Does anyone know of....

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Lamar

Well-known member
May 21, 2023
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What is your point, I don't feel like playing twenty questions right now.
Twenty questions???

Its one question.

I answered both of your questions, can you not answer my simple question?
 

Lamar

Well-known member
May 21, 2023
1,388
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I was attempting to answer the following question:
Does anyone know of people who are convinced of the validity of the tenets of Calvinism and are also assured that they are not part of those chosen few?

I thought that my answer was clear, but perhaps not! So I will restate my answer as follows:

Yes, I am such a person!
In my journey to become a Christian, I became convinced that the tenets of the reformed faith were both true and inline with the teaching of scripture. (this answers part of the question)
I also was convinced that I was not part of God's chosen simply because I was an unworthy sinner. (this answers the second part of the question)

It took me over two years to understand that nobody is worthy!
Everyone who accepts Calvinism believes they are not worthy but nevertheless still believe that they are among the chosen few.

I am looking for someone who accepts Calvinism as true but that they are not among the chosen few but the damned majority.

For those two years were you a Calvinist but not believing to be among the chosen elect?
 

rogerg

Well-known member
Jul 13, 2021
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Twenty questions???

Its one question.

I answered both of your questions, can you not answer my simple question?
But it will lead to more. It isn't a "simple question, it an open-ended question. Just tell me specifically what you're driving at, and I'll answer - be more than happy to do so but I have neither the time, energy nor desire to follow you down rabbit holes. Either get to your point or move on.
 

BillyBob

Well-known member
Dec 20, 2023
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Texas
Everyone who accepts Calvinism believes they are not worthy but nevertheless still believe that they are among the chosen few.

I am looking for someone who accepts Calvinism as true but that they are not among the chosen few but the damned majority.

For those two years were you a Calvinist but not believing to be among the chosen elect?
I just explained that I was that person. Please get the cotton out of you ears, or I might whack you with my new light saber! I no longer struggle with the issue of assurance, but I did struggle for over two years! This means that for two years I agreed with reformed teaching, but did not believe that I was one of God's chosen people.........
 

Lamar

Well-known member
May 21, 2023
1,388
215
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Twenty questions???

Its one question.

I answered both of your questions, can you not answer my simple question?
All told, you have asked me four questions:
And what is Jerusalem? Post# 515
As a city, what does it represent? Post# 515
What do the "chicks" represent? Post# 515
What does "your house is left unto you desolate" mean? Post #516

I have answered all of them.

You expect others to answer your questions but will not answer back? This is childish.

Is your theology this weak as to simply put your fingers in your ears?

It seems you have been exposed on this issue.

Proverbs 18:17
"The first one to plead his case seems right, Until another comes and cross-examines him."

It appears you do not have the backbone to face cross-examination. I understand.

I suggest you stay on the porch.
 

Lamar

Well-known member
May 21, 2023
1,388
215
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I just explained that I was that person. Please get the cotton out of you ears, or I might whack you with my new light saber! I no longer struggle with the issue of assurance, but I did struggle for over two years! This means that for two years I agreed with reformed teaching, but did not believe that I was one of God's chosen people.........
Again, I am speaking to those who believe in Calvinism but do not believe they are among the lucky few elect. This is not about feeling worthy this is about believing that you were not among the chosen few, for whatever the reason.

Feeling worthy is not the issue. Knowing that you did not get chosen is the issue.

Your Jedi mind tricks have no effect on me.
 

rogerg

Well-known member
Jul 13, 2021
4,400
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All told, you have asked me four questions:
And what is Jerusalem? Post# 515
As a city, what does it represent? Post# 515
What do the "chicks" represent? Post# 515
What does "your house is left unto you desolate" mean? Post #516

I have answered all of them.

You expect others to answer your questions but will not answer back? This is childish.

Is your theology this weak as to simply put your fingers in your ears?

It seems you have been exposed on this issue.

Proverbs 18:17
"The first one to plead his case seems right, Until another comes and cross-examines him."

It appears you do not have the backbone to face cross-examination. I understand.

I suggest you stay on the porch.
You did not answer my questions - they were not biblical answers to biblical verses - verses that you were incorrectly using to substantiate YOUR supposed biblical point. In other words, they were irrelevant non-answers - meaning that YOU ducked, YOU who didn't/ couldn't/wouldn't answer. So, just saying that I know, that you knew, that you didn't and couldn't answer - no secret there - it is obvious just read them again below- and it's amazing you would even try to claim those as answers - and that's why you're trying to change the subject now and weasel out because you're afraid to try to explain them. If you're not afraid, then go ahead, I'll give you a chance at redemption. Try again, but this time, from a biblical perspective and ONLY from a biblical perspective, provide an explanation to what those words mean, but this time, try to do so without ducking if you can (and I don't think you can because your understanding is fundamentally flawed). So, given as you set the predicate that I must answer you on the basis that you answered me, then you should first have to actually answer my questions with real answers. Therefore, until such time as you do, I will refrain from giving you an answer to your question. Upon which, I will be happy to do so.

