February 1, 2003, Vol.3,
No.3.
Two new articles every two weeks.
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us.
THIS ISSUE: "Predestination"
(see below)
and "Only the Bible is
Right!"
Predestination
by Keith Sharp
Last year I was talking with a Calvinistic Baptist friend
who lives in Watertown. Her father was in critical condition
in the hospital. Both her parents are Catholic, and she thinks
they are lost. She had tried to discuss religion with them, but
they refused. She intimated, "I was hurt when I learned
God didn't love my parents." I would be too!
Her disturbing conclusion was based on her belief in Calvinistic
predestination. This doctrine asserts:
"...God, before the foundations of the world, chose certain
individuals from among the fallen members of Adam's race to be
the objects of his undeserved favor. These, and these only, He
purposed to save.... His eternal choice of particular sinners
unto salvation was not based upon any foreseen act or response
on the part of those selected, but was based solely on His own
good pleasure and sovereign will. This election was not determined
by, or conditioned upon, anything that man would do, but resulted
entirely from God's self-determined purpose." (Steele &
Thomas. 30)
Nor was her conclusion that God does not love her parents
incorrect if the doctrine of Calvinistic predestination is true.
"Since the objects of the Father's love are particular,
definite, and limited, so are the objects of Christ's death."
(Palmer. 44)
Is Calvinistic predestination true?
The Bible Teaches Predestination
I keep using the phrase "Calvinistic predestination."
This is because the Bible definitely and repeatedly teaches predestination."
It just doesn't teach the Calvinistic version.
To "predestinate" means "to mark out beforehand,
to determine before, foreordain." (Vine. 1:305] The apostle
to the Gentiles thus views the mighty sweep of God's eternal
plan for our salvation:
"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly
places in Christ, just as He chose us in Him before the foundation
of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before
Him in love, having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus
Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will,
to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He has made
us accepted in the Beloved. (Ephesians 1:3-6)
"In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, being
predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things
according to the counsel of His will, that we who first trusted
in Christ should be to the praise of His glory." (Ephesians
1:11-12)
The key to this marvelous passage is the repeated use of the
phrases that indicate salvation is in Christ: "in Christ"
(verse 3), "in Him" (verse 4), "by Jesus Christ"
(verse 5), "in the Beloved" (verse 6), "In Him"
(verse 11), "in Christ" (verse 12). God determined
in eternity before time that salvation would be in Christ and
that all those who trusted Him would be saved in Him.
Calvinists emphasize that the saved are God's "elect"
("picked out, chosen" [Vine, 2:21]). Indeed, God's
people are "elect according to the foreknowledge of God
the Father...." (1 Peter 1:2) But again, Paul explains,
"He chose us in Him." (Ephesians 1:4)
The predestination of Calvinism involves the unconditional
election of particular individuals to be saved and others
to be lost. The predestination of the Bible involves an elect
group (the church) of saved to which all may be
added conditioned upon their faith in and obedience to
the Gospel.
The Universal, Unlimited
Love of God
This truth can be scripturally demonstrated in a number of
ways. But I simply want to show that Pat is tragically wrong
in her belief that God does not love all people. The Bible could
not be plainer than it is in teaching that the love of the heavenly
Father for lost sinners is unlimited in scope.
God loves all people, even the vilest of sinners.
"You have heard that it was said, 'You shall love
your neighbor and hate your enemy.' But I say to you,
love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those
who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute
you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for
He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends
rain on the just and on the unjust. For if you love those
who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors
do the same? And if you greet your brethren only, what
do you do more than others? Do not even the tax collectors do
so? Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father
in heaven is perfect." (Matthew 5:43-48)
"And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness,
even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes
in Him should not perish but have eternal life. For God so loved
the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes
in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did
not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that
the world through Him might be saved." (John 3:14-17)
God Is Completely Impartial in Salvation, Affording the Opportunity
for Eternal Life to All.
"Then Peter opened his mouth and said: 'In truth I
perceive that God shows no partiality. But in every nation whoever
fears Him and works righteousness is accepted by Him.' "(Acts
10:34-35)
"But in accordance with your hardness and your impenitent
heart you are treasuring up for yourself wrath in the day of
wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God, who
'will render to each one according to his deeds': eternal
life to those who by patient continuance in doing good seek for
glory, honor, and immortality; but to those who are self-seeking
and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness--indignation
and wrath, tribulation and anguish, on every soul of man
who does evil, of the Jew first and also of the Greek; but
glory, honor, and peace to everyone who works what is good, to
the Jew first and also to the Greek. For there is no partiality
with God." (Romans 2:5-11)
"And you, masters, do the same things to them, giving
up threatening, knowing that your own Master also is in heaven,
and there is no partiality with Him." (Ephesians 6:9)
"But he who does wrong will be repaid for what he
has done, and there is no partiality." (Colossians 3:25)
"And if you call on the Father, who without partiality
judges according to each one's work, conduct yourselves throughout
the time of your stay here in fear..." (1 Peter 1:17)
God Wants All People Everywhere to Be Saved.
