3 Tactics Calvinists Use Against Non-Calvinists

  • Christian Chat is a moderated online Christian community allowing Christians around the world to fellowship with each other in real time chat via webcam, voice, and text, with the Christian Chat app. You can also start or participate in a Bible-based discussion here in the Christian Chat Forums, where members can also share with each other their own videos, pictures, or favorite Christian music.

    If you are a Christian and need encouragement and fellowship, we're here for you! If you are not a Christian but interested in knowing more about Jesus our Lord, you're also welcome! Want to know what the Bible says, and how you can apply it to your life? Join us!

    To make new Christian friends now around the world, click here to join Christian Chat.

ForestGreenCook

Well-known member
Jul 8, 2018
8,441
1,213
113
I don't believe Holy Spirit God indwells the unbeliever first so that they can understand the word. I believe The Word, Holy Spirit God, indwells the scriptures so that the hurting soul desperate for relief from worldly woe is able to be reached in their time of trouble. Because they're open to the spirit in the word to lead them home.
In the beginning was the word, and the word was with God, and the word was God.
Your statements would be more open for comment if you would give scriptural references to uphold your statements.
 

ForestGreenCook

Well-known member
Jul 8, 2018
8,441
1,213
113
Isaiah
Theme
Isaiah predicts imminent judgment—but eventual restoration—for the people of Judah and Jerusalem.
Overview
Do you know Christians who live double lives? Who only seem to be playing with God? The prophet Isaiah knew people who lived double lives—his fellow Israelites—and he shared God’s hatred for their duplicitous compromise. In the book of Isaiah, he challenges them to shape up and love God with all their hearts and minds. The NIV Quest Study Bible Isaiah wants his readers to see their hypocrisy and change their ways. Isaiah, who the NIV Student Bible calls the Shakespeare of Hebrew literature, was a poet who understood the two-sided nature of God’s character: mercy and judgment, grace and discipline, justice and forgiveness, exile and salvation. The tension of these great paradoxes fills the pages of Isaiah’s writings, demanding a resolution each reader must make: decide to commit to faith or to unbelief.



That chapter in Isaiah is Isaiah talking to the two faced , if you will, people of Judah and Jerusalem. Telling them what is essentially, they must choose to either be a believer in the word, or an unbeliever.Because their duplicitous nature thus far is unacceptable to God.
This is why we say, cherry picking verses to sustain a point isn't good because very often that singular verse in context of its whole chapter is saying something entirely different.

The Book of Isaiah chapter 28:1 Woe to the crown of pride, to the drunkards of Ephraim, whose glorious beauty is a fading flower, which are on the head of the fat valleys of them that are overcome with wine!


2 Behold, the Lord hath a mighty and strong one, which as a tempest of hail and a destroying storm, as a flood of mighty waters overflowing, shall cast down to the earth with the hand.


3 The crown of pride, the drunkards of Ephraim, shall be trodden under feet:


4 And the glorious beauty, which is on the head of the fat valley, shall be a fading flower, and as the hasty fruit before the summer; which when he that looketh upon it seeth, while it is yet in his hand he eateth it up.


5 In that day shall the Lord of hosts be for a crown of glory, and for a diadem of beauty, unto the residue of his people,


6 And for a spirit of judgment to him that sitteth in judgment, and for strength to them that turn the battle to the gate.


7 But they also have erred through wine, and through strong drink are out of the way; the priest and the prophet have erred through strong drink, they are swallowed up of wine, they are out of the way through strong drink; they err in vision, they stumble in judgment.


8 For all tables are full of vomit and filthiness, so that there is no place clean.


9 Whom shall he teach knowledge? and whom shall he make to understand doctrine? them that are weaned from the milk, and drawn from the breasts.


10 For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little:


11 For with stammering lips and another tongue will he speak to this people.


12 To whom he said, This is the rest wherewith ye may cause the weary to rest; and this is the refreshing: yet they would not hear.


13 But the word of the Lord was unto them precept upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little; that they might go, and fall backward, and be broken, and snared, and taken.


