I’ve seen some of Todd Friel’s videos. He’s the host of Wretched Radio and is VERY Calvinistic in his theological approach to salvation. He begins a short video on determination (noted below) by responding to a letter from a viewer who’s confused as to whether God controls one’s desire for a favorite kind of breakfast cereal. Well, Christan determinism 101 per Todd Friel:
Continue reading “Sovereignty vs Free Will – A Wretched Discussion with Todd Friel”
What Mrs. Robinson posted:
Remarkable passage regarding God’s sovereignty. Exodus 34:24 – “For I will drive out nations from you and enlarge your borders, and no one will covet your land when you go up three times a year to appear before the Lord your God.” Three times a year, every male Israelite, at the command of God, left his home and inheritance, and journeyed to Jerusalem to keep the feasts of the Lord; and in the above Scripture we learn He promised them that, while they were at Jerusalem, He would guard their unprotected homes by restraining the covetous designs and desires of their heathen neighbors. (Excerpt from the Sovereignty of God by A.W. Pink)
Interesting. So, you mean to tell me that God has access to ALL men’s hearts? I thought they had to give Him permission. He could only make that claim to the Israelites if He was sovereign over the reprobate.
“The king’s heart is a stream of water in the hand of the Lord; he turns it wherever He will.” Proverbs 21:1
I asked:
I understand you to infer here and elsewhere that anything and everything that would ever happen to anyone anywhere in the world is a direct result of God wanting it to happen. That is, nothing happens outside of what God has divinely ordained. Is this an accurate reflection of your beliefs? Would it be fair for someone to consider you to be a divine determinist?
Continue reading “Mrs. Robinson Infers Determinism but Isn’t Determined to Clarify Deterministic Inferences”
The conversation with a Calvinist went something like this:
Calvinist: Repent and believe. This is the same message of the gospel that the Calvinists has as the non-Calvinist.
Me: But irresistible grace states people are unable to refuse God’s offer of grace and salvation. Doesn’t an individual’s total depravity preventing him from seeking God? So, how does repent and believe factor in? Where’s actual requirement that the sinner must repent and believe prior to his salvation. Per Calvinistic determinism, God has already ordained the events that will happen. So, the sinner’s repentance and his believing come after he’s already been saved. It happened because God willed it to happen. Repent and believe infers a requirement that an individual must do something which, per Calvinistic doctrine, 1) he’s unable to do and 2) God has already done all that is needed. Therefore, wouldn’t it make more sense for the Calvinist to simply say that one’s salvation is predicated on God’s desire – just wait and see – and you’ll know one way or the other in due time?
Continue reading “Repent and Believe – Does the Calvinist Actually Believe This Is Necessary?”
I’ve never liked the phrase – fear of the Lord. And maybe that’s the best translatable word to use. Still, I’ve always felt that the use of that phrase connotates a negative inference as to the nature and character of God. If anything, love and fear appear to be completely opposite constructs.
Continue reading “The Fear of the Lord”
Simple is often better. The more one has to abandon the common-sense reading, the more likely it is wrong. Let’s apply this to Ephesians 1:4. The text says God chose us in him.
Wrong interpretations:
All of these interpretations are wrong. This is simply not what the text says. Here is the right interpretation: “God chose us in him.”
The object of God’s choice is not “those who are in him” or “the church.” The object of God’s choice is “us.” Christ is not the agent of God’s choice (by) but the means (in). Furthermore, the means of God’s choice is not through Christ but in Christ, that is, by union with Christ (positional). The purpose of God’s choice is not to be in him, but to be “holy and blameless” before him.
Continue reading “Ephesians 1:4 Made Simple – By JD Martin”
Sometimes I experience a “Yes – that makes so much sense!” moment as I read something – such as these last words of Steve Jobs which popped up in a newsreader on my computer. As many know, Steve Jobs was one of the founders of Apple Computers. He was a billionaire many times over, and his sage words below speak volumes as to (I think) what he wishes he’d better put his time and efforts towards over the course of his life. I have no idea as to any spiritual aspects within Jobs’ life. Nevertheless, at the end of his life, great wealth, titles, positions and the admiration of those throughout the world fell far short of satisfying his deepest longings. And if nothing else, I’m sensing the need to make some phone calls, write some letters – including a letter of apology to someone I’ve offended and look for a nice Valentine’s Day gift to give my bride.
Continue reading “The Last Words of Steve Jobs (1955-2011)”
It’s curious that Calvinists I know and interact with are adamant they’re part of Team Elect and don’t seem to understand those who struggle with assurance of salvation. There’s an interesting tidbit in John Calvin’s Institutes of Religion 3.2.11; God not only reveals himself to those on Team Reprobate but also instills within the reprobate a sense of goodness and mercy where the reprobate believes God loves him and has mercy for him? However, the reprobate is only enlightened with a “present” and not “eternal” sense of grace. Therefore, what the reprobate experiences doesn’t lead to salvation. Afterall, one has to be unconditionally chosen to be saved. Nevertheless, I get the impression that God manipulates or otherwise toys with those he plans to send to hell.
Continue reading “Can a Calvinist Actually Have Assurance of Salvation?”
This almost sounds like a headline from The Babylon Bee; A Calvinist finally admitting that God, in fact, decrees all manner of evil including such things as rape, murder, abortion, and [name your own evil] because God apparently has reasons for decreeing evil. Who knew?
This is how the conversation went:
An initial question from a non-Calvinist – How could Calvinistic determinism not have God as the author of evil? Logically, it doesn’t follow because you say God decrees all things. So, whatever has happened or whatever will happen is because God wants it?
First Calvinist – Calvinists believe that man cannot do good or evil unless God acts first, since God is the first cause for all things than can happen in existence. The evil is directly committed by the secondary causes such as man, Satan or creatures. Even though God as the primary cause decreed evil actions, God cannot be charged with wrongdoing.
Continue reading “Calvinist Admits God Decrees Evil”I don’t know – perhaps this comes under the heading of let your ‘Yes’ mean yes and your ‘No’ mean no. Nevertheless, I saw this and laughed out loud! Irrespective of where one falls on the Calvinist belief spectrum, I trust that everyone can get a good laugh at this!
I’ve never understood Romans chapters nine to eleven to be, per se, about individuals. As I read it, Paul defends God’s intent to “collectively” (some might say corporately) bring Gentiles into the ‘fold’ who’re more open to salvation by faith and do away with the law (which the Jews apparently weren’t so good at keeping). My Calvinist friend, Mrs. Robinson, has sent me a defense for the Calvinist doctrine of individual unconditional election. C. Michael Patton wrote and published the below defense on his Credohouse.org blog in 2019I will respond to each point in due course. Patton incorporated some details for each point which can be found in his article referenced below. But, for now, the twelve points Patton puts forth are:
1. The whole section (9-11) is about the security of individuals.
2. In the election of Jacob over Esau (Rom. 9:10-13), while having national implications, starts with individuals.
Continue reading “Mrs. Robinson’s Defense of Unconditional Election from Romans 9-11”
