A BIBLICAL EXAMINATION OF CALVINISM
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lol
Could some calvinist respond to me on this question: Why does the devil even exist? If God already predestinated all the horrible things that occur in this world, what difference does the devil make?
He roams around seeking whom he may devour, but how exactly is that true if God already predestinated that all these wicked things happen.
Sincere question that requires an answer!
Could some calvinist respond to me on this question: Why does the devil even exist? If God already predestinated all the horrible things that occur in this world, what difference does the devil make?
He roams around seeking whom he may devour, but how exactly is that true if God already predestinated that all these wicked things happen.
Sincere question that requires an answer!
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You say we should reason together with the Lord. I agree. I think we can reason with each other as well.
Things I feel pretty safe in saying we agree on.
1. The Lord formed us in the womb.
2. The Lord knows the end from the beginning.
Ok. So if statement 1 & statement 2 are true, then not ONLY does the Lord KNOW who is going to choose Him and who is not, but He knows this WHILE HE IS KNITTING US IN THE WOMB!
What does that tell you? And is any of the above statements incorrect?
What you are describing is the foreknowledge of God. He knew before He did anything else how many would choose Him and how many would reject Him. I heartily agree with you on that.
This view precludes any notion that God actually picked who would choose Him, and thus . . . I believe, is the biblical view. Knowing something is world's different from causing something to happen.
God knows beforehand who will choose him, and in the light of that, I believe that He blesses that person even before they are saved in the sense of preparing him for the ministry that he will later have after he receives Christ.
This view precludes any notion that God actually picked who would choose Him, and thus . . . I believe, is the biblical view. Knowing something is world's different from causing something to happen.
God knows beforehand who will choose him, and in the light of that, I believe that He blesses that person even before they are saved in the sense of preparing him for the ministry that he will later have after he receives Christ.
Calvinism is more a study of what Salvation is and where it comes from than a study of evil and where that comes from.
Calvinism wasn't really concerned with that part.
Evil comes from the heart of men which are influenced by the devil (the influencer of this world)
The ONLY escape from this is coming to the Lord Jesus Christ. And we only know this afterwards. Otherwise, we were just as blind as every one else.
Philippians 2:12 Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.
When you start working out YOUR OWN salvation, really finding out WHO it came from and HOW, then you are left really with just one of two conclusions;
1. You caused GOD to act and react by your own prayers and your own thoughts and your own will.
2. GOD caused you to act and react by influencing your prayers and thoughts and will.
I'll have to be honest and say that I thought #1 was true at first. Its what just about everyone teaches. Its what just about everyone believes.
Its not until you really study the bible and pray that you find out that it is #2 that is the truth and #1 is an illusion.
Calvinism wasn't really concerned with that part.
Evil comes from the heart of men which are influenced by the devil (the influencer of this world)
The ONLY escape from this is coming to the Lord Jesus Christ. And we only know this afterwards. Otherwise, we were just as blind as every one else.
Philippians 2:12 Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.
When you start working out YOUR OWN salvation, really finding out WHO it came from and HOW, then you are left really with just one of two conclusions;
1. You caused GOD to act and react by your own prayers and your own thoughts and your own will.
2. GOD caused you to act and react by influencing your prayers and thoughts and will.
I'll have to be honest and say that I thought #1 was true at first. Its what just about everyone teaches. Its what just about everyone believes.
Its not until you really study the bible and pray that you find out that it is #2 that is the truth and #1 is an illusion.
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Where did I say it doesn't mean knowing something beforehand???? That's right, I didn't.
If you were to seriously study the doctrine, drop your presuppositions and adding into it what you think it entails, then you'd realize the error of the false definitions and outcomes up above. But I seriously doubt you can lose your pride and traditions and accomplish that. It would mean you'd have to admit you are wrong.
If you were to seriously study the doctrine, drop your presuppositions and adding into it what you think it entails, then you'd realize the error of the false definitions and outcomes up above. But I seriously doubt you can lose your pride and traditions and accomplish that. It would mean you'd have to admit you are wrong.