Dustin said:
Ok, let me get this out of the way, 1 John 2:2 has absolutly nothing to do with predestination.
A part of his theory is that Jesus didn't die for the unbelievers, but only for the believers, as God foreknew who are going to be saved. Did Jesus die for Hitler? Did God forgive all the sins of Hitler and Stalin? Tell me your opinion based on Calvin's theory.
I don't know where you're going with that, but find some other verse to prove it wrong, because you're not proving anything with that one as far as predestination goes.
Do you think the Predestination can still be compatible with the following verses?
Ezekiel 33
14 Again, when I say unto the wicked, Thou shalt surely die; if he turn from his sin, and do that which is lawful and right;
15 If the wicked restore the pledge, give again that he had robbed, walk in the statutes of life, without committing iniquity; he shall surely live, he shall not die.
16 None of his sins that he hath committed shall be mentioned unto him: he hath done that which is lawful and right; he shall surely live.
Second, now you speculate that if John Calvin had lived he would of killed millions. That has to be the stupidest thing I've heard in a while. What in the world makes you think that? You're problem in all of this seems to be primarily with God's Word, but instead of you've made John Calvin your whipping boy. Leave the guy alone! He's dead!
I am talking about the ratio.
Calvin didn't rule the whole Europe while the popes ruled the whole Europe. Normally don't the statistics mention the death ratio per 10,000 or 1,000? If we apply the same ratio that Calvin killed during his rule in Geneve only for over 4 years, to the rulings of the whole Europe for 20 years, let's say, then we can supppose such figures like thousands or millions. His dictatorship might have been bridled by Farrel, otherwise he would have killed hundreds more. I am glad that I don't live under the dictatorship of Calvin!!! the murderer! Killing is not an easy thing for the average people, even though it might have been easy thing for Calvin, as if he had killed a chicken!
He was a Christian theologian who wrote lots of theolgical books
and a MURDERER!! We don't know whether he was a born-again Christian or just a theory-teller!
and he was also a human being and did things that weren't very popular or right but COME ON NOW he's dead.
I am glad that God smote him at his early time.
Let it go. Everyone does stupid things. Calvin put people to death when he was over Geneva (not Geneve by the way), and Luther was a racist and he had a potty mouth. Oh well. If God had not raised up such fallible men for His purposes, then we would still be in the darkness of Roman Catholicism.
Geneve is the name of city in Switzerland, mainly in the French region. Geneve is French name while Geneva is English name. I have been there. Normal practice is that the geography is better pronounced or written in the way by which the local people pronounce or write.
We don't need to think about the teachings of such people. There are plenty of good Christians who lived more faithfully to the Lord than those Calvin and Luther, such as Hubmeier, Tauler, Spangenberg, Tyndale, Erasmus etc. Why do we need to learn from the murderers? Is Bible insufficient? Are you uncomfortable if you rely on Bible only?
Nope, John Wesley didn't order any executions as far as I know, but is that the measuring stick for whether one was a true Christian or not? No, it's not. While I can't stand up for all the things he ever did, John Calvin had most of his theology right, something I cannot say about John Wesely (who never ordered anyone's execution).
NOPE! I didn't say so. I mentioned Calvin HAS NO Testimony of salvation! Don't you have any testimony about how you are saved? Then I would doubt about your salvation! Calvin showed no testimony of salvation even though he may have written many books. Jesus told Nicodemos who was the leading scholar at that time, " Except anyone be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God"
Becoming a theologian doesn't make him a true believer! Don't you know this? If you don't, you are standing on the absolutely wrong ground!!!! Even the pope's title doesn't guarantee the entrance into the Kingdom of God! Writing thousands of theological books don't guarantee the entrance into Heaven. One must be born again! When was Calvin born again? We know how Luther was born again, we know Wesley was born again, but when did Calvin have such experience?
Calvin had the infant baptism, that's all that we know. Does the Infant Baptism make someone go to the heaven ? NOOOOOOO!!!!@!!!!!
I have to ask you this, what do the Lutherans who supported Hitler have to do with Matrin Luther himself?
many Lutherans followed his opinions because they were influenced by Luther!
I'll answer that for you: nothing. No basis but wild speculation and conspiracy theories.
Yes, he influenced quite a lot. You cannot measure how much his writings have influenced his followers but when there is a book like that, it can influce so much.
Do you think Mohammed didn't influence today's Muslims?
These guys were fallible human beings just like you and me, they did great things for the Church in Jesus' name, but they weren't perfect. Can we live with that?
I agree on the fallibility. But I don't think they did great things for the church in Jesus Name. They may have preached their names. I would leave all the judgment to God.
That's why one should not be based on any theory by human beings in general unless someone is really proven in all aspects.
Bible is quite enough for us to learn. Do you feel Bible is insufficient? Why do you refer to Calvin for your belief? Is it difficult for you to expound your belief based on Bible Only, Sola Scriptura?