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Total Inability in the Gospel of John

thatbrian

Well-Known Member
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Ya I'm a dummy.

HankD

Never said that. You might be. I don't know you well enough to make that judgement. My guess is that you are pretty clever.

My point: In the past 15 years, I've come across 2 non-Calvinists who've understood Calvinism.
 

HankD

Well-Known Member
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Never said that. You might be. I don't know you well enough to make that judgement. My guess is that you are pretty clever.

My point: In the past 15 years, I've come across 2 non-Calvinists who've understood Calvinism.
I'll admit that though I have "the Institutes", I have yet to stay awake more than 20 minutes a reading sitting.

HankD - Let them eat crumbs
 

Yeshua1

Well-Known Member
Site Supporter
Never said that. You might be. I don't know you well enough to make that judgement. My guess is that you are pretty clever.

My point: In the past 15 years, I've come across 2 non-Calvinists who've understood Calvinism.
Non Cals would claim that would be 2 more than how many calvinists understand really their theology!
 

Reformed

Well-Known Member
Site Supporter
I'll admit that though I have "the Institutes", I have yet to stay awake more than 20 minutes a reading sitting.

HankD - Let them eat crumbs

Hank, Calvin's "Institutes" is not one of my favorites either. I disagree with Calvin on quite a few things. I am most decidedly Baptist in my ecclesiology and my view of the ordinances. I prefer reading the Puritans, Spurgeon, Dagg, and a selection of outstanding 20th and 21st-century theologians.
 

thatbrian

Well-Known Member
Site Supporter
I'll admit that though I have "the Institutes", I have yet to stay awake more than 20 minutes a reading sitting.

HankD - Let them eat crumbs

Me too! It's been my New Years resolution for a few years to read Calvin's Institutes, but my attention span is that of a Mayfly, it seems.
 

BobRyan

Well-Known Member
]John 12:32 "I will draw ALL mankind to Me"
So while it is true that lost sinner without any work of God at all -- is not drawn... cannot repent or come to faith.

It is NOT true that God failed to draw all.
John 16 "The Holy Spirit convicts the WORLD of sin and righteousness and judgment"

The problem with Calvinism is that it insists that God is not doing what He says He is doing[

The problem is that you insist on a simplistic and literalistic interpretation

I insist on the obvious and apparent meaning for the text - which refutes Calvinism. And many Calvinist imagine that any text that refutes Calvinism must be wrong or misread. "By definition"

which prevents Calvinists from comprehending what is actually being said.

The last resort of Calvinism is to "redefine all' whenever it pleases them.

"ALL have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" Romans 3 -- ok the Calvinists will let "ALL" be "ALL" when it suits them.
 

thatbrian

Well-Known Member
Site Supporter
]John 12:32 "I will draw ALL mankind to Me"
So while it is true that lost sinner without any work of God at all -- is not drawn... cannot repent or come to faith.

It is NOT true that God failed to draw all.
John 16 "The Holy Spirit convicts the WORLD of sin and righteousness and judgment"

The problem with Calvinism is that it insists that God is not doing what He says He is doing[



I insist on the obvious and apparent meaning for the text - which refutes Calvinism. And many Calvinist imagine that any text that refutes Calvinism must be wrong or misread. "By definition"

which prevents Calvinists from comprehending what is actually being said.

The last resort of Calvinism is to "redefine all' whenever it pleases them.

"ALL have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" Romans 3 -- ok the Calvinists will let "ALL" be "ALL" when it suits them.

You haven't addressed the texts in my post. You do that ALL the time.
 

HankD

Well-Known Member
Site Supporter
Hank, Calvin's "Institutes" is not one of my favorites either. I disagree with Calvin on quite a few things. I am most decidedly Baptist in my ecclesiology and my view of the ordinances. I prefer reading the Puritans, Spurgeon, Dagg, and a selection of outstanding 20th and 21st-century theologians.
I truly admired RC Sproul.
 

thatbrian

Well-Known Member
Site Supporter
Shaking R.C.'s hand after a worship service at St. Andrew's Chapel was a special moment for me.

