John MacArthur Booted off Bible Broadcasting Network

[Skandelon]

Originally posted by Eric B:
</font><blockquote>quote:</font><hr /> The BBN is obviously woefully confused about grace. What a tragedy that they are willing to embrace an inconsistent theology which ultimately brings glory to man. But man, of himself, is not capable by reason or strength alone to produce faith, apart from the grace of regeneration. To assume that man can choose apart from an effectual work of the Holy Spirit in him is to give to much credit to those who do choose God, as if they did it apart from grace. These dispensationalists will answer "but God did give grace." Yeah? Then why do some make use of it and not others?... That is my question .

The dispensational reason for some having faith and not others comes from within man himself.

Here's the same old rhetoric. But look what exactly the BBN was quoted as saying:

The network asserts that there is no human answer to the sovereignty of God and the "free will of man". Both, they claim, are clear biblical teachings but beyond our human comprehension.

Notice, they did not ditch "sovereignty" in favor "free will alone". They even said BOTH were true, but beyond human reasoning. (haven't the Calvinists been saying precisely this lately?) But then the monergist site comes up with its philosophical question: "why do some choose and not others?". The 'answer' of course, if forced into "because God chose one and passed over the other". THIS is what they are objecting to. Notice, they did not even favor one truth over the other, but said there was "no human answer". Calvinists try to force a human answer as to how it must work out, and if you don't accept it, you are simply trying to "give glory to man". (And remember how much Calvinists screamed about being "misrepresented" when Hunt wrote his book! )
I don't know how much MacArthur taught on this and broke it down into election and reprobation, or just "exegeted" the scriptures (and without reading things into them) but it is true that the monergists do often try to explain too much (and then thow up "it is above our comprehension" only to justify the unconditional reprobation corollary), and this apparently was what the BBN was objecting to. And no wonder! </font>[/QUOTE]Great post!!!

 

[Pastor Larry]

http://www.monergism.com/thethreshold/articles/onsite/MacArthur_5pts.html

I am thankful for this timely revision of wonderful classic that has already been an immense blessing to countless thousands. Notwithstanding its success over the years, the only question that ultimately matters about the "five points of Calvinism" is whether these doctrines are biblical. This book has demonstrated (conclusively, in my judgment) that the "five points" are nothing more or less than what the Bible teaches. The doctrines of grace and divine sovereignty are the very lifeblood of the full and free salvation promised in the gospel.

Today Calvinism is being subjected to constant attack. Several recent, popular, published critiques have tried to discredit John Calvin the man, or they have unfairly blamed Calvinism for the dubious politics of the Reformation era. But the doctrines of Calvinistic soteriology must stand or fall by the test of Scripture, period.

Scripture speaks with absolute, unmistakable clarity on these vital issues: (1) Sinners are utterly helpless to redeem themselves or to contribute anything meritorious toward their own salvation (Rom 8:7-8). (2) God is sovereign in the exercise of His saving Will (Eph 1:4-5). (3) Christ died as a substitute who bore the full weight of God's wrath on behalf of His people, and his atoning work is efficacious for their salvation (Isa. 53:5). (4) God's saving purpose cannot be thwarted (John 6:37), meaning none of Christ's true sheep will ever be lost (John 10:27-29). That is because (5) God assures the perseverance of His elect (Jude 24; Phil 1:6; 1 Peter 1:5).

Those are the five points of Calvinism. I believe them not because of their historical pedigree, but because that is what Scripture teaches.

John F. MacArthur Jr.

 

[BobRyan]

Originally posted by Nord:
I am a Calvinist. See it as biblical and logical. I have no question about my salvation and the sovereign grace of God.

Nice to meet you.

What is your flavor of Calvinism? 5 Pt like MacArthur?

How then can you have assurance and still hold to Calvinism's perseverence?

In Christ,

Bob