Is Calvinism the truth?

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Evmur

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a person born and because of the actions of Adam and Eve are not born possessed by evil. they are born in bondage due to the condition Adam and Eve were in and then became. there are billions of Sinners and they are not possessed, but of Sin because they were born that way to the sinful condition. so you still can have Free Will in that condition.
Yous saying life and death, if they are sinners they are bound to death, it is wrapped around them like a cloak, they can't get free. They must eat to stay alive, they must work to be sheltered their whole waking life is CONSUMED with this battle with death.

... yet you say they have freewill
 

Bob-Carabbio

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Jun 24, 2020
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Is Calvinism the truth?
Like ANY "Theological system", there TRUTH, and there's error. The PRIMARY TRUTH of Calvinism is that "God Moves First" in all situations.

Even when we THINK that we moved first, HE was behind it all, moving us to think, believe, act.
 

Pilgrimshope

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Sep 2, 2020
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I totally agree with this, hundred %

... but folks is saying they were already free [will] bit of a slap in the face that.

if we had freewill there would be no need for the cross.
yes the thing is Adam did have but then he sold mankind into the slavery tour talking about some people miss the part where man began in a relationship with God and God gave man freedom dominion and choice

then man blew it , and followed satans Will , was then cast out of Eden where God placed man , was the. Barred from eating the tree of life in paradise , and then only ten generations later mans already obviously enslaved by Satan and his corruption of thier hesrt and mind this is only ten generations later

“And GOD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. And it repented the LORD that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart. And God looked upon the earth, and, behold, it was corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted his way upon the earth. And God said unto Noah, The end of all flesh is come before me; for the earth is filled with violence through them; and, behold, I will destroy them with the earth.”
‭‭Genesis‬ ‭6:5-6, 12-13‬ ‭

we get so wrapped up in modern takes like everything that ever happened was gods will , obviously he’s repenting here because of what man has done and in repentance decides to destroy them all but for a remnant saved by grace through faith

so already mans enslaved but many miss it because they don’t underrrsnd the term slavery to sin and what it means biblically ot hesrkens back to when Adam and Eve ate the fruit of the knowledge of good and also evil

this corrupted them because already they were the image of God and declared very good d already in e beginning god seperated good and evil light and darkness then made man in his image saw man and said very good

then he just warned them “ whatever you do don’t eat this one particular fruit it will bring you death “ it has evil in it it’s not for you “ be blessed and rule the earth and dwell with me in paradise “ but just don’t eat this fruit “

but then Satan led them astray in tbier minds and hearts the fruit caused this dilemma

“For we know that the law is spiritual:
but I am carnal, sold under sin.

Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. ( if I’m acting against what i know is right )

I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me.

but I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?”
‭‭Romans‬ ‭7:14, 20-21, 23-24‬ ‭KJV‬

you see mans design was never meant to have evil in our minds and hearts we weren’t made for it we were made to reflect Gods goodness and mercy the things we find in Christ and his word but we’re never meant to harbor both the knowledge of good and evil in our heart because we weren’t designed for it this happened and this is where our slavery and bondage exists this is the roots of our sin

“For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness: all these evil things come from within, and defile the man.”
‭‭Mark‬ ‭7:21-23‬ ‭KJV‬‬

see the corruption isn’t there by Gods Will but because man transgressed his Will. And so the redemption comes when we start to acknolwedge the truth in our mind and heart hearing and believing the gospel the truth is what sets us free from the conflict of good and evil in our hearts that has us snared

we need this

“And be not conformed to this world:

but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind,

that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”
‭‭Romans‬ ‭12:2‬ ‭KJV

the way to have that is this

“Jesus answered them, and said, My doctrine is not mine, but his that sent me. If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself.”
‭‭John‬ ‭7:16-17‬ ‭KJV‬‬

and freedom is here

“Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; and ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin. If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.”
‭‭John‬ ‭8:31-32, 34, 36‬ ‭KJV‬‬

it’s why we share the gospel captives being set free when we hear and believe


“in meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth; and that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.”
‭‭2 Timothy‬ ‭2:25-26‬ ‭KJV‬‬


Then we come into to freedom and instructions of repentance and righteousness and have the same choice adam was given we can dwell with the lord in his presence or keep letting Satan deceive us into not believing like he did then

if we are in Christ we are free to choose life but also are free to turn back to the world and follow the lies
 

Pilgrimshope

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Sep 2, 2020
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I totally agree with this, hundred %

... but folks is saying they were already free [will] bit of a slap in the face that.

if we had freewill there would be no need for the cross.
yes amen the cross is where we enter free Will we can’t have it until we come to jesus in truth and are set free indeed
 

ForestGreenCook

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Jul 8, 2018
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That isn't the case. Jesus was talking to the Jews (and maybe some Gentiles); there were not yet any Christians. Your claim that the wide gate are those children of God who have not been revealed the knowledge of what Christ accomplished on the cross, and are teaching false doctrines has no Scriptural basis.
That is your opinion based upon your interpretation of the scriptures. Give me your interpretation of Ezk 10, about the wheel within a wheel. I believe that it harmonizes with Matt 7 about the two gates. The outer, larger, wheel being the wide gate, invisible church, and the smaller, inner wheel being the straight gate, the visible church.
 