14 Wherefore hear the word of the Lord, ye scornful men, that rule this people which is in Jerusalem.


15 Because ye have said, We have made a covenant with death, and with hell are we at agreement; when the overflowing scourge shall pass through, it shall not come unto us: for we have made lies our refuge, and under falsehood have we hid ourselves:


16 Therefore thus saith the Lord God, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation: he that believeth shall not make haste.


17 Judgment also will I lay to the line, and righteousness to the plummet: and the hail shall sweep away the refuge of lies, and the waters shall overflow the hiding place.


18 And your covenant with death shall be disannulled, and your agreement with hell shall not stand; when the overflowing scourge shall pass through, then ye shall be trodden down by it.


19 From the time that it goeth forth it shall take you: for morning by morning shall it pass over, by day and by night: and it shall be a vexation only to understand the report.


20 For the bed is shorter than that a man can stretch himself on it: and the covering narrower than that he can wrap himself in it.


21 For the Lord shall rise up as in mount Perazim, he shall be wroth as in the valley of Gibeon, that he may do his work, his strange work; and bring to pass his act, his strange act.


22 Now therefore be ye not mockers, lest your bands be made strong: for I have heard from the Lord God of hosts a consumption, even determined upon the whole earth.


23 Give ye ear, and hear my voice; hearken, and hear my speech.


24 Doth the plowman plow all day to sow? doth he open and break the clods of his ground?


25 When he hath made plain the face thereof, doth he not cast abroad the fitches, and scatter the cummin, and cast in the principal wheat and the appointed barley and the rie in their place?


26 For his God doth instruct him to discretion, and doth teach him.


27 For the fitches are not threshed with a threshing instrument, neither is a cart wheel turned about upon the cummin; but the fitches are beaten out with a staff, and the cummin with a rod.


28 Bread corn is bruised; because he will not ever be threshing it, nor break it with the wheel of his cart, nor bruise it with his horsemen.


29 This also cometh forth from the Lord of hosts, which is wonderful in counsel, and excellent in working.
You know that I have strong feelings about the scriptures harmonizing and that you cannot ignore scriptures that seem to be saying something entirely different.
 

ForestGreenCook

Well-known member
Jul 8, 2018
8,441
1,213
113
Why would Calvinists need to resort to "tactics" against non-Calvinists? We're not at war -- At least not with each other. There are no brownie points for the number of people I get to agree with me on my interpretation of what is going on inside God's mind. Regardless of your view, our only concern should be to preach Christ Crucified, Raised to Life, and Coming Again.
Yes, but if you interpret the scriptures fosly you can lead some people astray by your preaching.
 

Whispered

Well-known member
Aug 17, 2019
4,551
2,230
113
www.christiancourier.com
Your statements would be more open for comment if you would give scriptural references to uphold your statements.
I did just that. I linked you to an article full of supporting scripture.
My post with supporting scripture reposted here:
Whispered said:


I don't believe Holy Spirit God indwells the unbeliever first so that they can understand the word. I believe The Word, Holy Spirit God, indwells the scriptures so that the hurting soul desperate for relief from worldly woe is able to be reached in their time of trouble. Because they're open to the spirit in the word to lead them home.
In the beginning was the word, and the word was with God, and the word was God.



You know that I have strong feelings about the scriptures harmonizing and that you cannot ignore scriptures that seem to be saying something entirely different.
It would appear you are ignoring the Isaiah scripture I posted that has the entire chapter of Isaiah, not just two verses, so as to show context in the teaching.
 

ForestGreenCook

Well-known member
Jul 8, 2018
8,441
1,213
113
I did just that. I linked you to an article full of supporting scripture.
My post with supporting scripture reposted here:
Whispered said:


I don't believe Holy Spirit God indwells the unbeliever first so that they can understand the word. I believe The Word, Holy Spirit God, indwells the scriptures so that the hurting soul desperate for relief from worldly woe is able to be reached in their time of trouble. Because they're open to the spirit in the word to lead them home.
In the beginning was the word, and the word was with God, and the word was God.




