christ provided the payment for the sins of all people ~ those who accept that payment and those who do not. Refusal to accept does not invalidate the provision made or mean that the provision was not made for them. Providing and possessing are not the same.

God in Christ on the cross has reconciled the world to himself {2Co_5:18-21} and is willing to save all who will trust His Son. I hold to an unlimited atonement because we see that in Scripture. 1Jn_2:2, 1Ti_2:3-6, 1Ti_4:10, Joh_3:14-15, Eph_1:13-14

Not to mention the universal passages regarding the call to salvation such as in Isa_45:22 (the passage that led to Spurgeon’s conversion to Christ) Luk_19:10 who are the lost? 1Jn_4:15 Whoever is not restrictive. Joh_12:32 will draw is future tense.

 

[Martin Marprelate]

Did the Father in sending Christ, and did Christ purpose by coming into the world, to make atonement for sin and thus to make provision for the salvation of all people, or only for the elect?

Matthew 1:21. '.....And you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.' The text does not say that He will save everybody, and He has obviously not done that. Nor does it say that He will offer salvation to His people, or save them subject to their agreement. No! He will save them!
So who are these people whom the Lord Jesus will save? They are those whom God has loved from all eternity, chosen for salvation and given to the Son to redeem at measureless cost (Ephesians 1:4; 2 Thessalonians 2:13), and Christ will not lose even one whom the Father has given Him. John 6:37. 'All that the Father gives Me will come to Me........'

The death of Christ provided the payment for the sins of all people ~ those who accept that payment and those who do not. Refusal to accept does not invalidate the provision made or mean that the provision was not made for them. Providing and possessing are not the same.

'......And the one who comes to Me I will by no means cast out.' I agree that there is no shortfall in the efficacy of Christ's blood and no one who has repented of his sins and trusted in Christ for salvation will ever be turned away. The Gospel is to be preached to all and no one should ever despair of salvation unless he has been up to heaven, had a look at the Book of Life and found his name missing there.

God in Christ on the cross has reconciled the world to himself {2Co_5:18-21}.

If by 'world' you mean all the people in the world, this simply isn't so. 'God is a just judge; and God is angry [with sinners] every day' (Psalms 7:11. c.f. Romans 1:18).

and is willing to save all who will trust His Son.

This is true, but people are not willing to trust in Christ unless God does a work on their hearts. Their inability is not constitutional but moral (John 3:19; 5:40) and therefore they will always refuse Christ unless the father draws them (John 6:44; 8:47; Acts of the Apostles 13:48)

I hold to an unlimited atonement because we see that in Scripture. 1Jn_2:2, 1Ti_2:3-6, 1Ti_4:10, Joh_3:14-15, Eph_1:13-14

Not to mention the universal passages regarding the call to salvation such as in Isa_45:22 (the passage that led to Spurgeon’s conversion to Christ) Luk_19:10 who are the lost? 1Jn_4:15 Whoever is not restrictive. Joh_12:32 will draw is future tense.

I hold to a definite atonement because I see that in Scripture and I interpret the texts you have listed in a different way. Spurgeon became a Calvinist despite Isaiah 45:22. There are verses that teach human inability and a universal invitation side by side (Matthew 11:27-28; John 6:37; 39-40). We need to accept both sides of these texts and interpret them, not according to our poor fallen human logic, but in the light of Scripture.[/QUOTE]

 

[Yeshua1]

Did the Father in sending Christ, and did Christ purpose by coming into the world, to make atonement for sin and thus to make provision for the salvation of all people, or only for the elect?

The death of Christ provided the payment for the sins of all people ~ those who accept that payment and those who do not. Refusal to accept does not invalidate the provision made or mean that the provision was not made for them. Providing and possessing are not the same.

God in Christ on the cross has reconciled the world to himself {2Co_5:18-21} and is willing to save all who will trust His Son. I hold to an unlimited atonement because we see that in Scripture. 1Jn_2:2, 1Ti_2:3-6, 1Ti_4:10, Joh_3:14-15, Eph_1:13-14

Not to mention the universal passages regarding the call to salvation such as in Isa_45:22 (the passage that led to Spurgeon’s conversion to Christ) Luk_19:10 who are the lost? 1Jn_4:15 Whoever is not restrictive. Joh_12:32 will draw is future tense.