Here are my questions and your answers:

Me :" And what is Jerusalem? As a city, what does it represent?"
You: "A modern city devoid of any connection to the city of old."

Me: "What do its "chicks" represent?"
You: "A people long since past."

You: "Now answer my question.

Why were the Samaritans not considered Jewish?"
 

rogerg

Well-known member
Jul 13, 2021
4,400
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I just explained that I was that person. Please get the cotton out of you ears, or I might whack you with my new light saber! I no longer struggle with the issue of assurance, but I did struggle for over two years! This means that for two years I agreed with reformed teaching, but did not believe that I was one of God's chosen people.........
Right BillyBob, I think that it sometimes takes time for the human intellect to catch up with changes to its spirit
 
Nov 12, 2024
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Twenty questions???

Its one question.

I answered both of your questions, can you not answer my simple question?
He will not answer your question because it will destroy his end times theology but I will.

Jesus did not consider the Samaritans as Jewish because of their mixed heritage. This is the same reason that the people of the New Testament era believed as well.

Being Jewish is more then a claim of being a Jew. It involves lineage, a connection to the past. When the Temple was destroyed Judaism was also. Those left were scattered across the world and lost their Jewish identity.

The debate between Jesus and the Samaritan woman at Jacob's Well is quite telling.

She was not Jewish but Jesus was.

The Temple is gone, wailing at the ruins does not make or prove you are Jewish.
 

BillyBob

Well-known member
Dec 20, 2023
760
344
63
Texas
But it will lead to more. It isn't a "simple question, it an open-ended question. Just tell me specifically what you're driving at, and I'll answer - be more than happy to do so but I have neither the time, energy nor desire to follow you down rabbit holes. Either get to your point or move on.
Thank you Roger. Lamar likes to ask questions. Then when he gets an answer, he asks the same question hoping to get a different answer. Go figure!
It took me hearing just the right scripture at just the right time to understand that I did indeed belong to Christ.
 

Lamar

Well-known member
May 21, 2023
1,388
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Right BillyBob, I think that it sometimes takes time for the human intellect to catch up with changes to its spirit
Or maybe Billy Bob was answering a question not asked.

The question he was answering was not about feeling worthy to be chosen as the elect.

If you believe you are not among the chosen few because you are not worthy you don't understand Calvinism.

Calvinists do not believe they are worthy to be chosen just thankful.

The question remains the same.

Are there any Calvinists who do not also believe that they are part of the chosen few?

In other words, is believing in Calvinism evidence of being among the elect?
 

rogerg

Well-known member
Jul 13, 2021
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In other words, is believing in Calvinism evidence of being among the elect?
No. It is that all who come to believe/trust in Jesus Christ ALONE as Savior, with all that means and implies, is evidence that one is of the elect.
 

BillyBob

Well-known member
Dec 20, 2023
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Texas
Or maybe Billy Bob was answering a question not asked.

The question he was answering was not about feeling worthy to be chosen as the elect.

If you believe you are not among the chosen few because you are not worthy you don't understand Calvinism.

Calvinists do not believe they are worthy to be chosen just thankful.

The question remains the same.

Are there any Calvinists who do not also believe that they are part of the chosen few?

In other words, is believing in Calvinism evidence of being among the elect?
Thank you for your wonderful deep thinking on Calvinism and what it takes to agree with their teaching!
 

Lamar

Well-known member
May 21, 2023
1,388
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No. It is that all who come to believe/trust in Jesus Christ ALONE as Savior, with all that means and implies, is evidence that one is of the elect.
And how does one come to "believe/trust in Jesus Christ ALONE as Savior"?

By election or free choice?

Wait, wait...sorry I forgot. You don't answer questions.

My bad.
 

rogerg

Well-known member
Jul 13, 2021
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And how does one come to "believe/trust in Jesus Christ ALONE as Savior"?

By election or free choice?

Wait, wait...sorry I forgot. You don't answer questions.

My bad.
And neither do you. They believe by God. It's a free gift.
 

Lamar

Well-known member
May 21, 2023
1,388
215
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Thank you for your wonderful deep thinking on Calvinism and what it takes to agree with their teaching!
I have spoken with many Calvinists and have read much of their theology.

Sadly, this is at the core of their teaching. We simply have no say-so in our own fate.
 

rogerg

Well-known member
Jul 13, 2021
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I assume that means by election and not free choice?
No, it means to, not by - the elect are recipients. If it was by election, then the elect would be born as believers but they're not.
Instead, it is imparted to them individually, solely by God at a time of His choosing. The elect chooses Christ but as result, not cause.
 

BillyBob

Well-known member
Dec 20, 2023
760
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Texas
I think that Ephesians 1:3–6 tell what reformers believed and taught.

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, 4 just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, 5 having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, 6 to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He made us accepted in the Beloved.

God is glorified each time He takes a poor wretched sinner who has absolutely no power to save himself, and adopts him as a son. And, please note that He did this before we existed. Therefore, no boasting allowed!

Why He picked certain people is not explained, only that it was according to the good pleasure of His will....... God's plan for His creation will not fail.