S
Someone has nothing else to do but push their agenda....
Be convinced, and act on it
Quick Note:
Most Christians who are non-calvinist are NOT Arminians.
The label of Arminian, and all the doctrines of Arminianism are flippantly, and incorrectly, tossed onto anyone who isn't a Calvinist.
Well, I don't know how you are going to prove that. If Arminianism is by definition non-Christian, you may have a shot at it. didn't start this thread. To me instead of going on about Calvinists, one should just define the doctrines, true & false. I didn't start this thread; I just change the thread to Arminian as a touché.
If you deny being a Calvinist, I have no idea what you mean except that you probably don't believe in some of the TULIP -- maybe you deny it all & think that all our righteousnesses are as unfilthy linen.
But it is a false "gospel" to relegate Christ to the role of "chance-giver," and deny that He actually saves.
Thou shalt call His name Jesus, for He shall save His people from their sins.
Does God owe you an explanation?Was there a basis as to why God loved 'Joe' and not 'Jack'?
Not being able to give a basis leaves a gaping black hole in Calvinistic theology. So how can Calvinists say they are right and others are wrong when Calvinists have this 'black hole' they can give no explanation for?
If Arminianism is by definition non-Christian, you may have a shot at it.
But it is a false "gospel" to relegate Christ to the role of "chance-giver," and deny that He actually saves.
Does God owe you an explanation?
SolidGround said:Be happy that He chose you.
Solidground said:There is no hole. God does what He does, and it is good, and infinitely better than either of us would have done in His place.
Solidground said:Does God give a reason for having death be the punishment for sin? no, but it is what it is.
Does God give a reason for choosing Jacob instead of Esau? no, but it is what it is.
Does this mean that God did not have a reason? No. God certainly had a reason, but He doesn't need to share it.
Yes, it HAS to be ME in it somewhere, else God is unfair and there's nothing for us in ourselves to boast in. The scary thing about this is that it's just not an "alternate" view, its an attitude which hinders sinners to come to the knowledge of the truth. A goofy theology that keeps people looking to their own selves or the law, but not looking to Christ.
some people just don;t get it. They are too proud to give it all to God. they have to feel special, and have a part in it.
That's the habit of some...welcome to the reality of a dark world.Must we really call other Christians "satanic"?
Well, I don't know how you are going to prove that. If Arminianism is by definition non-Christian, you may have a shot at it. I didn't start this thread. To me instead of going on about Calvinists, one should just define the doctrines, true & false. I just change the thread to Arminian as a touché. Now if you will tell me what your -ism is, I can change the title to "The Phony Evangelism of Maxwel Smart."
If you deny being a Calvinist, I have no idea what you mean except that you probably don't believe in some of the TULIP -- maybe you deny it all & think that all our righteousnesses are as unfilthy linen.
But it is a false "gospel" to relegate Christ to the role of "chance-giver," and deny that He actually saves.
Thou shalt call His name Jesus, for He shall save His people from their sins.
Well... maybe you should find out before tearing into them?
God chose the group Christian. I choose to obey the gospel to become part of that foreknown, pre-chosen group.
"God does give a reason for why men are saved or lost. OBEDIENCE. The bible cannot be more clear those that choose to obey will be saved Heb 5:9 and those that obey not will be lost, 2 Thess 1:8. Calvinism will not accept that and therefore remains in the dark and cannot explain the basis as to why some are saved, others lost.
Do you claim that the Lord is not omniscient, and could know a group without knowing the persons in the group? Individuals were chosen, as Rom 16 tells us:
"Salute Rufus the chosen in the Lord, and his mother and mine."
Your verse references do not support your theories, Seabass. Salvation is not human works. "For by grace you are having been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves, not of works lest anyone should boast."
The only obedience that saves is obedience to this command:
"Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you shall be saved."
Now when will you do that?
When will you obey that command?
When will you repent of diminishing the Savior to a chance-giver?
Thou shalt call His name Jesus,
for He shall save His people from their sins.
God foreknows who would and would not be in the group, but God did not predetermine it but let men choose for themselves.
The group Christian is chosen and in the Lord and since Rufus chose to be a Christian therefore he was part of the chosen who are in the Lord.
1 Pet 2:9 But ye (group Christian) are a chosen generation
Eph 1:4
According as he hath chosen us (group Christan) in him before the foundation of the world
2 Thess 2:13
But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth:
How are people chosen? Randomly before the world began or for some unknown reason? No. People are chosen CONDITIONALLY to salvation by sanctification of the
Spirit and belief of the truth. This underlined part sound familiar?