Did the death of Jesus provide certain salvation for some, or a potential salvation for all, that could be for none?

 

[Silverhair]

Did the death of Jesus provide certain salvation for some, or a potential salvation for all, that could be for none?

I agree, it could have been none were saved but as you pointed out there was the potential for all to be saved. That some were saved is a testament to the convicting work of the Holy Spirit and the grace of God in saving those that placed their trust in the finished work of Jesus the Christ.

 

[Silverhair]

Spurgeon became a Calvinist despite Isaiah 45:22. There are verses that teach human inability and a universal invitation side by side (Matthew 11:27-28; John 6:37; 39-40). We need to accept both sides of these texts and interpret them, not according to our poor fallen human logic, but in the light of Scripture.

[/QUOTE]

Martin I have to agree "Spurgeon became a Calvinist despite Isaiah 45:22.". When you consider what he said in regard to this verse I can not see how he would then think Calvinism was correct.
Here are Spurgeon's words
"I had been waiting to do 50 things. But when I heard that word “Look,” what a charming word it seemed to me! Oh! I looked until I could almost have looked my eyes away. There and then the cloud was gone, the darkness had rolled away, and that moment I saw the sun; and I could have risen that instant and sung, with the most enthusiastic of them, of the Precious Blood of Christ and the simple faith which looks alone to Him.”

 

[Iconoclast]

PW comes across as a confused Calvinist. I have heard him preach that to be saved you must be elected but then at other times it's you have to repent and turn to God in faith before you can be saved. Then he sounds more like an Arminian. Or should I just more biblical.

Most every biblical Calvinist believes as Paul Washer does.

 

[Iconoclast]

Silverhair,

Did the Father in sending Christ, and did Christ purpose by coming into the world, to make atonement for sin and thus to make provision for the salvation of all people, or only for the elect?

Let the bible say;
37 All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.

38 For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me.

39 And this is the Father's will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day.

The death of Christ provided the payment for the sins of all people ~ those who accept that payment and those who do not

.

No...He died a Covenant death for all the Father gave Him.

Refusal to accept does not invalidate the provision made or mean that the provision was not made for them. Providing and possessing are not the same.

God accomplished a complete redemption, not a potential one.

God in Christ on the cross has reconciled the world to himself {2Co_5:18-21} and is willing to save all who will trust His Son. I hold to an unlimited atonement because we see that in Scripture. 1Jn_2:2, 1Ti_2:3-6, 1Ti_4:10, Joh_3:14-15, Eph_1:13-14[/QUOTE]
These verses do not teach that. You limit the atonement. Everyone limits the atonement.

 

[Martin Marprelate]

Martin I have to agree "Spurgeon became a Calvinist despite Isaiah 45:22.". When you consider what he said in regard to this verse I can not see how he would then think Calvinism was correct.
Here are Spurgeon's words
"I had been waiting to do 50 things. But when I heard that word “Look,” what a charming word it seemed to me! Oh! I looked until I could almost have looked my eyes away. There and then the cloud was gone, the darkness had rolled away, and that moment I saw the sun; and I could have risen that instant and sung, with the most enthusiastic of them, of the Precious Blood of Christ and the simple faith which looks alone to Him.”

Amen! But why do you think that Spurgeon's words are incompatible with Calvinism? Spurgeon didn't think so, and nor do I.

 

[37818]

I hold to an unlimited atonement because we see that in Scripture. 1Jn_2:2, 1Ti_2:3-6, 1Ti_4:10, Joh_3:14-15, Eph_1:13-14

I personally hold to both an unlimited atonement and limited atinement in that Christ secured the salvation of those who trust in Him. And that He is Lord of all men, of both those He saves and those whom He will judge, Romans 8:34.

 

[Silverhair]

Silverhair,


Let the bible say;
37 All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.

