Must a Fundemental baptist be A calvinist?

[seekingthetruth]

We believe that ONLY the Bible is inspired by God, we believe that calvin and other teachers of the word were gifted by same Lord to be able to understand and put to written form a systematic presentation of the inspired truths..

Saying that, there are NO perfect systems of theologies , but do think that the theology that was systesised by Calvin and others would best fit the overall views of the Bible...

That is its greatest strenght, as it "pulls together" the entirety of the Bible on the subject of Sotierology!

And while we rest firmly upon the bedrock of the Bible, isn't it interesting that there were/are so many "acedenics" that have wriiten on this from cal side?

I suppose that you, being the academic that you are have never misstyped or mispelled a word in your life. I am not a typist, and sometimes i find it difficult to type letters in the correct order, and sometimes i even find it difficult to correctly spell words that I have no trouble spelling when writing them instead of typing.

So, go ahead and make fun of my intellectual inferiority.....your superior knowledge, your divine understanding and your spelling and typing skills overwhelm me. I bow to you, master.

John

PS, non-cals don't write about it because we see no need. Our book was written 2000 years ago, and we see no need to re-write it.

 

[seekingthetruth]

John,

Again, you are misrepresenting our view. Secondly, it is not necessarily arrogance of intellectualism, but I am simply calling people to study the primary sources for yourself and study for yourself. I think the arrogance is on the other foot, where people think they have the wisdom in themselves not to study both sides of the issue or to delve deeply into writers in the past and present on both sides of this issue. To me, I would rather be intellectual and study both sides, than assume I know your beliefs (which you have demonstrated you do not know my beliefs) and pretend that I do.

I am sorry, but I see no need to study Calvinism in detail, just as I see no need to study Budism, Islam, or VooDoo.....there is no biblical basis to it.

There is no other side from a biblical sense, so why waste my time going deeper into false doctrines?

The Word of God is simple, it had to be for man to understand it. But Calvinists overthink it and add to it. They want it to be complicated and intellectual. Jesus said "All that will" can come to Him. He never said some are welcome and some are not. This is why I refuse to even visit a Calvinist church, because you would deny that all are able to be saved and have a choice.

I will be no part of adding to the scripture.

John

 

[Winman]

I cannot find that Sproul quote at the moment, but I when I find it I will show it. But there are numerous quotes from Calvin. Here is just one of dozens;

"He has plenty of reasons for comfort as he realises that the devil and all the ungodly are reigned in by God, so that they cannot conceive, plan, or carry out any crime, unless God allows it, indeed commands it. They are not only in bondage to him, but are forced to serve him. It is the Lord's prerogative to enable the enemy's rage and to control it at his will, and it is in his power to decide how far and how long it may last, so that the wicked man cannot break free and do exactly what they want."

Institutes of Christian Religion, Book I, Ch. 17, Sec. 10

Wow! Calvin says God is controlling the devil and all the ungodly so that they cannot CONCEIVE, PLAN, OR CARRY OUT ANY CRIME unless God not simply allows it, but COMMANDS it!

Do you get that? They can't even "conceive" evil unless God commands it!

Calvin even makes it sound as if God causes men to do evil against their will. Amazing.

Now how in the world can God not be the author of sin if this is true?

So, don't tell me I misrepresent Calvinism, I have quoted Calvin himself with reference provided. I can show you a dozen similar statements by Calvin.

 

[seekingthetruth]

I cannot find that Sproul quote at the moment, but I when I find it I will show it. But there are numerous quotes from Calvin. Here is just one of dozens;

"He has plenty of reasons for comfort as he realises that the devil and all the ungodly are reigned in by God, so that they cannot conceive, plan, or carry out any crime, unless God allows it, indeed commands it. They are not only in bondage to him, but are forced to serve him. It is the Lord's prerogative to enable the enemy's rage and to control it at his will, and it is in his power to decide how far and how long it may last, so that the wicked man cannot break free and do exactly what they want."

Institutes of Christian Religion, Book I, Ch. 17, Sec. 10

Wow! Calvin says God is controlling the devil and all the ungodly so that they cannot CONCEIVE, PLAN, OR CARRY OUT ANY CRIME unless God not simply allows it, but COMMANDS it!

Do you get that? They can't even "conceive" evil unless God commands it!

