Greetings,
In this thread I aim to take a completely different approach on the Calvinism vs Arminianism issue. What I aim to do in this thread is to take 1 scripture that appears to support Calvinism, and add 1 scripture that appears to support Arminianism. Adding the two scriptures together we will begin to create a new doctrine. Then we will add another verse supporting Calvinism. Then we will add another verse support Arminianism. We will keep adding verses and see just what sort of doctrine that we end up with!
Now, it is my promise to you all that I will take a completely unbiased approach on this issue.
1+1=2
2+1=3
3+1=4
etc..
Are you game?
Alright, the first two scriptures we will add together are:
John 6:44 (King James Version)
44No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.
This verse is simply stating a matter of fact, that no man can come to Jesus unless the Father draws him. This verse does not say how many will be drawn. It does not say whether all men or whether only some men will be drawn.
Deuteronomy 30:19 (King James Version)
19I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live:
This verse states that this vast group of people (The entire body of Israelite people in the desert) were given a choice to do good or to do evil, to live and be blessed, or to die and be cursed. This choice was given to the entire group, not just to some. Choosing life undoubtedly means to follow God in the correct manner that He has ordained, not just choosing to do good works or live an outwardly righteous life.
Combining the scriptures together I believe would read like this: No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him - therefore - since I have drawn all of you, I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life.
Knowing that God did choose Israel, we have to conclude that He then gave them a choice afterward whether or not to love Him. Drawing them was not the end of the matter, they still were required to choose. I would say it this way: God opened their eyes to His existence and His nature, and now that they understood Him, they were under obligation to make a choice whether or not to love Him.
Alright, the next verse is a verse supporting Calvinism. Which verse would you all prefer I add next?
Quest
In this thread I aim to take a completely different approach on the Calvinism vs Arminianism issue. What I aim to do in this thread is to take 1 scripture that appears to support Calvinism, and add 1 scripture that appears to support Arminianism. Adding the two scriptures together we will begin to create a new doctrine. Then we will add another verse supporting Calvinism. Then we will add another verse support Arminianism. We will keep adding verses and see just what sort of doctrine that we end up with!
Now, it is my promise to you all that I will take a completely unbiased approach on this issue.
1+1=2
2+1=3
3+1=4
etc..
Are you game?
Alright, the first two scriptures we will add together are:
John 6:44 (King James Version)
44No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.
This verse is simply stating a matter of fact, that no man can come to Jesus unless the Father draws him. This verse does not say how many will be drawn. It does not say whether all men or whether only some men will be drawn.
Deuteronomy 30:19 (King James Version)
19I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live:
This verse states that this vast group of people (The entire body of Israelite people in the desert) were given a choice to do good or to do evil, to live and be blessed, or to die and be cursed. This choice was given to the entire group, not just to some. Choosing life undoubtedly means to follow God in the correct manner that He has ordained, not just choosing to do good works or live an outwardly righteous life.
Combining the scriptures together I believe would read like this: No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him - therefore - since I have drawn all of you, I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life.
Knowing that God did choose Israel, we have to conclude that He then gave them a choice afterward whether or not to love Him. Drawing them was not the end of the matter, they still were required to choose. I would say it this way: God opened their eyes to His existence and His nature, and now that they understood Him, they were under obligation to make a choice whether or not to love Him.
Alright, the next verse is a verse supporting Calvinism. Which verse would you all prefer I add next?
Quest