A friend told me a funny story about just that.

He said that RC had a technique of pulling you past him as he shook hands with you, in order to keep the line moving.
 

BobRyan

Well-Known Member
You haven't addressed the texts in my post. You do that ALL the time.

On the contrary - you attempted to redefine the term "all"... and so I pointed out the obvious.


The last resort of Calvinism is to "redefine all' whenever it pleases them.

"ALL have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" Romans 3 -- ok the Calvinists will let "ALL" be "ALL" when it suits them.

The point was you are using a "pick-and-choose" with the rule "when the text refutes Calvinism then all does not mean all in that case - for sure"

You "feel" the urgent need to "redefine the term all" in the following examples... simply because not redefining it would be a train wreck for calvinism.

John 12:32 "I will draw ALL mankind to Me"
So while it is true that lost sinner without any work of God at all -- is not drawn... cannot repent or come to faith.

It is NOT true that God failed to draw all.
John 16 "The Holy Spirit convicts the WORLD of sin and righteousness and judgment"

The problem with Calvinism is that it insists that God is not doing what He says He is doing

I insist on the obvious and apparent meaning for the text - which refutes Calvinism. And many Calvinist imagine that any text that refutes Calvinism must be wrong or misread. "By definition"

which prevents Calvinists from comprehending what is actually being said.

The last resort of Calvinism is to "redefine all' whenever it pleases them.
 

thatbrian

Well-Known Member
Site Supporter
On the contrary - you attempted to redefine the term "all"... and so I pointed out the obvious

I simply pointed out the biblical examples of when the word does not mean, without exception. You ignored the evidence I provided, and common usage, as well.

All does not mean, without exception, most of the time it is used. World does not mean, every person without exception, most of the time it is used. I've shown you examples of both.

All people, without exception, are not drawn to Jesus. We know that because we know that billions have lived and died without ever hearing His name. Unless one intentionally has his head in the sand, that's impossible to ignore.

Are we to understand that we are not to love people, in the below verses?

“Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him” (1 John 2:15)

“Adulterers and adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God” (James 4:4)​
 
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BobRyan

Well-Known Member
thatbrian said:
You haven't addressed the texts in my post. You do that ALL the time.
them.[/QUOTE]
On the contrary - you attempted to redefine the term "all"... and so I pointed out the obvious.


The last resort of Calvinism is to "redefine all' whenever it pleases them.

"ALL have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" Romans 3 -- ok the Calvinists will let "ALL" be "ALL" when it suits them.

The point was you are using a "pick-and-choose" that includes the rule "when the text refutes Calvinism then all does not mean all in that case - for sure"

You "feel" the urgent need to "redefine the term all" in the following examples... simply because not redefining it would be a train wreck for calvinism.

John 12:32 "I will draw ALL mankind to Me"
So while it is true that lost sinner without any work of God at all -- is not drawn... cannot repent or come to faith.

It is NOT true that God failed to draw all.
John 16 "The Holy Spirit convicts the WORLD of sin and righteousness and judgment"

The problem with Calvinism is that it insists that God is not doing what He says He is doing

I insist on the obvious and apparent meaning for the text - which refutes Calvinism. And many Calvinist imagine that any text that refutes Calvinism must be wrong or misread. "By definition"

which prevents Calvinists from comprehending what is actually being said.

The last resort of Calvinism is to "redefine all' whenever it pleases them.

I simply pointed out the biblical examples of when the word does not mean, without exception.

You did that with both the redefinition of "World" and "All"

But then I showed you an example where you do not "wish to redefine all" and you did not refute it.

It means you use "pick-and-choose" instead of context. And included in your rule-of-choice is that when the apparent meaning of the text refutes Calvinism - you "redefine it".