Calvin even makes it sound as if God causes men to do evil against their will. Amazing.

Now how in the world can God not be the author of sin if this is true?

So, don't tell me I misrepresent Calvinism, I have quoted Calvin himself with reference provided. I can show you a dozen similar statements by Calvin.

Wow, they think God uses the Devil to do His dirty work? Unbelievable.

That's like saying that I am sinless, so instead of me robbing the bank I am going to tell my little brother to do it so I can remain blameless.

I would like to see Calvin explaining that to God in person.

John

 

[Ruiz]

I am sorry, but I see no need to study Calvinism in detail, just as I see no need to study Budism, Islam, or VooDoo.....there is no biblical basis to it.

There is no other side from a biblical sense, so why waste my time going deeper into false doctrines?

The Word of God is simple, it had to be for man to understand it. But Calvinists overthink it and add to it. They want it to be complicated and intellectual. Jesus said "All that will" can come to Him. He never said some are welcome and some are not. This is why I refuse to even visit a Calvinist church, because you would deny that all are able to be saved and have a choice.

I will be no part of adding to the scripture.

John

John,

That is a prt of the problem with Fundamentalism. I think it is important to read works contrary to my beliefs, so that I can intellectually engage them.

Dr. D.A. Carson noted that one of the big problems with some Christian schools is that they did not have them interact intellectually with opposing views (like Paul apparently did). So, when these students were eventually exposed to contrary views, they many were not capable of intellectually dealing with the contrary viewpoints that they surrendered to modernism. I require my children to read things both for and against our viewpoint, and we talk about them and intellectually engage them from a Christian worldview.

What you communicate is that you really don't care if something is Biblical or not, you only care what you think right now and everything else is wrong. That is, in my opinion, the #1 reason fundamentalists have a bad name.

 

[Winman]

Wow, they think God uses the Devil to do His dirty work? Unbelievable.

That's like saying that I am sinless, so instead of me robbing the bank I am going to tell my little brother to do it so I can remain blameless.

I would like to see Calvin explaining that to God in person.

John

No, Calvin is saying worse, he is saying neither the devil or any sinner is even able to CONCEIVE evil unless he commands it!

Your little brother has a mind of his own, he may go along with you and be an accomplice. That is not what Calvin is saying, he is saying God causes and enables them to conceive evil and FORCES them to obey. They are not accomplices, they are victims.

And this is the guy who is the foundation and chief theologian for their doctrine. Wow!

 

[Ruiz]

I cannot find that Sproul quote at the moment, but I when I find it I will show it. But there are numerous quotes from Calvin. Here is just one of dozens;

"He has plenty of reasons for comfort as he realises that the devil and all the ungodly are reigned in by God, so that they cannot conceive, plan, or carry out any crime, unless God allows it, indeed commands it. They are not only in bondage to him, but are forced to serve him. It is the Lord's prerogative to enable the enemy's rage and to control it at his will, and it is in his power to decide how far and how long it may last, so that the wicked man cannot break free and do exactly what they want."

Institutes of Christian Religion, Book I, Ch. 17, Sec. 10

Wow! Calvin says God is controlling the devil and all the ungodly so that they cannot CONCEIVE, PLAN, OR CARRY OUT ANY CRIME unless God not simply allows it, but COMMANDS it!

Do you get that? They can't even "conceive" evil unless God commands it!

Calvin even makes it sound as if God causes men to do evil against their will. Amazing.

Now how in the world can God not be the author of sin if this is true?

So, don't tell me I misrepresent Calvinism, I have quoted Calvin himself with reference provided. I can show you a dozen similar statements by Calvin.

Thanks for the quote and I personally went to Book I Chapter 17 Section 10. You give me a great reason why I think you are attacking something in ignorance. You took a quote from someone else, and used it. You didn't even check the source. The entire section is quoted below:

