Wesley, your post sounds like the posts I should receive, but don't.
I have found by a study of scripture that the "TULI" of the Tulip are false doctrines.
1) Total Spiritual inability falsely says the lost, until regenerated, cannot understand any spiritual thing. However, Timothy knew scripture from his youth, therefore he did understand some spiritual things. Thus the biblical doctrine is "Limited Spiritual Ability" which means able to understand and respond to "Spiritual Milk" but unable to understand Spiritual Meat (Solid food). 1 Cor. 2:14-3:3. 2 Tim. 3:15.
2) Unconditional Election falsely says God did not choose individuals for salvation through or on the basis of faith. However 2 Thessalonians 2:13 says individuals are chosen through the sanctification by the Spirit (being set apart in Christ) and through or on the basis of faith in the truth. Other verses say we were saved by grace through faith. Since faith provides our access to the grace in which we stand (Romans 5:1-2) our faith must exist before we are chosen and placed in Christ.
3) Limited Atonement falsely says Christ died only for the supposedly previously chosen elect. However, 1 John 2:2 says Jesus became the propitiation or means of salvation not only for us, but also for the whole world.
4) Irresistible Grace falsely says the lost cannot seek God until enabled by "irresistible grace" and once enabled the person is irresistibly brought to faith. However, Matthew 23:13 teaches some individuals were seeking God (in the process of entering the kingdom) but were prevented from entering by false teachings. This verse actually demonstrates both the T and the I of the tulip are unbiblical.
The Five Points of Calvinism, TULIP
Total Depravity (also known as Total Inability and Original Sin)
Definition of deprave | Dictionary.com
Deprave: to make morally bad or evil; vitiate;
corrupt.
Depravity (
depraved in mind) in the KJV was translated
corrupt minds in the ESV.
[1Ti 6:5 ESV] 5 and constant friction among people who are
depraved in mind and deprived of the truth, imagining that godliness is a means of gain.
[1Ti 6:5 KJV] 5 Perverse disputings of men of
corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself.
Sin resulted in the corruption of the human race.
[Mar 7:21-23 ESV] 21 For from within, out of the heart of man, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, 22 coveting, wickedness, deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride, foolishness. 23 All these evil things come from within, and they defile a person."
Unconditional Election: [Eph 2:4-7 ESV] 4 But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, 5
even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ--by grace you have been saved-- 6 and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7
so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.
[Rom 9:11 ESV] 11 though they were not yet born and had done nothing either good or bad--in order that God's
purpose of election might continue, not because of works but because of him who calls--
Sheep, goats; narrow gate–few, broad gate-many; right hand, left hand. Pictures of division between repentant sinners and non-repentant sinners.
If there were any pre-conditions required for God to apply His grace to the sinner, the application would be the results of works.
[Rom 11:6 ESV] 6 But if it is by grace, it is no longer on the basis of works; otherwise grace would no longer be grace.
Limited Atonement (Reconcillation)
[1Jo 2:2 KJV] 2 And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for [the sins of] the whole world.
I appreciate you challenging the Limited Atonement based on 1 John 2:2. I have no clear resolution to our quandary.
Jesus said: [Jhn 17:9 KJV] 9 I pray for them:
I pray not for the world, but for them which
thou hast given me; for they are thine.
[Mat 7:13-14 ESV] 13 "Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are
many. 14 For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are
few.
[Jhn 10:14-15 ESV] 14 I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, 15 just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep.
[Rom 5:11 KJV] 11 And not only [so], but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the
atonement.[G2643]
[Rom 5:11 ESV] 11 More than that, we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received
reconciliation.
Strong's G2643 in the following manner:
reconciliation (2x),
atonement (1x),
reconciling (1x).
exchange
of the business of money changers, exchanging equivalent values
adjustment of a difference, reconciliation, restoration to favour
in the NT of the restoration of the favour of God to sinners that repent and put their trust in the expiatory death of Christ
Irresistible Grace: [Act 13:48 ESV] 48 And when the Gentiles heard this, they began rejoicing and glorifying the word of the Lord, and as many as were appointed to eternal life believed.
[Mat 12:14 KJV] 14 Then the Pharisees went out, and held a council against him, how they might destroy him.
[Mat 23:13 KJV] 13 But woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye shut up the kingdom of heaven against men: for ye neither go in [yourselves], neither suffer ye them that are entering to go in.
Van, I see how it might be concluded 23:13 implies that men might be actively wanting to enter the kingdom of heaven. However, due to the fact the Pharisees were trying to destroy Jesus and his purpose of making the kingdom of heaven available to men, the elect, not the general public. If the Pharisees succeeded, the kingdom would be shut.
And that’s the way I see it!
My hope and purpose is to offer different ways of looking at scripture.
May the Holy Spirit teach us both the truth of God’s word.