The Bible Tells Us When Jesus Returns - Between Tisha B'Av and Day of Atonement 2029

[MaxGrit]

Lecture 7 Total Depravity Part 1 from What Is Reformed Theology Teaching Series by Dr. R.C. Sproul from Ligonier Ministries
Lecture 8 Total Depravity Part 2 from What Is Reformed Theology Teaching Series by Dr. R.C. Sproul from Ligonier Ministries

 

[Parture]

Apologetics Press - Blasphemy Against the Holy Spirit The Unpardonable Sin

Blasphemy Against the Holy Spirit—The "Unpardonable Sin"

by Kyle Butt, M.A.

Through the years, numerous writers have taken on the task of explaining the comment spoken by Jesus concerning the “unpardonable sin”—blasphemy against the Holy Spirit. From these writings have come countless false doctrines, insinuations, and suggested explanations. It is the purpose of this article to explain what “blasphemy against the Holy Spirit” is not, what it actually is, and to offer comment concerning whether it still can be committed today.

Three of the four gospel accounts contain a reference to the statement made by Jesus concerning blasphemy against the Holy Spirit. These three passages read as follows.

Therefore I say to you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven men. Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man, it will be forgiven him; but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit, it will not be forgiven him, either in this age or in the age to come (Matthew 12:31-32).

Assuredly, I say to you, all sins will be forgiven the sons of men, and whatever blasphemies they may utter; but he who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit never has forgiveness, but is subject to eternal condemnation—because they said, “He has an unclean spirit” (Mark 3:28-30).

And anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man, it will be forgiven him; but to him who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit, it will not be forgiven (Luke 12:10).

Each of these references to the statement made by Jesus verifies that Jesus did clearly state that there is a specific sin that “will not be forgiven.” The American Standard Version describes the sin as an “eternal sin” (Mark 3:29). Jesus defined that sin as “the blasphemy against the Spirit.” What, then, is blasphemy against the Spirit?

In order to explain this sin fully, a look at the general context of the statement is critical. Matthew’s account offers the most detail concerning the setting in which Jesus’ statement was made. In Matthew 12:22, the text indicates that a certain man who was demon-possessed was brought to Jesus to be healed. As was His common practice, Jesus cast out the unclean spirit, and healed the man of his blindness and inability to speak. After seeing this display of power, the multitudes that followed Jesus asked, “Could this be the Son of David?” (12:23). Upon hearing this remark, the Pharisees, wanting to discredit the source from which Jesus received His power, declared that Jesus was casting out demons by “Beelzebub, the ruler of demons.” Jesus proceeded to explain that a kingdom divided against itself could not stand, and if He were casting out demons by the power of demons, then He would be defeating Himself. It was after this accusation by the Pharisees, and Jesus’ defense of His actions, that Christ commented concerning the blasphemy against the Spirit. In fact, the text of Mark clearly states that Jesus made the comment about the blasphemy against the Spirit “because they said, ‘He has an unclean spirit.’ ”

Another critical piece of information needed to clarify Jesus’ statement is the definition of blasphemy. Wayne Jackson wrote: “Blasphemy is an anglicized form of the Greek term blasphemia, which scholars believe probably derives from two roots, blapto, to injure, and pheme, to speak. The word would thus suggest injurious speech” (2000). Bernard Franklin, in his article concerning blasphemy against the Spirit, suggested:

The word “blasphemy” in its various forms (as verb, noun, adjective, etc.) appears some fifty-nine times in the New Testament. It has a variety of renderings, such as, “blasphemy,” “reviled,” “railed,” “evil spoken of,” “to speak evil of,” etc. Examples of these various renderings are: “They that passed by reviled him” (Matthew 27:39). “He that shall blaspheme” (Mark 3:29). “They that passed by railed on him” (Mark 15:29). “The way of truth shall be evil spoken of ” (2 Peter 2:2). “These speak evil of those things” (Jude 10). It is evident from these that blasphemy is a sin of the mouth, a “tongue-sin.” All New Testament writers except the author of Hebrews use the word (1936, pp. 224-225).

Furthermore, Jesus defined the term when, after referring to blasphemy, He used the phrase “speaks a word against” in Matthew 12:32.

WHAT THE UNPARDONABLE SIN IS NOT

With the working definition of blasphemy meaning, “to speak against,” or “speak evil of,” it is easy to rule out several sins that would not qualify as the unpardonable sin. Occasionally, murder is suggested as the “unpardonable sin.” Such cannot be the case, however. First, since blasphemy is a “tongue sin,” murder would not fall into this category. Second, several biblical passages show the sin of murder can be forgiven. When King David committed adultery and had Uriah the Hittite murdered, the prophet Nathan came to him, informing him that God had seen that David “killed Uriah the Hittite with the sword” (2 Samuel 12:9). When David confessed to Nathan and repented, the prophet told David, “The Lord also has put away your sin; you shall not die” (12:13). And, although David was punished for his iniquity, it was forgiven. The Bible plainly demonstrates that murder is not the unpardonable sin.

Adultery surfaces as another sin put forward as unpardonable. Yet the same reasoning used to discount murder as the unpardonable sin can be used to disqualify adultery. First, it does not fit the category of blasphemy. Second, David was forgiven of adultery, just as surely as he was forgiven of murder. The apostle Paul gave a list of no less than ten sins (including adultery) of which the Corinthian brethren had been forgiven (1 Corinthians 6:9-11). Adultery cannot be the unpardonable sin.

Another sin set forth as the unpardonable sin is blasphemy of any kind, not specifically against the Holy Spirit. We know, however, that blasphemy in general cannot be unforgivable for two reasons. First, in the context of the unpardonable sin, Jesus clearly stated that “whatever blasphemies” men may utter (besides against the Holy Spirit) could be forgiven. Second, Paul confessed that before his conversion, he had formerly been “a blasphemer, a persecutor, and an insolent man; but I obtained mercy because I did it ignorantly in unbelief ” (1 Timothy 1:13). These two biblical passages rule out the possibility of general blasphemy as the unpardonable sin.

We begin to see, then, that we cannot arbitrarily decide which sins we think are heinous, and then simply attribute to them the property of being unpardonable, especially considering the fact that even those who were guilty of crucifying the Son of God had the opportunity to be forgiven (Acts 2:36-38). Therefore, since the unpardonable sin falls into a category of its own, and cannot be murder, adultery, general blasphemy, etc., some scholars have set forth the idea that the unpardonable sin is not a single sin at all, but is instead the stubborn condition of a person who persists in unbelief. This understanding, however, fails to take into account the immediate context of the “unpardonable sin.” Gus Nichols, commenting on this idea of “persistent unbelief,” stated: “It is true, great multitudes are going into eternity in rebellion against God to be finally and eternally lost; but it is for rejecting and neglecting pardon graciously extended in the gospel while they live, not because they have committed the unpardonable sin” (1967, p. 236). Wendell Winkler, under a section titled, “What the Blasphemy Against the Holy Spirit is Not,” wrote that it is not

postponement of obedience until death. The text implies that those who commit the eternal sin continue to live while having lost all opportunity of salvation; whereas those who postpone obedience to Christ (except those who commit the eternal sin) could have obeyed at any time previous to their death (1980, p. 20).

IN THIS AGE OR IN THE AGE TO COME

Jesus said that blasphemy against the Spirit would not be forgiven “in this age or in the age to come” (Matthew 12:32). Certain religious organizations have seized upon this statement to suggest that Jesus has in mind a situation in which certain sins will be remitted after death—but not this sin. This idea of a purgatory-like state, where the souls of the dead are given a “second chance” to do penance for the sins they committed in their earthly life, finds no justification in this statement made by Christ (nor in any other biblical passage, for that matter). R.C.H. Lenski stated that Jesus’ use of the phrase under discussion meant simply “absolutely never” (1961, p. 484). Hendriksen concurred with Lenski when he wrote:

In passing, it should be pointed out that these words by no stretch of the imagination imply that for certain sins there will be forgiveness in the life hereafter. They do not in any sense whatever support the doctrine of purgatory. The expression simply means that the indicated sin will never be forgiven (1973, p. 528).

As the writer of Hebrews succinctly wrote, “it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment” (Hebrews 9:27).

