So, if I am hearing you correctly, I am not a Calvinist because
(1) of my upbringing. Actually i was saved under the ministry of a Calvinist and when i lived in Philadelphia as a young believer, I went to 10th Pres where Dr. James Montgomery Boice was my pastor.
(2) I am a young convert and just haven't searched it out enough. Actually, I am not a Calvinist because I don't think that is what the Bible teaches AFTER studying it out.
(3) I am not really a Christian, I just profess Christ and my mind is really at enmity against God. Actually, I have been saved through grace by faith in Jesus since April 28, 1968 at 17 years old. I had thought that it was against BB policy to call another's person's salvation into question, but let me assure you like the Holy Spirit assures me that I am saved as certainly as you are.
(4) I am so full of myself that I cannot countenance a God who is all powerful. God knows my heart. He knows I fall short of what He wants me to be. Sometimes - as some can attest here - quite publically. But I believe in the God of the Bible who is all powerful and is the same in the OT as the NT and who will ever be the same.
I think you believe in Calvinism because you believe the Bible teaches it. Can you not let me have the freedom to believe that it is not what the Bible teaches, not because of some spiritual defect, but because after studying the Scripture I don't think it's what the bible teaches. You may be right and when we get to heaven, I will search you out and say you were right. But I don't think you're unspiritual or spiritually immature or unsaved because you disagree with me. I think you just see it differently based on your study of the Scripture.
Hello Tom,
I was trying to respond to the original post and put out one mans opinion on what could be happening overall. I probably could add to the list.
I did not have you in mind specifically.If we met face to face it would be easier to get a handle on things as you also have alluded to.
Sometimes the keyboard does not allow for as much nuance as a live conversation.
Tom I am glad you openly and boldly confessed Christ for all of these years.
I take people at their profession. I treat biblical professors as brethren,unless and until I see or hear warning signs and signs of apostate thought.
Paul warned of some who profess, but are really enemies of the cross of Christ.
17Brethren, be followers together of me, and mark them which walk so as ye have us for an ensample.
18(For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ:
19Whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things.)
20For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ:
21Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.
I take this to mean we are to be on guard for those who are diminishing the work of God.These are real enemies of the cross,and enemies of the people of God. They exist and we all have met and spoken with them.
I believe what is taught as biblical calvinism is the correct teaching of scripture. I think this is no secret here or if we met in person.I openly confess this.I can use the theological terms, or just plain language as when witnessing to the ungodly. It is the consistent teaching of scripture.
I have read those who oppose it...and find all of their arguments to be anti biblical or inconsistent,looking outside of scripture to philosophy. Let me add to my previous list.
5] some are open cultists,deny the trinity or God's grace.
6] some never understand the biblical language...for example..what I see here on the bb is many who do not understand biblical foreknowledge.
You give them a biblical basis for it....they oppose it.....they re-define it with a false idea...then wonder why they cannot agree with those who use a correct biblical definition. Why they do this is between them and God.
7] There are some who repeat error so much that they think it is truth, no matter if the apostles themself would come and explain it to them.
Like those who repeat 2 pet3:9 out of context and claim God cannot save who he purposes to.He wants to,but cannot.
8] Among those chosen by God there are some who cannot grasp some of the teaching just purely from a intellectual basis.
9]Some are too proud to come humbly to the word so God witholds truth from them.
Tom scripture is correct, Yet we are flawed.We can try to help each other come to truth.Some never will however.
God has believers at different levels of maturity.It is one thing to question or be unsure of a teaching....but to actively be found opposing scripture as brother osage posted is scary.
