Some anti-Reformed elements on the site claim that Calvinism, or Reformed theology, is Satanic in nature. They also try to connect it with Constantine. It seems like Constantine is the boogie man of just about every weird group, including those who deny the full deity of Christ, Judaizers, and those who deny the canon of Scripture, whether he was involved in suppressing their particular heretical views or not.
Intelligent individuals know that Reformed theology has a basis in reasoning from Scripture, whether they agree with it or not, and that Reformed scholars are very conservative in their approach toward Scripture. Their desire is to honor God's sovereignty and to give God the glory for their salvation.
Some anti-Reformed influences here claim that foreknowledge, in the manner that it is used in Romans 8:28-30, refers to events, rather than people or groups. God obviously foreknows all events, but in regards to salvation, God foreknows individuals and not their faith decision, in the passages they attempt to exegete to the contrary.
Look at Romans 8:28-30 and the question is answered simply in the text:
Romans 8:28-30 [SUP]28 [/SUP]And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good,[SUP][a][/SUP] for those who are called according to his purpose. [SUP]29 [/SUP]For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. [SUP]30 [/SUP]And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.
Focus on verse 29. Pay attention to the word "who". Does the word "who" imply persons, or does it imply events? The answer is obvious. God foreknows individuals in this context. And, these same persons are predestined, and called, and justified, and ultimately glorified.
This text is known as the golden chain of redemption. It implies that all of those God has foreknown, he also brings them to the completion of their salvation. Salvation is all about God.
Regarding the meaning of the word "foreknowledge", foreknowledge implies an intimate, distinguishing love that God has for that individual, which is different than the love he has for other individuals. For instance, a man loves his wife in a different manner than he loves other women, and Jesus loved the apostle John in a different manner than he loved the other disciples.
"Knowledge" in Scripture often refers to relationship knowledge. For instance, the intimate sex act is referred to repetitively in Scripture as "knowing". Adam knew his wife Eve, and children were a result of this intimate knowledge. In the same manner, God loves with a distinguishing love those who are elect.
Additionally, it is IMPOSSIBLE to get past Scriptural references, which exceed 40 texts in the NT, that clearly state that God chooses, predestines, and elects particular individuals. The concept of being "chosen" clearly indicates that God passes over some, while choosing others. That is what anyone does when they choose amongst various alternatives; they pass over some and choose others.
The cry regarding this is that God is not fair, if salvation is not extended to all. Who are you to judge what is fair? This is EXACTLY the point Paul made in Romans 9:14ff. God shows mercy upon whom he wants. I don't care how much we don't like it, Scripture is clear on this issue. God is sovereign over salvation, and man is not.
And, if fairness is the criteria, every human being deserves eternal punishment. So, by demanding fairness, you would consign every human being to eternal punishment.
At any rate, I would like to make two comments. One, individuals who claim Reformed theology is demonic or Satanic in origin lack charity. Reformed believers are merely responding to their convictions of what Scripture teaches. One such individual claimed that Reformed believers don't believe in man's accountability to God. This is untrue. I have been a Pelagian, and an Arminian, and a Reformed believer. I find no less sense of man's accountability before God amongst Arminians than Reformed believers. All believe that mankind has a responsibility to render obedience to God. Additionally, whether I disagree with someone's view or not on the topic, that doesn't cause me to impute their understanding as being satanic, as this individual does. Two, those who deny that God chooses, predestines, or elects to salvation have a ton of Scriptures to explain if their view is that God doesn't do so. Provide ONE scripture that shows, IN THE CONTEXT OF SALVATION, that God chooses individuals based on their choice of Him. And, Romans 8:28-30 is not proof of that, because the word "who" implies that the foreknowledge is based on the person, and not an event that God foreknows.
And..just to clarify..Reformed theology doesn't teach that mankind makes no choice, like slanderers claim. Reformed theology teaches that God changes the nature of the person through regeneration, or giving that person a new nature, so that the person freely makes the decision which reflects that new nature. In other words, rather than the non-Calvinist model, regeneration precedes faith rather than following it. The individual prior to salvation is a slave to sin, and due to regeneration, the nature is changed so that he can make the faith decision. The decision will always be to place their faith in Jesus due to the changed nature. The corrupted nature can't make that decision.