It also has been suggested by several writers that the “age to come” discussed by Jesus refers to the Christian Age. According to this idea, Jesus made the statement in the Jewish Age, when the Law of Moses was in effect, and the “age to come” denoted the Christian Age immediately following, when the Law of Christ would prevail. Putting this meaning to the phrase often leads the advocates of this theory to conclude that the unpardonable sin could be committed in the Christian Age, after the resurrection of Christ. As Winkler surmised, “Thus, since our Lord was speaking while the Jewish age was in existence, he was affirming that the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost would not be forgiven in (a) the Jewish age, nor in (b) the Christian age, the age that followed” (1980, p. 21). Nichols, after affirming the same proposition, concluded:

It follows that this sin, therefore, could be committed during the personal ministry of Christ, and was then committed, as we have seen, and could also be committed under the gospel age or dispensation. They could have attributed the works of the Spirit to Satan after Pentecost, the same as before (1967, p. 234).

Two primary pieces of evidence, however, militate against the idea that Jesus’ reference to the “age to come” meant the Christian Age. First, in Mark 10:30, the gospel writer has Jesus on record using the same phrase (“in the age to come”) to refer to the time when the followers of Christ would inherit “eternal life” (see Luke 18:30 for the parallel passage). This is a clear reference to life after death, since Paul said “flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God” (1 Corinthians 15:50). Second, Mark’s account of the unpardonable sin describes the sin as an “eternal sin.” The translators of the New King James Version recorded that the person who commits the sin “never has forgiveness, but is subject to eternal condemnation” (Mark 3:29). Mark’s account, with its emphasis on eternity, shows that the phrase simply is meant to underscore the fact that this sin will “absolutely never” be forgiven (Lenski, p. 484). It is incorrect, then, to use the phrase “in the age to come” to refer to purgatory. It also is tenuous to use the phrase to refer to the Christian Age. The best explanation, to quote Hendrickson again, is that “the expression simply means that the indicated sin will never be forgiven” (p. 528).

WHAT THE UNPARDONABLE SIN IS

As was noted earlier, blasphemy against the Holy Spirit is the only sin in the Bible that is given the status of unpardonable or eternal. In fact, Jesus prefaced His discussion of this sin by stating that, “every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men,” except for blasphemy against the Spirit. Using the working definition of blasphemy as “speaking evil of,” it becomes clear that the sin described by Jesus was a “tongue sin” that the Pharisees had committed, or at least were dangerously close to committing.

What had the Pharisees done that would have put them in jeopardy of committing the unpardonable sin? According to His own testimony, during Jesus’ time on this Earth He cast out demons by the “Spirit of God” (Matthew 12:28). When the Pharisees saw that Jesus had performed a verifiable miracle, they could not argue with the fact that Christ possessed certain powers that others (including themselves) did not have. Therefore, in order to cast suspicion on the ministry of Jesus, they claimed that He was casting out demons by Beelzebub, the ruler of demons. The name Beelzebub is simply another name for Satan (Franklin, 1936, p. 227), as can be seen from Jesus’ reference to Satan in Matthew 12:26. Even when faced by the miraculous working of the Holy Spirit through Jesus, the Pharisees were, in essence, attributing Jesus’ power to Satan, and claiming that Jesus was “Satan incarnate instead of God incarnate. It is this, and nothing else, that our Lord calls the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost (or Spirit—KB)” (Franklin, p. 227). Maxie Boren wrote: “The context of Matthew 12:22ff. shows clearly that this was indeed the sin of blasphemy against the Holy Spirit—attributing the miracle done by Jesus to the power of the devil. Jesus said it was done ‘by the Spirit of God’ (verse 28) but they (the Pharisees—KB) said it was done by Beelzebub” (n.d., p. 1). It is clear that blasphemy against the Spirit was a definite, singular sin, which could be committed by the Pharisees during the life of Jesus.

IS THE “UNPARDONABLE SIN” THE
SAME AS THE “SIN UNTO DEATH”?

John, in his first epistle, mentioned the fact that “there is sin leading to death” and “there is sin not leading to death” (1 John 5:16-17). His statement in these verses has been connected by more than a few people to Jesus’ remark about the “eternal sin.” It is evident, however, that this connection is based more on opinion than on textual Bible study.

First, there is no biblical evidence that connects the passage in 1 John with the Pharisees’ accusation. Furthermore, the entire context of 1 John gives the Christian readers hope of forgiveness for all sins that they might have committed. John wrote: “All unrighteousness is sin, and there is sin not leading to death” (1 John 5:17). Several chapters earlier, he wrote: “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9, emp. added). In the scope of John’s epistle, any unrighteousness committed by his readers could be forgiven if the transgressor took the proper steps of repentance and confession. Apparently, the “sin unto death” in 1 John is not a specific sin for which it is impossible to receive forgiveness, but rather, is any sin for which a person will not take the proper steps demanded by God to receive the forgiveness available. On the other hand, blasphemy against the Spirit was a specific, eternal sin that never would be forgiven.

CAN THE UNPARDONABLE SIN BE COMMITTED TODAY?

The next question usually asked concerning this sin is whether or not it is still possible to commit it today. Opinions on this question certainly vary, and scholars seem to be divided in their positions. The evidence, however, seems to point toward the idea that this sin cannot be committed today.

First, the circumstances under which the sin is described cannot prevail today, due to the fact that the age of miracles has ceased (see Miller, 2003). No one today will have the opportunity to witness Jesus performing miracles in person (2 Corinthians 5:16).

Second, there is no other mention of the sin in any biblical passage written after the resurrection of Christ. None of the inspired New Testament writers refers to the sin in any epistle or in the book of Acts, and none offers warnings to new converts about avoiding the sin post-Pentecost. Franklin observed:

If it were possible for it to be committed, would there not have been some warning against it? Were there any danger regarding it, would the Apostle Paul, who wrote half the books of the New Testament, have failed to warn against its commission? Paul does not even mention the blasphemy against the Holy Spirit. The sin in question was actually committed in the days of our Lord’s ministry on earth, but it does not necessarily follow that it could be committed in His absence (p. 233).

In discussing this matter, Gus Nichols wrote: “It seems that all sins committed today are pardonable, and that all can be saved, if they will” (1967, p. 239). V.E. Howard, commented along the same lines when he stated that “there is no unpardonable sin today” (1975, p. 156).

In conclusion, blasphemy against the Holy Spirit is the only unpardonable sin mentioned in the Bible, and it is mentioned in the context of the Pharisees accusing Jesus of being possessed by the Devil. The context indicates that it was a specific sin, and not a series of forgivable sins, or an attitude of persistent unbelief. After the resurrection, no inspired writer mentions the sin, and no warnings against it were recorded. There is no concrete evidence that it can be committed today. The fact that it is not mentioned after the resurrection, lends itself to the idea that it cannot still be committed. In fact, the indication from passages such as 1 John 1:7,9 is that “all unrighteousness” that a person could commit today can be forgiven by the blood of Jesus. As Howard said when concluding his remarks about the eternal sin: “In the same scripture our Lord gave full assurance that every sin and blasphemy against the ‘Son of man’ shall be forgiven him. Today the gospel of Christ is to be preached to every man on earth and any man on earth may be saved by obeying the gospel (Mark 16:15-16)” [p. 157].

REFERENCES

Boren, Maxie B. (no date), “The Blasphemy Against the Holy Spirit,” Class Handout, Brown Trail church of Christ, Bedford, Texas, Lesson 4.

Franklin, Barnard (1936), “The Blasphemy Against the Holy Ghost: An Inquiry into the Scriptural Teaching Regarding the Unpardonable Sin,” Bibliotheca Sacra, 93:220-233, April.

Hendriksen, William (1973), The Gospel According to Matthew (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker).

Howard, V.E. (1975), The Holy Spirit (West Monroe, LA: Central Publishers).

Jackson, Wayne (2000), Blasphemy—What Is This Great Sin?, [On-line], URL: Blasphemy - What Is this Great Sin Christian Courier.

Lenski, R.C.H. (1961 reprint), The Interpretation of St. Matthew’s Gospel (Minneapolis, MN: Augsburg).

Miller, Dave (2003), “Modern-day Miracles, Tongue-speaking, and Holy Spirit Baptism: A Refutation,” Reason and Revelation, 23(3):17-23, March.

Nichols, Gus (1967), Lectures on the Holy Spirit (Plainview, TX: Nichols Brothers).

Winkler, Wendell, ed. (1980), What Do You Know About the Holy Spirit? (Fort Worth, TX: Winkler Publications).

Copyright © 2003 Apologetics Press, Inc. All rights reserved.

In order for a person to commit an unpardonable sin so they could never be saved is if Jesus was on earth so you still have time to accept Christ.

Jesus said:

Therefore I say to you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven men. Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man, it will be forgiven him; but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit, it will not be forgiven him, either in this age or in the age to come (Matthew 12:31-32).

