Saturday, August 3, 2024

Calvinist Proof-Texts Answered: Is Salvation Only By an Irresistible Will of God?

 Calvinist Proof-Texts Answered 


“Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God” (John 1:13)

Is Salvation Only By An Irresistible Will of God?

“But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name.” (John 1:12)
 
“To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins.” (Acts 10:43)

 “For, ‘Whoever will call on the name of the Lord will be saved.’” (Rom. 10:13; World English Bible)

Commentary: The context of John refutes the notion that God has irresistibly willed certain individuals for salvation and others for reprobation since we are told that those who He made sons of God had to receive Him. The word “receive” in John 1:12 means “to take, to choose, select” (Thayer’s Greek Definitions). This implies an act of the will on man’s part to procure what is being offered to him by God. Moreover, the word “whosoever” (or “whoever”) removes the idea that God had any preselected individuals in mind. On the contrary, it is God’s will for all to be saved and for none to perish (1 Tim. 2:4; 2 Pet. 3:9). While man cannot become a child of God of his own will apart from Christ, he must willingly receive the offer of Christ for his salvation (Matt. 23:37).



Monday, July 8, 2024

Calvinist Proof-Texts Answered: Is God’s Predestination Irresistible Fatalism?

 Calvinist Proof-Texts Answered 


“In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will.” (Ephesians 1:11)

Is God’s Predestination Irresistible Fatalism?

“But the Pharisees and lawyers rejected the counsel of God against themselves, being not baptized of him.” (Luke 7:30)

“in him in whom likewise we have obtained an inheritance, having had the way marked out beforehand according to the purpose of him who works all things after the counsel of his own will.” (Eph.  1:11; Jubilee Bible 2000)

Commentary: Calvinists have attached a philosophical meaning to words such as “predestinated” and “will” that is more in line with pagan determinism than with consistent Biblical truth. However, God’s “will” is not an irresistible “decree of God” but simply His expressed desire (1 Tim. 2:4; 2 Pet. 3:9). Moreover, the word “predestinated” simply means “to mark off boundaries beforehand.” In other words, God has already established His “counsels” (purposes and plans for the believer’s blessings and privileges) ahead of time. While His counsels are fixed, no individual’s future is fixed. One can accept or reject God’s counsel (Psalm 106:12-15; 107:8-12).




Thursday, June 13, 2024

Calvinist Proof-Texts Answered: How Does the Lord Direct a Man's Steps?

 
Calvinist Proof-Texts Answered 

“A man's heart deviseth his way: but the LORD directeth his steps.” (Proverbs 16:9)

How Does the Lord Direct a Man's Steps?

“Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.” (Proverbs 3:5-6)

“A wicked man hardeneth his face: but as for the upright, he directeth his way.” (Proverbs 21:29)

Commentary: Proverbs 16:9 serves as another text by Calvinists to support their claim that men do not possess free-will, therefore, every event and every act of men has been foreordained by God. Yet, it is another case of Calvinists failing to actually read the passage as well as allowing Scripture to interpret itself. The text says that a man’s heart, not some uncontrollable divine influence, deviseth his way. Hence, the text itself repudiates the Calvinist claim that men lack free-will. Moreover, the Lord directing a man’s steps does not equate to divine puppetry. Prov. 3:5-6 states that this directing is related to God’s guiding and leading in cooperation with men. Such guidance is only for those who are upright. A person can devise plans but he will have no success apart from receiving God’s guidance and direction. Hence, Prov. 16:9 would be better translated as “.... but it is the Lord who guides their steps” (Easy-to-Read Version) or “.... but it is the Lord who leads them in the right way” (Easy English Bible).



 

Thursday, June 6, 2024

Calvinist Proof-Texts Answered: Are All Gambling Results Ordained of God?

 

Calvinist Proof-Texts Answered


“The lot is cast into the lap; but the whole disposing thereof is of the LORD.” (Prov. 16:33)

 

Are All Gambling Results Ordained of God?

“Therefore Saul said unto the LORD God of Israel, Give a perfect lot. And Saul and Jonathan were taken: but the people escaped. And Saul said, Cast lots between me and Jonathan my son. And Jonathan was taken.” (1 Sam. 14:41-42)

 

“And they prayed, and said, Thou, Lord, which knowest the hearts of all men, shew whether of these two thou hast chosen, That he may take part of this ministry and apostleship, from which Judas by transgression fell, that he might go to his own place. And they gave forth their lots; and the lot fell upon Matthias; and he was numbered with the eleven apostles.” (Acts 1:24-26)

 

Commentary: In Scripture, when lots were cast BEFORE THE LORD it was their method of receiving guidance from Him to help them decide correctly (Lev. 16:8; Josh. 18:6-10). As seen in the 1 Sam. 14 and Acts 1, this type of lot casting was done with prayer. It is this manner of casting lots that is being spoken of in Prov. 16:33. The passage is not speaking about God determining the outcome of every gambling endeavor. Joel 3:3 says, “And they have cast lots for my people; and have given a boy for an harlot, and sold a girl for wine, that they might drink” (see also Obad. 10-12). God is not a party to child prostitution; therefore, He does not determine the outcome of those who gamble for them (Matt. 18:5, 6, 10, 14).




Friday, April 26, 2024