Also, to be clear, God does have exhaustive foreknowledge and knows all events, as Isaiah 46:9-10 teaches. He not only knows all events, but he actually decrees those events, either actively or passively. God is in control. So, I am not denying that God knows the person's faith decision, however, in regards to salvation, his foreknowledge implies a distinguishing love for that individual, and it is not a result of human merit or worthiness. In fact, God chooses individuals who are nothing in this world's sight. If he were the guy choosing teammates in gym class, he would pick the unathletic, fat, clumsy kids in able to show his glory.
I'll end with this:
I Corinthians 1: 26For consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards,[SUP]c[/SUP] not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. 27But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; 28God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, 29so that no human being[SUP]d[/SUP] might boast in the presence of God. 30And because of him[SUP]e[/SUP] you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption, 31so that, as it is written, “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.”
This is why I am a Reformed believer..the opposite view, whether its adherents acknowledge it or not, are boasting in their faith decision. God doesn't even allow that much. He gives the faith to the person as a spiritual gift. Ephesians 2:8-10 clearly states this.
Some will mention that Romans 12:3 indicates that God gives all men faith. They are reading Romans 12 out of context. Notice that God is speaking to believers within the context of the book, and then he addresses other spiritual gifts subsequently. God has given all believers a measure of faith, but there are some believers who have the spiritual gift of faith which exceeds this measure of universal faith that all believers have. So, the claim that God has given all people, converted or unconverted, faith that is sufficient for salvation is a false one.
He has given everyone knowledge of his existence, and of his moral requirements through embedding them in the conscience of mankind, as Romans 1 and 2 state. But, to claim that he has given all mankind saving faith is wrong, and using Romans 12 out of context like this is wrong.
In the end, I have no issue with those who think otherwise, but to attribute their belief system to Satan is a massive error. I realize that most non-Reformed people DON'T claim foolish things like this, though, and I honor their difference of opinion on this issue. Peace.
Intelligent individuals know that Reformed theology has a basis in reasoning from Scripture, whether they agree with it or not, and that Reformed scholars are very conservative in their approach toward Scripture. Their desire is to honor God's sovereignty and to give God the glory for their salvation.
Some anti-Reformed influences here claim that foreknowledge, in the manner that it is used in Romans 8:28-30, refers to events, rather than people or groups. God obviously foreknows all events, but in regards to salvation, God foreknows individuals and not their faith decision, in the passages they attempt to exegete to the contrary.
Look at Romans 8:28-30 and the question is answered simply in the text:
Romans 8:28-30 [SUP]28 [/SUP]And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good,[SUP][a][/SUP] for those who are called according to his purpose. [SUP]29 [/SUP]For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. [SUP]30 [/SUP]And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.
Focus on verse 29. Pay attention to the word "who". Does the word "who" imply persons, or does it imply events? The answer is obvious. God foreknows individuals in this context. And, these same persons are predestined, and called, and justified, and ultimately glorified.
This text is known as the golden chain of redemption. It implies that all of those God has foreknown, he also brings them to the completion of their salvation. Salvation is all about God.
Regarding the meaning of the word "foreknowledge", foreknowledge implies an intimate, distinguishing love that God has for that individual, which is different than the love he has for other individuals. For instance, a man loves his wife in a different manner than he loves other women, and Jesus loved the apostle John in a different manner than he loved the other disciples.
"Knowledge" in Scripture often refers to relationship knowledge. For instance, the intimate sex act is referred to repetitively in Scripture as "knowing". Adam knew his wife Eve, and children were a result of this intimate knowledge. In the same manner, God loves with a distinguishing love those who are elect.