"For God has committed them all to disobedience, that
He might have mercy on all." (Romans 11:32)
"For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God
our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the
knowledge of the truth." (1 Timothy 2:3-4)
"For to this end we both labor and suffer reproach,
because we trust in the living God, who is the Savior of all
men, especially of those who believe." (1 Timothy 4:10)
"The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as
some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing
that any should perish but that all should come to repentance."
(2 Peter 3:9)
God's Saving Grace Is for All.
"For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared
to all men..." (Titus 2:11)
Salvation in Christ Is for
All.
"For the bread of God is He who comes down from heaven
and gives life to the world." (John 6:33)
"Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us
to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry
of reconciliation, that is, that God was in Christ reconciling
the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them,
and has committed to us the word of reconciliation."
(2 Corinthians 5:18-19)
"For it pleased the Father that in Him all the fullness
should dwell, and by Him to reconcile all things to Himself,
by Him, whether things on earth or things in heaven, having made
peace through the blood of His cross." (Colossians 1:19-20)
The Invitation of Christ to Come to Him for Salvation Is Sincerely
Universal.
"Look to Me, and be saved, All you ends of the earth!
For I am God, and there is no other. I have sworn by Myself;
The word has gone out of My mouth in righteousness, And shall
not return, That to Me every knee shall bow, Every tongue shall
take an oath. He shall say, 'Surely in the Lord I have righteousness
and strength. To Him men shall come, And all shall be ashamed
Who are incensed against Him." (Isaiah 45:22-24)
"Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden,
and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn
from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find
rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden
is light." (Matthew 11:28-30)
"On the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus
stood and cried out, saying, 'If anyone thirsts, let him come
to Me and drink.'" (John 7:37)
"And the Spirit and the bride say, 'Come!' And let
him who hears say, 'Come!"'And let him who thirsts come.
Whoever desires, let him take the water of life freely."
(Revelation 22:17)
The Gospel, the Power of God to Save, Is to All.
"Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations,
baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of
the Holy Spirit..." (Matthew 28:19)
"And He said to them, 'Go into all the world and preach
the gospel to every creature. He who believes and is baptized
will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned."
(Mark 16:15)
"For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for
it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes,
for the Jew first and also for the Greek." (Romans 1:16-17)
The Command to Repent Is as Universal as Humanity.
"Truly, these times of ignorance God overlooked, but
now commands all men everywhere to repent..." (Acts
17:30)
Divine Judgment Is on the
Basis of Our Deeds
Not on the Basis of a Secret Eternal Decree.
"For we must all appear before the judgment seat of
Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body,
according to what he has done, whether good or bad."
(2 Corinthians 5:10)
Conclusion
Now there are nine reasons taken from Scripture that Calvinistic
predestination is false and that God graciously has provided
salvation in Christ for all lost sinners, without limitation
or exception. They are so plain that no explanation is needed.
It takes the help of a theologian to misunderstand them. God
truly does love the whole world.
Yes, Calvinists have dodges to get around the obvious meaning
of every one of these passages. But they are just that - dodges.
Calvinists cannot accept the scriptural evidence at face value.
They must attempt to explain it away. Their position is based
on human philosophy rather than divine revelation.
Beloved, the most important truth you can gain from this lesson
is that salvation in Christ is for you. If you are responsible
before God, you have sinned (Romans 3:23). If you are not a Christian,
you are lost (Romans 6:23). Salvation in Christ is for you. (Matthew
11:28) If you will believe that Jesus is the Christ the Son of
God, repent of your sins, confess your faith in Christ and be
baptized in water for the remission of sins, you will be saved
(Romans 10:9-10; Acts 3:19; 2:38).
"And now why are you waiting? Arise and be baptized,
and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord."
(Acts 22:16)
_________________
List of Works Cited
David N. Steele & Curtis C. Thomas, The Five Points
of Calvinism. 30.
Edwin H. Palmer, The Five Points of Calvinism. 44.
(Steele, Thomas, and Palmer are all eminent Calvinistic
scholars, and their books are defenses of Calvinism.)
W.E. Vine, An Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words.
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