Assuredly, I say to you, all sins will be forgiven the sons of men, and whatever blasphemies they may utter; but he who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit never has forgiveness, but is subject to eternal condemnation—because they said, “He has an unclean spirit” (Mark 3:28-30).

And anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man, it will be forgiven him; but to him who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit, it will not be forgiven (Luke 12:10).

This took place while Jesus is on earth. He is not on earth now.

 

[Parture]

Reformed theology term is 'utter depravity'.

OMG the insanity of Arminians. Arminians straight up deny God's sovereignty and also ignores what Jesus teaches.

Man oh man. Demons infested insanity. Explains why you keep saying people will go to Hell.

Calvinists reject God's sovereignty because instead of sovereignly being able to give people the free choice to personally relate to us, the Calvinist god must treat everyone like robots, irresistibly imposing salvation on some, and others passing them over, giving them opportunity for salvation. If it is evil for us to behave this way towards fellow man, why not your god? Surely God's morals should be greater than our own. You even admit in Calvinism a person under certain conditions could never be saved, whereas Christians, that is OSAS Arminians, read the Bible where God has the power to save someone even in the last minute of their death like the repentant thief if they turn to Him. You're evil.

Think of two children sinking in quicksand. Your god grabs one by the back of their neck and yanks him out. The other child, crying, is reaching out to you with open arms to pull him out too, but you say to that child, you were born to perish. You are one sick person! MaxGrit you are going to burn in the Lake of Fire for eternity. You're a bad guy!

LoL. I can see why Arminians got kicked out from Reformed Theology due to apostasy.

You're even more insane at this point. Crazy to see how much demons can influence rational thinking.

Arminians were never in Reformed Theology to begin with. Just realize how evil you are following that murderous Protestant Pope of Geneva John Calvin who killed many Christians, that is, OSAS Arminians and Premillennialists. You're a bad guy just like Calvin.

 

[orogenicman]

My son used to blame every bad thing he did on the cat.
Theists have a "devil" they invented for the same purpose.

 

[MaxGrit]

Reformed theology term is 'utter depravity'.

OMG the insanity of Arminians. Arminians straight up deny God's sovereignty and also ignores what Jesus teaches.

Man oh man. Demons infested insanity. Explains why you keep saying people will go to Hell.

Calvinists reject God's sovereignty because instead of sovereignly being able to give people the free choice to personally relate to us, the Calvinist god must treat everyone like robots, irresistibly imposing salvation on some, and others passing them over, giving them opportunity for salvation. If it is evil for us to behave this way towards fellow man, why not your god? Surely God's morals should be greater than our own. You even admit in Calvinism a person under certain conditions could never be saved, whereas Christians, that is OSAS Arminians, read the Bible where God has the power to save someone even in the last minute of their death like the repentant thief if they turn to Him. You're evil.

Think of two children sinking in quicksand. Your god grabs one by the back of their neck and yanks him out. The other child, crying, is reaching out to you with open arms to pull him out too, but you say to that child, you were born to perish. You are one sick person! MaxGrit you are going to burn in the Lake of Fire for eternity. You're a bad guy!

LoL. I can see why Arminians got kicked out from Reformed Theology due to apostasy.

You're even more insane at this point. Crazy to see how much demons can influence rational thinking.

Arminians were never in Reformed Theology to begin with. Just realize how evil you are following that murderous Protestant Pope of Geneva John Calvin who killed many Christians, that is, OSAS Arminians and Premillennialists. You're a bad guy just like Calvin.

Sorry. Since I am certain that you're going to Hell, further discussion is meaningless.

 

[Parture]

My son used to blame every bad thing he did on the cat.
Theists have a "devil" they invented for the same purpose.

The way you can know the Devil is true is since Jesus is proven to be God and He talks about the Devil.

 

[Parture]

Reformed theology term is 'utter depravity'.

OMG the insanity of Arminians. Arminians straight up deny God's sovereignty and also ignores what Jesus teaches.

Man oh man. Demons infested insanity. Explains why you keep saying people will go to Hell.

Calvinists reject God's sovereignty because instead of sovereignly being able to give people the free choice to personally relate to us, the Calvinist god must treat everyone like robots, irresistibly imposing salvation on some, and others passing them over, giving them opportunity for salvation. If it is evil for us to behave this way towards fellow man, why not your god? Surely God's morals should be greater than our own. You even admit in Calvinism a person under certain conditions could never be saved, whereas Christians, that is OSAS Arminians, read the Bible where God has the power to save someone even in the last minute of their death like the repentant thief if they turn to Him. You're evil.

Think of two children sinking in quicksand. Your god grabs one by the back of their neck and yanks him out. The other child, crying, is reaching out to you with open arms to pull him out too, but you say to that child, you were born to perish. You are one sick person! MaxGrit you are going to burn in the Lake of Fire for eternity. You're a bad guy!

LoL. I can see why Arminians got kicked out from Reformed Theology due to apostasy.

You're even more insane at this point. Crazy to see how much demons can influence rational thinking.

Arminians were never in Reformed Theology to begin with. Just realize how evil you are following that murderous Protestant Pope of Geneva John Calvin who killed many Christians, that is, OSAS Arminians and Premillennialists. You're a bad guy just like Calvin.

Sorry. Since I am certain that you're going to Hell, further discussion is meaningless.

Though you do not know why you think I am going to Hell, I know why you are going to Hell because you are a Calvinist, that is, you're too selfish to repent and believe in Christ to be regenerated. You're a bad guy!

Christians still try to draw you to Christ because as long as you are still alive it is not meaningless, for God loves you and does not want you to perish. He gives you your life to decide freely with great meaning and context under the gospel of God's saving grace through Christ.

 

[MaxGrit]

Reformed theology term is 'utter depravity'.

OMG the insanity of Arminians. Arminians straight up deny God's sovereignty and also ignores what Jesus teaches.

Man oh man. Demons infested insanity. Explains why you keep saying people will go to Hell.

Calvinists reject God's sovereignty because instead of sovereignly being able to give people the free choice to personally relate to us, the Calvinist god must treat everyone like robots, irresistibly imposing salvation on some, and others passing them over, giving them opportunity for salvation. If it is evil for us to behave this way towards fellow man, why not your god? Surely God's morals should be greater than our own. You even admit in Calvinism a person under certain conditions could never be saved, whereas Christians, that is OSAS Arminians, read the Bible where God has the power to save someone even in the last minute of their death like the repentant thief if they turn to Him. You're evil.

Think of two children sinking in quicksand. Your god grabs one by the back of their neck and yanks him out. The other child, crying, is reaching out to you with open arms to pull him out too, but you say to that child, you were born to perish. You are one sick person! MaxGrit you are going to burn in the Lake of Fire for eternity. You're a bad guy!

LoL. I can see why Arminians got kicked out from Reformed Theology due to apostasy.

You're even more insane at this point. Crazy to see how much demons can influence rational thinking.

Arminians were never in Reformed Theology to begin with. Just realize how evil you are following that murderous Protestant Pope of Geneva John Calvin who killed many Christians, that is, OSAS Arminians and Premillennialists. You're a bad guy just like Calvin.

Sorry. Since I am certain that you're going to Hell, further discussion is meaningless.

Though you do not know why you think I am going to Hell, I know why you are going to Hell because you are a Calvinist, that is, you're too selfish to repent and believe in Christ to be regenerated. You're a bad guy!

Blaspheming the Holy Spirit is an unforgivable sin. Therefore, I can be certain that you will go to Hell.

 

[Parture]

I have an interesting question for Calvinists. Why do they not kill themselves if they were irresistibly made to? Could it not be that not all Calvinists kill themselves because they, in fact, despite their previous contention, the do in fact have the free choice to receive Christ. I think so.

Calvinists reject God's sovereignty because instead of sovereignly being able to give people the free choice to personally relate to us, the Calvinist god must treat everyone like robots, irresistibly imposing salvation on some, and others passing them over, giving them opportunity for salvation. If it is evil for us to behave this way towards fellow man, why not your god? Surely God's morals should be greater than our own. You even admit in Calvinism a person under certain conditions could never be saved, whereas Christians, that is OSAS Arminians, read the Bible where God has the power to save someone even in the last minute of their death like the repentant thief if they turn to Him. You're evil.

Think of two children sinking in quicksand. Your god grabs one by the back of their neck and yanks him out. The other child, crying, is reaching out to you with open arms to pull him out too, but you say to that child, you were born to perish. You are one sick person! MaxGrit you are going to burn in the Lake of Fire for eternity. You're a bad guy!

