Really, REALLY struggling with calvinism

Many folks say no despite hearing about the forgiveness of sins and a host of promises from the Word of God . It still boils down to the fact that the Lord has to open spiritual eyes and hearts . No matter how clear a given message is -- the Lord is the One who does the saving . We as natural creatures before rebirth have no ability , power , insight etc. to recommend ourselves .

 

Some believe; many do not.

I have answered your question. You refuse my answer. In fact you want me to answer for the rest of the world--a virtual impossibility.

Then that is your problem not mine. You will answer to God for your refusal of your rejection of Jesus Christ when you had the opportunity to receive him, knowin full well that Christ could have come at any time. What if he had come five minutes after the first time Christ was presented to you and you had willing rejected him? Your blood would be upon your own hands. You would stand before the Great White Throne Judgement with no excuse.

You rejected Christ and I didn't. You will give account of yourself before God for that decision.

Because a wonderful oppotunity presented itself that had never been presented to me before.
DHK

 

James, chapter 4

7: Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
8: Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.


John, chapter 12
31": Now is the judgment of this world: now shall the prince of this world be cast out.

"32": And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me.

"33": This he said, signifying what death he should die.


Luke, chapter 10

"42": But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.

 

OK, you answered.
So, if every man has faith, then what makes you better?
So, you choice in to believe makes you better/smarter than the ones that chose to NOT believe? Thus giving you a reason to boast?

 

I am like Mary, ever how she is so am I.

Luke, chapter 10

"42": But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.

 

You are avoiding the question, are you better and or smarter for choosing than anyone that does NOT choose?

 

Neither, I am the same it is just that I got tired of serving the devil and decided to choose the good part that Mary chose.

Why did Mary choose the good part? It is the same reason I did.

You are avoiding the answer. You want me to say something that will fit in your world but I am not going to say something that did not happen to me. Maybe it happened to you but I wonder how did you know. Maybe it was predestinated that you be blinded to believe a lie that you are of the "elect" when if fact you are not and are damned. What do you think, could that be so, being you have no choice then you are in a terrible condition. You are an alien to the commonwealth of Israel, without God in the world and have no hope if that were true?

Everything, comes down to your faith and what you believe. You believe you are saved, you believe you are the elect, you believe Jesus died for you and not others. Well is your faith real? Are you sure or is that what you believe? What if your belief is wrong? What if you have been blinded all along like Pharoh. You need to be humble and trust in a God that loves His whole creation instead of just you. He calls them sons even though they are not saved. Do you? You need to fear God and keep His Commandments which is the whole duty of man.

Here is false teachers who were not the "elect" but were bought by Jesus!

2 Peter, chapter 2
1: But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.
2: And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of.
3: And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not.

 

Maybe WHAT happened?
At first I thought you were talking about salvation when God quickened me but then you said it hasn't happened to you, so I am not sure what you are talking about.

The LIE that I am one of the elect?
Sir, I have not doubted your salvation though I have doctrinal differences.
One what basis do you doubt my salvation?

Again, if it it us to choose, then there must be a factor involved or else, why would not everyone that hears believe?

 

In no way am I doubting your salvation. I am presenting you with the fact that we all live by faith. Your Salvation is between you and God and I would never question another's Salvation for it is not my right.

Here is false teachers who were not the "elect" but were bought by Jesus!

2 Peter, chapter 2
1: But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.
2: And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of.
3: And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not.
__________________

 

You must have posted this later.

Ok, I agree that is important.

Yes, of course I do. Don't you believe that about yourself?

I don't recall ever saying that. Please don't put words in my mouth.

Yes, it was the gift of God.
God doesn't give counterfeit faith.

Well, let's see:

16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

I believed

1Jo 5:13 These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.

Yes, I KNOW I have eternal life.

Well, then yours would be too, unless you don't believe in John 3:16.

But I haven't been, I DID believe.

Oh, I need to be humble? Yes I do. I have nothing of my own to briing to the table. I was not wiser than the rest that did not believe. I believed because God opened my eyes.
You sir that think your choice is what sets you apart from others need to be humble as well.

He calls them bastards, do you?
Heb 12:8 But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons.

I do fear God. As far as keeping His commandments, I do strive for that but of course I am not sinless yet...I will become so someday, just not in this life

 

Thank you, it looked like you were.

Ok, here is my question.
I will not "lead the witness" so to speak, I will just ask it.
If your wisdom was not the reason that you made the choise, and you were not better, then why did you make the choice to folow God when others don't?

If you got saved and another man did not that was also preached to, why did you accept and the other didn't? What was the diferentiating factor?

 

You say you "know" but that is what we all really believe is that we know. If you have ever doubted in your Christian life the the absolute knowledge went out the window. It will not be absolute until we get to Heaven and then we will know face to face.

Also, He called them sons too for the one who came to the wedding without the wedding garment He called him son.

Please let me apoligize if you understood me to be questioning your Salvation and also if I have offended in any way I ask your forgiveness. Sometimes I get to fast in my responses and don't think about it long enough. please forgive?

 

How can I possibly answer for those who don't. I really don't know why they continue to love darkness rather than light. All I know is that I did not want to die and go to a devil's hell so I ask God to forgive me of all I had ever done against Him. He did not forgive me the first time I asked, but I continued on and said if I die in my sins I will go down praying and after a while I felt Him in my life. One thing for sure, I had to give it all. I said Lord if it be your will that I die now then let it be so but save my dying soul. When I did give it all, He came into my life and will go no more out. He is my keeper and will walk with me the rest of my life but the best part is when life is ended He will take me home.

 

See, that is a big difference in our theology! When we realize that God must open our eyes, we know that the fact that we have believed, it proof that we are elect.

Don't worry, you have not offended me. I do not offend easily but I too answer to quickly sometimes and it is a fault I will readily admit.

I think Romas 1 has something to say about that, also Romans 9.

 

Had a person come to my house and stay until 4:00 am talking about the "knowing". He finally had to admit that at times he doubted and when he said that his absolute knowledge was gone and fell back to his faith or belief. He said he would go home and study some more and come back but never seen him since here to talk some more. I think I have as much knowledge as anyone but have always said that ever how much knowledge you have is how much faith you have.

 

Emily;
We say it is not that way and you seem to be leaning towards the belief that man does indeed have a choice. You seem to be having trouble letting go of the Calvinist doctrine but follow your heart. That is the only way you will ever be happy. I love the Calvinist but do not share their belief and could never believe that God would choose some and leave some out. God loves His whole creation and its not His will that any should perish and if we do its our own doing.

 

Emily, everyone has the chance to believe. The Bible says that they are all without excuse.
The key is that we are all sinners and thus we are condemned already as it says in John 3.

God is the only one that has a completely free will.
We do not even have a free will when we go to Wedny's to order a sandwich.
My will to order is influenced by my tastes. I don't like onions so my "will" is influenced by that.

If left up to mans own will, which is against God, NO one would ever get saved.

But since God is God and a merciful one, he awakens many of us and gives us a new birth.
That is something to be so thankful to God for!

 

Folowing your heart when it conflicts with the Bible is one of the most evil tools of the devil.