It would appear you are ignoring the Isaiah scripture I posted that has the entire chapter of Isaiah, not just two verses, so as to show context in the teaching.
If you believe that believing in the things of the Spirit before being born of the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, then how do you explain Eph 2? In the process of being born again of the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, the natural man was yet dead, spiritually, in sins and could not believe in the things of the Spirit until he was born with the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.
 

Whispered

Well-known member
Aug 17, 2019
4,551
2,230
113
www.christiancourier.com
If you believe that believing in the things of the Spirit before being born of the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, then how do you explain Eph 2? In the process of being born again of the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, the natural man was yet dead, spiritually, in sins and could not believe in the things of the Spirit until he was born with the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.
At this point as much of this is just a repeat of past arguments with scripture supporting, I believe I shall leave you to believe as you've been led to do.
God is a God of mercy. May His light bless your journey in this life and at its end may His peace lead you gently into that good night.
 

cv5

Well-known member
Nov 20, 2018
23,030
8,375
113
The precise wording of Romans 9 refutes any notion of double predestination.

Rom 9: 22,23
What if God, desiring to show his wrath and to make known his power, has endured with much patience vessels of wrath (1) prepared for destruction, in order to make known the riches of his glory for vessels of mercy, which he has (2) prepared beforehand for glory—

1) https://biblehub.com/greek/2675.htm
katartizó

2) https://biblehub.com/greek/4282.htm
proetoimazó

 

Whispered

Well-known member
Aug 17, 2019
4,551
2,230
113
www.christiancourier.com
The now departed R.C. Sproul was one of the foremost voices in Reformed Theology, Calvinism.

If there is no free will, why is the Bible filled with the language of choice? - R.C. Sproul

The Book of Romans chapter 9
21 Has the potter no right over the clay, to make out of the same lump one vessel for honorable use and another for dishonorable use? 22 What if God, desiring to show his wrath and to make known his power, has endured with much patience vessels of wrath prepared for destruction, 23 in order to make known the riches of his glory for vessels of mercy, which he has prepared beforehand for glory— 24 even us whom he has called, not from the Jews only but also from the Gentiles?

As is today, pastor John Piper
The Book of Romans chapter 8
28 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good,[a] for those who are called according to his purpose. 29 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. 30 And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.
 

fredoheaven

Senior Member
Nov 17, 2015
4,110
960
113
If you believe that believing in the things of the Spirit before being born of the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, then how do you explain Eph 2? In the process of being born again of the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, the natural man was yet dead, spiritually, in sins and could not believe in the things of the Spirit until he was born with the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.
The natural man is not beyond comprehension about salvation. . We do not limit the convicting power of the Holy Ghost. It just only takes him to believe or not to believe. Once a person who have heard the gospel and Christ, a person may receive or reject salvation. Salvation is full and free but one need to respond by faith, and this is what the bible teaching as explain in Ephesians 2:8. Salvation is all by God's grace through faith. In Ephesians 1:13, salvation is 'after' hearing, then trusted or believed the gospel of salvation.


Ephesians 1:13 Context

10That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him: 11In 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: 12That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ. 13In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, 14Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory. 15Wherefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus, and love unto all the saints, 16Cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers;
 

Hevosmies

Well-known member
Sep 8, 2018
3,612
2,633
113
The precise wording of Romans 9 refutes any notion of double predestination.

Rom 9: 22,23
What if God, desiring to show his wrath and to make known his power, has endured with much patience vessels of wrath (1) prepared for destruction, in order to make known the riches of his glory for vessels of mercy, which he has (2) prepared beforehand for glory—

1) https://biblehub.com/greek/2675.htm
katartizó

2) https://biblehub.com/greek/4282.htm
proetoimazó
Why are we afraid of double predestination? If you choose person A to play on the football team, you chose person B to not play!

ITS AIIGHT. No need to worry about that.
 

John146

Senior Member
Jan 13, 2016
17,130
3,689
113
The natural man is not beyond comprehension about salvation. . We do not limit the convicting power of the Holy Ghost. It just only takes him to believe or not to believe. Once a person who have heard the gospel and Christ, a person may receive or reject salvation. Salvation is full and free but one need to respond by faith, and this is what the bible teaching as explain in Ephesians 2:8. Salvation is all by God's grace through faith. In Ephesians 1:13, salvation is 'after' hearing, then trusted or believed the gospel of salvation.