LoL. I can see why Arminians got kicked out from Reformed Theology due to apostasy.

You're even more insane at this point. Crazy to see how much demons can influence rational thinking.

Arminians were never in Reformed Theology to begin with. Just realize how evil you are following that murderous Protestant Pope of Geneva John Calvin who killed many Christians, that is, OSAS Arminians and Premillennialists. You're a bad guy just like Calvin.

Sorry. Since I am certain that you're going to Hell, further discussion is meaningless.

Though you do not know why you think I am going to Hell, I know why you are going to Hell because you are a Calvinist, that is, you're too selfish to repent and believe in Christ to be regenerated. You're a bad guy!

Blaspheming the Holy Spirit is an unforgivable sin. Therefore, I can be certain that you will go to Hell.

Satan is the great accuser, he misuses terms, and can't defend his false accusations.

We do know why you are going to Hell because you are too selfish to repent to the cross as a helpless sinner to receive the Lord Jesus as Savior by faith to be regenerated.

 

[orogenicman]

My son used to blame every bad thing he did on the cat.
Theists have a "devil" they invented for the same purpose.

The way you can know the Devil is true is since Jesus is proven to be God and He talks about the Devil.

I prefer deviled eggs.

 

[Parture]

My son used to blame every bad thing he did on the cat.
Theists have a "devil" they invented for the same purpose.

The way you can know the Devil is true is since Jesus is proven to be God and He talks about the Devil.

I prefer deviled eggs.

That's deep.

 

[JohnA]

DUDE people
have been prophesizing the end of the world for centuries they all have been wrong as you will be the end of this civilization will come by our own actions as did civilizations in past.the universe wil be forever as it is infinite no beginning no end

 

[Parture]

DUDE people
have been prophesizing the end of the world for centuries they all have been wrong as you will be the end of this civilization will come by our own actions as did civilizations in past.the universe wil be forever as it is infinite no beginning no end

I am not prophesying the end of the world, nor is the Bible. You're confused.

This universe continues on into eternity. Why is that so hard to understand?

 

[MaxGrit]

I have an interesting question for Calvinists. Why do they not kill themselves if they were irresistibly made to? Could it not be that not all Calvinists kill themselves because they, in fact, despite their previous contention, the do in fact have the free choice to receive Christ. I think so.

LoL. I can see why Arminians got kicked out from Reformed Theology due to apostasy.

You're even more insane at this point. Crazy to see how much demons can influence rational thinking.

Arminians were never in Reformed Theology to begin with. Just realize how evil you are following that murderous Protestant Pope of Geneva John Calvin who killed many Christians, that is, OSAS Arminians and Premillennialists. You're a bad guy just like Calvin.

Sorry. Since I am certain that you're going to Hell, further discussion is meaningless.

Though you do not know why you think I am going to Hell, I know why you are going to Hell because you are a Calvinist, that is, you're too selfish to repent and believe in Christ to be regenerated. You're a bad guy!

Blaspheming the Holy Spirit is an unforgivable sin. Therefore, I can be certain that you will go to Hell.

Satan is the great accuser, he misuses terms, and can't defend his false accusations. But we know why you are going to Hell because you are too selfish to repent to the cross to receive the Lord Jesus as Savior to be regenerated.

Obviously saints don't kill themselves on purpose because we love Jesus Christ more than ourselves. We want to carry out his will and do his work on Earth.

Like Paul, even though we know death is much better, we also think, "To live is Christ, to die is gain."

 

[Parture]

I have an interesting question for Calvinists. Why do they not kill themselves if they were irresistibly made to? Could it not be that not all Calvinists kill themselves because they, in fact, despite their previous contention, the do in fact have the free choice to receive Christ. I think so.

Arminians were never in Reformed Theology to begin with. Just realize how evil you are following that murderous Protestant Pope of Geneva John Calvin who killed many Christians, that is, OSAS Arminians and Premillennialists. You're a bad guy just like Calvin.

Sorry. Since I am certain that you're going to Hell, further discussion is meaningless.

Though you do not know why you think I am going to Hell, I know why you are going to Hell because you are a Calvinist, that is, you're too selfish to repent and believe in Christ to be regenerated. You're a bad guy!

Blaspheming the Holy Spirit is an unforgivable sin. Therefore, I can be certain that you will go to Hell.

Satan is the great accuser, he misuses terms, and can't defend his false accusations. But we know why you are going to Hell because you are too selfish to repent to the cross to receive the Lord Jesus as Savior to be regenerated.

Obviously saints don't kill themselves on purpose because we love Jesus Christ more than ourselves. We want to carry out his will and do his work on Earth.

Like Paul, even though we know death is much better, we also think, "To live is Christ, to die is gain."

But you aren't a Christian because you refuse to come to the cross to be regenerated so you're going to Hell.

That's sort of weird out of nowhere in our conversation you brought up killing yourself. No Christian has ever killed himself, so that would make sense you were thinking of it.

 

[MaxGrit]

I have an interesting question for Calvinists. Why do they not kill themselves if they were irresistibly made to? Could it not be that not all Calvinists kill themselves because they, in fact, despite their previous contention, the do in fact have the free choice to receive Christ. I think so.

Sorry. Since I am certain that you're going to Hell, further discussion is meaningless.

Though you do not know why you think I am going to Hell, I know why you are going to Hell because you are a Calvinist, that is, you're too selfish to repent and believe in Christ to be regenerated. You're a bad guy!

Blaspheming the Holy Spirit is an unforgivable sin. Therefore, I can be certain that you will go to Hell.

Satan is the great accuser, he misuses terms, and can't defend his false accusations. But we know why you are going to Hell because you are too selfish to repent to the cross to receive the Lord Jesus as Savior to be regenerated.

Obviously saints don't kill themselves on purpose because we love Jesus Christ more than ourselves. We want to carry out his will and do his work on Earth.

Like Paul, even though we know death is much better, we also think, "To live is Christ, to die is gain."

But you aren't a Christian because you refuse to come to the cross to be regenerated so you're going to Hell.

That's sort of weird out of nowhere in our conversation you brought up killing yourself. No Christian has ever killed himself, so that would make sense you were thinking of it.

I have an interesting question for Calvinists. Why do they not kill themselves if they were irresistibly made to? Could it not be that not all Calvinists kill themselves because they, in fact, despite their previous contention, the do in fact have the free choice to receive Christ. I think so.

I am sad to know you're going to Hell. I pray you have a decent and enjoyable life.

 

[Parture]

I have an interesting question for Calvinists. Why do they not kill themselves if they were irresistibly made to? Could it not be that not all Calvinists kill themselves because they, in fact, despite their previous contention, the do in fact have the free choice to receive Christ. I think so.

Though you do not know why you think I am going to Hell, I know why you are going to Hell because you are a Calvinist, that is, you're too selfish to repent and believe in Christ to be regenerated. You're a bad guy!

Blaspheming the Holy Spirit is an unforgivable sin. Therefore, I can be certain that you will go to Hell.

Satan is the great accuser, he misuses terms, and can't defend his false accusations. But we know why you are going to Hell because you are too selfish to repent to the cross to receive the Lord Jesus as Savior to be regenerated.

Obviously saints don't kill themselves on purpose because we love Jesus Christ more than ourselves. We want to carry out his will and do his work on Earth.

Like Paul, even though we know death is much better, we also think, "To live is Christ, to die is gain."

But you aren't a Christian because you refuse to come to the cross to be regenerated so you're going to Hell.

That's sort of weird out of nowhere in our conversation you brought up killing yourself. No Christian has ever killed himself, so that would make sense you were thinking of it.

I have an interesting question for Calvinists. Why do they not kill themselves if they were irresistibly made to? Could it not be that not all Calvinists kill themselves because they, in fact, despite their previous contention, the do in fact have the free choice to receive Christ. I think so.

LoL

I never posted that. Notice how it is posted out of place as if someone inserted it. Did you do that?

Oh I get it that's why you are laughing because you did it. Funny.

 

[Parture]

Why are Calvinists Going to Hell?​

“I love all who love me. Those who search will surely find me. For he who finds me finds life and obtains favor from the LORD" (Prov. 8.17,35). If you are totally unable to search out God and love Him then why does this passage implore us to search God out to find Him? Calvinism is Satanic. "Put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no plans to satisfy the fleshly desires" (Rom. 13.14).