ForestGreenCook

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Again, this has no Scriptural basis. If only His sheep can hear His voice then nobody would ever be saved.

Matthew 10:16-18, " But not all have obeyed the good news, for Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed our report?” Consequently faith comes from what is heard, and what is heard comes through the preached word of Christ.

But I ask, have they not heard? Yes, they have: Their voice has gone out to all the earth, and their words to the ends of the world."

(Bold font is from the OT, underline is my emphasis.)

Clearly one must first hear the Gospel and then believe.

If the scriptures do not harmonize to a person, then that person is not interpreting them right. Why don't you tell me how you interpret John 10:26-29, or do you just put them in a drawer that is labeled "this has no scriptural basis:?

1 Cor 2:14 says that the unregenerate person cannot discern the things of the Spirit, and thinks them to be foolishness.
 
Nov 26, 2021
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God is Love. He did not create any soul for Hell. He loves all and died for all. No one is "predestined to damnation". God Bless.

1 Jn 4: "God’s Love and Ours
"7 Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. 8 Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. 9 This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. 10 This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. 11 Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. 12 No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us."
 
Mar 4, 2020
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Until a few years ago, I hadn't encountered Calvinism, instinctively thinking it was a form of operation, like methodism, rather than a belief system. To me, it seems wrong and counter-intuitive, but sometimes, if I'm bombarded with assertions over and over again, I tend to start to wonder - "Am I missing something?" "Is there something in this?".
Would anyone like to give his/ her (preferably biblically-based) beliefs on this subject, as I'd like to learn the truth on this subject?
I’ve noticed that people who do not claim to be Calvinist and actively reject Calvinism sometimes believe in Calvinistic theories. To varying degrees, depending on the denomination you visit, popular Christianity typically espouses a bit of Calvinism; just cross examine the preacher.

Popular Christianity is positively inundated with many false doctrines. Calvinism is a problem, but maybe the least of our concerns at the moment.
 
Jan 31, 2021
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FreeGrace2 said:
Matt 7-
13 “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it.
14 But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.
All of the people who enter both gates are born again children of God.
Since Matt 7:13,14 describe the "wide gate that leads to destruction" and the "narrow gate leads to life", it is very obvious that the wide gate is where unbelievers travel and the narrow gate is where believers travel, your comment is beyond bizarre. How can unbelievers who are on the trail to destruction be "born again children of God".

It is precisely the born again children of God who are on the narrow gate, which leads to life.
 
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FreeGrace2 said:
John 20:31 - But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.
Only his sheep can hear his voice and believe.(John 10).
Jesus taught that becoming His sheep is through faith in Him.

John 10:9 - I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. They will come in and go out, and find pasture.
 

Evmur

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Well if we had freewill we would just need to choose to righteous, until our sins are taken away we can't. Sin stops us. Sin is our master.

Actually we are dead

Dead men have no freewill, before ever we can have faith in Christ our spirits must be brought to life.
 

AndrewMorgan

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Jul 10, 2022
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God does not predestine his elect's every action. God allows all mankind to make their own choice on how they want to live their lives here on earth, but God does not allow mankind to choose his own eternal destination, because God, by his foreknowledge saw that none of mankind would seek him, no, not one.

This is why God choose a bigger portion of mankind to give to his Son, and predetermined that Jesus would adopt them as his children, by paying for their sins on the cross, and securing them their eternal inheritance.

The inspired word of God is not written to the non-elect, informing them on how to get saved eternally, but is written, especially, to his elect as instructions on how he wants them to live their lives as they sojourn here on earth.

None of his elect obey his instructions to a jot and tittle, only Christ could do that. When they do not obey him, he chastens them to bring them to repentance.

By their disobedience, they lose their fellowship with God, until they repent, because God will not fellowship sin.

His elect are born into this world by natural birth as "dead in sins" as a result of Adam's sinfulness, but sometime during their lives, God quickens them to a new spiritual life, putting the Holy Spirit within them.

"God does not predestine his elect's every action."
HUSH, we do not want to get Calvinism vs Arminian ARGUING, started all over again. We middle of the road Evangelicals, BURIED that smelly corpse of the Calvinism vs Arminian AGRUING back in the 70s.