Ephesians 1:13 Context

10That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him: 11In 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: 12That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ. 13In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, 14Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory. 15Wherefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus, and love unto all the saints, 16Cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers;
Amen brother. All in the Greek means all. 🤓
 

John146

Senior Member
Jan 13, 2016
17,130
3,689
113
Why are we afraid of double predestination? If you choose person A to play on the football team, you chose person B to not play!

ITS AIIGHT. No need to worry about that.
I love the doctrine of predestination. It’s a wonderful thing knowing my destination is set and guaranteed by God.

The believer is predestined. No unbeliever is ever predestined. The believer is predestined for the adoption. It’s the future promise of a redeemed body. The Holy Spirit has sealed me, guaranteed it’s going to happen. I will be conformed into the image of Jesus Christ.

Ephesians 1:5 Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,

What’s the adoption?

Romans 8:23 23 And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.

Once I believe the gospel, once I’m in Christ, my destination is set.
 

ForestGreenCook

Well-known member
Jul 8, 2018
8,441
1,213
113
The natural man is not beyond comprehension about salvation. . We do not limit the convicting power of the Holy Ghost. It just only takes him to believe or not to believe. Once a person who have heard the gospel and Christ, a person may receive or reject salvation. Salvation is full and free but one need to respond by faith, and this is what the bible teaching as explain in Ephesians 2:8. Salvation is all by God's grace through faith. In Ephesians 1:13, salvation is 'after' hearing, then trusted or believed the gospel of salvation.


Ephesians 1:13 Context

10That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him: 11In 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: 12That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ. 13In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, 14Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory. 15Wherefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus, and love unto all the saints, 16Cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers;
If it was the case, that the Holy Spirit convicts the natural man, then why in Eph 2 it says that the natural man was yet dead (spiritually) in his sins before God regenerated him? If the Holy Spirit, previously, taught him the gospel which tells of Jesus's salvation on the cross, then he would not have been spiritually dead before he was regenerated and given the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. All scriptures must harmonize.
 

ForestGreenCook

Well-known member
Jul 8, 2018
8,441
1,213
113
The natural man is not beyond comprehension about salvation. . We do not limit the convicting power of the Holy Ghost. It just only takes him to believe or not to believe. Once a person who have heard the gospel and Christ, a person may receive or reject salvation. Salvation is full and free but one need to respond by faith, and this is what the bible teaching as explain in Ephesians 2:8. Salvation is all by God's grace through faith. In Ephesians 1:13, salvation is 'after' hearing, then trusted or believed the gospel of salvation.


Ephesians 1:13 Context

10That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him: 11In 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: 12That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ. 13In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, 14Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory. 15Wherefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus, and love unto all the saints, 16Cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers;
After we were already born again, with the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, we were, in essence, sealed (stamped) by the promise of the Holy Spirit as the earnest (guarantee) of our eternal inheritance. We had already received the Holy Spirit in the new birth and he was not giving us himself again, but a promise, With the same meaning that Christ said on the cross "it is finished".
 

John146

Senior Member
Jan 13, 2016
17,130
3,689
113
After we were already born again, with the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, we were, in essence, sealed (stamped) by the promise of the Holy Spirit as the earnest (guarantee) of our eternal inheritance. We had already received the Holy Spirit in the new birth and he was not giving us himself again, but a promise, With the same meaning that Christ said on the cross "it is finished".
That’s not what Ephesians 1 says.

1. Hear the gospel
2. Believe/trust the gospel
3. Sealed by the Holy Spirit

In that order. There’s no way to mess up this order. It’s plain Scripture reading.
 

cv5

Well-known member
Nov 20, 2018
23,030
8,375
113
God soverignly in grace and mercy according to His Will and choice called Abraham. God then soverignly in grace and mercy and according to His choice abrogated and nullified Abraham's plan of Ishmael.

Same goes for the apostles. Same goes for Matthias.