Here we are forcibly reminded of the inestimable felicity of a pious mind. Innumerable are the ills which beset human life, and present death in as many different forms. Not to go beyond ourselves, since the body is a receptacle, nay the nurse, of a thousand diseases, a man cannot move without carrying along with him many forms of destruction. His life is in a manner interwoven with death. For what else can be said where heat and cold bring equal danger? Then, in what direction soever you turn, all surrounding objects not only may do harm, but almost openly threaten and seem to present immediate death. Go on board a ship, you are but a plank's breadth from death. Mount a horse, the stumbling of a foot endangers your life. Walk along the streets, every tile upon the roofs is a source of danger. If a sharp instrument is in your own hand, or that of a friend, the possible harm is manifest. All the savage beasts you see are so many beings armed for your destruction. Even within a high walled garden, where everything ministers to delight, a serpent will sometimes lurk. Your house, constantly exposed to fire, threatens you with poverty by day, with destruction by night. Your fields, subject to hail, mildew, drought, and other injuries, denounce barrenness, and thereby famine. I say nothing of poison, treachery, robbery, some of which beset us at home, others follow us abroad. Amid these perils, must not man be very miserable, as one who, more dead than alive, with difficulty draws an anxious and feeble breath, just as if a drawn sword were constantly suspended over his neck?

It may be said that these things happen seldom, at least not always, or to all, certainly never all at once. I admit it; but since we are reminded by the example of others, that they may also happen to us, and that our life is not an exception any more than theirs, it is impossible not to fear and dread as if they were to befall us. What can you imagine more grievous than such trepidation? Add that there is something like an insult to God when it is said, that man, the noblest of the creatures, stands exposed to every blind and random stroke of fortune. Here, however, we were only referring to the misery which man should feel, were he placed under the dominion of chance.

If I cannot trust you to double check Calvin's Institutes for your quotation, how can I trust you to quote accurately R.C. Sproul? If I cannot trust a basic quotation, I cannot trust you to get his quotation in context.

Thus, often when I see sorta accurate quotations, they are taken out of context.

Again, this shows me that there is no desire to study Calvin's actual writings or what they actually say, but to study your own people and quote them without studying both sides. It is about proving you are right instead of truly studying.

 

[Ruiz]

BTW, I read the entire chapter and this statement is not in this entire chapter.

 

[JesusFan]

Thanks for the quote and I personally went to Book I Chapter 17 Section 10. You give me a great reason why I think you are attacking something in ignorance. You took a quote from someone else, and used it. You didn't even check the source. The entire section is quoted below:



If I cannot trust you to double check Calvin's Institutes for your quotation, how can I trust you to quote accurately R.C. Sproul? If I cannot trust a basic quotation, I cannot trust you to get his quotation in context.

Thus, often when I see sorta accurate quotations, they are taken out of context.

Again, this shows me that there is no desire to study Calvin's actual writings or what they actually say, but to study your own people and quote them without studying both sides. It is about proving you are right instead of truly studying.

Its called Christian "proof texting" to prove that their Calvinistic "straw man" theology is indded wrong! Regardless if partial/mis quoting the source!

 

[Winman]

BTW, I read the entire chapter and this statement is not in this entire chapter.

I might have gotten the reference wrong, but it is easy enough to check and see if Calvin truly wrote this. Simply copy and paste any part of that statement into Google, and you will find where it came from.

I am on a phone and so cannot copy and paste, so I had to write that statement down, and then write it here. I make mistakes like anyone else on occasion, especially when it is difficult for me to post quotes here.

But if you are honest you will search and see for yourself if I misrepresented Calvin.

And what will you do if you find this statement accurate? Will you continue to follow such doctrine? My guess is you will.

 

[JesusFan]

I suppose that you, being the academic that you are have never misstyped or mispelled a word in your life. I am not a typist, and sometimes i find it difficult to type letters in the correct order, and sometimes i even find it difficult to correctly spell words that I have no trouble spelling when writing them instead of typing.

So, go ahead and make fun of my intellectual inferiority.....your superior knowledge, your divine understanding and your spelling and typing skills overwhelm me. I bow to you, master.

John

PS, non-cals don't write about it because we see no need. Our book was written 2000 years ago, and we see no need to re-write it.

just proves that one of my gifts is NOT learning how to type on a smart phone tiny keypad!

PPS... We have the same Book that your camp has to use also, its called the Bible!

 

[Ruiz]

I might have gotten the reference wrong, but it is easy enough to check and see if Calvin truly wrote this. Simply copy and paste any part of that statement into Google, and you will find where it came from.

I am on a phone and so cannot copy and paste, so I had to write that statement down, and then write it here. I make mistakes like anyone else on occasion, especially when it is difficult for me to post quotes here.