You ignored the evidence I provided, and common usage, as well.

Because it was random -- you simply use "pick and choose"

Here is an example for you using "world" that you cannot deny.

John 1
10 He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. 11 He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him.

Romans 3
19 Now we know that whatever the law says it speaks to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be stopped, and the whole world may be held accountable to God. 20 For by works of the law no human being will be justified in his sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin.

All does not mean, without exception,

"ALL have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" Romans 3 -- ok the Calvinists will let "ALL" be "ALL" when it suits them.

most of the time it is used. World does not mean, every person without exception, most of the time it is used . I've shown you examples of both.

The point was you are using a "pick-and-choose" that includes the rule "when the text refutes Calvinism then all does not mean all in that case - for sure"

All people, without exception, are not drawn to Jesus.

Circular argument where you simply "quote you" -- using Calvinism's dictates as the "rule" to make that statement for supporting Calvinism.

were we simply "not supposed to notice"???


We know that because we know that billions have lived and died without ever hearing His name.

Another trick of Calvinism "redefining the term DRAW" - you have argued that God cannot be drawing without the person first knowing the name of Jesus as the Savior. Yet Christ says to Nicodemus that pre-cross mankind is DRAWN to the Gospel by the Holy Spirit even when they do not know all the details in the gospel story and Romans 2:13-16 argues this in the case of those with no Bible at all.

The "trick" in Calvinism is to defend calvinist-redefinition of "ALL mankind" in John 12:32 by using "Calvinist redefinition of DRAW".!!

It is like a habit they just can't shake and they use it with everything.


"God so Loved the WORLD that HE Gave" ... "yes really"
Are we to understand that we are not to love people, in the below verses?
“Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him” (1 John 2:15)

“Adulterers and adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God” (James 4:4)​
[/quote]

The Bible languages of Greek and Hebrew are "high context" languages. "Do not love the World" includes ALL the world's values and trinkets where all are evil. The Calvinist redefinition of the term inserts "arbitrary selection" between things that ARE the same ... choosing one but not the other. The bible never does that.

In Calvinism "God so loved the World" means "not all the lost - just some" -- inserting "arbitrary selection" between things that are equal.

In Calvinism "He i s the Atoning Sacrifice for OUR sins and not for our sins only but for the sins of the WHOLE WORLD
" is downsized to mean "just those arbitrarily selected from among the lost" -- arbitrary selection between things that are equal.
 

SheepWhisperer

Active Member
Yes, it was about his possessions, FACT I know that. But he was still in a dilemma even as he left the scene. The Bible tells us "he went away sorrowful" for a reason. FACT And when the disciples asked "who then can be saved", Jesus told them "with God all things are possible" indicating there was still hope for "rich men", including this guy. FACT My point was; the rich young ruler rejected and walked away from the very presence, direct words, and invitation, of Almighty God, to be saved.FACT I mean, how many of you have had God Himself SPEAK directly to you, telling you how to have eternal life?FACT Wait a minute!! God Himself loved this guy(according to the scripture)!! FACTWhy would Jesus(God) love somebody but "choose" not to "enable" him? QUESTION: PLEASE ANSWER And my point there, is God does love people but He doesn't "enable" people to believe: He 'draws" them by his word and His Holy Spirit but it is THEY who either believe on Him or reject.NOT A FACT TO YOU apparently

Nothing here is drawn from the passage at hand, except your allusions to the passage. And, since you're going outside of the passage and arguing from your presuppositions, I must ask what you do when you encounter this different passage: 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 (Acts 13:48 ESV)

The reason I bring this up is this: If you're correct in your explanation of the rich young ruler, this passage from Acts shouldn't be in the Bible at all.

Blessings,

The Archangel

Let's look at that verse in the version I use.........

46 Then Paul and Barnabas waxed bold, and said, It was necessary that the word of God should first have been spoken to you: but seeing ye put it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, lo, we turn to the Gentiles.