And same goes for every single faithful believer.

Ultimately God soverignly and in grace and mercy overruled abrogated and nullified original sin and Satan's claim and mans incapacity which would have resulted in ALL men condemned to eternal hell.

I really don't understand the vaccilating and equivocation.
 

fredoheaven

Senior Member
Nov 17, 2015
4,110
960
113
After we were already born again, with the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, we were, in essence, sealed (stamped) by the promise of the Holy Spirit as the earnest (guarantee) of our eternal inheritance. We had already received the Holy Spirit in the new birth and he was not giving us himself again, but a promise, With the same meaning that Christ said on the cross "it is finished".
Yes, scripture must harmonize but the question is are we doing it? Let' see what the Scripture says then compare with what you say. Once again I'll be quoting on Ephesians 1

Ephesians 1:12-15 King James Version (KJV)
12 That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ.
13 In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,
14 Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.
15 Wherefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus, and love unto all the saints,

The context is about 'trusting, believing or faith in the Lord Jesus", in whom 'after' that ye believed, ye were sealed with that Holy Spirit. and that is what the scripture is saying.

But look, the conflicting statement of yours, it dose not really harmonize with the scriptures.

"After we were already born again, with the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, we were, in essence, sealed (stamped) by the promise of the Holy Spirit as the earnest (guarantee) of our eternal inheritance."

This trying to put the cart first and not the horse and I would believe the scriptures says. that those who first trusted Christ are those who have heard the gospel and were sealed with that Holy Spirit. So if you mind I would like to rephrase your statement according to the Scripture.

"After we were already born again, by the quickening of the Holy Spirit, we were, in essence, sealed (stamped) with that Holy Spirit of promise as the earnest (guarantee) of our eternal inheritance."
 

fredoheaven

Senior Member
Nov 17, 2015
4,110
960
113
If it was the case, that the Holy Spirit convicts the natural man, then why in Eph 2 it says that the natural man was yet dead (spiritually) in his sins before God regenerated him? If the Holy Spirit, previously, taught him the gospel which tells of Jesus's salvation on the cross, then he would not have been spiritually dead before he was regenerated and given the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. All scriptures must harmonize.
Ephesians 2 is reaching of the merciful and loving God (Eph. 2:4), that even when we were dead in sins, the Holy Spirit of promise hath made us alive. This is a work of grace for it is only by the grace of God that we are saved through faith. Further Eph. 2 speaks of the "time past" and how those dead receives life, again it is only by the grace of God through faith.
 

ForestGreenCook

Well-known member
Jul 8, 2018
8,441
1,213
113
Yes, scripture must harmonize but the question is are we doing it? Let' see what the Scripture says then compare with what you say. Once again I'll be quoting on Ephesians 1

Ephesians 1:12-15 King James Version (KJV)
12 That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ.
13 In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,
14 Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.
15 Wherefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus, and love unto all the saints,

The context is about 'trusting, believing or faith in the Lord Jesus", in whom 'after' that ye believed, ye were sealed with that Holy Spirit. and that is what the scripture is saying.

But look, the conflicting statement of yours, it dose not really harmonize with the scriptures.

"After we were already born again, with the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, we were, in essence, sealed (stamped) by the promise of the Holy Spirit as the earnest (guarantee) of our eternal inheritance."

This trying to put the cart first and not the horse and I would believe the scriptures says. that those who first trusted Christ are those who have heard the gospel and were sealed with that Holy Spirit. So if you mind I would like to rephrase your statement according to the Scripture.

"After we were already born again, by the quickening of the Holy Spirit, we were, in essence, sealed (stamped) with that Holy Spirit of promise as the earnest (guarantee) of our eternal inheritance."
The point that I was trying to make is the fact that the natural man, as described in 1 Cor 2;14 will not harmonize with Eph 1:13 for the fact that the natural man will not hear (discern) the word of truth until he has been born again and given the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. In my understanding, you are giving the natural man the ability to hear and discern the things of the Spirit before he is born again and given the indwelling of the Holy Spirit in order to discern spiritual things. Before he is born again he thinks that spiritual things are foolishness.