God "declares sinners to be right in his sight when they believe in Jesus" (Rom. 3.26). Who? Not regenerated people but sinners. "And they came...every one whom his spirit made willing, and they brought the LORD'S offering" (Ex. 35.21). Who made whose spirit willing? It doesn't say God did it. It says the person did it whom made his own spirit willing. "If any man willeth to do His will, he shall know of the teaching, whether it is of God, or whether I speak from myself" (John 7.17). "If only My people would listen to Me and Israel would follow My ways" (Ps. 81.13). "To will is present with me" (Rom. 7.18). If you can will something then you are not Totally depraved.

"God does not just sweep life away [preterition]; instead, he devises ways to bring us back when we have been separated from him" (2 Sam. 14.14). This speaks of God's sufficient grace for all to have the free choice. "And she [Rahab of Jericho] said unto the men, I know that the LORD hath given you the land, and that your terror is fallen upon us, and that all the inhabitants of the land faint because of you" (Joshua 2.9). "And they [the two men who spied out Jericho when they returned] said unto Joshua, Truly the LORD hath delivered into our hands all the land; for even all the inhabitants of the country do faint because of us" (v.26).

"If ye offer a sacrifice...unto the LORD, ye shall offer it at your own will" (Lev. 19.5). "If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land: But if ye refuse and rebel, ye shall be devoured with the sword: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it" (Isaiah 1.19-20). If a person couldn't offer would not God have said so? That is sort of an important point to leave out. See Lev. 22.18; 23.38; Numb. 15.3; Deut. 12.6; 2 Chron. 31.14; Ps. 119.108. "Whosoever is of a willing heart" (Ex. 35.5); "who his spirt made willing" (v.21); "as many as were willing hearted" (v.22); "a heart with a willing mind" (1 Chron. 28.9; "who then is willing to consecrate his" (29.5); "offered willingly" (v.9); "I have willingly offered all these things" (v.17); "willingly offered himself unto the LORD" (2 Chron. 17.16); "princes gave willingly unto the people" (35.8). The NT contains many similar phrases: "The spirit indeed is willing" (Matt. 26.41); "Pilate [was] willing (Luke 23.20); "Ye were willing" (John 5.35); "The centurian [was] willing" (Acts 27.43); "They were willing of themselves" (2 Cor. 8.3); "a willing mind" (v.12); "not by constraint, but willingly" (1 Pet. 5.2). Are we to believe that that these Scriptures actually mean either man has no will or God causes him to be willing? Calvinism treats man as a puppet that God makes willing, yet the Bible gives man credit for having a willing heart as though the willingness were his own. The judgment seat of Christ, His promised rewards, the Great White Throne judgment, and the lake of fire are meaningless if all is of God and nothing is from the heart of man. The many statements about the person being willing from his heart become nonsensical.

There is a soulish as well as a spiritual wisdom. The first springs from man’s mind while the second is supplied to the spirit by God. Education may remedy any lack of understanding and wisdom in a natural man, but it cannot alter his natural endowment. Spiritual wisdom, though, may be realized through believing prayer (James 1.5). One thing which we ought to keep in mind is, that in redemption “God shows no partiality” (Acts 10.34). He places all sinners, wise or foolish, on the same footing, and confers upon them the same salvation. As the entire being of the wise is totally corrupted so is that of the foolish. In God’s sight the mind of the wise is as nonefficacious as that of the foolish. Both need the regeneration of the spirit; and after that it is no easier for the wise man than for the foolish to know the words of God. Now of course it is quite difficult for a very foolish person to know God; but is it less difficult for the wisest among men? Not at all, because God must be known in the spirit by everyone. Their minds may be unalike, yet both their spirits are dead and hence equally foolish and deficient in divine matters. Man’s natural cleverness does not help him to know God and God’s truth. No doubt the wise one is easier to reason with and is quicker in understanding, but it is altogether limited to the mental realm, utterly contrary to intuitive knowledge. We can conclude, therefore, since God is no respecter of persons and shows no partiality that He provides sufficient grace to all to give us all the choice whether through common grace or special grace of the gospel, for if a person had received God they would surely accept His only begotten Son if introduced to Him.

"That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust" (Matt. 5.44). This verse speaks to me of God's grace that is sufficient for us all to be children of God whosoever is willing.

Why is it that not everyone who says they trust in Christ are not saved? Would it not be because they, in fact, worship a false Christ? They take on a Jesus who is not Jesus at all. It is not that you have to do more, but simply not worship the false Christ you do what you deem to be God where there was no repentance like John the Baptist and faith unto Jesus prior to being regenerated. I think Christians can sense that exalted pride in you (i.e. the Calvinist) which is very unattractive. You have erected an idol that prevents you from giving your life Christ by rejecting the God of the Bible who provides ample grace to us all to have the choice--something your God is not just unwilling but unable to do. God is so much bigger than your god; actually, your god is downright evil, for think about it, if we behaved the way your God does, we would be sinning horribly. How can God's standards be less than our own? Since you keep avoiding this problem of your false faith, it is clear your conscience is seared like a hot iron.

Jesus said, "You are from below; I am from above. You are of this world; I am not. That is why I said that you will die in your sins; for unless you believe that I am who I say I am, you will die in your sins" (John 8.23,24). Only God can atone for sins. Only the God who provides sufficient grace to all to have the choice can truly atone for sins. Unless you believe in this God you will go to Hell! "Repent ye therefore, and be converted [regenerated], that your sins may be blotted out" (Acts 3.19). Who is to do this? You. "Today I have given you the choice between life and death, between blessings and curses. I call on heaven and earth to witness the choice you make. Oh, that you would choose life, that you and your descendants might live!" (Deut. 30.19) "For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men" (Tit. 2.11)--speaks of the sufficient grace given to all men to have the free-choice. His grace is sufficient for all men Who came upon all men to be saved whosoever is willing. Now "the Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance" (2 Pet. 3.9). "Our Lord's patience gives people time to be saved" (v.16). Since God is longsuffering, doing all He can to save each and every soul, we all have the sufficient grace of God to have the free-choice. Thus, God is right in pleading with all to come to repentance.

"That he might have mercy upon all" (Rom. 11.32) speaks of the sufficient grace given to us all. God's enabling grace that is sufficient for us all is seen in 2 Cor. 8: "For they gave...beyond their means, of their own free will,...first gave their own selves to the Lord...by the will of God" (vv. 3,5). God seeks men because none seek after Him (Rom. 3.11-12); the Son came to seek and save that which is lost (Luke 19.10). Such grace is given to us all to have the "free will" by the "will of God." Who is to give a free will offering? "YOU...with a free will offering that YOU give" from the sufficient grace of God has given you (Deut. 16.10). Only in Calvinism is free will not free will.

Calvinists say the spiritually dead can't do "what is pleasing in God's sight." Surely keeping the Passover was "pleasing in God's sight," and millions of spiritually dead Jews have kept it. Pagans told Isaac, "We have done unto thee nothing but good" (Gen. 26.29). Jesus said that sinners "do good" (Luke 6.33). A Calvinist will say man "is free to turn to Christ but not able." That's like saying man is free to travel to another galaxy, then judging them because they fail to do so. "We persuade men" (2 Cor. 5.11). What's the point of persuading if people don't have a choice? "Seek ye the LORD while he may be found" (Is. 55.6). Calvinists accuse Christians of "boasting," but how is a beggar boasting in accepting food?

Calvinism limits God to a "sovereignty" that can't handle free will. "I have set before you life and death.... Choose life.... Love the LORD thy God" (Deut. 30.19-20). "If the LORD be God, follow him; but if Baal, then follow him" (1 Kings 18.21). "Look unto me, and be saved, all the ends of the earth" (Is. 45.22). "And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart" (Jer. 29.13).

When a Calvinist tries to bring up Romans 9 just quote verse 22: "to make his power known, endured with much longsuffering"; enduring and longsuffering is sufficient grace to all. Dod foreknew the free-choice of Isaac and Esau.

God wants His own to exercise their wills actively to cooperate with Him. This is what is implied in such Scriptures verses as: "if any man’s will is to do his will, he shall know. . : " (John 7.17) and "ask whatever you will, and it shall be done for you" (John 15.7). God never disregards our volition. "The Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey him" (Acts 5.32). Obey how? Repent and believe unto regeneration to receive eternal life for the Holy Spirit to indwell.