But if you are honest you will search and see for yourself if I misrepresented Calvin.

And what will you do if you find this statement accurate? Will you continue to follow such doctrine? My guess is you will.

I did, and there is no direct quotation linking it to Calvin's Institutes. There are links to other websites citing the exact same book, chapter, and section that you cited and using this quote, but I have not found it in Calvin's Institutes.

But that is a moot point. You obviously are using secondary sources to attack him. You don't really care to understanding what he may have meant by any statement he made, or in reading him and letting him speak for himself.

You are convinced you are right and you attack a figment of your imagination that you call "Calvinism" but it is different than what you are attacking. You don't care, you are right and we are wrong and you are sure you know better our belief than we know our own.

 

[Winman]

BTW, I read the entire chapter and this statement is not in this entire chapter.

I went back and that should have been section 11. Read and see if it is there and report back please.

And JF, you are the LAST person that should criticize others for a typographical error. I promise my keyboard is smaller than yours, I have to use the tip of a pen to write. My entire keyboard is only 1" by 2".

 

[seekingthetruth]

Calvin writes: “He has plenty of reasons for comfort as he realises that the devil and all the ungodly are reined in by God, so that they cannot conceive, plan or carry out any crime, unless God allows it, indeed commands it. They are not only in bondage to him, but are forced to serve him. It is the Lord’s prerogative to enable the enemy’s rage and to control it at will, and it is in his power to decide how far and how long it may last, so that wicked men cannot break free and do exactly what they want....” (The Institutes of Christian Religion, Book I, Ch. 17, Sect. 11, emphasis mine)


Looks like Calvin to me

John

 

[Winman]

I did, and there is no direct quotation linking it to Calvin's Institutes. There are links to other websites citing the exact same book, chapter, and section that you cited and using this quote, but I have not found it in Calvin's Institutes.

But that is a moot point. You obviously are using secondary sources to attack him. You don't really care to understanding what he may have meant by any statement he made, or in reading him and letting him speak for himself.

You are convinced you are right and you attack a figment of your imagination that you call "Calvinism" but it is different than what you are attacking. You don't care, you are right and we are wrong and you are sure you know better our belief than we know our own.

I should have written Section 11. I erred and wrote Section 10.

Be honest and tell me if it is in Section 11, I don't have the Institutes.

But I can find them online, and I will look for myself.

 

[Winman]

I found it online, it is worded slightly different (it is a translation afterall), but it says the same thing, that the devil and sinners cannot conceive mischief unless God commands it.

Google;

But when they call to mind that the devil, and the whole train of the ungodly are, in all directions held in by the hand of God as with a bridle, so they can neither conceive any mischief

Google that and you will find Calvin's quote. I did, and it says the same thing, that we cannot even conceive evil unless God commands it.

So, I have not misrepresented Calvin in the least, this is simply a slightly different translation.

Do you agree now?

 

[JesusFan]

Calvin writes: “He has plenty of reasons for comfort as he realises that the devil and all the ungodly are reined in by God, so that they cannot conceive, plan or carry out any crime, unless God allows it, indeed commands it. They are not only in bondage to him, but are forced to serve him. It is the Lord’s prerogative to enable the enemy’s rage and to control it at will, and it is in his power to decide how far and how long it may last, so that wicked men cannot break free and do exactly what they want....” (The Institutes of Christian Religion, Book I, Ch. 17, Sect. 11, emphasis mine)


Looks like Calvin to me

John

isn't calvin though here JUST reference in his prose, long winded atyle of writting, the biblcal fact that even the Demons obey Jesus/God, that they must obey Him when he tells them to leave/go?

Just referencing that ALL created beings are always under the direct control of their Creator, and that its His choice when to step in and intervene to have His direct/determined Will get done!

Would you agree with this biblical doctrine?

 

[seekingthetruth]

I should have written Section 11. I erred and wrote Section 10.

Be honest and tell me if it is in Section 11, I don't have the Institutes.

But I can find them online, and I will look for myself.

In all fairness to the Calvinists, I have read two different Calvinistic views on this and they refer to the fall of man to support their views.

One side says that God created the elect to receive mercy and salvation, and that He causes them to live godly lives. And that He created the non-elect to remain reprobate, and indeed forces them to remain reprobate. Even by forcing them to sin, or "hardening their hearts'. In other words, God calls His elect to holiness, and He calls the non-elect to sin.

