Debunking Calvinism

[Twistie]

without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast
Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations."

He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake

And I fell at his feet to worship him. And he said unto me, See thou do it not: I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren that have the testimony of Jesus: worship God: for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.

Abba New who would return and who wouldn't yet He didn't tweek not one to do as He wanted..

We all have choices and Abba already knows what we will choose..

Hope alls well
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[Twistie]

Calvinists don't believe we have free will to choose Jesus due to our fallen state. There are endless debates about this "Total Depravity". I don't agree with Calvinists.

• I'm bad at earning money but I can wish I had the ability to earn a billion dollars. I'm still bad at earning money and will never earn a billion dollars. End of story. (actually God provides all I need)
• In my fallen state I had zero ability to earn forgiveness and eternal life but I could wish that I could obtain it. Along comes the Holy Spirit filling me with the desire to know Christ. I now have forgiveness and eternal life despite still having zero ability to earn forgiveness and eternal life. It's a free gift.

Some people (focusing on certain verses) will say that my desiring the gift is a good action on my part making me earn eternal life which contradicts the bible verses stating we can't earn it.

Some (focusing on other verses) will say that God wants us to seek Him and knock and we will find and He will answer.

The fact is all bible verses are true. People who are too smart for their own good will create models of interpretation to explain away some clear bible truths that don't fit their model. Even in quantum physics a single electron can be in two different places at the same time. Is the particle here now or over there now? The true answer is it's both here and there now. Did I choose God or did God choose me? What is the single deciding factor that tipped the balance? The true answer is both are the single deciding factor. Our tiny human brains have a problem wrapping our minds around the apparent tension. That is to be expected when reading the word of the infinite Creator. If He chooses to do so He can make this process clear to us when we are finally with Him. The joy of being with God will probably be so immense that these implementation details likely won't matter to us then.

@Twistie you have a better understanding of God because you know Jesus is alive and have a relationship with Him than the highest IQ Christian with the most sophisticated theological model can ever have.

If people would take time n just get to know Him it be much simpler... anyone who doesn't know Him thats on them all they have to do is give Him time.. funny isnt it?..how time is given freely to us yet many dont want to share it with the One who gave it to us..

Hope alls well

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[KingJ]

Reconciliation and Justification: The Scriptural Connection​

Many deny that reconciliation has a direct forensic connection with justification. But when the relevant passages are compared, Scripture presents a powerful chain of truth concerning those reconciled to God by the death of Christ.

Paul writes:


Notice what Paul explicitly states.

The reconciliation was:

By the death of God's Son.

And it occurred:

When we were enemies.

The text does not say that Christ's death merely made reconciliation possible and that reconciliation occurred only when the sinner later supplied faith as an independent condition. Paul says:


The question is therefore: What does this reconciliation involve?

Paul gives us further light in 2 Corinthians 5:19:


Here reconciliation is explicitly connected with:

“Not imputing their trespasses unto them.”

That is a profoundly forensic statement.

Those whom God reconciles are described as those whose trespasses are not imputed to them.

Therefore, when Romans 5:10 says that we were reconciled to God by Christ's death while we were enemies, and 2 Corinthians 5:19 describes reconciliation in terms of the non-imputation of trespasses, Scripture establishes a direct connection between Christ's reconciling death and the removal of sin from the judicial account of those reconciled.

Now consider David's words:


Paul quotes this passage in Romans 4 while discussing justification:


Notice Paul's argument.

He introduces David's words by saying that David describes:


Then Paul supports that statement by quoting David's description of:

The forgiveness of sins.

The covering of sins.

The non-imputation of sin.

Thus Paul directly places the non-imputation of sin within his discussion of the blessedness of the person to whom God imputes righteousness without works.

The passages therefore establish the following connection:

Romans 5:10:
We were reconciled to God by the death of His Son while we were enemies.

2 Corinthians 5:19:
Reconciliation involves God not imputing trespasses to those reconciled.

Romans 4:6–8:
The non-imputation of sin is set within Paul's explanation of the blessedness of the person to whom God imputes righteousness without works.