No problem exists about who God wants to save or whom He will let perish. He wants to save everyone and He doesn't want any to perish. God wishes no one to "perish but all should reach repentance" because He "desires all to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth" (2 Pet. 3.9; 1 Tim. 2.4). Therefore, those who perish do so because though they have been given sufficient grace to respond, they prefer to be Calvinists or Atheists or any number of others who refuse to have the right attitude and genuineness in receiving what Jesus did on the cross. They are inclined to their religion. But those who receive Him receive everything. "As many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God" (John 1.12). What must they do? They must "believe on his name" (v.12). Who? The One who is "longsuffering to us" (2 Pet. 3.9) "who [in His sufficient grace] is the Saviour of all men" (1 Tim. 4.10). "How often would I have gathered your children...but ye would not" (Matt. 23.37), "you were not willing" (Luke 13.34).

We are saved not by the "will of man" (John 1.13) which is a selfish will or "will-worship" (Col. 2.23 ASV). In order to be saved, "let him who desires to take of the water of life freely" (Rev. 22.17) and not "refuse to come to me that you may have life" (John 5.40).

If people commence the search for salvation by assuming they are irresistibly selected and accepting any old spirit that comes over them, they are yet perishing. Various founders of religions belong to this category including in Christendom.

But if man is willing to accept what God offers to him, he shall be saved. In one case, man originates; in the other, he receives (whosoever is willing). One does the willing himself while the other accepts God's will.

John 1 speaks of man willing, whereas John 5 and Rev. 22 refer to man's accepting God's will. God wanted to save us who are saved and not those who self-profess they were irresistibly selected. God brings us to Himself as well as grants us new life. God bringing man to His will takes a lifetime in all its facets, but even at the outset God commences working to that end. The initial salvation is a salvation of the will to desire to take of the water of life freely, but this desire is contingent on sufficient grace given to everyone made in His image-every soul that ever existed.

In order for a Calvinist to be saved because he is presently not saved, unlike for others who are not religious, he will have to not only give his life to the Christ of sufficient grace whom he presently now rejects, but also deny Satan, self and the world. As yet he has been unwilling to do so. But our prayers go out to them that they do so now.

If we are really united with God in will, we shall cease at once every activity which emerges from ourselves. Hereafter there can be no independent action. We are dead to self but alive to God. No longer do we act for Him under our impulse and according to our way. We act solely after we are moved by God. We are set free from every motion of self. Such union, in other words, is a change of center, a new beginning. In the past all activities focused on self and began with it; today everything is of God. He does not ask the nature of whatever we start; He simply inquires who started it. God discounts every element not yet freed from self, no matter how good it may appear to be. It is not what the fallen man intends to do for God but how He Himself wishes man to do for Him that really counts in God's eyes.

"I am the living bread which came down from heaven; if any one eats of this bread, he will live for ever; and the bread which I shall give for the life of the world is my flesh" (John 6.51).

"I call heaven and earth to witness against you this day, that I have set before thee life and death, the blessing and the curse: therefore choose life, that thou mayest live" (Deut. 30.19). "And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you. For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. If a son shall ask bread of any of you that is a father, will he give him a stone? or if he ask a fish, will he for a fish give him a serpent? Or if he shall ask an egg, will he offer him a scorpion? If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?" (Luke 9.11-13).

When John first announced Christ as the Lamb of God, he added: "which taketh away the sin of the world" (1.29), thus emphasizing His redeeming work for all; otherwise, he would have said, "which taken away the sin of the world for some made to believe." "Blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended by me" (Luke 7.23). It does not say, "blessed is he, whoever is made to not be offended by me." "For the grace of God has appeared for the salvation of all men" (Tit. 2.11). "While the promise of entering His rest remains, let us fear lest any of you be judged to have failed to reach it. For the good news came...but the message which they heard did not benefit them, because it did not meet with faith in the hearers. For only we who have believed enter that rest" (Heb. 4.1-3). Jesus "became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey him" (Heb. 5.9) not "so all will obey him" or "some will be made to obey him."

"For I am not ashamed of the gospel: it is the power of God for salvation to every one who has faith, to the Jew first and also to the Greek" (Rom. 1.16). This verse does not say "the power of God for faith to every one who has been saved." Only the sinners who "received him...them that believe on his name" (John 1.12) become "born again...by the word of God...which by the gospel is preached" (1 Pet. 1.23,25). Indeed, "faith cometh by hearing...the word of God" (Rom. 10.17) in showing human participation. There is not one verse that says faith comes by regeneration. Do we dare turn "that believing ye might have life through his name" (John 20.31) into "that having life through his name, ye believed," or "believe...and though shalt be saved" (Acts 16.31) into "be saved and though shalt believe," or "come unto me...and I will give you rest" (Matt. 11.28) into "all who are given rest come to me," or "he that believeth is not condemned" (John 3.18) into "he that is not condemned believeth," or "he that believeth...shall never die" (John 11.25-26) into "he that shall never die believeth"? The Bible is too clear to corrupt.

Man is not regenerated by doing something special but by believing the Lord Jesus as his Savior: "to all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave the power to become children of God; who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God" (John 1.12-13). First you must be willing to "receive him" then you may "become children of God" NOT the other way around. There is not some regeneration before salvation, for salvation is regeneration. "Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost" (Tit. 3.5). "Saved us" here is "washing of regeneration". To be regenerated/saved one must do what? "Believe in his name"; NOT assume pridefully you were irresistibly regenerated and without prior having had to believe on Him. For that is a selfish salvation.

God is the "Savior of all men, specially those who believe" (1 Tim. 4.10) NOT "Savior of all men [to sustain men but not from Hell], specially those who believe." The "specially those who believe" are included in as a subset of the "Savior of all men," yet some men included in "Savior of all men" are not saved from Hell. Do you see the contradiction? It's impossible to claim God is the Savior of all men yet not from Hell when "specially those who believe" will never go to Hell. What Paul is actually saying here is that God offers salvation to everyone through Jesus as the Savior of all men, specially those who believe, because they are the ones who responded to His sufficient grace for all. Neither is God the "Savior of all men [from each class or place], specially those who believe" for that is redundantly nonsensical. Obviously those who believe are those who would believe in each class or place.

Your spirit is your innermost man."The spirit of man is the lamp of the Lord" (Prov. 20.27). "The spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets" (1 Cor. 14.32). "Woe to the foolish prophets who follow their own spirit" (Ezek. 13.3). Man's spirit can go wild; hence a "haughty spirit" (Prov. 16.18) like that of Calvinists. Only a yielding spirit can fulfill the thought of the divine Spirit: "and every one whom his spirit made willing..." (Ex 35.21). "Do not quench the Spirit" (1 Thess. 5.19) with a hardened spirit. All of these verses indicate our volition has the choice what we wish to do with your spirit.

"Jesus told him, 'If you want to be perfect, go and sell all you have and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me'" (Matt. 19.21). Calvinists are too selfish to do this with their idol of Total depravity that says they can't, so they don't. He didn't say, I will let you know if you are saved or not by irresistibly regenerating you so that you can follow me, or when you get to Hell you will realize I passed over you. No. The selling is repentance, so you need to repent, believe, follow and receive. Thus, He said "come, follow me." "Then answered Peter and said unto him, Behold, we have forsaken all, and followed thee" (Matt. 19.27). Who followed thee? Peter and the disciples. God provides sufficient grace to be able to do so: "Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible" (Matt. 19.26) which speaks of His sufficient grace given to us all to have the choice.

"The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit (Phm. 1.25). "You always resist the Holy Spirit" (Acts 7.51). "The bread...is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world" (John 6.51). "I came...to save the world" (John 12.47). Of the brass serpent lifted up on the pole it was promised, "everyone that is bitten, when he looketh upon it, shall live" (Num. 21.8). "As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life" (John 3.14-15). He was lifted up for only the elect? Leviticus presents an entire system of offerings and sacrifices for sin, and not one is compatible with the particular redemption of Calvinism. If the Levitical offerings were for all of Israel who would believe and obey God's Word, so the cross of Christ to which the sacrifices pointed must be to all of Israel, and thus to all the world. All of Christ's blood had to be shed and the full penalty of sin paid to save even one sinner.

Since God provides sufficient grace to all of us then how can we be Totally depraved? Therefore, Total depravity is false, a legalism, an idol to erect that keeps one eternally separated from God which says you can't repent, so you don't, and that is selfish. You want an easy-believism in a selfish salvation, accepting any old spirit that simulates God's saving grace as a facsimile of God's design. You worship a false Christ, because you are unwilling to repent and believe in Christ to be regenerated (new birth, initial salvation, born-again, eternal life). That's why you are going to Hell which makes me very sad for you (speaking to the Calvinist).

"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life" (John 3.16). "For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved" (John 3.17). "Who desires all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time" (1 Tim. 2.4-6). "The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance" (2 Pet. 3.9). "And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world" (1 John 2.2). "Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me" (Rev. 3.20).