Sproul says that God created all men as reprobates and He simply chooses whom He wants to save, but does not force them into reprobation. Sproul does not teach that God is the author of sin, simply says that God only extends mercy to the sinners of His choosing. Sproul also says that God knew before creation who He would extend mercy to and who He wouldn't.

I would come closer to Sproul's beliefs in that I agree that God knows who will be saved before we are even born, I just don't believe that God "preordains" or chooses His elect.

But here is where I really depart from Sproul's teachings:

"Another significant difference between the activity of God with respect to the elect and the reprobate concerns God's justice. The decree and fulfillment of election provide mercy for the elect while the efficacy of reprobation provides justice for the reprobate. God shows mercy sovereignly and unconditionally to some, and gives justice to those passed over in election. That is to say, God grants the mercy of election to some and justice to others. No one is the victim of injustice. To fail to receive mercy is not to be treated unjustly. God is under no obligation to grant mercy to all — in fact He is under no obligation to grant mercy to any. He says, "I will have mercy upon whom I will have mercy" (Rom. 9). The divine prerogative to grant mercy voluntarily cannot be faulted. If God is required by some cosmic law apart from Himself to be merciful to all men, then we would have to conclude that justice demands mercy. If that is so, then mercy is no longer voluntary, but required. If mercy is required, it is no longer mercy, but justice. What God does not do is sin by visiting injustice upon the reprobate. Only by considering election and reprobation as being asymmetrical in terms of a positive-negative schema can God be exonerated from injustice." From "Double Predestination" by RC Sproul

The Bible teaches that God's mercy is there for everyone that would recieve it, the problem is not that God doesn't extend mercy, the problem is that men reject it.

God doesn't stop anyone from being saved, we still have a choice, but God does know who will make that choice and who won't. The implication of Calvinism is that we are helpless to make a choice if we not one of the predestined elect. Again, I disagree, we all can make a choice, God just knows beforehand what our choice will be.

John

 

[Winman]

Calvin writes: “He has plenty of reasons for comfort as he realises that the devil and all the ungodly are reined in by God, so that they cannot conceive, plan or carry out any crime, unless God allows it, indeed commands it. They are not only in bondage to him, but are forced to serve him. It is the Lord’s prerogative to enable the enemy’s rage and to control it at will, and it is in his power to decide how far and how long it may last, so that wicked men cannot break free and do exactly what they want....” (The Institutes of Christian Religion, Book I, Ch. 17, Sect. 11, emphasis mine)


Looks like Calvin to me

John

Yes, I found it at another source from the Institutes online. It is worded slightly different, but that can be expected, it is a translation, and one translator will say it slightly different, but it also says the devil and ungodly can conceive no mischief unless God commands it.

These guys never come clean, they know quite well Calvin said this.

 

[Ruiz]

I should have written Section 11. I erred and wrote Section 10.

Be honest and tell me if it is in Section 11, I don't have the Institutes.

But I can find them online, and I will look for myself.

I read all the sections in that Chapter, but here is section 11

But when once the light of Divine Providence has illumined the believer's soul, he is relieved and set free, not only from the extreme fear and anxiety which formerly oppressed him, but from all care. For as he justly shudders at the idea of chance, so he can confidently commit himself to God. This, I say, is his comfort, that his heavenly Father so embraces all things under his power - so governs them at will by his nod - so regulates them by his wisdom, that nothing takes place save according to his appointment; that received into his favour, and entrusted to the care of his angels neither fire, nor water, nor sword, can do him harm, except in so far as God their master is pleased to permit. For thus sings the Psalm, "Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence. He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust; his truth shall be thy shield and buckler. Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day; nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness; nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday" &c. (Ps. 91: 2-6.) Hence the exulting confidence of the saints, "The Lord is on my side; I will not fear: what can man do unto me? The Lord taketh my part with them that help me." "Though an host should encamp against me, my heart shall not fear." "Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil." (Ps. 118: 6; 27: 3; 23: 4.)