47 For so hath the Lord commanded us, saying, I have set thee to be a light of the Gentiles, that thou shouldest be for salvation unto the ends of the earth.

48 And when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad, and glorified the word of the Lord: and as many as were ordained to eternal life believed.

Sir, if it was God who decided, before the foundation of the world, that these particular Jews would not be saved, why does it say "Ye put it from you" and (you) "judge yourselves unworthy"? You don't have to answer that right now. We will focus on your verse.

#1 Where, in verse 48, or the context, does it say that it was God who "ordained" these Gentiles? Seems to me you would have to "presuppose" that.
 
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The Archangel

Well-Known Member
Let's look at that verse in the version I use.........

46 Then Paul and Barnabas waxed bold, and said, It was necessary that the word of God should first have been spoken to you: but seeing ye put it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, lo, we turn to the Gentiles.

47 For so hath the Lord commanded us, saying, I have set thee to be a light of the Gentiles, that thou shouldest be for salvation unto the ends of the earth.

48 And when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad, and glorified the word of the Lord: and as many as were ordained to eternal life believed.

Sir, if it was God who decided, before the foundation of the world, that these particular Jews would not be saved, why does it say "Ye put it from you" and (you) "judge yourselves unworthy"? You don't have to answer that right now. We will focus on your verse.

#1 Where, in verse 48, or the context, does it say that it was God who "ordained" these Gentiles? Seems to me you would have to "presuppose" that.

First issue: "judge yourselves unworthy." The verb for judge in Greek is krinow and it means to condem or render final judgement, and there are other contextual nuances available. In essence, Paul is NOT saying they are making themselves unworthy; he is saying these Jews are showing themselves to be unworthy (an already-existing condition). We see this type of idiomatic construction all over the Old Testament. Certain prophets condemn the actions (usually the idolatrous actions) of the Israelites in the same manner. The clear and certain idea is that you are showing forth an existing condition--unbelief, in this case. A similar idea is seen in the Law when it says "Your blood shall be on your own heads."

Second issue: "...Ordained to eternal life..." The participle, in Greek, is passive, which--by definition--means the subject cannot act upon himself or herself and so must be acted upon. Who else can act upon someone to "ordain to eternal life" other than God? No one, of course. This passive is an example of what grammarians call "the Divine passive." It's called that because the action can only be ascribed to God.

The Archangel
 

The Archangel

Well-Known Member
The last resort of Calvinism is to "redefine all' whenever it pleases them.

The last resort of Calvinism is to "redefine all' whenever it pleases them.

You do realize, do you not, that words can and do have different meanings and different scopes of meaning based on context? Ultimately meaning is not found in the dictionary. Meaning is, rather, found in the dictionary and the author's usage.

Also, what you count as "redefinition" may actually be correction. There are many things in many translations that are not exactly the best way to translate things. The KJV, for instance, is 400 years old. There is 400 more years of manuscript evidence and work in the understanding of Koine Greek since then. What was thought to be the case in 1611 may have been proven to be quite different.

Even so, just because you like a particular definition because it supports your position does not make that definition so. Calvinists have this to worry about, too. This is why it is of the utmost importance for any of us that we seek to know how the word is used in a particular context in Scripture. Our work should be in Scripture with the help of the lexicon, not in the lexicon with the help of Scripture.

The Archangel
 

SheepWhisperer

Active Member
Let's look at that verse in the version I use.........

46 Then Paul and Barnabas waxed bold, and said, It was necessary that the word of God should first have been spoken to you: but seeing ye put it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, lo, we turn to the Gentiles.

47 For so hath the Lord commanded us, saying, I have set thee to be a light of the Gentiles, that thou shouldest be for salvation unto the ends of the earth.

48 And when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad, and glorified the word of the Lord: and as many as were ordained to eternal life believed.