"I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people. As you make your requests, plead for God's mercy upon them, and give thanks" (1 Tim. 4.1). Would God withhold His mercy upon people not allowing them sufficient grace to have the choice after we are told to plead for God's mercy for all? "The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now he commands all men everywhere to repent" (Acts 17.31). How can God command anyone unless He provides that person sufficient grace to be able to respond in repentance? Is God vain, superficial and playing charades? "...because he has fixed a day on which he will judge the world in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed, and of this he has given assurance to all men by raising him from the dead" (v.31). All men are assured which is sufficient grace upon all men so none are without excuse. God's grace comes to all men to give us all the choice to be saved by grace through faith; that is, to be able to repent and believe in Christ to be regenerated. Amen.

Grace is not sufficient if it is not sufficient for the whole world. If God did not provide ample grace to even only person, then it would not be sufficient. In Calvinism it is not sufficient for all, not even their irresistibly elect, since they had no choice. So the blood of the Christ of Calvinism pales in comparison to the blood of Jesus Christ. The blood of Jesus can save everyone if everyone was willing, but the blood of the Jesus of Calvinism cannot, because only those made to will be. Whereas, the blood of the true Jesus is sufficient for all: "Who is the Saviour of all men, specially of those that believe" (1 Tim. 4:10), "not wishing that any should perish" (2 Pet. 3:9). You are "without excuse" (Rom 1.20). How can you be without excuse if grace is not provided to all? And doesn't "specially those that believe" indicate that as "Savior of all men" there are some men that don't believe even though they received sufficient grace?

You can't divide up the blood of Christ to segment a portion for each person as you try to do in Calvinism. This is very legalistic. That's not how the blood works. The blood is for eternal forgiveness by an infinite God, so the blood is never wasted when God is perfectly righteous in His administering the blood to whomever is willing to receive it out of the whole world. "And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world" (1 John 2.2). "The whole world lieth in wickedness" (1 John 5.19). So "faith is spoken of throughout the whole world" (Rom. 1.8).

"According to the good pleasure of His will" (Eph. 1.5) the Father "himself is righteous, and that he justifies him who has faith in Jesus" (Rom. 3.26). Only those who have "received him...[and] believe on his name" become the sons of God (John 1.12-13). Jesus is offering Himself in John 6 not to an elect but to the entire unbelieving multitude, showing the gospel is for all. Pleading with you, Jesus says "My Father giveth you the true bread from heaven.... I am the bread of life" (vv. 32,35). The offer is to everyone, but the partaking is willingly from the heart. God pleading with Israel and mankind to repent are nonsensical if there are those from whom He withholds the grace to repent and the faith to believe. "If ye be willing and obedient" (Is. 1.19). God predestinates by foreknowing our willingness and obedience.

What is the point of, "Choose you this day whom ye will serve" (Joshua 24.15) if you could not receive the sufficient grace of God for all? If Christ imposes faith upon the elect without their choosing, why does He say to the woman, "Great is thy faith" (Matt. 15.28), or to the centurion, "I have not found so great faith" (Luke 7.9), or to two blind men, "According to your faith be it unto you" (Matt. 9.29)? What is the purpose of judgment, either for the saved or the damned, if everything is God's doing? How much clearer must God be to convince the Calvinist to receive Christ? To be able to accept salvation by faith or reject it no more gives any credit to the believer than accepting a gift of a million dollars gives to the recipient credit for earning the money. Never think because a person refuses the drawing of God when they "draw back unto perdition" (Heb. 10.39) that God is a failure. He does all He can do righteously, and if the person still refuses, that is their choice.

"He that cometh to me...that believeth on me" (John 6.35); "Every one who seeth the Son, and believe on Him" (v.40); "Every man...that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me" (v.45); "He that believeth on me" (v.47); "If any man eat...my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world" (v.51); "Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life" (v.54); "The words that I speak...are spirit, and they are life" (v.63). These preceding passages explain the condition so that "All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out" (v.37), and "the Father's will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day" (v.39). "Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost THAT COME UNTO God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them" (Heb. 7.25). "That come unto God by him" speaks of the sufficiency of God's grace for anyone that wants to come to God by Him.

"Not wishing that any should perish" (2 Pet. 3.9). I'm aware some might try to say this only applies to the elect, but the unassuming position should be to both the elect and non-elect. Besides, the elect can never perish. That God would want a person to perish, and from birth given no grace whatsoever to have the opportunity to be saved, makes the god of Calvinism an evil tyrant and sadistic. What love is this?

"Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you" (1 Pet. 1.23,25). You are born-again (regenerated) through believing the gospel upon it being preached unto you; not regenerated then it is preached unto you to believe.

"As many as were ordained to eternal life believed" (Acts 13.48). How were they ordained to believe? By God foreknowing their free-choice, He approves or ordains into His design. "Seeing YOU put the gospel form you...we turn to the Gentiles" (v.46). "For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate (Rom. 8.29)...elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father" (1 Pet. 1.2). "As many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name" (John 1.12). Who gets to be a son of God? What precedes becoming a son of God? Those who receive Him, even those who believe on His name; not by the will of the flesh (passion) or the will of man (planning) (v.13). First you must believe so "whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God" (1 John 5.1). "In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise" (Eph. 1.13). When is a person sealed (regenerated)? After trusting and hearing and believing. How does this election take place? "Whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate (Rom. 8.29)...elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father" (1 Pet. 1.2). By foreknowing our free-choice! Salvation is promised to all ("Repent, and be baptized every one of you" [Acts 2.38]), contingent upon individual faith ("Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved" [Acts 16.31]).

"They that hear shall live" (John 5.25). "Ye will not come to me, that ye may have life" (John 5.40). "Every one who seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life" (John 6.40). "Believing ye may have life" (John 20.31). "Believe...and thou shalt be saved" (Acts 16.31). If you are Totally unable, then why would God plead with you to hear, come, see and believe? And if you could not respond to the gospel because of an alleged Total depravity (Total inability), then God is being cruel and unjust even abusive by blaming those for not receiving Him when they were born into sin and are not responsible for the sins of their fathers. The Calvinist accuses the OSAS Arminian of a "works-oriented system" despite the fact that faith is contrasted to and the opposite of works and that the requirement of salvation is sola fide (faith alone). What glorifies God, and who is really claiming, "because I was better than those who did not believe"? Those with repentance and faith agree, "Boasting...is excluded by the law of faith" (Rom. 3.27). But those without any prior repentance and faith assumed pridefully, "I have peace with God because God in eternity past chose this undeserving sinner and placed His grace and love upon me irresistibly"? Which do you think is true grace, peace and love? Make your choice.

"Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of God, and saying, 'The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent, and believe in the gospel'" (Mark 1.15). "Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out" (Acts 3.19). Conversion (salvation, new birth, regeneration, born-again) follows repentance and belief in Christ. "Today I have given you the choice between life and death, between blessings and curses. I call on heaven and earth to witness the choice you make. Oh, that you would choose life, that you and your descendants might live!" (Deut. 30.19) "For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men" (Tit. 2.11). "The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance" (2 Pet. 3.9).

"As surely as I live, says the Sovereign LORD, I take no pleasure in the death of wicked people. I only want them to turn from their wicked ways so they can live. Turn! Turn from your wickedness, O people of Israel! Why should you die?" (Ez. 33.11) If God says to turn from their wicked ways, but they cannot because they are Totally depraved then what does that make God? (Read all of Ezekiel 33) "But I know! I, the LORD, search all hearts and examine secret motives. I give all people their due rewards, according to what their actions deserve" (Jer. 17.10). God's actions depend on what we do even in response to our faith and does not take away from God's sovereignty but actually makes it bigger! For who can do this except God Almighty? God doesn't want to be a sovereign dictator, but He wants a personal and synergistic relationship with us. All our choices are contingent on God providing them, but so is His response dependent as He designed it to respond righteously to our free choices. God is, thus, relational.

"Therefore as by the offense of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life" (Rom. 5.18). "Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth" (1 Tim. 2.4). All men can be saved "whosoever believeth" (John 3.16) "to the knowledge of truth" and "unto justification of life." The same "all men" in parallel!

Does God offer us salvation when He says "come unto me" (Matt. 11.28) because we have free-will: "whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely" (Rev. 22.17)? "He is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him" (Heb. 7.25). Are faith and works contrasted as opposites? "By grace are ye saved, through faith;...not of works" (Eph. 2.8-9); "But to him that worketh not, but believeth..." (Rom. 4.5). Christ repeatedly gave such invitations as "Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest" (Matt. 11.28), and "If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink" (John 7.37).