Additionally, it is IMPOSSIBLE to get past Scriptural references, which exceed 40 texts in the NT, that clearly state that God chooses, predestines, and elects particular individuals. The concept of being "chosen" clearly indicates that God passes over some, while choosing others. That is what anyone does when they choose amongst various alternatives; they pass over some and choose others.
The cry regarding this is that God is not fair, if salvation is not extended to all. Who are you to judge what is fair? This is EXACTLY the point Paul made in Romans 9:14ff. God shows mercy upon whom he wants. I don't care how much we don't like it, Scripture is clear on this issue. God is sovereign over salvation, and man is not.
And, if fairness is the criteria, every human being deserves eternal punishment. So, by demanding fairness, you would consign every human being to eternal punishment.
At any rate, I would like to make two comments. One, individuals who claim Reformed theology is demonic or Satanic in origin lack charity. Reformed believers are merely responding to their convictions of what Scripture teaches. One such individual claimed that Reformed believers don't believe in man's accountability to God. This is untrue. I have been a Pelagian, and an Arminian, and a Reformed believer. I find no less sense of man's accountability before God amongst Arminians than Reformed believers. All believe that mankind has a responsibility to render obedience to God. Additionally, whether I disagree with someone's view or not on the topic, that doesn't cause me to impute their understanding as being satanic, as this individual does. Two, those who deny that God chooses, predestines, or elects to salvation have a ton of Scriptures to explain if their view is that God doesn't do so. Provide ONE scripture that shows, IN THE CONTEXT OF SALVATION, that God chooses individuals based on their choice of Him. And, Romans 8:28-30 is not proof of that, because the word "who" implies that the foreknowledge is based on the person, and not an event that God foreknows.
And..just to clarify..Reformed theology doesn't teach that mankind makes no choice, like slanderers claim. Reformed theology teaches that God changes the nature of the person through regeneration, or giving that person a new nature, so that the person freely makes the decision which reflects that new nature. In other words, rather than the non-Calvinist model, regeneration precedes faith rather than following it. The individual prior to salvation is a slave to sin, and due to regeneration, the nature is changed so that he can make the faith decision. The decision will always be to place their faith in Jesus due to the changed nature. The corrupted nature can't make that decision.
Also, to be clear, God does have exhaustive foreknowledge and knows all events, as Isaiah 46:9-10 teaches. He not only knows all events, but he actually decrees those events, either actively or passively. God is in control. So, I am not denying that God knows the person's faith decision, however, in regards to salvation, his foreknowledge implies a distinguishing love for that individual, and it is not a result of human merit or worthiness. In fact, God chooses individuals who are nothing in this world's sight. If he were the guy choosing teammates in gym class, he would pick the unathletic, fat, clumsy kids in able to show his glory.
I'll end with this:
I Corinthians 1: 26For consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards,[SUP]c[/SUP] not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. 27But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; 28God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, 29so that no human being[SUP]d[/SUP] might boast in the presence of God. 30And because of him[SUP]e[/SUP] you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption, 31so that, as it is written, “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.”
This is why I am a Reformed believer..the opposite view, whether its adherents acknowledge it or not, are boasting in their faith decision. God doesn't even allow that much. He gives the faith to the person as a spiritual gift. Ephesians 2:8-10 clearly states this.
Some will mention that Romans 12:3 indicates that God gives all men faith. They are reading Romans 12 out of context. Notice that God is speaking to believers within the context of the book, and then he addresses other spiritual gifts subsequently. God has given all believers a measure of faith, but there are some believers who have the spiritual gift of faith which exceeds this measure of universal faith that all believers have. So, the claim that God has given all people, converted or unconverted, faith that is sufficient for salvation is a false one.
He has given everyone knowledge of his existence, and of his moral requirements through embedding them in the conscience of mankind, as Romans 1 and 2 state. But, to claim that he has given all mankind saving faith is wrong, and using Romans 12 out of context like this is wrong.
In the end, I have no issue with those who think otherwise, but to attribute their belief system to Satan is a massive error. I realize that most non-Reformed people DON'T claim foolish things like this, though, and I honor their difference of opinion on this issue. Peace.