Whatever you think and whatever the rights and wrongs of the issue, the debate is alive and kicking. I don't know if you're familiar with James White.
Well if we had freewill we would just need to choose to righteous, until our sins are taken away we can't. Sin stops us. Sin is our master.

Actually we are dead

Dead men have no freewill, before ever we can have faith in Christ our spirits must be brought to life.

There are so many different people saying so many different things that it's easy to get mixed up, so maybe you've already stated your position, which I may have missed, but would you like to clarify?
Do you hold the Calvinist TULIP position re. these issues? - and particularly the their compatibalist form of freedom?
 

Snacks

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Feb 10, 2022
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Well if we had freewill we would just need to choose to righteous, until our sins are taken away we can't. Sin stops us. Sin is our master.

Actually we are dead

Dead men have no freewill, before ever we can have faith in Christ our spirits must be brought to life.
Jesus Christ is the only way to salvation, that’s indisputable, however many non-Christians choose righteousness even though their sin remains. That too is indisputable.
 
Jan 31, 2021
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Well if we had freewill we would just need to choose to righteous, until our sins are taken away we can't.
This misunderstands what free will is. It is only the freedom to choose between available options.

Man does NOT have the option to choose to be sinless.

Sin stops us. Sin is our master.
This has no bearing on free will.

Actually we are dead
Spiritually dead in a live body. We still can choose to believe God's promises.

Dead men have no freewill
Right, physically dead do not make choices. They have no choices to make.

before ever we can have faith in Christ our spirits must be brought to life.
What verse shows clearly that regenerate precedes faith?

Rather, Paul equates salvation and being made alive (regeneration) in Eph 2:5.

made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved.

Then, in v8, Paul STATES that salvation (along with regeneration) is through faith.

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—

This proves that faith precedes both salvation and regeneration.

When man believes the gospel-
God saves the man, 1 Cor 1;21
God regenerates the man, Eph 2:8
God makes the believer His child, John 1:12 and Gal 3:26
 

ForestGreenCook

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Jul 8, 2018
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How can unbelievers who are on the trail to destruction be "born again children of God".

It is destructive when born again children of God misinterpret scriptures and teach others a false doctrine. That is the wide gate. Just look at how many false doctrines are taught on this forum, yours being one of them. Your tactic of researching scripture is no good if you misinterpret scriptures.
 

ForestGreenCook

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John 10:9 - I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. They will come in and go out, and find pasture.
The "whoever" are sheep of the shepherd. Verse 26 - but ye believe not, because ye are not of my sheep. As I have told you before, You are not interpreting the salvation scriptures rightly. His sheep, who already have the promise of being delivered (saved) eternally,. If they follow the shepherd (Jesus) they will be delivered (saved) from not enjoying the abundant life that he offers them while they are here on earth.
 
Jan 31, 2021
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FreeGrace2 said:
How can unbelievers who are on the trail to destruction be "born again children of God".
It is destructive when born again children of God misinterpret scriptures and teach others a false doctrine. That is the wide gate.
Seems you really misunderstand the Word of God. The 2 verses are about those who will go to heaven and those who will go to the LOF.

Just look at how many false doctrines are taught on this forum, yours being one of them.
You should say that while looking directly into a mirror.

Your tactic of researching scripture is no good if you misinterpret scriptures.
That is exactly what you are doing. Unbelievably so.
 

ForestGreenCook

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Jesus taught that becoming His sheep is through faith in Him.
The elect, chosen before the foundation of the world, are Jesus's sheep. When they are born into this world by natural birth, they are dead in trespasses and sins (Eph 2:1-3), But God, who had a great love for his sheep, even when they were dead in sins, hath quickened them together with Christ.. (Eph 2:4-5).

Those that are not his sheep, Are goats (Matt 25:32) and goats cannot be changed into sheep.
 
Jan 31, 2021
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FreeGrace2 said:
John 10:9 - I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. They will come in and go out, and find pasture.
The "whoever" are sheep of the shepherd.
Jesus used a figure of speech to refer to believing Him in v.9. That's when THE sheep become HIS sheep.

Verse 26 - but ye believe not, because ye are not of my sheep. As I have told you before, You are not interpreting the salvation scriptures rightly.
I reject your opinions.

His sheep, who already have the promise of being delivered (saved) eternally,. If they follow the shepherd (Jesus) they will be delivered (saved) from not enjoying the abundant life that he offers them while they are here on earth.
I fully understand about deliverance from earthly dangers, etc.

So you seem to acknowledge that Jesus promised of being delivered (meaning saved eternally). So, please explain to the best of your ability what Jesus promised for Him to save anyone eternally.

From all your posts, I have no idea what you think.