So one becomes part of the chosen group, the saved by submitting to water baptism then are adding to the group/the church/the kingdom/the body of Christ, Acts 2:47
Heb 5:9
And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him; . . . 2 Thess 1:8 In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ:
One verse does not trump other verses,
Since Christ saves those that obey, and those that believe are saved then that can only mean belief is a form of obedience, an obedient work.
Jn 3:36
He that believeth on the Son hath eternal life; but he that obeyeth not the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abideth on him. "Believeth" is contrasted to "obeyeth not" again meaning believing is an obedient work.
Well, Seabass, that is all your word. I prefer God's word.
For whom he foreknew, he also foreordained to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren: and whom he foreordained, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.
Rom 8 clearly refers to all individuals in each category, using a plural word, not a collective singular "group" word.
All who were foreknown were foreordained.
All who were foreordained were called.
All who were called were justified.
All who were justified were glorified.
The plural words imply individuals.
Atwood said:That is what you say, but the word says that the individual name Rufus was chosen.
Now Seabass, I will congratulate you on actually quoting scripture this time!
Atwood said:Wrong. It is not merely a group (singular word), but ye, which is a plural pronoun and must refer to individuals.
In EPh 1 Paul is addressing the group Christian, "Saints", the "faithful in Christ" verse 1 using the pronoun "us"atwood said:Wrong again. The word "group" does not occur. It is not just a group (singular collective) chosen, it is us, a plural pronoun which must refer to individuals.
Atwood said:Again the pronoun "you" (as always in the KJV), is plural and must refer to individuals.
Atwood said:You quote 2 Thes 2:13 first using "through," then you change it to "by." But in Greek the preposition is
Atwood said:ἐν = in, which might be interpreted a number of ways. Who is it that does the sanctification? It looks like the Holy Spirit did it to me. Does this mean that the Spirit set aside the chosen people and determined that they would believe because to them it would be "given . . . to believe?"
It says nothing about people chosen conditionally; it says they were chosen to salvation. They were chosen from the beginning, long before they would believe. The interpetation of "in [ ἐν]" before the word "sanctification," could be of different private interpretations. In other words, the preposition en is capable of different meanings, so that just on the basis of this verse alone (private) it would be hard to dogmatize on what it means. To me it makes sense as God having chosen his elect, set them apart by His Spirit, and determined that He would give them the gift of faith (to you it is given . . . to believe).
You cannot prove anything conditional about the choosing here from this verse. I can see how different Christians might take it differently.
ASV"
"But we are bound to give thanks to God always for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, for that God chose you from the beginning unto salvation in [ ἐν] sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth:"
The text says absolutely nothing about condition, neither does it say, "random."
Jn 3:5--------------spirit++++++++++++born of water [sic; deceitful!] >>>>in the kingdom
[born of water+++Spirit++++++++++++++++++++++++++++in the kingdom]
1Cor 12:13-------spirit++++[sic]+++baptized>>>>>>>>>>>>in the body
1Thess 2:13------spirit++++++++++belief of truth>>>>>>>>>salvation - chosen [sic bogus]
Again, your parallelism is bogus; you changed the words around! You particularly butchered 1 Th 3
Jn 3:5 -born of water++++++Spirit+++++++++++++++in the kingdom
1Cor 12:13-[no water!]-------------Spirit-baptized>>>>>>>in the body
1 Th 2:13 has chosen --- salvation --- Spirit --- belief
Except one be born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom
For in one Spirit were we all baptized into one body,
No water in 1 Cor 12:13.
No baptism in John 3.
The Word of God says no such thing. Water baptism never saves in the Bible.
The choosing happened long ago, "from the beginning." Acts 2:47 says not such thing.
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This salvation is eternal, not something that comes & goes. And the only obedience that saves is obeying:
Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you shall be saved.
Obey this gospel or beware of the flaming fire!
So if you have not obeyed that command, but have lowered Christ to a mere chance-giver, repent & trust Him as only & sufficient Savior.
No scripture is of private interpretation. Since salvation is offered men over & over simply for believing, the odd verses must be understood in that context.
Believe is a command to obey. But it is not a work; Faith is the opposite pole of works. "For by grace you have been saved through faith . . . not of works." Faith is resting in the Savior and depending on Him to do the saving.
False; for scripture is crystal clear that human works do not save. The only command to obey to be saved is the command to believe:
Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ & you shall be saved -- no ifs, ands, or buts.