Do you believe Jesus died for the sins of all? "The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!" (John 1.29); "we know that this is indeed the Christ, the Savior of the world" (John 4.42); "we have seen and testify that the Father has sent the Son as Savior of the world" (1 John 4.14); "He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world" (1 John 2.2); "He, by the grace of God, might taste death for everyone" (Heb. 2.9); "Since we believe that Christ died for everyone, we also believe that we [Christians] have all died to the old life we used to live" (2 Cor. 5.14) having believed in Him; "...we trust in the living God, who is the Saviour of all men, specially of those that believe" (1 Tim. 4.10); "For God so loved the world...that the world through him might be saved" (John 3.16,17). "How often would I have gathered your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you would not!" (Matt. 23.37b) describes for all the sufficiency of God's grace.

"What must I do to be saved? And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you shall be saved" (Acts 16.30-31). "We have also obtained access by faith into this grace" (Rom. 5.2), "for by grace are ye saved through faith" (Eph. 2.8). Faith comes before salvation (regeneration). Paul repeatedly says, the sinner is "justified by faith" (Rom. 5.1) not by regeneration since faith precedes regeneration. Anyone can access or obtain this faith as a gift from God. Conditional election exists for all souls (unlimited atonement) since every person is made in the image of God (Gen. 1.26,27) and God is no respecter of persons (Acts 10.34). God predestinates the "Elect according to the foreknowledge" (1 Pet. 1.2) by foreknowing (Rom. 8.29) our free-choice as in Abel's free-will offering. To be drawn by God is His part in convincing (and convicting) a person of salvation who would be called only if he did not "draw back to perdition" (Heb. 10.39) as he approaches the door of salvation. God can draw or lead a horse to water, but can't make him drink. "Willingly offered" is found five times, such as "the people willingly offered themselves" (Judges 5.2); "willingly offered a freewill offering unto the Lord" (Ezra 3.5). The offer of salvation to Nicodemus, "whosoever believeth" (John 3.16) would not be given if he could not actually receive the cross by faith as a helpless sinner. Can people choose the cross, giving glory to God, without having to save (or regenerate) them first? Would it be unrighteous for someone to be saved (or disallowed salvation) without regard first for their choice? Can the spiritually dead repent of their sins and believe on the Lord Jesus Christ as their Savior? "Everyone that thirsteth, come ye to the waters.... Let the wicked forsake his ways, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon" (Is. 55.1,7). If that is not sufficient grace and free choice I don't know what is!

Do you agree there are no verses in the Bible for Total depravity? In all cases propensity to sin and willfulness are in view, not Total inability nor necessity of being unable. Is it a contradiction to claim man who is dead in sins can be regenerated without first repentantly believing in hearing the gospel of salvation? "Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life. Verily, verily, I say unto you, The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live" (John 5.24-25). Though man is spiritually dead, do we find he is incapable of making right choices, doing good and receiving the gospel of salvation? Jesus says, "...you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children" (Luke 11.13). If people were as evil as they could possibly be, they would not desire to give good things to their children, but Jesus still says that they are evil. Evil people still give good gifts and do kind things. If "spiritually dead" meant man were 'Totally depraved' 'moral corpses,' how can man make any moral choices and do any good? That they can, though, is undeniable. Yet the spiritually "dead" person, even though able to do some good, is unable to seek God and believe in the Gospel? That distinction is never made in Scripture. "He [Jesus] said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature" (Mark 16.15). It would be irrational for God to send His servants to suffer and die in preaching the gospel to those who were incapable of understanding and believing it. In all the Calvinist writings there is not one verse from Scripture cited that clearly states the doctrine, "Only when the Holy Spirit regenerates man and makes him alive spiritually can man have faith in Christ and be saved." It's only because of TULIP, invented by man, used by Satan, such demands are placed to convince your flesh not to be saved God's way.

It is clear from many passages the the unsaved, spiritually dead-dead in trespasses and in sins-can be reasoned with and can understand and believe the gospel unto salvation such as the following: "Knowing...the terror of the Lord, we persuade [unsaved] men" (2 Cor. 5.11); "and he reasoned in the synagogue [with unregenerated men]...and persuaded the [unregenerated] Jews and Greeks [to believe]" (Acts 18.4); "he mightily convinced the [unregenerated] Jews...shewing by the scriptures that Jesus was Christ" (Acts 18.28).

Do you agree that even though no one in their flesh will choose life, we can yet come to the cross or continue to resist His saving grace, for we were given this ability when we were created in response to His abundant grace? Otherwise, the cross would be of no effect because it could not be availed. God is the provider of all things including our ability to have faith and be justified by faith, that is not in question; but, do you believe God desires your choice first since Jesus died for the sins of the whole world as Savior of all men? Would it be evil for God to not be willing to change the hearts of some, disallowing them any recourse to be saved and blaming them for that which is not their fault? How would that be sufficient grace for all? Surely then it is also evil to save some against their own free will who reject God by not giving them the option, otherwise, it is coercion which is not love. Therefore, we believe in conditional election and resistible grace, that which the god of Calvinism cannot provide.

Would Jesus draw "all men" to Himself (John 12.32)? God is love and ever merciful to all and wants all to come to the knowledge of the truth so surely He draws us all. Should all who are Christ's true followers accept gratefully and joyfully that this good news would be proclaimed to the whole world as Christ commanded? Therefore, let us rejoice and not be like Calvinists who pompously pronounce their irresistible selection like Hitler's Aryan race over their preteritioned Jews to the gas chambers. What love is that?

Consider Christ's words: "All that the Father giveth me shall come to me" (John 6.37) does not say that "all that the Father draws shall come to me." Nor does "No man can come to me, except the Father...draw him" say that all that the Father draws come to Christ. And surely "I will raise him up at the last day" (John 6.40,44,54) refers to those who actually come to Christ, and not all who are drawn-certainly not those who are drawn and then "draw back unto perdition" (Heb. 10.39). All that the Father giveth shall come and were drawn, but not all that are drawn are given. Let us accept what Christ actually says.

"Have I any pleasure in the death of the wicked, says the Lord GOD, and not rather that he should turn from his way and live?" (Ez. 18.23). "For I have no pleasure in the death of any one, says the Lord GOD; so turn, and live" (Ez. 18.31). "Say to them, As I live, says the Lord GOD, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live; turn back, turn back from your evil ways; for why will you die, O house of Israel?" (Ez. 33.11). God literally pleads with people; but no, the Calvinist says, God is using His prescriptive or proscriptive will (outward) here, not His decretive or secret will. But I ask, how can God's will conflict with itself unless he is Satan? Surely, He is not confused. The Calvinist must be confused. How do you know God has a secret will that conflicts with His outward will? It's a secret. Now "the Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance" (2 Pet. 3.9). This sounds like sufficient grace to us all and is why He pleads with us all, because we have the choice to be saved by grace through faith. "Who would have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth" (1 Tim. 2.4). That would be quite strange if God didn't want all men to be saved but only some without giving them the sufficient ability to have the choice.

As a matter of Molinism I would like to say this. God being all loving implies that in any world He creates, He desires and strives for the salvation of every person in that world. But people who would freely reject His every effort to save them should not be allowed to dictate to God what worlds He would be free to create such as Calvinists who have created a false Christ to worship who can't even do what God can do. Why should the joy and the blessedness of those who would freely accept God's salvation be precluded by a false notion of Total depravity of those who would stubbornly and freely reject His prevenient grace for all?

"The LORD rewarded me according to my righteousness: according to the cleanness of my hands hath he recompensed me. For I have kept the ways of the LORD, and have not wickedly departed from my God. For all his judgments [were] before me: and [as for] his statutes, I did not depart from them. I was also upright before him, and have kept myself from mine iniquity. Therefore the LORD hath recompensed me according to my righteousness; according to my cleanness in his eye sight" (2 Sam. 22.21-25). If God is irresistibly making David do these things then why is David speaking in terms of "my righteousness," "I have kept the ways of the LORD," "I did not depart," "I have kept myself from mine iniquity," and "the LORD hath recompensed me according to my righteousness"? How can God reward someone for their righteousness if such righteousness is irresistibly given to a person, thus, given no free choice in the matter? It would no longer be a reward then.

Why are Calvinists Going to Hell?​

 

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Arminian Errors

Arminian Theory of Redemption

 

[MaxGrit]

Lecture 31 Arminianism and the External Attack on Reformation from Handout Church History Teaching Series by Dr. John Gerstner from Ligonier Ministries