Was Spurgeon really a Calvinist?

Then why don't you say what you mean. sola Scriptura does not mean sola Scriptura. It really means scripture plus some spirit filled saints.

Which brings up the point, just how full of scripture was Spurgeon. Was he filled to the rim. What evidence do you have that he was filled at all. I can produce more freewillers that say his tank was empty than you can find calvinist that say that he was full.

What can you prove by scripture. Is he more full than anybody else, if yes then who... What you are asking people to believe here affects their walk with God. Just because he arouses emotion in you does not prove a thing..

Helen... Sola Scriptura. Calvinists want to add the Saints. Stand your ground...

[ November 04, 2002, 03:19 PM: Message edited by: Chappie ]

 

Yeah, Chappie -- Rev. G sounded downright like an RC there for a moment!

I can appreciate the writings of many, many find men and women of God, and many have helped me know and love God tremendously. But always they have to be judged by Scripture and never are they equal to it.

That's the sola Scriptura I am familiar with!

 

First of all, I highly reccommend that you do not read a book of quotes by anybody, and then claim you know that person. Quotes are taken out of context BY DEFINITION. I suggest you read some of her sermons instead, and don't just read the ones pointed out to you by some friend who dislikes the man.

That said, of course the Bible is the final authority. Reading a sermon by Spurgeon as he teaches "Bible on Bible" and exegetically is just as valid as sitting in your church as your preacher does the same. They are only as good as they are faithful to the text. I have personally found that reading Spurgeons sermons are more uplifting and powerful then most if not all preachers I have heard today. That doesn't make him right on everything or scripture himself, I just believe he understood the Bible better then most and combined that with the gift of speaking clearly, speaking with grace, and submitting himself to do God's work.

 

Helen & Chappie:

I continue to be overwhelmed by the "love."

Roman Catholic? Hardly! But holding to sola Scriptura does not mean that one becomes an "Anabaptist" where there is no sense of accountability and community in the interpretation of the Scriptures. Read Luther as he discusses the doctrine of the priesthood of the believers. Read any of the Reformers on sola Scriptura, for that matter. They had a sense of this. While they knew that councils and popes could err, they did not discount the saints who had gone before. Have you forgotten that the Scriptures declare that the Church is the "pillar and ground of the truth"? Faithful men are to pass on the doctrines of the Word of God to other faithful men, who will in turn entrust it to other men. They are to pass on the "faith once and for all delivered unto the saints."

"Just me and my Bible" is not sola Scriptura. Of course, I wonder, why would you hold to sola Scriptura since you don't hold to sola fide (not in the historic Protestant sense), sola gratia (ditto), solus Christus (ditto), or soli Deo Gloria (ditto)?

Rev. G

 

Harald:

Thanks for calling me Mr. G, as C. H. Spurgeon was called "Mr. Spurgeon" I believe that I am in good company.

You are a hyper-Calvinist because you don't believe that all people everywhere have the responsibility to repent of their sins and to trust Christ alone for salvation. You don't believe in evangelism in missions.

You may call me a heretic if you wish, but since I believe in "duty-faith" I take your label as a badge of honor.

"Go, and make disciples of all the nations..."

Mr. G

 

OK, Mr. G. We know where we have each other. I won't and cannot influence you to a different understanding, and you can never poison me with your heresy.

Harald

 

As for Sola Scriptura, it is futile to debate about it when the word of God defines it just well and fine.

"To the law and to the testimony, if they speak not according to this word it is because there is no dawn for them" (Isa 8:20)

"If anyone is teaching other doctrine, and is not drawing near to words being sound, [even] to those of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine according to godliness,he hath been lifted up with pride, understanding nothing..."
(1Tim. 6:3-4a)

Harald

 

Harald:

Thank you for listing those Scriptures. "To the word..." Indeed!

Acts 17:30 - "God...now commands all men everywhere to repent."

Romans 10:14-15 - "How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach unless they are sent?"

Rev. G

 

Mere bald statement is soon forgotten, but illustrations stick in the soul like hooks in a fish's mouth. C.H. Spurgeon

This is how I view great preachers of old, and even some modern ones; as illustrations. They are windows to my understanding of God's word. To my collection I add a variety of theological postures: D.L. Moody, Spurgeon, Wesley and Whitfield, even Gypsy Smith and A.W. Tozer. All men of God and men of the book, but all from different theological concepts.

Cheers,

Jim

[ November 05, 2002, 03:11 PM: Message edited by: Jim1999 ]