BobRyan
Well-Known Member
Helen wins the prize!
While I am certainly no Calvinist (not even a 3 point Calvinist as it turns out) -- I do agree with some part of what they say.
Total Depravity - this is from Romans 3 and is a correct view of the sinful nature of man "apart from" the work of God on the soul "Drawing all mankind to Himself"
Unconditional Election - This is only true in the pure Bible context of 2 Peter 3 sense "God is not WILLING FOR ANY to perish but for ALL to come to repentance". Unfortunately that unlimited scope is the very one that 4 and 5 point Calvinists deny.
Limited Atonement - This is only true in the pure Bible context/teaching on Atonement in Lev 16 and 1John 2:2. Where Atonement must ALSO include the unique role of Christ as our High Priest (Heb 7-8) and the Romans 2:15-16, 2Cor 5:8-9, Rev 14:7-8 Gospel judgment involved in His Role as High Priest. Only in that "full view of Atonement" is it true that "the many of Matt 7" are not atoned for.
Irresistible Grace - simply not true. Matt 23 shows this. "OH how I WANTED to spare your children -- but you would not!"
Perseverance of the Saints [/QUOTE]
This is true in the pure Bible context of 1Cor 9 "I buffet my body and make it my slave LEST after preaching the gospel to others I myself should be disqualified".. The concept of "perseverance" is never a "static" statement of the form "mankind was created by God" it is a dynamic motivating doctrine with "IF you do not lose heart and grow weary" conditional clauses all throughout the doctrine.
In Christ,
Bob
[ March 03, 2006, 01:45 PM: Message edited by: BobRyan ]