Comments on: John Calvin would be sick http://brittonwesson.wordpress.com/2006/10/10/john-calvin-would-be-sick/ "It is in the process of being worshipped that God communicates His presence to men." C.S. Lewis Sat, 27 Dec 2008 02:26:13 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 By: mark hoppe http://brittonwesson.wordpress.com/2006/10/10/john-calvin-would-be-sick/#comment-225 mark hoppe Sat, 27 Dec 2008 02:26:13 +0000 http://brittonwesson.wordpress.com/2006/10/10/john-calvin-would-be-sick/#comment-225 Man is responsible, by the act of his own will, to receive Christ, then God wills the new birth. "But 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). The new birth is conditioned upon a man receiving Christ. There is not one case in Scripture of anyone being regenerated until he first received Christ. The responsibility is man's. Jesus said, "Ye will not come to me, that ye might have life" (John 5:40). Notice He did not say, "Ye cannot come to me..." Man does have the ability to choose. Jesus said, "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem... how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!" (Matt. 23:37). Jesus was willing, but Jerusalem was not willing. It was never a question of inability. Man does have a will that can choose for God or against God (John 7:17; Rev. 22:17). The Calvinist will run to John 6:44 to support their teaching. "No man can come to me, except the father which hath sent me draw him..." Of course the Father must draw a sinner, but in John 12:32, Jesus assures us "And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw ALL men unto me." John 1:9 says, "That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world." The Calvinist teaches that man's salvation is God's responsibility. If man is dead in trespasses and sins and is not responsible for receiving Christ, how can he be responsible for rejecting Christ? Calvin's doctrine of total depravity is totally deprave. Instead of Total Depravity, the Bible teaches that men are Totally LOST. Man is responsible, by the act of his own will, to receive Christ, then God wills the new birth. “But 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). The new birth is conditioned upon a man receiving Christ. There is not one case in Scripture of anyone being regenerated until he first received Christ. The responsibility is man’s. Jesus said, “Ye will not come to me, that ye might have life” (John 5:40). Notice He did not say, “Ye cannot come to me…” Man does have the ability to choose. Jesus said, “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem… how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!” (Matt. 23:37). Jesus was willing, but Jerusalem was not willing. It was never a question of inability. Man does have a will that can choose for God or against God (John 7:17; Rev. 22:17). The Calvinist will run to John 6:44 to support their teaching. “No man can come to me, except the father which hath sent me draw him…” Of course the Father must draw a sinner, but in John 12:32, Jesus assures us “And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw ALL men unto me.” John 1:9 says, “That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world.” The Calvinist teaches that man’s salvation is God’s responsibility. If man is dead in trespasses and sins and is not responsible for receiving Christ, how can he be responsible for rejecting Christ? Calvin’s doctrine of total depravity is totally deprave. Instead of Total Depravity, the Bible teaches that men are Totally LOST.

]]> By: brittonwesson http://brittonwesson.wordpress.com/2006/10/10/john-calvin-would-be-sick/#comment-223 brittonwesson Wed, 08 Oct 2008 17:46:06 +0000 http://brittonwesson.wordpress.com/2006/10/10/john-calvin-would-be-sick/#comment-223 It is a tricky position, however, I just can't land on the fact that God would create people to send them to hell. That sounds way out of His character. It is a tricky position, however, I just can’t land on the fact that God would create people to send them to hell. That sounds way out of His character.

]]> By: Sara Warren http://brittonwesson.wordpress.com/2006/10/10/john-calvin-would-be-sick/#comment-222 Sara Warren Wed, 08 Oct 2008 16:47:19 +0000 http://brittonwesson.wordpress.com/2006/10/10/john-calvin-would-be-sick/#comment-222 Hmmm... Ultimately, no matter which view you take, you do get down to the fact that some people are created to go to hell. Calvinism says that we are chosen and some are not, just as the children of Israel were chosen, and some were not. Aremenianism says that we are not chosen, which brings up TONS of issues, but here I'll just mention this one thing: If we are given the choice to follow Christ or not, AND God is all-knowing, then he would know who is not going to choose them, and wouldn't He have a choice of maybe not creating said people who won't choose Him? He's still creating those people with the knowledge that they won't choose Him, so they are therefore also created to go to hell. Hmmm… Ultimately, no matter which view you take, you do get down to the fact that some people are created to go to hell. Calvinism says that we are chosen and some are not, just as the children of Israel were chosen, and some were not. Aremenianism says that we are not chosen, which brings up TONS of issues, but here I’ll just mention this one thing: If we are given the choice to follow Christ or not, AND God is all-knowing, then he would know who is not going to choose them, and wouldn’t He have a choice of maybe not creating said people who won’t choose Him? He’s still creating those people with the knowledge that they won’t choose Him, so they are therefore also created to go to hell.

]]> By: gander http://brittonwesson.wordpress.com/2006/10/10/john-calvin-would-be-sick/#comment-217 gander Fri, 11 Jul 2008 02:04:27 +0000 http://brittonwesson.wordpress.com/2006/10/10/john-calvin-would-be-sick/#comment-217 According to the history I read, John Calvin was not a very nice guy. I remember Jesus turning the tables over at the temple on the money-changers - but not burning people at the stake. Whether they be made of gold, sports, some Hollywood symbol. or just a man, idols are easy to create and much harder to tear down. The Bible spells out Salvation very simply. It's man that tries to mess it up with theology. God did His part - grace. When will we do our part? Where today is repentance, humbleness, forgiveness, love, faith and truth? Believe whatever you will - but only the truth matters. That is what will ultimately be judged. According to the history I read, John Calvin was not a very nice guy.

I remember Jesus turning the tables over at the temple on the money-changers – but not burning people at the stake.

Whether they be made of gold, sports, some Hollywood symbol. or just a man, idols are easy to create and much harder to tear down.

The Bible spells out Salvation very simply. It’s man that tries to mess it up with theology.

God did His part – grace.
When will we do our part?
Where today is repentance, humbleness, forgiveness, love, faith and truth?

Believe whatever you will – but only the truth matters.
That is what will ultimately be judged.

]]> By: Mitch http://brittonwesson.wordpress.com/2006/10/10/john-calvin-would-be-sick/#comment-19 Mitch Wed, 11 Oct 2006 21:30:20 +0000 http://brittonwesson.wordpress.com/2006/10/10/john-calvin-would-be-sick/#comment-19 baaa brother, baaa -- thanks for your focus on God and his Gospel baaa brother, baaa — thanks for your focus on God and his Gospel

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