How comes it, I ask, that their confidence never fails, but just that while the world apparently revolves at random, they know that God is every where at work, and feel assured that his work will be their safety? When assailed by the devil and wicked men, were they not confirmed by remembering and meditating on Providence, they should, of necessity, forthwith despond. But when they call to mind that the devil, and the whole train of the ungodly, are, in all directions, held in by the hand of God as with a bridle, so that they can neither conceive any mischief, nor plan what they have conceived, nor how much soever they may have planned, move a single finger to perpetrate, unless in so far as he permits, nay, unless in so far as he commands; that they are not only bound by his fetters, but are even forced to do him service, - when the godly think of all these things they have ample sources of consolation. For, as it belongs to the lord to arm the fury of such foes and turn and destine it at pleasure, so it is his also to determine the measure and the end, so as to prevent them from breaking loose and wantoning as they list. Supported by this conviction,

Paul, who had said in one place that his journey was hindered by Satan, (1 Thess. 2:18,) in another resolves, with the permission of God, to undertake it, (1 Cor. 16:7.) If he had only said that Satan was the obstacle, he might have seemed to give him too much power, as if he were able even to overturn the counsels of God; but now, when he makes God the disposer, on whose permission all journies depend, he shows, that however Satan may contrive, he can accomplish nothing except in so far as He pleases to give the word. For the same reason, David, considering the various turns which human life undergoes as it rolls, and in a manner whirls around, retakes himself to this asylum, "My times are in thy hand," (Ps. 31:15.) He might have said the course of life or time in the singular number, but by times he meant to express, that how unstable soever the condition of man may be, the vicissitudes which are ever and anon taking place are under divine regulation. Hence Rezin and the king of Israel, after they had joined their forces for the destruction of Israel, and seemed torches which had been kindled to destroy and consume the land, are termed by the prophet "smoking fire brands." They could only emit a little smoke, (Is. 7: 4.) So Pharaoh, when he was an object of dread to all by his wealth and strength, and the multitude of his troops, is compared to the largest of beasts, while his troops are compared to fishes; and God declares that he will take both leader and army with his hooks, and drag them whither he pleases, (Ezek. 29: 4.) In one word, not to dwell longer on this, give heed, and you will at once perceive that ignorance of Providence is the greatest of all miseries, and the knowledge of it the highest happiness.

If that is the section you were quoting, then you are tremendously misquoting Calvin by changing the sentence structure and by taking it out of context (though, I am not sure this is your quote). He doesn't say God puts evil thoughts in our mind nor does he say that he does evil. Rather, He says that God permits evil but is more powerful than evil. He permits satan's attack, but He is more powerful than Satan and can thwart Satan. In essence, Calvin is espousing that God is more powerful than Evil and if He did not permit it, it would not happen.

If this is the section, first, your citation is really not accurate. Secondly, is there anyone in Christianity who would deny that God is less powerful than the evil person? Would they deny that God is more powerful than thest? I can cite you dozens of non-reformed scholars who would agree with this viewpoint. In fact, I don't know of one Christian who would disagree.

The issue is on the "commands." I think you may be thinking Calvin is saying that He commands evil and that is not the doctrine being espoused. He commands and controls all things, in that regard the evil person will only do what God allows, if he commands him to not do the evil man desires, it will not be done. If he commands the man to do what is in the heart of man, it will be done. God is not evil in that, he is merely restraining and allowing, but commanding and controlling man from being as wicked as man would desire to be. Thus, Augustine's "Give what you command, and command what you will" is in line with this entire thought.

I know Arminians who will confess that God restrains evil, but permits it at times. Calvin agrees.

Are people forced to serve God? Yes! Satan is forced to serve God in this context. Why? God is more powerful than Satan and even despite Satan's hatred for God, Satan is forced to serve him. That does not mean to worship God, but it means to serve God's purpose. That is what it means to say that God works all things together for good.... Everything that happens is meant to serve God. Pilate had Christ crucified. God worked it out for good and Pilate served God despite his evil. Joseph's brothers sold him into slavery. It was evil but God used it as a way to serve Him and God used it for good. Judas betrayed Jesus with a kiss, it was evil but God used it to serve Him.

Thus, taking this quote out of context (and it not being a great quote) destroys the point Calvin is making. Evil is not more powerful than God. God commanded Christ to be crucified, and Satan served God even in His evil deeds. Yet, to show God was in control, not one bone of Christ's was broken. He permitted Satan to go only so far, but not one step further.