Therefore, reconciliation accomplished by Christ's death cannot be treated as though it were merely a vague change of attitude or an empty possibility waiting for the sinner to make Christ's work effective.

Christ's death accomplished reconciliation.

Reconciliation is described in forensic terms involving the non-imputation of trespasses.

And Paul connects that blessed non-imputation with the imputation of righteousness without works.

That is why I maintain that those whom Christ reconciled to God by His death while they were enemies stood before God on the basis of Christ's accomplished work—not on the basis of any works they later performed.

The issue is not whether faith is necessary. Scripture plainly teaches that God's people believe.

The issue is whether faith is the judicial ground that causes Christ's death to become effective before God.

These passages point elsewhere.

Christ's death reconciles.

Reconciliation involves the non-imputation of trespasses.

The non-imputation of sin is inseparably connected in Romans 4 with the blessedness of imputed righteousness without works.

Therefore, the forensic basis of acceptance with God is found in Christ's accomplished work, not in anything produced by the sinner.

Faith does not provide the righteousness.

Christ does.

Faith does not satisfy divine justice.

Christ's blood does.

And faith does not cause God to discover a reason to reconcile sinners.

Christ reconciled His people to God by His death.

That is the force of Romans 5:10.

You have AI repeating the same arguments in every post. You might need to check in with it, it's going in circles.

I'd love to see your AI prompts: "Dear AI, please keep repeating inferences and assumptions ad nauseam."

The Terror of Standing Before God as a False Teacher

 

[Bill]

Many professing Christians identify as Calvinists, while others dismiss Calvinism as merely another harmless theological difference. It is not. Christians should understand what Calvinism actually teaches and test it carefully against Scripture rather than being naive about its implications.

At its core, Calvinism portrays God as arbitrarily favouring a select few for salvation while withholding the saving grace necessary for the rest to believe. That portrayal seriously conflicts with Scripture's repeated declaration that God is good, just, impartial, desires all to be saved, and is “no respecter of persons.”

Some elements of TULIP may appear biblical when considered in isolation, which is precisely why Calvinism can be so deceptive. A false doctrine does not have to look entirely false; it can take genuine biblical truths, distort them, and use them to construct a false system. If you identify yourself as a Calvinist, you should understand that Calvinism is fundamentally the entire TULIP (5 point) system, not merely a belief in election or God's sovereignty.

Any who teach and support this belief need to please carefully read my thread here - The Terror of Standing Before God as a False Teacher

This thread will examine and debunk Calvinism in two parts:

Part 1 — The logical and theological contradictions of Calvinism

Part 2 — Ten of the strongest Scriptural arguments against Calvinism

May Jesus fill us with his love and wisdom

You're absolutely correct, and understanding that Calvinism is not of the Lord. And I'm glad you're putting it into words like this for everyone to read.

I only know it because of my spiritual experiences, I know for a fact that myself for instance, when I sin, my sons have a greater impact than others. It has to do with the fact that where much is given much is expected. And as I have been given a lot, then a lot is expected of me.

I know that I can use scripture as an example, but few actually believe that Judas was written and the Book of Life, even though it says it in the scripture.

After the apostles returned to Jesus with the other disciples that had sent and sent out two by two. They had been preaching in the towns and healing people and casting out demons. It states Jesus says to them, "Rejoice that your names are written in heaven" I'd like to point out that in the Scripture it States the names of the Apostles including the full name of Judas Iscariot as the group that came back. And I do think it's a little bit curious of all the names of all the apostles that are written in Scripture it is Judas is curious full name that was posted. I think there is purpose for this to teach us and to let us know that he is one of those whose names were written in heaven. And yet chose to take his own path, and betrayed Jesus later on.

We can see this also with Peter, or Jesus betrayed Jesus by saying I do not know him. But the big difference is between Peter and Judas is that Peter repented and came back to the Lord. Were Judas did not.

I also truly believe that the passage about the righteous in the scripture is primarily written about Judas. Because wasn't he one of those who was healing people and casting out demons in the name of Jesus. And hear the king Rejects Judas staying away from me I never knew you