Sir, if it was God who decided, before the foundation of the world, that these particular Jews would not be saved, why does it say "Ye put it from you" and (you) "judge yourselves unworthy"? You don't have to answer that right now. We will focus on your verse.

#1 Where, in verse 48, or the context, does it say that it was God who "ordained" these Gentiles? Seems to me you would have to "presuppose" that.

First issue: "judge yourselves unworthy." The verb for judge in Greek is krinow and it means to condem or render final judgement, and there are other contextual nuances available. In essence, Paul is NOT saying they are making themselves unworthy; he is saying these Jews are showing themselves to be unworthy (an already-existing condition). We see this type of idiomatic construction all over the Old Testament. Certain prophets condemn the actions (usually the idolatrous actions) of the Israelites in the same manner. The clear and certain idea is that you are showing forth an existing condition--unbelief, in this case. A similar idea is seen in the Law when it says "Your blood shall be on your own heads."

Second issue: "...Ordained to eternal life..." The participle, in Greek, is passive, which--by definition--means the subject cannot act upon himself or herself and so must be acted upon. Who else can act upon someone to "ordain to eternal life" other than God? No one, of course. This passive is an example of what grammarians call "the Divine passive." It's called that because the action can only be ascribed to God.

The Archangel

Would you mind posting the page where you found the definition of "krinow"? Thanks
 

BobRyan

Well-Known Member
Here is an example for you using "world" that you cannot deny.

John 1
10 He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. 11 He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him.

Romans 3
19 Now we know that whatever the law says it speaks to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be stopped, and the whole world may be held accountable to God. 20 For by works of the law no human being will be justified in his sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin.



The Bible languages of Greek and Hebrew are "high context" languages. "Do not love the World" includes ALL the world's values and trinkets where all are evil. The Calvinist redefinition of the term inserts "arbitrary selection" between things that ARE the same ... choosing one but not the other. The bible never does that.

In Calvinism "God so loved the World" means "not all the lost - just some" -- inserting "arbitrary selection" between things that are equal.

In Calvinism "He i s the Atoning Sacrifice for OUR sins and not for our sins only but for the sins of the WHOLE WORLD
" is downsized to mean "just those arbitrarily selected from among the lost" -- arbitrary selection between things that are equal.


You do realize, do you not, that words can and do have different meanings and different scopes of meaning based on context?

Indeed - "based on context"


The Bible languages of Greek and Hebrew are "high context" languages. "Do not love the World" includes ALL the world's values and trinkets where all are evil. The Calvinist redefinition of the term inserts "arbitrary selection" between things that ARE the same ... choosing one but not the other. The bible never does that.

In Calvinism "God so loved the World" means "not all the lost - just some" -- inserting "arbitrary selection" between things that are equal.

In Calvinism "He i s the Atoning Sacrifice for OUR sins and not for our sins only but for the sins of the WHOLE WORLD
" is downsized to mean "just those arbitrarily selected from among the lost" -- arbitrary selection between things that are equal.


Even so, just because you like a particular definition because it supports your position does not make that definition so. Calvinists have this to worry about, too. This is why it is of the utmost importance for any of us that we seek to know how the word is used in a particular context in Scripture. Our work should be in Scripture with the help of the lexicon, not in the lexicon with the help of Scripture.

The Archangel

Agreed. This is why I point to the specific "red flag" in the never-ending Calvinist "redefinitions" . They take "all" and "world" and redefine the term to slice out whatever "Calvinism needs" removed from "all" and World". And in those cases it is "arbitrary selection between equals".

I keep giving these two classic examples --

In Calvinism "God so loved the World" means "not all the lost - just some" -- inserting "arbitrary selection" between things that are equal.

In Calvinism "He i s the Atoning Sacrifice for OUR sins and not for our sins only but for the sins of the WHOLE WORLD
" is downsized to mean "just those arbitrarily selected from among the lost" -- arbitrary selection between things that are equal.
 
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