38 For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me.

39 And this is the Father's will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day.

.

No...He died a Covenant death for all the Father gave Him.




God accomplished a complete redemption, not a potential one.

Let the bible say;
37 All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.

38 For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me.

39 And this is the Father's will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day.

.

No...He died a Covenant death for all the Father gave Him.




God accomplished a complete redemption, not a potential one.[/QUOTE]


The atonement alone does not save because throughout the NT we are told repeatedly that salvation is through faith. If you don’t have a faith response to the gospel then the atonement will not be applied to you; if you do have faith then it will be applied to you. The people in hell had the atonement provided for them, but since they reject God, it was never applied to them.

And He Himself is the propitiation G2434 for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole G3650 world G2889. 1Jn_2:2 NKJV

 

[Silverhair]

Amen! But why do you think that Spurgeon's words are incompatible with Calvinism? Spurgeon didn't think so, and nor do I.

the simple faith which looks alone to Him. If, as Calvinists say, man can not move toward God as they are depraved and will only reject God then how could Spurgeon "look with simple faith" His words betray him. He heard the words that lead him to trust in Jesus the Christ for his salvation. Spurgeon heard the gospel message and believed and was saved.

 

[Iconoclast]

"Silverhair,

The atonement alone does not save

Jesus accomplished redemption, Hebrews 9:12.it was actual, not potential. All The Father gives to Jesus shall come to Him...
Not all men are given. Only those elected.

because throughout the NT we are told repeatedly that salvation is through faith

.

Yes, it is by, or through faith, NEVER ...because of faith. Repentance and faith agrace gifts from God.

If you don’t have a faith response to the gospel then the atonement will not be applied to you;

When Jesus said it was finished His work was complete. His work as both surety and mediator was completed. It is applied to all the elect in time.

if you do have faith then it will be applied to you

.
Men do not have saving faith.

The people in hell had the atonement provided for them, but since they reject God, it was never applied to them.

Men in hell are there because of their sins.

And He Himself is the propitiation G2434 for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole G3650 world G2889. 1Jn_2:2 NKJV

and thus he limits the promise to a definite number. Hence the world for whom Christ gave his flesh to death, John 6:5, is none other than the world to which he is said to give life. "The bread of God is he which comes down from heaven, and gives life to the world," John 6:33; this cannot extend to the whole human family. For the giving of life imports its application and communication, which belong to the elect only. It is in this sense that Christ says he gives life to his sheep, John 10:28. It is absurd to say that life is given to someone when it is only obtained for him or offered to him, but never actually imparted. When Christ is said to be the "Lamb of God that takes away the sin of the world," John 1:29, the elect world is meant. The word airun (G142), which is here translated "takes away," signifies to remove entirely. How can Christ be said to remove entirely the sins of the reprobate, which remain against them for condemnation? No other world can be meant in these passages than the world of the elect, made up of Jews and Gentiles, without regard to nation or condition — the world of those whose sins Christ is said to have borne in his own body on the tree, that being dead to sin, they might live unto righteousness, 1Pet 2:24; and who are said to be blessed on account of the taking away of their sins, Psalm 32:1. When it is said that "Christ is a propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only, but for the sins of the whole world," 1Joh 2.2 it is not meant to extend the propitiation to all collectively and severally, but to those only who can comfort themselves by the intercession of Christ, and the pardon which they have obtained through him. They are the elect only. Christ is a propitiation for those alone, whose cause he pleads as intercessor with the Father; for these are joined together by the apostle as equal and inseparable. Our learned opponents confess, in their explanation of John 17:9, that Christ is not an advocate for all. Besides, the Father must be actually propitiated and reconciled to all those for whom Christ made propitiation, unless we maintain that Christ missed his aim and shed his blood in vain, contrary to the apostle's assertion that no one for whom Christ died can be condemned, Rom 8:34. This plainly cannot be said of those who are shut out from the covenant and have the wrath of God abiding upon them.Joh 3.36.
Turretin, the extent of the atonement.